2012 BLOG FINALLY LAID TO REST, NOW THE 2013 ONE BEGINS

Ok that was an effort but I can finally say that now it is finished and not before time.  I am now free to start my new adventure and this one is going to be awesome to.  Im spending 2 weeks in America with my bestest oldest friend in the entire world.  Friends since we were 1 year old.  Now I get to share her wedding day in no other city but Vegas.  Such a fitting setting for such an event.  Justine is the only one that would get me to travel to the other side of the world for such an event, this trip almost didn't happen for me but in the end it worked out and im glad it did.   After the Vegas Extravaganza and the wedding of 2013 we then travel to my favourite American city, New York City, 5 nights with her and her new family.  You have now idea how excited I am.  1 working day left and 2 days in Melbourne left until I am Vegas Bound for 2 weeks of awesomeness with some pretty amazingly special friends.

LEAVING - MY 2012 ADVENTURE HAS COME TO AN END :(

OMG it's over, I'm going home, we're all going home. My awesome adventure and experience has finally come to an end.  I have so many emotions going on inside me right now.  I'm sad that I am no longer living a carefree lifestyle, traveling and experiencing everything that Europe, London and America threw at me but happy to be finally getting home to see everyone that I have missed.  I have some of the most amazing memories, met some wonderful people I will always call friends.  Seen some amazing places. 63 cities, 13 countries and 4 Continents - WOW!!!!  I did all that on my own and I survived.  I stepped out of my comfort Zone as far as I ever thought I could ever possibly step out of it and I succeeded!!!  I now know that I can do and be anything I choose to be.  No longer the scared, non confident Kiwichick I was when I left 127 days ago. Ciao from me on this adventure bit rest assured it is only the beginning. I am going to miss this lifestyle soo much.  Stay tuned for the next installment of Kiwichick Unleashes on the world Part 2 ;) 

NBA GAME # 2 - CLIPPERS V MEMPHIS (HALLOWEEN) FINAL SCORE CLIPPERS 101 v GRIZZLIES 92.

Ok now the boys choice was to go to their 2nd NBA game on our final night in America.  It was my newly adopted team the Clippers and the Grizzlies.  OMG talk about a drama getting there.  Because it was Halloween the traffic was nuts.  What was supposed to be a 30 min drive took almost 2 hours.  It was horrific, we were all freaking out thinking that it wasn't gonna happen.  After many stressful detours and literally being able to see the Staples Centre but not being able to get to it we finally made it with 10 mins to spare.  So glad we didn't give up cause the game was pretty cool but the atmosphere and the entertainment was crazy.  These guys know how to party and the half time entertainment was amazing.  It was like a full on show, not what u would expect to see at a basketball game.  All I can say is that it was another end to another awesome experience.  I can truly say I have fallen for this little old place they call the USA ;)

ANAHEIM & DISNEYLAND

Excited to finally get to Disneyland.  I mean seriously I'm 40 yrs old and this is my first visit.  It was hard to gauge who out of me and the kids was more excited!!!!  Disneyland as a whole is just one of those places where you become a kid again. T dosent matter how old you are, you love every second there.  It's such a long day tho.  We spent 13 hours just walking, playing, exploring and riding rides.  It was such a fun day and watching the kids run around like they were little kids again was awesome.  I can honestly say it was the best day and the kids were smashed, exhausted beyond belief.  

TIJUANA

WOW we r in Mexico!  Crossing the border was pretty cool and quick.  Arriving in Mexico and your confronted with such poverty.  Driving from the boarder to the beach was freaky.  Ur on the main roads and your following military trucks with dudes armed with fully automatic weapons and its nothing. Not sure if I'm a fan of that.  We arrive at the beach and bang smack in your face is the boarder fence.  It's big, metal and extends into the water.  On the American side of the fence there are cameras pointing to the Mexican side everywhere.  You can imagine the Boarder Patrol would be in your arse in minutes.  The fence is covered with 100'a of crosses in memory of the people that didn't make the escape :( it's really quite sad that these people are so desperate to escape that they would risk their lives for freedom.  Tijuana beach could be amazing, the views are to die for the there is just no money and the buildings along the beach are just dero, it's amazing they are still standing and more to the point they have people living in them. Walking along the beach you could easily forget where u were. We get back up to the Main Street and walk back to the car and couldn't help but notice the awesome street art/graffiti - such talent!!  The kids are hungry and we still have no where to stay so figure we better start looking for somewhere to stay.  We drove for a while and found a place, it was clean, big and close to where we decided to have dinner.  The people in Mexico are beautiful, they have absolutely nothing but yet they give you what they can, always smiling and making the most of what they have.  Dinner was awesome and the locals there were so humble. The waitress was so worried that she didn't get our order right so she asked her boss to come out and check with us.  It was a new job to her and she didn't want to upset us.  She was beautiful. I couldn't help but give her a good tip.  Knowing that they share the tips I tipped normally but also went up to her and gave her a private tip.  I didn't realize that what I have her was almost what she would earn I'm a whole month.  She ran away and almost cried then came came as we were leaving and thanked me. So sweet.  We get back to our room, have an early night cause the kids weren't keen in watching tv cause nothing was in English lol.  The next day we drive around again and find a little market. We go looking for trinkets and I find the most amazing food stall. The kids were a little unsure about eating from here but I made them take the chance and boy did they love it.  Brought some cool Mexican souvenirs and then took off again.  It's funny these guys paint their donkeys with black stripes to look like zebras. Half of these donkeys had washed out or fading stripes. It was hilarious.  It was time for the boarder crossing back to America.  This is something I wasn't ready for!  It took hours!!!  You sit in the car in the heat and just wait in a massive que, locals coming up selling trinkets, food, junk & even just begging. To tell you the truth I couldn't get away from that part quick enough and also trying to stop 3 grumpy boys from cracking the shits was a massive feat in itself.  So as an experience I loved Tijuana but it sort if freaked the boys out.  They couldn't comprehend the poverty and I think they did realize just how bloody lucky they really are.

SAN DIEGO BOUND

Leaving Los Angeles again but this time we are all San Diego bound.  Looking forward to some good shopping and the world famous San Diego Zoo.  I can't wait to see a Pink

Flamingo and a Panda Bear.  I'm a little excited :) We get to out hotel, drop our stuff Md take off to explore the city.  We park right on the water and walk along the Harbour.  It's stunning.  We walk for ages? Poor dads knee is giving him Grief but we are all keen to spend money.  We find this amazing shopping centre and after a few hours in there walk out having spent a small fortune!  Loved it.  Head back to our amazing motel and the kids end up watching some movie in the massive movie screen while swimming in the pool.  They were in heaven.  I was excited for the morning cause we were going to the zoo. 

Its Zoo day and i cant eIt to get there. Walk in and OMG OMG OMG the first thing I see  is a Pink Flamingo - so pretty.  My camera was going nuts. They are not wrong when they say its the best zoo in the world.  The setting is second to none and it has Panda Bears & a baby one at that.  We finally find them and your not going to get me away from them in a hurry.  I'm clicking, I'm videoing, I'm in love.  They are so cheeky and so playful.  It's as if they know that everyone is there for them.  One of them was playing hide in seek behind a massive bamboo branch in the enclosure. I wanted to take him home.  He was adorable.  I don't know how long we spent at the zoo but it was an awesome day and it shits on any other zoo i've been to. Zoo day finished and time to hit the factory outlets with heaps more money to be spent and apparently lots more basketball gear to be brought!   I'm honestly worried about how we are going to get all our bags home, I mean seriously there is literally no room left in the Dodge for anything else.