Results tagged “travel”

If you've ever been to Sedona you know what an amazingly scenic place it really is. Just hanging out in the uptown shopping district in the cafes sipping a frosty beverage on the terrace is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

But to fully experience Sedona, in my opinion, you just have to do an off road jeep tour. Years ago I went on one of the Pink Jeep tours and had a lot of fun. This time around we tried the Red Rock Jeep tour and I thoroughly recommend it. More-so than the Pink Jeeps actually.

Of course it helps if your guide is both completely hilarious and totally mad.

We drove along Soldier's Pass trail...

...along the edge of rocks that I wouldn't drive on myself if you paid me...

(ok, that last bit is a lie because I'd totally do it for cash)

We were able to get out and walk around about half way in...

...and just marvel at what was around us...

As we drove out of the trail I couldn't help but think of certain trees in Lord Of The Rings.

In short, it was well worth the time and money. If you ever find yourself in Sedona, go on a jeep tour. You won't regret it.

The vacation is now but a blur. They say pictures speak louder than words though right? Or is that actions? I can never remember, so let's just say it's pictures.

I'm going to write something a little longer about some of these in the coming days. But for now, a quick whirlwind pikcha recap.

Tan

Native

Monster

Eat

Drink

Stay

Drive

Pose

Backdrop

Cowboy

Wild

Last weekend we spent a couple of days in Sedona. I fell in love with the area the very first time I went many years ago. We try and go at least once a year as the scenery is nothing short of breathtaking.

We drove from Sedona up to Oak Creek Canyon taking some windy mountain roads.

And the view was well worth the drive.

Snow!! Which for desert dwellers, is HUGE as we never get to see it. In fact, my girlfriend had never seen the snow in her entire life.

So after the mandatory snow ball fight, it was time to make Mr 2ft Snowman Guy sporting quite the glove hat.

Edit: well, that opening sentence made no sense. Fixed.

[Moozik: Nine Inch Nails - Mr Self Destruct]

The day started out a little overcast as we went down the the beach to dip our toes in the Pacific.

I like Huntington Beach. Surfers entertain you. They keep themselves upright...

...and they play the surfboard drums.

And then, a quick 30 minute drive north revealed the sun, and Universal Studios.

And just like that, it was 6:30pm and time to head home. Back to Phoenix. Getting caught in LA freeway traffic and finally rolling into the driveway sometime after midnight. Tired. But having had the best time.

I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

[Moozik: Front 242 - Circling Overland]

We had planned on going to Universal Studios. But it was a little too rainy for that.

So instead we drove from Anaheim into Los Angeles and then to Hollywood.

After driving the wrong way down Hollywood Blvd into a rather shady area of town we eventually found the Chinese Theatre.

Michael Jackson's star on the walk of fame had the biggest crowd around it.

Turns out stars have tiny hands...

... and evil dooers are easily polished off. (nice facial expression Spencer)

Then it rained some more. So head inside for a bit of a wax...

...and then premium burgery at Johnny Rockets.

Rainy impromptu days are often the best kind.

[Moozik: The Cure - The Same Deep Water As You]

Last week was so much fun and we all had an amazing vacation and a bloody good laugh. As you do, we went to California for a few days as Los Angeles is only a five hour drive from our house.

We used Anaheim as our base so that can only mean one thing. Disneyland.

I was surprised at how popular Downtown Disney was at night.

Then onto the park itself the next day.

We had a lot of fun.

As did the masses. It was packed. Queues for everything.

Big Thunder Mountain Matterhorn Bobsled was all kinds of fun. Been a good few years since I've been near a roller coaster.

The little one absolutely loved Haunted Mansion. Her infectious giggle as all the lights went out made everyone around us laugh too.

One thing is for sure, we didn't allot anywhere near enough time to look around and do everything. We only made it around half the park and didn't even touch California Adventure Park.

So that's as good an excuse I can think of to go back. And go back we shall.

[Moozik: The Horrorist - Blow The Kiss]

In exactly three days my Sister will be making a little trip across the pond and arriving in these desert parts. I can't believe it's been a year since I last saw her - anyone would think we lived on different continents ;-) But good lord, where does the time go eh?

My other half is getting really quite nervous as this will be the first time they've met. I'm not worried about it at all. Well I am, because I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get a bloody word in once the beer & wine is flowing. And there will be plenty of that I can assure you.

Is it Thursday yet?

[Moozik: Jane's Addiction - Three Days]

From Bloomberg:

Apple's Fifth Avenue emporium probably has annual sales of more than $350 million, topping any of the chain's other outlets, said Jeffrey Roseman, executive vice president of real- estate broker Newmark Knight Frank Retail in New York. The location is 10,000 square feet, putting its sales per square foot at a minimum of $35,000, based on Roseman's estimate.

That's the equivalent of selling one Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan per square foot. Apple may be the highest grossing retailer ever on Fifth Avenue, said Faith Hope Consolo, chairman of the retail leasing and sales division at Manhattan-based Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

I visited it last year and loved it. The biggest, nicest Apple store I've been in. I don't find it hard to believe it's the highest grossing store on that street - It was simply jam packed full of people.

Mind you, it was absolutely pouring with rain so there might have been the odd one or two people in there sheltering and attempting to dry off.

I know I was one of them ;-)

[Moozik: Combichrist - Can't Change The Beat]

This weekend we took a nice little break from it all and drove from Phoenix up to Sedona. Over the years I've been to Sedona quite a few times and it never ceases to take my breath away.

Photos never quite seem to do it justice. Certainly one of those places you have to see with your own eyes. If you ever find yourself with some time to spare in Arizona, you should go. Really.

Must find out how this bloke got up there. To the naked eye he was just a speck. Must have had the best view ever up there.

No ACME gadgets were on the tail of this runner of roads.

While driving I'm really quite bad at saying "oooh, quick take a photo of that out the right window"...

..."oooh, and out the left too". I'm surprised I wasn't punched.

Of course, Sunday was the Superbowl, and even in a tourist haven like Sedona, the locals had their priorities straight ;-)

[Moozik: The Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais]

When I'm 90 years old, drinking my pint of Guinness, boring young whippersnappers to death with stories of the days when it took a good half an hour to get to New Zealand from the US, I'd love to be able to say I'd seen some of this planet the old fashioned way.

(Actually just recently on Christmas Day I felt about 90 years old having to explain to teenagers how, as kids, we happily waited a good 20 mins for a video game to load from cassette tape back in the day. I honestly thought they were going to say "er, ok Granddad".)

Anyway, where was I going with this? Oh yes, right, looking back on your life ensuring you've sufficiently seen the planet. Well, if that's your thing. A friend of mine said that his goal in life is to ensure he doesn't die with a big boil on his bum.

A noble goal I feel. But for me, I'm rather partial to travel. I'm sure as I get older this list will change but for now, these are the places I would love to visit before I get too old to appreciate it.

• Australia. Great Barrier Reef. The Outback.

• Japan. Tokyo.

• China. Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Great Wall of China.

• Egypt. Pyramids, Sphinx, Nile.

• Arctic Region. Icebergs, Polar Bears in their natural habitat.

• Amazon. Rain forest, river, jungle.

• Kenya. Animals in their natural habitat.

So a bucket list of where I suppose. One day I'll have to think of a different bucket list consisting of what. That might be fun actually.

Where are the places you'd love to visit before you depart this mortal coil?

[Moozik: Lords Of Acid - I Sit On Acid]

With only a few days to go until Christmas I figured now was as good a time as any to start thinking about those year in review type posts. 2008 proved to be a year of many firsts. A quick recap via photos.

First Time In New York

First Time Seeing The Cure

First Time I Realized I Grew Up In A Picturesque Village

First Time In Paris

First Time In Dublin

First Time Hiking

First Time Calling Ourselves A Couple

Did you have any firsts in 2008?

[Moozik: The Cure - Harold And Joe]

If you ever get the chance to go to Dublin, go. Really. We spent a whirlwind two days there and I would certainly go back. Everyone is extremely friendly and laid back. In fact I think that sums up Dublin in a nutshell.

We stayed in the Temple Bar district which was home to some really quaint cobbled streets.

Taking the hop-on, hop-off bus tour is certainly a great way to get around the city.

Dublin has some really amazing Georgian buildings.

And one particular surprising one. Look familiar?

Dublin has 800 pubs.

So of course, it's only polite to visit a couple of them. Complete with Irish music...

...and pints of the obligatory black goodness. Hmm, spot the odd one out?

And what visit to Dublin would be complete without a visit to the Guinness brewery.

After taking the tour, you go up to the gravity bar which offers really spectacular 360° views of the city...

...and everyone gets one free Pint of that yummy goodness. I've never seen so many people drink Guinness in one place before.

So yes, you must go to Dublin. And sample some of that Guinness for yourself.