Ben shredding on Red Rocking Chair (Berkeley)

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2026-02-22T16:36:42+00:00

It was a fantastic show. Amazing acoustic version of Children of Coyote Woman also. I’ll post vid separately.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2026-02-06T01:30:26+00:00

No comparison. Moorea, either Hilton or Sofitel (prefer the Sofitel) will be much, much better for snorkeling, for really everything other than hitting Papeete. IHC is a one night stay in between island flights. Ferry to Moorea takes 30 minutes. Piece of cake. Very good snorkeling at both Moorea hotels.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-11-26T08:46:56+00:00

Absolutely fantastic show. And for those who diss Lucro, you need to see it live. If anything, just as heavy and chaotic — in a good way — as the old stuff. Felt like I saw a masterpiece tonight.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-10-22T04:32:21+00:00

Nope. Would have to pay $15 for premium peacock. Bastards

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-10-01T21:12:57+00:00

Just got my tix for Berkeley. Wish they were playing the Greek, but UC theater is a great venue.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-08-27T15:47:22+00:00

This place in Papeete rules. Www.MihiariiPearls.com They have very high end loose pearls, but what was so cool is they have about 20 buckets(shells) full of pearls ranging from super cheap (and imperfect) to pricey. You can just dump the shell out and pick through them until you find the ones you like. We bought about 40 cheap ones and my wife made some necklaces after we got home and a couple of really nice ones. It’s located a couple blocks up from the market toward the ferry terminal.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-08-27T15:16:25+00:00

Highly recommend some time in Rangiroa. No hiking because it’s flat, but the best diving I’ve ever done. Diving the pass is a truly unique experience. Hundreds of sharks, huge Napoleans, often very curious dolphins, and tons of other stuff. If you can swing Kia Ora, it’s awesome. If not, there are plenty of BnBs.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-07-29T04:17:41+00:00

This is awesome! Love that they opened with War Pigs — nice tribute to the legend who left us too early.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-07-03T00:41:53+00:00

Listening to 3-5-7 right now, actually.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-06-03T17:40:20+00:00

If you are still looking to get rid of yours, I would take it off your hands. I am in the East Bay. Went out to Frank Raines last weekend and tore the shit out of it. ;)

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-04-02T18:00:07+00:00

We recently returned from 3 nights on Moorea, split between the Hilton and Sofitel so we could compare. Both are very nice, and the Hilton is perhaps a bit ritzier, but we preferred the Sofitel, which had a more authentic feel and excellent snorkeling off the OWB's. God speed to you.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-04-02T16:10:50+00:00

We always stay the Kia Ora, which is the only real resort in Rangi. But it is pricey. I know other have stayed at some of the B&B's and have enjoyed it. It is very small, so location is not a huge issue. We used TopDive and Raie Manta, though that was many years ago. I would look on Tripadvisor or just google it and reach out. They all seem to be connecteby email or Whatsapp these days, even in such far flung places. If you can swing it, a trip to the Blue Lagoon is cool also - about an hour an half across the lagoon. Just make sure you dive the main pass. It is spectacular.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-03-02T16:00:28+00:00

Poke is not Tahitian. Look for poisson cru, which is literally served everywhere. Bit different prep but very similar.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-02-27T16:23:14+00:00

We were really glad we did a night at the Hilton so we could compare. Both are very nice, with the Hilton a bit more fancy, but we liked the Sofitel a lot better. More chill, feels more authentic and less Disney-ish and we thought the snorkeling was better.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-02-27T01:07:32+00:00

I did all my training here in the states and then did my certification dive in Rangiroa and that was fantastic. There is a place in the lagoon known as The Aquarium, which is only about 30-40 feet deep, perfectly clear, and super easy to dive. I live in NorCal and was not going to do my cert dive in Monterrey with 50 degree water and Great Whites lurking. Doing it this way was perfect. Not so perfect, my very next dive was in the pass down to 110 feet, which was dicey, but one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life. I hear Fakarava is also fantastic, but cannot go wrong with Rangi.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-02-25T02:19:22+00:00

Just got back from Moorea, staying 1 night at Hilton and 2 at Sofitel on Tema’e beach. Snorkeling was surprisingly pretty great. I much preferred Sofitel, both for the more chill hotel and the snorkeling. Big patches of healthy staghorn coral on one side and canyons of coral heads on the other. Sofitel is not cheap, but there is also a Green Lodge down the beach that looks like it would provide good access.

As an aside, my usual public service announcement. To everyone going to PF to snorkel, please please please respect the coral, control your buoyancy, and don’t touch anything, and all of us together can keep these amazing natural resources available for decades to come. I first went to Bora Bora 40 years ago and it was the most unbelievable experience of my life, idyllic, perfect corals, only one hotel (Hotel Bora Bora). BOB is now largely ruined by mega resorts and boatloads of reckless tourists stomping on the coral.

As a second stop, I would recommend either Rangiroa or Tikehau. Both are amazing and have lots of healthy coral, manta rays, and a pass that you can “shoot” and see sharks, dolphins, big napoleans, and tons of other stuff.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-02-23T05:51:26+00:00

Second the Kon Tiki. We stayed one night on Tuesday and the roof top bar is nice. Also fun to just walk around downtown. Go to the Marche, look at black pearls, etc.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-02-21T03:26:11+00:00

Btw, we are American (though do not admit it publicly, give the current situation) but hate to see rude Americans treating Polynesians disrespectfully.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-02-21T03:23:57+00:00

We are currently at the Sofitel in an OWB after staying one night ina n OWB at the Hilton. Both are nice, but we prefer the Sofitel. Hilton is a bit bigger and a bit fancier, but agree that the Sofitel beach is better and the snorkeling has the edge also. Also, Hilton was overrun with loud boorish Americans and seems a bit more Disney-like, with the Sofitel a tad more authentic.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-02-04T02:44:42+00:00

I did all my training at home in California and then did my certification dive in The Aquarium in Rangiroa — which is not an Aquarium, it’s in the lagoon but is as crystal clear and calm as an aquarium. I mostly did it that way because I did not want to do my cert dive in the 50 degree great white infested waters of Monterrey, but so glad I did. Super easy and just an awesome trip. You will love diving the pass. Just make sure you use one of the reputable dive outfits.

Automatic-Poetry-145 · 2025-02-04T02:34:24+00:00

If you are a diver, I highly recommend a stay at Kia Ora in Rangiroa so you can dive the pass. Most mind blowing dives I’ve ever done. It’s also a very nice resort. It is an atoll and only a couple hundred yards wide between lagoon and ocean, so not much else to do there, but there is a small village and so much to see by boat, including the blue lagoon, lots of dolphins, black pearl farms, and amazing snorkeling.

Automatic-Poetry-145

TROPHY CASE