Monday, November 26, 2007

Dinosaurs Alive!


Dinosaurs Alive - 3D!
We ducked, screamed and threw our hands up in the air, trying to avoid being swallowed by the dinosaur which snapped at prey heading straight for us!

     
At the top level of Luxor's pyramid, the entrance to the IMAX theatre lured us with promises of extreme experiences. Climbing even higher via steps and a long, winding ramp, it felt like entry to a Disneyland ride!  
 
The theatre's 7-story screen and 30,000 watts of sound from 6 sets of speakers created a realistic world from long ago, into which we were drawn. Wearing 3D glasses, and facing the screen quite closely from several steep rows of seats - almost vertically aligned - the effect was complete, and we knew when a bar came up and locked us in our seats it was too late to run! A disembodied voice warned us not to try and move from our seat, but if anyone felt giddy or wanted to leave at any time, they should just raise their hand...

That was fun!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Still within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, we visited the Spring Mountain Ranch beneath the Wilson Range. At 3,800 ft, the area is much cooler than Las Vegas. Water for this once luxurious retreat and working ranch is sourced from some of the many springs in these mountains. This was also the area of the Paiute Indians.

Earlier, before being shown through the ranch, our guide had primed us to ask to see "the secret room". In the bedroom, what looked to be just another wardrobe door opened into a hallway. One step up while ducking your head, and following the hall led to a whole suite of luxurious living quarters.



Past owners of the ranch included Chester Lauck of the comedy team "Lum & Abner," German actress Vera Krupp, and famous billionaire aviator, Howard Hughes.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Red Rock Canyon


Calico Hills (
La Madre Mountains in background)


Calico Hills (fossilized sand dunes) — Turtle Head Peak


Mt Wilson cliffs (3,000 ft)


Joshua Trees

September 7

We included Las Vegas in our itinerary so we could take a trip out to the nearby Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in the Mojave Desert. With my new digital camera, I was keen to photograph the area's
unique geological features and colourful cliff faces of red, cream and gray layers of sandstone and limestone.

As part of a very small group tour, our guide was a senior local who interspersed geology lessons with local history, legends and stories of the desert and Las Vegas, which enhanced our half-day experience. At around 100°F outside, three or four bottles of spring water on ice (for each person), were very welcome after photo stops and walks. Later, packed lunch boxes which included the best filled ham or turkey sandwiches I've ever eaten, were handed out.

Next stop: the Spring Mountain Ranch.

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...