Typical Winter's day at Main Beach Noosa

Noosa is at the Northern end of a strip of golden beaches known as the City of Sunshine Coast, Australia.  This paradise is blessed with many protected beaches spread out along the headland which itself is part of the protected Noosa National Park, containing native flora and fauna of the region.  Winter in Australia is from June to August, and summer is from December to February.  Getting to Noosa is a very easy journey, just you follow these steps:

                

Arrange your trip for the best time.  Remember Noosa, is in South-Eastern Queensland and gets temperatures ranging from 63-83° F in Summer and 45-72° F in winter.  Purchase a return ticket to the Australian Airport at Brisbane.  If this is not possible then Sydney or Melbourne will also suffice and obtain a connecting flight to Brisbane or directly to Sunshine Coast Airport.  Book your accommodation at Noosa hotels or campsites.  Apply for the relevant visa through any Australian Consulate attached to their Embassies in the USA.  American nationals should not have difficulty obtaining a visa.  Connect to Noosa after arrival in Australia, via a flight from Sydney Melbourne or Brisbane airports directly to Sunshine Coast Airport.  If you arrive in Brisbane it is only a 80 mile drive North by car, coach or train. Wherever there is secluded grass such as golf courses you will find kangaroos.

     

            Visit Hastings St beach, at Laguna Bay right in the middle of the Noosa foreshore.  Surfing and swimming is available.  Accommodation is available right on the beachfront.  The beach is patrolled by the Noosa Surf Life Saving Club. Visit the Noosa National park which has walking trails and signs depicting the flora.  A track along the cliff edge of the park leads to the excellent swimming beaches of Tea Tree Bay, Granite Bay, fairy Pools, Hell’s gates, Alexandria Bay, and Sunshine Beach.  Visit Noosa River which is serviced by modern accommodation where there are ample picnic facilities, grass banks and calm water for swimming and boating.  Noosa also has scuba diving clubs with frequent dive trips all over the Sunshine Coast waters. The Australian Navy scuttled the decommissioned HMAS Brisbane just off the Sunshine Coast at Mooloolaba and the site is now part of the National Parks of Australia.  There are regular dive trips to this wreck each week. International standard shopping malls abound in Noosa and Sunshine Coast as well as a boutique shopping style on Hastings St in the middle of Noosa Heads itself.  Hastings St is akin to a miniature Rodeo Drive down under.  For further information see their website.

St. Kitts has the best hiking places. You can stay at the Rawlin Plantation Hotel and hike the cloud shrouded mountain called Mr. Liamuiga. It is a 3,792 foot volcano that has been dormant. It takes about two to three hours of hike to the summit. You can do this on your own or you have a guide. When you reach the summit, you will be able to see the green carpeted crater. There are also ropes that are available of you dare to go down the caldera wall for about a thousand foot.

Barbados is heaven for those who are into surfing because this place has the best waves in the Caribbean area. Every November, the annual Reef Classic Barbados is held at the Soup bowl in Barbados. There are also waves that are good for intermediate and beginners. You can stay at the Sea-U Guest House in Bathsheba. You can also hike from Bathsheba to Bath Beach along the old rail.

The Seychelles has the best scenic places you can get to with the use of a boat. The SY Sea star is a 138 foot schooner and has eight cabins, teak decks, gears for diving and snorkeling and mountain bikes. They offer and 11 day cruise of island hopping. Included in the island hoppings are the islands of Mahe, Praslin, Cousin and La Digue.

Vieques is located in Puerto Rico. There are mangrove line lagoons and empty beaches in this area. It is also a home for the endangered leather back turtles and brown pelicans. It is also a home for the red footed boobies that is just cruising on the waters and of course lots of giant fish like permits, snooks, tarpons and a lot more. Your activities in the island will include fishing, kayaking, and mountain biking.

Corregidor Island is the American fortress during the World War II. Tagaytay has the Taal Volcano which is the smallest volcano in the world where you could hike for just forty five minutes. Bohol is home of the Tarsiers, the smallest primate in the world and you will find the gem of the visayas, the Chocolate Hills. Anilao in Batangas is where tourist can enjoy wind surfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Safarri Zoo is in Calatagan Batangas where tourist can mingle with tigers and lions and other wild animals.

You will find Mayon Volcano in Bicol, the most beautiful volcano with a perfect symmetrical cone. In Sorsogon, you will enjoy whale watching and where tourist can swim with whales and dolphins. Magellan's Cross is in Cebu where Ferdinan Magellan, first put the cross upon its landing.

Cagayan de Oro is the city of the golden friendship where you can enjoy white water rafting at Cagayan River which is the longest river in the Philippines. Camiguin has three volcanoes and a coastline that alternates between white and black beaches with volcanic rocks. Davao is the Durian Capital of the Philippines. You will also find Mt. Apo in Davao which is the highest peak in the Philippines where you can enjoy mountain climbing. Genuine pearls can be found at Dakak Pearl Farm in Samal Island. And the Eagle Sanctuary in Davao is the sanctuary for all the endangered species of eagles that are found.

Pagugpod beach is in Laoag City. The third oldest city in the Philippines where architectural remnants of the Spanish era still stand is in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Paskuhan Village is in Pampanga where Christmas spirit is present all year round. Palawan is known as the last frontier, you will find the underground river here which is the St. Paul subterranean National Park. The Tubbataha Reef National Park is also in Palawan. This park has many sharks, barracudas, mackerels, garoupas and many more.

Calauit Island in Busuanga Island is where endangered species of animals can be found. Irawan Crocodile Farm is in Puerto Princesa in Palawan where crocodiles are being propagated. El Nido in palawan is the origin of the soup called bird's nest. Subic Free Port is in Olangapo City which is known as the Shining Jewel in Central Luzon.

The Magat Dam is in Ramon, Isabella. This is the biggest dam in the whole Philippines. Los Banos Laguna is home of many hot springs. The Pagsanjan Falls is where you can enjoy the shooting rapids of the falls. The Hidden Valley is a natural botanical garden in Laguna. Puerto Galera is in Mindoro the favorite diving spot in the Philippines. Mount Pinatubo has become famous in the world because of its catastrophic eruption.

Hundred Islands in Lingayen is where you can see hundred islands dotted along the Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan. Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte is the surfing capital of the Philippines. Luneta Park in Manila is the biggest park in the Philippines where Dr. Jose Rizal was executed during the Spanish era. Fort Santiago in Intramuros, the walled city of Manila, where Dr. Jose Rizal wrote his farewell letter “Mi ultimo Adios”.

Sundress or Sarong

Ladies, this is your chance to make a great first impression with that hot guy laying on the sand as you pass by. Show off those sexy legs of yours and a little cleavage too. You will want a loose fitting sundress or sarong. Comfort is as important as style and color.

Bikini or Swimsuit

The most important thing about your bikini is that it fits properly. Head to the local bikini shop or at your nearby mall. Select a design that works well with your body type. Then look for colors and patterns. Guys seem to love vibrant colors and especially when on a string bikini.

Sandals

Your shoes should compliment the rest of your attire. The beach is all about sand and water. Flats are most appropriate for this occasion. Rubber beach thongs, or leather sandals are fantastic!

Towel

Beach towels come in a large variety of colors and patterns. Lightweight towels dry faster than the thick plus ones. You will be laying on this for the good part of the day. It is your choice. Matching your swimwear never hurts.

Sunglasses

You get what you pay for, especially with sunglasses. The $5 pairs you find at the gas stations do not protect your eyes. Invest in a good pair of polarized sunglasses. A larger frame is especially nice for the beach.

Sunscreen for body, face and lips

Hawaiian Tropic, Tropical Blend, Banana Boat, and Coppertone, are all good brands of sunscreen. Bring a minimum of SPF 15 and apply frequently. For those hard to reach areas, ask one of the guys for assistance.

Hat

Beach hats are practical and stylish. Go neutral tones to match everything or something bright to match your outfit. We must protect our beautiful skin.

Limited cash

Stash your credit cards in the trunk of your locked car, but try to carry less than $20 cash on hand. It is easy to return to your car for more money if needed.

iPod and Cellphone

Like American Express cards, never leave home without them.

Anytime you park your car whether it is at the beach or a mall, never leave anything in plain sight. Leave your valuables at home or secure them in the trunk. Remember, “out of sight, out of mind”!

Be safe and enjoy your day at the beach!

It is relatively a new sport in the Philippines and it has becoming a popular sport and it has been advancing rapidly. There are also active climbing places in manila and in other major cities. There are also quality-climbing equipments that is available in outdoor shops and climbing sites outside Manila which are Atimonan in Quezon, Antipolo, Cogeo, Manalmon, Montalban, Mt. Maculot, Palawan and Sagada. Currently there are 3 gyms that have indoor artificial climbing walls, which are the Power up Gym in Quezon City, Planet Rock in Makati, and Gravity Gym in Paranaque.

Sea Kayaking

It is also a new sport in the Philippines. The Philippines has 7,107 islands and offers thousand of kilometers for kayaking on crystal clear water, which can take you to exotic villages, pristine beaches, beautiful coral reefs and mangrove along the way. You can kayak in Caramoan, Palawan, Samar and in Siargao. Kayak is also a good way to explore Philippines delicate ecosystems without disturbing any wildlife.

Surfing

Philippines have some good surf breaks that will be available for you whatever level you are in. there are world class waves between July and November when the winds brings strong waves amid clear skies and low humidity. You can experience this waves in Baler and Infanta in Quezon, Daet in Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Vigan in Ilocos Sur, La union, Samar, Siargao, Tandag in Surigao del Sur and in Zambales.

This and kayaking are new sports in the Philippines. There are becoming more paddlers that are looking into more action in the Philippine Rivers. If you want to experience the thrills of the gushing rapids of the Philippines Rivers, go to Bubunawan/Cagayan River in Mindanao, Tibiao River, Panay, Calbiga River in Samar, and Tacloban.

Trekking

This is for those people who wanted to go beyond the end of the roads and Philippines has the best treasures. Trekking is the only way you can see these treasures. These are the places which are the falls, tribesmen with beautiful tattoos and the crystal Water Rivers. You will also see jungles, virgin forests, and beautiful mountain ranges. And only the trekkers can witness all these things. If you are that person you can trek in Abra, Albay, Baguio, Batanes, Batangas, Bohol, Bulacan, Cebu, Iriga, Kalinga, Laguna, Leyte, Marinduque, Mt. Province, naga, Olongapo, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Pampangga, Romblon, Samar and Sorsogon.

Snowboarding

Since the Olympic winter games in Nagano 1998, the Japanese have developed a fondness for winter sports. From ice-skating to skiing, every sport practiced in the snow or on ice has gained popularity. Initially there were only a lot of skiing places around Nagano, but the rising popularity of skiing has led to the birth of a lot of skiing areas with good facilities. While Nagano is still popular, a lot of Japanese choose for Hokkaido now. Being more Northern than Nagano, there are areas with guaranteed snow and the facilities are growing to an agreeable level. With all this attention to skiing, it is easy for snow-boarders to use the facilities too. Being not as popular as skiing, there should be no trouble for you to find your snowboard gear in any skiing area. Even the après-ski is bound to be as fun as it would be in one of the expensive ski-resorts in the Alpes. So Japan is good to go.

Skateboarding

While skateboarding can be done in Japan and is regarded as cool amongst the youth, there are some obstacles to overcome. Skate-parks are rare and only located in the big cities. Most of them are indoor skate-parks and since there is little choice, you can grow bored and you get no alternative to choose from. As for boarding outside, it can be hard to find places suited for boarding. Almost in every town the police won't be happy with your performance. So good luck with finding a private place that's good for skateboarding. There are some places in the big cities, where you can hang out with fellow skaters, but they are rare and not easily discovered. The same goes for finding gear. You can find some skate-shops, but they will not be cheap and only a few can get you everything you want. I think if you have some skateboarding Japanese friends, you're good to go, but just going there by yourself you'll be completely lost.

Wave Surfing

Geographically Japan is interesting for wave surfing. The reefs near Okinawa and the weird cracks under the sea near Kyushu can bring you some weird waves. In Okinawa all year through and in Kyushu in summer, surfing gains popularity. It's considered as one of the cool sports and more places where you can buy or rent equipment are starting up. Most of the equipment is imported from Australia and the quality is pretty high. Since surfing in Japan is still in growth status, you can find untouched havens and so on. I would really recommend Japan for the experienced surfer. If you are not yet very experienced, you may want to try some more touristic places in Okinawa. Or you can always try to find a Japanese friend who likes to surf and knows a certain area pretty well. Like I said Japan has some weird waves and you better be careful before throwing yourself into the water.

Wind Surfing

Japan has a lot of sea and quite enough wind. For the conditions for windsurfing you will never have to look far. But climate-wise and equipment-wise you are better off South in Kyushu or Okinawa. Wind surfing is not extremely popular in Japan. It doesn't mean that you can't find it anywhere but you will have to inquire first. Either there is a club and you'll find everything or people will stare at you like you've asked them whether the synchronized swimming team practices in this part of the sea. In some places they will even have a synchronized swimming team, but no windsurfing. So in short: you will not have to complain about circumstances, but more about material or finding a club.

Oheo Gutch is probably one of the best things to go do in Maui. The scenery is breathtaking. You can go swimming but you will need to be aware of weather conditions as well as which pool you decide to swim in. There are many waterfalls and pools that lead into each other. There is one pool in particular that leads into the ocean and you must not swim in that one otherwise you could get badly hurt. The Oheo Gutch is a natural wonder and is also known as the 7 Sacred Pools.

Goofy Foot Surf School teaches amateurs how to surf. The classes are small so that you can get that one on one instruction. A beginner's class can cost around $55 per person. There are intermediate classes available as well and the school offer board rentals.

B&B Scuba Diving Services offers three day courses to long-term dive master courses. There are guided tours as well as boat tours. They also allow people to rent diving gear.

Trilogy Excursions is a sailing adventure. There are six sailing catamarans in this fleet including Ka'anapali and the Lahaina Harbor. This is five hours worth of sunning and sailing with some snorkeling.

Ka'anapali Beach has a landmark called the Black Rock. This is where people will dive off from since it is very high and can potentially be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. The beach is not as busy as the Waikiki beach so you will have a lot of area to yourself. There are resorts, restaurants, and shops nearby.

Makina State Park is the perfect beach to tan and swim. It has two parts. One beach is called the Big Beach which is for the family and the Little Beach which is not for the whole family. The Little Beach is a nude beach where you can also boogie board and surf.

The Summer months can see temperatures as high as 90 degrees, but the average temperature is 85 degrees. The Summer months are during May through October. The Winter months are from November through April. The temperatures have been as low as 10 degrees but only at night. The average temperature during the day is 78 degrees which is not much different than the Summer months. Yet, during the Winter Hawaii will experience the most rain. Flooding is not uncommon.

There are several little islands that belong to Hawaii. Depending on which side you live on will depend on how much dry or wet weather you will get. Typically, when you live on the windward side which is the northeast side you will get the most rain and the coolest weather. This happens since the winds are coming from the northeast. The driest parts of the island will be the southwest area of the islands. The southwest side is called the leeward side since the winds die down and the rains tend to lighten by the time it gets to the southwest side of the islands.

Hurricanes do not happen as often you may think. The last major hurricane that hit Hawaii was in 1991 which was the most severe hitting Inko, Kauai, and parts of Ohau. For the most part, hurricanes do not hit Hawaii. They may get heavy winds, but nothing too strong to destroy the islands.

If you are looking for a place to go on vacation that has the most reasonable and consistent weather then think about going to Hawaii. If you want to visit the higher elevations of the island then be sure to dress appropriately with pants and a sweater since it can get rather cold up there depending on what time of year you go. It doesn't just have natural beauty but it offers great weather.

Marmaris:

Marmaris is one of the best touristic destinations on the Mediterranean Coast. It is located in Mugla. Tourism is the main source of income for the resident of Marmaris. Many young people go to Marmaris to work in tourism sector. They generally work in hotels.The population of Marmaris is actually 20000. However in summer season, it approaches to 400000. There are many shops, restaurants and bars in Marmaris. Marmaris also has a beautiful natural harbor which is used as Turkey's premier yachting port for Blue Voyage yacht cruises.

Bodrum:

Bodrum is another touristic city in Mugla Province. In ancient times it was known as Halicarnassus. Famous Turkish novelist, Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli, took the name of “fisherman of Halikarnas” from Bodrum. He had lived in Bodrum for many years before his death. Bodrum is one of the international centers of Turkey for tourism and yachting.Bodrum is rich with it's history. One of the seven wonders, Mausoleum of Mausolus, was in Bodrum in ancient times. Famous historian of ancient times Herodotus, famous Ottoman Admiral Turgut Reis, and Zeki Muren had lived in Bodrum for years.

There are many historical and sigthseeing places in Bodrum, such as Bodrum Castle, Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology and Turgut Reis. Due to the touristic activities in Bodrum, population of Bodrum increases from 33000 to 500000 in summer season.This means “money” for the people who lives there.

First, and most importantly before I say anything else I will go on record stating that not everyone here is a celebrity or star struck. To the contrary we really wish the celebrities would stop creating the impression that everyone in Southern California is like them. In fact, many of us really wouldn't mind if Hollywood moved to some place like Iowa.
Secondly, our weather drives our lifestyle and our decisions. And yes, we do take our weather for granted, thank you very much. We expect it to be gorgeous outside every day. That's why we live here and pay some of the highest friggin' prices in the country for real estate and gasoline! Many of us may not be rich but we figure if we have to be poor we prefer to suffer in paradise. So how does this influence us to be who we are?

Our Personality

• Because of our perpetually great weather we're pretty easy going. Come on, wouldn't you be if you lived in weather like this? But don't mess with us; we're not oblivious. In fact, when I asked a Chicago friend who lived here for 18 months what he thought personified a Southern Californian he said "Southern Californians, while very laid back, have a deep streak of assertive personal confidence that is not readily apparent on the outside." In other words, we are really cool.
• Along with being laid-back, we're genuinely very nice and friendly and we expect other people, particularly visitors, to be too. We don't take kindly to rude Easterners. We don't dislike Easterners. Far from it. We have a lot of friends and family who live east of here. We welcome everyone, just not people with attitude. It messes with our easy-goingness. My advice if you are going to visit us, or even think of moving here, is to leave your attitude back where you came from.

We Have Our Own Unique Way of Expressing Ourselves

• We speak in a vernacular particular to our area. We call everyone "dude". We also use words not commonly heard in other parts of the country such as rad, gnarly, awesome, totally and cool. Their use either started here or gravitated here and never left. In SoCal pretty much everything is "cool". Even though it's a bad habit we use the word "like" a lot. People in SoCal say "like" at least three times more in a sentence as people from the "other" coast. For example, we would say "like that was so cool, dude." A friend would respond, "Totally."
• Besides our funny speech we use a fair amount of Spanglish because we live next to Mexico. Not everyone here speaks Spanish but we all know how to say something in Spanglish. We learn it on the playgrounds in school. It's not unusual to hear someone in a bar ask, "Dude, can I have a really cold cerveza?" The bartender responds, "No problemo, dude. You want any snackolas with that?"

Head to the Beach, Surf's Up

• We swim in the ocean even when it's freezing cold. Why? Because we can.
• People think we never get stressed out. We do! When it happens we head to the beach. Oh heck, we head to the beach even if we're not stressed out.
• We surf or we know someone who surfs. It's part of our culture. The diehards get up at 4:00 a.m., grab their boards and head out to the beach to catch some "awesome" early morning waves. In winter the surfers wear wet suits. It's really cool to drive or walk along the beach at daybreak and see them sitting on their boards out in the water waiting for a big one. From a distance they look like a flock of skinny baby seals bobbing on top of the water.

The SoCal Look

• If you've ever visited Southern California you've seen that our clothing and shoe choices are fairly simple. The basic wardrobe for many, regardless of gender, is two t-shirts and two pairs of shorts. One set for summer and one set for winter. More extravagant people own several t-shirts and pairs of shorts. When men dress up they put on a Hawaiian shirt. They don't own a suit or sports coat. Women don a sleeveless, skinny-strap dress and matching flip-flops, or a mini-skirt, tank top and Uggs. To successfully wear this look it helps to be tan and fairly thin. Big girls and big women really don't look good in these skimpy outfits. But of course that does not stop many of them from wearing them. To top off the look, women use sunglasses to push back their long hair, never a headband.
• Speaking of hair length, the surfer chick look is very popular here. It embodies the above wardrobe along with long, preferably straight hair and a large beach bag type purse. Many women carry most of what they own in these bags, including their dogs. Lest you think the Hollywood starlets started this trend, uh-uh. They borrowed the look from the surfer chicks.
• We wear flip-flops year-round. Women often own a pair in every color.

Our Wheels and Roads

• We refer to the distance between two places as the amount of time it takes to get there. It's never "10 miles', it's "20 minutes" or "that'll take you 45 minutes during rush hour."
• We tend to travel on freeways to everything even if traveling the side streets is more direct. What can I say? We're taxed to the hilt for our freeways and we want our money's worth.
• Most cars in the beach areas sport a surfboard rack.
• Some would say we are obsessed with our cars. It's probably because it takes forever to get anywhere but it could also be because our cars stay in better shape than other parts of the country where winter beats the b'jesus out of vehicles. We don't have that problem.
• We don't fear earthquakes but a little rain will cause considerable damage on the roads. We can't drive in the rain. Ask anyone from Seattle or Portland who has ever been here when it happens to be raining and seen us trying to drive on wet roads. They laugh hysterically and liken it to watching people drive bumper cars. Except for those years when El Nino hits and it rains like a mother causing homes to slide off the hills, what we call rain other parts of the country refer to as drizzle. But for us it's an onslaught. We huddle inside, grumble like the world is ending and pray for the sun to return.

Chips, Salsa and Margies

• Because of our proximity to Mexico we eat a lot of Mexican food. Many of us need a daily infusion of Mexican food. We become anemic if we go a day without salsa. We eat fish tacos, carne asada fries, burritos, chips and salsa and guacamole like other parts of the country eat pot roast, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and chicken and dumplings, whatever the heck they are. SoCal babies are born with a predilection for Mexican food. Their moms eat Mexican food throughout their pregnancies so the babies are conditioned right out of the womb to crave taquitos.
• Walk into a SoCal kitchen and you are likely to see avocadoes (for guacamole of course), fresh tomatoes and chiles (for making salsa) and artichokes. In other parts of the country people have no idea what to do with an artichoke. And we're happy about that because it means more artichokes for us.
• In other parts of the country they hold summer barbecue cookoffs. We hold salsa cookoffs.
• We also eat a lot of fresh citrus because citrus trees grow in our backyards the way grass grows elsewhere. We pity the poor soul who doesn't have an orange or lemon tree in the yard. Not sure how those folks get through January without freshly squeezed orange juice. In my yard we grow pixie tangerines and limes. We have to; we need them for margaritas, which brings up another topic.
• Our alcoholic beverage of choice is the margarita. I don't know if there are any statistics but I'll bet we consume more tequila per capita than anywhere in the continental United States. Seriously. You'd agree if you ever drove through Pacific Beach on a Saturday night. You think all those drunk 20-somethings are quaffing scotch? You can find margaritas here of every flavor and concoction, but a true Southern Californian likes em the traditional way made with fresh lime juice or mix and a really really good tequila. Okay, the younger set that's out to get drunk isn't particular about their tequila and would just as soon drink Jose Cuervo Gold ("totally" cheap stuff made gold with caramel coloring.) The rest of us go for the premium stuff: silver, resposado (rested) or anejo (old). We do have standards, ya know.

We Have Our Faults

• If you've never been here and you're under the impression that Southern California is without fault, well, think again. We do have faults. Really big ones in fact that cause earthquakes. Indeed that can be a problem if they are big enough but generally they are not. It just freaks out the tourists who ask us how on earth we tolerate living here. Gee, I don't know. An occasional earthquake that shakes the dust off the window sills versus living in the path of killer hurricanes or tornadoes or putting up with winter so bad our patoosies would fall off? Hmm, not a hard choice.
• Our traffic is another thing we're not proud of but it's not like we're the only part of the country with traffic. We don't let it upset us; instead we go to the beach.
• Finally there is one last blemish and it concerns our weather. No, I'm not going to brag again about our perfect weather (but did I mention we have great weather here?) In fact for two months a year our weather is pretty rotten by our standards. You might think I'm talking about the middle of winter but it's the late spring/early summer. We refer to these months as May Gray and June Gloom. For eight weeks the coastline is socked in with overcast gray skies and fog. Sometimes it's so thick it comes down like rain. And I tell you it is downright depressing! I often feel sorry for the tourists who scamper out here right after their offspring get out of school for summer break. They emerge from the airport wondering what happened to the sun. Sometimes it will peak out after the noon hour but often not. They spend a week at the beach wondering what all the talk was about Southern California being so great. They go home shaking their heads. I consider it a blessing. One more family that WON'T move here. Of course we never tell those folks that the sun comes out in July.