User Name: Pvampyre23685 Hometown: Las Vegas, NV # of U.S. States visited: 20 # of countries visited: 3 Next trip planned: Los Angeles Dream trip: Hawaii or Ireland

Description of my trip: In March of 2006 I decided what better way of meeting a friend of over 8 years than to fly to a country that i had never been to before. I set the trip for November 8th-21st 2006. I flew for 13 hours not including layovers from Las Vegas to Sydney Australia. I left Las Vegas Nevada at 6:20pm Nov. 8th after a complimentery upgrade to first class on the first leg of my trip. I flew into San Fransisco for a 1 hour 44 minute layover to get on a non stop flight to Sydney Australia. After not talking to the person i was going to see for 18 hours due to the time difference of me leaving he sat unaware if i was on my way or not. I call home to tell my mom to send Matt a message saying I was on my way. But come to find out he didn't check his email between the last time I had talked to him. I finally figure out where to go in the airport that was not only huge but also being remodeled. I get on Quantas airlines for a 12 hour flight from San Fransisco to Sydney. Not only was it my first time being out of the country but also the first time ever on a 747 jumbo jet. I got a nice seat right in front of the wing so i could see the desent into Sydney and also a very beautiful view of the sun rising over the ocean. I arive in Sydney on time at 8am Nov. 10th. I get off the airline expecting a long wait in line to get through customs but the customs officers moved a portion of the long line into the Australia/New Zealand Pasport line. Which in turn got me through customs in under 15 minutes. I guess it is record time to get through customs. I finish up getting through customs to see my friend is not there waiting on me. I was disapointed but found out that since I was sent through the other line for passports i came out on the wrong side of the airport. A security guard watched my belongings while I navigated the airport to the other side where lo-and-behold there was my friend standing. Love at first sight... I never believed in it until that day. I recieved the bigest hug ever in my life at that moment. From there on it was an awesome trip of exploration and adventure. I got to see Sydney Opera House, The Harbour Bridge, The Great Divide, beautiful country side, ride on a ferry for the first time, Meet family and friends, see kangaroo's, see a wallaby, see an Aboriginal, and also see the southern cross. As i left on November 8th my father looked at me and informed me that just remember if Matt wasn't what i expected to remember i got to take a trip of a lifetime that someone may people may never get a chance to take. When November 21st came i was not ready to leave my now fiance for a long 9 months until he was able to reach the United states. Now less than 2 months until he gets here i feel that the 9 months have flew by.


Favorite memories: Meeting my Fiance for the first time. Meeting his family and friends. Getting to see a beach for the first time since i was 18 months old. Getting to see the Sydney Opera house, and Harbour Bridge. Getting to eat Tim Tams, and Sausage rolls(Australian Cookies and lunch food). Seeing Native Australian Aboriginies(spl). Seeing the Ocean for the first time. Getting to see Kangaroos in their untaimed habitat. My first full day there i discovered that Australians eat more times in one day than I ever thought (Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Arvo(afternoon) Tea, Dinner, and Supper).


Unexpected detours: Snow in the mountains where it hadn't snowed in over 50 years. Had to stop and take pictures. 120k of 35kph turns and curves while going through the great divide.


Roadblocks: Coming home, I didn't want to. And driving on the left side of the road while seated on the right side of the car while learning how to navigat a round-a-bout.


I'll never forget: The look on my now fiances face when i walked up to him after he waited for 15 minutes on the wrong side of the airport. Also seeing the blue haze over the blue mountains from the eucalyptys trees oil. Taking a trip of a lifetime to a beautiful country.


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