Paradise Driver

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

YOU'VE MADE IT THIS FAR

SO YOU'LL PROBABLY SURVIVE

We have a local cable TV channel called The Visitor's Channel 7. It runs 24/7 on a repeating loop, about 4.5 hours in length. I always recommend it to visitors. We all know that they are not here to watch TV, but I tell them to keep it playing while in the room. It is packed with information about restaurants, activities, a tour and history of Mau'i.

They are now online. MauiOnline.com has streaming video of each segment of their programming. I think you will enjoy it.

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I was starved when I went to dinner with Judy. Our food was served and everything I took a bite of had absolutely NO FLAVOR. There was nothing wrong with the food, Judy had the same meal and said it was delicious. The only things that had any taste were the baked (jacketed) potato and the bread and butter. My salad had a bleu cheese vinaigrette dressing. It has always been very robust in flavor (flavour). Last night I might as well have been chewing hay. Same with my prime rib. No flavor, just texture. The horseradish had heat but no zing and the "au jus" was just warm water, with a hint of salt. Took most of my meal home. At Judy's place I found something that tasted normal, chocolate covered graham crackers.

Don't have a cold. Allergies are status quo. Hope it is temporary.

THE PICTURE GALLERY

KAUA'I

Wailua Falls
(Fantasy Island Falls)

Aerial View of Sleeping Giant

Ahukini Pier
Hanama'ulu Bay

Kipu Kai Beach

Waita Reservoir

Waipo'o Falls
Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon Overlook

Dark Green Fields
Of The Kauai Coffee Company

Manawaipuna Falls
(Juraasic Park Falls)
Hanapepe Valley

Close-Up

Ha'ena Beach Park

Hanalei Bay, North Shore

Hanalei Beach On Hanalei Bay

Hanalei River meets Hanalei Bay

Hanalei River Valley

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"Let's all be careful out there!"

Monday, January 01, 2007

HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As I drove home from Judy's, the smoke in the air was so thick that you could only see maybe 100 meters. Both of our cats spent most of the evening hiding under their respective beds.

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A lot of you are waking up with some massive hangovers. When the synapses in you brain start firing correctly check out the following:

Most of us have an idea of the relative size of the planets and sun,
but it's rather dazzling to see it presented this way.

I certainly thought this was enlightening.
And I thought it was big to THIS point.....

Antares is the 15th brightest star in the sky.
It is more than 1000 light years away.

Today's PICTURE GALLERY is from my new 2007 calendar.

THE PICTURE GALLERY

JANUARY - IANUALI

Long, Golden Sand Of Big Beach
Makena, Mau'i

FEBRUARY - PEPELUALI

Popular Snorkrling Site
Honolua Bay, Mau'i

MARCH - MALAKI

Peaceful Ka'anapali Beach
Mau'i

APRIL - 'APELILA

Sunset Over Ulua Beach
On The Southwest Shore
At Wailea

MAY - MEI

Lush Forest Surrounds 'Iao Needle
Mau'i

JUNE - IUNE

Palms Swaying At Wailea Beach
Mau'i

JULY - IULAI

Beautiful Molokini
Just Off Mau'i's Coast

AUGUST - 'AUKAKE

Glowing Kapalua Beach On The West Shore
Mau'i

SEPTEMBER - KEPAKEMAPA

Colorful Sunset On The West Shore
Moloka'i

OCTOBER - 'OKAKOPA

Lahaina Harbor
And Distant West Mau'i Mountains

NOVEMBER - NOWEMAPA

Mother And Calf Share A Tranquil Moment
In Waters Off Of Mau'i

DECEMBER - KEKEMAPA

Wailea Beach
Fronting The Grand Wailea Resort

To get your own copy of this calendar, and other items, go to:

WelcomeToTheIslands.com

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Sunday, December 31, 2006

AND THUS ENDS

ANOTHER WEEK, MONTH, YEAR

Did some finanglin' and have enough to cover my obligations on the !st. So that means that for the first time since I moved to Mau'i, 13 years ago - next month, I will not be working on New Year's Eve. I am also off New Year's Day.

I can't express how happy I am. No amateur drunks, no pukers, no drunk "jay-walkers" (dressed all in black), no screaming passengers who crank the stereo up to maximum volume,. no dodging "Roman Candles" and "Bottle Rockets" fired at "ONE-NINE".

I am going to have a couple of drinks at Judy's, watch our time adjusted view of the ball dropping in New York and listen to the hours of fireworks that are an annual tradition in Hawai'i. I have been in active free-fire combat zones that were quieter than Mau'i on New Year's Eve.

Of course, I live at the end of the world's day. It is already 2007 in Kiwi and Oz and other points in the far east.

If anyone should happen to drop by here today, you can go here to watch the show, activities and "ball drop" in NYC live on the internet. I think the webcast begins around 9:00pm New York time (UTC -5). Check it out.

AND FINALLY...