AUSTRALIA

Once again our flight was delayed for hours from LA to Brisbane, finally leaving well after 1am. The security at the airport was intrusive, rude and completely non professional. We were shocked to witness people in uniform openly laughing at Asian travellers who could not understand the system. My assumption is that they are there to help as well as keep the planes and country as safe as possible but when pre scan staff give you different information than post scan staff then a worrying element comes into play. As the saying goes……the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing and that opens up a grey area through which anything can get. The problem seemed that no one truly cared, no one smiled, no one made eye contact……belligerence was rife. By the end of our security saga Gary was ropeable and needed the spare time to calm down.

Arriving in Brisbane we picked up our usual rental car from Apex and headed to Crystal Creek, Murwillumbah trying to avoid the toll motorways. We thought we were doing quite well but no……..ping, ping, ping…………they get us every time.

Waiting to welcome us in “our little red car” were Eleni and a very excited Maya. She was going to be 3 in a few days and a birthday party was in the offing. She is delightful. Adrian was just finishing a trip and would be home later.

We spent a delightful 3 weeks with the family sometimes taking Maya to the beach, to preschool etc and we watched her grow enormously – not only in stature, she seemed to get taller in front of our eyes - but in language and confidence and understanding as well. She definitely knows what she wants and at this tender age seems to have so much empathy. She likes being a “natural Dr” and when Gary fell off the back of a stationary ute and ripped his leg she insisted on inspecting it, touching it and asking if it hurt and then bandaging it. She did a jolly good job of it too.

Her birthday day was a treat and came together in the nick of time…….nothing like a last minute dash to the supermarket, which in this case is a good 3/4hr away, and a birthday cake flop x2 on the morning of……….but the slippy slide was popular even though it was on quite a steep slope, the children planted little flowers in terracotta pots and painted rocks from the river and the cake, the 3^rd attempt having been iced and well chilled, finally made its entrance covered in M&Ms and looking very bright and appealing. All in all a good day was had by all.

We were able to spend time with Carrie and Stefan as well. They took us to see their “new house plot and plan” which when built will be perfect for them. We are very happy that they will finally be on the house owning ladder so to speak.

We were also fortunate to catch up with Stefan’s parents and brother which is always a delight and have a nice meal with them. Sorry Lynn we were not there for your birthday but we know Mario gave you a good time!!!!!!!

Adrian’s business seems to be doing nicely and Eleni’s kinesiology practice is making a good start so all in all our trip to Australia was very positive.

We will be back in mid to late January for a few days and another catch up but our next stop is Myanmar and we have no idea what to expect there.

Saying difficult farewells – never gets easier – we head back in our rental car to Brisbane once again determined to beat the tolls. Did a little better this time but still got caught………next time!!!!!!!

YUCAIPA

Leaving Las Vegas we headed for Los Angeles. This now seems like a lifetime ago but unfortunately wifi has not been in our favour since leaving hence the long delay in updating our blog……….but yes we are still alive and well.

Leaving Vegas on a very delayed flight and our bags also being one of the last to come off the conveyor belt it was with great delight, when we finally walked out into the arrivals hall, to be greeted by the two smiling faces of Gary and Donna holding a huge welcome sign aloft with our names on. That was so very special……..thankyou both.

Whipping us quickly out of LA (thank goodness) to their hometown of Yucaipa, 2hours away, we were able to spend a relaxing 7 days getting to know them, their surroundings, their way of life and were thoroughly spoiled.

Donna and Gary you are the most generous and funny hosts and we enjoyed every moment we spent with you. From the “smores” to the “start the car” hilarity. Our trips to the supermarket and Walmart where everything seemed so big and bright. To Kohls where the discount seemed unending on the top quality clothes we bought and our trip to Palm Springs which was nothing like we had imagined it to be. The delicious Mexican food and good wine. Everything was tops.

However nothing was more amazing than our trip up a huge mountainside in a circular, rotating gondala and into the Mount San Jacinto National Park. That was just awesome seeing Palm Springs spread out below us surrounded by never ending desert. The panoramic views unbelievable.

We watched, with Donna and Gary, the American population elect Donald Trump over Hilary Clinton through to the early hours of the morning………..probably the least said about that though the better although our hosts seemed happy enough.  They were, like most of the American population, totally fed up with the whole process. In the words of Donna … “we all just need to move on”.

Looking forward to more “start the car – start the car” events when you visit us in New Zealand where we can do some more wine tasting together - yes the glasses survived their trip - and you can savour our beautiful Sauvignon Blancs in Nelson.

Till we meet again and once again a big thankyou to you both.

Safely delivered back to L.A airport with our livers intact we head to Brisbane and back to family for a few weeks. We are so looking forward to celebrating our youngest grandchild’s 3^rd birthday and catching up with our offspring.

LAS VEGAS

Flying from New York to Las Vegas - a 5hour plus flight - was great with American Airlines. We had the most amazing seats, just 2 together at the bulkhead and just behind business class. The food was good, the drinks plentiful and the flight staff happy and generous. The only downside was that we were charged $50 for our bags. We had been pre-warned that there would be a cost but $US25 per bag is a little exorbitant!!!
Arriving in Vegas the airport and runway are very busy and crowded with planes taking off and landing like some choreographed ballet. Once down on the ground the plane then has to run the gauntlet crossing the landing and take-off runways to get to it's final destination. Our transfer shuttle was there to meet us as arranged and our hotel was great. An hourly shuttle to Mandalay Bay Hotel at the beginning of the Strip was a life saver and we soon got to know our way around the Strip like a couple of old hands.
The strip was definitely an experience especially for our feet and there were some sights to behold I can tell you. Everything was big, loud, glitzy and smokey!!! Some sights took your breath away and others were just tacky though.
The Venetian was absolutely incredible once away from the casino area. You could actually imagine yourself being in Venice for real just on a smaller scale. The weird thing was that we were actually in the real Venice on exactly the same day 2 years earlier!!!!!!
Fountains choreographed to Bing Crosby songs were another highlight just outside the Bellagio Hotel. Treasure Island, Fashion Show, The Mirage, Ceasars Palace, Flamingo, Paris Hotel with the big Eifel Tower outside, New York New York, Walt Disney Excalibur Hotel, and Luxor were all worth a visit and all for their own special glitz and glamour. As we are not gambling people the casinos were not an attraction but most hotels and even the footpaths in certain places forced you to re-route through these smoke filled, crowded dens. In saying that I did decide to risk one US$ on a pokey and won 17cents!!!!!!
The biggest attraction was our helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon on Gary's birthday November 5th. It was soooo awesome. Never having been in a helicopter before, whilst conscious at least, this was a first experience for me and having ordered the champagne lunch drop at the base of the canyon as a birthday celebration for Gary the whole trip was beyond belief. This experience was made even more awesome of course by our pilot. The Canyon is spectacular in its own right but he made it even more so with his swooping, birdlike entrance and of course his endless knowledge. The lunch and champagne was great too as was the limousine ride to the airport. Think Gary had a good birthday.
Our next treat was another Cirque de Soliel show - Ka. This was at the MGM hotel and has been running for a few years now very successfully. Once again it was different to expectations, as was the New York show Paramour, but so so clever.
Freemont Street - the original Vegas Strip - was our next stop. Walking with eyes wide shut we shuffled down the street with a thousand and one other tourists. Before us there were definitely some extreme sights to behold - old men and very fat men in mankinis (not nice), skimpily dressed, semi naked young girls, toothless old women supporting themselves against trash cans looking for the next fix and dozens of Elvis Presleys. Contortionists, singers, dancers and long queues for the restaurants......all was in abundance. Every few minutes above us the zip lines buzzed the length of the street as their occupants screamed with delight and fake courage.
This street was not our scene, although we were pleased to have experienced it, so we decided to beat a hasty retreat. This retreat included crossing a very wide non busy road and as the closest car was way in the distance we decided we could make it across easily and ........jaywalked!!!!! What we didn't know was that the car in the distance was a police car which, seeing us starting to cross, accelerated and laid his hand on his bull horn continuously. Well we both jumped out of our skin - double cycling in the air - and, on hitting the opposing pavement safely whilst seeing the police car pulling over, we decided to split up (only slightly I might add) and remove our backpacks. Consumed with guilt we quietly walked separately to an awaiting bus to take us to the top of the strip and safely home. OMG sounds tame here but NOT - very scary.
So we definitely finished our Vegas week on a high and for all those asking the same question...........NO - WE DID NOT GET MARRIED!!!!!!!!