WOOTWOOT - Adventures Are Fun

Last update before Tour (No photos, sorry)

terrid_b — Sat, 17 May 2008 19:45:00 GMT

Disneyland was lots and lots of fun, but very tiring. I went on most of the rides and enjoyed myself immensely.

On Thursday, Meg and I went on a back lot tour of Dreamworks with her friend Ryan. He ferried us about in a golf cart and we got to see the Bates Motel from Pyscho, the air crash ruins from War of the Worlds and all sorts of coolness.

Then we wandered around Griffith Park Observatory and visited Hollywood and Graumans Chinese Theatre (where the footprints are). My hands were the same size as Judy Garlands.

Meg and I bought a cheap Star Map and drove around on Friday morning, hunting down celebs (possibly). We visited Rodeo Drive and had lunch with her friend Evan.

Then we went to Venice Beach, which wasn't as cool as I wanted it to be cause it was a week day. But oh well. I helped Meg with her volunteer position at this organisation called City at Peach.

Then Meg, Sam (her housemate) and I played Guitar Hero until very late at night. Sam is MY Guitar Hero!

I caught my flight to San Fran at midday, and despite being late to check my bags, both I and my luggage arrived on the same flight on time and in one piece.

I found my hostel no trouble and did a HUGE walking tour of San Fran, from Union Square up to Coit Tower and then down and up Lombard Street before catching a Trolley back to Union Square. I'm very tired now and will probably go to bed soonish.

I've updated my photos here so check em out.

This might be the last update for a while, as its no longer free for me and I start my tour tomorrow.

Love you all.

Gallery: California

terrid_b — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:37:00 GMT

California, here we come

terrid_b — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:30:00 GMT

Okay, so my first few days in California have been eventful, not all of the events awesome fun but anyways, please read on to hear of them in all their (sometimes gross) glory.

I arrived on Saturday and it immediately struck me how smoggy it is in LA. I'd heard it was, but I hadn't expected to be able to SMELL the smog. So yeah, that was a little weird. I've also noticed that most cars in LA are black, white or silver. Meg says its to do with the showy culture of only buying luxury cars.

A couple of hours after I arrived, we walked down Roberston (you don't use street descriptives here...its just 'Sunset' or 'Robertson') and saw a group of paparazzi outside a store. We stopped to take a picture of them, but when one of them told us it was Paris and Nicky Hilton, we went off to get some food from the Newsroom, where I had my first experience with Turkey Bacon (a healthier alternative) and Pesto Tofunaisse.

Then I went to Megs housemates boyfriends 30th birthday party at a Mansion overlooking Sunset. It was huge, with a billiard table and a fire pit and a hot tub, which it was too cold to use. There was a gorgeous King Charles Spaniel there, which everyone loved patting. We mostly just played Rock Band though, killed our voices singing rock ballads. Everyone there was just as blown away as me at the size and grandeur of the house, so I guess everyone doesn't live like the OC.

The next morning we drove down to San Diego. Well, Meg drove. I just tried not to vomit. Foster will try to tell you I had too much to drink the night before because I called him and had the hiccups, but honestly I only had about four or five drinks. I think it was a combination of orange juice on an empty stomach, late night, jet lag, driving on the wrong side of the (incredibly bumpy) road and exhaust fumes.

In the end, I threw up once in my own face (trying to go out the window on the freeway driving 80mph because Meg couldn't get off the freeway on time), once on the grass infront of a shopping mall, once in front of a taco villa and once in the toilet at Meg's mum's house. I tried to throw up at the Starbucks at Laguna Beach and at a rest stop with awesome ocean views, but it appears that only the bizarre wrong-side passenger driving could bring it on.

Apart from that, I enjoyed San Diego. I hung out with Meg's family, they kindly fed me. And also with Meg's friend Dawn. We went to the Zoo on Monday and road the tour bus, then traipsed about Balboa Park where I saw a Squirrel! We drove past and into the San Diego Mission, which is one of the old Spanish churches. While we were driving, Pearl Jam's "Black" came on the radio and Meg said she preferred the Pearl Jam song where they sang "Let's go there, let's make our escape". To which I said "That's Creed, Meg". And she said "Oh, well whats the one where they sing (hums the riff from Black)" and I said "The one thats on the radio right now". I'm sure thats a typical "Cool Story Hansel" story, but meh, it was funny to me.

Then we went out for Mexican at Norte's (or Fidels. Or Anita's. Depending on whether you ask Meg or Dawn), which was awesome and DIDN'T make me sick. I wasn't too impressed with the refried beans. Dawn threatened to take my left over beans home and force feed them to me, but she took pity. Then we hung out on the couch at Dawns and watched the first episode of America Gladiators. Amazingly, despite a lack of Hulk Hogan, OUR Gladiators is much much much tackier. Although, there was a moment when one of the female contestants fired the tennis ball bazooka backwards. That was funny.

Today we drove back from San Diego and thankfully I wasn't sick once. Meg is a fantastic guide and told me stories about the hills and street names. We basically hung out at her house this afternoon, watching dodgy american tv, complete with reinactments. Then we went to the Grove to watch Iron Man, which was AWESOME. And I don't wanna give anything away but Sam L Jackson is in the next one. WOOT!

We walked around the Farmers Market after the movie and got a great 360 degree view of the night time skyline, thanks to Meg's insistance we park on the top level of the carpark. My pictures of that didn't turn out so great tho...

Then we went to the supermarket, which was WAY less exciting that I'd imagined. Where were the aisles and aisles of cheese? I guess I'll have to wait til the Midwest for THAT delight.

Tomorrow we're off to Disneyland. So I'll write more after that.

Greetings from LA

terrid_b — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:16:00 GMT

I'm here. My flight was fine, I managed to sleep for about 6 hours, which was half my flight time. I'm glad I'm here with all my stuff, considering I left my walking boots at my Aunts house and my Uncle had to drive back to get them. He's my hero. Tonight I'm going with Meg and her housemate to a party in a mansion, which Meg says never happens, but I've seen the OC :P Anyways, hopefully I'll still be awake and be able to take advantage of being the interesting, cool foreign person. lol. Anyways, better go do some boring money stuff. Shall post some pictures when I take some :)

Kia Ora Aotearoa

terrid_b — Tue, 6 May 2008 11:03:00 GMT

So after a chilled couple of days with Foster in Melbourne, hanging out and catching up with friends, I managed to make it onto the plane on Thursday afternoon without crying.

I lasted until the first 15 minutes of P.S. I Love You, so I turned it off and watched I Am Legend instead. Nothing cures the tearies like a good old fashioned viral zombie film.

Good flight. I was next to an old couple with no clue how to work the tv, so that got a bit repetative. AND she was a bit accident prone, managed to spill her wine and myriad other things on the 3.5 hour flight.

First couple of days with my Aunt Sue and her family, toured Hamilton. They have these awesome gardens with replicas of Japanese, Chinese, Italian Renaissance and Indian gardens. I didn't take any pictures really because I figure I'll get to see the real thing eventually. But truely a HUGE thing to have pulled off.

Also, HUGE DEAL...had my photo taken with the Riff Raff statue in Hamilton, home of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I assume I was the only person out that day who was thrilled to see the statue as I hear that heaps of locals protested against its installation. Apparantly, no one was thrilled at the idea of a cross-dressing alien statue adorning their main street.

Caught up with bunches of family, then went to stay with Uncle Bruce and his bunch. We went to a beautiful coastal town called Raglan (Cat T, it would remind you of home :). I wanted to go crazy in the little art shops, but managed to limit myself to purchasing a couple of retro postcards and two little arty pieces. It was an amazing little town, all surfers and artists mostly. And the coast was pretty rugged. I was told that Australia was just across the water, but didn't have my extreme-binoculars with me so couldn't see it unfortunately.

I'm off to Tauranga in a day or so for more family visiting, where I think I'll get my cousins girlfriend to hook me up with some anti-jetlag tablets because I've seen Megs plans for me once I get to LA :P

Love to all.

Gallery: North Is, NZ

terrid_b — Tue, 6 May 2008 10:15:00 GMT

Random pics

Before we go, we leave you with this brief announcement...

terrid_b — Sat, 5 Apr 2008 23:28:00 GMT

How terrifying and simultaneously exciting is the idea of travelling alone into the wide world for the first time? I moved out of home when I was 18, interstate and across a (small) ocean. But this lonesome travelling is going to be a whole new kettle of fish.

I find it hard enough to make decisions when I'm in my comfort zone. It took me three weeks to decide which travel pack to buy. I still haven't decided what walking shoes to get (although Merrell is looking high up on the list).

The whole idea of deciding what to take and somehow managing to fit it all in the tiny pack I've procured (tiny on account of the fact that I'm tiny myself and can't carry anything heavier. dammit. what happened to "No shoe gets left behind"!!!) is so intense that I've put it off. I was going to do it tomorrow but I just made plans. Maybe wednesday night...we'll see.

Not to mention I am leaving my family, friends and boyfriend behind and I'm not sure when I'll be back.

I didn't ever plan to travel alone. And now I am. And I'm sure it will be fine and awesome and fantastic and I'll learn strengths and weeknesses I never knew I had. But knowing all that doesn't change the fact that I can't decide whether to be jumping-bean excited or vomit-inducing terrified!