Hey everyone. Firstly i'd like to apologise for the lack of photos from Fiji or the US but the computers in Fiji were about a million years old and this computer i'm on now in the Philadelphia library is the first i've found that has a USB point but it still won't let me upload my photos. This country definately isn't as geared up for backpackers as OZ and NZ.

Anyway, other than that little moan i'm having a great time hear. After i last spoke to you i went out and walked down the Hollywood walk of fame. The Orbit hostel that i checked into in LA was in west Hollywood which was quite handy. We also went to Chinese Manns Theatre and saw all of the celebrity hand and footprints which were quite cool. My hands fit Jack Nicholsons, Jammos fit Steven Siegals which he was well happy with, and Garys fit d*** Van Dykes! The next day me and Jammo went to get our greyhound bus tickets for the tour round the US and on the way back got stuck watching baseball in a bar called Snow Whites Cafe which did 34oz beers for $7. The next day i got up early to get the bus to Santa Monica to have a look around. It was ok but quiet because it was cloudy and early. I think it would be a cool place when its sunny and busy. I then went back and checked out before getting a 7 hour bus ride to San Francisco.

I arrived in San Francisco about 8pm and checked into Pacific Tradewinds hostel. I then went for a walk and ended up going to the cinema to see Shrek 3 which wasn't great but entertaining enough. The next day i got up early and went to Alcatraz which was really good. I did the audio tour and found out about all the escape attempts. I then got the bus to Golden Gate bridge but decided not to walk it coz it was rubbish weather. I then went to Coit tower and got the lift to the top which was a pretty good view but it had no roof so it was really windy. That night i went to see Blades of Glory which was ok but no Anchorman. The next day i got the bus to Las Vegas.

The bus ride took ages. After 7 hours it stopped in LA and i was supposed to be there for an hour but the bus i was meant to get was full so i had to wait an extra 2 hours for the next one. I finally arrived in Las Vegas at 2am having left San Francisco at 9am the previous day. Needless to say i was knackered but had to walk a mile with my backpack to the hostel then found out that the Grand Canyon tour i was booked onto left at 7am the next day. I woke up after 3 hours sleep and went on the tour. I'm glad i did it coz the Grand Canyon was amazing. The photos (if i ever get them on here) don't do it justice. The tour also stopped at Hoover Dam which was also really impressive. I got back at 6pm and was shattered but couldn't go to bed as it was my only night in Vegas so had to go out on the strip. The Strip is exactly as you would imagine with neon lights everywhere. Its pretty cool though with loads of free entertainment. Outside the Bellagio there is an amazing fountain display where jets of water dance in time to music which is pretty cool. Outside the Mirage there is a volcano that erupts every 15 mins. Outside treasure island there is a sexy pirate show which was good eye candy but pretty odd. Then i decided that being in Vegas i had to at least gamble a bit so i decided to go to Caesars Palace seeing as its the most famous one. The minimum bet was $20 so i went to the roulette table and put $20 on black and doubled my money. I decided not to stop there and put $20 on red and $20 on 1-18. Red 9 came up and my $20 became $80. I decided to walk away having quadrupled my money and beat the system! Then i bought us a beer with my winnings before going for a long sleep. The next day we had to check out at 11am but our flight wasn't till 10pm so we went back to the strip and went and saw the lions in the MGM Grand and the tigers in the Mirage. We also went to see the gondolas in the Venetian but couldn't afford a ride on them. Vegas is pretty tacky as you'd expect but tis great fun and i can see why people spend so much time and money here. That afternoon we went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 which was ok. Better than the 2nd but not as good as the 1st. Then we got our plane at 10pm to Detroit.

Once in Detroit we got a 2hr bus ride to the Greyhound station. This was all i saw of Detroit but to be honest i don't want to see anymore. Its not a pretty place! We then had a 5hr bus journey to Sandusky in Ohio. Once here we checked into Breakers Express motel at the Cedar Point resort. We then went for an all you can eat pizza buffet before going back to the room, watching Groundhog Day on the tv, and getting an early night. The next day we went to Cedar Point amusement park which was awesome. Its been voted worlds best theme park 9 years in a row apparently. It has 15 roller coasters and we managed to do all 15 as well as the Power Tower and a log flume. The best ones were Millenium Force (a straight forward roller coaster but it has a pretty steep high drop and goes well fast), Maverick (one that goes upside down a lot and stops and starts a couple of time with awesome acceleration), Raptor (which goes upside down a lot and you have your legs dangling), and the mental Top Thrill Dragster that accelerates from a standing start to 120 mph before going vertically up 400 feet in the air whilst twisting, then going over the top and going vertically back down 400 feet whislt twisting. The whole ride lasts only 17 seconds but its unbelieveable! There was also a few wooden roller coasters, a couple of tame ones and Mantis which goes upside lots but instead of sitting down you're strapped in standing up which is weird. After the whole day here which was amazing we got the bus at 7.45pm to Pittsburgh. Here we parted with Gary going to New York and me and Jammo going to Washington DC.

We finally arrived in Washington DC at midday after a whole night on the bus. After this trip i hope i never see a bus again! Although its not too bad and its cheap way of getting around. Anyway we then get the bus to where we think our hostel is but its moved so we have to walk 2 miles with our backpacks on. We finally get to Washington Intenational Student Center and check in. I then crash out on the settee and fall asleep for 3 hours watching baseball. We then go out to get food before having an early night. The next day we go and see all of the major sights such as the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, FDR memorial falls, Washington Monument, and the Capitol. We also went to the air and space museum which was pretty cool. Absolutely knackered from walking everywhere though. That night we went to a sports bar to watch the first game of the NBA finals on tv, San Antonio Spurs v Cleveland Cavaliers. Jammo supporting Spurs for obviuos reasons. Spurs win. Jammo happy. I'm also happy coz the bar is doing $3 pints all night so after the game and 6 pints of stella we stumble home.

The next day we checked out and got the bus to Philadelphia. We arrived at 12 and went to the only hostel nearby but find out that we can't check in till 4.30pm so end up just sitting on a bench for a few hours. After checking in we play a bit of free pool and have a couple of hours sleep before heading out to find somewhere to have a famous Philly Cheesesteak. Its actually pretty good. We then went to the cinema to see Oceans 13 which is ok, entertaining enough. Today we went to see the Liberty bell and ran up the Rocky steps. I'm now in Philadelphia free library on the internet. In an hour we're doing the independence hall tour. Then tomorrow we're getting the bus to New York for 6 days before going home.

As you can tell its been all go in the states but i'm really enjoying it and i've got to see loads. Anyway i'll speak to you soon about my New York experience.