Friday, September 02, 2005
home away from home
Well, I made it....not without some major dramas though but that is always the way isn't it??
Packing at the last minute is definiately one of my specialities ;O) The main issue this time ws trying to get some new tires onto my bike. A combination of ordering stuff at the last minute and not knowing what I was doing really sucked some time.
I'm currently at Paul and Jens place in Vancouver. These guys are really a godsend and make my visits to Van so much more comfortable. Props to them ;O)
A quick run down of events so far. Then I'll try and do and more frequent update.
The flight over was pretty packed. I think it has to do with the fact that the flight's final destination was London. The usual AKL - HON - LAX route I take is usually much less full... Also despite crossing everything I had I didn't get a plane with the new personal entertainment screens... Thankfully I was sitting next to some nice Amercian / Kiwis on their way back to Chicago for a wedding. We talked...alot.. It helped pass the time.
They got off in LA and I stood in the usual HUGE "others" line at US immigration. It's always the same except this time I got the pleasure of leaving two digital fingerprints and a photo for the CIA files! I better start wearing gloves.... The other LA highlight was going through the second set of security with the USC Trojans gridiron team. It was honestly just like being in the movies. There were lots black guys and they were all talking the talk and walking the walk. There was one dude with with an afro with one of those combs in it too! Funny!
The flight to Van went without a hitch really. Just before take off an old Chinese lady asked to sit in the vacant seat next to me and then preceded to pray! Not really what I needed....
From then on in it was sweet. Jen picked my up from the airport and i crashed in their spare room. Sure beats a hostel eh?
Packing at the last minute is definiately one of my specialities ;O) The main issue this time ws trying to get some new tires onto my bike. A combination of ordering stuff at the last minute and not knowing what I was doing really sucked some time.
I'm currently at Paul and Jens place in Vancouver. These guys are really a godsend and make my visits to Van so much more comfortable. Props to them ;O)
A quick run down of events so far. Then I'll try and do and more frequent update.
The flight over was pretty packed. I think it has to do with the fact that the flight's final destination was London. The usual AKL - HON - LAX route I take is usually much less full... Also despite crossing everything I had I didn't get a plane with the new personal entertainment screens... Thankfully I was sitting next to some nice Amercian / Kiwis on their way back to Chicago for a wedding. We talked...alot.. It helped pass the time.
They got off in LA and I stood in the usual HUGE "others" line at US immigration. It's always the same except this time I got the pleasure of leaving two digital fingerprints and a photo for the CIA files! I better start wearing gloves.... The other LA highlight was going through the second set of security with the USC Trojans gridiron team. It was honestly just like being in the movies. There were lots black guys and they were all talking the talk and walking the walk. There was one dude with with an afro with one of those combs in it too! Funny!
The flight to Van went without a hitch really. Just before take off an old Chinese lady asked to sit in the vacant seat next to me and then preceded to pray! Not really what I needed....
From then on in it was sweet. Jen picked my up from the airport and i crashed in their spare room. Sure beats a hostel eh?
# posted by cw : 10:10 AM
