You hear that often here. At a seclued Tiki Bar, or any bar for that matter, it is refreshing that this is the ONLY advice you will ever hear. Of course, as you soon find out, it is the only thing you need to hear. All the rest seems to magically fall into place.

I should introduce you though to the characters that inhabit this special place, before I release you further into the jungle. Keep in mind, well, let's put it this way: Open your mind, don't keep anything in. You won't have any problem remembering that whom you meet here evidently have been here quite some time. It's difficult to ascertain anyone's age, really, perhaps because, and the bartender hates this phrase, they are indeed timeless souls.

Two of the orignal crew, Coco Tiki and Sand Tiki are rumored to have never left the island, having spent some immeasurable amount of time in and around the Hotel Coral Reef. Coco Tiki always tells the story that they really met at Camp Coconut, but Sand Tiki rememebers it a little differently, but she's not saying, at least not lately.

The bartender, also known as "The Original", who only smiles when asked his name, seems to be one of those Jimmy Buffet transplants originally from some place cold, but from such a long time ago, his first snow man must be encased deep in a glacier by now.

Some say, well to theirselves, or down at the beach, that Tiwaka and "The Original" are one in the same. Personally, I can't imagine that. It's quite possible, of course, but the closest I have come to actually seeing the resemblance was once, late on a tropical downpour evening, having eaten some of the Grill's famous shrimp sandwiches, and having shared at least 2, maybe 3, coconuts, that I thought I saw it in his eyes.

~ more