h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Here's where we can post notes, plans, travel arrangements for the banana-tasting safari.

Ooooooooooooooooooo(k)

You ladies seem to know much more about the banana that I do, and the Librarian's our resident expert, so I think I'll leave the majority of the planning in your capable hands, if you don't mind.

Since we have as many imaginary dollars as we want to spend, why don't we just charter a plane and hop from place to place? Or we could take commercial flights. (I wanna be there when the security guards frisk the Librarian. )

Apparently bananas can be grown everywhere there is a mediterranean or tropical climate. As with all crops, there are organic, fair trade, and commercial. Here in California, grocery stores usually carry three types of bananas/plantains for eating/cooking. On vacation in Hawaii I was introduced to the idea of different varieties, such as strawberry bananas - short little bananas that taste a bit of strawberries. And then I found out bananas were everything else, the really yummy ones are grown for domestic consumption, because they don't travel very well. Only the sturdy ones can be exported. So there are many banana varieties that we have to travel to taste. But honestly Axi, I don't know very much at all, so I'll be learning as we travel.

So let's start someplace fun! What will it be? Hawaii? Mexico? Brazil? Pick one, Axi.

How about Brazil? The Amazon Rainforest should make the Librarian feel right at home

OOK! OOK!!!!!

Perhaps we sould go to Hawaii soon as well? Didn't you invent surfing in Fourecks? Might be nice for you to give it a try again. What do you think?

Oh yeah. Definitely.

So first Brazil, then Hawaii somewhere along the line...where else?

(A bespectacled person drives down to Oakland, catches a plane over to Hawaii, to the Big Island. Stands cluelessly on the tarmac, looking for a large shaggy orange ape. Wonders what Axi looks like.)

Oh was it Brazil first? Oops

*Another plane is landing. The passengers disembark and aong their number are a tall, plain looking teenager and (for some reason) a large male Orang-Utan, currently holding hands. The ape is looking around in wonderment and more than a little fear, the teen is just looking around.
They stand and wait, getting their bearings.*

Oh good, you made it. Let's get luggage and let the Librarian get off this hot tarmac.

It's not the tarmac that's worrying him. Apparently the planes smell wrong.

*The Librarian nods vigourously*

Which way is Baggage Claim? Sorry we were late, our flight got delayed.

It looks like we have these types of bananas here in Hawaii. Where do you want to start?


VARIETIES Back To: Menu Bar
Cavendish and Brazilians are the two major groups of dessert bananas in Hawaii. The Cavendish group includes 'Williams', 'Valery', 'Hamakua', 'Grand Nain', and 'Chinese' varieties. The Brazilian bananas are often incorrectly referred to as apple bananas in Hawaii. This group includes the 'Dwarf Brazilian'.
The Bluefields group, which includes ‘Bluefields’ and 'Dwarf Bluefields', was the leading commercial variety in Hawaii. Currently, this group accounts for less than 1% of banana production in Hawaii due to its susceptibility to the Panama wilt disease. Starchy cooking bananas, or plantains, are also found in Hawaii. Largo, Maia maole, and Popoulu are various plantain groups.

‘Brazilian’ Variety
‘Chinese’ Variety (‘Dwarf Cavendish’)
'Williams Hybrid’ Variety (‘Williams’)
‘Valery’ Variety (‘Taiwan’, ‘North Banana’, ‘Tall Mons Mari’)
'Hamakua’ Variety (‘Bungulan’, ‘Monte Cristo’)
‘Bluefields’ Variety (‘Gros Michel’)
‘Dwarf Bluefields’ Variety (‘Cocos’)

Ref:
http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/crops/i_banana.htm

Okay, this way to the baggage claim, and yes, I agree, planes smell wrong.

*The Librarian takes your hand and the three of us walk hand in hand, getting some funny looks.*

I don't care. Librarian?

Librarian: Ook.

Hope you guys had a good flight, despite the smell. Here's the baggage claim.

(Travellers crowd three deep around the baggage carousel, watching various pieces of luggage take rides round and round. Occasionally a traveller darts forward, grabs a bag, and scurries away. Suddenly the Librarian releases your hand, vaults over the travellers' heads, and lands gracefully on the carousel. Clambering against the carousel's direction and over various suitcases and packs, he grabs his luggage and returns triumphant, while the travellers attempt to keep both their distance and their aloha spirit. Axi takes advantage of the opportunity to collect his baggage.)

Is that everything, then?

ook?

TRANSLATOR: What about your baggage, Happy?

(Happy is wearing a digital camera around her neck and a bulging knapsack. She is also pulling a luggage on wheels.)

I already picked mine up. I travel kinda light.

NARRATOR: The three travellers are approached by a lovely island maiden bearing plumeria leis... . .


http://www.hawaiiactive.com/img/act/LeiGreeting79-1.jpg

http://www.leisofhawaii.com/Double%20Plumeria%20Yellow%20crop.jpg


NARRATOR: she gently drapes a lovely scented lei around Aximili's neck, kissing each of his cheeks while whispering "aloha," then again a lei, two kisses and "aloha" smilingly for Happynerd. Bending down gracefully, she then drapes the Librarian and kisses his big cheeks... "aloha."

ook!