My feet are so sore!
This is a result of 4 days of traipsing around the many parks of Disney. They are all very scenic, and there are cool free shows (we saw an awesome Lion King show!), but a lot of the rides are more designed for kids. It is still tons of fun. Tomorrow we have our last day at Disney, and the next day we head to Cape Canaveral.
Here is a wicked video of me and Cara that we made at EPCOT:
The Future!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Universal, Cam the NBA Star, and Magic!
Yesterday we went to Universal Theme Park in Orlando. Last time I came here we just went to the Islands of Adventure half of the park (which has the bigger and newer rides), but this time me and Cara got a pass for the whole place, including the far more Old School Universal Studios. At Islands of Adventure we rode The Hulk Coaster, The Dueling Dragons, The Spider-man Ride, Doctor Doom's Fear Tower, and three water rides; Popeye's Lazy River, Dudley Do-Right's River Ride and The Jurrasic Park Log Ride. We did most of these wet rides earlier in the day, and we got soaked. There was not one part of us that was left dry. Luckily there was some Orlando sun out, and we dried relatively quickly(2 or 3 hours). We were able to get around the park pretty easily because I had been there before, so we sped through it.
We then went to Universal Studios, which was exciting for me, because I had not been there before. The Revenge of The Mummy Ride was sweet, basically an underground, pitch black roller-coaster, pretty scary! The streets were designed as a 1950's America, with old school cars and buildings. I tried to high five an evil egyptian Pharoah on Stilts, but he shunned me! We then did the Disaster Movie Experience, and Cara was chosen as a member of the movies cast as a "Young Athletic person with closed toed shoes on". Cara's role was to scream as she was washed down a river. The disaster was happening on a mock-up of San Francisco's BART subway system. WE can't leave that place, or its overly complicated public transport system! After this we went on the Jaws ride (which was in a boat, and we were afraid of getting wet again), the ET Ride, the MiB Ride and the Simpson's Ride. It was a lot of fun. We then had linner at some cafe in Universal, and it was terrible. Then it was time to take a bus for 1.5 hours into the city center of Orlando to watch our game!
It was a match-up between the 2nd place Boston Celtics, and the 3rd place Orlando Magic. I am a fan of both teams, who are both awesomely good, however when we went to the merch desk I saw that they had a $10 Orlando Magic t-shirt. So Cheap! So I got that along with a headband. I put both items on.
Before the game they chose "big Orlando Magic Fans" from the stands to come out on court and pass, dribble, lay-in and shoot the basketball. They chose me because of my Orlando Magic fan disguise. So I got to step on an NBA court! I was so excited! There was a guy in a Magic jersey on stilts, and he gave me a high five! At last! Then it was me and a bunch of tiny kids dribbling and passing. They set-up a lay-up line and I did a reverse lay-up which the courtside commentator commented on. Then we shot a free throw, a 3-pointer and a pull-up jumper and I misssed them all. 18,000 people watching you shoot kinda makes you rush your shot a little, and my form wasn't too good. Those are my excuses anyway.
The game was awesome! The Magic were winning by around 10 points, and up to 13 at one point. But by the end of the game the Celtics had come back and there were only 2 points between them. Paul Pierce of the Celtics got the ball with 1.6 seconds left and lofted a three pointer. It flew, it flew, and it missed. Magic won! Magic won! And as a result they overtook the Celtics as the 2 seed in the East by 6 1000's of a percent.
Today we go to Disney! We may not have free internet there, so the updates may be less frequent for a week or so. Woo!
We then went to Universal Studios, which was exciting for me, because I had not been there before. The Revenge of The Mummy Ride was sweet, basically an underground, pitch black roller-coaster, pretty scary! The streets were designed as a 1950's America, with old school cars and buildings. I tried to high five an evil egyptian Pharoah on Stilts, but he shunned me! We then did the Disaster Movie Experience, and Cara was chosen as a member of the movies cast as a "Young Athletic person with closed toed shoes on". Cara's role was to scream as she was washed down a river. The disaster was happening on a mock-up of San Francisco's BART subway system. WE can't leave that place, or its overly complicated public transport system! After this we went on the Jaws ride (which was in a boat, and we were afraid of getting wet again), the ET Ride, the MiB Ride and the Simpson's Ride. It was a lot of fun. We then had linner at some cafe in Universal, and it was terrible. Then it was time to take a bus for 1.5 hours into the city center of Orlando to watch our game!
It was a match-up between the 2nd place Boston Celtics, and the 3rd place Orlando Magic. I am a fan of both teams, who are both awesomely good, however when we went to the merch desk I saw that they had a $10 Orlando Magic t-shirt. So Cheap! So I got that along with a headband. I put both items on.
Before the game they chose "big Orlando Magic Fans" from the stands to come out on court and pass, dribble, lay-in and shoot the basketball. They chose me because of my Orlando Magic fan disguise. So I got to step on an NBA court! I was so excited! There was a guy in a Magic jersey on stilts, and he gave me a high five! At last! Then it was me and a bunch of tiny kids dribbling and passing. They set-up a lay-up line and I did a reverse lay-up which the courtside commentator commented on. Then we shot a free throw, a 3-pointer and a pull-up jumper and I misssed them all. 18,000 people watching you shoot kinda makes you rush your shot a little, and my form wasn't too good. Those are my excuses anyway.
The game was awesome! The Magic were winning by around 10 points, and up to 13 at one point. But by the end of the game the Celtics had come back and there were only 2 points between them. Paul Pierce of the Celtics got the ball with 1.6 seconds left and lofted a three pointer. It flew, it flew, and it missed. Magic won! Magic won! And as a result they overtook the Celtics as the 2 seed in the East by 6 1000's of a percent.
Today we go to Disney! We may not have free internet there, so the updates may be less frequent for a week or so. Woo!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
We're in Orlando!
We have made it to Orlando! Woo!
We had an awesome dinner tonight, I had Babyback ribs, and Cara had a Rattlesnake Pasta. I washed it down with some coke and an icecream choc brownie sundae. Oh Yeah!
Tomorrow we go to Universal Studios and watch an Orlando Magic game! Yeehaw!
Also I forgot to mention it, but I saw the main guy from TV show Psych at the MGM Grand when we were in Vegas. I didn't say hello because it looked like it had taken him ages to grow out his beard to use as a disguise.
We had an awesome dinner tonight, I had Babyback ribs, and Cara had a Rattlesnake Pasta. I washed it down with some coke and an icecream choc brownie sundae. Oh Yeah!
Tomorrow we go to Universal Studios and watch an Orlando Magic game! Yeehaw!
Also I forgot to mention it, but I saw the main guy from TV show Psych at the MGM Grand when we were in Vegas. I didn't say hello because it looked like it had taken him ages to grow out his beard to use as a disguise.
San Francisco Addendum
Today me and Cara went to Alcatraz while Hourann went to work. We also got a prepaid phone so that we can call cabs and the like when we need it. And we bought Hourann a wicked San Jose Sharks T-Shirt to thank him for hosting us so awesomely.
Tonight we have relaxed and planned the Orlando leg of the trip somewhat. While doing laundry, eating ice-cream, watching cable Tv and drinking wine. So civilised.
What I had forgotten to mention:
- Hourann was very welcoming, in fact he must have said "Welcome to San Francisco" at least 55 times. We appreciated it.
- We are being stalked by Britney Spears. As part of her comeback series of concerts she is performing at the MGM Grand in Vegas (where we stayed), and the HP Pavillion in San Jose (where we saw the hockey). Will we escape her in Florida? Who knows?
Nighty night.
Tonight we have relaxed and planned the Orlando leg of the trip somewhat. While doing laundry, eating ice-cream, watching cable Tv and drinking wine. So civilised.
What I had forgotten to mention:
- Hourann was very welcoming, in fact he must have said "Welcome to San Francisco" at least 55 times. We appreciated it.
- We are being stalked by Britney Spears. As part of her comeback series of concerts she is performing at the MGM Grand in Vegas (where we stayed), and the HP Pavillion in San Jose (where we saw the hockey). Will we escape her in Florida? Who knows?
Nighty night.
Monday, March 23, 2009
San Fran with Hourann
After returning successfully from our Vegas trip, it was time for us to explore San Fran with Hourann (see how that rhymes).
On Friday night (after returning from Vegas), we met Hourann in the airport. He asked us if we would like to go out with him that night, but we were tired from our travels, and declined. We made it home to Palo Alto, all chipped in and cooked a stir fry, before chatting with one of Hourann's housemates. His name was Brian and he works on electric cars at a company called Tesla. So cool.
All the housemates seem to be people who are either currently doing, or have recently completed, pHD's at Stanford. They talk about traveling to Africa to basically save ghuman lives and do ground-breaking research. Very interesting, but a little difficult to relate to? But they are all super friendly and fun to converse with.
On Saturday we went into San Jose (Do you know the way to San Jose? I've been away so long, I may go wrong and lose my way.) to watch an ice hockey game between the San Jose Sharks and the visiting Dallas Stars. We were going for the Sharks. The beginning of the game was very exciting with shark shaped Zambonies, and a shark shaped entrance archway for the players. Dallas scored the first goal, which put us on edge, but San Jose scored the net couple of goals to take the lead. In the final period the sharks were up 4-2 with a few minutes to go, and the Stars pulled their goalie to put an extra player on the ice (to increase their chances of catching up). This of course led to San Jose scoring an easy goal, andthey we ended up winning 5 goals to 2. It was definitely a highlight of the trip.
We were accompanied to the game by Hourann and his workmate Brad, who drove us to the game and gave us a short driving tour of San Jose. He was pretty funny, but pulled fun at the buildings and stuff in San Jose as they are a little underwhelming. He then dropped us off in a park (which may have been called Alamo Square?). This park is the park that the Full House cast run around in during the opening credits of the show! And we could see the Full House house just across the street. Me and Cara got a photo outside of it.
Then we went on a bus to see the golden gate bridge. We took touristy photos of us in front of it, and we walked up to the first tower before turning back. It is quite an awesome sight to behold.
Following our bridge experience we walked some of the steeper streets of San Francisco, saw a statue of Yoda at a LucasFilm workplace, explored a swanky suburb, explored The Mission (Hourann's favourite nightlife spot), had Mexican food while being quite close to Mexico(relatively), and had a drink at a trendy bar called Elbow Room. We then took the train back to Palo Alto, where we walked in the rain for 15 minutes back to Hourann's place. We were pretty soaked.
Today we woke up and traveled into the city again. We attempted to go on a boat to Alcatraz (but it was booked out until tomorrow, and so we booked it in for tomorrow), we explored Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 (where there were a bunch of Sea-Lions, just hanging out), and I got In-n-Out Burger. It was delicious. We then had some appetizers at the hard rock cafe for lunch and rocked out to the cool music videos. We explored Golden Gate Park and Haight-Ashbury (the old 60's hippy district). We rode on the trams and the cable cars (which broke down), before heading home to have some Chinese food in Palo Alto and sit on the internet for a few minutes.
And that is you basically all caught up.
On Friday night (after returning from Vegas), we met Hourann in the airport. He asked us if we would like to go out with him that night, but we were tired from our travels, and declined. We made it home to Palo Alto, all chipped in and cooked a stir fry, before chatting with one of Hourann's housemates. His name was Brian and he works on electric cars at a company called Tesla. So cool.
All the housemates seem to be people who are either currently doing, or have recently completed, pHD's at Stanford. They talk about traveling to Africa to basically save ghuman lives and do ground-breaking research. Very interesting, but a little difficult to relate to? But they are all super friendly and fun to converse with.
On Saturday we went into San Jose (Do you know the way to San Jose? I've been away so long, I may go wrong and lose my way.) to watch an ice hockey game between the San Jose Sharks and the visiting Dallas Stars. We were going for the Sharks. The beginning of the game was very exciting with shark shaped Zambonies, and a shark shaped entrance archway for the players. Dallas scored the first goal, which put us on edge, but San Jose scored the net couple of goals to take the lead. In the final period the sharks were up 4-2 with a few minutes to go, and the Stars pulled their goalie to put an extra player on the ice (to increase their chances of catching up). This of course led to San Jose scoring an easy goal, and
We were accompanied to the game by Hourann and his workmate Brad, who drove us to the game and gave us a short driving tour of San Jose. He was pretty funny, but pulled fun at the buildings and stuff in San Jose as they are a little underwhelming. He then dropped us off in a park (which may have been called Alamo Square?). This park is the park that the Full House cast run around in during the opening credits of the show! And we could see the Full House house just across the street. Me and Cara got a photo outside of it.
Then we went on a bus to see the golden gate bridge. We took touristy photos of us in front of it, and we walked up to the first tower before turning back. It is quite an awesome sight to behold.
Following our bridge experience we walked some of the steeper streets of San Francisco, saw a statue of Yoda at a LucasFilm workplace, explored a swanky suburb, explored The Mission (Hourann's favourite nightlife spot), had Mexican food while being quite close to Mexico(relatively), and had a drink at a trendy bar called Elbow Room. We then took the train back to Palo Alto, where we walked in the rain for 15 minutes back to Hourann's place. We were pretty soaked.
Today we woke up and traveled into the city again. We attempted to go on a boat to Alcatraz (but it was booked out until tomorrow, and so we booked it in for tomorrow), we explored Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 (where there were a bunch of Sea-Lions, just hanging out), and I got In-n-Out Burger. It was delicious. We then had some appetizers at the hard rock cafe for lunch and rocked out to the cool music videos. We explored Golden Gate Park and Haight-Ashbury (the old 60's hippy district). We rode on the trams and the cable cars (which broke down), before heading home to have some Chinese food in Palo Alto and sit on the internet for a few minutes.
And that is you basically all caught up.
Friday, March 20, 2009
VEGAS BABY!
As I expected, I have been doing so much stuff that I haven't had a lot of time to blog about it. But rest assured that Cara and myself are still happy, safe and having a wonderful time.
I may go light on the details here, cause a lot has happened, and I wanna have some stories to tell you when I return.
Since you last left us we have spent a day exploring San Francisco, getting confused by the public transit system, and marveling at the bay. We took a train to Oakland and watched the Golden State Warriors take on the LA Clippers. The Warriors won, and it was good to be part of a home winning crowd. We flew to Vegas and checked in at the MGM Grand on the strip. We went and saw Penn & Teller's magic show on the first night, I played in a poker tournament this morning, and we saw two Cirque Du Soleil shows today.
Now, some pictures:
The view from our hotel room:
The lion enclosure(you heard right!) at our hotel:
Me and Cara with Teller:
Cara and I with Penn:
Cara and Julius Caesar:
Cara and I at The Bellagio:
The Fountains at The Bellagio:
I have enjoyed Vegas sooo much!
I may go light on the details here, cause a lot has happened, and I wanna have some stories to tell you when I return.
Since you last left us we have spent a day exploring San Francisco, getting confused by the public transit system, and marveling at the bay. We took a train to Oakland and watched the Golden State Warriors take on the LA Clippers. The Warriors won, and it was good to be part of a home winning crowd. We flew to Vegas and checked in at the MGM Grand on the strip. We went and saw Penn & Teller's magic show on the first night, I played in a poker tournament this morning, and we saw two Cirque Du Soleil shows today.
Now, some pictures:
The view from our hotel room:
The lion enclosure(you heard right!) at our hotel:
Me and Cara with Teller:
Cara and I with Penn:
Cara and Julius Caesar:
Cara and I at The Bellagio:
The Fountains at The Bellagio:
I have enjoyed Vegas sooo much!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
America!
We got let into the USA, and have spent a day in San Fran with Hourann. Today we fly to Vegas!
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