Mornin' all!!

I've got a 37" LCD and a 40" LCD and will soon be buying a projector that will let me showed Hi-Def and have the image be about 7' across... maybe more. Imagine playing a first-person shooter game and have the enemies being bigger than you!!! I don't play games really, but I'm thinking that MotoGP is gonna look AWESOME!!

Projectors can take a bit more wiring, depending upon how you do it (hung from ceiling with all wires hidden, etc.)

LCDs are better for areas that are very bright, as they are less prone to glare/reflection problems and generate less heat.

I have a friend with a 120Hz 1080P LCD tv and I tell you what - it makes movies look fake. The people appear 'detached' from their surroundings. Almost like it wants to be 3D, but it's just a strange and unsettling effect. Personally I'd stay away from the 120Hz LCDs.


Who here has been to Hawaii? I've been itching to go there and learn to surf, so any recommendations would be welcome. Heck, if I like it enough, I may just look for work there and relocate!!

 

Why can't it be everyday? That would be my question.

Sorry Brendan, never been to Hawaii. My stepsister went there a few years ago, loved it so much she almost didn't come home.

 

I've been there three times, with a fourth trip next year in the works.
Before you all think that I am rolling in money, the only way that I can afford it is I bought a time share nearly 20 years ago that I can swap out my week for a week in Hawaii.
And the plane tickets are purchased with airline miles that I rack up by the thousand purchasing parts for the shop then paying the card off monthly.
So the only cash that I have to save up for is the car rental and spending money when I am there.
It is one of the most pleasant places on earth to be in. You can stand on the balcony of the condo in your swim trunks, nothing else, at 6:30 in the morning and every finger and toe is nice and warm.
It is a very similar climate to the Gulf coast.
The water surrounding the islands is almost bath water warm and if you go swimming/snorkeling/scuba it is like swimming in a giant aquarium. Fish everywhere!
Oahu is nice but too crowded for me to ever want to go back there on vacation.
Maui is getting crowded too. If you stand on the south shore you can see two other islands and that makes it nice, you don't get the feeling of being lost in the middle of the ocean there.
My two favorite islands are the big island and Kauai.
Last time I was there I stayed at Lawai beach, which is west of Poipu beach.
Very laid back, relaxing time. Walk out of the condo, cross the street and down to the beach.
I was able to take some pictures of the local sea turtles, they come in at high tide to graze on some of the plant life.
Time of my life.



The big island has the most diverse climate and land formations, from dense tropical rain forest, to desert with prickly pear cactus, and of course the volcano.
That is where we are going next year.
They even have skiing there on the top. It may be tropical, but the mountain is high enough for the climate to change and have snow at the top.
.
The only drawback to living there is that it is an island. Sooner or later you will want to "get away" to something different and the only way to do that is a plane ticket to the continent.
If that is not an issue with you and can think of no reason to leave, then it is paradise on earth.
I would love to have a way to live on Kauai or the big island, but too many things in my life keep me here on the mainland.

 

Oh, and if you find that it is too warm for you at sea level, just get in your car and drive up higher. There are several places on Kauai, Maui, and the big island where you can drive up above 5000 feet and need a jacket.

 

Kwik -

Thanks for the info! I'll definitely be doing some scuba but I really want to do some surfing, and I figure "why not go to one of the best places in the world?" - (same idea when I wanted a truck so I bought a 7.3 Super Duty)

As for moving there... it could happen. All my family is back in Maryland, I already live 1700 miles away. I love them, but that'll never stop me from moving around. Ever heard of St. Brendan the Traveler? Yeah, I told my Dad it was his fault... LOL.

Anyway, right now it's just a vacation plan. I haven't taken just a vacation for 100% fun in years - always to visit family, or just a weekend trip at most. If I like it enough and could swing it, I'll be selling just about everything EXCEPT for the PSD (yes, I'd ship it there), bicycles & laptops. Quarantining the dogs would SUCK though.

So... I've got great info on Kwik's trip (thanx!!) - anybody have surfing experience? I know we've got a couple Hawaiians that pop in here.... care to do a housing swap for a week?

 

Even if you can't do a housing swap, you might have an FTEer to hang out with and teach you how to surf.

If you have to stay in a hotel, try Travelocity. They have great package deals. Many times you can get flight and hotel for less than what you'd pay for plane tickets.

 

Your right! Problem solved!

 

Hawaii is a place I haven't been to, but very much want to. I love the beach and the ocean, warm weather and tropical climates. I think I'd have a darn good time down there. The opportunity for me to go just hasn't come up yet. When it does, I'm on it though.

 

I have a good friend that lives on Kauai, and says if you enjoy more of the jungle environment/garden life than Kauai is the best. I've never been, but it's on my to do list. I went to Cancun last winter and man, that was a good time. I just dont speak enough spanish to make it more fun. Did get a crash course in Scuba though! Very fun.

 

I've only been to the beach twice.

Once was Galveston, the other time was a small seaside town in North Carolina, and it was freezing!

I'd like to see a nice beach one of these days.

Brendan I looked it up, if you travel on offdays (Mon-Thurs) you can get a pretty good deal..7 days 6 nights hotel and air for $900 or so.

 

Lisa, you should get to the beach a little more. I've been to quite a few different beaches and just never get enough of them. My favorite has been Trunk Bay in St. John (Virgin Islands) which was one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. Sand was soft & bright white, almost like flower, and the water was clear as it could be. Acapulco is a beautiful place, but the actual beach itself isn't that great, but not horrible. I spent plenty of time out there. I had a pretty nice time in Emerald Isle, NC as well. Spent a week out there with some family a couple years ago and it was very, very relaxing. Those are probably my top 3 beach places I've been to.

Other's I've been to are Cancun, Mazatlan, Daytona Beach, Monterey, St. Padre Isaland, Panama City Beach, and somewhere in San Diego. Cancun is ok, but a little too touristy for me. Mazatlan was much more of a true visit to Mexico, but I went on a spring break and I'm not sure it would be that much fun to just visit for a normal vacation. Padre was very similar to Mazatlan, but you're just not in Mexico. Daytona was cool, but I'm such a racing fan that I also found other things to do besides the beach there. Monterey's beach wasn't all that great, but I don't think that's what they're known for...same thing with San Diego.

 

Your not kidding there, it was like being at the mall here, only everyone was tan. I think maybe the BVI's next time.


Although, I spent most of my time at the pool bar anyways

 

Dang Jeremy, I'm jealous.

I've warned Randy that once we get our feet planted, we'll be doing plenty of traveling. We'll start off here in the states, and eventually graudate to do a little overseas traveling.

I have most of Europe, some of Asia, and a trip to Australia on my list thus far.

I'm told there are still Dreiers in Germany, some of whom my family can trace back direct ancestry. I'd love to meet those people. Randy's family is Scotch Irish, so it would be super fun to go to Scotland/Ireland.

 

I regularly visit Destin, Fort Walton,Panama City, Pensacola, and Gulf Shores, for work, and have traveled the Lousianna, and MS gulf coast. The beaches are absolutley spectacular, but, its for the tourists. I have been to Cozumel, Cancun, Jamaica, and three islands in the Bahamas, I liked Cozumel the best after we got away from the city and went towards the west end of the island. I have also been up and down the beaches from Wrightsville NC to Savannah GA. the Atlantic sand was too brown for me. I would love to go to HI sometime, or even a little further than that to American Samoa. One day I will be independently wealthy and will be able to see the South Pacific.

 

I grew up 150mi from the Atlantic, so we went to the MD shore & Jersey shore a bunch. I've been to Spain and the beach wasn't bad, but the eye-candy was INCREDIBLE!!

I'm not fluent but 'highly functional' in Spanish, so I got away from the touristy spots and really partied with the Spaniards. OH, and before you translate that to "got stupid-@$$ drunk, embarassed myself, puked, and don't remember much" what it really means is that we danced most of the night, had a few drinks, talked, joked, laughed continuously, and made good friends that I visit every few years.

Lisa - DEFINITELY have Spain on your list. The people I met were so generous & friendly... I almost didn't come back.