The Great Convergence of the Clans 2013: Las Vegas?

Started by DJ Makto, August 16, 2011, 09:28:33 PM

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Niri Te

NOT ME, ma tsmuk,Tee and I  live very happily in high Prairie in far west Texas, that many might call desert at first glance. The skies on fire out here at night in north central Hudspeth County, there so many Stars, galaxies, and Nebula's visible with the naked eye. A simple pair of binoculars will REALLY get your attention, and I won't even discuss what telescopic views look like.
Then there is walking out our Hanger door, to be greeted by a dozen Pronghorn Antelope grazing on our runway 50 feet away, that don't even stop their eating when we are walking around, they are that used to us.
NiriTe

Quote from: DJ Makto on January 24, 2012, 10:04:15 PM
I know that this should be discussed on the other Vegas thread, however I do feel the need to post a counter argument to all the negativity pointed at Vegas as a potential future meetup location.

I'm not sure why people get the idea that deserts are a desolate and ravaged products of modern industrialization. When you get away from the city deserts are strikingly beautiful in their own way. Here are some photo examples of that beauty that I have taken by my own hand:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758342893/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758344781/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758346813/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758348109/#

These are all shots taken at the beautiful and renowned Red Rock Canyon State park which is a 30 minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip. It will also surprise many that there is a beautiful forest range within less than one hour of driving time as seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758360109/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758361423/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758362649/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758363929/#

Also take into account that not all of Pandora is lush rainforest, I do recall the Pandorapedia on the Blu-Ray version of Avatar noting that Pandora has desert regions along with polar and boreal regions. For now, sources like the ASG and Pandorapedia is our best sources of canon info regarding Pandora, Na'vi, RDA.

Then there is the logistical consideration, Las Vegas has some of the lowest hotel rates and airfare costs of any major city or destination making easier and more affordable for more of our members of the community to come together. Nevermind the fact that most major hotels are willing to bend over backwards to provide additional discounts on rooms and meeting space for a meetup/gathering.

Yes Las Vegas does represent some of the decadence that may have made humanity soft. However, that is only the Strip which is only one part of Las Vegas. The real beauty lies outsite of Las Vegas with multiple beautiful outdoor areas with absolutely fantastic hiking.

It saddens me that so many of my Learn Na'vi tsmukan/tsmuke have such a limited and narrow view of the deserts and Las Vegas.  :(
Tokx alu tawtute, Tirea Le Na'vi

Txur’Itan

#61
Quote from: Txonä Te Unil Stä'nìyu Rolyusì on January 24, 2012, 11:44:46 PM
Fully agreed with DJ Makto. For those that don't know, I grew up in El Paso, TX and I had desert right behind my house. I liked to go out there after a good rain storm and see all the cacti in bloom :) Also, as you can see in DJ's 1st photo, desert nights are also quite lovely. My aunt lives in a desert region in the Pino Mts. in Frazier Park, CA and I stopped at her house for a while on the way to Redlands and I went out one night and I could see EVERY star in the sky....even the Milky Way Galaxy!!! I think Vegas would be a nice place for a future meet up :)

Mod note: topics split. 2013 discussion moved to 2013 thread.

Edit: :-[ well crappity doo dah...my board mod powers don't allow me to merge this with the 2013 thread because I'm not a mod where that thread is. Can an actual forum mod merge those rutxe? Irayo.

-Txonä Rolyu

Quote from: Niri Te on January 25, 2012, 12:17:29 AM
NOT ME, ma tsmuk,Tee and I  live very happily in high Prairie in far west Texas, that many might call desert at first glance. The skies on fire out here at night in north central Hudspeth County, there so many Stars, galaxies, and Nebula's visible with the naked eye. A simple pair of binoculars will REALLY get your attention, and I won't even discuss what telescopic views look like.
Then there is walking out our Hanger door, to be greeted by a dozen Pronghorn Antelope grazing on our runway 50 feet away, that don't even stop their eating when we are walking around, they are that used to us.
NiriTe

Quote from: DJ Makto on January 24, 2012, 10:04:15 PM
I know that this should be discussed on the other Vegas thread, however I do feel the need to post a counter argument to all the negativity pointed at Vegas as a potential future meetup location.

I'm not sure why people get the idea that deserts are a desolate and ravaged products of modern industrialization. When you get away from the city deserts are strikingly beautiful in their own way. Here are some photo examples of that beauty that I have taken by my own hand:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758342893/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758344781/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758346813/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758348109/#

These are all shots taken at the beautiful and renowned Red Rock Canyon State park which is a 30 minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip. It will also surprise many that there is a beautiful forest range within less than one hour of driving time as seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758360109/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758361423/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758362649/#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75134190@N04/6758363929/#

Also take into account that not all of Pandora is lush rainforest, I do recall the Pandorapedia on the Blu-Ray version of Avatar noting that Pandora has desert regions along with polar and boreal regions. For now, sources like the ASG and Pandorapedia is our best sources of canon info regarding Pandora, Na'vi, RDA.

Then there is the logistical consideration, Las Vegas has some of the lowest hotel rates and airfare costs of any major city or destination making easier and more affordable for more of our members of the community to come together. Nevermind the fact that most major hotels are willing to bend over backwards to provide additional discounts on rooms and meeting space for a meetup/gathering.

Yes Las Vegas does represent some of the decadence that may have made humanity soft. However, that is only the Strip which is only one part of Las Vegas. The real beauty lies outsite of Las Vegas with multiple beautiful outdoor areas with absolutely fantastic hiking.

It saddens me that so many of my Learn Na'vi tsmukan/tsmuke have such a limited and narrow view of the deserts and Las Vegas.  :(

From the meeting we had in June, I believe I was in favor of Las Vegas! Along with a few other participants. But, many have only really ever been to the strip, and are not familiar with Red Rock, so I can see where many people get the idea.

As far as the "rest" of Pandora. We know about the existence of planes, the "Pa'liyä Aymaktoyu Clan" lives there, and coastline, the "Ikranä Aymaktoyu Clan of the Eastern Sea" lives there. So there is no reason to think there aren't high desert, or dune seas somewhere we have yet to see.

What is canon is really speculative beyond that. As only one movie has been released, and Ubisoft made up a bunch of garbage for their games without consulting Frommer or Cameron that has now populated the Pandorpedia and the avatar.wikia sites.  The second and third movies could end up contradicting everything those games say about Pandora, but that is neither here nor there.
私は太った男だ。


Txur’Itan

I don't know where to place this.  Please merge with 2013 meet up discussion.
私は太った男だ。


Toruk Makto


Lì'fyari leNa'vi 'Rrtamì, vay set 'almong a fra'u zera'u ta ngrrpongu
Na'vi Dictionary: http://files.learnnavi.org/dicts/NaviDictionary.pdf

Txur’Itan

私は太った男だ。


Txonä Unil Stä'nìyu Rolyusì





AvatarMeet was fantastic. Thanks to all who attended :D

Avatar Nation Karyu :D

Na'vi Kintrrä #70° :D

Keyeyluke ke tsun livu kea tìnusume

Oeri Uniltìrantokxìl txe'lanit nì'aw takeiuk nì'ul txa' fralo

Fpìl na Na'vi. Plltxe na Na'vi. Tìran na Na'vi. Kame na Na'vi

Human No More

Quote from: Toruk Makto on January 23, 2012, 08:53:01 PM
There is an awesome primitive camping area in the San Juan mountains of Colorado near our cabin. Would be a great natural place for a meet sometime. Would definitely have to be in the summer, though.

Markì
Isn't it impossibly hot there?
"I can barely remember my old life. I don't know who I am any more."

HNM, not 'Human' :)

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dA
Personal site coming soon(ish

"God was invented to explain mystery. God is always invented to explain those things that you do not understand."
- Richard P. Feynman

DJ Makto

Depends on the time of the year. Summers (June-August) are quite hot (90-100 degrees). The winter/spring/fall are quite pleasant for outdoor activities.

`Eylan Ayfalulukanä

I think if we did this up in the Spring Mountain Recreation Area, we would have pleasant conditions even in summer (about 2000 feet higher than Las Vegas proper), and only go down into the city (RDA-land??) if we need.

The interesting thing about Las Vegas that most people do not realize is that the city is quite 'normal' when you get away from the 'strip'.

Yawey ngahu!
pamrel si ro [email protected]

ExLibrisMortis

Quote from: `Eylan Ayfalulukanä on February 04, 2012, 08:45:47 PM
I think if we did this up in the Spring Mountain Recreation Area, we would have pleasant conditions even in summer (about 2000 feet higher than Las Vegas proper), and only go down into the city (RDA-land??) if we need.

The interesting thing about Las Vegas that most people do not realize is that the city is quite 'normal' when you get away from the 'strip'.

ditto'd, signed, sealed, delivered, and all that other non-sense. This could not be more true.

Ateyo Te Syaksyuk

I like the idea of doing a campout meetup.  The thought of blue bodies swinging in their hammoks neath the stars is intriguing.  I really wish I could afford the camping trip in Sol Duc this year.  Most conventions are held in big hotels.  I've been to many in LA in my younger days! One hotel is like any other, no matter the city.
But a campout! Singing 'round the campfire, roasted yerik on a spit....

`Eylan Ayfalulukanä

Generally, camping trips are less expensive than in cities.

Another interesting place to camp, not far from Las vegas, is death valley. Kind of the opposite of Pandora, but it is a wonderful place nonetheless, with breathtaking views. There are also plenty of campsites, from primitive to full-service. This would be good for a spring or fall meetup. Awfully hot in summer, and can be messy and muddy midwinter.

Yawey ngahu!
pamrel si ro [email protected]

DJ Makto

Quote from: `Eylan Ayfalulukanä on February 10, 2012, 03:07:53 PM
Generally, camping trips are less expensive than in cities.

Another interesting place to camp, not far from Las vegas, is death valley. Kind of the opposite of Pandora, but it is a wonderful place nonetheless, with breathtaking views. There are also plenty of campsites, from primitive to full-service. This would be good for a spring or fall meetup. Awfully hot in summer, and can be messy and muddy midwinter.

In that same train of thought, The south rim of the Grand Canyon is only about 4 hours drive from Vegas. Thats another possibility.

Ateyo Te Syaksyuk

There is a tribe of Native American people who live in the bottom of the canyon.
It is the closest thing to Pandora in the desert. I have never been there and I am not certain how to get permission to visit and camp. Does anyone know of where I am speaking?

hì'ia tuté

#74
Quote from: Ateyo Te Syaksyuk on February 11, 2012, 06:37:03 PM
There is a tribe of Native American people who live in the bottom of the canyon.
It is the closest thing to Pandora in the desert. I have never been there and I am not certain how to get permission to visit and camp. Does anyone know of where I am speaking?

I think I know of where you mean in the abstract. I believe you mean the Navajo Tribe. My dad served his Mission (read: Mormon Missionary) in the 4-corners area and part of his mission included the Navajo Reservation at the bottom of the grand canyon. However I'm not sure how permissions would be acquired to actually set up camp at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Also I know from my Dad's stories that the *only* way down is to hike and it is *not* an easy hike. The type of clothes my Dad and his companions were allowed to wear on his Mission attest to the type of terrain involved in hiking to the bottom. Normally LDS Missionaries have very strict dress code (men wear slacks, white shirt, tie and suit jacket, black dress shoes). However because of the type of hiking and terrain they would cross, they were allowed to wear a short sleeve white shirt, jeans and military boots when they went to the bottom of the canyon.

As for the Avatar Meetup 2013, I'm all for it being held in either Vegas or Arizona (Phoenix Metro area preferably ;) since Phoenix is close to home for me lol)

Niri Te

  I vote with Hii Tute, Either one of those two places would be great from a distance point of view for Ateyo and I (we could damn sure make it),  and if it were in Phoenix, I know my way around really well, I lived in Peoria, and Tonopah Arizona for years before moving to west Texas. It would be a shorter trip for anyone living from Texas, to any where in the  East.
Niri Te
Tokx alu tawtute, Tirea Le Na'vi

ExLibrisMortis

Quote from: hìi tuté on April 07, 2012, 11:06:13 PM
Quote from: Ateyo Te Syaksyuk on February 11, 2012, 06:37:03 PM
There is a tribe of Native American people who live in the bottom of the canyon.
It is the closest thing to Pandora in the desert. I have never been there and I am not certain how to get permission to visit and camp. Does anyone know of where I am speaking?

I think I know of where you mean in the abstract. I believe you mean the Navajo Tribe. My dad served his Mission (read: Mormon Missionary) in the 4-corners area and part of his mission included the Navajo Reservation at the bottom of the grand canyon. However I'm not sure how permissions would be acquired to actually set up camp at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Also I know from my Dad's stories that the *only* way down is to hike and it is *not* an easy hike. The type of clothes my Dad and his companions were allowed to wear on his Mission attest to the type of terrain involved in hiking to the bottom. Normally LDS Missionaries have very strict dress code (men wear slacks, white shirt, tie and suit jacket, black dress shoes). However because of the type of hiking and terrain they would cross, they were allowed to wear a short sleeve white shirt, jeans and military boots when they went to the bottom of the canyon.

As for the Avatar Meetup 2013, I'm all for it being held in either Vegas or Arizona (Phoenix Metro area preferably ;) since Phoenix is close to home for me lol)

Fellow LDS member, nice!

Anyways, Vegas... Phoenix, Maybe even somewhere in Utah, I'm all good for that. 6-10 hour drives are nothing for me.