Nathan's Insights

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


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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 44 – New York City, USA

    Thursday 23 December 1999
    Highlights    : State of Liberty, Ice-Skating at Rockefeller Centre

    Today I got to climb the Statue of Liberty. We had to get up very early to ensure access but given we were in a room with 12 others sleeping in wasn’t really an option anyway 🙂

    While the view from the top of the Statue is not really worth the 2 hours it takes to get to the top (big crowds) since the head faces the ocean, the view from the base is outstanding. I think I got some good photos but even better memories.

    Later while walking around Chinatown and little Italy I realised you can literally buy anything here, including videos to movies that haven’t even been released yet!

    Next up was a visit to Rockefeller Centre in Midtown to watch the public ice-skating which is awesome public event. Then it was onto Times Square. It’s hard to describe the overwhelming lights, smells and mass of people. Should be an amazing New Year’s Eve in a few days.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 43 – New York City, USA

    Wednesday 22 December 1999
    Highlights: Walking around downtown Manhattan

    An incredibly cold USA winter day of around 2 degrees. First good news was our stay at the YHA Hostel has now been extended to 29 December, so New Year’s Eve in New York City is starting to look possible.

    Visited Downtown Manhattan for the first time and followed the Lonely Planet recommended walking tour commencing at City Hall, visiting Federal Hall (the site of the first USA Congress), Trinity Church (once the tallest building in New York), the famous Wall Street and finishing at the Brooklyn Bridge.

    After this we visited the World Trade Centre, which includes the famous Twin Towers. We were looking for cheap Broadway tickets (you can get then here or at Times Square). The cheapest ticket we could find for a show we wanted was $42.75 which is a little too much for this budget ticket, but we will try again.

    Otherwise we checked out how to get to the Statue of Liberty tomorrow which I’m very much looking forward to.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 42 – Washington DC to New York City, USA

    Tuesday 21 December 1999
    Highlights    : The White House, Arriving in New York City

    We visited the White House today, lining up for about 2 hours standing next to this neo-Nazi Canadian (I know hard to imagine).

    I did caused my own security scare when I accidentally bought a bottle of sauce into the White House. Set of a lot of alarms, I must have been gunning to poison the President Clinton! More likely it helped out the staff for their lunch break.

    Although the White House was great, I mean being in a place with some much important history over the past century is very cool, but it was too short for a 2 hour wait. Afterwards we headed off for the Lincoln Memorial but it was closed, have to visit next time in the area.

    After a short tour of the Holocaust Museum it was off to the bus, Peter Pan this time, and away to New York. New York City is unbelievably large. Getting in at 7.15 pm the lights were shining and people were everywhere. My first subway experience worked out and we still found the hostel but worryingly still only have accommodation to 26 December. Millennium in New York might be on the street!

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 41 – Washington DC, USA

    Monday 20 December 1999
    Highlights    : Visiting FBI, USA Capitol Building, USA Holocaust Museum

    Today was a welcome to the very cold north of USA. We left the hostel early around 8.40 am to visit the FBI building. The tour was fantastic and covered the history of the FBI, how they gather evidence, training requirements and a live display of the on the shooting range of an actual field agent. While the tour was free I would have been happy to pay for it. I found out you need a degree to even be considered for the FBI. Pay starts at around $45,000 for basic first year field officer.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 40 – Washington DC, USA

    Sunday 19 December 1999
    Highlights    : 19 hour bus trip concludes, Attending a Professional Wrestling Pay for View Event (WCW Starcade)

    We arrived in Washington at 7 am after a 19 hour bus trip on Greyhound. How we are going to survive the 24 hour bus ride next month I don’t know!

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 39 – Orlando to Washington DC, USA

    Saturday 18 December 1999
    Highlights    : Commencing the long bus trip to Washington

    We had problems selling the fourth day Disney Ticket, in the end we had to settle for $25 instead of the hoped for $30.

    Before the next bus ride we used the free internet access at the public library to catch up with the world. Mostly work colleagues this time telling me about promotions and other office gossip. I ended up sending long e-mails to my sister Lana and mum detailing highlights of the trip so far with a possible to call on Christmas day.

    Got a 16 hour plus bus trip to Washington which starts at 12.15 pm. I also rang home and got to talk to my brother Reagan who mentioned there was a WCW wrestling event in Washington tomorrow and I should try to attend.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 38 Orlando, USA

    Friday 17 December 1999
    Highlights    : Buzz Lightyear (Magic Kingdom), Shuttle launch postponed 😦

    A very overcast morning so the launch wasn’t looking very good. However we still hoping for luck when we set of to the Magic Kingdom.

    I think I found today I am too old for Disney’s Magic Kingdom as I found it mostly boring. The Water Rapids was okay and the Buzz Lightyear ride was very good. To tell the truth we probably would have left early even without the launch waiting, especially after it rained (we left our raincoats at the hostel – DOH).

    Eventually we went out to the Shuttle launch and waited in the rain, hoping for a break in the weather against hope. This was wasted hope since the launch was postponed again. The ‘Sunbury 5’ all lost money on our gamble this would go ahead. Disappointing as it would have been a highlight instead we wasted $30.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 37 Orlando, USA

    Thursday 16 December 1999
    Highlights    : Rain

    I did a little shopping today after finally getting some sleep after a big night. I walked down to the factory outlets and visited the Nike store. I ended up purchasing a raincoat, Nike cap and gloves. These should help in the colder climates up north.

    Unfortunately the shuttle launch was postponed for 24 hours. This was after we had paid $30 each to shuttle out to a viewing spot (the fee was non-refundable). Disappointed on return this turned our day into watching television and later back to the now traditional drinking & cards.

    It’s not looking good for tomorrow’s launch but we will cut the Magic Kingdom short in order to make our shuttle at 4.30 pm.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 36 Orlando, USA

    Wednesday 15 December 1999
    Highlights    : Disney Epcot

    We went to the Disney Epcot Park today which features science, technology and the future. What we learnt was that it was mostly educational.

    The best ride was a test car driver which frankly sucked. Managed to take an electronic photo and send it by e-mail back home so people can remember what I look like. Should be interesting to see the reaction back home.

    The world displays were very informative especially Mexico & Norway. The USA display had a show covering the American (USA) Presidents, which included them all up to the current President Bill Clinton. The robots were very life like.

    No expense was spared on the USA President display. While a visually great the pro USA message was a little over the top.

    Once again we went drinking back at the hostel and playing card games. With luck tomorrow we will see Discovery Space Shuttle launched tomorrow.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 35 – Orlando, USA

    Tuesday 14 December 1999
    Highlights:     Disney MGM Theme Park, Beer inspired Uno Matches

    We decided to start with the Disney-MGM Theme Park since it is the newest park and it involves movies so I felt we were bound to love it.

    MGM has two great rides, the “Tower of Terror” and the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Rollercoaster” which featured a pre-show from Aero Smith.  Other highlights included “Drew Carey’s Sounds Dangerous Animation Show” and the history of movies show and ride.

    To top it off there was a brilliant Mickey Mouse sound, light and water show after dark using lasers.  A spectacular show enjoyed by all.  Being so close to Christmas MGM also had over 5 million Christmas lights display.

    Back at the hostel we drank beers, 5 for me, and played Uno with Sean, Alex & Matt from Australia and Justin from Upper USA until 1 am.  As it was against the rules to drink beers at the hostel we had to be very sneaky!

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