Today we went to Legoland. It was really cool! Unfortunately I was really sick all day with some gastro bug that's kind of going around. 5 of us have been sick with it, which I didn't think was a lot until Claryse pointed out that was 10% of the group!
Luckily Haylee, having worked in a pharmacy, knew what drugs I should take and we were able to find some at Legoland that worked for me for a while. I took whatever I could get! By the afternoon I was feeling a bit better although still not 100% but I was able to go on some small rides. H,C & E went on a rollercoaster while I stayed on the ground and took photos. I'll try to twitted some of them later.
My favourite part of Legoland was Miniland, where mini cities have been built out of Lego! They even had a replica Sydney Opera House! It was so awesome. There weren't too many rides for grownups so I didn't feel too sorry for myself for missing out.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
A day of mishaps
I know Haylee's been keeping you updated with short blog posts but I wanted to tell you a bit more about what we've been up to lately.
Yesterday we left for Sea World at about 8.30am. We spent the whole day there? But apart from a few rides and animal shows, there wasn't much to do. We had booked dinner with Shamu at 6pm, so we had to keep ourselves occupied until then. We watched Jordan interact with dolphins, while Emi actually got to get in the water with them! We watched the dolphin show, the whale show, the sea lion show. All of then were pretty awesome. The dolphin show was the one were we all sat front row and got absolutely DRENCHED! The whale show started Shamu and talked about conservation and protecting the planet.
After each show, we'd split up into groups with a walkie talkie between us and go on rides. Most of the girls loved the Atlantis ride, which was a rollercoaster with a big drop and waterfall to boot. You sat in a boat and got absolutely saturated. Of course, yesterday was freezing and spitting rain so Sea World made a motzah out of us buying ponchos. I personally was not willing to risk going on a water ride in the cold, and combined with the huge drop, it's safe to say the Atlantis was well avoided by yours truly.
After dinner with Shamu (who turned out to be a lookalike whale called Quirky) we went to watch the Shamu Rocks show. By this time it was dark, so everything was lit up and neon. It was more of a stage show than the whale show we saw earlier in the day. Of course given our experience in the front row at the dolphin show, we sat a bit further back so we didn't get wet. Zachary sat on my lap and fell asleep by the end of the show. By the time we all got out of the park, we were pretty tired and wanting to get back to our hotel but all the buses were gone. Fiona ended up basically bribing a hotel bus driver to take us back in 2 lots!
So Haylee's already told you about the whole drama with the car today. After leaving the hotel at 8.30am (we were supposed to pick the car up at 9am) we walked 5 minutes down the road to the transit station (we went there as a group to get to Sea World last night, so we knew the way). From there we caught a bus to the airport and then we waited for the car rental company's shuttle bus to pick us up and take us to the rental counter. Once we got there, everything seemed to be going well until he asked us if anyone over 21 was accompanying us to sign for the car with us. Of course it was just the 3 of us so we left feeling a bit bereft but decided it wasn't going to ruin our day. We toured around San Diego (even though the majority of shops were shut) and saw a side of San Diego no one else in our group probably saw.
Yesterday we left for Sea World at about 8.30am. We spent the whole day there? But apart from a few rides and animal shows, there wasn't much to do. We had booked dinner with Shamu at 6pm, so we had to keep ourselves occupied until then. We watched Jordan interact with dolphins, while Emi actually got to get in the water with them! We watched the dolphin show, the whale show, the sea lion show. All of then were pretty awesome. The dolphin show was the one were we all sat front row and got absolutely DRENCHED! The whale show started Shamu and talked about conservation and protecting the planet.
After each show, we'd split up into groups with a walkie talkie between us and go on rides. Most of the girls loved the Atlantis ride, which was a rollercoaster with a big drop and waterfall to boot. You sat in a boat and got absolutely saturated. Of course, yesterday was freezing and spitting rain so Sea World made a motzah out of us buying ponchos. I personally was not willing to risk going on a water ride in the cold, and combined with the huge drop, it's safe to say the Atlantis was well avoided by yours truly.
After dinner with Shamu (who turned out to be a lookalike whale called Quirky) we went to watch the Shamu Rocks show. By this time it was dark, so everything was lit up and neon. It was more of a stage show than the whale show we saw earlier in the day. Of course given our experience in the front row at the dolphin show, we sat a bit further back so we didn't get wet. Zachary sat on my lap and fell asleep by the end of the show. By the time we all got out of the park, we were pretty tired and wanting to get back to our hotel but all the buses were gone. Fiona ended up basically bribing a hotel bus driver to take us back in 2 lots!
So Haylee's already told you about the whole drama with the car today. After leaving the hotel at 8.30am (we were supposed to pick the car up at 9am) we walked 5 minutes down the road to the transit station (we went there as a group to get to Sea World last night, so we knew the way). From there we caught a bus to the airport and then we waited for the car rental company's shuttle bus to pick us up and take us to the rental counter. Once we got there, everything seemed to be going well until he asked us if anyone over 21 was accompanying us to sign for the car with us. Of course it was just the 3 of us so we left feeling a bit bereft but decided it wasn't going to ruin our day. We toured around San Diego (even though the majority of shops were shut) and saw a side of San Diego no one else in our group probably saw.
Jetlagged
I can't believe i am the only one still suffering from jetlag. Alicia and Claryse are fine but come 2pm i'm ready for bed. At the moment I am trying to muscle through it (i had a 1 hour nap earlier) but i think i'm going to go to bed at like 9. I'm such a grandma. I am dreading having to work the sunday we get back.
Anyway, had a nice but weird day. Saw a lot of San Diego and met some nice locals.
You will be happy mum, we didn't have to drive.
Anyway, can you please make sure everyone has the address for this blog and I'll post again soon.
P.S. You will be very proud of me, I have only bought a sea world pin not clothes (mostly because I don't want to buy things when I am jetlagged and not with it). BTW I am collecting pins for this trip, I have always meant to whenever we go away but only remember halfway through the trip. Anyway I nearly bought this green silk dress from banana republic that was $75 on sale but resisted temptation.
Anyway, had a nice but weird day. Saw a lot of San Diego and met some nice locals.
You will be happy mum, we didn't have to drive.
Anyway, can you please make sure everyone has the address for this blog and I'll post again soon.
P.S. You will be very proud of me, I have only bought a sea world pin not clothes (mostly because I don't want to buy things when I am jetlagged and not with it). BTW I am collecting pins for this trip, I have always meant to whenever we go away but only remember halfway through the trip. Anyway I nearly bought this green silk dress from banana republic that was $75 on sale but resisted temptation.
Things We Have Learnt and People We Have Met
We have learnt that everything is backwards and bigger in America. They drive on the "right" side of the road and the steering wheel is on the "right" side of the car. Speaking of driving, the cars are giantic and would crush my tiny Holden Barina. The roads are overrun by Escalades and Jeeps. The meals are also quite sizeable, their small is equivalent to our large.
We have met quite a few people in the three days we have been here. I will tell you about the more memorable people... First there was the "Gum Girl". She was from Alabama and had a real Southern drawl. She asked Haylee and I for some "guuuuuuuuuuum", but we didn't have any, so a dancing friend of ours Shannon gave her some Extra. She was so excited to see some Australian gum and when Shannon told her she could keep the packet she was over the moon.
Then there was the "Violin Guy" and "Mr Bus Driver". We met them on the first shuttle we travelled on today. They were really friendly and talking to us about our holiday. At the end of the ride Mr Bus Driver gave us a map and wished us luck, as you all know by now that luck did not help.
While we were waiting to get on the trolley one of the many times today, we meet the "Florida Lady". She initially asked us for help, but then realised we lived a lot further away than she did. We were talking to her about the weather and how "Sunny California" seemed to be a bit of a myth.
And finally, we ate pizza at one of the few places that was open today. And met one of the waiters that we'll call "Mr Carter", because he reminded Alicia of Nick or Aaron Carter. He was a bit of a flirt. We were dispelling myths about Australian drop bears, explain the sibling rivallry betweeen Australia and New Zealand and crushed his idea about riding kangaroos to school.
Alicia and Haylee are currently in our hotel room. I believe is having a nap.
Until next time,
KeEp dANciNg...
Claryse
We have met quite a few people in the three days we have been here. I will tell you about the more memorable people... First there was the "Gum Girl". She was from Alabama and had a real Southern drawl. She asked Haylee and I for some "guuuuuuuuuuum", but we didn't have any, so a dancing friend of ours Shannon gave her some Extra. She was so excited to see some Australian gum and when Shannon told her she could keep the packet she was over the moon.
Then there was the "Violin Guy" and "Mr Bus Driver". We met them on the first shuttle we travelled on today. They were really friendly and talking to us about our holiday. At the end of the ride Mr Bus Driver gave us a map and wished us luck, as you all know by now that luck did not help.
While we were waiting to get on the trolley one of the many times today, we meet the "Florida Lady". She initially asked us for help, but then realised we lived a lot further away than she did. We were talking to her about the weather and how "Sunny California" seemed to be a bit of a myth.
And finally, we ate pizza at one of the few places that was open today. And met one of the waiters that we'll call "Mr Carter", because he reminded Alicia of Nick or Aaron Carter. He was a bit of a flirt. We were dispelling myths about Australian drop bears, explain the sibling rivallry betweeen Australia and New Zealand and crushed his idea about riding kangaroos to school.
Alicia and Haylee are currently in our hotel room. I believe is having a nap.
Until next time,
KeEp dANciNg...
Claryse
our cheap bus tour
Well we were suppose to hire a car and go shopping in San diego but even though we emAilled the rental company and said we were under 21 they would not give us a car. So we got up early took a trolley caught a bus to the airport caught a shuttle to the rental company then took the shuttle back to the airport and the bus back to the trolley depot where we will catch a trolley to walmart and some oulet shopping centres. We feel a bit silly but we saw a lot of San diego and met some nice people. Haylee's trip count is up to 5. To be continued...
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Drenched at sea world
Mum calm down. I'm blogging now.
We went to sea world today. It was so cold today I had 2 jackets on. I don't know how I am going to survive ny. Any way went to sea world went on the Atlantis ride and wore really stylish rain ponchos. We sat in the front row of the dolphin show n got soaked. Saw the shamu show nthe fireworks. Then we found out that we were 10min late for the last bus. so we begged a ride off some random hotel bus. So basically it was a long day, I'm still a little jet lagged n tomorrow we are hiring a car n going shopping. We were going to go to malibu but then we found out it was 3hours away. That pretty is it. Blog again soon
We went to sea world today. It was so cold today I had 2 jackets on. I don't know how I am going to survive ny. Any way went to sea world went on the Atlantis ride and wore really stylish rain ponchos. We sat in the front row of the dolphin show n got soaked. Saw the shamu show nthe fireworks. Then we found out that we were 10min late for the last bus. so we begged a ride off some random hotel bus. So basically it was a long day, I'm still a little jet lagged n tomorrow we are hiring a car n going shopping. We were going to go to malibu but then we found out it was 3hours away. That pretty is it. Blog again soon
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Our first day in LA!
Today we survived a 14 hour plane trip, that to be honest wasn't the best service I've ever experienced. Combined with next to no sleep, (having had Emi sleep all over me and the flight attendants putting the lights on at inappropriate times) we arrived into LAX a little groggy, still on Sydney time and had to wait half an hour for our coach to pick us up outside. And did I mention it was really cold? Anyway finally we were on our way. First stop was Hollywood were we walked the Wall of Fame and Manns Chinese Theatre. I have to say i wasnt very impressed, it was smoggy and dirty and pretty run down considering this is the home of the Oscars. My group got so caught up in shopping that we missed seeing the hollywood sign! Awesome shopping centres distracted us. We only had half an hour at Hollywood & Highland shopping centre so we were rushed and in a hurry and only got to see the sign as our coach drove past. Then it was off to The Grove shopping centre & farmers market (where local celebrities often get photographed by the paparazzi) for a few hours. This is where i discovered and fell on love with The Gap. Oh my gosh, i could spend hours in there! Abercrombie & Fitch had a topless male model at the entrance to their store! Only in America. Anyway next was the 3 hr drive to San Diego. By this time everyone was exhausted and pretty much all of us fell asleep on the way. It took forever so when we got here we went to IHOP for pancakes for dinner. The whole taxes and tipping thing is a whole 'nother world! And the American currency! Horrible. Anyway now we are back at our hotel. There's Claryse, Haylee, Elise & me in our room. Tomorrow is Sea World. We are going to try to get a good nights sleep tonight.
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