SOOOO

This is the last time for the trip that I'll write from Australia. Got a few hours before we fly out yet, taxi picking us up in about an hour and a half. Not feeling nervous or anything just looking forward to getting there and cracking myself a bud select. 
So I'll write you all in USA! Unless of course the plane crashes and we die, if that happens love ya long time! But I hope it doesn't cause I really want that bud select :p

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I guess I love you, tomorrow...

No I will NOT sing the rest, bloody leave me alone!
Ok so right now I'm freaking out just a little, doing the whole what have I forgotten and what do I have to take - problem is I haven't even packed yet.. Oops. 
So we are leaving the house early morning to jump on the plane at like 1ish and Vegas friends we will arrive before we leave, wicked huh.... Except we have to live through the hellish flight. Ah well. Gotta get the body ready for BUDWEISER :) 

3 DAYS TO GO!!

So I'm off work now (Kate of course) while Adam slaves away in his new job until Friday. Ma and I are hanging out today, then I'm picking up Kim and we are doing stuff (NOT TELLING) then tomorrow Leah & Andrew arrive. Friday Pa arrives then Saturday WATCH OUT AMERICA!! 

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS (AGAIN) 5 DAYS TIL WE LEAVE!!

I'm back!!! Be prepared to piss yourself laughing once again only this time I'm sure it will be worse!
So we fly out on Saturday 4th and we are taking some family with us and meeting friends there. Adam's mum (Sharyn) and dad (Stu), his sister (Leah) and boyfriend (Andrew) are coming, we all fly out on the same flight. We land in LA then drive to VEGAS. Kim & Christ will be meeting us there later on as they are staying in LA for a few days.
The trip is just to Vegas this time, no need for other places. Well I would go back to St Louis just for the buds but maybe next time.

Sooo, let the countdown begin and let you all laugh like nuts!

LAST NIGHT - HAWAII

We woke up this morning thinking YAY WE GET TO GO HOME TOMORROW!
As much as we have loved being on Holidays, and loved America (see tomorrow's entry for my Jerry Springer Final Thought) its good to know we are going home and back to what we know.
Today we didn't do that much, we had a nice breakfast then we attended a timeshare presentation. Why you think? Well we really wanted to attend a Luau and it was $95 p/p here but if you do the presentation its free! I have to be honest we were interested too but the price just wasn't right.
So we did the preso then had some lunch and then thought well we might as well drink!

I mean really what else is there to do once you've done the last minute request shopping and are waiting to go to an event?

So we just hung out! Loved it. Hawaii is BRILLIANT for that.

So then we went to the Luau. It was so much fun! They did a whole polynesia thing - We filmed alot of it but heres some pics.

Oh and they were doing free 'tattoos' so heres me getting one

Anyhoo we have a early flight tomorrow (Monday) so we can fly for 10.5 hours and arrive in Sydney 3.50pm (Tuesday). Confusing.

Heres us at the end of the show :) VISIT HAWAII!!

Oh wait wrong one heres me with my tattoo guy

LOST..... IN HAWAII

What a day to do the Lost tour!
We booked the 10 hour Hummer tour. The day was a little rainy and unpredictable but what a brilliant time we had! We got to see a majority of the island too so added bonus.
We started off at a private property that had some of the props still there.

The walk to that area was like trecking in the bloody forest, it was raining and horrid but oh well, totally worth it!
This was probably the only place that had props left but our guide would show us shots from the show each stop so we could see distinct parts to proove we were in the right place. There was another couple on the tour from Tennessee who were real nice. The guide was heaps nice too.
See this coolness!

And this is the way cool car we were on the tour in

So remember parts in the show where they found the briefcase with the guns in it near that waterfall? Well its in this national park type area and it was rainy there so adam started a new fashion

So by now we had done a ton of stops, I won't include all the pics here but I will add this last one of the Darma Village (really a YMCA area)

Anyways the tour done we went and showered and stuff (to see the section where they buried the dead was a massive walk on the beach) then went and had dinner at the outback steakhouse - hilarious! They advertise it as aussie and on the menu is aussie cheese fries - yep. I don't need to say more. The steak was awesome though!
Just doing this blog with some bud on my side then going to have a icecream before our last day here - then home!!!

WAIKIKI, HAWAII

Ahhh, freedom.... kinda smells like Hops, Rice and Best Barley Malt (read a bud can)....

Nice sleep and wake up in that American Paradise... and realise we don't have American Power. So we stroll to Walmart. You know that place is like Wollies and Kmart rolled in one!
We get back to our room and I cheat and do yesterdays blog (the battery was going to die!) Then we go for a walk on Wikiki Beach.

I recon Adam loved it, hes such a beach person. We are staying at Hilton Hawaii Village - and it really is a Village. Like theres everything you can think of here! (ok except walmart and walgreens, but they are in walking distance!)

So after our walk I was like FML because this whole trip all I wanted to do was sit at a bar and drink draught bud ALL ARVO. So thats what we did! Adam kept up to me and had cocktails (Pina Colata, Hawaii 5-0,s Blue Hawaiian) very impressed! of course I'm still going

We sat there for hours..... There  was this full on princess looking girl, bleach blonde, fulse eyelashes, thinking perfect body, full makeup... near the ladies restrooms there was this guy from Virginia who sat there to chat up any woman, he talked to me for example - any woman! - so she was walking back with her partner and you hear her say you wish sweetheart - and of course arrogant aussie was like pfft.
So later I had to pee and I go in (its one toilet) and I hear this woman geting vocal while I'm washing my hands and its this older woman. She rolls her eyes. The princess is outside. Its her bf's mother. So they are getting married tomorrow and I end up waiting with her for the bf's mother so she doesn't get hassled by Virginia and I realise that AUSSIES ARE SO FUCKING SHALLOW. She was very nice and I should know this already but most of us are quick to critizise. American's = vocal. Aussies = vocally critical! Quit it australia!!
Anyhoooooo we eat and see fireworks from our room and tomorrow we gotta get up way early for some major fucking exciting shit!!!

HAWAII

Another stupid oclock wake up. American Airlines have kerbside checkin (not sure if I mentioned that or not) but we went to check in with our 7 bags and the dude said something or other and directed us inside.
We go inside and they have this self check in where you swipe your passport. We were flying to LA then to Hawaii so we wanted to know if our luggage would connect so we went to yet another line and hit the jackpot!
The man from the 1st class section called us over and started checking us in - then changed our flight to a direct one! Bonus!
All up it was a 2 hour wait with with 6 hour flight. 3 hour time difference so we got in 4 hours early for checkin and had to stuff around until we could.
Finally checked in and lets just say that it wasn't what we thought and being the end of a holiday you realise that you have different living habits and you can get on each others nerves. We checked in next door in the Hilton and were told see you at the airport.
We have beautiful views!

Well, looking forward to a few days of American paradise!

SAN FRAN CALIFORNIA

Today we thought whats left to do here.... Lets do Alcatraz.
We wanted to do the night tour but it was only on Thursday to Monday so we had to do the daytime one.
We heard that the Giants were going to be coming through the city too so we thought we would get Alacatraz done (aparently it was only like 2 hours) and then check that out.
Now for some reason our internet died so I'm using the computer provided by the hotel so I can't show you any pics but the ride out to Alcatraz was real nice as was the views.
Once we got there we watched a short movie on the history of the place and then we walked up the hill to see place. You do a audio tour which was really good and very interesting. If you ever make it to San Fran do that tour, its really informative and quite interesting. Adam filmed bits of it so if your ever over and want to watch the video just let us know!
So we got back into San Fran at like 2pm or something so totally missed all the Giants stuff which was probably a good thing - the news said there was over a million people there! There were still tons of people around the area cheering and stuff. American's very much love their sport and the funniest thing of all is the Giant's won the World Series - thats American. Hilarious.
So we ate at this world renouned bakery called Boudin, mostly sourdough. Adam had a chili that was in a round dough thing and I had a sandwich - it had no fries and no cheese!!!!  But wonderful food. Then we headed back and did some packing and the bunch of gaylords had nanna naps (becoming a daily thing... except for the hudsons!)
Then we walked down to Union Square and had some dinner at a mediterrain place, I had pomegranite chicken - very sweet and quite weird but OH MY GOD I FOUND A CUPCAKE SHOP and just stuffed myself stupid on three. YUM. I'm 10,000 kilos heavier and about to be more because my friend Bud is beconing....
See ya san fran, I won't be back!

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA

Today we thought we would try to see more of this city rather than just certain parts, so we jumped on a tram to the wharf and had some breakie then got on a bus tour.
The tour was for two hours but Adam had an appointment so we couldn't do the whole tour. Instead we did a chunk of it but it was worth it!
We drove around and saw a heap of areas that we affected by the earthquake back in the early 1900's and how a particular part of the city is from the rubble. We drove past an area that had actual houses - the tour guide was saying they are the only houses in the area with a yard and are not for sale only lease. They had real good views too.
Then we went to the bridge.

They were doing roadworks so the bus didn't go over it which sux cuase we won't get time to do it ourselves but oh well, to be honest our bridge is way better and I've walked over and across that!
So then we saw some good views of the city on our way to the Golden Gate Park.

The park was pretty cool, its manmade and massive, its the biggest manmade park in USA. They even had eucalypt trees in there. Yeh thanks for that I'm feeling homesick as it is!! Inside it there was a few museums as well, one that looked like it would be good to see and we might go tomorrow.
After that we drove around the area more and had to get off for Adams appointment later. A few of the buses here are electric by rods above them, its freaky!

Oh and check out some of the houses here, the one in yellow was the front for Full House

So Adam did his thing then we headed back to the room. Saw this bit of 'art' on the way, made me think of you nerfs out there...

We walked back to the room - I think we walked a few k's today, feel the burn yeh!! Then we got ready and went just up the road to a hotel restaurant. We both ordered the Chicken Pot Pie - and it was the best I've ever eaten! (unless of course you have made one for me and I forgot about it, of course yours is TONS better). It had generous chunks of heaps of veges and chicken and stuff, so nice! Then we had desert really we did it was a chocolate mousse cake with marshmellows it was ssssoooooo sweet but delicious! The bad part of this place was they didn't have buds - at all. Honestly San Fran is SO sydney!

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA

Well,  I think we are starting to wind down from our holidays now because again today we slept in. It was sooooo good. The hotel book thing tells you how there are ear plugs in the drawer if you need them - we didn't need them last night but we might tonight!
We got up and had some breakfast then decided to check out some shops. We didn't buy that much.... except we went into Macy's (just like Myer only 10,000 times bigger and way better range) and of course we bought stuff.... Dana got me a Jag purse for my bday ages ago and its dying so I bought myself a new one - a Marc Jacobs!!! Was only $175! Adam got a Calvin Klein. We are becoming such brand people haha
We spent a while looking around then went back to our room for a bit to do some wonderful washing. I love washing (NOT). Was nice to just hang out though.
After that we headed into Chinatown for dinner again and this time we went to a restaurant that was on the top floor and had prevous guests like Arny and other celebs. The food was ok not fantastic but still nice. It had nice views.

It also shows you how very squished up San Fran is!
We rode on the tram again, its a weird experience! We headed back to the wharf and looked around. They had some odd stores

Of course we looked in there and were like ummmmmm you think your spec haha
So then we went into Walgreens (its a 24/7 pharmacy/grocery store, some even have drive through prescriptions, seriously!!) and I saw these

Hmmm. Go america. So we headed back to our room and on the way to the tram thingos we hear horns and yells.... SF Giants won the World Series so SF peeps are going nuts - and its still going! We have been hearing it for hours now. Good on them!

ANAHEIM TO SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA

Today we left Anahiem and the

We had to get up at stupid oclock (4.30am) thinking the trip would take us all day.
First sign we saw for San Fran was like FML AGES

But the drive was surprisingly nice and quick. The views through California are very pretty, from oceans to mountains.

We got into SF about 2pm and couldn't check in until 4pm so we left our luggage and went looking through China Town. The streets here are really hilly and hugely congested, like your squished worse than any place I've been to. Walking through chinatown we smelt alot of 'interesting' things. Then we stopped for lunch which was good.
After we checked in we thought yay Halloween lets see whats happening and well SF just disappointed! There wasn't really anything on because its a sunday and most the events were in nightclubs and stuff.  We headed down to the fishermans wharf

And ate at bubba gumps. Works out that its a shrimp house and I'm not a seafood fan most the time let along in a foreign country. So I had a salad and jumbo Bud. hehe
We caught the cable car back to the room and now we are gonna totally die in the arse due to getting up at stupid oclock.

PASADENA & ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA

Not an awful lot to talk about today, we slept in which was nice then we went to Denny's for breakfast. It was real good, they should have one of these at home. Its a 24 hour diner that has just about everything. Wonderful.
So we started repacking then headed off to Pasadena to check out a college football game - UCLA Bruins vs Arizona Wildcats.
Now all you American Football fans stop reading from here or otherwise its my opinion and its my blog so if you don't like what I think feel free to comment - I have the power to delete MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I may insult you so don't say you weren't warned!
Ok so we get there and theres people everywhere outside the gates drinking. Cause you can't buy alcohol inside. Fair enough I guess it is a college game.
So we find something to eat and drink (you can't take in opened bottles so we had to get new waters for $5!!! thats heaps here) and then went to our seats. We had pretty good seats I think sorta to the right of the end of the field.
We didn't realise but we  arrived about 10 minutes left of 2nd quarter. Now my Ohio mate Grant had emailed us details on how the game works and its pretty much like NRL - except the players have more padding than a transexual and theres about 166 players a side.
So they do the tackle and stop. Then do another tackle and stop. Then one more and decide to swap ALL players. I mean WTF is up with that!!!!!!! So its like they play for like 5 seconds then stop and rest then swap players. Its madness!
I think that 10 minutes left took about 15 or so minutes for it to finish. By then we were all looking at each other going WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON because theres just so much bloody confusion and un movement....
Anyhoo, FINALLY halftime and the college band and alumni band come out. Being Halloween tomorrow they were all in costumes. It was ok  and I guess the part where they did some halloween songs (ghostbusters then thriller) was cool cause they had ghostbusters chasing a ghost with fire extinguishers then they all stopped during thriller and put down their instruments and danced in unison.
So then the 3rd Quarter started. We were at the home ground (UCLA) and Arizona were beating them. Then Arizona got a touchdown and we were like wow something happened what a thrill - but not as much of a  thrill as leaving!!! We were so over it (LIKE ABSOLUTE YAWN MATERIAL) that we left!
So we travelled back to Anaheim (which is the suburb we are staying) and we thought screw it lets go watch Saw 3D (is that out at home?) and well BLOODY MEN we couldn't find the cinema cause they didn't get the address so they got the address and STILL COULDN'T FIND IT but it was too late by then. We have a very early morning and a long long long drive so tootalo!

HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA

Today we took a drive to Venice Beach, check out what we saw on the way!

Weird huh.

Anyhoo, we got to Venice Beach and it was real quiet, we were like ummm where is everyone but I guess it was a weekday and not summer. We walked along the pier

Then we walked along the boardwalk. There were some real nice places along there but small! Then we found Adam's heaven - muscle beach!!

As you can imagine he had a ball. There weren't that many people there. He could of got a day pass for $10 but didn't. We looked around there for a while then went and ate and headed into Hollywood.
Hollywood was real busy, we hung out on the Hollywood Blvd. There were a ton of people waiting to see Taylor Swift (we didn't!) and we got to see her woofuckinghoo.
We walked along the stars and stuff, saw some cool ones. Then this madness

We had some time to kill so we went and did the Ripley's thingo but that was shit, Gold Coast is better. Then we went on a tour of homes and stuff, was cool but camera died!!! Heres a good one for ya'll

Sorry but all the rest didn't really turn out well since we were driving along and there were bloody trees everywhere, how rude!
Then we ate at Hard Rock and went home.



UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA

Today we were very naughty and got up kinda late. Probably cause we are sleeping on a fold out bed and the freezer makes this weird sound (really it does). You can't win em all, the curtains were great otherwise we would of known it was later!
We rushed around like toolbags and headed out to Universal Studios.
Look what we saw on the way

So we got to Universal and had to wait in line for what seemed like forever but once we got inside it was surprisingly quiet.
We went into the house of horrors (well most of us) and it wasn't anywhere near as good as Blood Manor but was still really cool.

Then we did the Special Effects show where they used audience members to help out and they had this couple who were Aussies and they came out and he had to pretend he was a astronaut in outa space and she was moving him around well he was hooked up by some pully things and everytime his body tipped flat he would freak out jolt and stuff it was fucking hilarious!!! It was a good show all in all.

After that we walked around and saw a heap of other areas and characters like Shrek and Donkey and Spongebob and such then we went on the tram thingo that takes you past some studios and through some bits of movies. We went through one bit that was from King Kong, we had to put on 3D glasses and it appeared that king king was fighting with a dinosaur on either sides of the tram, it would rock and stuff. It was brilliant. We saw Wysteria Lane (but on the outside, they were filming) Bates Hotel, Jurassic Park stuff, and other things I forgot but least and most important to Christ JAWS and they did a little show for us which we recorded for you. Maybe we even found something at the gift shop :)

Then we thought meh and were gonna go but decided to check out the T2 3D.  We couldn't take cameras in there but check this out the guide womans name was kimberley duncan, trippy huh!!
So they had people and 3D stuff it was really cool, it appeared to have all the fav actors from T2 and being 3D was way more fun. Loved it. Then we did this

A 39 mile trip back to our room took 2 1/2 hours in horrible LA peak hour. Seriously I've never  seen anything like it.
We got back and tried Dennys for dinner, we all give it a LIKE

SEE YA NEVADA - HELLO CALIFORNIA!

Today we picked up a hire car - a Chevy Traverse - and packed it up with our six suitcases to begin the drive to California. We had to stop at In N Out Burger cause J & J didn't shut up about it for the past 2 years. Kudos to them, DELICIOUS. They have a double burger, a burger and a cheeseburger. Simple yet fantastic.
Then we set out to drive to California. The drive was fairly plain, you know going through a desert and all, all you really saw was cactus and mountains and the occasional casino.

I took alot of touristy shots that weren't that exciting but you know it kept me entertained. I had my headfones on and it was so good to get some cof time! Saw some weird bilboards too.

For those Stonesour fans out there check this shit out!

So we drove and drove then we had to go through this quarantine shit where he said where did you come from and we said Las Vegas and he said have a nice day... um wtf?

So then we got closer

And in no time we were there. My camera battery pretty much died FML but I hade a little left.... We checked in then we decided to go check out some shops so we did that then ate at Sizzler - pretty much same as before but you could order more meals and the salad bar had taco stuff and that. Then I made everyone wait for me while I went and got some californian nails, they look way cool! Tried to take a pic but didn't work too well. Could be cause its more important to hold my bud than the camera!