Its been a really good four days or so in Barbados. Now time to head on after an extenssion of my original plans of eight days. Dont regret a minute of it as its been brilliant and memorable. The cruise liner has been really good and I started getting very used to the cabin bed and the great buffet. Chatted to an elderly Indian gentleman and he explained that the Carnival Desitiny had been chartered by Indian supporters a few months before the World Cup started. They were pretty confident that their team would make it all the way to the final. Then after the debacle where they were eliminated by Bangaldesh, most supporters (based in both the UK and India) decided that they would miss the trip altogether. Thank goodness that mad/fanatical fan in Mumbai did not sell his kidney…may have been tempted to sue the team when they went out in the preliminary stages.

Barbados is a super island and its easy to see why so many Brits have this pencilled in as a holiday spot and there are plenty who have packed up and moved over here. Really cool lifestyle with plenty of sunshine all year round and crystal clear waters. After docking in Bridgetown on the Friday morning, I took a brisk walk down to the old military barracks. Along the way there were plenty of pubs and a few games of street cricket going on. When an island produces all time greats like Greenidge, Haynes, Worrel, Weekes and so forth, its no mystery why cricket is so popular here. Got talking to a few of the locals in the street but must admit that the people of Grenada are still the best and warmest of the lot. The local beer is Banks and its pretty good.

Hooked up with the Kiwi crew once again. While I was lounging in luxury on the cruise liner, they were indulging in something very similiar. They had managed to rent a superb spot in a beachfront complex in St Lawrence Gap, a few kms from the centre of Bridgetown. One of the best views I have seen in a long time. The idea was to head through to the Fish Market in the next town south….rumour had it that the place goes off on the weekend. A short bus ride and we were there. The place was like a wall to wall pub crawl with various stalls offering feasts from the ocean. We got stuck into a few local Banks beers and watched the locals getting down to the sounds of reggae. Plenty of bump and grind to the extent that similiar behavious in London or anywhere else, may have resulted in an arrest for grevious bodily harm! 

All the boys were a few sheets to the wind and now ready to head back to St Lawrence Gap. Best option- the local mini taxis. Now being a South African and having been forced to climb into these weapons of mass destruction on several occassions, this was no issue for me. However the other guys were soon discovering that having good travel insurance and maybe phoning home to say their final goodbyes was a good idea. Our driver was in no mood to mess around and was flying down side streets at speeds unknown to most people. Overtaking three cars at once around a sharp bend, stopping at whim and simply going beserk with so much base it was like a large bouncing can of soda. He must have been on a mixture of speed and the giggly twig! I looked around me and saw faces filled with fear and nails embedded into the fabric. It was soon over however and we all headed on our merry way. Big day tomorrow with the finals of the cricket. Thats if it was possible to sleep after seeing St Peter waving a few minutes earlier!

Finals day and after a great sleep (amazing considering that my body was still shaking from “The Fast and the Furious”), I walked onto the deck to discover that the sky was overcast and the covers were on the pitch. The game then only started around 12 noon. Enjoyed a great lunch (curry again..) and headed off to the new ground. Really impressive stadium. Bumped in to Steve and Scott, my tax and company administration founders in London, who were out here following their beloved Australia. Sat between the two of them and watched the drama unfold. It was pretty clear that Sri Lanka were the overwhelming underdogs and all the neutrals were firmly behind them. The guys were not so impressed when I started shouting for the Sri Lankans….easy explanation. Was pain enough seeing England win the World Cup Rugby….no chance that I was going to want to see Australia win three in a row. Very strange match in that it was called off after very bad light and then they decided to continue a few minutes later. In fairness there had been persistent rain but when they came back on the field it was impossible to see the white ball. ICC rules also stipulate that you cannot play under lights, so after a great match (unbelievable 149 by Gilchrist), it was hats off to the Aussies. Another win and time for me to head back to the cruise liner. Early evening and no alcohol with some diving planned for the morning…also not sure I could stomach the gloating that would surely be par for the course on the evening.

Sunday morning and off to Dive Adventures, based a few kilometers down the coast. One of the first dive establishments on the island and well recommended. Two dives with great visibility. First time I have ever seen turtles in the sea and managed to spot four in all along with a stingray. Took another stroll around town and then booked myself off the Carnival Destiny. The boat is supposedly forced (for ecological reasons) to leave port for six hours. It meant I could not go out and be back on time so I left the boat….my deal was only for four nights and this was the last one. The guys allowed me to sleep on their couch for the next two evenings which was greatly appreciated. Big evening had been planned with the Kiwi crew and the South Africans who had been staying in our apartment block in Grenada. Turned into a very interesting evening with plenty of rum punch for all to enjoy. The Yellow Bird apartment block looked like a bottle store the next morning.

We all headed up to Speightstown, north of Bridgetown, for some snorkelling and relaxation on the beach. really interesting taking the local bus there. Loud reggae music, jam packed with commuters and all singing under a blue Barbados sky. All good and another great island in the Carribean. Would love to come back one day!Now off to Puerto Rico and then on to Mexico.

After the uncertainty of whether a plane ticket was available for the Tuesday morning, I decided to wake up early on Monday and head down to Grenada International Airport to see if a standby flight was available. Its not fun waking up at 4am but with the first flight leaving at 6am, it was the only option and then take things from there. The early dawn flight was fully booked and was told that all remaining flight that day had been overbooked by close on ten people each flight…was not a happy camper. Started chatting to an English girl, Seti, and her partner Saki , an Australian Fijian and we looked into chartering a flight to St Lucia. Would cost a plenty but if we wanted to watch the final then so be it. Then luck turned in my favour and the LIAT airline check in attendant called me forward. Success….there was a place for me on the 9:20 flight. Saki and Seti did not have the same joy on that flight but I heard later on that they had managed to get on an afternoon flight. So my plans had now changed from simply watching the games in Grenada and then heading through to Jamaica, to St Lucia and possibly the final. If there was a possibility of getting to Barbados and also obtaining a final ticket, then that option was deffinately on.

The flight from Grenada went well and my luck got even better on arrival. Arranged accomodation at the Country House Hotel ( a quaint B&B in Monchy), very close to the ground. While speaking with the information desk official he mentioned that there was a discounted cruise leaving from St Lucia to Barbados on the day after the semi final ie. 26 April. I immediatley contacted the travel agent and booked an interior cabin on the Carnival Destiny curise liner. Always wanted to take a cruise but thought this would happen when the zimmer frame had been purchased. With this much luck it would not have surprised me if Demi Moore started calling me again…yep whatever!! Was just really settling, after all the plans had been up in the air, to know that I could now watch both the semis and the final….all South Africa needed to do now was hold their nerve against the mighty Aussies!

The guest house was nestled into lush countryside and the hostess was very helpful in showing the guests to the grounds and how to get to and from the capital city of Castries. Spent the Tuesday sorting out further flights from Barbados and then caught up with all the Kiwi crew from Grenada. They were staying near the coast and about four kilometres from my spot. We all had a few beers and watched the dismal display by New Zealand against the Sri Lankans. After that it was down to the Rodney Bay area (big marina where the big sail boats and travelling armada of supporters had docked). Bumped into both Seti and Saki again and found out that they had spare tickets for both the semi and final games. Done deal….snapped those tickets up….all done and dusted for the next week. A few rum punches later and it was time for me to head home. The last bus at my junction to Monchy had left so I had an option of walking (which was safe but not the number 1 option) or try and hitch a lift. Two water council guys were working late and offered me and a local a lift….this is where it became quite funny. Here were two very big guys in the front of the pickup truck listening to Garth Brooks (the king of Country Music). Who would have thought. Apparently country music is huge over here….you learn something every day. Very odd! Its massive following consists of mainly over 35 year olds who are not interested in the gangsta rap from the States. Just hope there are no cross dressing Dolly Parton lookalikes flaoting around St Lucia!

So the day of the semi final and I am once again decked out in my resplendant green and gold. Feeling good about today provided we put Australia in to bat and then restrict the top three to a combined total of 100. Wishful thinking. Beautiful sunny day in St Lucia with not a breath of wind to speak of. Arrived at the ground an hour before start of play and was greeted by a massive wave of Aussie supporters. A cruise liner full of South Africans were on the opposite stand to me….my joy at finding that I am seated in kangaroo valley.  One familair face of a certian Craig Bailey, part of my gentlemans club in Johannesburg..good to catch up with him albeit that he was wearing pink shorts! Anyhow great atmosphere but as most South Africans will agree, a terrible start with poor and irresponsible leadership. Not to be our day and the Aussies rightfully put us to the sword. Another semi final loss…..time to head for some drinks at the bay and enjoy a beautiful sunset on another superb island. The evening was another good one but headed off early with the prospect of a good dive tomorrow morning.

Thursday and an early start to get down for a 11am dive down south in a place called Souffre. First thing was to book in and drop off my bags on the cruise liner. Stood in awe when arriving in front of this big chunk of metal. Dont really realise how huge these floating hotels are until to you are up front and personal with them. Check in completed and then headed to Castries taxi rank for the 3D bus down to Souffre…an hour or so on the road. Saki and Seti had dived with a guy called Chester who runs a dive shop in the town so took their advice and headed down there. The only hiccup of the day was getting down there. taxis dont move until they are full. This one was short of two more people and finally after a 25 minute wait we were off. And then it dawned on me that maybe one has to wait when your taxi driver thinks he is Michael Schumacher. The road down to Souffre runs between banana plantations and lush jungle and is extremely steep and narrow in places. Not a problem for Michael the Rasta (his eyes were pretty bloodshot and am convinced he had smoked a months supply in one go) as he careered down the 45km strech of road, narrowly avoiding pedestrians…overtaking four cars at once and stopping at random. The relief on everyones face was clearly visible when we finally arrive in Souffre. Had crossed my mind that this may be time to reassess that travel policy I had purchased!!

The sleepy fishing village of Souffre lies in a volcanic centre and is surrounded by the world famous Pitons, two twin volcanic craters which stretch deep into the adjoining sea and provide one of the top ten dive sites in the world. Was not disappointed as Chester took me down to around 25 meters where the most colourful coral was abundant. Amazing dive and really grateful for experiencing this. Actually have had to pinch myself at times when I consider how lucky I am to be having such brilliant experiences and memories on this trip.

So a great day out and the return trip by bus to Castries was less nerve racking than the journey down. Got back to boat for sunrise and settled into my cabin. Now off to Barbados where we arrive at 11am on Friday morning. The deal stipulated that accomodation would be provided for another three evenings minimum while docked in Barbados. All good and can now enjoy a World Cup final on Saturday even though the South Africans are not playing. Barbados here I come!

Its Sunday in Grenada and it feels like this place has turned into a ghost town. The locals hold religion very deep in their psyche and culture and not much happens on “rest” day.  The shops are all closed until 2pm and the streets are deserted. The Group 8 stage of the World Cup was concluded in Barbados yesterday with the West Indies losing on the penultimate ball to England. Sad end to the tournament for them and Brian Lara in particular as the islands had been expecting big things from their boys. Grenada’s last game was on Friday where an understrength New Zealand lost to a far superior Australian team. Great atmosphere created by both sets of supporters with lots of chanting in the stands and the obligatory sheep sound making its presence amongst the conch blowing and dancing of the locals in the stands. Not much of a contest at the end but the Kiwis made themselves heard as we all ended up at the infamous Bananas until the very early morning.  So with all the activity over the last ten days, it has all suddenly come to a halt and I guess this lovely island can resume as normal. Walked into St Georges at lunchtime and there are no shops open, a local cricket match is on the go, the boats are all docked in the harbour and most people seem to be down at the beach. Its another scorcher today and just walking the streets is tiring. Most Aussies and Saffers have now been trying to get to the semi final in St Lucia but flights are not available and there are plenty of people who are stranded. That group includes myself. The logistics of having one semi in Jamaica and the other in St Lucia has been a nightmare and forced many supporters to now watch a semi-final where their team is not even playing. A few of the Kiwis I met are now watching and backing the South Africans in St Lucia.

My plans were to head to either Cuba or Mexico next but when South Africa qualified, the thought of watching that key game has been very tempting. Now awaiting an email from a Kiwi who is off to Jamaica (NZ play Sri Lanka on Tuesday in the other semi)….a simple name change and I will find myself on my way to the semis. Here is hoping it comes through soon. Either way the plan is now to leave this place and continue with the travels. Been a good ten days with zero travelling and plenty of time to relax and take in the sights and the culture. However its now time to pack the bags and seek some adventure again.

Its an understatement to say that this place is superb. Have been chatting with supporters who have been following their respective teams for the last few weeks and they have all said that Grenada has been their favourite place. The people are super friendly and there have been no end to the amount of children who have asked for a photo whenever my camera has been in my hand. Our lady, Densyl, who manages the Palm Court Apartments (PCA) where I have stayed has been unbelievable and has helped us all out whenever we have had problems or requests. Always a big smile on here face and great fun to have around. Been hanging out with a really good bunch of Kiwis who have been staying in the apartment block…..Mike, Vinny, Hamish, Colin, Stu, Sam and Pete….really good times at the beach, bars and the cricket. Will no doubt all hook up for a few beers some time in London when we are all back on familiar ground. Hamish plays hockey at my club and it was good to see a familiar face when arriving in Grenada. Last few days have involved heading to the beach for some cricket and swimming…locals have been really keen to show off their skills against the pale faces. Really made the trip with how friendly and keen everyone has been.

Completed a diving refresher course on Thursday….have not dived since Mozambique in Dec 2002 so needed to go through the skills and underwater emergency plans again. Then headed out to sea for two dives in the morning with one of the three dive shops they have on Grand Anse beach. Really helpful bunch at Native Spirit Scuba. The great thing with the diving here is that its very close to shore. Must have been a ten minute trip and then off the side of the boat into the clear blue. Relatively windy over the past few days and this made visibility about 8 metres. Still really good dives up to 25 metres and managed to spot two huge eels, plenty of fish and fascinating coral. My last dive in Mozambique five years back involved whale sharks, manta rays and dolphins….so been spoilt in my previous dives but this was still very good. On the subject of Mozambique, if anyone is keen to head down south for a holiday, my sister’s in-laws have chalets in Tofu which is near the dive shops and its a great holiday destination. Always good plumping indirect family….he he! The link is on my webpages…..www.casajohn.co.za.

So final of the cricket is April 28 and the West Indies can be proud of a really good tournament. My memories of Grenada will last for a long time. Thanks to its people for making it really special. Now some help in getting to my next destination would be good……any spare kayaks floating around?!

Here we go and much more like it…on the way to the semi finals. Have just returned from The Owl restaurant with a few of the Saffers out here at the moment…..really clinical destruction of the English in the space of 19 overs. Am sure the majority of the Barmy Army thought they got their monies worth..not! So its St Lucia for the semis against a strong Australia team. Have managed to obtain a ticket for the game…now its a matter of finding a way to the island. Many supporters cannot get off the island at the moment due to the lack of flights. Been a problem the whole way along with different sets of supporters not really sure who would play who in the semis. Looks like it will be Sri Lanka v NZ in Jamaica. Will see if any boat rides are in the offering as all the cruise liners are not stopping here anymore. We shall see. Only time will tell.

Until then its an evening to bask in the glow of the warm sunshine and raise a glass to a solid performance by South Africa. Could a final spot be on the horizon!?

One month into the trip and its good to be relaxing in the sun and watching the cricket. Grenada has been selected as one of the islands to host the Group 8 stages of the World Cup cricket and they are really doing a good job of it. All the colours are out (green, yellow and red of the Grenadian flag), the people are in good voice; even though the West Indies have effectively been eliminated, and the new national stadium has been a great venue for supporters.

Grenada is a tri-island state made up of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Its the most southerly of the Windward Islands which lie between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The population is just over 100,000 mostly of African descent with a smaller group of other ethnic backgrounds. The main language is English so there is not a problem with communicating with the locals here. The capital city is St Georges which has a very picturesque harbour with hills surrounding the centre and remnants of a colonial era. The islands nickname “Isle of Spice” comes from the abundance and popularity of nutmeg, curry, cinnamon amongst others.  Grenada gained independance from the UK on February 7th, 1974. My main reminder of the English influence has come from the coins with Queen Elizabeths head emblazened on them and four red telephone boxes situated on the harbour edge. The monetary unit is the EC (East Caribean) dollar which is fixed at 2,6 to the US dollar. In general prices are comparative to the Uk apart from the local Carib beer which retails at EC$5…..these have been consumed at a regular pace along with jerk chicken and vegatable rice.

After a good night’s rest from the flight from Miami, we all got up early to head down to the stadium for Sri Lanka v New Zealand. Really good atmosphere with locals either lining the streets shouting their support or heading to the game itself. My apartment is 4 miles from the stadium so a local taxi ride to the game was essential. There are five apartments in the complex and its become an enclave for Kiwi supporters (really good bunch) although there is a bunch of 8 Durban guys who have been good fun during the games. Plenty of banter between both sets of supporters! Have caught up with Bertus, a friend of mine from London, who has come out here for a week. Been a good source of entertainment at the games…..his Sharks 32- Blues 23 going down very well with the Kiwi supporters at the SA game!

The taxis here work on the same basis as those back home in South Africa. You never quite know when the bus will stop or how many passengers will come on board! Just like home there is a conductor seeking out passengers and selecting the music. Gentle reggae music coming out the stereo and the occassional waft of the giggly twig makes the short trip a chilled experience. On one occassion I had five school girls all singing to Shaggy at the top of their voices…makes a change from the dour tube ride every day in London:-) Roads twist through deep valleys blanketed with sugar cane fields as you pass locals getting on with their day. It really feels like you are in a movier at times. 

Traffic gettiing to the stadium has been chaotic with the narrow streets offering no room to get by when in a hurry. As if anyone really is in a rush on this island. We are of course on Carribean time! A short walk from the main ferry terminal and you are in the stadium. The new national stadium has pretty strict security but since the unbanning of musical instruments everybody seems to have lightened up and there is a good banter going around. The venue has been built by the Chinese and is in great condition, situated in the heart of St Georges. After the hurricanes in 2005 that destroyed the island its good to see the place getting back on its feet. Seems such a shame for a beautiful place like this. 

Heaps of Kiwis here for their three games and there has been a great atmosphere. Sri Lanka dominated on a slow pitch and won the match rather easily. The “Beige Brigade” who have taken on the tan/beige cricket attire from years gone by have all been up to the task and grown tashes, worn the obligatory brown shorts and been in good voice. All trying to perfect that 70’s porno look. With tickets for all of their games, there is a good chance that I will be made an honoury kiwi supporter (sorry Nelson its only temporary) by the end of this week…..growing a tach for the game v Australia on Friday. A blow up doll and a few inflatable kiwis have made an appearance in a crowded members pavilion…classy! The biggest noise though has come from the party stand under the main scoreboard. $90 for a ticket which includes food and eight complimentary drinks, it turns into carnage by 4pm once people have been tucking into a few drinks. With the DJ belting out tunes between overs and the fall of a wicket, the party stand becomes like an outdoor dance floor. Good value and not sure how many people get home after a long day of drink and sweltering heat! The locals have also joined in on the festivities and its really special to be at this tournament. The gates at the games may be low but the atmosphere is still superb.

Unfortunately the South Africa v NZ game on 14 April did not go very well. Loads of Saffers from two crusie liners made it to the game and the atmosphere on the day was fanstastic. The result however was not what we wanted! The overcast weather on the day stumped the SA batsmen in the first few overs and we were never really in the game after that. The Kiwis chased down a meagre total of 194 with a few overs to go and that was that. Now needing a win against England in a few days time to stand a chance of making the semi finals. Can only finish in 4th place which more than likely means a match against Australia. Your truly was not feeling well (must have been the rum punch the night before) and spent an hour in the medical tent for dehydration. Lesson learnt!

So a few more days on the island and then either off to Cuba or St Lucia for the semi finals, provided we get the win against England. Life is really chilled here…have managed a few games of beach cricket with the sun setting in the distance. Times are tough! The local drinking venues are Coconut Beach (restaurant specialising in Creole cooking) and the Banana Club where all the players congregate after the game for a few drinks with supporters. The market place in St George is always bustling with people selling spices, fresh produce, carvings and bits and bobs. Ultra friendly and there have been great photo opportunities.  Took a ferry to Carriacou yesterday which took 2 hours and it was good to get off the island and out on to the high seas. Really small island of 13 square miles and managed to check out the main sites of interest (boat building, local hospital, crafts) and chill on the beach. Nice brown tan developing. Some diving to be down during the week, possibly the Ireland v Sri Lanka game and then the big match between NZ and Aus on Friday. The Aussies have started arriving in their droves and the next few days should be interesting with some Irish coming over as well. Maybe a few tri nations cricket and touch rugby games in the pipeline.

Well its been some time coming but have finally arrived safe and sound in Grenada, the Spice Island. The last three days have consisted of constant travelling so its good to now have time to relax in the sun and enjoy the cricket and all that this island has to offer. My accommodation is great and is close to the main beach of Grand Anse. www.SouthWindsGrenada.com Really hot even for this time of the evening. Met up with my housemates for the next ten days and they are really cool. Two kiwi girls, Susan and Anne, and an Indian guy, Sumire who is supporting the Aussies (sad but true!). A real tri nations setup but should work out well. Whole bunch of kiwis in the complex and looks like there is going to be some fun in the sun over the next few days. New Zealand have Grenada as their base for the remainder of the Group 8 stage and have three games here over the next ten days, whereas the South African only have the one game against New Zealand on 14 April.
My route to get here after LA was interesting and demanding at the same time. After a really good day out on the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice Beach, I had to hit the sack early that night in order to catch the 9:30 flight from LA to Miami. This time the hostel in Hollywood was slightly quieter than the evenings before and I managed to get some decent sleep. Up and out of there aboard an American Airlines plane. With the three hour time difference and a four hour flight, it meant an arrival time in Miami of 16:30. There were no delays apart from the arrival of the baggage on the other side. What is it with American airports!! The humidity was intense and my choice of jeans for the flight was not a good one. Taxi to my hostel in Miami South Beach and then presented with a real dump of a place. Tiny rooms, loud noise from all parts of the building and my body clock once again not adjusting to the time difference. Another night of sleeping with one eye open. Only arrived after 7pm and the sun was already setting. Could lie and say that my feet touched the sand of Miami Beach but will rather not. Strolled down the main strip but that’s as close as it came. With the rushed schedule to get to the World Cup Cricket, there simply was not enough time for more than one evening in Miami.
 Arrived back at Miami Aiport to be greeted with the news that my Air Jamaica flight to Grenada had been cancelled. No panic- they had arranged for passengers to be moved onto another airline. No way that I was going to miss a flight today as the Sri Lanka v New Zealand game was on the next day. The lovely ticket lady moved me to a later flight on American Airlines….so my original Miami- Montego Bay- Grenada route had now become Miami- San Juan, Puerto Rico- Grenada with an arrival time of an hour later. No worries there. It was only when booking in with American Airlines that a few issues arose. Firstly, I had no return flight or onward flight from Grenada. This was because my next port of call will be decided over the next few days and more than likely next few beers. The American Airlines people had a few issues until I showed them my Caricom visa and a return flight to London from Jamaica……it felt like an age before they decided to issue my ticket. Secondly, out of the corner of my eye I caught a baggage handler contiuously staring at me. He looked like a character out of Quentin Tarrantino’s “From Dusk Till Dawn”….big piercing eyes, a tash of note and greasy hair. Have no idea where he thought he knew me from but I can guarantee that there has been no contact from my side with either his mother, sister or donkey! Still baffles me this evening what he wanted with a backpacking gringo like me. Scary stuff!

Day 21- Three weeks have certainly flown since boarding a plane one rainy night at Heathrow. The weather in these parts is certainly better than London and its now plain to see why California has always been raved about. Not a cloud in the sky and the temperature at 26 degrees.Today has involved a few buses and lots of walking to get from my accomodation down to the beach. Bus 217 from Hollywood Boulevard and then bus 720 which runs down to Santa Monica beach. Along the way the ride takes in Rodeo Drive, UCLA (huge campus) and the super plush suburbs of Beverley Hills and Bel Air. No Will Smith on my bus today! Easter Monday is not a public holiday over here so the bus was reasonably empty for most of the 90 minute journey. Today was probably my latest start in the three weeks so far, partly due to the fact that an English guy in my dorm had got lost and arrived home after walking around Hollywood for close on five hours and then frantically banging on the door for someone to open up at 4am…..guess this comes with the territory. My humour level at this point was at an all time low. So found myself waking up at midday but all good in that it looks like I have finally gotten over the infamous jetlag. The public transport here is great and at $1.25 for any single trip or $3 for all day transport on either the bus or train, its time a place like London sits up and notices.

Santa Monica itself is pretty special. The pier stretches into the oncoming breaker and a fair sized amusement park is active from dawn until late at night. The beach then stretches on for miles in either direction. Thirty minutes walking and you find yourself on Venice Beach. This, my friends, is a place of its own. Hippies, druggies, girls in bikinis, tattoo parlours… everybody selling whatever they can…..freaky in some parts and plenty of people mumbling a whole lot of nothing to themselves. Guess they are hoping that someone might eventually stop and listen. Odds are that these men and women smoked some really strong sh*t a few years back with a promise of a short buzz only to find that this journey was longer than the Nile River and there was no ways they were finding the source! One guy procalimed to me that ” the mother ship was on its way and his time had come”. If he was a horse, I would have broken his leg and make someone put him out of his misery. The theme tune to the Looney Tunes entered my had on several occassions!!

The promenade between Santa Monica and Venice Beach stretches on and on and there are plenty of active people either biking, walking, blading or running under a sweltering Californian sun. It really is a superb place when you have this opportunity every day. As Sheryl Crow muses ” I want to search out the sun, I want to tell everyone to lighten up”. Really cool lifestyle and this is only one part of the Californian coast.

The great thing about LA has been the people that I have met along the way- the waitress whose family was the first Latvian emigrants to the States; the bar manager who spent six months in Durban and would settle there if he could; the church minister who came here to act 28 years ago from his home county of Kent and did not make it in Hollywood but decided to stay; and finally the substance abuse counsellor- an ex army man who served in Iraq and was based in South Korea and Germany, now making a difference in LA where drugs is a huge issue. Each has a unique story to tell and its highly likely that the hippies and freaks on Venice Beach have their own story. We all arrive on this earth with nothing but leave with a thick deposit of memories and experiences. The fun is in arriving at that destination with a smile! 

Easter Sunday and its been a great day out in LA. Just returned from dinner with an old Deutsche Bank work colleague called JC Khoury who has moved to a placed called Irvine, an hour south down the state highway. His brother in law James came along and we had a superb time at a local steakhouse which had a mechanical bull as its centrepiece. My turn on the bull was not forthcoming after a huge steak for dinner. Really cool spot in West Hollywood and nice to see a different part of the city. Very trendy and clear to see how the average LA person lives.
 Was fortunate enough to catch a LA Lakers basketball game today. Woke up early and caught the Red Metro Line down to 7^th Street Metro Centre, then on to the Blue Line down to Pico. As you exit the station the Staples Centre, which is shared by both the Clippers and the Lakers, appears in front of you. Its pretty impressive and one of those typically big US arenas. Tickets were available online but with delivery required to a US address, this posed a few problems for myself when looking the night before. Thought I would take a chance and venture down to the stadium and see if any were available. It was obviously my lucky day because a great ticket was offered to me within ten minutes of my arrival. A single ticket in row 114 (very close to the players and front row) was sold to me for $135. It was over my original budget but could not pass this opportunity up to watch as big a game as LA Lakers v Phoenix Suns.
 Purchased the obligatory hotdog, coke and popcorn. Decided on the jumbo popcorn and in hindsight it was a small schoolboy error. The size of the box could have fitted a litter of puppies and the amount of popcorn would have fed a small village in Africa. Absurd food serving sizes over here! Then time to head to sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacle of NBA basketball. A few warmup routines by both sides, the cheerleaders in place aka the Laker Girls, and the next minute everybody was standing. Its tradition in the USA to have the anthem played at sporting occasions. The rendition of the Stars and Stripes was performed by an opera singing and it was sung very well. Patriotism at its best.
Next up was the introduction of the players from either side. Imagine the sound of the big booming voice from a Saturday fight night announcing each players stats and history followed by the guys running out to high fives from the others in the squad. A lot of bigging it up for the crowds. This was then followed by a dance routine by the Laker Girls. And then it was showtime. This is the first time I have seen the game live and have never taken much interest in watching a full game on TV. However this is what I managed to learn:

Well what an experience on board the Qantas flight from Oz. 13 hours from start to finish, 17 hour time difference and travelling over the international date line…so left Sydney at 13:25 on 7 April and arrived in Los Angeles at 09:45 on 7 April! Go figure….a long day ahead. Just my luck that the US Customs officals decide to select me for an individual inspection. Questions about my work, do I have a business card to back this up, how long etc etc. They do need to chill out slightly. Once the sheriff had sussed me out and we started chatting about his former life as the owner of a pool repair company, it was all smiles and small chat…but it was a struggle getting to that point. They must be placed on a course to remove all form of emotion. A bit of the good cop, bad cop. Blink and you are shot? Their buddies in Sydney had done the same by asking me to take a random security inspection based on new equipment at the airport…would hate to know what would have happened had I grown a beard and worn a dishcloth on my head. Could have sworn that I heard a latex glove stretching in the background!

Weather in LA was slightly cloudy and cold so it seemed to be following me from Sydney where it was belting down for a good two hours before heading to the airport. Jemma and Chris Taylor were good enough to drive me to the airport. Really good time spent with them and who knows when we will catch up again. However my day was cheered up by a huge 6 foot 8 black gentleman who greeted me after exiting arrivals. The conversation went as follows (lets call him Shaqiel):

Shaqiel: “Did you have a pleasant flight sir?”

Me: “Yes, considering the time it took to get here”

Shaquiel:”And who may I ask were you flying with?”

Me: “About 415 other people I guess” my intense wit once again standing out:-)..at this point he became far more serious.

Shaquiel: “Need a ride somewhere?”

Me: ” No thanks”

Shaquiel:” Praise the Lord!”….now that comment just threw me and it felt like Easter Saturday 2007 was a sign of my forthcoming redemption. Hallelujah! Hopefully the land of the free, paranoid, fast food, war campaigns and Baywatch would be good to me on my third visit here. Climbed aboard the Blue Airport Shuttle and endured a heavy bout of lunch time traffic…..someone still needs to explain why every soul has to drive a vehicle which resembles a tank or a carrier bus for 30 people. Unless you are moving house every weekend what a waste of space! Call me cynical but that explains the forces dying in Iraq…normal citizens need some gas to lug their huge kick ass SUV around town! 

Finally arrived at my destination at the Hollywood USTA Hostel. Very unexpected in terms of the neighbourhoods on the way to LA’s showboat parade. Derelict houses, plenty of people aimlessly walking around and row after row of small businesses, gas pumps and eateries. DIrty in large parts and then suddenly you are in the thick of it and surrounded by rows of palm trees and huge mansions. Bizarre!

The hostel itself is pleasant and has a nice feel to it with plenty of international staff floating around. Two hundred metres from Hollywood Boulevard and very central. With the jet lag setting in the worst thing to do would be to catch forty winks. Have now estimated that with a four hour sleep on the plane, this is now over 20 hours without any sleep. Once again nominating myself for the tough guy award..whatever! A Starbucks coffee did the trick. The afternoon has been spent walking down Hollywood Boulevard spottingthe famous stars embedded in the walkway like Jamie Lee Curtis, Pierce Brosnan, Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton and so the list goes on. Plenty of normal people dressed up as characters from the movies..bumped into Superman, Zorro, Jack Sparrow and Shrek…all for the joy of the tourists and kids. The main strip is surreal and there are plenty of bikers, tattoo parlours, sex shops and some really messed up people milling around. No worries from my side as it just adds to the buzz about this place. Half of Mexico seems to be here as well and its been good sharing some nachos with Pepe, Chico and the gang. We may go lynch a home boy in the morning if I can wake up in time:-) No, I aint up for any of that these days (at least thats what my paroleofficer keeps reminding me) so will try fit in a Lakers game in the afternoon…tickets are available,so will be pretty chuffed if that happens.

Eyes are starting to waver…..may grab a cheap beer before hitting the sack. First shared accomodation on this trip…praying for a peaceful night. Will try and forget about the disappointment of Bangladesh beating South Africa in the cricket. Lets hope the guys were not partaking in the strong stuff….thats my only explanation!may have to support NZ going forward if we bomb out. g’night! 

Sydney has been very good to me. What a beautiful city and really nice to be back after six years. Had arranged to stay with a good friend of mine, Chris Taylor and his wife Jemma. Their wedding was in Durban last December and it has been great catching up with them again. Staying in a superb apartment in the Northern suburbs of Sydney called Neutral Bay. Its a simple fifteen minute ferry ride across Sydney Harbour from the main terminal. What a brilliant way to get to and from work every day. 

The past three days have involved visits to Sydney Zoo (Taronga), catching some sun on Bondi Beach, drinks in the financial district with a whole lot of Chris’s work colleagues and others and generally walking around Sydney and seeing alot of places that were missed on the last visit. Managed to catch up with an old family friend from SA - Wendy Simkins and her partner Rex. Seems like yesterday that we had drinks the last time round.

The last day and evening (Easter Friday) with the Taylors was spent driving along the coastline and eventually down to Manly Beach for a really good steak. Great hospitality by both of them and a really good time in a wonderful city. Too short a stay and hopefully will catch up with both of them agaiin sooner rather than later. As for Sydney…deffinately a place I could stay in.

Next stop Los Angeles…..so looking forward to that flight!