Post #479915 by uncle trav on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 5:58 AM

Well I guess some folks get it and most don't. I have passed by a very small travel agency in an equally small town hundreds of times. This summer I noticed some carvings in the window as I passed by. I turned around and pulled into the parking lot. The place was closed so I looked into the windows. Through the glass I saw a four and a half foot tall Lono carved Tiki, obviously very old. Also a small bamboo and thatched hut in one corner covered in dust. Many other carvings and drums, masks and other interesting things hanging here and there in fishing nets. They even had a bar made from two rum barrels in one corner. All of this stuff crammed into a very small space with little stone enclosed gardens of plastic plants. You can't even get past the stuff to check out anything farther back. The back office was bamboo floor to ceiling. Great right? Well I thought I would stop in when they were open and have a chat. Well long story short I spoke to the owner and had a five minute visit. I was polite and courteous. I explained that I had noticed the interior of her business and would like to ask a few questions about the history of the business. I explained in layman's terms that my hobby was documenting "Tiki" in the area. She looked me up and down and asked "why would you be doing that?". I smiled and told her it was something I do in my spare time and asked if any of the decor may have come from the areas closed Polynesian restaurants and showed her some photos of the areas long gone restaurants. She said no and that all the stuff was bought her father years ago. And that was the entire history of all the items. I asked very politely if I could take a photo of the large Tiki and the reply was "I don't care but I think it's kinda weired". I took the photo, thanked her for her time and left. Five minutes in and out. No back ground history. Just an awkward five minutes. Most of the folks I have talked to about our hobby and have asked questions about their business or past business have been more than happy that someone cares about the history. Other folks don't care or think you have some kind of scam going on. I'm not bitching about the experience. Just thought I'd tell the story of a strike-out. Sometimes Tiki archeology is good sometimes it's bad. I'll just keep digging. Thanks.