Planes, Airports and a rainy San Francisco

I am sitting in LAX typing this waiting for my connecting flight to San Francisco, though there are way to many announcements happening at the moment that I am not sure if my flight is cancelled and I am meant to be lining up for a new boarding pass or if it was the one before mine.

The flight over wasn't too bad, it wasn't full so I had a whole row to myself which meant I could lie down and attempt some sleep, I think I managed a few hours it was nice being able to stretch out.

It still didn't feel real even when I was on the plane, saying goodbye to mum and dad was surreal but there was also a lot happening at home our minds were elsewhere. I did get through all goodbyes with no tears, though someone hmmm Moo, bought me undone with her amazing letter and gift. I can't stop smiling everytime I look at it, will try and take some photos but it is a book with photos and find -a - words , colouring in pages and random facts about the places I am going to.
 The flight was pretty uneventful I didn't watch any movies, watched a few repeat episodes of new girl and mainly listened to my smodcasts.
I know some people are waiting for pictures of food and I try not to disappoint, the food on the plane was pretty good, for lunch I had a mustard beef with mash and green beans - I also had to add the pics of the napkin because it make me laugh... for me it was a napkin not a tissue.

Also props to V Australia for given the tray mat a write up - yet another thing that made me smile.





Breakfast was Apple Cinnamon pancakes they weren't too bad and they filled the void after such a long time between food

So onto San Francisco, I arrived to a nice rainy, dreary, cold weather day... are you still all jealous? I was exhausted but I made sure I had a shower and forced myself to go explore in the rain if only for a little while.  I made a friend Amanda who is sharing my room with me, so we wandered to Union Square and then we decided the only thing to do on your first day in the US when it is raining and you are exhausted is MACYS!! 6 floors and way too many things that looked good and were tempting me to buy then - I didn't spend a cent in Macys.

Since we both flew in today and were exhausted we opted for an early bite to eat at the cheesecake factory, this was my first meal since the plane which was around 7am, I wasn't overly hungry but I ordered a Tomato Basil pasta, which means I got to experience my first HUGE American meal, I couldn't finish it all not to mention the size of the drink they give you.

So sadly no cheesecake tasting yet, I just couldn't fit it in.
It was back to the hostel for a free hot cider, which was needed it was freezing outside and for the walk back to the hostel. I am now lying in my bed fighting my eyes to at least make it to 8pm,
Tomorrow is Alcatraz, riding a cable car and exploring fishermans wharf

NOLA Service Project

A while ago I recieved an email from The Rock Boat (TRB) organisers about hotels available before we cruise out of New Orleans (NOLA) and how the day before they had arranged for a service project volunteer day if you were in the area and felt the need to help out.

The service project is helping with the St Bernard Project (http://www.stbernardproject.org) it is helping rebuild from Hurricane Katrina. It is hard to believe it has been 6 years since the hurricane and there are still families without homes, and businesses that need to be rebuilt. I can't even begin how it would feel to not have a place to call home 6 years after such a devastating event occurred.

It was something that really interested me, but also something that had me torn, my time in NOLA is limited and I don't know when I will be back in the area so I had to weigh up seeing the sights and exploring the city vs really wanting to help out these people and know that I spent my afternoon making a difference to someones life.

In the end the service project won out - really it wasn't that hard of a decision, this year may be about me and being a little selfish, but to know whilst I am doing such an amazing trip I can help some people out and know that I have made a little bit of a difference to someones life.

So what kind of things will I be doing.. this is what the email said
"Volunteers work on one of many possible phases of rebuilding including mold remediation, installing insulation, hanging drywall, mudding, sanding, painting or flooring."

Most of these things are things I would never have thought I would be doing anytime soon.. especially for those that know me and my lack of co-ordination, whilst I can sand and paint I think it will be interesting and fun to learn a new skill like mudding - though me and dirt hmmm, or hanging dry wall. 

It has turned into one thing I am really looking forward to doing and looking forward to being able to share more about the experience with all of you 

1 week... or 7 itty bitty days

This time next week I will be at Sydney airport with a boarding pass in hand, having checked in my luggage having a final lunch with Mum and Dad before stepping foot into that tickets only area and beginning the adventure.

So how am I feeling about it? At times ridiculously excited, especially when I looking at random things like Harry Potter merchandise or I randomly see NYC on a movie. Most of the time though it still does not feel real, well the tickets, the packing and to do list sure feel real, but it doesn't seem as though I am going to be on a plane crossing the ocean and spending till April in the USA.

Lists are my friend.. This isn't a new thing, they always have been. In this case though they have helped me be extremely organised, I only have a grand total of 1 thing to go on my to do list and about 5 things on my to pack list.

People often ask me a. if I am excited and b. what I am most looking forward to, these are really hard to answer as the answers change daily but here are the things that are most exciting today:

• Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• NYC - All of it 
• The Rock Boat - this is a few things, meeting some people who I have spoken to for years and getting to hang with them for 5 days! Also I signed up for the service project - more to come on this I feel like it deserves its own entry.
• Disneyland and Disneyworld
• VEGAS
• Making new friends, and hanging out with some friends I made just lasts year

 Hopefully next time I blog it will be either from the plane, or at least the airport.

5 free days...

I have 5 free days between my tour and TRB, initially I was putting my disney time in there but then that changed, then I thought I would go back to Orlando and just spend some extra time at  WWOHP.... re think again and possibly lying on a beach in Cancun and chilling out for the time.

So whats the problem, I have no idea what I want to do. Nothing is making me feel like yes this is what I want to really do. I just am feeling so lost at the moment with what it is I want to do. I am not in a hurry to book  but I would like some idea of a back up plan incase nothing jumps out at me closer to the date.

Testing this out

I seem to have the ability to blog from my new phone.
Only have one more flight to book for planned things also leaning towards cancun

Eastern Discovery

Next up was Contiki so where does contiki take me, all the way down the eastern coast line to New Orleans.

So starting in NYC we stop off in Philli and Annapolis before settling in Washington DC for 3 nights. I am really looking forward to Washington, being an election year and being close to the white house, I am hopeful I may get to see a political rally.

I am also looking forward to getting down to the south, seeing the charming streets in Savannah , Raleigh, Charleston and St Augustine. The southern food should be interesting, though not to sure if I am ready to extend my tastes to Alligator but I won't say never, but highly unlikley.

Miami should be fun, walking along South beach, seeing little Havana and experiencing some of the Cuban culture which has its own little pocket in Miami. This is all before moving on to Orlando and Orlando means one thing.... HARRY WORLD!!! Oh and probably Universal City Walk... which should make for a fun night!

New Orleans is my last stop on this tour, every person I have asked both within the US and who has visited the US where I need to go, New Orleans has been top of the list. I am told there is no place like it, its amazing, beats to its own drum, and its just a great all round experience. I am lucky that I get some extra time there as its where my cruise departs from.

What the trip is shaping up to look like

The following is where I have booked to go so far, I still have a few days where I have no idea what I am going to do or where I am going to be. Also hoping to fit in a trip to Fresno to meet Alana and her little mini me as well.