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Below are the 11 most recent journal entries.

	2006.12.25  20.26 Twas the night before Christmas. New York has not failed to impress me. On the 'subway' the other day (and no I am not talking about the place where sandwich artists are born, the subway is an underground train that comes every 3 minutes or so). There were a bunch of singlet wearing buff looking guys that boared, bearing a cd player which was slung over their shoulder, beath pumping and filling the carrage. "Excuse me everyone, we have a show for you, tuck your legs back under your seats please" was all they said then the 5 of them busted out with this breakdancing performance along the isle. There were flips and jumps and climbing over eachother and dancing. All to the beat of the music. It was great. Then then moved on to the enxt carrage. Furthermore there was a guy on the platform with plastic bins, no, not bins, but plastic containers probably holding about ten litres. You know the white ones? no. Oh well. he was playing the drums or 'the plastic containers' like the drums. And he rhythmically thrust out some of the best beats I've ever heard. I gave him money. It was worth it. I saw the Twin Tower site also. There were so many people. Apparently there were 7 buildings that fell down in the wrath. Its such an eerie place. There is still an aweful lot of destruction and the place is in ruins. There is a portion where parts of one ofthe towers still is. Its about 2 metres of wall and a few steel poles protruding out from the ground. So many people were standing around hugging, little kids staring into the empty mass of space looking like they are searching for something. Almost like they were expecting a loved one to walk out from the rubble. It was a very sobering site. I'm glad I went there as it reminded me just how precious life is, not just my life, but the life of those I love. It was so sad. On a happier note, we went to Central Park and meandered around and saw some squirrals. This park is MASSIVE. 250 acres apparently, which to me seems to be a bit big... but hey, I can barely say that, I am no poor sucker who has to mow it! Now that would be a tedious task. We also stupidly shopped at the food market (fancy name for a supermarket) on Broardway street. Every man, woman and their pooch was there trying to find food. It was fend for yourself there. We all practised what I like to call.. sardines. Not such a fun game for all concerned, just short tempered people wanting to get the last turkey. I'm so glad I'm vegetarian. Merry Christmas to everyone. I am dissapointed, its not snowed yuet. Its 48 degrees faranheight. Which is, god knows what... but not snow weather. Its odd, its been snowing in vegas but not in new york, first time recorded. Nothing like a hot winter, everyone over here is welcoming it... I am treating this warm weather as if it has cooties. And if i wish upon a star, i wish for snow. Let it snow, let it snow let it rain? Dammit, oh well, rain is close to snow... in a warped way. Mood: thirsty Music: Sarah Mcglauchlan

	2006.12.25  19.50 The place where dreams begin. And the chorus sang, New York, New York, New York, take me home too so I can dote all over you. Make my dreams come true too, oh New York, New York, New York, if only you knew... All the things you do. Are international holidays really supposed to be relaxing, or is it all about experiencing. This is something that I have been tossing around in my mind for a while. I seem to find happiness lying within werid and wacky things... As we drove into New York City at 1pm we went through yet another toll, my mum asked me which way to go, I looked in my lap and realised that we had never bought a map of New York. I scratched that area where I think my brain lies and hoped that I'd be able to pluck something out. Any sort of direction aside from idoling at the toll booth would have been an appreciative move. We sat. Still. I looked at my mum and said 'straight ahead'. Through the Bronx we went. Down the number nine. I had no clue, and still don't, as to where that road leads to. After about 15 minutes of holding my breath, driving through what appeared to be the suburbs (baring in mind this is the bronx, its not like it is the creme de la creme of housing) I caught a glimps of what I decided was the entireity of New York city. "Full steam ahead", we cant go wrong, the city is beckoning us. I was wrong. We saw some water (yes I was thrilled). Then we continued driving. I whipped out the video camera and filmed some buildings, opened my mouth and out escaped a mixture of anxious and nervous laughs. "Oh goody, look, we made it"....to the middle of god knows where. I kept my cool and told us to keep driving, hopeing a star would fight its way into the daylight sky so I could plant a wish that we would get to where we had to be and quicksmart. Nearly all of us desparately needed to pee. We proceded and I admitted I had no idea where we were... If only I'd bought that street map. But I kept high hopes fulled and said, "oh well, we will be there soon.. Look Liberty Ave, that must be near the statue of Liberty, we can't be far". I smiled a restless smile and looked ahead and saw the traffic beginning to pile. It was the Friday before Christmas, the traffic was thicker then cold caramel sauce and even if i squinted all I could see was monsterous buildings engulfing our car. WE were lost in a sea of traffic, although luckily my family is complied of soon to be commedians and we all joked about the event. Then the petrol light came on. "oh it will be fine", I said to my mum whose eyebrows and begun to slide down towards her cheeks. We spend the next 20 minutes in a standstill, as far as the eye could see was traffic jam. We snailed along until I said "hey, lets park in this carpark, find a 'gas' station, buy a jerry can and walk back to the car feeling merry". We endeavoured to do so. We parked in the car park that was more expensive then what I'd get on the black market for my left arm and leg and right pinky toe. But desperation is priceless so we paid and then began to aimlessly wander dazed and confused to a petrol station. After finally arriving we bought a jerry can, which I soon found out was not a can at all but rather a plastic container with a nozzel. Hah the word nozzle has always made me giggle, I think of ardvarks and snouts and its pretty much straight to preschool from there on in. Ehum, anyway, so we filled up this bright red plastic container who I named "jerry" (for obvious reasons) and me and Jerry got rather aquainted and close after I had to hug him whilst he leaked the petrol all over me, for abvout a 20 minute walk. No wonder I was hallucinating by the end of it. Oh the fumes. So we filled up the car with the contents of Jerry and were on our merry way. The smart one amoungst us (not sure who the einstein was) ensured we bought a map, so we were set. traffic was worse then pulling out a tooth that is not meant to be removed. Not only was it tedious and painful, but it was also so stressful, especially because I was the one navigating. I seriously would have preferred to drive. One is not supposed to sweat in winter in NY! After a few hours passed we were finally where we had to be to drop of the hire car (that was extremely late to be dropped off). So we were on the home straight as far as getting to our destination goes. Except I once again had to lug jerry, as well as an oversized suitcase, backpack, video camera case, camera case, and about 4 plastic bags of food. Upon arrival at our appartment the doorman gave me what I like to call 'the eye' which is not one of those 'you hot' looks, but rather a 'what the fuck are you doing reaking of petrol carrying a jerry can under your left wing' look. What else could I do but say, "hi, I'm kirsten and I'm from Australia", in the most aussie hick voice I could conjour up. I gave this poor guy a toothy grin and asked for directions to the reception, which he gave, reluctantly. Where we are staying in NY is very nice, right in the centre on 39th and Lexington Ave (two blocks away from Madison ave and 5 bloicks from 5th ave which is the very heart of the city). Its lovely to gaze out the window and see the empire state building a matter of blocks from your eyes. I have come to a conclusion, my holidays are more exciting then relaxing, the inspiring type. The type where your eyes flap wide open and you feel thunderstruck. Yet I feel so refreshed and rejuvonated... I am thinking of starting a new perfume line "au de peterol-oui" Or something similar. I think I am going to make grand sales, no doubt I'll be right up there with Tommy Hilfiger and others... I just have a feeling. This is the good life. Mood: quixotic Music: Smashing Pumpkins.

	2006.12.25  19.29 Buffalo falls. Veins frozen, mouth caught in the last blow of the wind. Everything is petrified, encapsulated in this snowflake. When my mum mentioned to me something about going to Buffalo I laughed it off as if it was a joke and tuned out, zoned into thinking about Bulls and red 'sweaters' and horns. It wasnt until our plane grounded in this place and I fine tuned my eyesight did I see what beautiful things were around me. Quaint, this place is not. Its small, but small in the scale of USA cities... which means its probably far bigger then Brisbane, or at least the skyscrapers goad the traveller into believing so. Buffalo is near the Great lakes, on the eastern side of the US in the state of NY (which also and ironically happens to house the city of NY). Its about 20 m i l e s (yes I am still getting used to this alien terminalogy for measuring things) away from the Niagera falls. We hired a car and hot footed it to the falls within the next day of arrival. (Like I have previously stated in journal entries, we flew from LAX - or as I know it, LA airport to JFK - New York airport and then within hours flew from JFK to Buffalo in a tiny little aircraft that made hissing noises when we took off and then preceded to sound like a fan belf broke whilst we were in the air). One word to describe the Niagera Falls - stupefying. Such a large quantity of water cascading towards rocks, free falling and creating such a tremendous splash, splatter, spray, spatter. To the extend that the onlookers (me) got wet standing about 100 meters away. This is the town of BYO poncho ladies and gentlemen, or else bare the wrath of being in minus degrees wet. Yes I felt like a soggy dog and when i shook my head left to right sprinkles of water slid off my hair. I was so esctatic to actually see the falls that I ignored the fact I could not feel anything from my shoulders down and eagerly gazed in awe at this water. I have been a fan of water from way back, when I was a child, no older then two I used to run into the waves at the beach in the middle of winter. Something about water captivates me. I love it. I will post pictures as soon as i can, because these falls are amazing. Please bare in mind my photography skills are novice and thus the photos I have taken probably do not display the Niagera Falls amazingness (I wonder if that is a word). I loved the falls so much I went back the next day.. and then continued into Canada (the falls are on the boarder of USA and CANADA). We drove along one of the worldly renoun Great Lakes to Toronto (which I have nothing much to say about the place, it seemed fairly run down and sleepy as far as I am concerned, however, I was only there for a matter of hours). After a few days driving we headed back into NY state. I wish I was back at Niagera. Its such an enchanted place. Mood: giggly Music: Dresden Dolls -bank of beauty boston queen.

	2006.12.19  23.07 'da block' Something funny happened. I find it funny anyway... but I am a morbid child and have weird humour. Arrived in LA and checked into a place we booked on the internet for the night which was near the airport as we had to fly to New York early in the morning. the place was nothing special, it was older but it was very clean.. and the man there appeared to be nice enough. My mother and I decided to treck around the streets in search of food. I felt like a bit of a hunter and gatherer as we walked into numerous places in search of something vegetarian and something that was the right price (i enjoy being a tight ass). Anyway so we were getting followed by people and husselled for money and I blatently said no ... thus resulting in us being followed. My mum was a tad nervous but I didnt feel very scared (for once) and I was boldly protecting her .. anyway so we made it back to our hotel safely.. As it turned out we were staying one street away from Compton. Who knows what Compton is famous for? Oh i do I do, pick me, pick me. It was voted the the second most dangerous area IN THE WORLD. Detroit took the cake. good ol America, they really know how to make em nasty housing the four most nasty areas in the world. Thats right, iraq, congo, the slovakian regions, indonesia, south america they dont even come close to Compton. This is the place the rappers rap about, this is the place where people die on a daily basis. (shit you not). This is where the gangs hang out. Not just any gangs, but the worlds nastiest gangs. This is a totally black area of town. You know how parts of LA you dont go down cetrain streets and into certain areas unless you are of a certain colour due to racial anomosity.. Well this is one of those streets. We were the only white people there (not that that bothers me at all beacuse I HATE racism and am not in the slightest bit racist). As well as the only women I saw outside.. and we were audaciously walking around these sleezy and dim lit streets. I'm supprised I didnt see a shoot out. Anyway so this is the place that everyone is told not to travel to. This is the place no one travels to... Unless you do not value your life. I guess me going to MExico is probably going to happen sine we stayed in Compton and walked the streets at night... (my mother was worried about us getting killed in Mexico due to civil unrest there). Ha... Unless my luck of life is going to run out (which touch wood it doesnt) Mexico is back on the cards and will be a matter of a week or so away... Apparenly we were very lucky to be alive living through a night in Compton. Elke (my sister) and her friend got lost driving around there and were followed by a really freaky druggo right to our doorstep whilst we were fast asleep inside our hotel. This palce is scary. This amuses me.. (notbecause I dont like life or anything like that), but its just funny that we unknowingly wandered around the streets after dark and were followed and denied people money and walked through a gang in a shop... Ah nothing like traveling... spices up your life... I call it character building. End story. Mood: hyper Music: Madder Rose

	2006.12.19  22.18 Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. The disaster of a day gets worse. To add insult to injury(is that the saying)? to the day that should not have existed when we arrived on our gold plated flight to Sanfransisco in the afternoon. The flight was rather pleasant actually and the air crew were very chirpy characters also. However it wasnt meant to be that the day from there on in would pan out smoothly. We waited for well over an hour whilst our luggage was lost within the airport. (I selfishly felt some sort of happiness rise when I realised that this had happened to everyone on the plane. I let evil cackles slip out my mouth (bad move. karma gets you). Eventually we retrieved our luggage only to find out that the airport officials had rummaged through our bags. Its such an invasion of privacey .. I mean yes I know it is their job, but they could AT LEAST be neat about doing it. There is only so much clothing re-arranging one can take before they start to wonder whether all of their belongings are there..and in tact. I decided not to let that get to me too much and tried to dismiss the fact that their dirty filthy hands probably smothered all over my cloths. I know if sounds like I am complaning but when you stay up HAND washing your clothes and then someone else has touched them .. steam spills out from your ears. However like I said I decided to get the fuck over it. So after a few brief phonecalls to some hotels (we had no accommodation organised. Organisation is for people who dont like wasting time..) we found somewhere that was perfect. They said that they had a laptop we could hire for extra money and it had wireless.. I grinned a toothy grin at the thought of this and turned decided that since they promised a lap top I'd turn a blind eye to the price of the hotel. After clambering into the shuttle bus, horns blaring, driver cursing, we arrived in a few brisk minutes to the hotel and began checking in. A real slimy guy walked out (he was the guy who told us we could hire a computer) and quickly whisked himself away when he realised who we were. Luckily I meantioned about how the guy had said that we could have a computer with the net for the night.. apparently they hadnt had the internet for two weeks and it was broken. Totally pissed off, face the colour of a ripe tomato we bit our tongues and decided to leave. I refuse to pay exorbatant prices for a room when they lie to you. So we left. Standing on the side of the road in the darkness (it gets dark in San Francisco very early), armed with a suitcase and no clue as to where to go we began wandering the streets in search of somewhere to stay. After a good hour of helpless wandering we finally found a hotel that was suitable, and free breakfast... they had the internet and wished us merry Xmas.. so we booked in quicker then you can say jack sprat ten times backwards. (true story). So as far as days go, this was not the best however I always say to myself things appear better in the morning after a shower and this was very true. We had a lovely breakfast and hot footed off into the city of San Fran. It was actually really funny, ebcause we caught various modes of transport to get to what is called 'fisherman's warf' which is wehre all of the action is. I spent ages taking photos of the golden gate bridge (which is suposidly the longest suspension bridge in the northern hemispher or in the world or in the milky way or something). Anyway so many pictures later in the FREEZING cold i turned around away from the bridge to see the ACTUAL golden gate bridge in the distance. I was so amused by the fact that we all thought that this bridge was the golden gate. HA! WE meandered around fishermans warf for a while, there were street performers and a chocolate shop which sold chocolate pasta. I was terribly tempted to buy some, but I am not really a chocolate fan so I decided that spending tons of Benjimans (money) on chocolate pasta was probably not the brightest idea. We saw Alchetraz (the old prision) that is nestled on an island in the bay of San Fran (its only about 100 metres off shore and was where all of the worst criminals were sent). Apparently the water is shark infested so no one ever made it off the island. No wonder when I put my hand in the water to test the temperature I saw three fins emerge and start circling me. (Just kidding, but it would have made for a funny story if it happened). Also on the warf I saw for the first time in real life (when I say real life I mean real habitat, in the wild, not being cared for by a pimply zoo keeper who feeds them mush and pats them when they are good and tranqualises them when they are bad.. Sea Lions. Yep. In the flesh and blood. About 50 of them basking on the warf. It was so amusing. They were jsut chilling out, doing their thing, making their sea lion noises. They remind me of dopy off Snow white and I love them. I have many pictures, and will endeavour to put them on here asap. :D Whilst in San Fran we also ckecked out the 'croockered street' which is the famous street that ironically is crookard that akll of the famous car chases go down.. (San Fran is a hilly place). It was fun to drive down, snap happy. I love being a tourist. We then went to the part of the city where the Hippy movement was born. This place was AMAZING. REally good grafiti on the walls down the streets, cheap op shops with ultra cool alternative clothing as well as shops with really cool clothes. I bought and I bought and I bought. Actually i didnt buy heaps.. because my brother and sister and mother were with me and I didnt want them to get bored. I am very supprisd that they lasted all night there with me.. and they enjoyed it.. A chick asked me if i wanted to buy cheap chronic. Oh, only in the Sanfrancisco.. All round it was fun times. I eventually left San francisco and began the 7 hour drive down to LA where the radio played tool songs on the radio that I'd never heard... This was such a good day of my life. I really must say San Francisco is a wonderful place and somewhere I shall return to, the embiance of the place is amazing and there are so many cool people that I am awed by. Imagine somewehre far far far more interesting and intensely cool then the Valley and West End.. but its cheaper and they have cable cars which definately makes the overall impression of ones stay skyrocket! I feel so inspired to do some artwork... and to get back into music once again.. This place makes me feel creative.. these two things I am going to do when I return home. :) Mood: creative Music: Tool

	2006.12.19  02.17 Flawed. What a disaster. Woke up (not the disaster). However struggled to get out of bed early to catch a flight from Vegas to Sanfransisco. I am usually ok with early mornings so long as no one talks to me unless I initiate conversation... and that morning was no exception. I'd had probably about three precious hours of sleep (went to the circus the night before and had a late one). Anyway so i fixed toothpicks between my eyelids and navigated us (without a map - goodness knows how we would not have gotten there if i was not psychic ... (ok so I may have asked for directions and pretended to the family that I miraciously knew the way).. Anyway so we got to Vegas airport, dropped of the hire car (nearly crashed a few times because we were driving on the wrong side of the road.. but wahts new). And went up to the front desk to check in. There was no line which I was very pleased about. The lady checking us in started tapping away at the keyboard for some time and I had a feeling that something was wrong... fingerails to keyboard sounds could be heard until my stomache gave an unimpressed grumble ... and then finally the lady looked up at us and gave a bit of a laugh and said 'your flight is actually not until 10 30 tonight'. I froze. I didnt know whether to cry or scream or chuck a tantrum or fall to my knees and never arise again. Apparently i did neither of the above. I made her double check a few times .. but no we were just being daft ... and had hopelessly arrived at the airport about 15 hrs early... With the cost of airport transfers being about $40 per person.. and there being 4 of us we had three options, sit tight and wander about the airport all day, hire a car and drive to Sanfrancisco or get another flight. After a few hours of tense words with eachother we decided to book another flight. Unfortunatley we couldnt get the money back for our later flight ... and the tickets for the earlier flight were 3 times what we had paid for the other flight. I was one displeased owl. On the bright side, if we missed the flight (the new, earlier and more expensive one) at least we would have a back up flight ... hah.. I'm pretty sure we were the only ones in the airport that were booked on more then one flight to the same destination. What an expensive day. I drank my $8 coffee as I sat in the departure lounge and grumbled to myself. The optimist in me says; at least the plane didnt crash. That would have been annoying. HAH! Its very amusing to look back on and laugh. Music: Nine Inch Nails

	2006.12.19  00.34 Pokie Palace. Welcome to gamblers anon, please hold the line while we re-direct you to the casino. If you have ever heard that Las Vegas is the city that never sleeps, believe what you hear - this city is wired - 24 seven for that matter. Glitz and glamour in the centre of the city, then slummy lower socio economic streets further out of the heart of the beating city. Apparently everyone comes to Vegas assuming that they will turn their few (or many) pennies into millions, unfortunately so many people believe this screaming lie and run their assets and bank accounts dry and barely scrape through, living in a grotty habitat... for many its a tremendous struggle to make ends meet (even if they wanted to) beacuse there are not enough jobs to go around. Its sad really. When I say glitz and glamour in the centre of the city, I really mean the centre to extend many 'miles' as the Americans term this measurement. There are a few main strips (one known as 'the strip' - god they're origional in the naming of streets department over here). One very interesting thing about Las Vegas is that it is definantly worth visiting even if you dont gamble or some unforseen problem stops you from gambling (this happened to me.. my probalem being that they dont sell aging pills over here... and I am still a year or something shy of being 21...Thus I had to watch from afar as lights lit up on poker tables and roulette wheels spun around other peoples finances). However I truly believe that it is so worth seeing this place even if you don't gamble. Down 'the strip' and other streets nearby this famous street every one of the 3, 000 hotels is themed. Now when I say themed, I'm not talking about people walking around in dusty moth ridden hired costumes scaring their patrons via their poor attempts to pull off particular characters and themes... I'm insinuating that when you walk into say the hotel that has a massive eifel tower in the courtyard, you walk into French streets. Everyone is dressed in french attire, the food is french. These hotels are not your usual plush hotel that one may see in any old inner city street. These famous inner city hotels located on the "strip" are the size of multi leveled shopping centres. To add to this there are shopping centres, movies, casinos, night clubs, restaurants and other such things located within the hotels. They arent called skyscrapers for nothing. These hotels are over 200 stories tall (Thats definitely a guess there, but I'm pretty certain its not too short of the truth). We spent a night walking down the strip and walking into the hotels and just browsing everything. There was a pyrimid, New York New York (statue of liberty, decked out with New York streets), the eifel tower one (I've already explained this one to you, treasure Island (where in the moat outside every hour on the hour there are two massive pirate ships that shoot cannons at eachother, Circus Circus (where they ahve people doing circus stuff from the roof...Like trapieze stuff and juggling fire and stuff). Its amazing. Each hotel ahs so much intricate detail involved. The place we stayed in the 'stratosphere' was the tallest one in Vegas had three of the scariest rides I've ever seen in my LIFE (no joke) on the roof. There was a giant drop (although its higher up in the sky then the Giant Drop in the Goldie because its already 250 floors sky, and then ontop of that its heaps more stories higher for the ride). Another ride was a rollercoaster like thing that pretruded off the top of the building and plummeted towards the ground. The final ride spun around in circles about 5-10 meters off the edge of the building. Now the detail I am offering in my explanation is probably making people think that they were not actually that scary... however, you are not harnessed into them. You just have a bar that sits on your lap... there is no over the shoulder locked in business. The archs of my feet got pins and needles just watching people go on it. It looks like you are going to die. (Plus it is more freaky because ti wasnt at a theme park, it was just ontop of a building!). Needless to say I didnt go on any of the rides.. I had heart attacks from afar. A few weird things about Vegas - *the city really IS in the middle fo the desert. Its very odd driving along past cactus for ages and then suddenly driving into a city ... *There are poker machines everywhere. 7-11 stores, shopping centres (I'm not talking in a gaming lounge by the way, I am just talking about machines sitting around willy-nilly). Convienience stores, the side of the ROAD, the lounge you sit in just before you go on the plane. Everywhere. No wonder it is the city of addiction. *You dont have to be 21 (which is the legal age to gamble and drink in the USA) to go into a CAsino. Anyone can go in. There is no i-d-ing people or anything, all are allowd to wander around. Start em young I say! nothing like bating peoples addiction. I wouldnt be supprised if in Vegas instead of advising new mothers to read and tell stories to their children - the just take them to a pokie machine and introduce them to the bright lights and the music heard when one wins money on pokie machines. Oh god. I hope that doesnt happen, though I kinda saw something that I would describe as that. Its a sad world when that happens. Another amazing thinga bout Vegas - all of the hotels are in competition with eachother thus they all (or most) put on some sort of 5-10 minute visual entertainment .. aka water fountains spurting gallons of water about 80 meters into the air, moving statues, circus acts, fire, battles between ships... I could be here for a while since there are over 3,000 hotels in Vegas. But you get the picture. Its so entertaining! I was very pleased beause alot of the hotels also have shows (like musicals, plays, exhibitions etc). I got to see two thigns that I really wanted to see in Australia when it was there. The human body exhbition and Cirque Du Soeile (or however you spell it). I held someones liver, bones and part of their brain in the Human body exhibition... it was really interesting. I enjoyed it so much, though I ahd to keep reminding myself that it was real people's bodies infront of me. Cirqur du soeil was amazing. We say mystique (i think that is what it as called). They are so nimble. I once again aspire to join the circus and I will do it (productive new years resolution right there). If only I could touch my toes whilst standing up ... then I'd have more faith in myself! HHAA. So we only spent three days in Vegas which probably wasnt enough, although its hard when you are tryign to see the world in such a short time. You end up here there and everywhere for not all that long.. but its still definately worth it. I met up with a very old friend, Mike who I hadnt seen since the first time I went to Europe in 2003. It was excellent seeing him! He was telling me that one of his friends worked out the pattern to the roulette wheel there and has been banned from most casinos in Vegas ebcause he keeps winning too much. Sad that they ban you for winning, when the aim is to win. Casinos make me angry. Greedy bastards. However I wish I could work out the roulette wheel... although I wonder whether that would take the fun out of it or not... Hmm Hope everyone is going well melting in the heat :D heh heh heh Mood: content Music: Toni Collette

	2006.12.12  16.11 squalk. Well I've been over here for a day short of a week and have already travelled so far. I am no longer in Anaheim or California for that matter. On Saturday we were feeling adventurous and decided to hire a car and head into Los Angeles (of all of the palces to test our driving on the oppersite side of the car and the oppersite side of the road we decided to venture into one of the busiest cities in the world ... and yes I was the brains behind this opperation). The first mission was fitting all of our luggage into the car. The poor car didnt know what hit it (not literally.. the hitting part comes later in the story ... hah... just kidding). We tried every possible way under the sun to fit four huge suitcases into the boot (packing lightly clearly doesnt run in the family). finally we worked out the perfect way to fit everything via the means of forefitting the comfortableness of the two people in the back seat - SUCKERS! No sooner had we driven away from the hotel then my life flashed before my eyes... we were driving down the WRONG side of the road. It was actually amusing.. I laughed... everyone else on the road beeped and looked annoyed. Bloody tourists I say. So these near death experiences happened pretty frequently during our 2 hour car adventure into LA (traffic moves very slowly heading into LA .. when I sayu slowly, I mean a tortise would win the race if we were racing). It should have been a much shorter trip... we didn't even get lost. (Must have been because I was navigating ... hah!). I really must say, there are some parts of Los Angeles that are less then appealing. Parts look so desolate, dank and run down, however if you go one block away it looks like a ray of sunshine. Very odd how one block makes all the difference. I was glad I didnt get out of the car during our drive through the scary part .. because the people there looked like they wouldnt bat an eyelid if they stabbed me. We progressed out of what I like to call La deathvile into Beverly hills (which are only really a few blocks away from eachother), however in Bev Hills all of the houses are so swish. You know how in Australia you see a 'rich' estate and all of the houses look fairly similar (or as I term it - Pleasantville-ish), well each of these houses had their own individual character. They were beautiful and I am not really a fan of flash houses... They were all so different to eachother.. there was a really beautiful Tuscan looking one... and a lovely oldschool looking house... Ah they were so pleasing to look at. We were meandering our way (on the oppersite side of the road to what we were used to putting along in) and somehow managed to fail to u turn properly in a dead end street (I have no other words to describe this blunder except blonde australian driver). A lady pulled up in her car that I felt I had to pay money to look at, got out, proceeded to enter her flash house, paused, did a 180.. realised we were all gawking at her because we knew she was famous.. and then she yelled 'Are you lost?' Luckily my sister was on the ball and proceeded to ask her directions to the Hollywood sign... (which it was completely obvious that we were no where near.. as it is not in the suburbs of Beverly hills..) I did an edwardo mostache face and sunk into my seat and pretended that I had on Harry Potter's cloak. To make matters worse.. as we drove up we mounted the gutter. I've probably been black marked from Beverly Hills. To add to this possible black markage we proceeded to head towards the Hollywood sign (for real this time) and I decided I needed to pee.. we were going down this street (still in beverly hills) and there were no cars around and I decided that if i didnt go, I'd explode.. then the car would floor.. and that was probably far too much information.. Anyway back to the story - so I decided to duck down behind the car and to my business.. Just my luck about 20 cars came down the street one after eachother and looked at me.. I realised by their faces that they could see me.. but I couldnt do anything.. Finally I dashed back inot the car... as we continued to drive down the street (which turned out to be a one way street) we realised we were in a Private street... No wonder all of the houses were MASSIVE (I'm talking huuuugggee mansions) and no wonder all of the cars driving down the street were BMWS Mercs, Mustangs (and insert other expensive car lingo here). It was quite funny.. and we couldnt turn around. One lady just smiled at us.. and laughed.. I've decided that this sort of thing must happen all of the time... Strangely I was slightly relieved to be back out on the 'common' peoples roads. We departed LA that afternoon .. and California too and headed East into Arizona. Arizona proved to be far more interesting then I initially believed it would be. I didnt realise that Area 51 is pretty DAMN close to where I am and where I am going to be. This is very exciting as I am a massive alien freak... and have always wanted to find out more about Area 51 and have done soooo much reading into it (pushes glasses up nose... yes I am a geek). For those who don't know what on earth I am ranting on about when I talk about Area 51 here is a link. Good ol' wikipedia.. It always aids in my storytelling and explanations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51#UFO_and_other_conspiracy_theories_concerning_Area_5 So yeah, believe what you want about it but I am soo keen on heading there and seeing it for myself. There is a big crater there from an alleged alien landing.. Yes, I know it is closed off to the public.. this makes it far more of an appealing thing to do.. Aliens aside, today we went to the Grand Canyon. I was awestruck at its depth. Its 446kms long and over 5kms deep. As far as your eyes can see you sight magnificant 1.8 billion year old rock formations all across the horizon. And this is what it looks like (but better in real life):- http://wwp.las-vegas-us.com/tourism/grand-canyon-tour-company/grand-canyon.jpg http://www.atpm.com/9.10/grand-canyon/images/grand-canyon-4.jpg To make it more magical the ground was covered in snow. (Althought most of the canyon wasnt.. to view it you had to trudge through freshly fallen snow). When we arrived Elke (my sister) slipped on ice and fell under the gaurd rail and nearly toppelled over the edge of the gaurd rail. We all had a heart attack. Luckily she ended up safe and sound after being dragged back to safety! All slips aside, this view was breathtaking. Yes I took copious photos.. though I cannot work out how to upload them on here (Anyone know? You should tell me, I'll give you a candy cane if you do... *wink wink*). Arizona is rather similar to what I expected it to be. Desert. There is alot of wind out here, red dirt, cactus, scorpions, (apparently) rattlesnakes (ohh goody... :-| )and rocks. http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/desktopimages/arizona_desert02.jpg (above link is what it looks like out here). There are barely any towns out here.. and yes, its Hicksville... though everyone seems to be very nice so far.. even if they all sport a cowboy hat and boots. Like I said Hicksville. Makes me want to get on a horse and say 'yee-hah' But that would sound a little Mexican of me and well.. thats not to come until possibly later on in the trip. Tomorrow we are heading to Vegas. Should be pretty interesting. I've been told by many that Vegas is a must see, if only I was old enough to reap the benifits of being able to gamble. Though Gamblers annonymus think its a great thing that I am not. HAHAHA Kidding. Anyway seeing the lights and all should be swell. I'm also meeting up with an old friend in Vegas, havn't seen him for a few years so it should be extra fun to catch up and all that. We are also hoping to go to the Hoover dam (one of the 'man made wonders of the world'). Apparently its really eerie standing below such a huge quantity of water... We'll see. Well I think I have pretty much written a thesis and it must be time for me to conclude beacuse my drink is empty... and no alcho likes having an empty drink do they.. (I have my priorities all worked out). haha. Enjoy :) Mood: ecstatic Music: American accents in the distance

	2006.12.09  19.04 Disney, studios and a universal smile. Inspiration. All in a days work... I must say seing new things and experiencing foreign (even if it is American and vaguely/intensely familier ground) experiences is so exhillerating and refreshing for a brain that feels like it has been overrun with mush and sludge from a years worth of chipping away at a university degree. These past few days have reminded me of the joys of life. Today has been a day of wonderous experiences. I was engulfed by hundreds of 'gallons' of cascading water gushing down the nearby mountain towards me. I saw plane wrecks (think War of the worlds) I saw a car explode 2 metres away from me and on a separate instance: a room catch on fire around my feet. My eyes witnessed the tomb where the movie 'the Mummy' was filmed. Oh yes these eyes viewed many sets of movies/tv shows... such as Desparate housewives and many more but naming it all will take far too long and I am no fan of list naming. (I am being serious, not lazy - though laziness does play a major part in this recollection). Weird, wonderful and bedazzeling things happen here, all in a days wander... I hear you say - what the? I can understand this, I mean coming from Australia where one may see the odd famous cricket, rugby or swimming star.. Over here fame and fortune is dripping from the rafters of every room you care to walk in. I am in Anaheim (where Disneyland is - 1 hr west from LA), where houses (dunty ones) start form $600, 000 US... ranging to skyrocketing prices. Many 'famous' people such as movie stars and music stars live here and are seen frequently here. Today I went to Universal Studios. I really must say, that place is one of the most breathtaking places my global travelling eyes have seen. Its amazing. We toured all through where movies and TV shows are shot in Universal Studios. We were on the set of where desparate housewives was being filmed whilst gawking from afar. (we had to be very quiet so our voices were not recored on international tv - I complied with these sound regulations despite the fact that I am no desparate housewives fan). I saw the car from the latest fast and furious explode. I was amidst a controlled flood. They made a thunderstorm happen at the flick of a switch and then changed it to a snowstorm and heatwave. I was drenched head to toe in genuine happiness. I saw dinosaurs (went on the Jurassic Park ride) where I unwillingly fell 100feet freefall whilst not being strapped into the ride (they dont strap you in, there is just this metal bar that losely lies on ones lap.. I seriously had to cling on for dear life). The photos they care to take at such moments when you are pulling those 'wholly shit this is the last moment of my life i am going to die a terribly painful death' moments are proof. I saw many 3d films as well as 4d (I cannot wait until Australia catches up with technology)... 4D was shrek and I knwo it doesnt sound all that frightsome to witness, I freaked out as I am not used to feeling like I am actually part of the action... especially 3 and 4 D. it was an amazing feat that occured before my eyes. I also saw a show - 'waterworld' where names such as those who have starred in 'providence' (that tv show) and Die hard 4.. as well ppl off CSI starred. Before my eyes they all acted out this 45 minute story and set so much stuff on fire that the piromaniac within me was released and floating high in elated and awed happiness. Think Movieworld then multiply it by 10 because these people are the creme-de-la-creme (aka cream of the crop - the best of the best) in their field. Plus I've seen these people on either the TV or the widescreen. It was pure amazement that I saw. I gawked. (I was one of those gawkers.. Imagine a huuuge fish gawking at something..and that was kinda how I looked). Furthermore to add to my fantastic experience at universal studios there were people walking around in character. I think I have found my calling beacuse I spent the whole day trying to work out how I could get a job there being one of those character actors. They also had live statues (who were so realistic, I leant against one and then it moved on me - you can imagine how much of a cardiovascular arrest I had when I realised that these were not statues. (And for those who are doubtful, it was a 12 out of 10 freak out on the Kirsten-o-dom-metre which is higher then the usual momentary freak outs I witness). All in all, I have fallen in love .. I have inspiration to act, which is the most important thing. No words can do justice to how wonderful this place is. Please go there viewers.. I yearn for you all to experience this wonderful experience. There arent that many attractions, there are only a few rides and only a few shows... but you will leave goggle eyed. PS. I saw ANIMAL actors. These guys can act better then your truely (not that its terribly hard to acheive this, not that its a terribly hard feat to achieve but in their defence they were animals. My faw was left glued to the floor back an hr and a half away in Universal studios (note to self, pick up jaw tomorrow). I have also experienced the fantasy land known as Disneyland. for those who know me know that when I die i consider disneykand as my heaven, so going there as a breathing, fully alive, fleshy human being was such a treat. I saw mickey mouse. My eyes welled with tears (Now theres an unhealthy obsession). Everything was perfect. It was magic. They really spared no expense ... everything was so intense and realistic.. even the children's rides were extremely elaborate and well 'decked' out. I bought a few things and restrained myself from spending thousands of dollars. I could seriously spend every penny I own there and still want to buy more... If the whole universal studios gig does not work out then I will just sit outside Disneyland until I die (some may call it loitering - I call it forefilling a dream). Backtracking to yesterday (yes this is totally sporadic and out of order). Yesterday I went to Newport Beach (where the OC is filmed) and 'hung' out on that very pier. It would have been far more exciting if i watched the OC. But I dont. Last night I watched it for the second time and saw the very places I'd walked. I am so engulfed by this whole TV/Movie/fame thingo. I need a lend of some 'real' fresh air to bring myself back to reality. So yeah there is no shortage of fame around this nick of the woods - Jay-Z and such characters hang out across the road (literally) from where I am staying, in the 'taco bell', if I meander down a bit I see people of fame and fortune lurking around.. its crazy. All of this aside LA/Anaheim area is very different. I ahvnt been into the heart of LA because numerous people told me not to. Everyone over here owns a gun, gun liscence or not. Gang warefare is real and in every street. There are black and white streets and no one mixes colours in these streets without mixing blood. Its so sad because I hate racism. There are quite a few Mexicans aroundhere who work in the hotels for (get this) a disturbing rate of 4 cents per hour. This makes me sick. I have been tipping so much (because you have to tip at least 15% ... and thats for bad service.. the tip percentage goes up depending on the service). So I dare say I will run out of money.. since I am tipping over $50 per day and thats if I take my own lunch. I plan on selling my body, either that or else I'll get rich and famous. They were casting for a movie today, I would have gone along but I didnt realise until they had shut. Mustn't hvae been meant to be. Pity, I could have used with it. Roads are weird over here.. they have HIGHWAY POLICE (Everyone watch super troopers and then you will understand). Furthermore when a light is red you can turn right. (weird, go figure). The air over here is EXTREMELY poluted, its always smoggy.. you cant see all that much.. Typical polluted LA fumes.. and Orange County is very polluted (thats where I am at the moment) due to winds etc. The temp is fairly warm here in California. I have no idea what temp it is since everything is in farenhieght and people raise eyebrows when you speak of centegrade (or kms or metres, litres etc). But its light jumper and light long pants weather. So terribly nice and always sunny but not humid at all. There are so many things to tell.. so many things I've left out and so many things I am bound to forget before I leave here.. UNCKO KIRSTEN UPDATE - I walked into three bins today, purely by accident - as it always is. Everyone nearby looked at me weirdly.. the last time this happened i pretended I was blind. It was a hoot when ppl started feeling bad for laughing at me. This is all time allows me to spill. homework- watch super troopers. Its important. :)

	2006.12.08  12.38 Anticlockwise Arrival These eyes have seen over 27 hours travelling which includes getting to the airport in Brisbane, leaving the country that poses as my home, entering another country going by the name of New Zealand purely to sit in an airport transit lounge. Sitting there for hours longer then the already required 5 hours adding between flights due to the plane needing new tires as well as suffering from other merchanical problems (that poor plane needed a holiday itself) adding the time spent in Auckland airport to a total of 7 hours or something equally long winded. After finally boarding the plane to the USA I sunk into my seat and breathed a sigh of relief. The wheels were in motion and we were heading towards the destination. Just as my tired eyelids meet eachother halfway across my eyes a lovely song on my ipod comes on and I think to myself not long now (when I say not long I really meant its a very long time however because it was night time I figured I'd sleep most of the flight). How wrong I was. I have a bone to pick with this Kharma guy because I was sitting right next to a new born baby who didnt particularly enjoy the flight and seemed to enjoy screaming with its little pea sized lungs. I thought to myself. I can deal with this *turns up ipod* Once again my peepers shut and I think to myself once again 'not long now, sleep is ahead'. *thud* *sore arm* I've just been elbowed by the person next to me imforming me that my music is far too loud. Go figure, music is far better then junior on my right who sounds like he's being strangled. I crane my neck to look up at the skyscraper of a person seated next to me and decide that if I want to arrive in LA with feeling in my left arm I should turn the tunes down. (Oh and for everyone playing at home the person I refer to as a skyscraper is my brother. I call him this for the obvious reasons - he makes me look like a midget when I stand next to him). So with the screams drowning out my now turned out music I stare ahead and wait until the plane lands... in 12 hours. I was very relieved when the little trolleys came out delevering food. Because I am one of those 'no nut no meat' freaks I get a special meal which they brought out to me a good 45 minutes before everyone else. I thought to myself 'suuuuccckkkkkeeerrrrssss! everyone else has to wait whilst i munch on my aeroplane food'. Mouth watering I look down at my food only to discover that it was SATAY stirfry and cashew salad. I swear I felt a tear trickle down my face, which was then met by the drool that i was no longer drooling due to the site infront of my eyes. I told the air hostess .. and she fixed me some tasteless mush. Yum. Lets just say I was so happy I packed my pizza from a days earlier. Food poisoning here I come ready or not. As it turned out the rest of the flight wasnt so bad... Perhaps because they gave me red wine. I honestly think that red wine is the cure to everything. It causes my moods to do a 180, regardless of how un-cheery I feel. Bless fermented grapes and all of their alcoholic calmingness. It made me sleep like a baby. After one glass I hit the hay. I actually slept,it was fantastic. I awoke up with drool down my face and my mouth opened... I must have looked like I died in my chair, perhaps I did because I awoke feeling like an obese monster had sat on me. I was a sardine and the air was dense with everyone's night beath. Very pleasnt on the ol' nose. Not long after I heard an announcement saying that breakfast was going to be served. Thank goodness I probably thought out loud... How can the airline fuck up breakfast. No more then ten minutes later they announced that the fridge door had been left open and only half of the plane was getting a full breakfast and the other half was getting a muffin and a food voucher. I instantly paniced. Luckily i was one of the lucky few that got a proper breakfast which i gobbled like someone who had lived through a famine. Not longer after food we landed in LA, Usa. The weather is fairly warm, its kinda like what one would imagine spring in Sydney to be. Sometimes you can wear a jumper and sometimes its too hot. Its perfect weather and it agrees with the attire I own... so perhaps i will not die of pnenomina. And i am about to run out of internet time. Eeek. Well this is installment number one of the trip. Enjoy. Mood: enthralled

	2006.12.02  10.13 Taste test This page realloy confuses me. Mood: confused Music: Massive Attack - teardrop