Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Vegas Delights


I love the dancing fountains at the Bellagio, a half-hourly free show ,
choreographed to popular music and lights in a man-made lake.



All this takes place on a surreal strip of highway entering from and
leading back into the Mojave desert!


September 5-7


This is our third time in Las Vegas, and again I feel it is amazing to arrive and experience—and a relief to depart!

Gambling holds no interest for us, other than to make our eyes, ears and minds boggle. We have forgotten the energy-zapping heat and gritty, blasting winds. The soliciting card pushers are more prolific and ’in your face’ than ever as we weave our way along The Strip. Fancy pushing cards into hubby’s face while his wife is on his arm! As if!

But there is something about the sheer size and boldness of the themed architecture of the hotels/casinos, and their fantastic light displays at night! There is so much to entertain and amuse without spending a dollar, let alone the availability of world-class shows.

Where else in the world can you walk into a Sphinx and sleep in an Egyptian pyramid? And this after watching an erupting volcano, riding to the top of the Eiffel Tower, watching gondoliers on the canals of Venice, walking among the statues and fountains of Italy, through King Arthur's Camelot and by New York cityscapes, with roller coasters zipping and screaming high above (and sometimes through) hotels.

Hotels with their several thousand beds are like mini-cities in themselves. A map of our hotel is essential to find our room. Once inside, with no sense of night or day, finding your room can be a challenge equal to a car trial without the car, as weary travellers interpret and misinterpret their bearings and multiple choices of lifts (elevators)! But it does get easier after a few days...

Against this backdrop, a much hoped-for meeting fell into place against many odds and did not disappoint – in fact it was my highlight!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Things to keep your hands off when in Vegas...






So that's where they went!

Lux Bus to Vegas




Driving through Mojave desert from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

September 5
After long flights, six hours in a luxury coach being pampered with creature comforts and plentiful refreshments was just the ticket!

Time taken to book in baggage and security check: 5 minutes.
Time taken to disembark and retrieve baggage: 2 minutes.


Friday, October 12, 2007

Hawaiian collage...


Evening entertainment, Polynesian style


"I know your face, but just can't put your name to it!"


The water came further up than we've seen before ~


~ both at high and low tides.

Sunset at Paradise Cove luau

Hawaiian Aloha




Hanging out in Hawaii

September 1-3
Hawaii is a great place to relax, recover tired bodies and feel romantic under the palm trees swaying in the Trade winds. The air is perfumed with tropical blooms, waves lap the shore, and our world is bathed in the honey-light of tropical sunsets.




We haven't swum yet - whilst Hawaiian beaches have warmer waters and wonderful tropical, balmy nights, it is our own Perth beaches that have spoiled us for white sand and clear waters.


Well, must go and crack another macadamia...

Perth to Hawaii

Sunset - on flight to Hawaii

August 31, 2007
After two beautiful flights totalling 15 hours (21 hours in transit), we arrived in Honolulu just 3 hours after we left home. That is, we left Perth in August, arrived and left New Zealand in September, then reached our first destination in Hawaii back in August!


By another trick of the International Time Zone, we will be away for just 33 days but will receive 3 months of in-flight magazines!

Air New Zealand excelled again with service. Perth to Auckland leg was all seats full, but Auckland to Honolulu only two thirds full and we could move around and stretch out. It makes a huge difference on a long flight. On this leg, the flight attendant handing out immigration cards for USA was explaining to passengers continuing on to Alaska that they'd need to fill in immigration cards for Canada. I quietly informed him Alaska was part of USA, in fact the 49th State, which initially caused him some confusion. But he back-tracked and apologized to the passengers he had mis-informed. From then on whenever he served us he'd good-naturedly say, "Ah, the troublemakers!" and we'd all have a good laugh. This attendant proved to be a real asset to his crew mates and passengers, with his friendly banter, sense of humour and attentive service.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Home from travels...

...up from jetlag we have almost caught, and return to circadian rhythms are trying!

AustralianNightOwl currently hooting at 7.00 am but falling off perch at 11.00 am and 6.00 pm! Disconcerting to early-bird husband but pleasing to cat receiving multiple meal times!

Please by stand for postings new on our travel...