After Sin City it was a treat meeting my second cousin Ashley at the airport in Austin and going for a big Mexican dinner with her parents Al and Barbara. For the next few days while we were in Texas doing some soul searching...literally....we got to stay with them which was the perfect way to recover from four days of heaven and hell combined and then see Texas from the eyes of the locals.
The first thing we noticed about Texas was that everything could be categorized into one size group. BIG. The roads, the buildings, the food especially (I think we forgot what it felt like to feel hungry while we were there) and most importantly, the personalities. Mike came down from Houston to show us around the place. He is definitely someone you want to have with you if you want to have some proper Texan fun. We hit up the Continental Club which saw regulars such as David Bowie and Johnny Depp and saw the 30 year reunion of one of Mike's favourite country rock bands. Watching the locals tear up the dance floor we slowly began to understand that the way one picks up a lady in Texas doesn't require some smooth talking and expensive threads, but rather a cowboy hat and a strong dancing ability. Skills Jimmy and Mat vowed to work on as soon as we got home.
Wine tasting out at Driftwood and visiting San Antonio were also highlights of the few days we had there, the Mexican food is unbelievable as mentioned earlier, with nacho appetizers that could feed an army (a special shout out to the Hula Hut in Austin and Mariachi's in San Antonio) however I think by the end were were ready for a light salad or a pasta :)
I think looking back I could describe Texas as America's BFG, the big friendly giant. Huge in every aspect, but so laid back and welcoming. Definitely a place I'd love to visit again. We all left as the newest recruits to the Texas Long Horns fan club (University of Texas) vowing to support them from back Down Under. Thanks once again for having us Ashley, Mike, Barbara and Alec....Hook 'Em Horns!
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Vegas...What happens....I cannot tell
I apologize but part two of LA was written on a word document but I can't transfer it across and because in this manic country I am tight for time I'm going to have to move along to Vegas and not re-write it. Maybe sometime soon!
So Vegas....you know when they say "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?" This is not JUST because of the crazy, immoral, outrageous and intense events that occur while you are there, but also simply because one cannot explain Vegas, it is something you have to experience for yourself. Let's just keep it simple, you become nocturnal, you spend A LOT of money, everything is larger than life, you yourself become larger than life, ie Jimmy becoming a rockstar, the crazy Canadians putting down a grand on two bottles of vodka so we could sit in VIP, partying in the same clubs as the likes of Chris Brown, catching limos everywhere, especially to the strip joints, seeing the REAL Caesar's palace...well kind of....having dinner in Paris while watching the fountain show infront of the Bellagio, hitting downtown Vegas, Wet Republic, Planet Hollywood for some beer pong and a few drinks in a top floor suite and throwing an unbelievele Cirque de Soleil show in along the way.
Breathe....
To protect the safety and dignity of members of the Vegas crew I cannot devulge in any details of these experiences and events, but let's just say everyone should experience this place once in their life. If you don't leave the place running and screaming because you simply can't handle it any more then you haven't done it properly. In the wise words of Mat Cornwell, Vegas was a harsh mistress, but after the week long post-Vegas sickness had subsided, we realised, there is simply no other place that comes close to Las Vegas.
Viva Las Vegas indeed.
So Vegas....you know when they say "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?" This is not JUST because of the crazy, immoral, outrageous and intense events that occur while you are there, but also simply because one cannot explain Vegas, it is something you have to experience for yourself. Let's just keep it simple, you become nocturnal, you spend A LOT of money, everything is larger than life, you yourself become larger than life, ie Jimmy becoming a rockstar, the crazy Canadians putting down a grand on two bottles of vodka so we could sit in VIP, partying in the same clubs as the likes of Chris Brown, catching limos everywhere, especially to the strip joints, seeing the REAL Caesar's palace...well kind of....having dinner in Paris while watching the fountain show infront of the Bellagio, hitting downtown Vegas, Wet Republic, Planet Hollywood for some beer pong and a few drinks in a top floor suite and throwing an unbelievele Cirque de Soleil show in along the way.
Breathe....
To protect the safety and dignity of members of the Vegas crew I cannot devulge in any details of these experiences and events, but let's just say everyone should experience this place once in their life. If you don't leave the place running and screaming because you simply can't handle it any more then you haven't done it properly. In the wise words of Mat Cornwell, Vegas was a harsh mistress, but after the week long post-Vegas sickness had subsided, we realised, there is simply no other place that comes close to Las Vegas.
Viva Las Vegas indeed.
Friday, 6 May 2011
Los Angeles - Intensity!
Our trip has started as fast as the Bugatti we saw parked on Rodeo Drive. The flight was fine, I didn't sleep too well but we arrived safely. Customs took AGES, we were definitely the last people on our flight to get through. Two flights had arrived from China and for some reason these people just didn't understand the concept of filling out the customs forms. Irritating. But we made it through, collected our bags and got a cab to the hostel.
Nadine met us at the hostel and showed us around, she was so hungover from the night before that she wasn't really speaking English, but we got the drift as to how the place ran itself so we were good to go. After we dumped our stuff we wandered up the street to Hollywood Boulevard. So street. So many tattoos. Then we had a wander down Sunset Boulevard and took some photos.
Around six there was a BBQ at the hostel so we hooked into that, met a few people staying at the hostel. A lot of Aussies but also people from England and Norway. Got a pretty big crowd sitting around then we left for a pub crawl. Went to The Piano bar which was really nice, old lounges and jazz music. We then went on to Ecco Club. This place was so much fun. Outside Jimmy and I met a gangland guy with massive gang tatts and everything. We thought it was so hard core. Danced like crazy with an old couple who Mat decided were dodgy. Which they were. After I'd stopped dancing with them five minutes later she was getting arrested and kept saying "It's not mine!" Glad I got out of there before that! Mat, Jimmy and I all came home seperately. But woke up in the morning to hear that Jimmy had joined a gang, and had stayed back at the club after it closed and partied with the owner and his biddies. Amazing.
We got up and went and had a delicious breakfast burrito down on Sunset Boulevard before heading up to Hollywood Boulevard to jump on a LA tour bus. Our tour guide was an idiot, an amateur, self-promoting comedian who's jokes were TERRIBLE. And he was obviously racist and hated Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus. The tour itself was fun though, went down into Beverley Hills and saw lots of famous people's houses and also filming locations. We had to tip him at the end but reluctantly, got some good photos though!
We then wandered down to the famous part of Hollywood Boulevard where we saw all the hand and shoe prints in the pavement and visited Madame Tussuads. I think Jimmy aimed to be creepy in every photo, but I laughed so much my stomach hurt by the end. We found Bruce Willis, this was one of the more emotional moments as he is Jimmy's favourite human. On our way back to the hostel we picked up some drinks, I got a 2 litre bottle of vodka, a bottle of cranberry juice and some red plastic cups (yeh red plastic cups...so american...so cool) for $13! Seriously!? Saw Snoop Dogg getting arrested. Chatting to the police but was in handcuffs. Not the real Snoop Dogg, but was hilarious anyway.
Got to drinking up in the bar with two guys from Byron Bay before Jimmy and I left for a tour in a white stretch hummer. There was a whole group of us, as we took off Snoop our tour guide blasted "Party Like A Rockstar" as we past around champagne and vodka. Our first stop was at The Saddle Ranch, owned by Patrick Swayzey before he died. Jimmy knew that he had to ride the mechanical bull to honour The Swayze. He was TERRIBLE. Couldn't even get up in the first place then lasted about five seconds. He was devestated with himself, insulted the spirit of The Swayze. Sad moment. Got back in the hummer and it took us to Ecco again. Jimmy was telling the truth about his inside connections, we got to sit in VIP and then stayed after and watched them count SO MUCH MONEY! It was insane. Then the owner Shaun gave us a lift home in his Mercedes. Awesome.
Haven't done too much today, except watch Jimmy experience his first Taco Bell. It was a special moment. Revolting, but special. He certainly loves his Mexican. He needs to hide from the cops now that he's in a gang, when we got home he started writing his gangland memoirs. Deep stuff. Watching a Lakers game tonight but having a quiet moment as we're all very tired! Off to Venice Beach and Santa Monica tomorrow. Been crazy so far and feels like we've been here a lot longer than two days? Will we make it out alive?
Nadine met us at the hostel and showed us around, she was so hungover from the night before that she wasn't really speaking English, but we got the drift as to how the place ran itself so we were good to go. After we dumped our stuff we wandered up the street to Hollywood Boulevard. So street. So many tattoos. Then we had a wander down Sunset Boulevard and took some photos.
Around six there was a BBQ at the hostel so we hooked into that, met a few people staying at the hostel. A lot of Aussies but also people from England and Norway. Got a pretty big crowd sitting around then we left for a pub crawl. Went to The Piano bar which was really nice, old lounges and jazz music. We then went on to Ecco Club. This place was so much fun. Outside Jimmy and I met a gangland guy with massive gang tatts and everything. We thought it was so hard core. Danced like crazy with an old couple who Mat decided were dodgy. Which they were. After I'd stopped dancing with them five minutes later she was getting arrested and kept saying "It's not mine!" Glad I got out of there before that! Mat, Jimmy and I all came home seperately. But woke up in the morning to hear that Jimmy had joined a gang, and had stayed back at the club after it closed and partied with the owner and his biddies. Amazing.
We got up and went and had a delicious breakfast burrito down on Sunset Boulevard before heading up to Hollywood Boulevard to jump on a LA tour bus. Our tour guide was an idiot, an amateur, self-promoting comedian who's jokes were TERRIBLE. And he was obviously racist and hated Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus. The tour itself was fun though, went down into Beverley Hills and saw lots of famous people's houses and also filming locations. We had to tip him at the end but reluctantly, got some good photos though!
We then wandered down to the famous part of Hollywood Boulevard where we saw all the hand and shoe prints in the pavement and visited Madame Tussuads. I think Jimmy aimed to be creepy in every photo, but I laughed so much my stomach hurt by the end. We found Bruce Willis, this was one of the more emotional moments as he is Jimmy's favourite human. On our way back to the hostel we picked up some drinks, I got a 2 litre bottle of vodka, a bottle of cranberry juice and some red plastic cups (yeh red plastic cups...so american...so cool) for $13! Seriously!? Saw Snoop Dogg getting arrested. Chatting to the police but was in handcuffs. Not the real Snoop Dogg, but was hilarious anyway.
Got to drinking up in the bar with two guys from Byron Bay before Jimmy and I left for a tour in a white stretch hummer. There was a whole group of us, as we took off Snoop our tour guide blasted "Party Like A Rockstar" as we past around champagne and vodka. Our first stop was at The Saddle Ranch, owned by Patrick Swayzey before he died. Jimmy knew that he had to ride the mechanical bull to honour The Swayze. He was TERRIBLE. Couldn't even get up in the first place then lasted about five seconds. He was devestated with himself, insulted the spirit of The Swayze. Sad moment. Got back in the hummer and it took us to Ecco again. Jimmy was telling the truth about his inside connections, we got to sit in VIP and then stayed after and watched them count SO MUCH MONEY! It was insane. Then the owner Shaun gave us a lift home in his Mercedes. Awesome.
Haven't done too much today, except watch Jimmy experience his first Taco Bell. It was a special moment. Revolting, but special. He certainly loves his Mexican. He needs to hide from the cops now that he's in a gang, when we got home he started writing his gangland memoirs. Deep stuff. Watching a Lakers game tonight but having a quiet moment as we're all very tired! Off to Venice Beach and Santa Monica tomorrow. Been crazy so far and feels like we've been here a lot longer than two days? Will we make it out alive?
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