Posting 3: LAX - SLC

Tom Bradley International (LAX),
originally uploaded by JohnConn.

Friday 7 Oct (still!...)

Apart from the 3 mile hike to the customs area from the gate, arrival was a bit of a non-issue.

Security to check-in for the domestic flight to Salt Lake was another story altogether. On clearing immigration I made my way to the Delta check-in desk in terminal 5 which is conveniently next to the main International terminal. Just a short walk down the street. I checked in and received my boarding pass and I then had to deliver my main suitcase to the X-Ray guy who asked me a bunch of questions about it and whether it was unlocked etc. I then had to go queue up somewhere else and they checked my boarding pass and passport again (3rd time). Once I got to the top of the stairs, I found the area where you get your hand luggage scanned. Off with the shoes, out with the laptop,again out with the passport and boarding pass. My boarding pass had a special code on it which identified me as someone who needed a more thorough security check.

Next thing was to try and withdraw some cash from the ATM. Ahh the relief...US Cash from our savings without any hassles.

The flight to SLC was good. It was on a Canadair Jet (two seats either side of the aisle). The flight from Los Angeles basically follows the road you drive if you drive from LAX to SLC but from a vantage point of 33000 feet. We flew right across until we were over Vegas and then it follows the Interstate right up to Salt Lake. This was particularly good since we HAVE done that drive before it was good to be able to pinpoint places - Bryce and Zion were easily identifiable as was the Grand Canyon way off in the distance. Also flew over St George.

Off flying with Shayne's friend tomorrow morning. Need to be at Provo airport at 8.30 sharp. Catcha. J

Posting 2: AKL - LAX

10am Los Angeles time. Still an hour to go on the flight and I'll be glad when it is finally over. You don't realise how long eleven hours is until you do it sitting down unable to sleep... Fortunately the flight wasn't full and so I have ended up with a row of three seats to myself. But even then I couldn't get comfortable. Two movies this leg - Mr & Mrs Smith and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - both pretty boring.

One of the passengers got sick while we were still in Auckland waiting to leave the gate and he ended up having to leave the plane, so they then had to remove his luggage which delayed the flight by about 25 minutes. According to the inflight map info now we are scheduled to arrive only 5 minutes after we were originally due to so they must have put the foot down and made up some time.

Oh and they forgot to feed me my dinner! They started bringing around the coffee and tea and only then realised that they hadn't given a few of us supper. Choices were Lamb something and fish something. I chose the lamb but they had run out, the stewardess offered me two lots of the fish instead as a consolation. If you didn't want fish in the first place, surely two lots of fish isn't gonna make up for the lack of lamb? Anyway, I ended up scoring a Moroccan chicken dish from Business class instead hehe. Yummy.

Just watched the video on arriving in LA and am mentally preparing for my fingerprinting and mugshot photo. Crazy times. Hopefully I'm not gonna be queueing for hours at customs and immigration.

J (3.17am Canberra time)

Posting 1: Aoteroa

Relatively uneventful first leg. The Sydney - Auckland flight had the in-seat, 'choose your own movie' screens, so I had a pick of things to watch. Although by the time they got around to switching the inflight entertainment on, there was less than two hours of movie viewing time which limited options somewhat. Kicking and Screaming (the new Will Ferrell flick) got my pick. It helped pass the time a little and was mildly amusing. The meal was good, although nowhere near enough. The flight was smooth. Hopefully the jumbo to LAX will have more legroom though...

Auckland Airport is a bit of a mess. Just like a great big maze with little or no-one knowing what is going on. The International departure lounge looks to be either under construction, demolition or refurbishment. But I am unclear as to which exactly... Somebody needs to introduce these people to signposts.

Plane begins boarding in a few minutes. Will post again from SLC.

Hmm. Don't seem to be having much joy with the wireless...This will be posted whenever I get Internet access...

Tootles!

J

I fly out tomorrow!

Well, tomorrow is the beginning of my two week adventure to the US. Got a few final things sorted today namely: travel insurance, a trip to the dentist (yippee) and a visit to the solicitors to execute(!) my Will (very morbid).

All sorted and a little bit closer to feeling like I'm actually going on holiday...still need to book one night's accommodation in LA for the last night before heading home. I'll try and get something sorted tonight otherwise I'll have to sort something while I'm away.

I was a bit concerned about the dentist visit since I had what felt like a huge crack (a rough edge) in one of my molars which already has a large filling. Turns out it was just the edge of the filling, the join, so she just sanded it down and gave it a polish and it feels fine once more. She was quite confident that it shouldn't give me any troubles. I had visions of the filling falling out while away and having to make use of my travel insurance for emergency dental treatment! While I was there I had a general check up as well as some highly enjoyable tooth scraping with that evil spikey hook thing. Fun.

While in Utah, Shayne has organised with a friend of his (old school teacher I believe) to take us flying in his plane up the Provo Canyon which should be an absolute hoot. There has been some snowfalls during the week so the mountains should look spectacular. I'll try and get some good shots and post them here. We're gonna go hiking on one of the days up Mt Timpanogos and I'm really looking forward to that too.

Anyhoo, I'll try and keep this blog up to date as much as I can while I'm away, so tune in and see what I'm up to.

NEXT POST (from me at least) FROM UT. Catcha!