2001 / 10

  • [Not enough time to do Las Vegas so I’ll concentrate on the last week in LA]: Had a whirlwind week of theme parks, TV shows and culture. Started with our debut appearance on US TV in the audience of the Late Late Show hosted by some unfunny, nobody comedian. Um, our backs were clearly in view… It was quite an eye-opener, as well as a hand-killer, as we were encouraged to whoop, holler and clap our hands until they bled. Next was Universal Studios at which was the new Mummy Returns...
  • Despite United Airlines cocking up our seat reservations on the flight from Honolulu, we’ve made it okay to LA. We’re staying in West Hollywood at the Orbit Hotel which is more backpackery than swanky but close enough to the action. Bit of a mad place, lots of nutters, smog and cars but not as intimidating as I’d expected. Disneyland and Universal Studios are booked this week and then we’ve got a four-day jaunt to Las Vegas next week. And then home!
  • If anyone was in any doubt how seriously they’re taking the terrorist threat over here, you only need to visit some of the major tourist attractions. Sue and I caught the one-hour bus to Pearl Harbour yesterday with Sue carrying a little bag, cameras and not much more. Big mistake: signs and guards everywhere warned against taking anything in with you. Despite offering to either leave the bag outside the gates with the guards or even for them to thoroughly empty and examine its contents, we...
  • Now, I know it’s been a whole month since I last posted here but we’ve just come from Fiji where Internet facilities are completely non-existent. We spent two nights by the airport in Nadi at a great little beach-side resort. Lots of young backpackers who spend a night there before heading off to an island or to the coral coast. We moved on to the latter and stayed at a disappointing place called Vakaviti. You know it’s a bad idea when you see a For Sale sign outside and find the bar and...