Okay...

Okay well, I've sorta shoulda done another post by now...but haven't. The reasons for that being a) I haven't been near a computer and b) when I have, my mind has blanked on everything on what to write/do/say/think etc. However, since one Mr Andrew R Koehler wants updates and to know that I'm doing perfectly okay in thwe land of the free, I'm just going to wing it and write anything relevant that pops into my head.

First of all, and Geek Alert, but if you want more comprehensive, regular and sometimes wacky updates from yours truly, get a twitter account and follow the username nathankoehler. send me a message if you want by writing @nathankoehler and then what you want to tell me, and I'll reply and add things in. I get it on my phone and its completely free, so I'm using it a lot.

Now on with the show....

WHY AMERICAN AIRPORTS ARE WEIRDER THAN TWILIGHT FANGIRLS

So, flying around america the last 2 weeks, I've been in a few airports, and what I've observed has left me scratchuing my head a bit. I mean, on the positive side they have shuttle busses that practically run 24 hours to and from the airport that you can book online. On the negative side though, its apparent that whenever I enter an airport I'm no longer in Australia. Heres why:

For a start, I have to pay for any and all baggage that I check in. Thats right, an bag that I don't take with me as hand luggage I have to pay 15 dollars for. Its no matter of whether its overweight or not, I have to pay the 15 dollar fee for it, and probably more if its anything more heavy than what I got.

Secoindly, you are alllowed nowehere near the gate if you don't have a plane ticket. They actually employ at least two people per terminal to make sure that if you don't have a t icket you cannot enter the departure lounge. It doesn't matter if you're saying goodbye to a loved one or not; you either do it in the lobby or beforte the check in or you do not do at all. Crazy stuff.

The funniest would have to be, though, the extreme measures that they go too with security. I mean not just the checking tickets to even get into the departure lounge, but then straight after checking identification to make sure the name on the pass is the same as the one on your ID. and I'm talking straight after. No sooner are you waved through as having a ticket, take 5 steps and then BOOM 'passport please sir, cause I know for a fact you're not from arizona'.

Haha wow...so after showing that, I'm then subject to the regular security checks, which I don't mind. hell, I think they're more than neccessary. But in America, you are required by law to take any belt, jacket and even your shoes off (and yes, you MUST take all of these off before you head through the metal detector cage thing of doom). After which, I mean sure, you can put them all back on, but its just weird having to go through all three checks one after the other to the extremes that the americans take them too.

New York, and why its the one place in the world I would never live in

New York is crazy.


There, I said it.


I'm serious though, its so huge and daunting that it makes me claustrophobi walking down the street. For anyone that can understand the comparison, think the size of Sydney, now double it (and how much it costs to get anywhere) and then add in the fact that you never know which way and which stations your train is ever headed and you'd be on the right track.

Place scares me. I could do a lot more there, but I don't know if I will




anyway I'm in seattle now, and I'm chilling. I'll be home in a week, and I cannot wait to be back in the lucky country and see you all.

hoo roo

~nate

Alive...

Yeah I'm alive, just been without an internet connection for the last 4 days.

I gotta confess to a few bouts of homesickness with you guys. To those of you who are reading this from home (Mum, Dad,Nic, Laura, et al) I miss you guys A LOT. However I do have so many memories to share with you all.

Sorry if this seems a little incoherent. I'm slightly waterlogged after deciding to skip the bus and 'walk' back to the hostel. Obviously, the weather thought otherwise and I had to sprint the whole 10 blocks back through a thunderstorm. Was fun though and I feel great - maybe I should do more running in the rain when I get home? Anyone wanna join me? ;P

Virginia Beach is awesome. and I mean AWESOME. Everybody is so laid back and relaxed and cheerful. If I could up and retire in the states I'd do it there. Everything's in walking distance from each other and I had a blast going to the beach as well. Oh also, met up with Heather, which was a lot of fun. (Rachael, I dunno if mum told you this, but I got presents for all you kids at Va beach, so stop asking for more)

Thing is, in summer in VA beach, they have street performers come out every night and perform, and it was soooooo cool. I saw a sword swallower, a juggler, a teen escape artist and a fire breather all in the space of 15 minutes!

Anyway, met up with karen and her family today and toured the old colonial capital buildings, was a lot of fun and a I got a lot of pictures. Will show them when I get bacjk.

I'll take one moment now to recognize a saddening thing going on that doesn't involve me but looks to factor in considerably with world politics in the near and possibly far future, and that is the iranian election aftermath. My heart goes out to the people affected by this tradgedy.

Anyway folks, I'll keep you posted like always...another meet up planned for wednesday :)

~nate

New Phone Number....

This is going to make things a hell of alot easier....

334-689-3037

;)

~Nate

Random Ramblings

This may be my last blogpost for a while, as idk when I'll get a comp next. Anyway, here we go....

- In Alabama at the moment, staying at davids. Is fun, catching up with a great friend.

- Had to go through not 1,not 2 but 3 security checkpoints to get outof LA. UnitedstatesofparanoiaWHAT?

- got asked to do drugs by some random skater dude in LA beach as well......my first surreal american experience.

- Didn't meet up with Lindsey, unfortunately, :(, but I will be seeing her again when I swing back through in ~3 weeks.

Apart from these points, nothing much else. I am a little tired but its cool. I am fine, and will update when/where I can

toodles

~Nate

Running Blog...and why I hate airports.

5:15: Just touching down at Auckland now. Yay, need to be able to feel legs again.



5:16: Off Plane. Auckland Aiprort has these weird arrival concourses where you have the departures on both sides. Guy next to me said it was akin to a slaughterhouse....I can see his point.



5:20: Security. Again.



5:30 OMGWTFBBQ no gate number for my plane?



5:45 Ooooooooh okay. The number is given out about 60 minutes before. Since my plane doesn't board for another 70, I'm cool. Also, kiwis are rugby mad. Shouting at a screen in the airport where the rugby is playing? geez....



6:00: rugby game finished. kiwis lost. HA. resisted urge to laugh. maori guy might punch me.



6:15 sitting in departure lounge. lalalala.



6:40 People are coming around asking us for boarding pass and passport. Right, because I would have made this far without a passport how?



7:15 on plane, yay...starting to feel tired.



7:20 Engineering fault...oh goodie



8:00 Still Engineering Fault



8:30 Guess What? lemme give you a hint it starts with engine, and rhymes with HURRYUPANDGETTHISTHINGINTHEAIR!



8:45 hooray, all fixed. and Dinner's here, yay!



9:00 Nom nom nom.....Zzzzzzzzz



(at this point I passed out till 5)



5:oo am idiot in front of me has his seat WAAAAAAy back, feel like slapping him in the head.



5:30 He's leaning back more, oh joy.....



5:55 How many hours do we have left? 2/ 4? ugh, I don't know, and I can't check my PDA to find out.



6:00 Guess who decides to lean back some more >:-O



6:35 movie time! Ima think I'll watch the international



6:40 When I grow up, I wanna be Clive Owen, or an interpol agent, or both.



7:00 Breakfast...yay!!!



9:00 Approaching LA...setting watches to local time...NOW



1:15 LA time: Got off plane....WHOAH LOTSA PEOPLE AT CUSTOMS.



1:30 dum de dum....waiting for customs....



1: 45 Still waiting....



2:00 Yay...I'm through and found bags.



2;15 Conversation between customs officer and me: 'Hello sir, what are you declaring?' 'vegimite' 'No need, next...'



2:30 okay...outside...damn this bag is heavy....



2:40 cool guy gave me directions to a 15 buck bus to my hostel....nice guy



2:45 Ooo cute scottish girl.....staying at the same hostel as me? awesome.....



2:50 british guy on the bus with us with a nigerian driver...one big multinational bus...awesome

3:30 at the hostel...awesome.....should I hit the beach? ehhh maybe

Okay....

Okay, correction, my phone number is actually 011610447561008, sorry about the confusion there. My phone companys said I didn't need prefixes, maybe that only takes affect once I get into Los Angeles.

Not that its going to do you guys any good, I mean, my phone just died this morning. I will prob charge it when I drop into LA, but I don't know how I can do it before then. Oh well, serves me right for being a git.

I'm in Brisbane international airport now, just made my way through customs and wasting my time here....will be in LA in....roughly 20 hours time.

This is my excited face....

~Nate

Contact Details

Okay guys, glad thats all worked out.

You guys can contact me to arrange meet-ups, chats etc on my mobile for the next 3 weeks on 0447-561-008.

Hoo-roo

~Nate

G'day

Given that I leave in 2 days, and because I love you all, I've decided to start my own little travel blog. I'll be posting stories, rants, pics etc of the massive 3 week long US of A trip here. So stay tuned, its gunna be a good one

Hoo roo for now ;)

~Nate