Las Vegas: Aug 10th - Aug 21st 2006

The weather was hot hot hot! I seriously reckon I lost a few inches off my waist walking around in that heat!! I bought a pair of jeans that fit nicely at the beginning of the week but towards the end of the week were feeling loose (not me - the jeans =P). We did alot of walking everywhere - was so weird adjusting to being able to drink anywhere anytime! By 9am the next day Markus and I had a beer in our hands and were heading down the strip to see what trouble we could get up to. Had to keep reminding myself that I didn't have to quickly skull the rest of my beer before heading outside or to the next place. Sweeeet. We must have spent more money on bottled water than on alcohol most days though.

Markus and I visited Madame Tussauds and I'll have to find where I put my CD of pics to upload them.

We did a bit of exploring our first day there before Shaune arrived. He wasn't very happy when we met up with him...the airline had lost his luggage. Anyhow, we didn't let that stop us from having a good time. We headed out that night and eventually found a nightclub that wasn't charging a ridiculous price for guys to get into. Girls get in free mostly heehee. One night I went clubbing on my own while the guys gambled outside. It was crazy inside! As soon as I hit the bar, one of the bar chicks leapt up onto the bar and started pouring vodka down our throats. Mmm...apple vodka. I think that's mostly what I drank there. Vodka. It's true what they let us think about Vegas...you really do go there to hook up. Guys were coming at me from every angle and seirously...within five minutes of being on the dance floor, I turned around and realised I was pretty much alone out there. Everyone had paired up and left. As I was dancing alone, it started to feel like I was putting on a free show for all the guys who didn't manage to hook up...so I left.

Another night, we all headed out to another club. Markus disappeared on us, which left Shaune and I stumbling around trying to make our way back to the hotel. This was no easy task - we were both totally shitfaced. We spent about an hour trying to find our way OUT of the hotel we were in. Everyone was giving us wrong directions!! Or perhaps we were simply too drunk to know our left from our right haha. We eventually made it outside and Shaune doesn't remember me hailing a taxi and getting back. He fell asleep in the shower while I fell asleep waiting for him to get out. I think he was in there for about an hour haha. Markus rocked up to our hotel room about 6am with Krispy Creams, bananas and water. He thought he had won some money in the casinos until he checked his bank statements muahaha.

I was really fortunate that the timing of my holiday coincided with really good shows. We got tickets to see 'O' and 'Ka' by Cirque de Soleil (however you spell it). I had my tickets to see Celine Dion *drool*. The show was so beautiful. We also found out that Drew Carey was in town doing an improv all stars show and we immediately bought tickets to that. Was hilarious!!!!

I did alot of fine dining alone...teppan yaki, Italian, steak houses, sushi. Anything to get away from all the fast food that was everywhere. THE BUFFETS IN VEGAS ARE AWESOME!! They have buffets that are like gigantic eating halls. I found a fantastic all you can eat seafood and sushi buffet...=P~~

Ok... in this collage there are some pics of/at various casino/hotels in Vegas. Shaune's showing off his winnings and oh it's such hard work gambling *wipes sweat from brow*. There's a sign that looked like it said '99c MEN' outside our hotel but if you lean over to the left, it actually says '99c MENU'. Woohoo!! 99c corndogs! I took Shaune and Markus to an all you can seafood and sushi buffet for lunch one day and I must have eaten at least as much as both of what they ate combined!! I've shown you all the empty jelly cups. MMm...jelly.

Shaune and I standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. That's right! We hired a car and drove there. On the way we passed through the Hoover Dam, I had the best ever Chipolato (!??) Hot Dog at a self service petrol station with mustard and lots of jalepenos *drool*.

The Canyon was magnificent. It stretches so far in every direction...with the haze it looked like we were just standing infront of a big billboard sign and any minute some guys would come along and take it away.

Breathless.

Las Vegas is definitely a place I would love to visit again. They're always demolishing and rebuilding larger and more extravagant casinos/hotels that it never becomes a stale holiday destination. Awesome fun for a girls trip away. I don't understand why people spend their hens nights or bucks nights there though. There's too much temptation =P

Sazzy's Blog Extreme Makeover

A big change is in the air people!

It has been a long time coming, but I am finally going to get around to managing this blog on a more regular basis as a way for my friends to be involved in what's going on for me.

I'll be posting regularly about all my food escapades, being such the foodie as I am. I won't be backtracking through everything that I've done throughout the year so far because it would just take me way too long to do that! Instead, I will update you with the highlights of the last few months and continue forging on with upcoming experiences.

Lately it's become a fun way for me to get out amongst friends and enjoy their company without having to get dressed up or spend alot of money as everyone seems to be on budgets nowadays. Instead, I rock up (sometimes in my pjs!) with some miscellaneous ingredients or they come over to my place and we do our own 'Ready Steady Cook'. Without the time constraints though...heehee

Sooo...if you're liking what you see and would like to get involved, get in touch with me!

I hope to have you all drooling very soon!

Saz =)

Home Sweet Home

Dear Diary,

I got home a few days ago and am really glad to be back! There was no jetlag because the flights were timed really well so I slept on the long flight to Sydney that left midnight Tuesday night and arrived in Perth about 11:30am Thursday. Where did that day and a half go!? I invested in one of those neck pillows this time and boy did it make a difference!! It's only been a few days since I got back but the whole trip already feels like a huge dream. Lots of entries to catch up on since I couldn't manage to log into my blog while I was over there. *flexes fingers*

It's great to be sleeping in my own room and in my own bed again!!! However, I really miss all the friends I made while over there. It was a great lifestyle...waking up and heading out in the morning...coming back to the hostel in the early afternoon and taking a nap. Then heading out again later. I found it true that Aussies and New Zealanders were the friendliest people I came across. The Brits were ok too but some were a bit reserved.

Now lies the huge task ahead of reconstructing my five weeks away. I guess I will break it down into the different places I was at. If anyone is interested...


UPDATE OCT 24TH '07 - I will be reconstructing my holidays on this blog not only so you can all see how much fun (and alcohol) I had, while I was away, but because I like to wander through all the mischief I got up to and remember the GOOD TIMES!

Day ZERO

Dear Diary,

Well it's Day ZERO! (Thanks Cambot)

I'm pretty much all packed up...just the last minute things like toothbrush, hair brush, etc. I'm feeling nervous yet excited. I went for a drive to the shops earlier to get some last minute items and was just enjoying the drive. I'm really going to miss the freedom of zipping around Perth in my car...window rolled all the way down with the radio blaring.

Just showed my mum my flight plan on our world globe. She's freaking out that I'm going to be all alone on the other side of the world. So am I.

Eight hours to lift off!! Or take off, rather.

'Up in the air I fly. Zoom Zoom Zoom Zoom Zoom' - anyone remember this song from playschool!? =P

5 Days

Dear Diary,

Well I've had a very busy 5 days off (still one more day to go!).

Wednesday: I really don't remember what I did that night! I must have had a quiet one at home with a glass of 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot - really really reaaaaaally good drop!

Thursday: Went to the Flying Pantsman (Scotsman) and it turned out to be karaoke night!! Was hilarious. Drank Stella pints.

Friday: Had a coffee date with a guy I met over rsvp.com - he turned out to be really nice and friendly. I'd really like to see him again. In the evening went to a friend's for pizza and then we all headed out to the Shed. Had an okay time but it was the band's last gig and so their third set was just all instrumentals and ballads. I took on a guy when he was making fun of one of my new friends and he backed off. I guess I can look mean and tough when I want to. I could have taken him. *flexes muscles*

Saturday (tonight): Had nothing to do since everyone had their own plans so tagged along with a heavy metal friend to crash a party in Trigg beach. Man was that a weird party!! I felt completely out of place except the Crownie in my hand. There were a couple of guys in animal suits. The girls were um...*ahem*.. We watched the first band perform in the tiny little lounge room and they were pretty good. Well at least I enjoyed it. But then there was an intermission before the next band and we went out the back. We found a balcony/tree house sorta thing that someone had built out the back and went up there and watched the crowd. I got hungry and luckily my friend was too so we headed off to KFC down the road and then couldn't be bothered returning to the party.

Sunday (well since it's now 3:00am it's today!): Going to high tea at the Hyatt with some girls from work and then to cocktails afterwards. After that who knows! I think I need to detox after this stretch of partying. All i wanna do is curl up in bed and watch tv. Or just stare at the ceiling.

Ok...I think my computer is tired now too coz it's lagging as I type. One more week of work (in biochemistry of all departments!!) and then several days to organise and finalise everything before I head off to the states. I'm feeling really nervous and excited at the same time.

Ok..bed time =)

Busy Busy Bumble Bee

Dear Diary:

Went to dinner tonight with some friends. Just listening to some music and procrastinating bed time right now. I've got the suitcase out on the floor ready to be packed. Two more weeks until my long awaited holiday to the US. I have alot to do until then!

The next few days are going to be busy ones for me. Tomorrow's sorting out my tax stuff. Possibly a date in the evening! Friday I'm having a big night out with anyone and everyone. Probably heading to the Shed. There always seems to be a huge queue to get in so the band must be good! Saturday will be for recovering from the big night out and perhaps going out in the evening. Sunday I have high tea in the afternoon with some girls from work. Then cocktails afterwards. Then back to work Monday.

I'm in the mood for a tear jerker right now. I think I'll go and watch Bicentennial Man. Love that movie =).

Saz.

Time Flies!

Dear Diary,

I've been busy with work (as usual) and planning my upcoming trips. I've been caught with the travel bug!! I've always wanted to travel but before it was a question of finance. Then it became a question of time. Now it's a matter of booking flights in the spur of the moment and then planning it out thoroughly afterwards! I've got two trips this year...first to the US in August/September and then to Egypt in November with a side trip in Singapore to see family on the way back.

So...five weeks in the US. What is a girl to do!? Well Shaune and Markus are coming with me to Vegas and we are sooo wreaking havoc at the Star Trek Convention. Shaune and I are also going to spin some unbelievable yet believable yarns to the Americans about life down under. We should have Markus direct a hidden camera to capture the amazement on their faces as we tell them how our koalas get high on eucalyptus leaves and our kangaroos are known to steal purses which turn up when the rangers do their monthly pouch inspections. The guys are leaving me after Vegas...then I shall continue on to Chicago for the Star Gate Convention (whee!!), then New York New York, then on to the city of angels (Los Angeles)...then back home to Perth to my own bed! I'm a bit anxious travelling alone for most of my trip...being a helpless girl and all. But I'll be staying at hostels and hopefully hook up with some interesting and sane ppls there!

Egypt...always wanted to go there. Can't wait to ask the tourguide in my oh so serious face 'where is the star gate actually buried? Can we go see it? Do SG-1 come by this way often?'. But seriously...I'm going there to attend a Nile River Workshop that's work related so it's tax deductible!!! I found out about it at a conference weekend and then a week later I had booked my flights and was scrambling to get the finances together. Spontaneous Saz!

Well..not much has been happening other than all the planning and stressing over the finances. Still making time for friends. But they're all paired up now or gone overseas and I'm becoming the odd wheel. The odd smaller wheel. I'm looking into perhaps joining the dating scene. I dunno...I mean I can easily go and ask out any cute guy i see but I just don't have the energy to play around. I just want the perfect guy to appear (on a day that I'm having a good hair day) and for me to know he's the one and just concentrate all my energy on him rather than dispersing it in several directions going on multiple dates. Maybe I'll meet someone while I'm in the US and he'll fall in love with me and fly to Perth to find me.

Ok...time to go to bed and really dream.