UYE @ Govinda’s: The Purification

I got to meet da irreverent, off-​beat, humorous, goofy + Honolulu Weekly’s 2011 «Best Unilocaler» category winner …
Val «Nezumi» Y.
He gave me a Ziploc bag of fruit + was as humble, Mr. Aloha + gracious as he is online.
Das all you need to know!
REVIEW #199

«At the end of ones life every human being wants the same three things: Inner peace, happiness and love.» At least I think that’s what the hari krishna man told us. Well that’s what I remember hearing and he is freakin’ right! But my friends, you can look for all of those things outside in people, things, experiences, but the truth is that it is right there inside of you. One day I’ll co-​write a book with Val which will trigger world peace for centuries. You heard it here first!
We had a great time at this UYE and enjoyed the all-​you-​can-​eat vegetarian buffet. Not only did we socialize but we got to play instruments and sing hari krishna songs under a giant tree. It might sound hokie but this UYE is why I love Unilocal so much. It exposes me to people and places that I would probably have never encountered on my own. My life is better for this and I am in complete gratitude.
I think when I finally get married again, I will have Val be my minister. Sorry Val, you are going to have to get ordained whether you like it or not.
Unilocal 365 Challenge: #49/​365 (The Hari Krishna)

No Worry. No Worry. No Worry.
But, you are right, Val, in that a vegetable UYE is high risk. But, some say, the higher the risk the higher the gains.
Even though this was my first UYE, I wasn’t worried as I had already met Val on line and I love good vegetarian food. I knew I’d be fine.
The food was good and much better than I had been expecting. The $ 7.50 single plate deal was great for me because I had just gone out for breakfast with some other friends at Kakaako Kitchen and was still kind of full.
Most important for me is that I really enjoyed talking to everyone that I met. It seems that all Unilocalers are interesting people that are far above average in all ways. Just wish that I had been able to circulate more and talk to everyone. It did get a little loud at times but that was just from lots of good conversations going on. My guess is that normally it is quiet like a library in there. I’m sure the temple locals appreciated the positive energy.
I also appreciated the bag of unusual small fruits. I read the descriptions and tried them all when I got home.
Great people, great food, interesting music (perhaps not so great). Five big stars for this UYE.
Thank You Val

I was extremely excited to see this event as my husband and I were already intending to lunch at the temple. I’ll have you know, Val, that I would have come regardless of Emi’s response. Her presence was the gourmet icing on your scrumptious cake.
I was finally able to meet Ira J. who was gracious enough to sit with my husband and I and our pterodactyl of a child. Thank you sir for your fine company. I also met the wonderful Kalani C. and the delight that is Tantaran, talked again with Alex L., AND had actual conversation with the famous Emi while our babies played. Or rather, while my baby ate grass near her baby.
Good food, good company, good lesson that made me feel justified in my new dietary directions (which may eventually make me a Unilocal outcast) and I already knew the lyrics to the song! Most of them anyhow. Alright, only the words «Hare Krishna» but that usually constitutes the majority of what is sung.
We also received a meticulously put together information packet from Val and a bag of exotic fruit, two of which I had never seen before. I’m still waiting for my jujubes to ripen, but I ate the chico and it tasted exactly like a sweet pear soaked in kikkoman shoyu. They should make it the mystery ingredient on Iron Chef. Or put it in a basket for Chopped. Thank you, Val, for expanding my horizons and for a great event! Someday I will return the favor and take you to a store on Nimitz where we can expand YOUR horizons.

Worry! Worry! Worry!!!
Sometimes when you throw a party people will say they are coming; but they never show up.
Sometimes when you throw the party at a temple that is not main stream; people will say they are coming, but they never show up.
Sometimes when you throw a party where people will only be eating vegetables; people will say they are coming, but head on down to Burger King and never ever show up.
When I organized a vegetarian UYE at Govinda in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple it was worry! Worry! Worry!
I had to think of a way to make sure people came to this UYE. Hmmmm!!!
BINGO!!! Sometimes when you throw a party at a temple where people will only be eating greens; you tell people Emi H. is coming… and EVERYBODY shows up.
If Emi H. (The Chosen One) clicks «I’m in»…people will come. All I can say is thank goodness Emi H. checked «I’m in.».
For a vegetarian lunch… at a temple… a lot of people showed up.
To my surprise the first person to arrive was Lori I. She didn’t check «I’m in» but came with her daughter and ordered TAKE OUT. We are talking about a female Tyrannosaurus Rex paying $ 7.50 to take out a plate of vegetable salad and ovo-​lacto lasagna!!! She must have been really hungry after that lunch. If I had to guess she went pig hunting with the family in the evening.
Nelson and Sylvia Q. live in Las Vegas and are here on vacation… yes they are on vacation and took the time to attend this UYE. Now how cool is that. It was nice to see the two of them there.
Angela M. and husband Justin M. came with toddler. I read and enjoy her reviews. I passed out a bag of fruits (Korean melon, jujube and chico) to everyone that attended and when it came to Angela’s bag, I was seriously thinking of adding a long, thick cucumber. If you read her «Sensually Yours» review… you will understand why.
The temple people were so hospitable and arranged the tables in the restaurant so that we Unilocalers could all sit together. I’m sure they were all pleased because this was the first time that I’ve seen their restaurant this packed.
Tantaran Q. of discount store and coupon fame made a surprise visit and she was so vivacious. If I knew she was coming I would have included a BOGO coupon for a Whooper in her fruit bag.
I finally got to meet Elite pals Ira J. and Kalani C. They were open minded about experiencing this different kind of UYE. Nice to see you there guys.
Lorena C. and her boyfriend Rudy A. came and seemed to like the food and the outdoor atmosphere. Thanks for showing up.
Hari, the head temple guy, gave a talk about the philosophy of the Hare Krishna. They are a gentle and peace loving people. He told us that in Seattle, they serve over 400 FREE lunches daily and over 4,000 FREE lunches on weekends in their restaurant. I did say 4,000… FREE.
My cool friend Alex L. is such a gentleman. I think I have to teach him a thing or two about all-​you-​can-​eat. Alex! No be shame when you pay for all-​you-​can eat. I think you did too much talking and not enough eating. You could have saved yourself $ 2.50.
Justin U. loved this place. His gf is vegetarian and he thinks she will love this place. He may bring her here on a Sunday because dinner on Sunday’s is FREE. Dinner starts at 5:00 and yes… I did say FREE.
We were eating and everyone seemed to be having a good time. But my carnivorous Unilocal friend Tee was getting very irritated because of the absence of meat. She wanted ME to tell everyone to talk quietly but I’m a meat eater too and GROWLED at her. It was a Lion vs. a Lioness moment and I had to show her who was king. GGGRROOWWLL!!!
After the lecture, we all went out to the back. Under the gigantic banyan tree we started the Bhakti Yoga chanting. I pickup a rattle and Vince B. got himself a tambourine… hey Mr. Tambourine Man play a song for me. Vince is so cool.
The music played and the Bhakti Yoga chanting began…
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Vince B.: «Ching, ching, ching, ching,…»
You can stop now Vince… I said YOU CAN STOP NOW VINCE!!! I think the next time I see Vince, he will have white paint on the bridge of his nose.
Thanks Emi H. for checking «I’m in». The UYE turn out great. Hari enlightened us about his God Krishna and explained why people should eat vegetarian. I understand the thinking but for me, vegetables is only part of the food experience. I will not be giving up hamachi or maguro anytime soon.
I enjoyed Govinda and their food but for me when the music plays the Unilocal Yoga chanting begins…
Hare Unilocal,Hare Unilocal,Unilocal Unilocal,Hare Hare
Hare Emi, Hare Emi, Emi Emi, Hare Hare
I follow «The Chosen One» of Unilocal whom is omnivorous.