In the line at a Hawaiian luau, be sure to get a sample of each of these dishes!

Lomi-Lomi Salmon

This island dish traces not so far back as people think, from the time of whaling in hawaii, but this dish is a common side at many parties held in Hawaii. A combination of Tomatoes and Salmon and some Hawaiian salt frozen in crushed ice. It is not uncommon to throw in green onions also in this cooling appetizer to the rest of a meal.

Chicken Long Rice

Yum. This dish originated from China but was brought over by Chinese immigrants and quickly adapted into the Hawaiian meal. Another tasty side consisting of bit sized boneless chicken and long rice or formally known as cellophane noodles. Thrown in are some hints of ginger and onions and sometimes garlic in this truly tasty dish.

Lau Lau

More often then not, the main dish of a party. Lau lau has been the make or break of many Hawaiian dinners. With a core of either boneless pork, beef, or chicken seasoned in Hawaiian salt, with butterfish, surrounded by a taro leaf. The preparation for this dish takes longer then the eating. Lau lau is wrapped in a Ti leaf and smoked in a steamer. This slow cook process moistens the lau lau and brings much more flavor to the awesome taste of lau lau.

Kalua Pig

Now the name says it all. This pork dish is cooked in an underground oven called an "Imu". The pig is prepared for the cook and then placed inside the oven for hours in time for a big meal. Kalua pork cannot be complete without some Hawaiian salt and this brings the flavor out to the tip of your tongue.

Poi (Taro)

This traditional Hawaiian dish has been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years. The Kalo plant or taro plant is grown in a irrigated patch from mountain water down to the ocean. This constant flowing water enriches the taro plants and the taro has been the signature dish of Hawaiian culture. The taro plant is picked and then the root and smashed and pounded until it becomes a sort of paste like form which is then called Poi. This dish has made it's way into many other forms today and still remains the true aspect of the Hawaiian meal.

image source

When driving by Red Deer on Highway #2 you would not expect that it is cultured or has major public works of art. In fact you may think all Red Deer has to offer is fast food restaurants, gas stations, and RV sales lots. This is because Red Deer's city planners, to avoid downtown congestion, created an area called Gasoline Alley. This strip effectively keeps Highway traffic out of its' downtown area. However, if you take the time to venture into downtown Red Deer there is a thriving cultural community and the city has invested in public works of art.

What I refer to are the statues affectionately referred to as The Ghosts of Red Deer. These incredibly well detailed, life size, sculptures are scattered throughout down town Red Deer. All these ghosts are of real people, with a couple of exceptions, which are real animals. There are plaques explaining the stories behind the statues.

image source

 

The first Ghost I saw was an older gentleman sitting on a bench downtown, he had a briefcase and was remarkably well done, I admired the sculpture, but until I saw another, I had not realized that this was a special feature in the city. I soon discovered many more. I have not included a photo of this chap, you will have to discover him for yourself.

There are two sculptures that I was especially drawn to, one because of its magnificent size, attention to detail in an action pose, and the other because of the story behind it.

image source

 

The Ghost of a horse drawn fire wagon is truly impressive. The expression on the horses as well as the two human figures is very strong. No question about it, this is an intense moment caught in time. It is the largest Ghost Sculpture, complete with two frightened horses, one driver in the fire wagon, and a man who is trying to control the horses. A rein has broke and they are loosing control of the team, who typically are used to charging full speed to the fire.

image source

Francis the Pig is my other favorite. This little guy made an escape on route to the slaughter yard, he evaded capture for quite some time. During this time Francis made himself a town celebrity and earned this statue from his days on the run.

All in all, seeing these lovely works of art, in an unexpected location gave me quite an thrill. Red Deer is about one hour north of Calgary, and one and a half hours south of Edmonton, should you find yourself passing through Red Deer, I suggest you turn off the highway, and go into the downtown area and look for these ghosts yourself. Bring a camera.