Vancouver - Canada (British Columbia)

No rain today which is good, its been fairly nice but a little crisp!! We went down to the harbour today took a walk around there and also went to Stanley Park spent a couple of hrs there looking around, it massive...!! Unfortunately didn't see any bears or Moose's!!
We went into Gas Town last night for our dinner, was a nice bar/cafe with very good food, there is also quite a few boutiques there so had a snoop around them!
Tonight is our sort of last night, as tomorrow night we will be on a flight to Heathrow!!! Shame, shame but we knew it had to come to an end! Think we will be going out and drinking to us and well the future and of course our next trip, watch this space!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vancouver - Canada (British Columbia)

Oh my, Vancouver is freezing and so wet, its just raining all the time, dark and pretty miserable! The bus ride passed pretty quickly so that wasn't too bad got through customs no probs, although one poor guy nearly didn't!
We are staying in a guest house and it really is lovely, its in the main downtown area so we are pretty close to everything!
We have only got 2nights here so going to check out whats going on and fit as much in as possible then its home..arrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! We would really like to see a grizzley bear and maybe a moose, apparently this is the place to see them, so.....????

Seattle - U.S.A

The Flight here wasn't to bad, although we was 1hr delayed, it soon passed! We are staying in a much nicer place, thank god...makes all the difference!! The weather is cold, bitterly cold! Actually we both feel like its christmassey, maybe its because we missed out on it?? But it really has a christmassey feel to it..all the trees have little fairy lights on them and even along the tops of the buildings, its really pretty! They even have performers in the street, from playing the flute to playing drums!
We have of course checked outt eh coffe shops, Seattle's best not to mention Tulley's and of course Starbucks (Seattle is home to Starbucks!). We took a bus ride to the university end of Seattle, was fairly nice area, Paul managed to get his North face Jckt he has been after for ages!!!
We visited Pike Place mrkt, its one of the main attractions here, it is a massive market with about 4 floors..not much there for us though, nice to look around though! Paul also took a tour up the space needle for 360o views of Seattle, think its about 185metres high, its the gateway to the center! We also went out for dinner to this very American diner, it was ok had a good feel to it although the grease was a little 2much 4us!!
Tomorrow we are off to Canada, Vancouver our last stop b4 home!! We have to catch our bus at 1045, think the journey is about 3 1/2hrs!!

San Francisco U.S.A

Thankfully San Fran looked a lot better in the morning, unfortunately our hostel looked worse!!! Thank god its only 3nights!!
We spent the day getting to know downtown San Fran including the shopping malls, we also spent a bit of time at pier 39..
no seals there unfortunately but there was hot chocolate or hand warmers!!
We went across to Alcatraz today, it was really good, really enjoyed it! Paul has been before but he still got a lot out of it.  There is so much history to the island its unreal! When we arrived we watched a brief film, then had a guided tour around the island..we then went into the cells and had an audio guide, it was excellant! We also got really good views of the golden gate bridge and San Francisco!
Tomorrow we are leaving for Seattle, our flight is in the morning so we are very early...!
The hostel has got a free meal evening tonight, think its shepherds pie?? Not convinced myself but think we are going to test it out, free food after all! Last night we went out for an indian which was good not sure it will be quite the same experience tonight??

San Francisco U.S.A

Well we haven't been here that long so cant comment to much, but.........it seems a little erm..crazy!!! We got the bart (train) and basically getting a ticket was task and half but, we managed!! Got off the bart and well, oh my god there was homeless people all over asking for money coming up real close and just scowling around...basically freaking me out..one even asked if we had a bed for night....??? I mean come on we didn't even have a bed for the night for us at that point!!!! We luckily came across this good cab driver who luckily for us had a reference book for all the hostels so he took care of us!!!!
The hostel...well, like i say only been here a few hrs but oh my god!!!! Its madness, complete madness....loud, pissed people all over and a homeless guy playing music in reception who looks like he has had a good hiding, who actually got thrown out just a few moments after we arrived!!! On the bright side we have a tv in our OWN room so we can just hide!!!
Hopefully things will look better in the morning..(fingers crossed)..we are going Alcatraz day after tomoz so looking forward to that!! Oh yeh the weather, its actually not freezing but chilly..good job we are prepared!!
Oh yeh nearly forgot on the flight in we was litterally flying next to another plane, it was so weird..looked out of the window and there was a plane right next to us, you could nearly make the people out??? was a little un-nerved by this but then realised there was 2 run ways side by side..phew!!!

Hawaii - Waikiki

Aloha again from sunny Hawaii!!! We are still here and still enjoying it..the weather is great and the place is pretty damn good too!!! We have spent most of our days chilling out under the sun and shopping...the shopping here is amazing!!! We watched a parade today in honour of Martin Luther King, it was pretty good big turn out for it and then after there was a rally in the park!
We have managed to find some decent bars with "happy hours"..also found some great eats...!!
We are in a really good location quite close to everything, in a evening there is always somehting to do, we have visited the markets and tonight we may go down to the beach as they have hula shows on! We celebrated our 3yr anniversary on the 13th..what better place to eb then here!
Tomorrow we plan to go to Pearl harbour, but there are lots of places to see from the set of Jurassic Park to the beach where Bay Watch was filmed..oh sorry Michelle not to mention lost of course!!!!!
Oh yeh, whilst we was on the airport in Fiji, this guy came over chatting being very friendly...i was thinkign argh what a nice guy, then he asked us if we would mind taking soem luggage through for him as he has no room...we was like erm..nope!!! he said oh i will pay you??????...On your bike son!!!..If anyone needs to contact us...old moby...07971081053..texts please no calls as it charges us.....we are on a budget you know!!!!!

Hawaii - Waikiki Beach Honolulu..U.S.A

ALOHA!!!!!! We have arrived in Hawaii, weather is great..shopping is even better ha ha!!! Had a nightmare of a day on the 12th...travelled for the entire day even stopped off in Fiji for dinner?? Arrived Hawaii it was early morning on the 12th?? Weird!!
We are staying in a niceish hotel? We Have a tv and our own bathroom so its great really!! Spent the day at the beach today gettign some well needed sun...not got much time, internet cafe's seem hard to come by round these parts but will update you as soon as we can!!!

Still Auckland.....!!!

And getting fed up of it now, its rained hard for the past 24hrs and its not fair!!!! We havnt really done much last couple of days...most of our time has been spent in the internet cafe trying to sort out accomodation for Hawaii, San Fran, Seattle and Vancouver which thank goodness is done all except Seattle! Its hard work sorting out all this accomodation we even had to go to Borders and have a sneaky peak in a LP (lonely planet)!!
We have been to a big shopping outlet village today, was ok...well something to do on a rainy day eh?? We didnt buy anything though?? Got very good at window shopping..god help us when i get home ha ha!!!! We did have Sushi for lunch it was good, Paul wasnt that impressed and went to Fat donalds after for a burger!!
Tonight i think we are going to "Hell" for a meal, cant wait we have wanted to go since we first arrived NZ but never have so we are offski tonight..little treat for us and not to mention getting us out of the hostel for the evening, we wont miss them i can tell you that...hostels that is you just spend your evenings having the same conversation with people over and over again..."hiya where you from?"...."how long are you here for?"...."where you off next?" same, same!!!...Dont get me wrong im all up for meeting new people but sometimes it gets a bit tiresome, esp when its everynight for the past?????????...Also aswell we have been having some weird dreams since being away...well maybe me more??? I woke up the other night asking Paul where the chicken Sticks was??? Apparently i was getting a bit angry that he didnt no what i was talking about and just kept laughing?? Another night aswell i told him not to worry about the dog as it was at Michelles?? Again he just laughed and humoured me..?? Maybe its too much caffeine?????

Auckland...NZ North Island

Firstly can i just say its such a trek to get here i tell ya...talk about putting the footwork in for $2 internet!!!

Anyways we have been very busy since our arrival, we have seen an awful lot of Auckalnd and still havnt doen yet! We Went to Victoria Market the other morning had a browse round, nothing really took our fancy we only went really to see the entertainment and surprise,surprise that day it wasnt on!!! :(! We also went to a little area called New market, was very nice lots of shops boutiques etc etc, needless to say a little bit on the expensive side for us! We have also had an evening at the pictures, was nice to chill out and do nothing, although the film was a little bizzarre...De Ja Vou?? Had to think about it to much for my liking!
Yesterday the weather was good so we finally managed to get ourselves opver to Devonport for the day, it was lovely really nice place! We took a walk up to North head for great views of Auckland and the surrounding islands, we set up stall on a rock and soacked in the sun and chilled out there for a couple of hours..mmmm was so nice! We even got to watch a wedding, a couple was getting married not far from we was so we watched that for a while! On the way back down we decided we would go for COFFEE!!! Actually Kate and Rick i think your right, maybe we do have a problem??? As it goes we went to a cafe/bar and ended up with a bottle of heineken and a glass of riesling and sat out on the decks enjoying the weather! After the ferry ride back we decided to stop off at " The Bog" a little irish bar not far from our hostel, we treated ourselves to the sunday roast and a pint for $15!!! The roast was ok but roll on when i get home...i can taste the beef and yorkshires puds!!! We have decided that for the rest of the year religiously we are having a sunday roast as we have missed it so much!!! Oh yeh we had our first Mince pie the other night, was very yum we had it warm with ice-cream!!!

Back to Auckland??? Not Fiji!!!

So here we are back in sunny New Zealand!!! Arrived yest, was both very tired...we stayed in a Hostel that we stayed at last time...Didn't do much we was goosed..sorted out washing then slept on and off all day!!! Think we hit the sack at around 7pm? Woke up this morning Paul felt like a new man i was still urgh!!! We have moved on to another hostel today in the area of Parnell, its seems ok..? Been out and about, trying to sort out a few things for Hawaii and got a few things to sort for when we get home so we will be busy for next few days!!! Also going to get the ferry over to Devonport as we didn't make it last time with the weather, so that will be nice! Today is a sorting day...although have stopped off at a: coffee shop!! b: subway..by the way DO NOT try the steak and garlic..its horrible!!! and went to the little market and got a bag of donuts..hot cinnamon donuts!!!

Sydney NSW Australia...2007!!

Yet again our plans have changed..we are now GOING to Hawaii!!! yip yip!! We went to Quantas yesterday and they have said if we spend another 8days in Auckland then they will be able to fly us to Hawaii so that's what we are doing..its not Fiji i know but its better than L.A.!! So early start tomorrow got to be up at 4am for our flight!

Todays not a good day we are so hungover, we have been to fatdonalds and its helped but..urgh!!! We all went out last night around Bondi and lets just say it was messy!!! Supposed to be going to Minus 5 bar tonight, everything in it is made of ice including the glasses..they give you hats, gloves and a big coat to wear..not to mention the cocktails?? Might have to settle with a night at flix!!

New Years Eve.....Sydney 2006

We had planned on going to the Blue Mountains, unfortunately the weather report wasn't great and decided it would be for the best to leave it for another day..was a good job really as apparently it had snowed up there..!? We just chilled with rick spent the day browsing Sydney and drinking cafe Latte...well for a change that is??
New years eve was a bit of a long one...we was up bright and early Paul and Rick both nursing hangovers!!! We decided we would get an excellent view form the Botanical gardens...we finally reached the gardens and had to queue for over 2hrs...people was getting through the security and then literally legging it down to all the best spots..! Eventually got through found a fairly good spot...good view of the bridge and the opera house..although there was a big tree blocking a bit of the sky with its branches?? We started off with a decent amount room, was able to lie down and chill...played a few games of cards, Yahtzee, name game, fuzzy duck...we kept ourselves well entertained....by tea-time the park was so busy every little tiny piece of grass had been taken we didn't have as much room as we started out with, it was just unbelievable just a sea of people everywhere...i wont even start to tell you about the toilets!!!!!
The first fire work display was at 2100..it was great so nice...the fire works was absolutely out of this world...we did have a little bit of the sky blocked by the tree but managed ok!!! Then at midnight..we had the main one....too be honest im not sure if the 2100 one was better??? There was more fireworks on the bridge at mid-night but overall think there display was better first time round....we did the countdown and then wished us (our group) happy new year, it was weird no-one else wished us happy new year as soon as it hpnd everyone sort of just went off??? Was bizarre....bit like people didn't recognise it was new year??..no songs was sang..nothing!!!! Worst of all we wasn't even drunk....the bar had run out of beer/wine so we had to make do with this horrible fizzy crap....that tasted like toilet cleaner...came to a point were we had to hold our nose to drink it...hence why the drinking games started!!!
New years day today...me, Paul and Kate have celebrated by treating ourselves to of course a coffee...? what? and lunch down at the opera house...was very yummy!!! Think we may partake in a beverage tonight..although i have to say im still poorly, i sound like a man and have all week..Paul finds it hilarious....oh yeh forgot aswell you no when we went out other night...??? I did tell you but we all went out other night and well this lady was speaking to me and Kate, Kate then went to the toilet and she asked me if kate was my daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was mortified...think i just opened my mouth to answer but nothing came out..i was and am still in shock!!!!! Needless to say iv stocked up on moisturising age cream....must be all the stress ha ha!!!

Spoke to Quantas again re Fiji..basically they have said the only thing they can do for us is let us fly from here on the 4th to Auckland then from Auckland fly direct to L.A....which would mean missing Fiji and Hawaii?? If we decide to do that we will just hire a car and travel America for a while, but Paul has already done this so?? We still have the option to stick to our original ticket but this means we wouldnt be insured for our time in Fiji...so not sure if it would be worth risking it?? It has been pretty quiet over there recently but if somehting happened when we was there...the goverment are saying essential travel only..must be for a reason?

Anyway Happy New Ears to you all...all the the best for 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!