http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/seznbenn/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from seznbenn en-us Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:13:10 +0000 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:13:10 +0000 Still at Maui so woke up and got off the ship and jumped in our car. This time we headed west. Along the way stopped at lookouts or beaches. Arrived at our destination Lahiana which was a busy town with lots of shopping and restaurants. So had a look around the area. We had originally booked to do surfing lessons here but it was so flat it wouldnrsquot be worth it. We will try again in Honolulu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Maui/blog-118915.html Arrived in Maui which was even hotter than the last island. We decided to hire a car as we were to be at this island for 2 days. So we hired a car and headed down the Hana Highway which was to the east side of the island. The drive was similar to the great ocean rd drive with all the scenery and lookouts. So we drove past a sign saying twin falls. So we got out and started to walk to these falls. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Maui/blog-118914.html Today we ported at Kona which is the other side of the island we were on yesterday. It was actually the warmest day of the islands we have been to yet. Got up normal time and had our usual buffet lunch. Got off the ship and finally had a look at the shops here. Went to Wal Mart which is like a big Kmart and Coles combined. Then went to Hilo Hattie which is like where you buy all the authentic Haw http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Big-Island/Kailua-Kona/blog-118913.html Got off the ship at Hilo and got on our tour bus to go and see the volcanorsquos. Jumping on the bus felt like we were getting on the senior cits bus for the day. People needed help getting on and off. Neway we were on our way went thru downtown Hilo and to the Volcano National Park. Visited a few volcanoes which were craters. It was amazing. No lava in site but each crater was just steaming. Yo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Big-Island/Hilo/blog-117997.html The ship stayed in port overnight so we got up fairly early had our buffet breakfast as we do every day and got off the ship and into our car. Drove to the north east side of the island this time. We stopped at the Wallua Falls which were flowing very fast and saw chickens even there continue driving to another waterfall. We had to be back on the ship at 12.30 to leave port at 1 and we had a ab http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Kauai/blog-117996.html We have docked in Kauaii and had a jungle waterfalls kayak tour today. But when we got off the ship and onto the bus it was cancelled due to the extreme weather. Apparently the river was overflowing. So that put a dampener on our plans. We ended up catching a shuttle to the local shopping center where we bought a few little things. We went to the tour place there and the lady suggested we hire a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Kauai/blog-117995.html Updating the blogs on the internet here on the ship. Its really slow and cost a fortune so wont put any photos on for now.Woke up early to catch a 6.30am transfer to the airport for our flights at 8.45am. Arrived at airport and after waiting in line for half an hour heard whispers about something to do with a delay to 4.30pm So yes we confirmed the rumor they were having technical difficulties an http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Oahu/blog-117994.html Ok today was my 24th birthday and I had a really nice day. As we couldnrsquot get to Alcatraz yesterday we went this morning. So caught the tram down to pier 33 and jumped on board the ferry to Alcatraz. Alcatraz is a small island situated about 2k's off San Fran and was used as a prison from 1930's to 1960's. We did a tour of the prison with a set of head phones on which was interesting as they http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-116892.html Wednesday 4th Jan we left Vegas at 9am got to airport 2 hrs early for flight at 11.30am. Didnrsquot take long to get through so alot of waiting around. Arrived in San Fran at 1pm and waiting another hour and a half for our luggage and to get to our hotel. We finally arrived at our hotel checked in and went for a walk.The hotel looked very fancy with statues and marble but when we got up to our http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-116612.html Last day in Vegas. Got up quite early this morning as we were jumping on the 7am bus to the airport to catch a plane to the Grand Canyon. We finally boarded our flight at 10am alot of sitting around and flew for an hour to Grand Canyon Airport in the state of Arizona. We arrived to see white snow beneath us.After been told to rug up with layers it wasnrsquot too bad after all and we just got http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-116371.html Today was a day of walking down the strip visiting all the casinos and seeing the things we havenrsquot seen yet. Also bought tickets to see a magic show and to see the Maddum Tussauds wax museum.The casinos we visited with a little comment for each were The Wynn very fancy and upper class. The Venetian nice place with gondolas out the front like Venice. Shopping area inside has a high roo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-115717.html Got up relatively early at 9.30 and headed to another factory outlet at the other end of the strip. Was not as good as yesterdays one just bought and extra suitcase to take home all the stuff we bought.So we lefty fairly early and decided to walk back down the strip to our hotel. We walked in a few more Casinos and had a look. Lots of cool stuff and free shows. Then we came across my favorite sho http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-115486.html Started the day today going to the Factory Outlet shopping center. Arrived at 11am. Omigod it was the best. Started at the Nike store and I just went crazy. It was great. Bought heaps got a pair of Nike Shox runners for 29 250 back home. I could of spent the night here. Anyway after a few glares from Benn we paid for our stuff and moved on. Bought a pair of Levi's for 24 and a few other od http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-115481.html Viva Las Vegas here we come Caught a plan at 11am from San Diego to Las Vegas. Arrived at 12pm and waited an hour and a half for our luggage to finally come of the luggage carousal. Jumped on our transfer to our Hotel Circus Circus. This was not like any other hotel it was massive. Like a big Crown casino. At our hotel is a massive casino amusement park restaurants night clubs theater show http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-115475.html Today we went to the World Famous San Diego Zoo. We started on a tour of the Zoo which took us around to each area. It was a big place with lots of types of animals and beautiful gardens. It is actually listed as botanical gardens. So we walked around and saw lots of animals. There were apparently 4000 animals there from 800 species. You would see a big but there would by 10 varieties and the s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Diego/blog-115473.html Wow Interesting day. Today was the day of the Holiday Bowl big Gridiron match for the holidays. Kinda like our old State of Origin. Benn tried for a few days and we finally got some tickets to go The game started at 5pm. It was a huge event everyone was talking about it. So the day started with a Balloon Parade in Downtown San Diego. So we headed down at 10am and sat and watched the parade. It http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Diego/blog-115464.html Today was our day out at San Diego Sea World. This day was also the coldest and windiest day we have come across. We were not prepared for it as it was a sunny day yesterday so we thought the same and wore thongs and a light weight jumper big mistake.Anyway so the day consisted of visiting the marine life of sea worlds some animals we had seen before in Gold Coast's Sea World and some we have not http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Diego/blog-115458.html Left Anaheim at 9am this morning and got on the transfer bus to San Diego got here bout 10.30am. Checked in our luggage and went out to explore San Diego. In the following days we will visit San Diego Zoo San Diego Sea World and go down to Tijuana Mexico. So today was a cruisy day looking around San Diego.We walked down to the local shopping centre Westfield I think yay. It was like southland http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Diego/blog-113945.html For your xmas and our xmas eve 24th Dec we went to Disneyland California Adventure Park. This is just across the road from Disneyland and is what we basically think a continuation of Disneyland which didnrsquot fit on the original land across the road which they can also charge for. So at this Disneyland we went on all the rides. Our favorites were the rocket or something which was like th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Anaheim/blog-113348.html Got up at 9 am today. We had a big catch up sleep and now feel heaps better. Wow Another long long day. Disneyland just never ends. Well basically there are two parks. Disneyland and Disneyland California Adventure. Today we went to Disneyland. We walked in at 10am and it was packed. Soo many people and kids and heaps of strollers. There was so much to do we didnrsquot know where to start. We f http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Anaheim/blog-113345.html