On my final day of my huge overseas adventure I discover that if I go to expensive hotels they often have free internet in the lobby. Damn it. I am sitting in the Sheraton using free internet. The day was much better today and I went for a long walk and a bit of a swim in the beautiful water on the beaches of Waikiki. The area is very nice and extremely touristic. Every shop is a souvenir shop and every building a hotel. However, it is put together in such a beautiful way with loads of gardens and water fountains and great palm trees. Its difficult not to be impressed. I'm a little bit disappointed I didn't get to see any live or dormant volcanoes but I will return some day with more money and more time and more stress and take advantage of all of the islands facilities.
Tomorrow I take a flight and I head home. My final voyage. I can't wait. I love the feeling of the touchdown in Melbourne and the smell of eucalyptus that hits you as you step off the plane. See you all soon.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Hawaii cont...
So all is well after that little scare. I found a hostel and took their final bed. Luckily it was in a dorm and for two nights so it was perfect. Another hostel was offering me their last room and it was $75 a night cos it was a double so i was glad to find this one. All looks well for the next days but i think i will need to come back cos its great here.
Hawaii
I finally arrived in Hawaii, in Waikiki, after a 6 hour flight, countless hours at the airport and a two hour bus trip at this end. I've arrived at the hostel but they didn't get my booking and are totally full, much like all the other hostels, they tell me. It is pro bowl weekend here. yay. So my future is in jeopardy but I'm sure i can work out a solution. I'll keep you posted.
To Hawaii
This morning I am off to take a plane to Hawaii and I say goodbye to mainland USA and prepare for my final destination on this huge trip. Its a big point for me and my feelings are very complicated. Wish me luck on my transpacific flight. I will see you all soon.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Santa Monica & Venice Beach
super quick. crappy comp. expensive. yesterday beach great, quickly moved from hollywood to venice inb the morning. then went with a friend to southern california university to check it out and attend a class on congress. lots of fun. today heaps of fog on beach. walked up and down and looked at shops. heaps of homeless people everywhere. heaps. lots of pot smoking. photos soon. leave for hawaii tomorrow. goodbye mainland usa. i get that much closer to aus. And v quicklysome photos:
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Crabs
Today I took a leisurely stroll for about 8 hours along the coast of the San Francisco Bay. I walked straight along market st which ends at Pier One, then all the way along the harbour up to roughly Pier 40something, then after a few breaks here and there to look at shops and to grab some food or drink, I walked until it got dark and I couldn't see the Golden Gate Bridge anymore. Tomorrow I am getting the bus at 6:30am then the train so I can hopefully get into LA before nightfall. Therefore this is a super quick post with a few pictures to keep your eyes and brains stimulated, you photo junkies. This is your crack isn't it. Well I'm happy to provide as long as you don't let me know that you are reading my site and looking at my pictures.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Escape from Alcatraz
Quickly, this city has some supreme hills.
This morning I woke bright and early after my first 11-hour sleep in possibly my entire 11-month trip and headed to the main street, Market St, to grab a coffee and a map of the city at the local tourist bureau. I walked all the way to the harbour and on the way check out the Coit Tower (photo below). It is a magnificent structure on top of one of the many hills of San Francisco shaped like a... rocket or tower. It was built for no reason but to make the city look more beautiful. I'm not sure it makes the city more beautiful but it does give one access to seeing the city better along with its beauty. (But its a bit of a walk up to the top of the hill.) I then walked to the harbour shore and the pier and found Pier 33 where the cruise to Alcatraz leaves from. I had already bought my ticket online the night before but I was smart and pretended I couldn't print it off, I was then able to get a real ticket and keep it as a souvenir. The tour to Alcatraz was great but expensive. It was $21 but it included the cruise, entry to the island, and an audio tour so I guess it wasn't too bad. The audio tour was thorough and informative and we got to see the main prison cells, the shower room, dining room, administrative areas, and the yard. It was pretty interesting and a lot of the things reminded me of Prison Break.
The most interesting stories about Alcatraz are the story of the escape and some of the characters that Alcatraz held at different times during its use. The famous escape from Alcatraz occured in 1962 when 3 prisoners used spoons to brak through the wall surrounding the airvent in their cells. They disguised this with the use of cardboard. They also fashioned fake heads with real hair out of soap so as to trick the guards into thinking they were sleeping. They then climbed through the air vent and along pipes to the roof and then along there out onto the island. They'd stolen a number of raincoats and used these to make a small raft which they used to survive the cold and strong water of the San Francisco Bay. No-one knows if they made it but they were never found. Clint Eastwood stars in the movie adaption Escape from Alcatraz.
I then walked along the different piers and checked out all the tourist shops and expensive rip-off other stores. It felt like a set form Pirates of the Caribbean because it looked like it had been built for fake pirates at Disneyland. Then I stumbled upon the sealions who have made a part of the dock their home. Loads of them lie on the floating beams and just talk with each other all day. The Sea Lion Gang.
Then I stumbled through Chinatown on my way home and searched and searched for something to eat that looks good and was semi healthy. I ended up with pizza (of course) and it was so beautiful that I took a photo. (coming soon) Tonight I would love to go out with friends and get drunk but I have no friends and I have no money so I'll read instead. Tomorrow night I might find a friend and find a bar (and miss a meal for some drink money).
And check out this Mullet.
There are some new videos uploaded.
This morning I woke bright and early after my first 11-hour sleep in possibly my entire 11-month trip and headed to the main street, Market St, to grab a coffee and a map of the city at the local tourist bureau. I walked all the way to the harbour and on the way check out the Coit Tower (photo below). It is a magnificent structure on top of one of the many hills of San Francisco shaped like a... rocket or tower. It was built for no reason but to make the city look more beautiful. I'm not sure it makes the city more beautiful but it does give one access to seeing the city better along with its beauty. (But its a bit of a walk up to the top of the hill.) I then walked to the harbour shore and the pier and found Pier 33 where the cruise to Alcatraz leaves from. I had already bought my ticket online the night before but I was smart and pretended I couldn't print it off, I was then able to get a real ticket and keep it as a souvenir. The tour to Alcatraz was great but expensive. It was $21 but it included the cruise, entry to the island, and an audio tour so I guess it wasn't too bad. The audio tour was thorough and informative and we got to see the main prison cells, the shower room, dining room, administrative areas, and the yard. It was pretty interesting and a lot of the things reminded me of Prison Break.
The most interesting stories about Alcatraz are the story of the escape and some of the characters that Alcatraz held at different times during its use. The famous escape from Alcatraz occured in 1962 when 3 prisoners used spoons to brak through the wall surrounding the airvent in their cells. They disguised this with the use of cardboard. They also fashioned fake heads with real hair out of soap so as to trick the guards into thinking they were sleeping. They then climbed through the air vent and along pipes to the roof and then along there out onto the island. They'd stolen a number of raincoats and used these to make a small raft which they used to survive the cold and strong water of the San Francisco Bay. No-one knows if they made it but they were never found. Clint Eastwood stars in the movie adaption Escape from Alcatraz.
I then walked along the different piers and checked out all the tourist shops and expensive rip-off other stores. It felt like a set form Pirates of the Caribbean because it looked like it had been built for fake pirates at Disneyland. Then I stumbled upon the sealions who have made a part of the dock their home. Loads of them lie on the floating beams and just talk with each other all day. The Sea Lion Gang.
Then I stumbled through Chinatown on my way home and searched and searched for something to eat that looks good and was semi healthy. I ended up with pizza (of course) and it was so beautiful that I took a photo. (coming soon) Tonight I would love to go out with friends and get drunk but I have no friends and I have no money so I'll read instead. Tomorrow night I might find a friend and find a bar (and miss a meal for some drink money).
And check out this Mullet.
There are some new videos uploaded.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
San Fransizzle and the Jesus Cap Man
Somehow I made it here to San Francisco and in the 20 minutes that I have seen it I already like it a lot. It is true that it is very similar to Melbourne. There is loads about it on first impressions which is similar - the train/cable car system, the pedestrian only areas, trees on the street, lots of cool shops and cool people. Its great. Even though the weather is very overcast, the place has a really good vibe. Unlike the guy who followed me from Reno.
I wasn't sure that I would safely make it to San Francisco. Somewhere between Reno and Sacramento this strange guy got on the bus. I was sleeping so I didn't notice but when the bus got to Sacramento he nudged me because I was asleep and it was the final stop. I said thanks and I got off. I went to the bottom of the bus and picked up my pack then he proceeded to talk to me. I had a bit of chat to him before I realised that he might be a freak, and in a moment of stupidity told him the hostel I was heading to. Luckily he was a bit slow and I hoped that he hadn't taken the info in when I slipped up. He followed and talked to me as we walked to the train that would take us to Emeryville (the stop just outside of San Francisco, from where we take a bus). Usually I wouldn't be fussed about talking to a stranger because I have talked to tonnes on this trip, and when I think about it everyone except Steve (when we travelled together in July) that I have spoken to on this trip has been a stranger. But as I spoke to this guy and looked him up and down there was something strange about him (actually there wasn't really anything normal about him).
He was carrying just a little bit of luggage and two guitars which was already a worry for me, however it was the least of his problems. Lets start from the top, which in this case was the best place to start. He was about 40 years old, balding and with teeth fairly separated from one another. He wore on his head a baseball cap with a cross on the front and "Jesus is Lord" written on the back (funnily enough this was the main thing that tipped me off, but it gets better). He was wearing a royal blue coloured shirt and a multicoloured burgundy sorta tie. Pretty much the only thing you could do to fuck that combination up this guy was doing. Can you guess what he wore? He also had a jacket on, but between the jacket and the shirt covering the rest of his body he wore full length denim overalls with the metal clasps and everything. Insane. If he wan't such a weirdo I would have asked if I could take a photo of him because it was such a classic. He chatted to me a bit and I'll transcribe the conversation here:
"So you going to San Francisco?" He said.
"Yes"
"me too"
"ok"
"Where are you staying?"
"At the San Francisco International Hostel"
"Me too, what a coincidence. Have you been to San Francisco before?"
"No"
"Well I can show you around. I've been here a lot. I know a way you can walk on the Golden Gate Bridge...bla...bla...blah"
Then I said ok once more and put my head phones in and pretended to sleep while I came up with a plan to lose him. I toyed with the idea of just quickly getting off at any stop and getting on the next one in 2 hours, or something similar. I expected that he would follow me no matter what I did, even if I told him not to. I thought he might also wait for the next train at the next stop if he caught me getting off. So I thought maybe I could lose him at Emeryville Station or something, but it would all me going out of my way, getting into SF late, and there was always a chance he would wait for me at some point. So I came up with a plan. I had a feeling he didn't actually know where the hostel was so I pretended that I got a msg from a friend and then I would tell him I was meeting my friend and maybe was staying with him. Luckily with my lack of interest in him he started talking with other people and seeing what they were doing. He then decided to get off the bus going into SF at an unscheduled stop cos he said it was closer to the hostel. The stop was underneath a bridge and very questionable area. So I declined the offer and said I was meeting a friend. He got off and I carefully watched where we were at that point and where he walked. Then we drove fo some time and I was confident he was gone, hopefully to another hostel.
I feel relaxed now but I don't know if he remembered the name of the hostel. Maybe I will return tonight and he will be there in the bunk above me...
I wasn't sure that I would safely make it to San Francisco. Somewhere between Reno and Sacramento this strange guy got on the bus. I was sleeping so I didn't notice but when the bus got to Sacramento he nudged me because I was asleep and it was the final stop. I said thanks and I got off. I went to the bottom of the bus and picked up my pack then he proceeded to talk to me. I had a bit of chat to him before I realised that he might be a freak, and in a moment of stupidity told him the hostel I was heading to. Luckily he was a bit slow and I hoped that he hadn't taken the info in when I slipped up. He followed and talked to me as we walked to the train that would take us to Emeryville (the stop just outside of San Francisco, from where we take a bus). Usually I wouldn't be fussed about talking to a stranger because I have talked to tonnes on this trip, and when I think about it everyone except Steve (when we travelled together in July) that I have spoken to on this trip has been a stranger. But as I spoke to this guy and looked him up and down there was something strange about him (actually there wasn't really anything normal about him).
He was carrying just a little bit of luggage and two guitars which was already a worry for me, however it was the least of his problems. Lets start from the top, which in this case was the best place to start. He was about 40 years old, balding and with teeth fairly separated from one another. He wore on his head a baseball cap with a cross on the front and "Jesus is Lord" written on the back (funnily enough this was the main thing that tipped me off, but it gets better). He was wearing a royal blue coloured shirt and a multicoloured burgundy sorta tie. Pretty much the only thing you could do to fuck that combination up this guy was doing. Can you guess what he wore? He also had a jacket on, but between the jacket and the shirt covering the rest of his body he wore full length denim overalls with the metal clasps and everything. Insane. If he wan't such a weirdo I would have asked if I could take a photo of him because it was such a classic. He chatted to me a bit and I'll transcribe the conversation here:
"So you going to San Francisco?" He said.
"Yes"
"me too"
"ok"
"Where are you staying?"
"At the San Francisco International Hostel"
"Me too, what a coincidence. Have you been to San Francisco before?"
"No"
"Well I can show you around. I've been here a lot. I know a way you can walk on the Golden Gate Bridge...bla...bla...blah"
Then I said ok once more and put my head phones in and pretended to sleep while I came up with a plan to lose him. I toyed with the idea of just quickly getting off at any stop and getting on the next one in 2 hours, or something similar. I expected that he would follow me no matter what I did, even if I told him not to. I thought he might also wait for the next train at the next stop if he caught me getting off. So I thought maybe I could lose him at Emeryville Station or something, but it would all me going out of my way, getting into SF late, and there was always a chance he would wait for me at some point. So I came up with a plan. I had a feeling he didn't actually know where the hostel was so I pretended that I got a msg from a friend and then I would tell him I was meeting my friend and maybe was staying with him. Luckily with my lack of interest in him he started talking with other people and seeing what they were doing. He then decided to get off the bus going into SF at an unscheduled stop cos he said it was closer to the hostel. The stop was underneath a bridge and very questionable area. So I declined the offer and said I was meeting a friend. He got off and I carefully watched where we were at that point and where he walked. Then we drove fo some time and I was confident he was gone, hopefully to another hostel.
I feel relaxed now but I don't know if he remembered the name of the hostel. Maybe I will return tonight and he will be there in the bunk above me...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
