Sitting in the warmth of an internet cafe in Banff. Its bloody cold but the scenery is amazing. The last few days we've been surrounded by the stunning backdrop of the snow capped Canadian Rockies.

Having seen snow for the 2nd time in Yosemite, we were now treated to a third viewing when we actually saw a semi-frozen lake and it was actually snowing.

Angie (the other aussie, from Brisbane) and I played around in the snow like little school children and had a snow ball fight.

Yesterday we went whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River near Golden. We had to wear wetsuits and 2 wool jumpers and rain jackets and it was still freeeeeezing!

They had only opened the rafting season there 5 days ago, and recent warm weather had melted the glaciers so the water level had risen considerably.

It was great fun although not as long as the rafting in Costa Rica. However, our hands were numb from about (or aboot) the 2 minute mark until 5 hours later when we drove an hour to the Radium Hot Springs to thaw out.

Before heading to the Rockies, we spent two days in Vancouver, which was a wonderful city, in many ways similar to Melbourne.

We had a rather large night out on the first night there and on the second night, we caught a sea ferry across to North Vancouver and dined looking back at the city and the bay as the sun set (which was rather late, nearing 10 o'clock).

Before that we spent a night in Seattle (in the last hotel until Chicago 12 days later), which justly deserves its reputation as rainy one day, rainy the next.

We'll be back into the USA in Montana in 2 days and it better be warmer.. (he types as he prepares to leave the warm internet cafe)

Sitting in a Campground in Oregon, just south of Portland after spending a couple of nights in Redwoods National Park in Northern California.

The two weeks in California were great - now our attention turns to the subsidised medical care and chilly weather of Canada.

The two other guys in the group have got sick and had to go to a doctor at great expense.

It's been pretty cold since we left Yosemite, San Francisco was about 16 degrees and it probably won't get any warmer until we're back in the USA in 10 days.

Onto Seattle tomorrow, before we head to Vancouver.

Haven't posted for a few days due to camping on the pacific coast and Yosemite National Park, which was spectacular.

And let's face it, i couldn't really be bothered.

I have now joined the Trek America 4 week tour up the west coast, into Canada and over to New York.

I've actually joined with 5 poms and two scots who have already been on a 5 week tour from New York. Another aussie from Brisbane and I are the only new ones.
But we've fitted in pretty quickly as there are only 9 of us plus the lead singer of Coldplay who is our leader.

There are also 2 other groups basically doing the same trip in different vans so we've seen them intermittently over the last few days.

I'm now in San Francisco, where we have two nights before moving up to Redwoods national park in Northern California.

Unfortunately there was a lot of low fog so the nice views of the city and the Golden Gate bridge were turned into eerily
artistic photo ops.

I've taken about 430 photos in 13 days so with 165 days to go, be prepared for some
large emails/posts when i eventually find a bloody computer that can upload photos.

Almost completed the LA leg of the trip.
I'm just about getting used to the layout of the suburbs/streets etc.
and the public transport system...

Once you get on a bus, its not any worse than a bus in Australia, its very similar in fact. However they don't even bother posting a timetable anywhere, so you could be waiting a while.

Yesterday, I followed up Universal Studios with a longer, more personalized and in depth tour of Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank (for those of you playing along at home, presumably with some sort of Los Angeles County Map and very little to do)

Today, I managed to locate some higher culture in LA, the Getty Center.
I actually spent just as long looking at the architecture and gardens as the art galleries inside.

It's a massive structure on top of a big hill with an amazing 360 degree view of LA.

As I was leaving, a mother taking her young child into the gallery said: "Now we're going to get some culture", to which the child replied "do they have food?"

As some people may know, I have a limited knowledge of art, and would probably have been that kid about 10 years ago.

Nevertheless, I went on a couple of tours including one on Impressionism, and saw the special exhibits on Degas and Courbet.


I have have now had my culture fix until I get to New York.

Forgot to mention yesterday that i went to the Grand Canyon whilst staying in Vegas.
A truly amazing experience. Photos will follow when i can upload them. (see i told you i would eventually get round to it)



I've managed to use up 70% of my 1 GB memory card in the first 7 days here so i might start having to get picky and delete a few photos/movies.

Spent today at Universal Studios which was great although geared more towards rides and attractions than the actual workings of a studio.
Ironically, Waterworld was one of the best shows there.

I'm thinking about going on another studio tour, perhaps Warner Bros. or Paramount.

Walked past the Poseidon premiere on the way home tonight, and managed to get a quick paparazzi shot.

The MI3 one was last thursday - It's weird having actual film premieres all the time
near your home. By actual, I mean not involving Mr Schneider or Ms Bynes doing bored visits to suburban Australian multiplexes.

Just returned from 2 exciting nights in Las Vegas!
well sort of..


Travelled with LA city tours rather than making my own way via greyhound to the hostel there. I think it was worth it because the hostel was in a particularly dodgy area, and we stayed in a nice enough motel closer to the strip.

Stayed with a swedish guy who was also travelling alone and saved $50 (Huzzah!)
There were also 3 french girls who were with us most of the time, and we went to the Grand canyon with them yesterday. A long day - up at 6am, 4-5 hours there, 4-5 hours back, then stayed out in Vegas until pretty late.



I think we may have broken the record for the least amount of money spent in a trip to vegas! Paid about $5 for a meal and did all the free stuff!

There were so many sleazy mexican guys thrusting 'business cards' of hot babes who'll come to your room in 20 mins. Even on the main strip full of middle aged american couples.

I think they were genuinely surprised when i started collecting them all from every single guy!

Yesterday, i walked up to Runyon Canyon with a Novocastrian called Jim (that's an english northerner for those who can't speak Latin), and another aussie guy.
It wasn't part of the tour which the hostel runs, so we made it harder than it needed to be with a bit of bush bashing!

Ultimately got some great views of the whole city, and its a bloody massive city.
Also some good shots of the Hollywood sign.

Went to Santa Monica today, which involved a free shuttle 'bus/massive van with 17 people' going down the freeway at 180km/h.

The beach and promenade were mildly interesting but shopping wasn't the highest priority with about 175 days to carry around unnecessary purchases.

Caught the Metro bus back to Hollywood, which is LA's public transport - very cheap but not very efficient. But you get to see different parts of LA, which although not very glamorous, gives a better picture of the city as a whole.

Unfortunately, MI:3 isn't showing at the Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd., even though they had the premiere there on Thursday, the day I arrived with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, and a surpisingly C-list of celebrities from 10 years ago: Patrick Swayze, Kirstie Alley etc.

However, there is an impressive multiplex called Arclight on Sunset Blvd which is showing it. So a few of us, including 2 aussies, a another pom, and a columbian
went there to see a different film - United 93.

On reflection, probably not the best film to see for those catching a plane home tomorrow as some were. Or for those who had just flown in on an United Airlines flight (such as me). Fortunately, I won't be flying again for 5-6 weeks and it won't be on United.


Having said that, it was a VERY good film, although I don't think its coming out in Australia until August.


Heading off to Las Vegas tomorrow, perhaps the only city more outwardly glamorous, inwardly hollow than LA.

Should be fun!

Went on 'Paparazzi' Tour of Bel Air and Beverly Hills today, and
saw an old guy driving into the Playboy mansion and it wasn't Hugh Hefner..

Got some nice photos of the nice part of LA, though i won't be able to upload any of them for a while because the computers at the hostel won't allow it.




Having said that, the Hostel is great. The actual rooms are spacious enough, and there's a Lounge upstairs which is pretty much just a cheap bar. You can't go wrong with $1 beers! Even if it is American beer.

Tonight there are free tequila shots and margaritas to celebrate Cinco de Mayo which is a big event this weekend in LA, given half the population is hispanic.

I'd explain what it is but hell, you're already on the internet, how hard is it to google it, and that's as if you even cared. Do I look like a fountain of knowledge?!


......Ahem

Fresh Air, Small energy efficient cars, and smooth running, efficient public transport.

What do these things have in common?

None of them are present in Los Angeles.

Despite this, I have managed to make it to the hostel in Hollywood without dying of carbon monoxide poisoning.

And I've got a week to fill with the vast range of cultural experiences LA is justly famous for...
Universal Studios, Sony Studios, Paramount Studios, Warner Bros. Studios etc.

I managed to (finally) read The Da Vinci Code in full in one sitting in about 6 hours en route to LA, just in time to understand the massive cryptic banners adorning the streets:
'So Dark The Con Of Man' etc.

Visualisations of Tom Hanks' mullet did not enhance the reading experience