US Trip - Part 3: LA, San Diego, Mexico

After Disneyland, the next part of my trip was to LA.  I was staying at UCLA as I was spending a few days doing some PhD research.  The campus is really nice and the houses in the surrounding streets were gorgeous (I don't think I want to know the prices!). 

I had decided just before I left Anaheim to book an overnight trip to San Diego, as lot and lots of people were telling me to go.

I arrived in LA on Thursday, and went to Santa Monica that night.

Friday late afternoon (after spending a day in a library - I sure know how to enjoy my vacations!) I took the Amtrak to San Diego.  It was actually a really nice trip down as you got to see a lot of Coastline.  I stayed at the US Grant in San Diego, more extravagant than where I would usually stay (as I take the attitude that why pay for a 5-star hotel unless you are going to be spending your holiday at the hotel!) but as it was only for one night decided to treat myself.  (It was also close enough to the train station to walk).  It was VERY nice, but realistically, all I did was sleep there!   

On the Saturday I had booked on a day trip where you spent the morning see highlights of San Diego (including a harbour cruise) and the afternoon in Tijuana, Mexico.  I'm glad I went to Mexico, partly for the novelty of "we are driving into a different country" which obviously you don't get to do in Australia, but honestly, I'm glad I only had a few hours there.  Keep in mind my observations are only based on a couple of streets in Tijuana, and I've heard that some other parts of Mexico are beautiful.  But honestly, in Tijuana you just have blocks and blocks of store owners harassing you to buy things, sometimes children, and it can get quite disheartening.   I really enjoyed San Diego though and wish I had had some more time there.  But Saturday night it was back to LA. The trip back (on the Amtrak) was not as pleasant as the trip down.  It was night so you don't see much, and there were quite a few rather loud tipsy passengers on board.  I was glad to finally get back to UCLA. 

 

USS Midway

Sea Lions seen from San Diego Harbour Cruise

The rest of my time in LA was spent between UCLA and seeing some of the "must-see" sights.  I visited Griffith Observatory where you get a great view of the Hollywood sign (and you can weigh yourself on different planets - on Mercury I'm less than 50 pounds - how is that for instant weight loss!), as well at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Graumann's Chinese Theatre, and Rodeo Drive.

You can't really see it - but the Hollywood sign is in the background somewhere!

My brother met me in LA as we were going to Vegas together.

I'm a Star Trek fan (as you will see shortly from my posts about Vegas!)

I did also go Universal Studios, where I had planned to spend a full day, but honestly, I just wasn't enjoying it as much as I thought (I'll explain why in a second) so I left in the afternoon.

It was still fun, and the Studio Tour was very interesting.

Houses from Desperate Housewives - seen on Studio Tour

Part of set from War of the Worlds

Bates Motel from Psycho

JAWS!

I also really enjoyed the Water World show.

The main problem for me was that a lot of the rides have the potential to cause motion sickness, which (although a lot better than I was a child), I still suffer from.  (E.G. The Simpsons Ride caused me to feel a bit green!)  I did enjoy the Jurassic Park ride (similar concept to Splash Mountain) but YOU WILL GET WET! 

And of course, I couldn't go without getting my photo taken with quite a few characters. 

Overall thoughts / tips for LA:

• Traffic is awful, no matter what time of day.  If you are getting taxis they won't be cheap because of this. Generally, you will also need to call for one.   
• Buses aren't as bad as people make them out to be.  Most times I caught them, just make use of the trip planner online (http://www.metro.net/).  However, just like Sydney, they aren't always reliable.  I was pleasantly surprised most of the time, but my first night when I was trying to get back from Santa Monica, I did wait over 45 minutes for a bus that was meant to come every 15 minutes. 
• Food is generally cheap, but prices do not include sales tax or tips.  (And on the topic of non-restaurant food - It was a joy to eat bananas every day - $0.69 a pound from the grocery store).
• CVS is a huge pharmacy and a lot of them have quite a large grocery selection as well.  There is one near the Chinese Theatre.
• If you want to avoid queues at Universal, buy a Front of Line Pass.  Even though I didn't spend a full day there, I'm glad I had one - otherwise, particularly in summer, it is VERY doubtful you will be able to see everything in one day.

US Trip Part 2 - Disneyland

(I apologise in advance for this being an Image heavy post!)

Continuing on from my post about California Adventure Land, the next part of my trip was the "real" Disneyland. What can you say apart from "magic"?

I met all the characters I wanted to (and yes, I did queue up for photos will all of them!)  

 

My favourite ride was probably Splash Mountain - usually long queues (although Fast Passes are available - meaning you get a ticket to come back at a later time but avoid the queue).  However, it has a Single Rider line which means if you are on your own (or your group is willing to split up) you will probably only be waiting a few minutes (because there is often 1 sit left in the little boat you are in).  

The current parade is "Soundsational" - each day at 4:00pm and 6:30pm, and it was really enjoyable.

I didn't stay at a Disneyland hotel, but most of the hotels in Anaheim are directly across the road so an easy walk.  I stayed at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott.  Much nicer than I was expecting and I would definitely consider staying their again.  And if you are there like I was, to see Disneyland, you won't be spending much time in your room!  It may have been because it was summer, but California Adventure Park was open from 10am - 10pm and Disneyland was open from 8am - midnight.  (The benefit of staying in a nearby hotel is that you can take a break during the day to have a nap or freshen up).

Overall, I loved loved loved Disneyland as I knew I would.  My next Disney adventure might be to Disneyworld which is much bigger, as one of my long-term goals being to run the Disney marathon (which happens in January each year at Disneyworld).  So it probably won't be for a couple of years, but loving Disney so much will certainly give me some extra motivation!



US Trip Part 1 - California Adventure Park

Recently I was away for 3 weeks on my first ever trip to the US.  I took almost 1,800 photos, and although I certainly won't post them all, I will make a few different posts about my trip.  I have been meaning to write these posts for ages, but life has been very busy since I got back! 

After flying into LA (after a 4 hour delay in Sydney due to Sydney International Airport losing power!) I went straight to Anaheim for what else by Disneyland!  I have been to Hong Kong Disneyland before (and was rather dissapointed) and Tokyo Disney (which I loved).  But I have been wanting to go to the "real" Disneyland since I was about 4 - ever since I knew there was one.

I had purchased a 3-day pass while I was still in Australia, and I did spend 3 days there.  You can certainly see a lot in 1-day, but it really isn't enough, particularly if you have kids with you (I was on my own).  Disneyland in Anaheim has two parks - California Adventure Park and Disneyland.  I spent 1 day in California Adventure Park and 2 in Disneyland, although with the pass I have I was able to swap between them. 

California Advenure Park is always quieter than Disneyland, and there are still Disney characters floating around, just not as many. 

Some thoughts/hints/highlights:

• I loved the Grizzly Falls Ride, but either do it just before leaving the park, or take a rain poncho, or buy one at the store near the ride (although they are overpriced).  I got drenched, and it had been my first ride of the day!  
• The live action Aladdin show is well worth watching, the actor who played the Genie when I saw it was hilarious.

• Since June this year, there has been a night-time show at California Advenutre Park called World of Color, which was wonderful.  There is no seating available, it is all standing, and to get access to the "preferred" standing area, you have a few options: either get a Fastpass that will give you access(available near Grizzly Falls) - you will need to do this in the morning as they will run out; buy a "picnic" lunch that you can collect during the day and you will get a preferred area ticket; have dinner at eitehr Ariel's Grotto of the restaurants (you will need to make a reservation).  I went for the last option, and went to Ariel's Grotto.  It was more expensive than I usually like to pay for dinner while I'm on holidays.  As I've been travelling on my own, I tend to go low-key and will often try to find a supermarket to stock up on things.  But in my mind, it was worth it because of the show, and the food was really nice.  The desert was a "desert plate", which was meant to be shared, but as I was on my own it was all for me.  There was no possible way I was eating all of it (pic below), but the waitress kindly boxed most of it up for me to take-away, and I had a fridge in my hotel.

Overall, it was a great "first day" in the US (since it was my first full day), and the Park is really pretty at night when you look across at Paradise Pier and the Ferris Wheel.



12WBT Pre-season task 5 - Say it out loud

Pre-season task 5 is about making a commitment to yourself, and to others by voicing your goals.

So.... here goes:

My commitment is to lose 8kg and 25cm by the end of the 12WBT, as well as being able to run 5km. 

In order to achieve this I will stick to my allocated calories each day and train 6 days a week.

12WBT Preseason task 4 - Gear Up

Pre-season Task 4 is all about working out where you will train and making sure you have the right gear.

Where I train

I train at the gym, but will occasionally mix it up with some outdoor walks.  I belong to Fitness First and go to two different ones, just depending on what classes are on.  However, I do want to make sure I'm doing my own cardio as well as classes.

My training gear

Sneakers: This is one piece of exercise equipment I'm willing to spend decent money on.  Years ago, I said to my trainer at the time, I can't even walk on the treadmill for 5 minutes without my legs hurting.  Now, I was overweight and not very fit at the time, but that was ridiculous.  She took one look at the shoes I was wearing and said she wasn't surprised.  (Who knew that $20 sneakers from Target weren't exactly good quality athletic shoes!?!)  Since then, I have always paid out to buy a quality brand like ASICS or Nike.  I was recently in America on holidays, and splurged on 3 pairs of sneakers at the Nike factory outlet.  I wouldn't usually buy 3 pairs of sneakers at once, but considering I bought all three for $165US (and I had exchanged money when the Aussie dollar was at it's peak), I couldn't resist. 

Clothing: I am not fussed when it comes to exercise clothes.  I am pretty much a bike shorts and t-shirt girl at the gym, and have found K-mart great for cheap shirts. 

Heart rate monitor: I own a fairly basic Polar heart rate monitor - but it does the job.  Shows heart rate / calories burnt, which is basically all I am looking for at the moment

Ipod: I use my Iphone for music and I also have the Couch 2 5KM (C25K) app on it