Sunday, April 29, 2007

My last So Cal roadtrip before I split for Kauai

Hot diggity dogz. Boy what a weekend!!!
The miles pounded can only be matched in number by the smiles and good times experienced over the past few days. I bolted out of Santa Cruz early Friday morning around 8:00 am. I got in a bit of a surf and a short nap in Ventura then buzzed down to my good buddy Kinny's art studio for a visit and art jam. I finally got the pleasure to meet Dave a.k.a Clysdalle and watch him and Ken lay down the fine lines of their crafts and answer my barrage of questions on their various projects and techniques. It just numbs my mind to see how effortless and tightly these guy can bring there mind candy to fruition. I had the idea of video taping or possilbly streaming the art jam via ustream.tv. Unfortunately, it looked like I had spaced the bag with my laptop and gear at my Mom's house in Ventura so I was only able to snap a few pics. Ken moves so fast when he is creating that he cannot be photographed unless using a special stop motion hi tech camera, but here are a couple pics of Dave finishing up work on a piece created on Santa Barabara driftwood that he was working on when I arrived.

Clysdale applyin' the enamel


Color me done.


Saturday afternoon, I met up with my ol friend Karl who happens to live right around the corner from Ken's studio. Karl took me for a ride in his new BMW and helped me gather a few last minute art supplies. We then went out for an awesome lunch of Lebanese food at a place on Tustin St in the city of Orange called Zena's. They served up really tasty food with excellent service at a good prices on a nice outside patio that had a cool little waterfall. After lunch Karl took me over to meet his family, show me his place and some of his photography. Saying so long to Karl and his family I then pointed my wheels towards the Inland Empire and the city of Rancho Cucamonga for the Tiki Treasures and Polynesian Pin Up Show.

Lil Wahine and Tiki Ray delivered a slam dunk of an event down yonder in the Inland Empire near the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. There was beautiful ladies, dazzlin' jaw droppin' art and plenty of friends both old and new to say hello to and lots of folks getting their tiki on. The Smokin' Menehunes long with very special guests, Bill Tapia and Palika on ukulele, founding member Spike on guitar and the man they call Squid on the skins. The fellas brought with them the musical ambiance to set the island mood proper. The time went by way to quick and once again didn't get to talk nearly enough with everybody who came out. Again, I had the notion to try and tape the event but was without my gear and therefore out of luck. I wasn't even sure if I would be able to get on a wireless network so the streaming experiment never even got off the ground. I headed north around 1:30 am listenin' to the CD Lucas Vigor had given me and drinking coffee. I pulled into Ventura around 3:30 am ready for bedtime and a nice round of sleep.

The first thing I did was check to see if my laptop and equipment were inside my Mom's house. They were not. I freaked thinking at one point my computer, ipod and everything else in my bag was taken from the truck when I wasn't looking. I was completely tired, but so completely bummed thinkin' about my missin' other brain, that I had a sleepless night wondering where my laptop was and who had all my music, information, addresses, phone numbers, podcasts, pref settings, work templates, notes and everything else that sits on my hard drive. I have a back up of most of the data, but there is plenty on it that is irreplacable and if lost it would be gone forever. The next morning I called my Mom, who was home in Santa Cruz, to tell her the sad news of my "stolen" stuff. Well it turns out, the people who live next door to her in Ventura called and let her know that my bag had been sitting in the driveway. I must of been so busy when loadin' up that I drove off with out it. Fortunately, my Mom is the type of nice lady who takes the time and gets too know her neighbors so they all watch out for one another. Turnsout, the folks next door had spotted my lonely and accidentally abandoned bag and took it inside their home for safe keeping. Well, after hearing this news, I peeled myself from the ceiling, I wiped the tears of happiness from eyes and went next door and got my gear. WHEW! What a dum dum I be, I am so happy I didn't lose my belongins' and that the neighbors were lookin out for me. It would of been a terrible blow to suffer and very difficult to recover from especially with my move only a few weeks away. So with this happy endin' I will leave you with a slide show of some to the pics I had shot during my trip.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

UNTAMED HIGHWAY Issue #3 is on sale now!



The sure to be butt kickin' long awaited release Untamed Highway Issue #3 is on sale now! Check out their site for some cool art samples. Do not hesitate!!!!! BUY YOUR COPY TODAY! Tell them Chongolio sent you!
UNTAMEDHIGHWAY.COM

after readin a little deeper, I saw that my letter to the boys was published inside!

Saturday, April 21, 2007

The 30 day countdown has begun


Happy Primavera! Spring Blossom photo by Chongolio

It has been a very busy last couple of weeks for me but feeling like I am ready for the jump over to the islands. I bought one way tickets to Kauai last week and will be leaving, on Aloha Airlines flight 441 out of Oakland, for a new adventures on May 15 at 8:20 am. For some strange reason it took me three days of staring at the "purchase ticket" button before I could finally bring myself to click on it. I just stared at it wonderin' about how a little button has the ability to completely change my life just by the simple click of a mouse. The next big step is getting my van and things onto the boat in Oakland at the end of the month so they will be waitin' for me when I arrive. Days have started to really fly by now, but I feel I am right on schedule. There are a few more loose ends here and there but nothing I can't handle.

I have been emailing a lady in Lihue about renting a room and doing some yardwork in exchange for rent. However, nothing has been confirmed and I have not be given much details about the entire situation. I ended up not going with the Family over to Kauai because the timing just didn't work out. However, while my Mom was out there she did some recon for me and reports that there are plenty of rooms for rent and help wanted posts on the local bulletin boards. Mom even was trying to get me lined up with a job at an ATV tour outfit and brought me back a local paper filled with all types of housing and job oppurtunities. So I am not at all worried about it. What's gonna happen is gonna happen and I will be there when it does.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Forbidden Island's One Year Anniversary Celebration!

Forbidden Island is proud to announce its One Year Anniversary Celebration! On Sunday, April 22nd, from 2pm until closing, Forbidden Island will offer live entertainment, food & drink specials, vendors selling tropical arts, vintage clothes, and hand-carved tikis, and more. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event!

Featuring Live Performances from:

The Mai Kai Gents Featuring The Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa
Meshugga Beach Party
The Atomic Lounge Show
Cari Lee & The Saddle-ites
Apocalypso Now

A DJ set from our house drunkard, The Jab

Vendors include:

Tiki Diablo
Tiki Jungle
Retro Diva
Tiki Hunter

***On sale at 2pm: Commemorative Limited Edition One Year Anniversary Tiki Mug designed by Munktiki

Forbidden Island
1304 Lincoln Ave (at Sherman)
Alameda, CA
P: 510-749-0332

Directions and more at: www.forbiddenislandalameda.com

See you there! I will be the one havin' a blast!

Monday, April 16, 2007

Tiki Farm Parking Lot Sale 2007

Here are some of my pictures from my So Cal vending expidition to San Clemente for the Tiki Farm's Parking lot Sale. I had a great time and I am very stoked to be a part of this event that kicked off the start of another Tiki Season. A heaping helping of Thanky to Holden, the Tiki Farm crew, and all the folks who pitched in to help make this a very cool event. More thanks to everybody who stopped by my booth to wish me luck on my move and purchased some my art. You all RULE!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Saturday Night Surf Stomp in San Diego



It looks like a few of us will be headin' up to San Diego after the Tiki Farm Parking Lot Sale to check out this surf show. Rumor has it JonPaul from Tiki Magazine will be providing the bass lines for the Insect Surfers! Awesome!!!

Coconut Wired Adventure # 13


Yeah, yeah, yeah, I been really busy with moving, packin' and creatin' but I have found the time to get Adventure #13 uploaded and ready for a-listenin'

This next adventure finds our heros still underground but on the verge of some startling discoveries! Featured in this episode are a few of
Tiki Ray's carvings and the musical niceness of North of Malibu, El Ray, The Mariners, The Del-Vamps, Agents of Voodoo and we welcome back The Tikiyaki Orchestra.

If you like the shows please let us know! It really does help to keep the motivational fires stokin'. We would also like to hear any input, suggestions or ideas you have about or show. You can write to me at: chongolio@lost-isle.com

As you very well know, the Coconut Wired crew is always looking for fresh new talent to give some exposure to! If you are an artist or musician who is inspired by tropical visions of lush vegetation, magical waterfalls and mysterious surf spots and would like to be a part of Coconut Wired, Zap me an email at:
Also, don't forget to say hello to me at these upcoming events in April.



Click on image to see larger pdf version.







Tiki Treasures & Polynesian Pinups (1st annual)



Saturday, April 28th at Goodfellas. Doors open at 6pm
8034 Haven Ave.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 909-987-3005

"This show has been posted in an "Enhanced" format AAC (M4A) formatted file instead of the older MP3 format. While this format allows for richer content including imagery and web links, it is only compatible with QuickTime and/or iTunes both of which are simultaneously Macintosh and Windows compatible."



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Tuesday, April 03, 2007

The Chongolio Channel

Thats Right! Now you can tune into the Chongolio Channel and have have all the Chongolian goodness in one easy to use player! Check it out: