http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/WorldTrip05/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from WorldTrip05 en-us Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:40:13 +0000 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:40:13 +0000 If you stop for a few minutes and think to yourself about how if you wanted to you would go about buying a car in the US. All predeparture research lonely planet forums etc suggested that it was nearly impossible to buy a car and legally drive it unless you had close connections in the States were a citizen or you were willing to take a few financial risks. I think I lucked into the final c http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Seattle/blog-14214.html I am continuing these emails in a new web format which will hopefully make it easier for me to send them to everyone. You will be notified by email when a new diary entry appears. The trip route in case you are interested in also attached.Vancouver island is a large island just west of Vancouver on the west coast of Canada. My first point of call after Victoria was Campbell River which is famous http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/blog-14564.html Not knowing whether I was driving a beast or a bomb I said goodbye to Hazel and Dave and set out for Portland Oregon. I bought a camera there because everything is tax free in Oregon and ended meeting uptravelling with Andrea the English girl I first caught up with in Hawaii. We took in the tourist sights of Washington state Mt Rainier Mt St Helens and Olympic National Park. The Americans ab http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/blog-14391.html 090605 120605 There is no more striking way to see the difference between the north and south of the US than to fly straight from Texas to Seattle Washington Northwest US. If you want a city where trends are created not just observed then Seattle is the place to be.I spent just over a week with my brotherinlaws aunt and uncle who treated me with open hospitality. Hazel and Dave met on http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Seattle/blog-14213.html 020605 090605 I had arranged to stay with a good family friend back in Australia Aditya who is working in Dallas as an engineer. Aditya was in the process of renewing his license so was unable to pick me up from the airport but I was happy to make my own way. Its good not having a plan but there were two things that were not in my favour. 1. Public transport is almost nonexistent in Dall http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Dallas/blog-14212.html 310505 Picture downhill skiing and then 1 hour later basking in the tropical Hawaiian sun. Many people donrsquot know this but Hawaii gives you the opportunity to do this. Coming from someone that hasnrsquot even seen snow before let alone been skiing I thought that it was best not to indulge in this escapade. Besides I think snowfall in summer is minimal on the mountain summits.You can http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Big-Island/Hilo/blog-14211.html Situated a short plane ride south of Oahu Big Island doesnrsquot attract the large crowds of its smaller neighbouring islands. 90 of the visitors to Hawaii stay on the island of Oahu and half of those stay at or near Waikiki. Big Island is famous for two things 1. Captain Cook was killed on this island in 1779 in a town on the West Coast now known as 'Captain Cook' very original name. Austr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Big-Island/Hilo/blog-14169.html Aloha everyone I hope that things are going well for you all. I am thinking of you all.....well...sometimes anyway. Just going to share a few things that I have been doing I am not going to put every little detail or day down because that wont make you want to come and visit the places it will just bore you240505 On the day that I left for Hawaii someone asked me in the afternoon at what t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Oahu/blog-14168.html