 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Lonely Planet Guides Fodor Guides Travel Guides Useful Australian Links Sydney Airport Qantas Useful LA Links Amtrak LA cam - The city |
Well, the headphones don't really work (I'm travelling Qantas) and I'm
worried about finding a bus on the correct route for my hotel but apart
from wondering how much that credit card call home cost I'm fine.
Sitting next to two Americans who spent 6 days in Australia. Can barely hear anyone due to the sound and vibration of the wing but I'm not too bothered. TV screen's currently playing an ITN news report and the radio ranges from classical to comedy. Looking forward to seeing Sleepless in Seattle and apparently they'll be playing lots of comedy programmes including Mr Bean! It was 3:30pm, well it's now 9:45pm. Los Angeles is several hours behind so it's bright outside and I can just make out the sea! Got to see Sleepless in Seattle which, even though I could only hear half of it, was pretty good. ('99 note. Wonder if I'll see 'You Have Mail' on the plane to the UK?) I knew I was on holiday when I looked out the window and, for a fleeting instant, thought I saw a different star system. Realization dawned that I would probably see the Milky Way and the moon upside down. Wow!!! We'd recently been handed a customs form and it looks like I'm going to have to pay another $300.00 just to bring my video camera into the USA. I hope I've misread it. Note: Ground Speed 952km/h 592 m/ph Height 11,280 m/32,000 feet, Outside
Air Temperature -50C, Distance from Departure 7467km Time to Destination
4:38.
These are the details that Qantas show you on the main screen so you
don't stop the air hostesses every few minutes to ask "Are we there yet?"
They let me into the Hyatt early! Room 1218. Currently 9pm after a couple
of hours sleep. Realized that this'll be my only chance to record LA downtown
and I missed it! (Most of the holiday I recorded on video and hope to post
screen grabs from it in the near future. I did get some night shots through
the window this way)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hadn't
misread the customs declaration. They hadn't supplied all the info. Nowhere
does it say 'leaving objects in the country'. So I was OK. Checked an info-computer
outside the airport which dials the transport number for you and prints
the details. Finally realized that I had to approach one of the van directors
who pointed out the van for me. Much fairer than sticking your hand up
for one. The van was $10 to Hyatt Regency and took about an hour, plus
$5 gratuity. (You can guess I wasn't sure what this tipping deal was. We
don't tip in Australia!)