Author Topic: Ush's "conference" in OGG  (Read 9034 times)

Offline ushdadude

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Ush's "conference" in OGG
« on: February 27, 2017, 09:59:08 PM »
  DISCLAIMER: I am not a writer so will not attempt to engage you in a well written TR. Instead I will provide some of the highlights of my trip so you can use them when planning your own Maui trip. (I’ll also try to wow you with some pictures and videos)
 
This whole idea started last year when I was in HNL for Shabbos and sat near a fellow dentite who was heading to Maui for a dental conference. I thought that was genius: combining a business expense with a beautiful location. As soon as I got home, I googled “dental conference Hawaii” and saw that this company offers courses every year.
 The next stage came when my favorite travel agent, AH, mentioned that there was a really good deal on delta flights in business JFK-HNL. Since this was going to be a “business trip,” I decided that it’s worth going with a revenue ticket (ie tax write-off) and getting the exact dates I needed. Of course my “office manager” (read: DW) needed to be at the conference as well. This was all about 8 months ago. Talk about advanced planning.
 
 
FLIGHT: DL JFK-HNL J revenue. HNL-OGG on HA booked with UA
Flying with someone, take the middle seats. You actually feel like you’re sitting next to them, no big divider. Flying alone, take the window.
DL had no problem checking bag through to OGG even though it was on HA booked with UA. You do need at least a 90 minute stopover for the computer to allow it though.
CAR: Hertz using points I bought a long time ago. Went with an SUV and got a Ford Explorer.
HOTEL: Hyatt Regency using points. Was 27k a night.
This is where conference was so it was the most convenient for me
Got upgraded to an ocean view suite. Was in the tower right by regency club so that was nice. Only issue was that it overlooked the luau so we had to deal with the noise until 9 each night.
FOOD: Brought frozen meals from home and bought a toaster in Walmart. Also bought a case of bottled water because hotel doesn’t provide any.
 
Sunday:
Looooooong flight. I would consider stopping in LA for a few days next time. Ate airline food; served meat at 11:00am. Was ok
Eventually landed in OGG. Took shuttle to hertz- no hiccups. Drove to Walmart to pick up toaster and water
Got to hotel and hondled a little to get upgrade and eventually got it.
Ate cold dinner we brought from NY
Monday:
First day of conference so I actually had to go. Was rainy and windy day anyway.
Went to aquarium. Was ok, not great. (Atlanta aquarium blows it away).
Walked down Front Street. Banyan tree is very cool. All the stores are basically the same. Lots of timeshare selling people, very pushy.
Tuesday:
Woke up early for sunrise on Haleakala. POURING RAIN! Left early. Beautiful weather on the bottom of the mountain. Go figure. I would check http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ next time. Not completely accurate but the best there is
Went back to hotel for conference. Boring lecture so I left early. Hung out by the beach and pool.
Whale watching with http://www.hawaiioceanproject.com/ Same size boat as PWF but half the crowd. Whales EVERYWHERE. We saw tail flapping, groups of competing males, and dozens of breaches!
Back to the hotel for dinner.
Wednesday:
Our RTH day. Left hotel about 7:30. We really just followed along with the book and stopped at whatever sounded interesting
Twin Falls first stop. Good place to swim under a waterfall if you want; we didn’t. Bought a massive coconut to drink out of
Forgot about rainbow eucalyptus
Lot’s of pretty waterfalls to try out my a6000
Got to Sacred Pools about 1.5 hours before sunset. Pools were closed because of rock slide. Didn’t feel comfortable hiking to bamboo forest
Took south loop home. Awesome Views and great sunset!
Thursday:
Sunrise at Haleakala take 2. TOTALLY WORTH IT!
DW hung out at spa while I went to part of lecture
Hung out by pool and beach
Warren and Annabelle at night. Best magic/comedy show I have ever seen!
Friday:
Flight to HNL on Island air booked with UA. If you can, try to fly HA instead.
Our carryon was weighed and they made s check it for another $35.
Don’t participate in TSA Precheck so had to wait on regular line
Propellor plane smells like you’re driving behind an old truck the entire flight
Juice drink is only 5% juice vs 12% on HA!!!!
HNL:
Booked Hilton revenue. Cheaper than buying weekend certs. Totally shabbos friendly stairwell. Only issue we had was that when we taped door, it kept opening so I did the “tie-a-gartel-to-the-door-handle” trick. Only 10 minute walk from Chabad.
Nice relaxing shabbos with chabad. Good food, good company.
 
Sunday:
Hanauma Bay snorkeling. Went through hotel concierge. $25 for transportation and rental.
Flight home
           
« Last Edit: February 27, 2017, 10:02:11 PM by ushdadude »

Offline yoruel

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2017, 10:00:30 PM »
I can't see any pictures.

Offline TimT

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2017, 10:02:18 PM »
I can't see any pictures.
You're not alone

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2017, 10:02:50 PM »
working on it

Online mochjas

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2017, 10:03:21 PM »
Doesn't seem to be much confrenceing! (Yes I just made up a word)

Offline as2

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2017, 10:03:55 PM »
You're not alone
+3 Also I see a lot of open ended forum coding...been having issues with that lately. Seems like something somewhere changed recently and makes thing more complicated when adding those features.
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2017, 10:33:11 PM »
Nice quick TR! Looking forward to the pictures.

Offline davidmal

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2017, 12:52:55 AM »
-DMC
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it ~Ferris Bueller"

Offline thaber

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2017, 01:02:04 AM »
  Juice drink is only 5% juice vs 12% on HA!!!!
This would be the clincher for me :P

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2017, 06:40:42 AM »
I really need to do this.  When I was at the GHK earlier this year, there was a conference going on.  Lectures were outside, under tents.  So much nicer than the ones I've been to, where everything is indoors.

Is this something that you're going to do regularly?
44/50, 46/63

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2017, 07:45:06 AM »
I'm totally disappointed-was expecting this TR to fully discuss the dental conference.  :P
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline Myccrabbi

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2017, 10:00:00 AM »
If u work for a living, why kill urself working?

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #12 on: February 28, 2017, 10:08:05 AM »
NU???!!
you killin us :)


Sounds like a typical dentist visit

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #13 on: February 28, 2017, 10:49:09 AM »
Nice quick TR! Looking forward to the pictures.
NU???!!
you killin us :)
Thanks. Now that I shoot in RAW, I have to edit them to look better than they did IRL :D
Doesn't seem to be much confrenceing! (Yes I just made up a word)
If you look, my name is on the sign-in sheet every day. Lectures were only scheduled until 12 and we had wednesday off.
This would be the clincher for me :P
All part of my dental research
I really need to do this.  When I was at the GHK earlier this year, there was a conference going on.  Lectures were outside, under tents.  So much nicer than the ones I've been to, where everything is indoors.

Is this something that you're going to do regularly?
The course I took happens every year. They do 1 week in OGG and the next in LIH. I would like to go again. Can't say it'll be every year though.
I'm totally disappointed-was expecting this TR to fully discuss the dental conference.  :P
LOL...well actually the first lecturer had a fascinating discussion about how to prevent tooth decay. SPOILER: it's not just flouride :o He also had an interesting way to treat people on chemo who have dry mouth RM"L

Sounds like a typical dentist visit

At my office, the "killin" happens after you've been waiting for a while already ;D
« Last Edit: February 28, 2017, 12:28:20 PM by ushdadude »

Offline Yammer

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #14 on: February 28, 2017, 10:57:27 AM »
Any recommendations on the brushing, flossing, mouthwash process?

Offline TimT

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #15 on: February 28, 2017, 11:08:45 AM »
Any recommendations on the brushing, flossing, mouthwash process?
Do it until proven otherwise :)
I wouldn't take dental advice from someone who has 5 cavities  ;D

All this article says is that there aren't enough studies proving flossing helps. This does not mean flossing doesn't help. Most dentists can give anecdotal evidence and that should be enough to maintain the status quo until  someone proves flossing can cause harm.

Offline shulem92

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #16 on: February 28, 2017, 12:02:10 PM »
Any recommendations on the brushing, flossing, mouthwash process?
Way to hijack a TR!

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #17 on: February 28, 2017, 12:11:59 PM »
Way to hijack a TR!

Lol. I learned as much about whales than I did about dentistry this trip.
And I didn't learn that much about whales
ETA: I hope everyone realizes that I'm mostly joking. I did learn a lot about dentistry. Lectures were only half a day and we had wednesday off.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2017, 12:30:08 PM by ushdadude »

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #18 on: February 28, 2017, 12:16:04 PM »
Lol. I learned as much about whales than I did about dentistry this trip.
And I didn't learn that much about whales

I guess that means you have to go back next year since there is still so much to learn

Offline Myccrabbi

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Re: Ush's "conference" in OGG
« Reply #19 on: February 28, 2017, 12:25:28 PM »
Lol. I learned as much about whales than I did about dentistry this trip.
And I didn't learn that much about whales
I betcha if it would be a whale confrance and dentistry for entertainment you would have learnt more dentistry lol
If u work for a living, why kill urself working?