The road to Los Angeles

Well what a few days it has been!
Monday
Caught an early bus across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, a little town on the otherside of the bay, so that we could both validate our visas. Upon arriving at the CCUSA office we were informed that we couldn't validate them until they start, on December 8. The trip wasn't wasted as we took a ferrerry back across the bay and got some amazing shots of the Golden Golden Gate Bridge and the port of San Francisco. Photos will be up as soon as I find an internet cafe that lets you plug USB sticks in, most of the ones around here are in self contained booths.

Missed the Greyhound bus to Santa Barabra by 5min due to a pesky customer delaying us in the line. Spent the afternoon doing a bit of shopping, HB was keen to replace his holy shoes with a more sturdy variety. Some things are quite cheap here, shoes usually costing us $130 are $30US, however food and transport is more expensive. Also poked around in Chinatown (one of the larger ones outside China) and North Beach (the Italian area - has nothing on Lygon St!!)

Tuesday
We decided to make our way to Oakland (across the bay) and catch a train to Santa Barbara, where we were meeting up with Jase (on exchange at Hildas second semester 2005). We arrive at the train station to find that the train has been delayed by 2 hours... I guess that was better then the day before when it was delayed for 3.5 hours! Befriended a random guy, Taylor, who was catching the train to SB with us to go back to uni. A very interesting character, Taylor and two homeless guys provided us with 2 hours of entertainment talking about 'Frisco. Stories about the latest shootings (Oakland murder count is up to 134 so far this year), gang warfare (wear red in the part of town where the gang colour is blue and you'll get beaten/shot), what the inside of San Quentin Prison is really like. They then showed us their knives, tasers and pepper spray - all because they have been stabbed before. Amazing to hear what life is really like for some people here, definately a lot rawer then back home, I don't think I'll feel scared in Australia ever again!!

The train finally came and the next 8 hours were spent with HB, Taylor, some randoms and myself playing cards and drinking Bud on the way down to Santa Monica.

Wednesday
Goleta is a town 15min out of Santa Barbara and is where Jase lives, close to the UCSB campus. A mad little place, it is a whole suburb filled completely with students - every house! Had the feeling of a bigger version of college and it was true. The next few days are a bit blurry but when not meeting Jase's friends, doing Sakibombs and exploring yet another pub, we managed to do a bit of shopping and explore the town and beach a bit. I managed to replace most of my toiletries bag which I left on the Amtrak train, a future note not to drink too much on future train trips.

Thursday night was spent at a crazy Japanese resturant/bar doing warm saki shots dumped in beer in a ceremony known as the 'Sakibomb'. Dangerous I know...

Friday (today)
We have made our way down to LA for the next few days as Jase was heading off to Vegas, which was probably a good thing or we would have spent the next week in Santa Barbara. Staying down in Santa Monica on the beach which is great as the Hollywood hostel was full. Going to check out some of the sights tomorrow before leaving for Lake Tahoe on Monday to find a house and start work. This city is HUGE though, a 1 hour bus ride (35miles) from downtown to Santa Monica is a 'short trip', with Anahiem (on the Eastern edge of LA) being a 70mile trip.

Random Observations
There are vents on the street that steam rises out of just like in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... awesome
Fast food tally: 3 hot dogs, 5 burgers. Only seen 3 McDonalds and 3 KFCs, the streets are dominated by other American fast food chains like Jack In The Box, Carls Junior and Mexican shops. No souvlaki stands, its all burritos over here (and the proper ones made by real mexicans are about as wide as the palm of your hand and the biggest meal you can get for $8! These yanks love their food.

I'll put some photos up first chance I find somewhere that lets me plug my camera in. Miss you all lots, been watching the basketball but it has nothing on the cricket - hows that going??