USA – Page 7 – ThePassportPrincess

Day 9 – Las Vegas

August 23, 2015June 8, 2016Sarah1 Comment

So i’m going to be writing 3 separate blog posts today as I haven’t updated in the last 3 days (including today)
I guess that’s what happens in Vegas! I go out and party and meet people and then have no time to update!

Thursday 20th August 2015

I was up nice and early Thursday morning!
All the Contiki tour people had to be at the bus by 7.15am in LA.
Once all our bags had been put on the bus we were off to Las Vegas.

There’s not much to say about the bus ride to Vegas. It was mainly filled with our tour guide Blake telling us what is and isn’t okay on the Contiki bus. No eating dairy, no smoking, take care of your own stuff, try and join in as many activities as you can etc..

We had a stop off in some town on the way to Vegas and I had Subway to eat.

We each also had to talk to the person next to us and then go up to the front of the bus in pairs to use the microphone and introduce ourselves to everyone as well as telling everyone a few things about ourselves.
As there was like 50-55 of us it kind of took awhile but it was nice hearing about where everyone was from and why they came on Contiki.
Hint: Everyone is pretty much from Australia or New Zealand. Plus a couple of German’s thrown in there for fun.

We got to Vegas just after midday so it was a few hours on the bus but it went by really fast as everyone talked or listened to music.Vegas is more than I imagined it would be!
Everything is defiantly bigger and better in Vegas. The hotels are absolutely HUGE.
I couldn’t stop looking at all all the big hotels and casinos they have here. My pictures don’t do Vegas justice. You really have to see it to believe it.

Harrahs2 We stayed at Harrah’s Hotel on the Vegas strip which is basically a massive hotel with casino’s and bars downstairs. Chandeliers resembling large gold Mardi Gras beads were decorated in the casino’s and HD Tv’s were all on the walls showing lots of sports and racing. I assume most hotels in Vegas are like this, it’s so exciting!

Once we got to the hotel for our first night, we all checked in and headed with our room mates to our room.As we got out of the bus it was crazy hot! I know it’s the desert but I wasn’t prepared for it to be THIS hot.
You know when you walk past a bus or something and it’s blowing hot air? That’s what it feels like but all the time.

As I still had heels I needed to buy, I went with 2 girls from my Contiki to the nearest mall once we’d settled in.
Me and another girl Amy got ourselves a bucket of this fruity alcoholic slushy from one of the many liquor stands on the side of the road. It’s great that you can drink anywhere in Vegas!
When we went shopping I was casually sipping on my icy cold vodka and such 😛 wherever I went.I did end up buying some shoes while we were at the mall. It was buy 1 pair get another one for $5 so I ended up buying some white wedge type heels and some sandals to wear.
When we were leaving we bumped into a couple of more girls from Contiki so went and got another bucket with them 🙂

By the time I got back to our hotel, I had an hour and a half to get ready for our bus tour around Las Vegas.
I made it to the bus just in time coz I had to wash my hair and the whole drying and styling process took forever haha!
The tour was good, we got to stop at the Las Vegas sign that you always see in pictures and movies.

Waiting in line to get a photo was extremely hot as there were so many people waiting to do the same thing.
After we’d gotten our pictures taken, we headed off to Planet Hollywood for dinner. I just got a broccoli pasta thing which was all good. It was one of our ‘included meals’ on the Contiki so it was already paid for.

When we were all back on the bus, we’d sobered up a bit from dinner but our tour manager Blake started saying that he felt really sick.
I assumed it was something from dinner coz he actually didn’t look that good.
We had to stop the bus and everything so he could go outside for fresh air.
He made us all get off the bus as well and go for a walk down the road where all the wedding chapels were.
He said he was going to go find a pharmacy so we all kind of walked down the road and then ended up waiting for a good 15 minutes outside some random pawn shop. Everyone was getting really frustrated, Especially the girls as we were all mostly wearing heels and the heat was making us really hot and our feet all sweaty and slippery.

After awhile I was like, screw this and started walking back to the bus with a few other people. We came across Blake on the way and he said that we were welcome to hang out in the wedding chapel as it was air conditioned.
I knew something was up when he said that!
We all got a surprise when we went into the chapel and Elvis started singing for us and said 2 people were getting married tonight.And guess who got married.
ME. haha, not out of choice – but me and another guy Rhys (my now husband) were chosen to get married.
It was a beautiful ceremony as well as it all being pretty funny.
It’s obviously not legit but we got a certificate and everything.
I’ve left it in the Contiki Coach though so I can’t take a picture of it right now.

After the wedding we headed to a nightclub that Blake had organised for us to get front of line.
All the girls got a free drink thank god because the prices of the drinks were outrageous!
I didn’t buy one but I overheard someone saying that they were like $40
Amy got a bottle of water (a small Fiji brand one) and it was $11

They free pour here in America – which means they can put as much alcohol as they want in a drink – which is great but still, that’s so expensive.
I guess it is Vegas though and we were at a club that Tiesto was playing at.
I was just confused as to why we were put at that club when everyone on Contiki are young poor people haha! (Well not poor exactly, just being careful with our money)

Anyways, me and a few girls went downstairs (same club) where they were playing better music. I danced away there and ended up in some VIP booth as well which was all good so got a few free drinks out of that 😌

I ended up loosing everyone by the end of the night so walked in bare feet at like 3am all the way through the casino to the taxi rink. Yuck! At least it was carpet.
My shoes were just killing my feet!

When I got to the taxi rink I found Jonathan and Scott from my Contiki and we caught a cab back to our hotel together.
They wanted McDonald’s so I walked (still in bare feet) with them to McDonald’s but then I left when I kept getting weird looks for not wearing any shoes, awkward… I guess looking back it was pretty disgusting. My feet were just sticking to the floor the whole time.

Overall the first night wasn’t amazing but it was really great to see everything for the first time! I’d love to go back if I had more money.

Day 7 – Los Angeles

August 19, 2015November 23, 2015SarahLeave a comment

Tonight is my last night in my hostel before I stay at a Hotel tomorrow night getting ready to start my contiki!

I woke up this morning bright and early and joined in on breakfast for the very first time. There was unfortunately no bagels but they did have a selection of porridge and do-it-yourself pancakes.
I made some chocolate chip ones with banana on top but when I sat down with them I could only have a few bites before I felt sick.
Breakfast isn’t really my thing…

I’d signed up to take the free shuttle at 10am to Santa Monica beach this morning from the hostel but as I was one of the last people who put their name down I missed out 😥 and was put on the ‘wait list’ for the shuttle that left at 12pm!
The 4 people I was going with had to leave me behind so I Ubered with 2 other guys instead who were in the same situation as me.
It was like an hours drive away but only cost us like $12 each which was alright.

We ended up being dropped off at Venice Beach which is like half an hour walk away from Santa Monica but my friends were walking to Venice anyways so it all worked out.
One of the guys in the Uber ended up sticking with me while I waited for my friends and for the rest of the day.
We lost him when we were about to leave and now that I think of it… I haven’t seen him since.
His English really isn’t that good so I hope he got back to the hostel all good 😯

When I met up with everyone we went and got some lunch.

I got a basic hamburger and fries. And yes, I didn’t finish this meal either.

I must say, the bread tastes a bit different over here. Like, not as fresh…

When we’d finished eating we walked to the skate park and watched some locals skate.

Then it was off to Muscle beach where all the famous body builders apparantly work out. Or have done so in the past.
We of course had to take some muscle photos.

We decided to find a nice spot on the beach of Venice and get our tan on. Or in my case, my burn on. 😈

This is me pre-burn, look how happy I was.

The backs of my legs got burnt as that’s where I didn’t put any sun screen on. I’m such a picky bitch with my sunscreen. I hate the lotions and I’ll only really use the spray. Plus the only spray I like is nutrogena but I didn’t have any with me so had to use cream 😣
It makes the sand stick and I hate it!!! 😝

I got to try out my new bikini I got from Victoria Secrets though!

So brown! Yet, so not-real.

When we finished having a snooze on our towels on the beach, we set off for the walk down to Santa Monica Pier. And my golly, was it a walk and a half!! Ecspecially in jandals. My feet officially hate me.

The 2 aussies also got into an argument with a stall owner as they were going to buy 2 tops off them as she told them “buy 1 get 1 free for $8.99″ and when they went to pay she said it was $20 and insisted she said $18.99 not $8.99
Such a load of crap!! Ecspecially as they were the type of tops you buy in SE Asia and they shrink in the wash so that was such a rip off.
The aussie’s were like “what!! We asked you and you said $8.99″ and then she acussed them of stealing coat hangers off her when they were trying on the tops as she was missing them.
They ended up being like fuck it and walking off without buying the tops that she had SUCH a physco and screamed at them to “fuck off and never come back to my store again! You wasted my time!!!!”

When we finally got to santa monica we checked out the pier and then caught the bus home. (I only have pictures on my actual camera as my phone died)

We had to take 2 buses home and the total ride time was over an hour but it was only $2 so I didn’t care 😦

I was so knackered when I got back. I felt like crap with sand stuck to me in all places, my hair smelling like the sea and old sunblock stuck on my arms and back. I had a shower and then headed off by myself and got some enchiladas for dinner.

Now I’m ready for sleep!!!
Got to get up early again tomorrow morning 😴😴

Day 5 – Los Angeles

August 17, 2015November 23, 2015Sarah5 Comments

HOLLYWOOD IS WHERE I’M AT!! 🍹🍹
I made that first line seem like I’m having the time of my life drinking cocktails when I have yet to have an alcoholic beverage haha.

I made the silly mistake this morning in San Francisco of not checking when the BART started running. I got to the BART station at 7.30am and it didn’t open until 8am with the first train leaving for the airport at 8.30am.
So I was there a whole hour early with my backpack on rearing to go for my 10am flight at SFO with no transport. In my defence I did tell the lady at the hostel where I was going and she didn’t say anything about it not running that early…

It was a a Sunday morning in SF so it was light out but there wasn’t anyone around apart from the odd morning runner and 50 homeless guys with their trolleys and bags filled to the brim with their life in it.
And also me. With my bag with my life in it.

I ended up calling a shuttle and they said it wouldn’t get to me until 8am so I said that was fine and waited outside some nice hotel. I pretty much sat on the sidewalk as there were no chairs or anything and took some pictures of my surroundings and the ole’ selfie snap.

(By the way my arm looks so weird and long in this picture)

At just after 8am I got a call on my phone but as I was already doing something on it I accidentally clicked ‘end call’ instead of picking it up.
I assumed it was my shuttle company so tried calling back and it was engaged. I looked around me and couldn’t see a shuttle so I just waited a bit longer.

Finally, I got through to them and he said that the shuttle had come and hadn’t seen me waiting so left without me :|:|
Turned out I was at like the side entrance of this hotel and not at the main one. That’s probably why they missed me 😧

Eventually it all sorted itself out, I got to the airport on time and checked in. Paid $25 for my bag with Delta Airlines and had to wait around for just over an hour as my 10am flight got delayed until 11am.
The SFO Delta terminal isn’t that interesting with all that time to spare. I did a bit of yoga (yes they have a yoga room at the airport 😮) and walked around the 3 main cafes being very indecisive about what I wanted to eat but ended up getting nothing and started watching Orange Is The New Black on my tablet.
Got through 3 episodes by the time I got to LA 🙂

I got a Super shuttle from the LAX airport to my hostel in Hollywood. There was a guy in my shuttle called Kevin and he recognized me from staying at the hostel in SF. Turned out he was now going to the same hostel as me and he’s from NZ! Small world aye.
Tomorrow we’re both going to do the Warner Brothers Studio Tour so that should be interesting.

When I got to my hostel, I made my bed, Un packed some stuff and put my phone on charge. I’m staying at USA hostel in Hollywood and so far so good! I’m in a 6 bedroom female dorm room and we have our own bathroom attached which is good so you can leave your stuff in there and not have to carry shampoo and conditioner, your razor and soap down the hall with you just for a shower in the morning 😩

When I arrived there was a girl called Joanne who’s in the same room as me. We made friends quickly and decided to head to Mels Diner in Hollywood Boulevard for some late lunch.
I experienced a ‘real American diner experience’ but without the burger as I knew I’d never be able to finish it.
I did however order the nicest oreo shake I’ve probably ever had and an appetiser of chilli fries.
Which I also couldn’t finish 😣

Jo and I headed down hollywood boulevard after that and looked at some of the stars, went to the Chinese theatre and did a bit of window shopping. We’re so close to the Hollywood walk of fame (like it’s literally on the street next to us) that I saw all that pretty quickly.
I’m going to do some shopping tomorrow as I only had a quick look in Sephora and Victoria Secrets!
Not sure if I’ll buy much though, I might save that for New York City at the end of my contiki tour.

(Ew while writing this I can hear someone vomiting in the parking lot next to my room)
As we’re next to Hollywood boulevard there’s heaps of homeless people around and some of them seem to stay at this big parking lot right next door to the hostel.
My window faces the parking lot (I do however have a curtain and a wire window so they can’t see me) and we’re separated by a barbed wire fence. It just doesn’t block out the noise!

Anyways, I also visited a candy store in Hollywood and then we headed back to the hostel.

They even had a picture of Eminem MADE out of M&M’s haha

We chilled out the front for a bit (as the front of the hostel is all privately inclosed) and talked with 2 girls from the UK.
One of them, Helen ended up coming with us to Ghirardelli – finally I know!! And we had some drinks there. Like sugary drinks haha. They specialise in ice cream and chocolate but I wasn’t feeling one after my shake from the diner today so I ordered a raspberry smoothie and it was amazing!
I’m deff going back tomorrow though and getting a proper sundae. 🍨🍧

As we got back to the hostel, it was around 10pm so Jo and me headed upstairs to the lounge and watched a stand up comedy gig for a couple of hours. Helen had to pack her bags as her and her friend were leaving to do Trek America in the morning.

The comedy gig was put on by the hostel. Like they paid amateur stand up comedians to come in and do a few skits. Some were average but the last few were funny.

Now it’s 1.30am! I’ve had a shower and crawled in to bed. I spent ages in the shower scrubbing off my fake tan. It went all patchy so I had to scrub it off with a face cloth haha. That’s what happens when I don’t moisturise!
(I also can’t tan in the sun so I use artifical tanner instead, hence the shower mares)
I’m going to try and find a nice sugar scrub tomorrow when I go shopping.
Finally, I get a sleep in!!