Three Michael Jacksons

Negotiated the infamous LA expressways without too much drama and checked in to the hotel. It is 50m from the Hollywood & Highland shopping complex and a further 50m to the walk of fame and all that stuff. Nice apartment and strangely reasonably priced.



Ventured out to pursue the issue of "knockoff" womens accessories. An internet search revealed a place called Santee Alley which is "ground zero" for fake bags etc. Found it no problems but it is a little seedy and chock full of pushy street vendors. Carrying a camera is not a good idea when you ask "Do you have any fake Chanel bags" however eventually we found a guy who has stuff stashed in secret locations in his shop and we left with all the stuff we needed.

Then for a complete change of pace drove back through Rodeo drive fully realising we could not even afford to window shop.
Also stopped at High Voltage Tattoo aka LA Ink to get the ABS corporate logo tattoed where the sun doesn't shine (well not really but is was interesting although Kat wasn't there at the time).







Wandered up and down the Walk of Fame for a while but got bored quite quickly. Many "performers" looking to have a photo with you and relieve you of some money for the honour. At one stage there was 3 Michael Jacksons within 10 m of each other (see photo) and Wonderwoman, Superman, Yoda and others looking on. Stupid place.





Friday we went to Universal Studios. Had heaps of fun. Can recommend the Simpsons virtual rollercoaster but the Haunted House was a bit lame. Did the studio tour, waterworld show and a few other things but didn't get time to do their big rides or the backdraft show because the park closed at 5pm. At one point of the studio tour they show you the set for War of the Worlds. They got a real 747 jumbo, ripped it apart and scattered bits around. Crazy but looks good. Did get a photo with Spongebob Squarepants which was a highlight.

If you go there in the peak season I would recommend the front of line passes (although if everyone did the same it would be pointless I guess).







Saturday was our final day and what better way to celebrate than to drive 2 hours to San Diego? Well I guess there are better ways but that is what we did. Went to see the USS Midway which was the longest serving aircraft carrier in the US Navy and is now an exhibit which you can crawl all over. Built in 1945 it served in Vietnam and the Middle East before being decommissioned in 1991. Fascinating and great fun. Make sure you do the bridge tour but bring ropes and pitons cause the stairs are ridiculously steep. Love the quote from the helicopter squadron on the ship who did the rescues, presumably aimed at the fighter pilots..... "If you don't like helicopters, next time you ditch call a fixed wing"












Back to LAX on the freeway in the early evening..great sight with 5 lanes of tail lights and 5 lanes of headlights bumper to bumper. Can someone find more fossil fuels please.


LAX security checking was out of control with lines looping through the checkin counter queues and no-one really there to tell you where to go. Add in ongoing renovations and it was not a good scene. Got through ok and in time for the plane. A casual 14 hours with my knees up my nostrils watching a 6 inch tv screen and eating crap airline food and we got home with all the priceless Navajo artifacts intact and nothing missing. Can start planning for next time. Apparently it should involve somewhere warm, preferably a beach and less frantic sightseeing. Not sure I can do that but will have to try I suppose.

Thanks for watching.

More red rock

Relatively short drive from Page to Bryce Canyon. Great scenery. Overnight stay then on to Vegas via Zion National Park. Unfortunately didn't have much time in Zion so just drove through part of it. Will definately go back and do it properly.

Headed to Vegas via the very impressive mountain cutting roads at Virgin River Gorge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VirginRiverGorgeByPhilKonstantin.jpg) to the Mirage Hotel. Got upgraded to a 2 bedroom penthouse suite for reasons beyond my comprehension. On the top floor, they are 1628 sq ft and each bathroom has a spa tub with mirrors and gold fittings and TVs and stuff everywhere. See this for details http://www.mirage.com/hotel/penthouse-suite.aspx And all this for $220!! The Mirage do have a very lame dolphin and wildlife exhibit. If you are ever here don't bother unless you get it free with your accommodation.

Saw Bette Midler at Caesars. She puts on a good show despite being over 60.

On to LA tomorrow.

Here's Johnny!!

Ok, I thought it would be nice to stay at a resort hotel overlooking Lake Powell. The price was good being the off season and all. Those of you who have seen The Shining may see a parallel here but imagine a very large resort with perhaps 6 guests, few staff and various services shutting down for the winter. Corridors are empty, the occasional guest is seen briefly and so on. I expected Jack Nicholson to put an axe through my door any second. Anyhow we survived so all good.

Did the Colorado River rafting and while I could say we did a rapid it is the only rapid on that part of the river and is rated 1 out of 10. That aside it was a fantastic trip with the canyon walls ranging from 700ft at the base of the Glen Canyon dam to over 1400 ft later in the trip. A couple of eagles and one condor were sighted but too high up to be clear. Saw some petroglyphs (native rock carvings) and various other wildlife. Highly recommended.

After the trip we went to the top of horseshoe bend (which is part of the river we travelled) and saw it from the top. 1000ft sheer drop and no fences. Several people standing on rock outcrops being supported by tiny little rocks. Took my picture quickly lest I make a quick trip back to the Colorado (for some perspective have a look at the campsite on the beach at the bottom of the bend).

Off to Bryce Canyon tomorrow.

I want some grits

Heading to the petrified forest from the Grand Canyon you pass a couple of things that you really can't say no to (well you can but I didn't).

Firstly the Barringer Meteor crater...very deep and very wide (see if you can see the lifesize astronaut figure holding the US flag in the middle at the bottom...will give you some perspective).

Second is "standing on the the corner in Winslow Arizona" as sung by the Eagles in "Take it easy". The good people in Winslow have decided there is a specific corner and set up a statue etc. If you do this little tourist trap, just do that and get out of Winslow quick. (Note that "the girl in the flatbed ford" didn't say much to me...she seemed a little one dimensional)

Petrified Forest and Painted Desert were nice but I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to get there. Checked out the Wigwam hotel in Holbrook but that is about it for that town too.

Took the trip up the Moki Dugway. Following an old Navajo trail up a cliff it is a steep and twisty road with sheer drops almost all the way up. The road drops (or climbs as appropriate) 1100 ft in 2 miles. Views over the "Valley of the Gods" from the top are sensational . See if you can see the road in the wide shot (hint: some people have parked a campervan in a passing area about 3/4 of the way up)

Monument Valley was next. Makes you want to buy a cowboy hat, get a horse and ride around saying "pardner" and eating grits (whatever they are). The scenery is every cowboy movie you ever saw. Staying at the new View hotel which is owned and operated by the Navajo so they get to put it in a prime location on their land. Great job they have done too cause it give you views like those below from your room. Well worth staying here.

Page tomorrow to do some rafting down the Colorado through the canyon.

Just come here

Not usually stuck for words but this is one of these times. Photos are worthless representations and even high def video on a 50" tv will no doubt not cover it either. Come to the Grand Canyon South Rim, rent one of the Bright Angel rimside cabins (6147 and 6146 are excellent - see pic below), visit the viewpoints by shuttle and, in particular, drive to the desert view at the eastern end. Hike the trail if that is your thing, ride a mule or get a chopper trip into the canyon and spend at least 3 or 4 days here (unlike myself but I will be back).

No-one can successfully explain to you what this place is like....

Do you feel lucky punk?

Down to the gunshop this morning. "Ah... hello... I would like to shoot a machine gun" "Yep ..we can help you with that" says the man with the holstered pistol.


Some legal doco first and then 15 minutes later, 30 rounds from an AK47, $40USD and a good deal of fun later it was all over.









All rounds on the target with lots in the bad guy, unfortunately the hostage copped a few including one mid forehead. Collateral damage.

Cruised Red Rock Canyon and then some shopping. Quick trip up the Stratosphere tower and then back to the hotel. Grand Canyon tomorrow.

Viva Las Vegas

They say Vegas is weird, wacky, excessive and "out there" but try doing it on Halloween night!!! Not sure where to start.....

Like most people say, you can't successfully describe Las Vegas. Ridiculous extravagance and some seedy aspects. Wonderful free shows and endless casinos. Every hotel makes you walk through their casino to get to whatever you are going to do. There are video poker games in laundrettes and petrol stations.


The "miracle mile" shops across the road are not only a real mile of shops but contain a recreation of a European middle ages town complete with fake sky.

The hotels bang on about being "green" but you need sunglasses at night because of all the lights. Anyway enough on that.

Arrived on Wednesday,checked in and spent about 2 hours exploring the hotel. They have what they claim is the worlds largest chocolate fountain which is pretty cool. They also have conservatory with talking trees and amazing water features.

At this point I realised that we would need a month to see what all the other hotels have to offer so we produced a shortlist. I doubt we will see those either.

Saw the Cirque du Soleil production called O. Amazing show performed in and around a 1.5 million gallon pool. We had front row seats which they warn you are "wet seats" but say you will only get a light mist. Not exactly true as the performers seem to think it is amusing to dowse the front few rows.

On Thursday I went to the Atomic testing museum while Sue went shopping at a factory outlet.

The Bellagio fountains are fantastic and we can watch them from our room with the soundtrack on the TV. The Bellagio buffet is something else again with all the Alaskan King crab you can stuff in plus a myriad of other dining options. Lots of wasted food though.

The volcano at the Mirage is pretty good but we were disappointed with the Pirate show at Treasure Island...a litlle too "funky" perhaps for us old people.

The drag racing (the starting point of this whole trip) was great with excellent weather and dozens of top cars. An added attraction is Nellis Air Force base is close by and during the day you can see F18, F15, B52s and other aircraft flying low overhead as they take off and land. One day I estimate there were at least 40 fighters going out to play and later that evening returning. Being at a racetrack also means food which in the USA comes in a bewildering variety of fried options. They have a moondoggie which is alternating hotdog and cheese on a stick coated in batter and fried, an onion bloom which is a onion cut to open like a flower, coated in batter and fried, a funnel cake which is donut batter in round shape fried with icing sugar on top and "toasted ravioli" which is pieces of frozen ravioli, you guessed it, fried. Add in the usual hotdogs, fries and burgers and you have a gourmet paradise.

Went to the Fremont street experience on Saturday night. Great show and well worth seeing if you ever come here. As it was Halloween the streets were packed with costumed party goers. Heaps of fun with much weirdness but no problems. Returned to the hotel to find Roman soldiers playing blackjack, Elvis chatting in the lobby and the Tin Man and Dorothy by the roulette table. Only in Vegas!!

Going to shoot machine guns today and then drive through the Red Rock Canyon and off to some factory outlet shopping :-( and if we get back in time go up the stratosphere tower and sample their extreme rides. If we have any energy left may check out the casinos (Luxor, New York New York etc) down the other end of the strip otherwise I will have to leave it till next time (if there is a next time).

Off to the Grand Canyon on Tuesday.