Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Travel Stories from the Artifacts – Maui
It was our first trip to Maui, and we were in awe of everything. We managed to score a room on the beach at a nice hotel south of Kihei. It was Maluaka Beach and here is a picture – the first artifact you might say, not my picture, I purchased it from a gallery on the island.
There we relaxed and swam with turtles.
One morning after breakfast we walked through an open corridor where tables were set up and Hawaiians selling their wares.
A cute little bracelet, and though I’d never wear it after this trip, it would make a nice memento.
“My grandmother makes them,” said the woman in a colorful mumu.
A nice souvenir, regardless, I thought and for only $10 (or was it $5?) it was cheap.
The next day we visited an outdoor Maui Market, and came across scores of vendors, selling fruits, jams, shave ice, jewelry, and other handcrafted goods.
More than one of the tables had plastic bins, filled with trinkets, imported from the Philippines, one of them full of Maui bracelets for a $1 each.
I had to laugh.
What a busy grandmother.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Perhaps grandmother visited relatives in the Philippines, but kept working because that’s just the way she is!
That must be it. She really turned out the bacelets!
I look forward to seeing more of ‘Graham’s island’ xx
Thanks, Jo! I love Hawaii!
I’m officially jeaous of Hawaii, as I always wanted to go there. That’s not going to happen now, unless I win the National Lottery.
Best wishes, Pete.
It’s an easy direct flight from Seattle, so I’m happy about that! You have other exotic places on your side of the world, that I will never see, like Turkey!
Haha, I had to laugh 😂 But only in recognition, as I’ve done similar things myself in various places! I always tell myself that my small purchase, even if I was ripped off, has probably helped the seller far more than it has impacted me.
Exactly! It was more funny to me than anything else, and makes a great travel memory. Though maybe not if more money was involved! 😄
Most of those types of souvenirs are made in China anyway but that doesn’t diminish the enjoyment of the memories they inspire. A vendor in Spain told us that yes, they were made in China but his wife hand painted them. We bought his line hook, line and sinker and I still love looking at it.
Yes, it still does the job of being a memento, and a fun story. 😊 I am getting a bit more savvy at identifying local crafts from the imports, though sometimes it’s hard to tell.
Yep! We experienced the same thing… I decided not to purchase anything…
I succumbed! 😄
In 1976 when I was 17, I went to Durango, Mexico for summer Spanish classes. Another girl from my school and I stayed with a host family. At one point I bought a little souvenir in a gift shop and when I looked at the bottom of it, it said “Made in Taiwan”! They never let me live that down, and everything I bought after that, they would say “Hecho en Taiwan, Debbie?” 😂😂
I guess we’ve all been ‘taken!’ Makes for good memories! 😄