Tomorrow we're taking the train up to Perth, Scotland to stay with a friend of Suz.
World Trip 2008 remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>L8r.
Technorati Claim remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>We finally checked out of San Francisco (for now). The hire car was booked for midday AND believe it or not I was there on time pick it up! We waited (and waited) for the car to be ready and eventually got out of the city about 2pm.
The drive south to Santa Cruz really isn't that far (it's much like driving from Melbourne to Philip Island). We stopped in Half Moon Bay for lunch, had some great mexican food. Moving on, we made it to Santa Cruz by dusk.
After checking in, we went for a drive around the city. Silly idea! We didn't have a map. We drove around for about 2 hours, somehow getting more and more lost. Eventually had to stop at 7-11 and buy a town map. We found our way back to the hotel and decided it would be better to discover this city in the day light.
Santa Cruz, you're not that far! remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>In the gallery, be sure to click the 'L' link to view the photos at their best. You can also subscribe or use feeds to get the latest photos. I think you can use the feeds in iPhoto and others.
The Profile Page also provides another good summary view of stuff.
Tomorrow we drive from Santa Cruz back to San Francisco. We'll be in SF for another 3 nights before we fly out to Hawaii.
My minimalist photo collection remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>We got away from the hotel about midday and took two cable cars to Valejo Street. We followed a walking tour from the trusty Lonely Planet guide. Wow, there's like 1000's of stairs to climb. Something about the angle of these stairs is wrong! They seem to increase the effect of gravity on your body.
The walk climaxes when we finally get some down hill action - walking down the famous Lombard Street. Yay a crooked street.
Instead of getting back on a cable car we continued down the hill ending up at a place (Columbus Ave) where we'd been a few nights earlier. We walked more until we stumbled across what must have been San Francisco's 'Little Italy'. It's not that different to Lygon Street Melbourne. Had an okay lunch there at Calzones Restaurant (a bit expensive and not that good).
Hitting the uphill again we walked to Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower. A nice view of the city, but the place we went to the day before was better. Heading east from Coit Tower the street is a pedestrian only path that winds and drops away quickly, later it's boardwalk and wooden steps with cool semi-tropical gardens - I would definitely recommend this route, if I could only remember the name of the street...
We make it back to sea level and we're a block from the wharves (again!). We walk back in to the city and find another cable car to get back to our end of town. The sun was setting as the cable car slowly followed it up the hill.
Tonight we didn't leave the hotel, I have a cold and we had plenty of stuff to work out. Several hours later now, we have almost have a plan. For the next week we'll be hiring a car and going south of San Francisco to Santa Cruz, Big Sur and beyond.
Working the gluteus maximus remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>I bought them before the holiday was planned. I thought I'd be able to sell them but I've had no luck. Unfortunately the festival didn't sell out as I thought it would, so I'm stuck with these tickets (over $500 in value damn it!).
The festival is this weekend (March 10th - 12th).
If anyone is interested in going please contact me at mrbuzzy@gmail.com, mention the blog and you can have 1 to 3 tickets for FREE.
Cheers.
Golden Plains Festival Tickets remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>We changed some of the dates of our trip. We didn't think we would get much from London in only a few days. Besides spending the pound for much longer could sap us dry. Our tickets are semi-flexible, we can change the dates and times. But are not allowed to change the route. We took a cheap flight from Manchester to Heathrow. (It was about a quarter of the price of the train, btw)
We stayed at the McDonalds of hotels 'Premier Travel Inn Heathrow' (enough said - I could rant about the terrible food, the red flashing lights on the smoke alarm that was apparently 'normal operation' or even how bookings.com doesn't advertise the true prices that they 'discount', but I wont).
So we leave the Hotel about 8am, then freak out for a while as our flight is delayed. Eventually we fly to Munich at midday, transferring planes with enough time to stock up on large quantities of duty free cigarettes and Daim Bars, check my gmail on my 3G phone (as any nerd would) and then get straight on the plane to San Francisco (12hr flight!).
Side note: I have a mate who runs GlobalFreeLoaders.com (a network of people who can crash at other peoples places all over the world for free)
Funny coincidence: Just as I was leaving Munich I received a GlobalFreeLoaders request from a person in Munich wanting to stay with us in Australia. (We won't be there so it ain't going to happen, haha)
Stupidity: we've been all over the place and haven't yet considered trying this service for our selves.
We arrived in San Francisco and were delighted to be picked up at the airport by Josh and Kerry. Previously we had only known them as JMan and MrsJMan from the Gomez Forums. Having never met us before it's a very nice thing to have done for us. They brought us some maps, umbrella and a pre-paid local cell phone to borrow. How cool is that! What an excellent introduction to SF.
Although only 8pm in us the US, our body clocks said it was about 3am. Josh and Kerry could probably see our eyes rolling back in our heads. They graciously dropped us at our hotel and we were 'home'! Almost 24 hours spent just getting from A to B... and very glad to have made it to the place where sleep happens ![]()
Getting to San Francisco (Day 27) remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>Now I have use of a decent internet connection I will be back filling the blog with entries, photos, maps, etc.
I will be adjusting the dates so the blog entries are displayed in the order of the trip (not the order that they were posted). This might seem a bit odd but it works for me. You might need to scroll back in time to see it all, for example I have now added Japan Day 2.
A quick note... remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>Japan (Day 2) remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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Shooting back to Tokyo (mobo bloggin') remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>Meghan and the boys cooked up some delicious bacon and eggs, toast, coffee etc, then we were off to the slopes again. Did you know there's about 600 ski resorts in Japan (so I'm told)? That's one down, 599 to go! Tony from White Horse Hotel is a great host, he dropped us off at the Happo snow area and left us to enjoy a perfect blue sky and powdery snow day. Suzie is possibly the best female, Scottish snowboarder in Japan. (She might also be the only one, hehehe). She really knows how to dig in the front rail for maximum face plant effect. She has the black eye and cuts to prove it.
Near the end of the day we took two adjoining quad chairs, climbing way up to near the summit. The view is majestic... it's even better knowing you don't have to ski or board back down... that's what Gondolas are for.
Trust me people - just get there, especially the Aussies. These mountains leave the Victorian ski fields for dead. 1 day lift tickets are approx. $60AU. These are electronic/proximity tickets of course - only the best for Japan, someone should tell then the Winter Olympics finished years ago. The ski runs are huge, the crowds are bearable to non-existent. Right now there's a good 2+ meters of snow.
Tip: if you're not a hard core skier or board rider you could consider the (from memory it was) 3000 Yen for 10 rides pass - the rides are long enough that it could last you the whole day.
At the end of the day we hurriedly made it back to the bus for Nagano and then Tokyo. Then we swanned around Shibuya for a while to find the elusive Love Hotels... to be continued.
Photo's and entries for days 2 and 4 are still coming... and so is Christmas.
Habuka - Nagano - Tokyo - Shibuya (Day 5) remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>I'm soooo ready for some Z's. I just want to send a quick should out to Trent and Naomi - thank you both for your suggestions!
I did get a camera yesterday but I haven't plugged it in to the Mac yet, maybe I'll post some photos tomorrow.
We visited the temple near Harajuku today and saw the freaks on the bridge. I was hoping to see the Elvis gang but I'm told they only shake their tail feathers on Sundays. Alas on Sunday we will either be skiing in the hills or touring Koyoto
Either is good for me.
Silly observation: today I found a Coke can in the shape of a bottle, weird eh! I'd like to see cans made from glass too ![]()
Tokyo is hard work! (Day 3) remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>We had to connect 3 trains from the Airport to Akasaka (where the hotel is). It really was hilarious. The train system over here is a complex beast. Just to change trains we used a lift, several flights of stairs and a couple of escalators.
If not for a very helpful Japanese lady we would still be lost in the subway!
I have more noobie Tokyo observations... for another day perhaps...
ZZZzzzz... z!
Landed in Tokyo (Day 1) remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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Mobile blogging on the porch remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>Way back in 2006 Suzie (Suziesue), Helen (Leocadia) and I (I) did another 'crazy' Gomez Tour. Here is a map of our travels;
AS YOU CAN SEE (very handy little map) we started in Melbourne. Flew to Brisbane and then to Newcastle. Hired a car in Newcastle and stopped in Sydney for a few nights before driving home to Melbourne.
That's the short version. Maybe one day I will fill in the rest.
End communication.... now.
Gomez 2006 remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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]]>So it doesn't start here, I hope to upload some photos from our recent trip from Melbourne to Darwin. Then I'll see what else I can find.
It doesn't start here remains copyright of the author MrBuzzy, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
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