The Return of the Dragon:

So here I am, 5 months after returning from my grande adventure and despite the hideously rocky road I’ve travelled since then, I have not been deterred from my overwhelming desire to see the world.As I have always been wont to do, I have various ‘maybe’ trips in pre planning. There are many variables that will influence, the where, what and how, but there is one constant… I will be heading off into the wide world for another peek sometime during the next year.This trip was the most amazing thing I have ever done. Such a monumental undertaking for a single mum who’s never travelled alone overseas. My first time in America, my first experience of having to fend for myself and I did an amazing job. The photos for me are not just a permanent reminder of where I’ve been but another of my obsessions in their own right. The pursuit of the perfect shot is something that drives me to some ridiculous lengths but it’s a passion that I cheerfully indulge …. And in case your wondering, yep… I did finally get some shots of the castle that I love and intend to add to the collection of my favourite shots on my office wall.I’d also like to make special mention of my most fabulous Southern friends, Steve, Sherri, Evelyn and Bill. Had it not been for this wonderful family, I doubt my tour experience would have been quite as rich as it was. I was welcomed into their family space with that famous Southern hospitality without a moments hesitation and I learned so much about life in the South and perfecting the art of that glorious accent that I emulated so frequently while on the tour and also for weeks after my return to the land down under was such a treat. My next visit to the US will definitely include a trip to the Southern States to visit my friends and to see their beloved Razorbacks play.

I can’t begin to express how much this trip changed my life.Not only did I see what I was capable of, but I suspect that the simple act of just experiencing life on other parts of the planet is something that will continue to be an addiction I can‘t shake.Thanks for sharing my journey, these gypsy feet will be no doubt be dancing their way through more of the world before too much longer - feel free to join me again for more of my exploits. I’ll post a link so you can join team Mushu again.
I'll also add some more of my favourite photos when time permits...

Keep smiling… it makes them wonder what you’ve been up to. ;)

Love Lisa. Xxx

The Last Days:

This entry has been a long time coming. It has taken me months to recover sufficiently to finish this blog but there is good reason for that.Two days before I was due to fly home, my beloved mum passed away from complications with her heart surgery.I have never felt such desolation and isolation in my life.The last days of what has been my biggest adventure to date were so scarred by such an enormous loss. My blood relatives now reduced to two sisters and my own two precious children.I was due to fly home 48 hours later. As mums condition existed prior to my departure, her death didn’t qualify for an insurance funded alteration to my flights so I had to fill in another day an a half before checking out and heading back to the land down under.I went through the motions of saying farewell to a place I’d dreamed of visiting as long as I can remember. I imagine every Disney fan feels a wrench leaving hallowed ground but for me it effected me deeply.More life altering than anyone should have to bear.I did what I imagine are all the usual things… last minute shopping, last rides on the favourites, last churro, last castle photo, last character hug.Although, I can remember barely eating those last days, I was running on auto, so I did miss some opportunities to partake of distinctively Disney fare. I also lost the taste for the wild rides, and my last ride was on my favourite… the Tea Cups.Then it was back to my room at the Menage for what was to be a truly Herculean effort of organising my luggage so that every little thing was packed and ready to go. I was the most worried about the huge bottle of Strawberry magarita mix that was nestled amongst my favourite clothes and leather boots but it made it home unscathed. It cost me a pretty penny to get that extra bag home but so very worth it.The flight home was interesting. I got a bulkhead seat so I had so much room to stretch out it was ridiculous. Trouble was, I was on the window seat and then had to crawl over two men to get out when the need arose. The one on the end wasn’t such a worry. A spiffily dressed, chatty and surprisingly cute miner from WA, only a fraction younger than me, who I wished was the one in the centre seat rather than the old smelly man who actually got centre stage.None the less, I again slept the majority of the way home and then the blur of travel included being back on home turf, unpacking ( read - upending my suitcase on the bed and hurling in clothes for a chilly Victorian winter funeral, which under any circumstances would have been dreadful) and then returning to the airport early the next morning heading for Melbourne.So in 24 hours, I had been in LA, New Zealand, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and finally after a series of handoffs between cousins and a seemingly endless car journey, a tiny dot on the map in the middle of Victoria.The sadness was so overwhelming, made worse by the backlash from some of my mums closest friends due to my being overseas at the time. Being snubbed at my mothers funeral by a few families was something I could never had envisaged coming from the people I grew up amongst. But grief has some strange side effects and some people need someone to blame. Despite the ill feeling, I managed to hold it together at her funeral to read a letter I’d written her earlier in the year, telling her how much she meant to us all.I’m sure both mum and dad will still keep a seat warm for me in heaven, and I’m sure she’s surrounded by flowers more beautiful than any of us could ever imagine. I love you mum.In my work, I have constant contact with many women my age, helping their growing-elderly mothers to shop. I see many frustrated daughters trying to grasp the changes in their parent as they age and require more patience. To those women I simply want to remind you how fortunate you are to see your parent at that stage of their life. Cherish it. Ask the questions you’ve been meaning to. Solidify your knowledge of your family’s roots. The opportunity to do so can be taken from you without a moments notice.The last words I said to my mother were, ‘I love you mum’ said before I departed on my trip.Her last words to anyone were ‘just love each other’.Can there be any better advice?

Bee Stings and Toony things....

I woke early, determined to do both Toon Town and Critter Country today.
Now that is a mouthful because I think I've only made it to the park at the 'recommended hour' a couple of times :) ... I'm on holidays after all.
So I arrived probably the earliest I had done the whole trip and was rewarded by being second in line when the duck himself emerged with a handler ready for happy snaps. So with Donald under my belt ( so as to speak) I decided to try my luck at a castle photo without a thousand people and strollers in it.

Well, I'm not sure what time one has to arrive in front of the castle to get a shot without bodies but I sure wasn't there at that time. I stood there for an age waiting for the ambling stroller driven hoards to clear the shot so I could have half a chance at getting the one I wanted. Alas, I am yet to get that shot, because despite my patience, I still had bodies in every shot.

One of the cast members asked if I wanted a shot of myself there, and while they are not my favourite shots, I relinquished the camera and smiled dutifully for a photo that I knew, even before she pressed the shutter, would be missing feet and a little too far to the right.
Oh well, I'll try again another day.
I did get some nice shots of PIECES of the castle, I'd just like one... just one... without bodies. It doesn't seem to worry the majority of the population that they are taking those happy snaps with another 4 families in the frame. But it irks me.

Anyway, I cut my losses and headed for Toontown, only to discover that it doesn't open when the park does. It only opens at 9am so I leaned against the railing and talked to the other people waiting for those gates to open wide.
I spoke to one family in particular - the little one in the ubiquitous stroller was a bit fractious so I delved into my backpack and pulled out one of the little clip-on koala's that I'd taken to give to cast members and random people that might have shared magic with. That did the trick and after that we chatted for the duration of the wait.
It turned out that the mom had worked for a couple of years on the Disney Cruise line as an officer and she was a wonderland of interesting stories. Insider info is always fascinating. I could have stood there and talked to her for another hour.

But before long, the wait was over and we charged into Toontown and there were only a handful of people there - clearly it takes a while for the bulk of the tourists to filter through that far into the park. I went straight for Roger Rabbits ride and got the first FP of the day, then lined up and walked straight onto the ride. I rode it several times in quick succession so didn't bother coming back to use the FP because I'd had my fill early.
One disappointment was that Donalds Boat was all closed up and covered up and I wondered if it were having some kind of reno that I'd not heard was happening.
I wandered around, taking copious photos, all the bright primary colours of that land standing out starkly against the brilliant blue Californian summer sky. It was picture perfect.... and then the worst thing happened. My camera battery died. Which would not have been an issue if the back up one that I had in my backpack was charged like I'd assumed.
Oh well... I'd taken almost all the photos that i'd intended, only I hadn't been to visit Mickey and there was no way on Gods Green Earth I was doing that without a camera !
So I turned reluctantly for the entrance of Toontown and decided to just ride some random rides for a while and then make up my mind on the next plan.

Only two rides in, I just could take it no more... not having a camera in my hand proving too traumatic, and headed for the exit and onto a bus bound for Target which was only about 4 blocks away.

Sitting at the bus stop seems to be something I do a lot these days.... I'm loving discovering all the places that the buses take me on the one ticket. Unfortunately todays time sitting waiting wasn't so pleasant. I could feel a bug on my toes and wriggled them so it would fly away but it kept coming back. Eventually I thought it had gone away - but I didn't bother to take a look seeing as I couldn't feel it there, I just assumed it had - and only moments later, I could feel something crawling up my leg on the inside of my jeans.
Then it happened.
It stung me. Yep.... I had a bee crawling up the inside of my jeans. .... and I had to move fast to get it out and remove the stinger without pumping more of the venom into my system. I'm allergic to bee stings. But evidently - not terribly so with the kind that stung me.
Oh yes... my leg swelled up monumentally and it hurt like you would imagine a bee sting does but when I didn't experience the expected shortness of breath that generally accompanies bee stings for me, I felt confident that while my leg was throbbing, I could continue on my shopping sojourn.
The things we do...

Wow... Target US style.
What a fantastic place that is.
I had a full basket within a short time and with no concern for how i was going to get it all home, I gleefully headed for the checkout about an hour or two later.
One of the things I bought was a cell phone. One that the attendant assured me would be able to make calls outside the US ( NOPE.... it didn't :( ) And I bought the dear one on the shelf... $14.95 ... seriously... when they told me that they were sold out of the $9.99 one I was flabbergasted that there even was such a marvel... I had to check that I hadn't inadvertently wandered into the toy aisle. Still, I used it a surprising amount for the duration of the trip and can do so if I return in the future as its a prepaid and I just have to buy a recharge card to reactivate it.

Evenatually, I braved the really hot day outside again and walked in the direction of Disneyland, knowing there were the ART bus stops not all that far along.

IT was then that I discovered the shoe warehouse. No... relax.... not girly shoes... sports shoes.
This place was fantastic too, and I was delighted to find it considering I'd been told by NO.1 son not to come home without Nikes.
The problem was, there wasn't a pair of Nikes that came within cooee of what I thought the boy would like.
After just wandering around in this store for another 3/4 hour, I finally settled on a pair of Air Jordans ( also Nikes he later informed me) that I thought would pass muster for the 17 year old. I was very very tempted to also get the tiny baby converses' for my baby nephew butt resisted - knowing the lack of room I was suffering from in the suitcase department.

Outside, the sun was so nice, that I made the decision to walk back to Disneyland ( it didn't seem as far as it actually was when I had travelled there on the bus) and arrived exhausted and ... shall we say.... sun kissed ( if the sun had pink lipstick on at the time) and really keen to be back in my hotel and cool.
I spent the afternoon, at the hotel, in the pool, checking emails, updating the blog and generally taking it easy. By this time the camera battery was charged again and it was time to head back to Disneyland for the evening.

I wandered around, taking night shots which without a tripod was proving frustrating. But persevere I did and ended up with a few really good ones. I finally got a photo or two of the castle that I half liked and some of Main Street with all the lights sparkling away.

I'd opted for the late showing of Fantasmic and found myself a spot where I had an unobstructed view and more importantly - a rail to support the camera so I had half a chance of getting a few clear shots of the show.
Fantasmic is just amazing. Part of the show is projected onto hight pressure water 'curtains' that shoot into the sky, and the effect is spectacular. Everything from Pink elephants from the Dumbo movie to various villains to Mickey in scenes from Fantasia.
Along with elaborately lit floats carrying various princesses and their beaus, the Columbia sailed around with a blazing battle between Peter Pan and Captain Hook taking place in the rigging of the tall ship.
The finale began with fireworks off the side of the Mark Twain that sailed past with Steamboat Mickey at the helm and dozens of other Disney personalities waving from many vantage points.
The first time I saw this show, I had such a bad spot and could see so little that i wasn't all that sure it was worth staying at the park that late for but on seeing it for the second time, and with an unobstructed view, I loved it.
From there I ambled back along Main St. Its become a habit that on the way out of the park I check the shops and wander to my hearts content, almost always buying yet more pins and by now, starting to finalise gifts for friends and family.

On my way to the exit, I stood in fromt of the Mickey garden wanting to get a shot of Tink all lit up.

This compulsion soon became the need to get all the shots...

Tink lighting up.
Tink throwing her pixie dust light oer the Mickey head garden.
And then the mickey Head bursting into sparkling lights all lit with pixie dust.

That process took me almost an hour to get ones I was half happy with thanks to blurry shots and bodies littering the frame. Eventually, I was satisfied with my efforts and wandered over to try my luck at the California Letters lit up.

Even at midnight there were lits of bodies to contend with and I had to wait for a loooong time for the people to clear out of sitting on, in, and around the individual letters. And because I was standing there waiting, I ended up taking lots of photos for other people who wanted themselves in the shot with the lit up letters.

But the last shot of the night was my reward.

A clear shot of all the letters sans bodies.
Happy girl. :)

Day 8: (The Block On Orange) shopping in the OC...Clueless....

Anyone seen the movie Clueless? You must have a million times like me.

I love love love that movie and if you can picture the scene where the girls hit the shopping mall and come out laden with all those lovely crisp cardboard carry bags and boxes... then superimpose my persona right there holding said bags and boxes in both arms, then you would have an accurate picture of what I looked like returning to the hotel tonight.

Exhausted but on a shoppers high like only the OC can muster.
Yep folks... I was shopping in Orange County today and what an amazing place the Block on Orange is.

Its the size of a shopping centre ( not satellite city sized but still huge) but its all outside rather than bound together by a roof, and outlet shops mingle with regular ones and all pretty much without exception were having a 'summer sale' and the bargains were just mind boggling.

Oh.... Girls.... The clothes.... the SHOES ...... (that needs saying again ) the SHOES..... and handbags and.....

OMG the lingerie....

You just know I wasn't leaving Victoria Secret without one of those gorgeous pink stripy carry bags with each delicate piece wrapped in pink tissue. Or Fredericks of Hollywood for that matter... (google it..... what can I say... some girls can't pass a handbags shop... I can't pass one with exquisite lingerie in it - thats my cross to bear)
And then there was the Guess store.... and Hollister.... and Old Navy.... and Papaya.... and Oh my giddy aunt... the list is just endless.

What a wonderland this place was.
I think I'm looking at an extra suitcase when I return home... and yep, while I was there, I popped into Flight Centre and asked about how much it was going to cost me (gulp)

I really enjoyed hopping buses (I had to change a couple of times) and seeing some of Anaheim and then the OC. What an eye opener. the shopping here in the States is wicked.

I really wished I'd had a shopping buddy ( or a sherpa ) but I still had a very satisfying day.
I had decided that I was having a bad hair day so I emerged from the hairdressing supply store with peroxide, tint brush, scissors and comb and gloves ( I'd brought my colour with me - can't take chances on having a colour disaster now can we girls) and had a complete makeover back in my room that night - the works.... colour, trim and blowdry... all for the princely sum of about $27... sometimes it pays to be an ex-hairdresser.

I was so exhausted when I got back that dinner was a Krispy Kreme (or two... oh ok... or three).

You know how just before Christmas you lay the present out and do an even up? Well, I do... anyway. I did this (and gulped for the second time today at the thought of having to get it all home) and made a list of the gifts I still needed to buy and then tried to write up the day but fell asleep at the keyboard again, so gave up and went to bed....
There's always tomorrow right?

Shots from Innoventions

A few more photos.

The first one is of the Xbox consoles that were just wicked. Not that I was all that good, but they were fun.
The second one is what I will look like in 60 years... (The 'old' me is on the left by the way :) )

The next one is of the circuit board tree which was amazing and went from the bottom floor, through the centre and up into the ceiling of the top floor. Its branches were kind of see through from what I remember.

The fouth one was a new section they are still developing from what I could see... lots of roped off/covered bits and entrances. Lots of touch screen stuff about choosing your future dream lifestyle.

Some photos from the new House of Tomorrow exhibit

Some shots from the new House of Tomorrow exhibit. The first one is of the front door, no key required, its programmed to your touch with a hand panel on the right. Also the doggy door is automated to work on a signal from the pets id.
Second shot is of the house's entertainment menu (currently on the music selection of one of the parentd) When, say, the mother enters, she presses the screen on 'moms preferences' and all her albums come up and she just presses the album/track/playlist she wishes to play. This was really cool, its linked all over the house.
The third shot is a small corner of the office... I want it... enough said.

Toy Story Mania photos... Part 4

The first one is of the end scene that you walk through to exit the ride... Its the scene where the Midway game that you were just playing (as a toy) is laid out on the floor of Andy's house.
Last one... the lights. I lined up at 6pm and exited the ride at 9:15pm - a looooong wait indeed. Just to give you an idea of the crowds... the majority of the day, the line was between 5 and 6 hour wait (that was for one ride), and it began not all that far from the bridge as you enter the park and snaked its way through A Bugs land, zig zagged its way all over the boardwalk beside Ariels Grotto ( it was at least 3 hours from there) and then zig zagged its way for endless roped off areas all around the entrance of the ride. There was media set up all over the place (in the prime positions naturally) and you couldn't get near the talking Mr Potato Head because of the media circus. The first day pins were good, I'll post pictures tomorrow, but were on the upper end of the scale of price. I thought the regular Toy Story Mania pins that were available when I first arrived were much nicer though and am pleased I bought one then because they all but sold out today I understand.
It was quite an experience to be there on the opening day of a new ride. The waiting was interminable but in the end, the ride spoke for itself... its going to be very popular. I was cornered to do a survey when I exited the ride ( might have had something to do with the Jessie T-shirt I had on ) and I noted that there were mostly 'Excellents' given as responses. Not all that impressed with most of the merchandise though....