So. I successfully turned the clock back 17 hours, had two Thursdays and arrived in the states well before I even set off from New Zealand. However, there was a problem. It decided to snow in New York. Whoopy for New York. Flights cancelled. Bum.

I had to deal with being put up in a 4* hotel, have 3 square meals from the restaurant, two double beds in a room to myself (first one in four and a half months!), plasma screen tv, and a tour around Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the sights of the stars.

I got over the flights being cancelled rather quickly. I didn't find it too distressing.

So arriving in LA we were all herded outside of the airport and told to get in the shuttle to our hotel. There were two hotels with the same name. We went to one, got turned away, and shuttled back to the airport. We got in the other shuttle, got turned away, and shuttled back to the airport. Went back to the original hotel, to try our luck again, and hurrah! They had realized that we were the missing customers. Duh. This in turn made us form one big group of 'sheep' that decided to make the most of LA. Thousands of Australians, one American, and me. The token Brit.

We ate breakfast at 10.50am, lunch at 11am (thank you, Quantas), and started our tour at 11.30am. My body clock was very confused where it was. We went to Venice beach, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Boulevard (the stars on the pavement), Hollywood sign, and in and around the streets of LA. Perfect. That night we (the lost sheep) all met up for dinner, and enjoyed some beers at the bar, at which could have been a very boring night in a hotel, turned out to be quite fun! We decided that we needed a reunion. The date was set. Sunday night in New York we would head out for a reunion 'lost sheep' meal and drinks. And so we did. It was good to see some familiar faces!

The next morning we made it out of LA and on to New York. Perfect. I managed to do a walking tour of the city, which got me around little Italy, Greenwich Village, Soho, China town, Financial District, Empire State building, Ground Zero, Times square, Central park. Most of Manhattan really! 10.2 miles of walking. I was used to walking after New Zealand, so perfect! Met up with an ex-soton muso in the evening (you find us everywhere, eh!) to watch Dvorak 9 at Carnegie Hall. I'm sure you will know the piece as the Hovis advert. Rolling hills of Yorkshire dales. That sort of thing. Really great orchestra, although the clarinetist stuffed up his solo. Idiot. Mum, I've got a job in New York(!)

Next day I completed seeing statue of liberty, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) art gallery, had it recommended a few times, and it was, brilliant. I also wandered around the streets with my head in the air. Brilliant city. Very friendly people, and Central Park in the snow? It looks incredible.

What's next… who knows! We will soon find out!

Nearing the end now, can't wait to be home! The day of no more hostelling excites me very much!

Nick xxx