San Fran and the Bay

Had a busy time in San Francisco this last couple of days. Got a 7 day pass for the MUNI public transport here (great - its only $24 and can use the cablecars, streetcars and buses) so have been on the cable cars a few times. They're just like the photos - ride up steep hills no problem! Its a really nice place but there seems to be lots of homeless people around, much more than I've seen in the other US cities.

Golden Gate Bridge!

Been to Alcatraz Island (Prison) and down to Fishermans Wharf and saw the Sea Lions at Pier 39. Walked across the Golden Gate bridge, then the next day I hired a bike and cycled across it to Marin County to some of the small towns over there and got the ferry back - got sunburnt! Its quite foggy here most days for a few hours so you don't feel that warm but the sun still seems to get through. Been up to Cois Tower on Telegraph Hill and got the cablecar up Nob Hill today for some good views.

Today I went along to the cablecar museum, it was really good - this is apparently the only city in the world with cablecars. The cable runs continually under the streets with the cars and when a car needs to get pulled along the driver has to pull a lever so the car "Grips" onto the cable and then it gets pulled along until he undoes the grip.

Been to a Park called the Presidio which was very posh - it is where George Lucas has his studios for the Star Wars stuff so saw that - and a Statue of Yoda! Planning to go out into Silicon Valley tomorrow see Google and Apple HQ's (Mountain View and Cupertino) and the Computer History Museum. No other plans yet, looking into a day trip to Yosemite National Park and I've seen a tour of the Wharf area on a Segway which looks good fun! Got my photos up on flickr (Got a bit carried away with taking photos of the Golden Gate Bridge!)

Cablecar on Calfifornia St

San Francisco

Arrived in San Francisco this morning - picked up at 3am for 6am flight so quite tired now! Seems like a nice place, much colder than LA/San Diego/Las Vegas which is fine as it will maybe get me acclimatised for going home!

Had a really good time in Las Vegas - loads to see there. Went to the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon on a bus tour one day, they were very spectacular - got on Route 66 on the way down! There are lots of free shows etc put on by the Casinos so didn't cost too much either. Didn't hit the gambling machines though!

I've gotten my photos up now on flickr. In San Francsico for the next 8 days, back to slumming it in a hostel! Went out to Berkeley this afternoon to see the University of California's Campus - very nice area. Public Transport here is much better than LA so shouldn't be too much of a problem getting around. Going to get a ride on the cable-cars shortly - the queue today was right the way around a block! Also planning to go to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz and maybe out to Scilion Valley see some of the big IT companies' HQs. Seems to be very busy here at the moment, the Hostel is totally full until Monday. I'll stick a few photos in here to show some of the sights of Vegas!



Me at the Fabulous Las Vegas Sign!


New York, New York Casino and Hotel - it was really realistic.

Viva Las Vegas!

Arrived in Las Vegas yesterday, haven't made a fortune yet! Plane was delayed because its surface was so hot the pilot had to send it to be cooled down. Landing was very spectacular as you fly right in over the strip. Vegas seems to just appear out of no-where as you're flying. Spent ages getting checked in to the Stratosphere, they seem to be very busy but the room was even cheaper than I was expecting so that was a bonus. Been to lots of the "Mega-resorts" on the Strip - The Luxor; The Bellagio; Caesars Palace; Circus Circus; New York, New York; etc. Went up the Stratosphere Tower this morning - got a great view of Vegas. Tonight I've been to watch the dancing water fountains at the Bellagio and the Freemont St Experience downtown. I got a bus pass today which was great as it goes along the strip, right past my hotel, every 5 minutes and goes to downtown. It would be quite easy to walk but its been 41 degrees today, and the forecast is over 40 for the whole time I'm here!

Planning to do a tour to the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon on Thursday, although I don't have anything booked yet. Possibly going to go and see a show some night, but not sure what as they sell ones off at half price for that evening so I'll just have to make a last minute decision!

Internet here is very expensive so probably won't be able to get my photos up until San Francisco (Friday) - but I've got loads already! Continuous TV news out here about the Hurricane about to hit Mexico - shouldn't be any problems this far up though.

Hot Hot Hot!

Me outside Universal Studios, Hollywood

Made it to San Diego, its a really nice place, quite different from L.A. Loads to see and do here, but I've only got one day left so will have to try and make the most of that. Went to SeaWorld yesterday which was brilliant - saw lots of shows with Shamu (The Killer Whale), Dolphins, SeaLions and a show called Cirque de la Mer which was all dancers and Acrobatics-really impressive. Went to San Diego Zoo today, it is huge so there was lots to see there. They've got a few Pandas so saw them, one has just been born so it was somewhere else with its Mum and Dad! Also had a look downtown this evening, I'm living in an area called the "Gas-lamp quarter" which is full of restaurants etc so its always quite busy.

Shamu Jumping at SeaWorld!

Possibly going to go to Tijuana tomorrow, which is just across the border in Mexico. Leaving for Las Vegas on Sunday, where I'm staying at the Stratosphere Hotel - on the strip! Everything seems really cheap out here, the dollar is very strong at the moment.

Photos Uploaded!

Very quick post as I've only 2 minutes left at internet cafe! I've managed to get some photos uploaded at flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/suilven222

Been to Wal-Mart and Long Beach this morning and downtown this afternoon. Also had a look at the Walk of Fame along Vine St. Went to Universal Studios yesterday which was brilliant. Check out the photos! Last day in LA tomorrow then off to San Diego on Thursday Morning!

Californication

That's me arrived in Los Angeles! Had a day in Fiji en route when I went to South Sea Island - it was really nice, a tiny island with basically just the beach and the resort. We got to go Snorkelling and saw some exotic fish and Kayaking which was grand. I was very tired when I arrived in LA as my flight into Fiji arrived after 1 in the morning then we left for the tour around 8am and my flight out was at 10pm and as we crossed the International Date Line we arrived before we left which was all a bit disorientating!

Los Angeles is really something, everyone seems to be driving about in a huge 4x4! We're living just off Hollywood Boulevard so a lot of the sights are within easy reach. Been along the Walk of Fame and to the Grauman's Chinese Theatre which has hand and foot prints of lots of famous actors. Also been down to Macy's in Downtown on the Metro and this afternoon we went on a sightseeing tour of Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and the Hollywood Hills where we saw lots of famous peoples houses (e.g. The Osbournes, Ben Stiller, Sylvester Stallone, Madonna) It's really hot here at the moment and the amount of Smog around is unbelievable - even the Hollywood Sign is hazy from Hollywood Boulevard! Hoping to go to Universal Studios shortly, and go a walk up to the Hollywood Sign through Griffith Park.

I've got lots of photos but this Internet Cafe doesn't allow me to upload them so I'll post a message here when I get them uploaded!

Back in Auckland

That is us back in Auckland now - returning the Camper tomorrow morning! Planning to go to the Museum and look around the city. Had a good few days in Rotorua - on Friday we went "Zorbing" - where you roll down a hill in an inflatable rubber ball! Rain has been really heavy in Auckland since we arrived but we've been pretty lucky with the weather considering it's the middle of winter here.

Busy planning out my time in USA at the moment. I'm planning to go to Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver. Hoping to do some day trips to Yosemite and The Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam. I've got a day in Fiji [the 9th] on the way to LA so I'm planning to do a day trip to "South Sea Island." Looking forwards to getting some Sun in the USA!

Zorbing in Rotorua

Me beside Lady Knox Geyser in Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Taupo and Rotorua

We're in Rotorua now, having spent a couple of days in Taupo. Nice area around here but it really stinks! Smells like eggs because of the Sulphur in the thermals underground I think. Lots of strange things to see here, Volcanos and Geysers and things. Went to a park in Taupo called 'Craters of the Moon' which was a park with loads of big craters all steaming away with the steam from the underwater thermals. We also went to Huka Falls in Taupo which were quite impressive. Drove up to Rotorua yesterday and we've been really busy today, went to the Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland today, saw the Lady Knox Geyser erupt at 10.15 this morning then had a look around the park - got some photos up on flickr. Then we went to a swimming pool which was heated by water from the Thermals, that was really good - if not a little hot! Then we went up the Rotorua Gondolas and rode on a Luge for a few laps, it was really good. We also went on the SkySwing which was a pretty scary ride where they pretty much catapult you out in a cage!

Don't have much time so will update this shortly!