Post #200141 by Thomas on Sat, Nov 26, 2005 3:30 PM

Aloha! But neither, because in that list is the phrase, "low cost of living," which deals a pretty severe blow to both Waikiki and San Diego I think. If we are limiting ourselves to the US, I keep coming back to the areas I mention as possible Google searches. Palm Springs with a river running through it, for a fraction of the price. (Not the place for cultural sophisticates though.) More broadly, though, I've been known to bang a drum for the Visayan Islands (Phils.). Tropical islands will always have a greater tiki quotient than deserts I think. But Laughlin and Havasu are oases, and oases are cool, even when scorching.

Hey, pardon the digression, but I remember hearing this on the AM car radio as a kid and even then it seemed like some little exotic diorama of a world that fascinated me. Anyone else feel likewise? This has got to be one of the all-time great "exotic non exotica songs." Maria Muldaur -- what a voice.
**
Midnight at the oasis
**
Midnight at the oasis
Send your camel to bed
Shadows paintin' our faces
Traces of romance in our heads
Heaven's holdin' a half-moon
Shinin' just for us
Let's slip off to a sand dune, real soon
And kick up a little dust
Come on, Cactus is our friend
He'll point out the way
Come on, till the evenin' ends
Till the evenin' ends
You don't have to answer
There's no need to speak
I'll be your belly dancer, prancer
And you can be my sheik

I know your Daddy's a sultan
A nomad known to all
With fifty girls to attend him, they all send him
Jump at his beck and call
But you won't need no harem, honey
When I'm by your side
And you won't need no camel, no no
When I take you for a ride
Come on, Cactus is our friend
He'll point out the way
Come on, till the evenin' ends
Till the evenin' ends
Midnight at the oasis
Send your camel to bed
Got shadows paintin' our faces
And traces of romance in our heads