Saturday: What a beautiful day!

Mike, Natalie, Me and my friend, Denis at the hockey game



View from our seats



New part of washington D.C - beautiful buildings surrounded, which I like



Air and Space Museum



Me at the washington Momument

it was a very beautiful day on saturday in Washington D.C, I started the day with pancakes, bacon and berry sauce for breakfast, the meyer family was supposed to take kids to basketball today but due to the kids injury - they are not playing today so Tanya, Greg, their daughter Allison and I went to the mall, went for a walk around checking out museums, we checked out the American history museum which was interesting, (photos not allowed) Since 9/11 the high security has been an proirty in every museum to ensure everyone's in safe hands, it was different back in 1999.

We also checked out the ice rink as well. Then we all went over to the washington Momument, which was under construction in '99 - where I finally made it there today, and it is so tall, which you could tell by the photo. Then we went to the small scultpure garden on the way to air and space museum, some old things remain there but some new additions has been sought, still interesting. WHen Tanya and Allison had to go home, Greg and I went for a walk in the nearby neighbourhood, which is a new area with beautiful buildings which are new ones - no wonder I like the american style buildings especially the american style built homes - I see it everywhere and everyone has massive houses, not one small houses in sight, like we see these days in Australia -- ohhh of course, just here and there, like my friend Denis = who I met up at the hockey game with the family lives in a nice apartment.

Me and my friend Denis along with the family went to watch the Caps vs The Phoniex team at the verion center - it was awesome game, but soo loud where all these cheering screams echoes across the staduim, where the vibration was felt.

Denis and I went to Maryland, which a party was hosted but unfortunately wasn't a good one, so we left apparently, and had dinner at a nearby diner, it was nice and then we both went home to Denis's place and watched amovie instead - which is defiance, wasn't finished - slept at 2am, and woke up late, we had early lunch at a localized mexican resturant - chipotle - it was nice.

We both went to the new museum called NEWSEUM which was established in 2007 - it was insteresting especially the 9/11 exbihit which was very sad and moving, I saw the antenna piece which is very badly damaged is displayed there - wow.


Then i was dropped to the nearby metro where i caught the metro back home to the meyer residence, i got ready and then we all family had dinner at the noll residence it was very nice and then I gave them the presents, which from the clarke family and I has gotten, they loved it.

There is plenty of photos, but they will be uploaded on facebook on my return to Australia so be patient - only 5 pictures per blog is permitted.

Tomorrow, paying a visit to the Gallaudet University - the only liberal arts deaf university in the United States of America.

Photos!

Me with fellow Vancouvers



My friend Kaelei and me



Chrissy, Kaelei and Me (Apologies for the photo)

Apologises for the delay - been out and about and haven't been near the netbook in a while but right now it is 11pm, better update or I'll be in trouble from my family and friends! Sorry please enjoy the photos from final night in Portland - more coming for Saturday in the next blog coming up.

Enjoy

Two days in one

Thursday was another day at Fuller Coffee shop for breakfast - I had french toast. I caught the light train to Washington Park, where I visited the Discovery Museum - all about the forestery. It was not too bad, then I visited the Oregon Zoo, unfortunately there was only few animals on exhibit.

I had lunch at Mcdonald's late at the time, unfortunately didnt like the taste, so I decided not to eat mcdonalds here in America - Australia's mcdonald's is better. Sorry guys!

I asked the lobby staff to haul me a cab, which they did - I was heading for Vancouver, which My friend Kaelei invited me to go and watch the ASL comedy show, I was dropped at the wrong school, which I had to wait 30 minutes for another cab, ARRGGH (I find cab service annoying!) but managed to arrive at Heritage High School - where the ASL show was hosted, and when I arrived I met up with Kaelei and went inside and to my surprise it was Keith Wann - the famous CODA comedian in the american deaf community and his funny stories are hilarous - it was good to watch the show. Even afterwards, I met Kaelei's friends and other friend of mine - Christina, eventually friends there I met were awesome and very friendly and i appericate their time to come at this time to meet and have some good time - which we all did, and we all wished that I stayed in Portland a little longer, on the other good side, I plan to come back and visit them again real soon - they are great friends. :)

I managed to stay up at my hotel until 3.30 am, while cleaning up and packing up, i was informed by another friend about my flight to PHX which unfortunately was cancelled - I called them via Video Relay Serivce on my videophone ----- was a little pissed with the unfortunate news. Sue Murray was generous enough to drive me to the airport, I was rather tired, and we arrived and asked to see whats up with my flights, fortunately, they put me on the next direct flight - free of charge, which was good 5 hour flight - I slept through mostly of the flight, and I arrived in washington D.C at 3:#0pm from 7.40am flight from Portland - (thanks sue for the help!)

My mother's friend the twins, collected me at the IAD (Washington Dulles International) and settled in at the Meyers residence. One of them said that tanya's friend with her daugther who knows ASL well came tonight - and we chatted it was nice to meet a ASL student

To be honest I was a little sad that I left Portland, I just wished I stayed there just a wee little longer but next time is definite. Photos will be up on blog tomorrow.

I am very tired after being up for more than 16 hours.

Need all the enegry after a good sleep

Good night.

Blog will be updated following tomorrow.

What a nice clean city!

Me and friends at Old Spaghetti Factory

Me, Jessica and Melissa - some of my alldeaf.com friends. :)

Dinner at Murray Residence

My hotel - Hotel Fifty on SW Morrison St, in portland downtown

Today was the first full day in America after arriving from Australia - I went to Fuller's Coffee Shop on NW 9th Ave, had Blueberry Pancakes, woah - two LARGE pancakes, and I managed to eat it all following with a large orange juice! It was only $9.25 and yes, of course I tipped in the end.

I went for a good walk around downtown, exploring what downtown is like, it is absolutely a nice clean city, Starbucks was everywhere of course. I managed to get a White Chocolate Mocha this morning before breakfast. I wanted to go and find safeway which is similar to woolworths in Australia so I can get cologne and shaver so I can shave my beard - which is now clean and tidy along with my goatee.

I rested for the afternoon due that I was tired but I managed to recover, I went and called in a cab, which took me to the Old Spaghetti Factory which is only 5 - 8 min drive from my hotel. Where I had dinner with my new deaf friends - the dinner was nice, but meeting friends was the best part - I met Melissa, Jessica, Elva, Daniel and Kaitlinh. The cab fare was only $8.50 so I paid the cab driver $10, and told him to keep the change.

After the dinner, and continuous chatting in rapid ASL - I was totally blended in and this took me by surprise that all of them are in the same age group as I! Makes me feel like home. People here included the deaf friends of mine are VERY friendly. We all went over to my hotel where we continued to chat, but unfortunately they had to go home due to one of my friend who has a 4 month old daughter but we wished we could remained a little longer but there is always another time!

Photos below - enjoy! I'll blog more tomorrow.

Ahhh...just in time!

I woke up at 5am in the morning, and my father took me to the Canberra Airport which I flew to Sydney....I had about 5 hours waiting before I could board the flight, when I arrived, I was looking for my check in gate, unfortunately I crashed into a young lady by accident, which obviously was my fault - I should have watched where I was going! (Yes, I apologized)

I left Sydney Australia at 2.40pm as expected and the flight was not too bad, I was on the window seat and mostly enjoyed the beautiful views of the sunset and the sunrise during the 14 hour long flight, astounding! Oh yes, I snapped a picture or two of them, and it is in my camera, will be uploaded later on. The meals on the flight was nice except the breakfast which was worse, only that I ate yogurt, juice and croissant!

I arrived in Los Angeles, apparently 30 minutes early - and ended up in a long queue in the customs, I thought to myself, I'd miss my domestic flight to Portland. Fortunately, I was directed to a short line and I went through the passport customs and went through with flying colors. I declared the chocolates I have in the baggage, and they didn't need me to show so I went ahead into Los Angeles... then I almost got lost at the airport, but with help of directions from TSA staff, I was back on track, went to terminal 3, and checked myself in - just in time! I was asked to pay $15 for my baggage but was given back when they realized I was from Sydney, which to my surprise fee doesn't effect me as you are from an international flight ( Thanks Sue for explaining more!)

I was tired on the flight to Portland, so I managed a shut eye and two. I finally arrived, got my bag and caught the red max line light rail to my hotel, it was easy than I thought, I got off at Morrison/southwest 3rd ave which my hotel is just short distance away, so it is only a minute's walk. Fantastic!

Checked in, my room looked quite small but extremely comfortable I must say. I got the sidekick 3 and the charger as expected by mail, from my friends (thanks Andy and Craig!)

I got many texts from my friends through the night and I was out at Sue Murray's place for dinner - Tim, Bron and kids picked me up at the hotel and we all caught the light rail to Washington Park/Oregon Zoo where Mr Murray picked up in minivan to their place.

Sue Murray - I instantly recongised her and now remember that I have met her before, it was when I was a kid. No wonder there is something wrong with my memory. Oops. Thanks to the Murray family for the dinner, appericate it! It was lovely to see my relatives while they were in Portland, they are heading out to Hawaii tomorrow before they head back to Sydney

Now, they have just dropped me home, the bed sure looked good to me. Best off to bed, got a big day tomorrow of exploring!

All set ...but not packed!

It is only 5.5 days left...and I am due to be in Sydney for the international flight on tuesday morning next week. The waiting game is ..almost over... just almost!

Everything I have prepared for the trip such as documents for flights, hotels and other reasonable documents are all in a folder ready for the trip.

I am looking forward to see my friends when I arrive in America and that is going to be the beginning of the fun vacation!

What is going to happen when I arrive, I will be in Los Angeles briefly to process through the usual customs and all - then head over to the domestic terminal to catch my domestic flight to Portland - I hope to manage it all in the end. I hope to be expected at Portland International Airport by a friend on arrival. I will be staying at Hotel Fifty in downtown Portland where I will be staying for three nights.

Then a 5.30am flight via connecting flight from phoneix to Washington D.C where I will be staying for 5 nights at my parents friend's place - will visit Gallaudet University on the 25th.

Upon the trip to New York City, will catch the Amtrak train with a friend of mine from Florida at 7.25am which I will be staying at The Pod Hotel in NYC for 5 nights.... and then back to L.A for overnight stay before I head back to Sydney.

Watch out for the next blog, cause that's when I start blogging!

Until then, folks.

Taking care of things...

Well, from tomorrow, it is only two weeks left before I head out to U.S

the news is that I was concerned how to travel properly to get myself to Sydney International Airport, apparently, I live 3 hours away - was considered to drive up but in the end, my father purchased me a return flight to Sydney (to save my hassle) as one of the christmas presents - also my parents got me $500 to top up on my spending fund, which is good. I have excanged the $600 for $511 US Bills which I did last monday.

today, I have been engaging in a discussion with a friend of mine from Florida, about the mini trip to New York City from Washington D.C which has been an issue for sometime in the past - fortunately, it has been solved today. It was the original plan that my friend were going to drive me to NYC on his way from Florida, but in the end, his two friends who volunteered to be driving partners with him has dropped out.

In the end, the solution was that he flies to D.C and catches the train with me to NYC, the tickets has been bought and we're set for the trip! We leave D.C at 7.25am which would be a 3+ hour ride. Not bad, not bad.

Other than that, the other travel documents has been organised, and printed. It is sitting on my office desk waiting to be dealt with the TSA authorities once landing in Los Angeles.

On the weekend prior to departure, I'll be packing the luggage and getting ready for the 14 hour long flight from Sydney.

Keep an eye for the next update, folks.