The Nintendo DS Lite appears to be the only one of my many rechargeable gadgets whose charger is NOT dual-voltage. This means a simple plug adapter won't cut it... a step-down transformer is necessary to prevent DS fryage. Step-down transformers are almost literally bricks to carry around. They suck. And for one appliance? Some posters in online fora say that buying the European adapter from Nintendo works absolutely fine for charging a US DS Lite, but Nintendo's support website actually says you'd be better off buying a whole 'nother DS Lite game console in Europe. I can see where Nintendo might [View Full Entry]

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Updates to the tool* report: * Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS * Nintendo DS (borrowed) * BUILT NY neoprene Electric Pocket #8 (stripe) for camera * BUILT NY neoprene charger caddy (stripe) * Bunch of lightweight shirts & a cardigan * Ziploc bags Still considering acquisition of Eagle Creek packing cubes. Still developing toiletries plan. Hey, cool: -- * Hmm, is that "tools I'm buying for trip", or "stuff I'm buying that proves I'm a tool"? [View Full Entry]

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Oh que agotador...! Comienza el día y es hora de volver a ponerse en marcha, despedir a los viejos aventureros y encontrarnos con algún que otro “nuevo loco”…desayunamos en el café al que hemos ido durante los últimos días, y como despedida engullimos huevos, bacon y tostadas, todo cubierto de una espesa capa de mantequilla grasienta (la misma de la que se deben alimentar las ballenas grises para no pasar frío). Despido a Kamo, Jorge y a Tofino (esto último es un lugar y los anteriores son personas, por si no había quedado claro anteriormente) con un sol espléndido y una [View Full Entry]

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In ten days, I embark on my second epic tour of Europe: Deutschland, Czechia, 500 meters' worth of France, and perhaps 45 minutes of Austria. Three years ago, I visited an old friend and made several new friends. Now, my 8-year-old goddaughter and I will connect with all those old-new friends and will meet a high school classmate of my mother's as well. My friend's kids are older, so it'll be great to catch up with them and get to know them all over again. We're also taking my friend's daughter with us to Berlin. Sole guardian of two other-people's-kids, one [View Full Entry]

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No, I don't really hate USA, just all those tee shirts that say "I love USA" or "I love NYC." Anyway, it's been ages since the last update and this isn't going to be much of an update either. Just to say that I'm now in the USA and about to finish a 16,000km (10,000ml) trip by train and bus then returning to UK this weekend. I'll catch up with all the stories of the NZ/USA parts of the trip once I'm back, plus add lots of pics. All for now as I have to get the train from Seattle to [View Full Entry]

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--About one month and counting down-- Still in Seattle, USA. Counting down the days until my first trip to Europe. One month and counting. This blog will be updated constantly to share my European travel experiences with friends and family. Please comment when you can. All comments will be appreciated! [View Full Entry]

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After a horrible exam at the Lasik guy up in Seattle (they mistook me for another person once, asked me why I wanted to maybe get lasik twice (already got lasik suckers), and tried to get me too early for my eye dilation) I came to really appreciate Dr. Assil’s office in LA. What would have taken them 10mins at Assil’s, took a good 2 hours at the place in Seattle. Out of that 2 hours I would guess I was in the waiting room 1.5 hours, and saw the actual doctor for 5mins. Can’t wait to get that bill! Drew [View Full Entry]

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After spending nearly 4 months in Argentina, I'm back in Seattle. It's good to be home, but it was hard to leave. I made some really good friends during my stay, learned a ton of Spanish and took my tango to a new level. Here are a few pictures of my last few days in Bs.As. and of my first few days at home. [View Full Entry]

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Tim: Everything is sweeter when you are relaxed, you taste the air you breathe, you hear the words clearly of the music you are listening too and conversations are easier to hold. Well that is how I feel today. We have been here for 3 nights and spent 3 days here in Seattle. I have not gone crazy on you so dont worry! This place is just amazing, yeah tall buildings are all very well and nice enough to look at, I know that It must have taken a lot of effort to make them etc...but..nothing compares to what mother nature [View Full Entry]

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Tom: Seattle is home to some of the most popular coffee chains in the US, so it seemed only right to start the day with some "local" fare, and boy were we glad we did. Seattles Best Coffee certainly didn't disappoint. So fueled up we set off to sort out our car hire for our drive down the west coast, seeing as it's going to be 1000 miles we've decided to treat ourselves :). That settled we grabbed some seafood fresh from the port for lunch before we took a tourist tour of Seattles underground. Seattle burned down in about 1890 [View Full Entry]

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