Make it rain!!!

Wow... What can I say about Vegas?...

Coming into Vegas I had conjured up many different (sometimes contradicting) images of what it would be like and what to expect when we arrived. I can tell you now that this is a direct result of too many nights spent whiling away the hours in front of CSI re-runs and bad romantic comedies (plus that Friends episode). For the main part I thought of Vegas as a typical big city with the small exception of an intense strip of casinos clogging up the centre, dotted here and there with petite wedding chapels and drenched in bright light... Other (more nostalgic) times I envisaged a small American town with a sparkling neon strip of colour running down its heart, full of excitement and chance. What we got when we arrived was a pleasant mixture of both, an extra dash of tackiness and a blustery 40 degree heat.

Our very first call to action was to stomp the strip (Las Vegas Blvd) and explore this unique urban melting pot! Our hotel (The Hilton Grand) stands behind Planet Hollywood and this meant that the safest and most direct route to the strip was via The Miracle Mile shopping mall. A healthy 2hrs later (after ducking into a few stores, watching two fountain shows grabbing a quick bite at La Salsa Cantina and an irresistible photo opportunity with the giant stripper statue) we were on the famous Las Vegas Blvd!

The atmosphere on the strip is utterly indescribable! You are surrounded by loud and obnoxious drunks with a vocally unashamed desire to gamble, drink and drool over strippers... And yet somehow you feel incredibly safe... We were handed nudie cards on every corner and promised endless nights of fun, frivolity and free drinks by nightclub reps... Countless bars and street vendors selling a wide array of alcoholic combinations in weird and wonderful vessels (I chose the giant, sparkly champagne bottle filled with Red Bull and vodka) and advertisements absolutely EVERYWHERE!



The street art of Las Vegas! A very small sampling of the fantastic neon that lights up the strip at night and makes you feel both glamorous and tacky at the same time.

After a day of settling in, we hit the outlet malls. Shopping in Vegas outlet malls is AMAZING! I parted with a measly $500 and walked away with a healthy amount of designer clothing, shoes and accessories from Burberry, Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Calvin Klein and Vans. I highly recommend you spend the money on a cab ride to these outlets (they are not on or near the strip) as it is well worth the dollars you will save if you are planning on shopping... If you don't plan on any shopping I suggest you scrap your original plan and go shopping.

Shopping aside, my favorite thing about Vegas is easily the showbiz. Every single major casino on the strip has at least one in-house show or gimmick of some description... In fact most have three or four! Examples are... Treasure Island with their Siren show that includes fireworks and dancing wenches, the famous Bellagio fountains choreographed to music, The gondola rides in the Venetian and the roller coasters of New York, New York. On top of this there is a very wide selection of musicians, magicians, comedians and theater shows, as well as several of the famous Cirque Du Soleil shows. Because of our limited time in Vegas we could only see a few shows (much to my dismay) so we chose Cirque du Soleil's "O" (performed in and on an incredible stage that turned into a massive indoor lake) and Holly Madison's "Peep Show". Both shows were outstanding! We were front row centre for "O" (the splash zone) and sat wide eyed throughout every jaw dropping act, clapping feverently as often as we could. Ross was pulled onto the stage for a dance with a clown and the crowd went wild! I left the theatre knowing I had seen something that I will never forget. We were also fortunate enough to have VIP seats for "Peep Show" which included exclusive tables by the stage. A fantastic group of performers dazzled us with their... unique talents... Holly Madison ruffled Ross' hair and I got a wink... All in all, a great night!

During our time in the great state of Nevada we decided that we should take some time to visit something more... culturally substantial... (if that isn't subjective then I don't know what is...). This cultural redemption took form in another luxury bus ride (this one was... less luxurious than the last) to the inspirational Hoover Dam. After watching an episode of some engineering documentary back in Australia (I am making it sound as though I get all my travel ideas from tv) I decided that I should probably take some time away from booze and strippers to appreciate the achievements of Man. Having paid for the deluxe tour we were rewarded with a $10 gift card and a classy book full of facts and figures about the dam. The book (written quite a few years ago) has become a treasure of mine because of the snaps of happy tourists in high waisted... acid wash... double denim... scrunchies and white runners. Upon arrival we where herded into a small cinema to watch a new age propaganda movie about the amazingness of America and the amazingness of what Americans could achieve and how amazing and forward thinking Americans were... You can see where this is going... Finally the good stuff came and we were taken underground and stood on top of one of the water bypass tunnels. This is where the water flies around the side of the dam and squeezes through huge pipes fitted with turbines that generate A LOT of power. This really was an amazing experience, you can literally hear and feel thousands and thousands of gallons of water surging under the floor beneath you (thankfully you can't see the thousands of gallons of water). This was followed up by the equally as impressive power generators themselves. Once again you could literally hear and see the electricity being generated by the tremendous force of the mighty Colorado River (geez now I sound like the propaganda documentary). Finally we toured the top half of the dam and I must say we were suitably impressed by that too. A great trifecta of awe inspiring engineering, man power and the force of nature made the Hoover Dam one of my favourite things about America... Oh also I got to stand in Nevada and Arizona at the same time... I cannot recommend this place highly enough!



The mighty Hoover Dam! Intake towers that look like something from a SciFi movie, One of four huge pipes that allows water to bypass the dam and generate a proverbial ton of power in the process, and the tunnels we used to see all this... Yep it felt like we were in a mine too...

Handy Shanwah hint: Stay longer! We booked a three night stay in a fantastic hotel suite and did not stop the entire time we were there. There is so much more to do in Vegas than drinking and gambling and three full days wasn't even close to enough time there. I would suggest at least a week, especially if you plan on visiting Hoover dam and the Grand Canyon

My final thoughts on Vegas... Both underrated and overrated. For a city with such a massive focus on alcohol and gambling it sure packs a cultural punch.

Mango, Mango, Mango (sorry, in-joke)

Four faces of Bridget Howell... A visual poem that speaks of laughter, joy and... photo bombing...



Please note: No Bridgets were harmed in the making of this collage...

Hello America, Hello Hollywood

After an arduous flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles (featuring an awkwardly long stop over in Auckland) Ross and I gracefully landed in the grand old US of A!

We arrived in the morning and successfully survived our first day by wandering aimlessly along Hollywood Blvd with caffeinated beverages in hand. We were good boys and managed to get to bed at a reasonable hour after a tasty first American meal at "California Pizza Kitchen". The hotel we stayed at is located near the intersection of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Avenue, meaning it was only a short stroll to a fantastic open air shopping complex and fabulous views of the Hollywood sign!

I will tell you now that yes, Hollywood is unclean and scary and tacky and amazing all at once... Everyone told us that we would hate LA and that it was dirty and unsafe, people scoffed at how long we were planning on spending in its glitz and grime... Well I can tell you now that we absolutely loved LA! The city is abuzz with action and excitement, it is quintessential America from all your favourite movies and tv shows, there are memorable experiences around every star studded street corner... And there is ALWAYS a restaurant or burger joint selling the delicious food you know you shouldn't be eating. Our advice here is to simply give it a go without any prejudice and see what you make of it.

Tragic tourist tip: Take one of the tacky tours of the "Stars' Homes"! A good tour will take you about two hours and generally includes a rest stop with a good view of the Hollywood sign for your photo album. The aim here is not necessarily to see a celebrity (although it does happen quite a bit), or to marvel at their pretty houses (some are genuine stunners) but to see how close the rich and famous actually live to the main drag... Makes them seem more human really.

Probably one of our more unexpected moments of awe whilst in LA was our "Hop on Hop off" tour of the downtown area. When seeing a foreign city for the first time, I find that these tours are a fantastic way to orient yourself, see a good amount of the city and learn a few fun facts without breaking the bank. This being said I highly recommend you choose the method you are most comfortable with (be it public transport, taxi or tour bus) to see the sights in downtown LA. The buildings downtown are things of beauty and there is greenery covering a surprising amount of the area. The pre recorded commentary whilst on board gave us an understanding of what we were looking at and gave us the confidence to explore the city independently. Wide streets, fantastic views and some incredible people-watching made our daytime downtown experience well worth it!



Just a tiny selection of some of the beautiful buildings dotted all over Downtown LA

Whilst downtown, we decided that the Walt Disney Concert Hall was something that we wanted to have a look at (mainly because I saw it in a movie once and thought it looked cool). We took the chance and hopped off our tour bus... We were handsomely rewarded for our efforts... The building itself is absolutely beautiful and the free audio tour (with commentary by John Lithgow) is well worth the time as the building has a lot to say and, let's be honest, unless you are an architect you would probably never notice or appreciate the buildings many subtle nuances. This aside, our favorite part of the building by far was the gardens. These little alcoves of flowers and fountains provide a brief interlude amid the hustle and bustle of LA's central business district. The flowering trees and trickling fountains are not only beautiful, but attract butterflies and hummingbirds! I think this is astounding considering the concert halls location! Definitely my LA highlight.



A few angles of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The ruby red flowers attract all sorts of wildlife and the rose fountain is made from thousands of pieces of broken porcelain.

If you are finding your LA experience a little bit too adult and serious... I highly recommend Universal Studios. A whole day at Universal Studios definitely satisfied my inner child and fed the movie geek inside me. I will tell you now that if you plan on visiting Universal Studios for just one day then you NEED a front of line pass! We managed to get in all the big rides, shows and attractions without waiting more than 10 minutes in a queue and still had time for food and carnival games!



How many iconic signs does Universal studios need! Me proudly protecting my first carnival win for the day! Please note the amazing front of line pass that made the day so much easier.

Rounding out our time in LA was a delightful three night stay in sunny Santa Monica. Here we were joined by some fantastic friends from home (Santa Monica was the connecting location for five different groups on five very different holidays). I can recommend no better way to unwind after the hustle of Hollywood than by spending a few nights sunning, shopping and swimming in Santa Monica. Not only is it great for the beach, promenade and famous pier, but the neighborhood is safe, quiet, happy and healthy.



This is what happens when best friends get together on Santa Monica Beach and discover some unattended life guard chairs.

Handy Shanwah hint: Make up your own mind about LA. I only ask that you give LA a genuine go. Most people hate it based on face value, yes it is dirty, dangerous, tacky and touristy... But behind all that there are some amazing things to see! Don't let other peoples opinions prevent you from having what could be a life changing experience.

The City of Angels is definitely more than just silver screen gloss and violent grit, if you give it a chance you will find yourself enjoying a whole lot more than you expected.

A note on saying goodbye...

Whether you are going on a two month holiday or a two year overseas experience, make sure you leave enough time to say your goodbyes. The last few weeks get busy really quickly and working up until the day you leave sounds like a good idea but make sure you know what this means for the people you love.

Packing... It's not as simple as it sounds!

During our Europe trip Jade and I quickly realised how annoying, time consuming and painful it was to pack, unpack and repack your suitcase. Nothing ever fits in the same way and you always have more stuff than last time. During that trip we were traveling during the painful winter months, this meant that we had to lug around heavy jackets and bulky knits to keep from freezing to death. By comparison summer should be much easier right?

The problem with this logic is that it tends to mean that because we think our summer stuff is smaller an d lighter, we over pack because we have more space. My favourite strategy is the old rule of thirds... Pack everything you want/need/think you need... Then cut out at least a third. This way you don't end up taking that red number that you thought might look good if you ended up being invited to a semi formal, 50's themed party on a warm night with a slight north easterly breeze...

Handy Shanwah hint: no matter what type of accommodation you are staying in, pack something to keep your dirty laundry in and something to take your laundry to the laundromat (preferably the same "something" to save space). In Europe Jade and I found ourselves confusing our clean and dirty laundry (resulting in the uncomfortable sniff test) and arriving at the laundromat with an odd assortment of awkwardly sized bags to the bemusement of locals. While I'm on the subject, it is a great idea to locate the closest laundromat to your accommodation BEFORE you arrive because you can waste entire days trying to find one.

Once you have cut out the useless and unnecessary, then comes the packing... Everyone has their own style and preference when it comes to packing... rolling, folding, stuffing, layering, space bags, pack cells, suitcase dividers and the age old second suitcase technique (employed by Jade after she purchased too many handbags to fit in her already full suitcase). Use the way that works for you because even though that travel blog said you should roll everything in tight little balls, it is you who has to pack your suitcase and then repack it over and over again... Trust me, even If you start out with a brilliant strategy, it eventually gets to the point where you just cram everything in anywhere it will fit.




A brief photoessay on the crap that I managed to take with me...

One final thing to remember... It's not just your suitcase you need to stuff! It is just as important to pack your MP3 player full of tunes. A well stocked iPod will serve you well on your cross country train trips (you tend to run out of conversation topics a few hours in) I have three songs that I never fail to remind me of riding the train through sunny Italian countryside. This time I have spent a good 3hrs sorting through my iPod to ensure I have all the music I will need... Some chill out tunes for afternoons spent lying in Hyde Park, a range of up beat pop tracks for keeping the long train rides eventful, some classic rock and funked up indie for use while you wait for the laundry and a couple of urban beats for playing in the hotel bathroom before a big night out. I can't stress how important this is... I mean think about it, these songs will inevitably becomes the soundtrack to your holiday.

It's harder than you think to stop living in the past

Okay so maybe I am still caught up in the holidays of yesteryear... But why shouldn't I be? People reminisce about their first kiss, their favorite pet, a great Simpsons quite or a lame Internet meme all the time and with furor. Indulge me a moment longer in my flashbacks as I talk about the people that made those trips special.

Kate enjoying a cocktail in the pool, Christine, Janet and Michelle striking a pose on the grand cruise liner staircase, Ross and Jade enjoying the English winter.

Kate. Intelligent, British, hilarious, strong willed and classy.
After coincidentally having three out of four classes together during my Uni years we decided it was fate. Our friendship blossomed over gossip, procrastination sessions, copious amounts of junk food and the Malaysian island of Lankawi. Kate is the type of friend who I might not see for years and then when we do meet it is like we have never been apart.

Jade. Quick witted, hilarious, romantic, honest and a massive bookworm
Jade and I met at the debilitating din that was my employment at a certain (unnamed) cinema chain. Form our first "date" seeing Memoirs of a Geisha together, we steadily became good friends until we decided that we should travel together for 2 months... Worrying at first (considering our stubborn attitudes and Jade's dislike of positivity) but we are better friends for it (best friends even) ... And better people too.

Ross. Lovable, kind, tall, informative and protective
What can I say about Ross... We have been together for almost Three years and he is definitely one of my rocks in the turbulent ocean that is life... That is, of course, when he isn't being the turbulent ocean.

Michelle. Bubbly, genuine, happy, positive and ambitious
I Have known Michelle for over twelve years now I can safely say she is one of my Best friends. We trudged our way through high school together, worked together, went to Uni together and traveled the high seas together (It seems she's a keeper). I can always count on michelle for honesty (generally quite bluntly) and a chipper outlook on life.

Janet. Sensible, sorted, intellectual, confident and witty
Being Michelle's sister has meant that Janet has seen me grow from an awkward teen to an awkward adult. Always handy with a fiery comeback, Janet is a strong, independent woman and we have a shared passion for fitness and money (although she is much better at making, spending and saving hers than I am).

Christine. Quotable, easy going, fiery, giggly and definitely marriage material
I found a great friend in Christine as we paired up on our Pacific cruise. Christine and I shared many beautiful moments together as husband and wife. Romantic mud baths, exhilarating speed boat rides, shell collecting on the beach, ice-cream in the sun, duty free shopping and many (many) sophisticated cocktails.

These amazing people have shared their traveling experiences with me and I am forever grateful for it. I often look back at holiday happy snaps and vacation videos and I suddenly find myself full of joy. Our shared experiences are some of the happiest moments of my life. My friends. My family. My fellow journeymen.

Stop living in the past!

Before we talk about what is yet to come, I think it is best to describe what has already been. As has been so deftly established in my previous rant, I am no longer a first time traveler. This honour was bestowed upon the resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia in July of 2009.

Known as the Jewel of Kedah, Langkawi (henceforth known as Langkawawi to Kate, our wonderful travel agent Lou Lou and I) saw me riding elephants through the jungle, sipping piña Coladas by the pool, jet skiing in tropical oceans and navigating through night markets in the city centre. My Uni friend Kate and I enthusiastically jumped into the watered down resort culture of the island with gusto! Spending our Ringit on as much batik, massage, ear candling (I know, right?!) sugar water and Thai food (yes Thai food) that we could. We followed this up with a long layover in Kuala Lumpur that saw me continue to shop and I came home in substantial debt as a consequence.


The view over Langkawi from the Gunung Mat Cincang Cable Car, One of the lovely hotel bar staff delivering our Piña Coladas, Sweaty Shanwah sipping sugar syrup at the Kuah night markets.

My second jaunt was substantially more involved. After realising just how easy it was to travel, I decided that I could save, plan and explore the world on my own. I spent just over 2 months in the European winter of 2010 to 2011, I navigated a plethora of cities in Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Monaco, Ireland, Scotland and England. I was accompanied on this voyage by one of my best friends (the undeniably honest, trustworthy and hilarious Ms Jade) and later on, with my partner Ross (tall, Scottish and full of information). We threw money into every fountain we saw, touched every lucky statue, and got involved in almost every tourist trap we could find (except for the Moulin Rouge... It was sold out).


The Eiffel Tower all a-glitter, A sparkly Christmas tree in front of the Duomo in Florence, The bright neon for one of our shows in London's West End.

Upon returning to Australia ruined for the country (don't worry I do still call Australia home), I hastily (possibly a little too hastily) agreed to participate in a pacific island cruise... I know, I know... A cruise?! Really Shannon?! I was holiday bluesing with the best of them and it was cheap okay! My long time high school bestie Michelle, her sister Janet and Janet's work friend Christine (later referred to a my holiday wife) graciously allowed me to join their cabin and as soon as it hit June in 2011 we set sail for the pacific Islands of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji. After two days of vomiting we arrived into calmer waters and the shore excursions began. Whilst the beginning of the trip was an unmitigated disaster, The rest of the holiday was an absolute blast! We spent our days swimming, sun baking and exploring the islands, while at night we lounged (with cocktails of course), danced, quizzed and went to the theatre.


Cruisers sunning themselves on a sea day, the Pacific Jewel moored at port in Suva, Fiji, the most amazing Fijian beach on Dravuni Island (my happy place).

The cruise was last June for crying out loud! Stop living in the past Shanwah!