Tomorrow morning i start my trip back home. Im flying from Wisconsin to Michigan, then from there to New York, from there to LA, and then finally my long long long, flight back to sydney. All in all, my entire trip back home, flying, and waiting times in the airport, will be just over 35 hours. Im not looking forward to that, but i am looking forward to being home! Im actually quite sick, which doesnt make flying anymore fun, but im waiting til i get home to see the doctor. Ive been in wisconsin the last couple of days, and its been fun. Ive met a lot of different people, and i went sailing! I want to come home and learn how to sail now. But i think its a bit too cold in sydney for that.
Look forward to seeing everyone!
Maryam
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Kennedy Space Centre/St. Augustine/Savannah/Washington DC/New York!
This is going to be a quick update on what ive been doing. I havent had internet access again, which is quite painful!
After Orlando we went to the Kennedy Space Centre. It was interesting seeing NASA. We got to see people building the new international space station, parts of older ships, and we got to go into a flight simulator, so we could feel what it would be like to go up into space!!
Then we drove onto St Augustine. This city is old, and very beautiful Its quite small but has a lot of history. We did a walking tour of the city at night. Its the most haunted city in America. It was actually pretty creepy. Later on the night, myself and a few of my friends were walking past the cemetery, and on all the graves there were little american flags. It was a completely still night, but one flag was waving really hard. There was no fan or anything, it was just there waving....
Savannah = most beautiful city in America! Ive probably said that about a lot of places, but Savannah is kinda a mix of spanish/french architecture which i really love. Savannah has a lot of small parks. Theres about 24 of them that are about 300 years old. This city is well known for the film "forest gump". This is where it was filmed. (I took a picture of where he sits on the park bench re telling his story).
Wow, where do i START with washington DC! Soooo much history here. I saw all the obvious landmarks of course, like the whitehouse, all the monuments, both of ex presidents, and war memorials. I saw the capitol building, and lots and lots of museums! i think i went to about five different ones. I also got to see the original american constitution, and the declaration of independance, and the bill of rights. Other crazy stuff happened in Washington, but i'll explain that in person.
Of course....NEW YORK! I still havent seen everything i wanted to see in New York. I have done a lot of the touristy things like Times Square, Empire State building, Statue of Liberty, Rode on the subway, Walked down 5th Ave, Saw a mets game!...But i need more time! I wanted to see a Broadway show, go to ground Zero, do some outlet shopping...Argh, New york is somewhere i have to come back to!
That my update for now. Im having a lot of issues with flights (missed some, trying to rebook, being on standby) so im not actually going to be home at the time i thought. I should be back in a week. Email me if you would like details!
Again, pictures soon. Ive taken thousands of pictures, and ive also got pictures that other people took so i have to sort through them all.
After Orlando we went to the Kennedy Space Centre. It was interesting seeing NASA. We got to see people building the new international space station, parts of older ships, and we got to go into a flight simulator, so we could feel what it would be like to go up into space!!
Then we drove onto St Augustine. This city is old, and very beautiful Its quite small but has a lot of history. We did a walking tour of the city at night. Its the most haunted city in America. It was actually pretty creepy. Later on the night, myself and a few of my friends were walking past the cemetery, and on all the graves there were little american flags. It was a completely still night, but one flag was waving really hard. There was no fan or anything, it was just there waving....
Savannah = most beautiful city in America! Ive probably said that about a lot of places, but Savannah is kinda a mix of spanish/french architecture which i really love. Savannah has a lot of small parks. Theres about 24 of them that are about 300 years old. This city is well known for the film "forest gump". This is where it was filmed. (I took a picture of where he sits on the park bench re telling his story).
Wow, where do i START with washington DC! Soooo much history here. I saw all the obvious landmarks of course, like the whitehouse, all the monuments, both of ex presidents, and war memorials. I saw the capitol building, and lots and lots of museums! i think i went to about five different ones. I also got to see the original american constitution, and the declaration of independance, and the bill of rights. Other crazy stuff happened in Washington, but i'll explain that in person.
Of course....NEW YORK! I still havent seen everything i wanted to see in New York. I have done a lot of the touristy things like Times Square, Empire State building, Statue of Liberty, Rode on the subway, Walked down 5th Ave, Saw a mets game!...But i need more time! I wanted to see a Broadway show, go to ground Zero, do some outlet shopping...Argh, New york is somewhere i have to come back to!
That my update for now. Im having a lot of issues with flights (missed some, trying to rebook, being on standby) so im not actually going to be home at the time i thought. I should be back in a week. Email me if you would like details!
Again, pictures soon. Ive taken thousands of pictures, and ive also got pictures that other people took so i have to sort through them all.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Memphis/New Orleans/Pensacola/Orlando
sorry for the lack of updates! Getting the net, and getting time just gets harder and harder coz theres so much to pack into my day! So my last update was about Dallas.
Memphis: We drove off to memphis, Tennessee, and arrived on the 7th of July. Personally, i didnt like memphis. Mainly because of my bad experiences there. (i'll go into detail soon). Our hotel room was really crap as well. Beale Street is the main street there, so our group went out to the karaoke place there for the night. That was hilarious. I only sang with a group of girls. When we were walking back to our hotel, there were scary homeless people that kept following us and asking us for money. The next day we had to go out to graceland to see all the Elvis stuff. Me, and two of my friends missed the bus out with everyone else by a few minutes, so we had to catch a taxi! We finally got there and our group had gone in so we had to wait til they finished so we could get our tickets off the tour manager. We got them, did the tour (which was pretty average. Elvis house was nice for the time that he lived there). After the tour, we MISSED the bus again to get back to the hotel! Lucky there was a free shuttle to Sun Studios (where elvis first recorded his songs, along with a bunch of other famous people). So we got to Sun studios, and walked 20mins in the 35 degree heat back to the hotel.
Oh and the worst thing that happened to me that day was in the gift shop at Graceland. My leg was itchy, so i was itching it, then suddenly, i realised that the itchy thing in my leg was moving. And it was moving up my leg. So i started freaking out and trying to take my pants off in the gift shop. I pulled them down a bit, and a SPIDER came out. Argh, it was so gross. All in all, not a fan of Memphis. We also went by where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.
New Orleans: Next, it was off to New Orleans. This city, and Vegas, have been my favourite so far. We got here, relaxed a bit, then we got ready to go out onto a riverboat to have dinner. That was ok, we got to see the sights of New Orleans. We learnt a little bit about the hurricane and its aftermarth, but we didnt see any of the damaged areas or anything like that. It was really hot here as well, but not as bad at the other places. After the boat ride, we went out and cruised the town a little bit, got home and went to bed. The next day, i slept in which i regret because i missed out on most of the day to see anything. But that afternoon we went out to the swamp boats, and got to ride on these awesome boats then went pretty fast in this river. (Its exactly like those boats you see on the intro to CSI Miami). We got to see alligators, and i got to touch a live baby alligator! It was sooooo cute! We had dinner that night at bubbagumps, which is all Seafood, and Shrimp (yum!) If you have seen the movie 'Forest Gump' you will know was bubbagump's is.
Pensacola: This is a beach town in Florida. We had to stop here for the night coz the drive all the way over to Orlando would have been too long. It was a nice place, i put my feet in the water. We got there when the blue angels (army plane things that do stunts) were doing a show, so we got to see that which was awesome. It was a nice lazy day, i did some shopping, and bought some board shorts, and the lady forgot to take the stupid security tag off the board shorts, so now i cant wear them!
Orlando: Finally we got to Orlando! Its the weirdest weather here. It can be perfectly sunny, and then suddenly is decides to start POURING with rain! Since im writing this a bit later, i cant remember everything that happened in Orlando perfectly. The day after we got there, we went to universal studios! That was really fun! I went on heaps of rides, but then when i got to the ride called 'the hulk' i came off it feeling really really dizzy, but that was near the end of the day, so i didnt go on anymore rides after that. The next day i went shopping at one of the outlet malls. I bought some AWESOME new Arnette sunglasses. They make such a difference compared to cheap crappy sunnies. And out here in the summer, you really need good ones. I also went a little crazy for my nephew Noah and bought him some nice clothes from OshKosh, and some other stores. By far, the BEST thing i did in Orlando, was a ride where you get taked up 300 FEET, strapped into thing harness, and you FREEFALL over the water and swing. Its basically bungee jumping, but you dont go up and down. Me and Heidi, and Brendan did this together. It was the best feeling i have ever had in my life. We got it recorded and its on dvd so i will upload it to youtube when i get a chance and then post it on here! The next day, we went to the Kennedy Space Centre, Also known as NASA. It was pretty freaking awesome! The best thing about it was that we go to go in a shuttle simulator! I loved it.
Today we just arrive in St Augustine, which is America's oldest town, dating back to the 1600's when the Spanish lived here. The buildings are beautiful. We're are going on a walking tour of the city tonight!
Pictures of ALL of this, to come soon.
Memphis: We drove off to memphis, Tennessee, and arrived on the 7th of July. Personally, i didnt like memphis. Mainly because of my bad experiences there. (i'll go into detail soon). Our hotel room was really crap as well. Beale Street is the main street there, so our group went out to the karaoke place there for the night. That was hilarious. I only sang with a group of girls. When we were walking back to our hotel, there were scary homeless people that kept following us and asking us for money. The next day we had to go out to graceland to see all the Elvis stuff. Me, and two of my friends missed the bus out with everyone else by a few minutes, so we had to catch a taxi! We finally got there and our group had gone in so we had to wait til they finished so we could get our tickets off the tour manager. We got them, did the tour (which was pretty average. Elvis house was nice for the time that he lived there). After the tour, we MISSED the bus again to get back to the hotel! Lucky there was a free shuttle to Sun Studios (where elvis first recorded his songs, along with a bunch of other famous people). So we got to Sun studios, and walked 20mins in the 35 degree heat back to the hotel.
Oh and the worst thing that happened to me that day was in the gift shop at Graceland. My leg was itchy, so i was itching it, then suddenly, i realised that the itchy thing in my leg was moving. And it was moving up my leg. So i started freaking out and trying to take my pants off in the gift shop. I pulled them down a bit, and a SPIDER came out. Argh, it was so gross. All in all, not a fan of Memphis. We also went by where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.
New Orleans: Next, it was off to New Orleans. This city, and Vegas, have been my favourite so far. We got here, relaxed a bit, then we got ready to go out onto a riverboat to have dinner. That was ok, we got to see the sights of New Orleans. We learnt a little bit about the hurricane and its aftermarth, but we didnt see any of the damaged areas or anything like that. It was really hot here as well, but not as bad at the other places. After the boat ride, we went out and cruised the town a little bit, got home and went to bed. The next day, i slept in which i regret because i missed out on most of the day to see anything. But that afternoon we went out to the swamp boats, and got to ride on these awesome boats then went pretty fast in this river. (Its exactly like those boats you see on the intro to CSI Miami). We got to see alligators, and i got to touch a live baby alligator! It was sooooo cute! We had dinner that night at bubbagumps, which is all Seafood, and Shrimp (yum!) If you have seen the movie 'Forest Gump' you will know was bubbagump's is.
Pensacola: This is a beach town in Florida. We had to stop here for the night coz the drive all the way over to Orlando would have been too long. It was a nice place, i put my feet in the water. We got there when the blue angels (army plane things that do stunts) were doing a show, so we got to see that which was awesome. It was a nice lazy day, i did some shopping, and bought some board shorts, and the lady forgot to take the stupid security tag off the board shorts, so now i cant wear them!
Orlando: Finally we got to Orlando! Its the weirdest weather here. It can be perfectly sunny, and then suddenly is decides to start POURING with rain! Since im writing this a bit later, i cant remember everything that happened in Orlando perfectly. The day after we got there, we went to universal studios! That was really fun! I went on heaps of rides, but then when i got to the ride called 'the hulk' i came off it feeling really really dizzy, but that was near the end of the day, so i didnt go on anymore rides after that. The next day i went shopping at one of the outlet malls. I bought some AWESOME new Arnette sunglasses. They make such a difference compared to cheap crappy sunnies. And out here in the summer, you really need good ones. I also went a little crazy for my nephew Noah and bought him some nice clothes from OshKosh, and some other stores. By far, the BEST thing i did in Orlando, was a ride where you get taked up 300 FEET, strapped into thing harness, and you FREEFALL over the water and swing. Its basically bungee jumping, but you dont go up and down. Me and Heidi, and Brendan did this together. It was the best feeling i have ever had in my life. We got it recorded and its on dvd so i will upload it to youtube when i get a chance and then post it on here! The next day, we went to the Kennedy Space Centre, Also known as NASA. It was pretty freaking awesome! The best thing about it was that we go to go in a shuttle simulator! I loved it.
Today we just arrive in St Augustine, which is America's oldest town, dating back to the 1600's when the Spanish lived here. The buildings are beautiful. We're are going on a walking tour of the city tonight!
Pictures of ALL of this, to come soon.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dallas, Texas
So yesterday we rolled into Dallas. It's quite an interesting place. Very different to everywhere else we have been in America. We went to a Rodeo, which was fun. They even had little kids as young as 4, riding on sheep! Our hotels rooms are really really nice. This is me, Caitlyn and Kristine at the Rodeo. After the Rodeo, we went to a bar/club thing because they had a mechanical bull. If you come to Texas, you have to see one of these! A few people had a go on it, i didnt coz im a chicken, but it was great fun!
This morning we made our way out to The Dallas Cowboys football stadium. We got a tour of it, and also got to play on the field. Im proud to say, i kicked a field goal! By far the coolest place we have gone to in Dallas was the JFK museum. After studying it in school, it was amazing to see the place, and learn it all over again. Heres a picture on the road (you can see two X's that mark the two shots that killed JFK) and then theres the book depository building where Lee Harvey Oswald was, on the 6th floor. The last picture is off the grassy knoll, where there was alleged gunman. And of course, I couldnt come to Texas, and not buy a cowboy hat!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Arizona/Colorado/New Mexico/Texas
so, a recap on the past couple of days.
After the Grand Canyon, we drove into Monument Valley. (Its on the Navajo Indian Reservation). We got to go in a bus on an off road kinda tour (which was extremlly bumpy and scary, the bus had no windows, and it seriously felt like it was going to break!). But the Valley was amazing. I took a lot of photos to i hope i can upload them.
After that, we drove to Cortez, in Colorado. Its amazing how Monument Valley is sandy, and rocky, and it looks like you are in the outback, then you drive for a few hours, and you can be in colorado, which is so green, and hilly, and apparently, looks like Switzerland in the winter! Here, we got to go in jeeps/hummers up one of the mountains where there use to be old gold mines. It is also the place where the Hope Diamond was found. The jeep ride...was scary. Coz going up and down these mountains, on a rocky, narrow road, with 9 people in them, makes it a bit terrifying! At one point, everyone in the jeep had to get out, coz the driver couldnt go around the corner of the mountain because it would have tipped! When we got up near the top, we got to go INSIDE one of the old abandoned gold mines. It was cold, so cold that there was snow up there, in the middle of summer! I broke off a bit of the rock that had a bit of gold on it to bring back home.
Then we drove into Albuquerque! We got in a bit late, had dinner then went to sleep early because i had to get up at 4:30am. FOUR THIRTY AM! I cant believe i managed to get up in time, but i did. The reason for this? Hot Air Balloon ride over Albuquerque and to watch the sunrise! It was worth getting up early. I have to upload those photos.
We drove into Amarillo, Texas. And, everything IS bigger in Texas. The hotel we stayed in was hilarious! we had cowhide doona covers, saloon doors into our bathroom area, and cowboy paintings and things on the wall. Again, i need to post pictures. That night, we went out to dinner, and 4 people in our group were doing the 72 ounce steak eating competition. Basically, they had to eat a 72 ounce steak (thats 2.2 KG), a bread roll, 2 pieces of shrimp, a baked potato, and a bowl of salad. Three guys, and 1 girl tried. The guys were talking themselves up about it all day. But guess who ended up nearly finishing all of it? Yup, Tori, the girl. It was great! After that, we went out, there was a lot of crazy dancing (which is didnt participate in) I played pool! (which i think im improving at!)
Today we had a looong drive from Amarillo to Dallas, which is where i am now. Dallas is one of the places ive been excited about. When i was doing year 11 and 12 history, I studied the JFK assassination, and today, i drove down the road where he was assassinated. Tomorrow, We had a pass to the old book depository place (where Lee harvey oswald shot JFK from the 6th floor) and its now a museum. But tonight, we get to go to a Rodeo!
After the Grand Canyon, we drove into Monument Valley. (Its on the Navajo Indian Reservation). We got to go in a bus on an off road kinda tour (which was extremlly bumpy and scary, the bus had no windows, and it seriously felt like it was going to break!). But the Valley was amazing. I took a lot of photos to i hope i can upload them.
After that, we drove to Cortez, in Colorado. Its amazing how Monument Valley is sandy, and rocky, and it looks like you are in the outback, then you drive for a few hours, and you can be in colorado, which is so green, and hilly, and apparently, looks like Switzerland in the winter! Here, we got to go in jeeps/hummers up one of the mountains where there use to be old gold mines. It is also the place where the Hope Diamond was found. The jeep ride...was scary. Coz going up and down these mountains, on a rocky, narrow road, with 9 people in them, makes it a bit terrifying! At one point, everyone in the jeep had to get out, coz the driver couldnt go around the corner of the mountain because it would have tipped! When we got up near the top, we got to go INSIDE one of the old abandoned gold mines. It was cold, so cold that there was snow up there, in the middle of summer! I broke off a bit of the rock that had a bit of gold on it to bring back home.
Then we drove into Albuquerque! We got in a bit late, had dinner then went to sleep early because i had to get up at 4:30am. FOUR THIRTY AM! I cant believe i managed to get up in time, but i did. The reason for this? Hot Air Balloon ride over Albuquerque and to watch the sunrise! It was worth getting up early. I have to upload those photos.
We drove into Amarillo, Texas. And, everything IS bigger in Texas. The hotel we stayed in was hilarious! we had cowhide doona covers, saloon doors into our bathroom area, and cowboy paintings and things on the wall. Again, i need to post pictures. That night, we went out to dinner, and 4 people in our group were doing the 72 ounce steak eating competition. Basically, they had to eat a 72 ounce steak (thats 2.2 KG), a bread roll, 2 pieces of shrimp, a baked potato, and a bowl of salad. Three guys, and 1 girl tried. The guys were talking themselves up about it all day. But guess who ended up nearly finishing all of it? Yup, Tori, the girl. It was great! After that, we went out, there was a lot of crazy dancing (which is didnt participate in) I played pool! (which i think im improving at!)
Today we had a looong drive from Amarillo to Dallas, which is where i am now. Dallas is one of the places ive been excited about. When i was doing year 11 and 12 history, I studied the JFK assassination, and today, i drove down the road where he was assassinated. Tomorrow, We had a pass to the old book depository place (where Lee harvey oswald shot JFK from the 6th floor) and its now a museum. But tonight, we get to go to a Rodeo!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Photos
Currently i am in Colorado. We got here earlier on, after spending the day in Monument Valley which is on the boarder of Utah and Arizona. Ive uploaded pictures from the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, to flickr which is here. I havent really weeded through them to take out bad ones since im really tired right now. Ive gone over the limit of photos, so im going to find a new account to upload pictures of more grand canyon and monument valley.
Having an awesome time!
Here for pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57492036@N00/
Having an awesome time!
Here for pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57492036@N00/
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Grand Canyon!
I cant even describe how amazing the helicopter flight was over the Grand Canyon. Heres a picture taken on the helicopter this morning, with the canyon in the background. Tonight, we are going to go watch the sunset over the canyon.
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