Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas


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Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27

  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 74 – Los Angeles, USA

    Saturday 22 January 2000
    Highlights:     Six Flags Magic Mountain.

    After confusion at the hostel over our booking to Magic Mountain we paid an additional $11 (total $71) for transport and entrance.

    Magic Mountain is purely a roller coaster attraction with a DC Super Hero theme.  The best ride was the Riddler’s Revenge.  You stand up, get strapped in, and twist and turn while going upside down.  Never seen anything like it, try before eating lunch!

    The Batman Ride was also brilliant as they had an e collect free fall part of the ride.  The Superman Express however was a little disappointing.  Basically this was the best theme park I’ve experienced yet including Disney World in Orlando.

    The shuttle back to LA broke down meaning we were stuck for a while and when we got back the Greyhound driver forgot our stop meaning we caught the 3 am bus to San Francisco.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 73 – Los Angeles, USA

    Friday 21 January 2000
    Highlights:      Universal Studios, live taping of ‘Suddenly Susan’

    Like the backpackers we are we caught the public bus to Universal Studios saving about $8, every bit counts.

    The highlight at the park was the Terminator 2 3D show.  The show includes live actors plus footage of all the movie stars including Arnie.  Unlike my visit in 1998 the Backdraft demonstration was open and very enjoyable.

    However the day become unexpectedly better when we scored free tickets to the taping of ‘Suddenly Susan’ staring Brooke Shields who is stunning in person.  The episode itself was fun hand watching how they makes live TV show was very educational.

    As it takes about 4 hours to tape the show they have a comedian who entertains the audience.  His best act was hypnotising several members of the audience into believing they were drunk which bought me to tears.  The best live show and it cost nothing!

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 72 – Los Angeles, USA

    Thursday 20 January 2000
    Highlights:      Mann’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Walk of Fame

    We caught the Metro Train system into Los Angeles with a mission to find out how to get to Universal Studios and Magic Mountain.

    We visited Mann’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame checking out all the famous movie stars’ handprints.  Mann’s Chinese Theatre still shows movies, today it was ‘Any Given Sunday’.

    The hostel is located on Hollywood Blvd which has stars dedicated to various entertainment stars including radio, television, movie and music entertainers.

    We finished the day watching ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ which seemed like the Hollywood thing to do.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 71 – Las Vegas to Los Angeles, USA

    Wednesday 19 January 2000
    Highlights:      Winning a deck of cards 🙂

    Before the afternoon express bus to Los Angeles we had time for one last gambling experience.  While I didn’t win any money on a free slot machine I won a pack of games, lucky me 🙂

    All up we gambled at the Stratosphere, Las Vegas Hilton, Caesar’s Palace, Bellagio, MGM Grand and the Tropicana Casinos.  Jon finish a little up, while I guess you can say I just enjoyed the experience losing money that I could afford.

    Arriving in Downtown Los Angeles I was reminded of why I sometimes dislike LA, far too seedy and dirty at least for those without money.  We are hoping a visit to Six Flags Magic Mountain will be a highlight and get me to like LA a little more.

    We will be staying in LA for 3 nights and then go to San Francisco for 3 days before saying goodbye to the States after 64 days of crossing this global super power.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 70 – Las Vegas, USA

    Tuesday 18 January 2000
    Highlights:     Paris Casino, ‘Viv Las Vegas’ show, The Star Trek Experience

    We slept in today after our 3 am night of gambling and exploring Las Vegas.  Today was about visiting more casinos, starting with MGM Grand and moving onto the Stratosphere Casino which was about 6 kms away.  At the Stratosphere we enjoyed the ‘Viv Las Vegas’ show.

    After more gambling (a real surprise) we visited the Vegas Hilton again we visited The Star Trek Experience, which I loved being a big fan.

    Next up was the exceptional Paris Casino.  The roof in the casino is painted as the sky and you really feel like it’s day time and you are outside.  Although I lost at the craps table this was easily the best casino so far.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 69 – Flagstaff to Las Vegas, USA

    Monday 17 January 2000
    Highlights:      Losing money quickly Vegas style 🙂

    An early wake to catch the 7.20 am bus to Las Vegas.  We met up with Mark and Angela for the bus trip.  Arriving in Las Vegas we rang around looking for the cheapest Casino – Hotel which turned out to be the Tropicana up the top end of the strip.

    While Jon was busy taking A shower I quickly went down to the gambling tables and just as quickly lost money.  This was the start of a theme, losing money no matter what I played.

    For dinner we searched for a good buffet, settling for Caesar’s Palace which while expense was very good.  We walked down the strip to the Vegas Hilton visiting and gambling at most of the casinos along the way.  Jon kept winning I kept losing 😦

    By the time we got to the Hilton it was past 11 pm and the Star Trek Experience was shut so it had to wait for tomorrow. The round walking trip was over 10 kms, made easier with a lighter wallet I guess – LOL.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 68 – Flagstaff, USA

    Sunday 16 January 2000
    Highlights:     The amazing Grand Canyon.

    After enjoying the free hostel breakfast the tour of the Grand Canyon left around 9.30 am and took approximately 2 hours to get to our destination.  Our driver and guide David took us to four different points on the South Rim during the day and we then finished at the ‘Grand View Point’ attempting to watch the sunset.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 67 – Flagstaff, USA

    Saturday 15 January 2000
    Highlights:     Nothing today.

    We arrived at Flagstaff very early in the morning.  I had a spare empty seat next to me so managed some sleep, Jon wasn’t so lucky.  After ringing many local hostel’s Grand Canyon International answered and organised a pick up from the bus station.  Checking in at 7 am we slept to around noon.

    The hostel has a trip planned to the Grand Canyon scheduled for tomorrow so we signed up for $38 each.  We also signed up for the hostel dinner.  Before that I explored a little of the town which appeared to be nice and clean.

    The rest of the day was spent washing cloths and watching movies.  The hostel has great facilities and the staff are very friendly.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 66 – Santa Fe to Flagstaff, USA

    Friday 14 January 2000
    Highlights:     Palace of the Governors, San Miguel Mission

    A change of plans meant we got a chance to explore Santa Fe.  Santa Fe is the oldest surviving town in the USA that was part of Mexico originally.

    We visited the Palace of the Governors that was for a long time the longest serving centre of any Government in the USA from the mid 1650s until 1906.  It currently houses a Museum covering its and New Mexico’s history.

    We also visited San Miguel Mission the oldest in the USA and the oldest house. The most fascinating thing about Santa Fe was that for a short time the Native American Indians expelled the Spanish and Mexicans and took over the town and surrounding area.  This is the only time Native Americans successfully took back their land via force.

    Our bus trip to Flagstaff left at 8.05 pm for a long overnight ride that is scheduled to get arrive in Flagstaff at 5.15 am.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 65 – Santa Fe, USA

    Thursday 13 January 2000
    Highlights:     Barely surviving a 23 hour bus trip 😦

    Barely surviving a 23 hour bus journey we arrived in Santa Fe around 3.50 pm and walked down to the Thunderbird Inn to spoil over selves instead of staying in the local hostel.

    Santa Fe is just a stop over point before getting to Flagstaff.  We walked around the city and had a nice Italian dinner but really saw little of the town.

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