I am visiting Los Angeles for a short visit to participate in the Los Angeles Film Festival taking place from yesterday through June 28, 2009. Arrived after flight from Houston on Continental Airlines. Arrived early at Terminal C, checked in quickly and checked one bag, $15.00 fee, then learned that my aircraft was at gate 3 in Terminal E. This is the new world of IAH, you check in on Continental then find that you are actually flying from E and have to walk 1/2 a mile to get from the security screening, then another hike to your gate. Be sure [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well I have done it. My tickets are finally purchased, for both the flight and the railpass. I can't believe it! I have been waiting to buy those ticket for so long. Now all I have to do is get the amazing camera, buy European plugs and pack... I cant wait for school to be out, this summer is going to be quite the adventure. :) [View Full Entry]

---

---

Up for an early breakfast and then downstairs right on time to meet the shuttle at 9:15 to take us to the airport to pick up our car. 9:35 and it still hadn't arrived, so we rang. "3 miles away" I as told. 9:45 and it still hadn't arrived. Talking to the girl at reception - she mentioned that they'd already been! At 9:15. We weren't there, so they left! No waiting. No calling the room. Just left. And we were there at 9:14 by our watch. Not impressed to say the least, we were advised that we could catch the [View Full Entry]

---

---

I mentioned in a previous email that I attended the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. I was not able to get any tickets ahead of time, and had given up any hope of attending. But I was able to find someone whose daughter worked for an Olympics hotshot in LA. I was able to get tickets for the Tennis at the new UCLA Tennis Center in Westwood, and the Boxing at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, in downtown LA. I passed on track and field since it centered on the decathlon only for that day. I was able to get [View Full Entry]

---

---

Just a test [View Full Entry]

---

---

So I'm officially leaving for the airport tonight. After trying to understand the Air China staff for about an hour, I'm pretty sure I have a confirmed seat. Katie set up our hostel and the best part is that I will be using their airport pick up service. Why am I telling you this? I am going to be greeted at the airport by a little Chinese dude holding a sign with my name on it. I mean, for those of you who understand my love for China/Chinese people, this is going to be amazing. I might pee my pants out [View Full Entry]

---

---

Throughout my 5 days in NY I was lucky enough not to have any of the predicted rain, it actually only started raining just as I was boarding my airport transfer, how lucky was I. However I wasn't lucky when the bogey man got me.. I don't know how I managed to catch a cold but I bought some strong cold and flu tablets and took the maximum dose just before boarding my 6 hour flight to LA which knocked me out completely...I didn't even get to have my flight meal.. not sure that that's such a big loss. Anyway, once [View Full Entry]

---

---

(I've added photos to the previous entry, which is probably more interesting that the photos here, so check those out first!) We set off on our four day tramp with the sun shining and a clear blue sky. After six hours of walking, half of it around a lake and half of it uphill, we arrived at Luxmoor Hut. I'm slow as Christmas going uphill, especially with 20 pounds or so on my back, so I was relieved to have reached our peak (1,085 metres) for the day. It's always a terrific feeling to see snow-capped mountains at eye level. The [View Full Entry]

---

---

The Travelodge I stayed in (Denise had already returned to London) was just round the corner from Westwood Village, not a quaint little village as we would understand it in Britain, but built-up, commercialised and with 6-lane highways running through it! Nevertheless it has a lot of character with palm tree-lined avenues, lots of little restaurants, and Mexican-influenced architecture. The houses in the residential sector are all unique, ranging from the small hacienda-style to mock classical collonaded mansions. There's a large Iranian community here, which surprised me (for no good r [View Full Entry]

---

---