Sydney

Know Your Sydney Suburbs, Part One

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Credit has to go to my former room-mate, Stephanie for the idea for this article. After having lived in Sydney for two years and barely scraping the surface of the diverse city, I wanted a way to point people in the direction of its lesser known highlights. Steph suggested I put together a run-down of the different regions/suburbs and highlight what made them special.

While it’s true there’s no shortage of accommodation in Sydney at its heart, these fringe areas are not without their own charms. And you’ll often find cheaper accommodation there as well.

Know Your Sydney Suburbs

The Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Opera House. Bondi Beach. Darling Harbour. The Blue Mountains.

While it’s true that the majority of visitors to Sydney come to see the above Sydney  icons, to say Sydney begins and ends with them is to grossly short change yourself.

Sydney is Australia’s largest and most diverse city, and a short drive  can take  you from a bustling modern metropolis to an idyllic garden suburb with a brief stop for lunch in one of the many ethnic clusterings  in which Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Lebanese, Portuguese, Chinese, and Korean communities have added a little of their culture to a Sydney suburb.

Knowing your Sydney suburbs can turn your visit to Australia’s premier city from a  memorable tour of popular tourist spots to a truly unforgettable cultural experience featuring everything from sports to delicious food to arts & crafts to stunning natural scenery.  The sprawling city  offers  far more than just a few crowded tourist traps.

Sydney CBD

The most recognizable  part of Sydney is almost certainly its bustling CBD (Central Business District) where  skyscrapers soar  overhead while buskers  wow crowds down below.

Located close to the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, and some of Sydney’s  best shopping – the CBD is the thriving heart of Australia’s most modern city.

In the CBD you’ll find no shortage of places to eat or shop. From upmarket boutiques in the gorgeous Queen Victoria Building (known to locals as thee QVB)  or The Strand, to outlets  and retailers in Pitt Street Mall: the areas around train stations such as Town Hall, Wynyard, St James, and Martin Place are ideal places to buy new clothes or tacky souvenirs.

Darling Harbour at night
Darling Harbour by night. One of my favourite places in Sydney.

Looking for a bite to eat? Sydney’s diverse cultural make-up is represented in the wealth of options  available to diners in the heart  of Sydney. McDonalds and its greasy neighbours are represented, of course, but you’ll also find traditional Thai food right next to dingy Greek diners and crowded Japanese sushi bars.

Just around the corner from Darling Harbour is Sydney’s Chinatown district, where a dizzying array of sights and smells assault the senses. You’re transported from a modern city to an Asian wonderland where street vendors, karaoke bars,, and countless Chinese restaurants and noodle bars are at your fingertips.

The heart of Sydney  is also the  heart of its night life. Trendy nightclubs, old-fashioned Aussie pubs, and a  growing number of gastropubs and wine bars offer a  fantastic selection for those wanting a drink or a  night out. Nearby districts such as King’s Cross and Oxford Street cater to those with more specialised tastes. King”s Cross is an adult  playground of night clubs and strip clubs, while Oxford Street proudly caters to Sydney’s LGBT community.

Sydney’s CBD is certainly the first place most visitors to Sydney should experience, but it’s certainly not the last. Let’s move on.

The Inner West

A place I was proud  to (briefly) call home, Sydney’s inner west is an area alive with art, music, and a delightful melting pot of cultures that makes it a Mecca for foodies.

Large Greek, Vietnamese, and Portuguese populations in suburbs such as Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, and Petersham contribute to an aromatic and appetising selection of foods. Mouth-watering Greek gyros, Vietnamese pho, and spicy Portuguese  chicken mingle with countless Japanese, Thai, and Italian eateries to offer near limitless selection.

Although my personal favourite is the delightfully warm, Cornersmith in Marrickville. Well worth a look.

Cornersmith in Marrickville
Enjoying an organic ginger ale and a bad-ass Ploughman’s at Cornersmith in early 2012

It’s true that the inner west does not boast the must see attractions that other regions do. There are no theme parks or notable museums, but the region’s art and music scene make it a must see for those who want to see Sydney from a different angle.

With  universities nearby providing no shortage of would-be  Bohemians, the night life in Newtown – in particular – is  amongst Sydney’s best. Live music, cabaret and burlesque performances, and stand up comedy add to the usual selection of bars and pubs..

Northern Beaches

There are those who swear by Bondi and  its neighbouring beaches, but to me, the beaches  of Manly and its surrounds will always stand out as the best in Sydney. Beaches  like Manly, Freshwater, and Shelly are as beautiful as they are different from one another.

Shelly Beach, Manly
Shelly Beach in Manly is one of my favourite beaches in the world.

A picturesque ferry ride from Sydney’s Circular Quay, Manly is more than just beaches. An emerging micro-brewing culture, stunning national parks, and a  number  of tourist attractions make Manly a well-known but often  under-appreciated  stop on a Sydney trek.

Food and drink on Manly’s ‘Courso’ are typical of Australian beach fare with steaks, seafood, and ice cream reigning supreme.  If you are keen for a drop of beer, 4 Pines Brewery is the  pick in my  opinion.

Manly’s aquarium and beaches are a big lure for travelers young and old alike. Everything from surf lessons to scuba diving to stand up paddle boarding to simple sunbathing is on offer along the golden Northern Beaches.

Your Say

Part #1 is complete and I’ll have part #2 up within the next few weeks as I highlight The Shire, North Sydney, and the sprawling mass that is Western Sydney. What should I include when I write them up?

Is there a region I’ve overlooked? Or a feature from one of the above regions I’ve missed?

Where do you think is the best place to look for accommodation in Sydney?

Florida, Miami, United States

Celebrating 4th of July in Miami (Bucket List Item #114)

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The sun is high overhead and the water is warm enough to be likened to bathwater. But it’s crystal clear and just cool enough to take the edge off the intense summer heat as Heather and I wade out past the crowds and look for a place where the water cools off a little.

It’s the 4th of July and Bucket List item #114 is being crossed off as I celebrate American independence in the warm waters of Miami’s South Beach. Ahead of me lies a day of ice cold beers, delicious Cuban food, and fireworks exploding overhead as the American love of pageantry ensures the day is suitably memorable.

That American Fascination

I can’t recall when it was that I realised I had such an abiding fascination with American culture. There are certainly many things I dislike about the United States, but there’s something very attractive about the American dream and all of its bells and whistles. The days spent at the baseball park, going away to Summer Camp, Thanksgiving dinners, White Christmases and all of the competition to have the best decorated house, proms, school plays, high school sweethearts, college sports… it’s a culture similar to my own, but different in a lot of ways that I almost envy.

So it made sense to me that, with my trip taking me to the US for its national day, I should celebrate it in a way that plays to the cliches I was raised on through television, movies, and books.

While I couldn’t spend the 4th of July camping by some beautiful lake with a horde of friends, I could take my beautiful new girlfriend on a trip down to Florida with me and celebrate it with a few thousand of my closest friends. Celebrating the 4th of July in Miami seemed like as good an idea as any.

Welcome to Miami

When it was decided that we’d be spending the 4th of July in Miami, we immediately hit up my new favorite travel resource – AirBnB. In fact, our entire Florida vacation (as well as our visits to New York and Chicago) would have accommodation booked effortlessly through AirBnB. It proved a lot cheaper than finding hotels and a lot more private than hanging a top-sheet in a hostel.

Although that is on the bucket list too…

Our accommodation in this case would be a room at the Whitelaw Hotel that was booked via AirBnB. This isn’t really what the site is for, but it suited well enough in our case. Literally one block from South Beach and in an area laden with restaurants, bars, and cafes – it was a pretty perfect launching pad for our 4th of July in Miami.

Whitelaw Hotel
Our room in the Whitelaw Hotel looked much like this. They’re all a kind of boutique meets Barbie’s Playhouse style. Photo from Whitelaw website.
South Beach Group shuttle
The free South Beach Group shuttle services several South Beach hotels including the Whitelaw.

If the place had one drawback, it was that it clearly caters to a younger, party crowd. While we definitely appreciated the free shuttle from the airport and the free drinks at happy hour every night, the noise and the people of questionable morale fiber bumping and grinding in the foyer weren’t exactly condusive to a romantic getaway.

How was I supposed to achieve bucket list item #204 with all that ruckus?

We got in to Miami quite late that night, so contented ourselves with a bite to eat at a local deli and an early night. After all, we’d need all of our energy to get through a day of sun, sand, surf, and drinks for the big day.

4th of July in Miami

The day dawned bright and sunny without a hint of the rain that my iPhone insisted we’d be encountering, and we were up bright and early for a bite to eat and to get the necessary beach supplies such as sunscreen, ice cold beers, and a hat to prevent my bald self from being rendered a drooling fool.

Our breakfast location of choice was the South Beach Cafe Deli. We dined on bagels and fruit salad while listening to a local character rant about the sorry state of water fountains (bubblers, for my Aussie readers) in the United States.

“Back when I was a kid,” he shouted to his server in a thick Mexican accent, “There were water fountains everywhere. Now you can’t find them anywhere. The only one I know of is in the mall. Just one. You want water? You gotta pay for water”.

His server, having made the mistake of replying ‘Of course’ to the customer’s request for a glass of water, looked both amused and uncomfortable as the tirade continued.

“What’s wrong with tap water? Everybody just wants bottled water. One day you’ll charge me to stand in your air conditioning. $1 for one hour and I’ll have to thank you at the end”.

He ranted some more, but we tuned him out as we swallowed the last of our orange juice and headed out to join the other people celebrating on the beach.

Foot
A random artsy shot of Heather’s foot to fill some space.

Soaking in the Sun on South Beach

It was 11am by the time we reached the white sands of South Beach, but the 4th of July in Miami meant the crowds were out in full force. While the beach volleyball courts were sadly quiet (I haven’t had a good game since last year’s visit to Tangalooma) there was no shortage of sun-tanned flesh on display as we picked our way through the sunbathers and partiers in search of our own little patch of sand.

South Beach, MIami
The crowd out in force on South Beach for the 4th of July in Miami

Planes cut their way across the clear blue sky spruiking local DJs while college kids tossed around footballs, frisbees, and frosty beers as the day began in earnest.

We quickly made our way out beyond the crowds and into the cooler, deeper water where we could throw around a frisbee without fear of decapitating a hapless child. While I was left to mourn the absence of anything resembling surf, Heather seemed content to bob in the water and sip beers from the water bottles we’d bought earlier. There was apparently a strict ‘No open container’ law in place, but damned if we saw anybody going to great pains to hide their drinks.

Or their weed, for that matter.

Couple on South Beach, Miami
Heather and I make a damned sexy couple, if you ask me.

We alternated our time between floating in the water and soaking in the sun, and both of us had not entirely attractive sunburns across our back by the time we decided to take our remaining (warm) beers and retire to the hotel room to rest up and make ourselves beautiful for the main event. But not before availing ourselves of every free sample booth along the beach. I returned to our hotel room with free water, free Vitamin Water, free Monster, and free sweet tea.

Sweet tea may be my new favourite liquid in the universe, by the way.

Fireworks, Cuban Food, and Fishbowls

Our relaxed afternoon soon drifted into the evening and it was time to pull on our Sunday best and head down to the Whitelaw’s foyer bar to partake in the free happy hour open to guests. Presenting our room key got us unlimited basic spirits with mixers between 7 and 8, and I made use of it with three vodka pineapple before we headed out into the balmy evening air.

Word to the wise: Wave a few singles if you want quick service. The blonde barmaid didn’t seem to speak a language that wasn’t written in dollar signs.

One thing I’d been really hankering to try in Miami was a good pulled pork sandwich. Ever since the first episode of Dexter mentioned that particular piece of Cuban fare, I’ve been dying to try it. And while my good mate, Ben did bring me some at work last year, I wanted to try the real thing.

To that end, we made our way to David’s Cuban Cafe, which had come highly recommended from a fellow passenger on our shuttle the previous night. The place was packed but we were soon seated and ordering up our meal. And in the spirit of trying different things, we made sure to select a few of the menu’s more interesting options: a platter of traditional Cuban appetisers and a breast of chicken served in a sauce containing mangoes, watermelon, and honeydew.

Cuban food at David's Cafe in Miami
A plate of delicious Cuban appetisers at David’s Cafe. The pork was the best, but it was all delicious.

To be honest, our plate of assorted meats and plantain chips would probably have been enough for two – but we powered on with the help of a few Coronas (with requisite lime) and were soon waddling out with full bellies and an eye for the night life. But first, we had some fireworks to attend to.

With the first booms and bangs going off, we broke into a run through darkened streets before emerging onto South Beach proper and joining a horde of fellow ‘Oohers and aahers’ to take in the show. While it wasn’t really a patch on the fireworks over Sydney Harbour each New Year’s, it was still an impressive show made more special by having the hand of a pretty girl to hold.

4th of July Fireworks
Fireworks explode over South Beach, Miami

#114 – Celebrate the 4th of July on the water

With fireworks done and the night still relatively young, we scouted out one of the many beachfront clubs and scored ourselves a table. Our venue of choice just so happened to boast a girl table dancing in a stars and stripes bikini. That had nothing to do with our decision to go there, I assure you.

Girl in a stars and stripes bikini
What may be the most tedious job in existence…

Our bellies were too full for food, but Heather kindly offered to buy us a round of the giant fishbowl drinks we’d seen doing the rounds. While some were extra fancy in that they had beers or mixed drinks that drained into the bowls as the first drink was consumed, we settled for a much more conventional strawberry mojito. The fact that the bowl was big enough to house a pair of goldfish was just icing on the cake.

Fishbowl Cocktail
A mojito almost as big as Heather’s head! It was delicious too. And all for the low, low price of $55 >_>

We began the task of downing our drinks in earnest, people watching and listening to club music as our drinks gradually inched towards the bottom of their bowls. I finished mine a wee bit/roughly forty minutes before Heather polished off her own, but she’s just a little girl and deserves a high five for seeing off the challenge before her.

Not to mention the jaw-dropping $55 bill, and that already included the fact it was 2 for 1 drinks!

With wallets empty and stomachs full to bursting, it was time to call our 4th of July in Miami to an end. While I was all for a late night romantic stroll on the beach in hopes of checking off item #178, Heather was having none of it. It was back to our hotel room for some much needed water and a slightly post midnight finish.

July 5th would see us on the road to Sanibel Island with a stop off in the Everglades so I could check of item #40.

Your Say

How did you spend your 4th of July this year? If you aren’t American but have celebrated the holiday in the past, how did you do your first 4th of July?

What did I miss in Miami? While I didn’t get to try pulled pork, I feel like I soaked in a good chunk of South Beach lifestyle in 24 hours. What would you have done?

 

Theme Park Review, United States, Virginia

Theme Park Review: Kings Dominion, Virginia

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When it was decided that I’d be heading to the United States for my five week vacation this year, it stood to reason that I’d add at least one theme park to my itinerary. I’ve written a few theme park reviews in the past and it’s safe to say that I enjoy a good coaster and a bit of pageantry more than the average bear.

So it was that my friend Heather gave me some options for my time in Maryland: visit Kings Dominion in Virginia, hit up Hershey Park, or indulge in the American obsession with Six Flags.

It was a three sided coin-flip that gave Kings Dominion the win, but I’m glad it did. My day at the Virginia mainstay was one hell of a good time, 100+ degree heat be damned.

Anaconda, Kings Dominion
The beautiful (and scary) Anaconda

About Kings Dominion

Kings Dominion is a sizable park located between Richmond in Virginia and the US capital. My own visit took me to the park on a scorching hot (100+ F) Sunday afternoon, which lead to criminally short lines for almost all of the park’s attractions. In fact, the longest waits were to be found at refreshment stands and the park’s water slides and tide pool. Insanity!

Adult tickets are $59.99 if bought at the gate, but drop to $49.99 if purchased online. The park has a Will Call system as well, so you don’t need to worry about finding a printer before heading to the park. There’s a $5 charge for printing it at the park.

Parking is also an additional $15 though, so bear that in mind when working out your budget.

For those wanting to skip lengthy queues, a $35-$45 ‘fast lane’ ticket allows you to skip to the front of the queue on the park’s 15 most popular rides. Not a bad option if you’re facing queues upwards of an hour. I’d imagine the money is worth it solely for the looks of sheer loathing you’d draw from those sweating buckets in the regular queues too.

Like most major theme parks, Kings Dominion maintains a number of themed areas including the jungle themed Congo, the US county fair styled Grove, Planet Snoopy, and an in park water park by the name of WaterWorks.

Thrill Factor

The American fascination with roller coasters is evident from looking across the list of rides at Kings Dominion. While there are a few thrill rides that aren’t coasters (such as the Drop Tower and the Crypt), the majority of the park’s thrills come from its staggering fifteen roller coasters that range from the classic wooden to the kid friendly to the downright terrifying.

Roller coasters at Kings Dominion
A truly staggering selection of roller coasters at Kings Dominion

Even with a full day at the park and shorter queues, I didn’t manage to hit every single one of Kings Dominions’ roller coasters – but I did partake in the lion’s share. Here’s just a taste:

  • Dominator: The world’s longest floorless roller coaster and boasts the second largest loop in the world. A hell of a good time.
  • Grizzly: An old school wooden coaster including plenty of near misses and some densely forested track.
  • Rebel Yell: The park’s original roller coaster.
  • Richochet: A classic ‘wild mouse’ style coaster with plenty of sharp turns.
  • Shockwave: My first stand up roller coaster. Nothing too remarkable.
  • Anaconda: A shaky, multiple inversion coaster with an underwater tunnel and spectacular views.
  • Avalanche: The only bobsled style coaster in the United States. Very mild.
  • Flight of Fear: An all dark indoor coaster in the same vein as Disney’s Space Mountain.
  • Intimidator 305: A truly terrifying high speed coaster featuring a 300 foot (91 meter) drop at 85 degrees to start.
  • Volcano: A sudden start (similar to Dream World’s ‘Tower of Terror) takes riders through a volcano themed setting.

As you can see, there’s a good variety of roller coasters and the above list is just a selection! Purists will love the old wooden coasters on site, kids can find a few more friendly rides, and there are plenty of different, high speed options for those who want to get their hearts well and truly racing.

Dominator, Kings Dominion
The aptly named Dominator was my first ride of the day

Kings Dominion has, thus far, been the best park I’ve been to as far as thrills go. There was never a shortage of thrills to be found and try as I might, I didn’t even manage to hit every single one of the coasters.

Thrill Factor: 8.5 out of 10

Family Factor

While there’s certainly no shortage of thrills to be found at Kings Dominion, there’s plenty of fun things for the family to indulge in as well. A few of the coasters (such as the Avalanche, Backlot Stunt Coaster, and Richochet) are perfectly fine for less thrill minded patrons, but there’s a huge selection of other options as well.

The Grove, Kings Dominion
Looking out over the Grove and its selection of its carnival games and attractions

With cheaper ticket prices, meal plan options, and affordable season passes – Kings Dominion is a perfectly accessible park for families on a tighter budget too.

As far as the family friendly rides go, here’s a taste:

  • Flying Eagles: Riders can ‘steer’ themselves by manoeuvring a rudder as they spin.
  • Shenandoah Lumber Company: A classic log flume ride with a lengthy ‘relaxed’ portion.
  • White Water Canyon: The most drenching river rapid ride I’ve ever ridden. Great fun.
  • Windseeker: A 300+ foot high tower with a gentle swing ride atop it.
  • Backlot Stunt Coaster:
  • Ghoster Coaster

Rides aren’t the entirety of it. In addition to the park’s dedicated water park (WaterWorks) there are also attractions such as the pay-per-entry Dinosaurs Alive exhibit and live performances offer a respite from queues and potentially nausea inducing rides.

A special shout out to the wonderfully relaxing Lazy Rider in WaterWorks – 1/4 mile of tubing peacefully through the park? Yes, please!

All told, the park offers a nice balance between thrills and a good day out. A family could do a lot worse than a day (or two) at Kings Dominion.

Family Factor: 7.5 out of 10

Kid Factor

As I did not venture into any of the kid specific areas of the park (Planet Snoopy and Kidzville), I can’t comment with any authority on the quality of the park from a child’s perspective.

There are plenty of kid specific rides in both areas in addition to the tamer rides to be found in places like the Grove such as ferris wheels, dodgem cars, and carousels. WaterWorks also has a number of kid friendly areas such as pools and relatively tame slides.

I won’t rate the park from a kid factor perspective until I have a chance to actually explore it.

Atmosphere

There’s a definite big park feel about Kings Dominion, and even on a relatively quiet day, the place had a really electric vibe to it. With lots of big rides spread out across the park, the crowd was never too dense in one particular spot – although WaterWorks was drawing a large crowd due to the intense heat.

The Crypt, Kings Dominion
The Crypt is similar to Dream World’s ‘Wipeout’

The themed lands were not particularly elaborate in design, but the park has a wonderfully woodsy, relaxed feel to it. There’s no shortage of shady areas around the Grove or WaterWorks, and the park’s entrance area is quite breath-taking with its replica of the Eiffel Tower and sizable fountain display.

Newer sections of the park are not quite so pleasing to the eye and on a scorching day such as the day of my visit, the absence of shade was quite frustrating.

Atmosphere Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Food

While we didn’t eat a great deal at the park due to budgetary reasons, there was no shortage of food stalls or drink vendors on offer. A number of refreshment stalls were on hand offering a selection of Coca Cola products, slush puppies, ice cream, funnel cakes, boardwalk fries, fried chicken, Dippin’ Dots, Cinnabon, popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, and churros. There were several Rita’s ice cream sellers, a pair of Chick-fil-A locations selling chicken burgers and such, Subway, Panda Express, burger joints, and pizza spots as well. Definitely no shortage of choices.

While food does tend to be more expensive as its in a theme park, it’s still quite affordable by Australian standards. On a stinking hot day I spent the majority of my food budget on waters and sweet tea.

Food Rating: 8 out of 10

Best Ride

With so many fantastic coasters on offer, it was hard for me to nominate my absolute favorite ride – but I’m going to go ahead and give the nod to the Volcano. The rapid ‘launch’ start and high speeds made this one an absolute thrill to ride.

Volcano, Kings Dominion
The intimidating Volcano with its blast launch and model volcano

Honorable mentions should also go to the Intimidator and the Lazy Rider in the WaterWorks section of the park. Ride lovers are going to find something to write home about at Kings Dominion, guaranteed.

Overall

As a theme park for thrillseekers, Kings Dominion stands head and shoulders above the other three parks I have reviewed in the park. There’s a staggering selection of rides and enough differences between them to ensure almost everybody has something they’ll enjoy.

While I was particularly drawn to the huge number of roller coasters on site, there were also plenty of other fun rides that I’ll remember fondly. The water park and rapid ride were particularly welcome on a white hot day, and there was a certain country charm to the carnival games and attractions on offer in The Grove.

The park is cheaper than others I have visited and the selection of food was very impressive. Had I not still been full from a big Arby’s breakfast, I may well have indulged in a wee bit of Subway and some Rita’s ice cream.

Heather and I at Kings Dominion
Heather and I enjoying a romantic ride on Americana, Kings Dominion’s resident ferris wheel

All told, Kings Dominion takes out the spot as #1 on the relatively short list of four theme parks I have reviewed so far. Will it stand up to my upcoming visits to Disney World and DisneyLand? We shall soon see…

You can learn more about Kings Dominion and plan your own visit there by visiting the Kings Dominion website.

Maryland, Relationships, United States, Virginia

Coming to America

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I was last in the United States in September and October of 2009. At the time I’d just wrapped up my last year working in ESL Teaching in Gwangju and was on my way to spend just over a month exploring Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, and Vegas with my then girlfriend.

Almost three years on and there are some similarities between the two trips beyond simple destination. Just like 2009, I find myself again working as an ESL teacher – albeit this time in Nanjing, China. But where I used to have to battle to get through the working days in South Korea, my life in China is of a substantially higher standard.

And, more than that, there’s also some romantic undertones to this whole trip. While the main goal of the trek is to attend the wedding of my good friends Rob & Emily in Chicago, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a substantial part of this trip that hadn’t been planned with the express purpose of seducing a pretty girl from Maryland. Hell, it’s on my bucket list.

And while the pretty girl and I did get a cheesy movie moment when I finally touched down at Reagan International Airport in Arlington, it would be getting ahead of myself to leap straight to the kisses and dramatic spinning. Let’s step back a bit.

Oh, United Airlines how I loathe the. Let me count the ways!

Having learned the lesson that China Eastern Airways is basically the worst airline on earth the hard way, I paid a few hundred dollars more to avoid their tiny seats and bland food in favor of flying to the US with United Airlines. While they don’t necessarily have a sterling reputation themselves, I figured anything would be an improvement on my past experiences with China Eastern.

I guess I can say it was worth the extra money, but not by much.

united airlines
Oh, United. You suck.

Things got off to an inauspicious start when I noticed the comically small in flight entertainment screens. Having been somewhat spoiled in previous flights with Qantas, I was underwhelmed to see something only marginally bigger than my iPhone screen on offer. This was only worsened by learning that the sound on my screen didn’t work. There’d be no in flight movies, TV, or radio for CWB.

Not that it would have greatly improved my flight. United still use the out-dated scheme of having all movies start simultaneously, meaning you’ll miss chunks of your selection unless you’re really on the ball. I decided not to let it bother me. After all, I was travelling with my Kindle, iPad, and iPhone for company.

I drifted off almost as soon as I got on board, and was dismayed to wake up almost an hour after boarding and find us still on the ground. Hell, we hadn’t even left the gate. I can’t say where the fault for this lay though, so I’ll give United the benefit of the doubt.

We did eventually take of. Food was soon brought around and United Airlines earned their second strike. Of the four flight staff I had the dubious pleasure of interacting with, all but one of them was surly, rude, and generally disinterested in doing their job well. They snapped at passengers, talked down to them, and regularly spoke too loudly to those who perhaps had trouble understanding their rapidly spoken instructions.

The food on board was tolerable, I guess. But between the awful in flight entertainment situation and the unprofessional attitudes of the staff – it just wasn’t a pleasant flight experience. I lost myself in a good book and tried to tune the whole 14 hours out.

Fitful sleep and Jaime Lannister kept me company, and we eventually touched down at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. Our late departure meant we had landed around 45 minutes later than expected – leaving me 45 minutes to get through immigration, collect my baggage (which hadn’t been checked through despite me requesting it be), and somehow get from international arrivals to domestic departures – both of which lay about 10 minutes train ride apart!

Suffice to say, I didn’t make my connecting flight. In fact, as the flight took off, I was still standing in land to have a disinterested old lady usher me through immigration with some terse questions and not even the hint of a smile. I snatched up my bag and joined a lengthy queue at the United Airlines desk to rebook my flight. I wasn’t the only one in line.

To their credit, the staff at the desk were quick to amend the situation. The guy at the desk initially tried to book me onto a 7pm flight, but I coolly reminded him that it was 6.35 and the terminal was a good twenty minute walk/run away. He quickly switched me to a 9pm flight and it was off and running again.

Cheesy Romantic Scene

Regular readers will perhaps be aware that there’s a certain pretty girl from Maryland who added fuel to the fire for this trip. While I’d always been planning to be in the US for a wedding and I would never turn down an opportunity to explore such a fascinating country, the girl in question was a big draw for me as well.

Cheesy romantic moment
I’m a sucker for Love, Actually. And Rick Grimes.

So, heart racing and feeling painfully aware of just how stinky a man can become after 17 hours in the air, I emerged from the arrivals area and saw her standing in front of me. Wearing a dress and looking so pretty I wanted to cast aside my luggage and ravage her, my host/romantic interest bounced eagerly from foot to foot as our eyes met.

The music didn’t swell and that first kiss wasn’t quite as dramatic as one might have come to expect from the movies, but there was a certain level of cheesy romance to be had as we saw one another for the first time. After three years of chatting online – first as friends and then more romantically – it was fantastic to finally have met her in the flesh.

And I’m relieved to say that – almost two weeks on – we’re still getting along like a house on fire.

Bags were collected, hands were tentatively held, and soon we were driving through the darkened streets of Arlington and en route to Annapolis.

Coming to America will always feel like coming home to me. Maybe it’s because Australian TV is so crowded with US imagery or maybe it’s because both of my visits have involved being picked up at the air port by pretty girls and living more like a local than a tourist. Maybe it’s my fascination with the United States’ patriotism and independent spirit or maybe I’m just a fatty who likes fast food.

Whatever it is, it felt fantastic to be back in the United States with five weeks of adventure and romance ahead of me. Bring it on.

Countdowns

5 Reasons to Choose Royal Caribbean for Your Family Cruise

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Hello from the US of A! As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been quite busy since arriving here a week and a half ago and that’s showing no sign of letting up. I really have got a fantastic five weeks here planned and I can say confidently after the first week that this holiday is going to be providing me with content for months to come.

While I’m busy travelling, theme park visiting, sight-seeing, and romancing my way across the US – I’ll have a few guest posts to tide you over between my own posts and updates. With cruises being such a prominent feature on here of late (and myself due to take a cruise in a few weeks) I thought this one might stand out.

5 Reasons to Choose Royal Caribbean for Your Family Cruise

With dozens of different cruise operators available, it might be difficult to select just one cruise ship for your upcoming family vacation. Thankfully, there are some companies, such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, that offer exciting family friendly amenities and events. From family dining hours to special themed cruises, Royal Caribbean offers children of all ages everything they need to have the experience of a lifetime. Here are five reasons to choose Royal Caribbean Cruises for your next family holiday.

For more information on Royal Caribbean Cruises, visit Virgin Holidays Cruises.

Family Onshore Excursions

Even the most family friendly ships need to also have plenty of great excursions suitable for children at the many destinations. Royal Caribbean Cruises offers families the choice of trips through jungles, on kayaking trips, tours through cities and plenty of shorter adventures that allow families to spend more time onshore relaxing instead of rushing through a packed itinerary.

Entertainment for All Ages

Some cruise ships have incredible nightly entertainment, but few of the shows are suitable for young children. Families onboard the various Royal Caribbean ships will have plenty of entertainment to choose from. Although schedules will vary depending on the length of your trip and your destinations, you can expect to enjoy Aquatheatre performances and West End-style musical productions that are suitable for children above the age of three.

Family Friendly Dining Facilities

Many parents avoid cruises because they are worried about formal dining with young children. Thankfully, there are plenty of options for children and parents onboard Royal Caribbean ships. Select restaurants offer casual dining throughout the day and are suitable for children of any age, and some of the more formal restaurants offer a special dining service called My Family Time Dining. Children will receive their meals within 15 minutes, and when they finish they will be escorted by staff to a special play area. Then, parents can linger over their gourmet meals at their leisure.

Adventure Ocean Youth Program

This exciting program caters to children between the ages of five and twelve and does not require parental supervision. Children will enjoy arts and crafts, themed events and fun competitions among their peers. Younger children between the ages of two and five will head to the Fisher Price Playgroup, where trained staff lead them in age appropriate activities and art projects that feature their favourite characters and cartoons.

The Dreamworks Experience

For a completely family themed cruise, consider booking one of the Royal Caribbean Cruises that includes the Dreamworks Experience. Featuring famous characters from movies like Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, the Dreamworks Experience onboard includes parades around the deck, nightly shows starring the characters, photo opportunities for passengers and even themed dining nights that the whole family can enjoy.

Want to know more about what’s included on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Cruise Mummy has you covered!

Your Say

Going on a cruise of this nature is a travel daydream that still eludes me, but I’d love to hear your own cruise stories. Have you ever been on a particularly memorable luxury cruise?