New Zealand

In the Summer of 1998, on of my Kiwi e-mail friends made a visit to California. Unlike most Kiwis, he considers baseball a real sport right up there with rugby and cricket (???) and is a fan of the Phillies. The main purpose of the trip was to see the Phillies play. When he got home he sent me a report of his trip and it was such a neat report that I asked him if I could share it here - a New Zealand view of the U.S. October 9, 1998

Then in the Summer of 2003 he came back. And filed another report. This guy knows how to squeeze the joy out of every minute!

October 19, 1998

Hey hey......

Hows it all way up in the chilly side of the planet?? Heading to another winter once again?

Well, so much to tell.....My trip to LA was SOOO much fun. Apart from all the new stuff at Disneyland and Universal (only parks I went to), it was really HOT. Record temps for that time of year. Every day was around 110 or so. The parks had a few new things after not being there for 10 years, so they were great. And the crowd at Disneyland wasn't so bad. Longest wait was actually for the Matterhorn, and that was about 15 minutes. In fact as it got later, so of the rides I could get straight back on. But the wind came up about 9pm, so we didn't get any fireworks at 9.30. Pity, I loved them last time I was there.

Apart from that stuff, it was just shopping and shopping. The malls being so plentiful and so many of them it was terrific. Bought so many goodies, I went with 1 bag and came home with 3. I found a "Coke" shop next to Knotts Berry Farm, so I got some cool stuff there, and I ate so many hotdogs its a wonder I don't look like one.

We have over here what they call American Hotdogs, but they aint nothin like yours. And of course you get to put your own extras on all by yourself. Here they stick it on for you, and as you can imagine they aren't very generous. And naturally, every time you eat, you just have to have the LARGE coke, and the FREE refills...we don't get cokes that big, or the free refills down here either.

So I spent a lot of time eating, and the portions you get are all so big, no wonder everyone gets a "doggy bag" to take home. I had Oreos galore (and fudge covered ones too, I found at the store), Klondikes, icecream sandwiches (no, we don't even have those), and the 7 11 next to us at Santa Monica DID have Ding Dongs, but only in a pack of 2. They also had something called Baseballs, but I didn't try those. Dr Pepper I didn't like, and Minute Maid orange wasn't too hot.

We went to Venice Beach, and it was a HOLE....yuck, couldn't get away from there fast enough. It has a mystical name worldwide - if only we knew it was just full of winos and homeless (and nearly every cop in LA!!!)

My "internet" friend (same as you) from LA, Mary, took us out one night to Long Beach to a steakhouse. Fabulous, HUGE steaks...I bought a souvenir steak knife, and hope it wouldn't get caught in a metal detector at the airport, but it was fine. A great knife, really sharp. And then the next night, she took me to Dodger Stadium, to see the Phils and the Dodgers. I'm sure you can imagine how exciting that was for me. It was the absolute high point of the holiday. Actually going to a MLB game. WOW. Sorry to say the Phils lost 2-3, but they did hit 2 homers. Now I see homers nearly every time I watch a game on TV, but when you are there and see just how far they have to hit it, it really shows what a feat Big Mac and Sosa did this year. We watched the record breaker on TV at Anaheim, and then he got to 70. I know a lot of people are unhappy that he uses the drugs, but at least he's open about it. I know that it doesn't make it right in any way. It is strange watching a live game without the commentators though, and having to figure out what's is going on. During one play I thought they got a double play, but after some running about and arm waving, everyone was safe. I have no idea what went on in that play. And am I dying to get back and see another game?? You better believe it. I think if I was there, I'd be a REAL fan, and go to loads of games.

What else can I say. You have a great country. So much to see and do, every day another adventure. I guess that's just the tourist point of view. Different when you are there to live and work everyday, but I love it. You can buy what you want when you want, in the color of your choice. Here it'll be in next week. You have THX movie theaters (saw Saving Private Ryan in THX), although we may get one in the new complex they are building. Pity it wont be ready in time for Star Wars 1 next year.....if I had planned my trip better, and come next year, I could've seen that too. But the place is just so big. It takes so long to get from one place to another, just around LA (Hollywood to Anaheim), without a car is just a nightmare, and you cant really do it. Buena Park was great, so many things in a smallish area, and Santa Monica/Century City was more malls and main roads. But my brother and I had fun, and I hope to maybe get back in about 5 or 6 years this time, 12 years was a bit too long. The fun parks entice you back with news of all the new rides they are building.

High points....Baseball game, Jurrasic Park ride at Universal, Star Tours/Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland......and then the shopping.

Well, congratulations for making it this far. I have told a short version of what we got up to. I cant wait to do it again. Nearly World Series time again, for another year, cant wait for next season.

And that's me, I'm all storied out.....

Bye
Mikey
NZ

ps...This time, when I write to Coke to have them send the stuff to me, I'm going to send them one of ours. They tell me they are all the same. I say CRAP, and I will prove it. Ours is MUCH sweeter, and not as bubbly. Even "not real" coke drinkers down here can taste the difference. I brought back 2 dozen cans you see. People think I'm mad, but you just cant get enough of that Classic Coca Cola, believe me.

Travel Report USA Trip Aug/Sept 2003

It's hard to believe it's been 5 years since the last trip, but time sure does fly.

Anyway, I wanted to go further this time around, so I headed off to New York first, and stayed at a hotel across from Madison Square Gardens, on 33rd street, Midtown Manhattan. I thought I'd seen a lot of people before in my time, but not as many as I saw between Midtown and Central Park. Every street was packed with people day and night, and up to Times Square, and it was people times 10!! All the buildings covered in billboards, TV screens and tickers flying past, added to the traffic noise and the people, its sure one busy place.

I was 14 floors up in my hotel, but the noise was so loud, it was like it was all happening right outside my window. I discovered a few things in NYC. One is that pizza is better in NYC. Another is that a nanosecond is a measure of time, but not a scientific measure, instead it's the time between a traffic light changing to green and a New Yorker honking his car horn, at another car who cant turn because the pedestrians are crossing. No one on this planet honks that horn like a New Yorker, and you have to wonder why they do it, as everyone just ignores it anyway.

I walked up to Central Park (33rd Street to about 80th Street), and about halfway through the park, up to the fountain and first lake area. It's so different in the park, with all New York around it, and so quiet in it. There was hardly anyone there. I went to the American Museum of Natural History, which was a great place to see. So many different areas, and the planetarium, dinosaurs, American history and so on. Coming out around 81st street, where Seinfeld lived, it was again so different from Midtown. A lot quieter, but still tall buildings everywhere. I guess with a small area and huge population, you can only build upwards.

The trip out to Shea Stadium in Queens to the baseball (Mets/Phillies) on the subway was a bit confusing at first. My first subway ride, its not really that clear which direction the train is going to us outsiders. Finding the 7 Train was easy, but was it going to or coming from Shea was a bit of a guess. But I guessed right, and getting on at 42nd street, passing Grand Central I knew I was OK. The train was pretty full for a Sunday mid-morning, but the US Open Tennis was also on, so there were a lot of people heading out that way.

I did like Shea Stadium, and the weather was good, and Phillies won, so that was also good. Thome hit a home run in the first, and Phils never lost the lead.

Next day was Macys and Empire State Building. A day at Macys disappears quickly, and an afternoon trip to the ESB meant I was up there as it got dark to see the night view. Pity the fog came in, but it was still a must do. Then the rain came, and didn't let up through the rest of NYC and Philadelphia. So I had to visit Lady Liberty in the rain and wind. A few tourists didn't seem to enjoy the rough harbor crossing to get there. The X-ray and metal detector to get on board was quick.

Actually, the security around was noticeable at monuments and airports, but there weren't any delays, or at least not long ones. And I was happy with the extra checks, as you knew we all had to go through them. Not a lot to see at Ground Zero now, but it is something you have to see. They are getting close to rebuilding something there, although there is still some debate going on, as to what should be there.

Shopping everywhere in NYC, and its somewhere I'll be back to on my next trip. I wanted to go around SoHo and Greenwich, but it just rained and rained. Oh well, next time..

Train down to Philly. At 17 dollars, it was sure the way to go. Had to make one change at Trenton NJ, but the next train was waiting, so it was off and on. A nice relaxing couple of hours.

Trying not to upset anyone, there wasn't a lot to see in Philly. Maybe if I knew more about the place there could be more. I went to the Liberty Bell, and the historic Area, but again, wandering around in the rain wasn't much fun. But I was there for the home game at the Vet, which Phillies also won against the Mets 6-5. Of course I had to buy the jacket, the jerseys, the t-shirts etc etc...I could easily have bought much much more too!!!

2 days there, then off to LA. First week in Ontario, which was a great rest after NYC and before all the theme parks. Some great shopping, great weather, and Dennys in the carpark, with the 4.99 breakfasts!! What more could you want....well, down to Buena Park, and a ticket to Magic Mountain, that's what!!!

Its taken me 3 trips to LA, but I finally got to Six Flags Magic Mountain at Valencia. WHAT A DAY, WHAT A PLACE. If you're a roller coaster fan, you just have to go there. Goliath, Superman, Batman, Riddler, Scream.the list goes on. I managed to ride every ride that was open, until you couldn't ride anymore. A 2 hour bus ride there, and same back again, but it was so much fun. Our driver told me that there was an overseas couple he took there for 5 days straight, a month or so previously, they liked it so much, they went every day! Had it been open more, and not just Fri-Sat-Sun, and I was there for another week, I'd have gone back. It was a long long day, but just so much fun. I hear there's a bigger and better roller coaster park in Ohio, but Magic Mountain sure did it for me.

Next day was Knotts Berry Farm. Again, a first for me, and the rides there are pretty cool too. I was a bit bummed that the Ghostrider wooden roller coaster wasn't going. The huge wooden roller coaster was being built when I was there 5 years ago, and I wanted to go on it.but again.next time perhaps. There were plenty of other rides to go on all day, and I have to say, that the Diner next to Xcelerator had the best double cheeseburgers I have every eaten, anywhere. Had I been able to eat a second, I would've, but there wasn't much room after one and the fries. The following days at Universal and Disneyland were the icing on the cake, but having been before I wanted to do the new parks first. 5 theme parks in 7 days is pretty tiring, but I got through them all, ate all the food, bought all the souvenirs, rode all the rides, and just had so much fun for nearly 4 weeks, I cant wait until my next trip.

Once again, there are new rides under construction, and more adventures to be had in another 5 years perhaps. Phillies missed the Wildcard by 5 games, so they came close but couldn't hold on. A new stadium next year, and this years inspiration, so maybe a Pennant or more next year.

Yankees and Braves once again this year? Or perhaps it's the Cubs this time round...isn't it about time they had a win...

Well, that gives you some idea of what I got up to. There's so much more, I could go on for pages, but you get the idea. For me, there's only one place to go for a holiday, and I'll be back and back as long as I can afford it.

Some people like to laze on beaches, but for me its shops, skyscrapers and fun parks. All action and all fun, and planning to begin soon for the next.

Bye for now

Mike NZ

Below the southern tip of New Zealand is an enchanting island and on this island is this telephone on a tree...

Got a New Zealand story to share? I'd love to hear from you! me@susandennis.com.

New Zealand!

One of my favorite places in all the world