Well, she is in LA anyway. Her flight left at 9.35am yesterday and she arrived later that night, which was yesterday for the Americans. Last I heard she was watching telly, and it was still yesterday over there, so today, or tomorrow over there, she is celebrating her birthday. Its all very confusing. She is in a motel and says it is frustrating because she is expected to tip for every little thing. I guess she didn't expect it to be so annoying. She also says your toilets have too much water in them and she doesn't want to sit down because the water might touch her bum. Never understood why you Americans waste so much water. Hate to think would happen if you guys had a blocked dunny... Anyway, she is okay and has had her first American meal, which looked like chips (what kind of potatoes do you have over there, because they look funny) and some burger thing that looks kinda like one of those 'Sloppy Joe' things I see on movies. Yuk. She did have a can of Pepsi, so that made her meal look somewhat normal. After Disneyland, I think she is going to see the Walk Of Fame, and she heads to Las Vegas to tour the casinos - I don't know why. I would prefer to see the Empire State Building and Statue Of Liberty, but they are both in States she won't be visiting. Now that she is there, and my friend Grace has been there, I am kinda thinking that I should bloody well go! So it will have to go on my list (gotta buy a new car first) and I will get there for a week or so one day. It'll be a toss up between New York and LA, though...
Makedde wrote: Well, she is in LA anyway. Granny extends her sympathies... ... San Francisco is a much more interesting city. She is in a motel and says it is frustrating because she is expected to tip for every little thing. Yep, dat's L.A. Anyway, she is okay and has had her first American meal, which looked like chips (what kind of potatoes do you have over there, because they look funny) and some burger thing that looks kinda like one of those 'Sloppy Joe' things I see on movies. Yuk. Sorry, no vegemite here. I don't know why. I would prefer to see the Empire State Building and Statue Of Liberty, but they are both in States she won't be visiting. Try San Francisco, but stay away from the gay areas, Uncle Ferd would be heart-broken if dey 'converted' ya. I am kinda thinking that I should bloody well go!... It'll be a toss up between New York and LA Uncle Ferd says come on ahead, try the other L.A. - the Louisville Area (Kentucky). It's not as much a tourist trap and cheaper too. Let him know when ya gets in town an' he'll show ya around.
Sounds like a simple case of culture shock. Hopefully she doesn't base her further opinions of the States on one visit to such a crappy location! C'mon over Mak! I wouldn't recommend a large city though. Large American cities are not really representative of what America is.
I hope she enjoys herself. Personally I stay away from big cities. More into scenery and I love driving through different states. Arizona is a favorite of mine. Regarding a good place to eat....The OutBack Steak House is my favorite
Saying that Los Angeles aka "Mexifornia" is representative of the United States is like saying Pabst Blue Ribbon is representative of good beer. LA is a dump... I hope your sister sees a better side of the United States.
Darn right, and its why so many have the wrong impression about the U.S. of A. Happy belated Birthday Sister Mak.
Can't judge anything from a motel. Best to visit a good cross section, E, W, N, S, country and city, and anything in between, make friends and mingle. Holds true for any country, anywhere.
Why would you want to come here? To stamp your America bashing with a validation of "I've been there. I know what I'm talking about" ? I think you'll be happier just saving your money.
I sure hope she doesn't miss the world's largest thermometer. She'll see it off the 15 on her way to Vegas if she's driving. It is like, totally the best thing in Cali.
Okay first of all....seriously complaining about the food always just makes you sound like an 'ugly tourist'- Americans who complain about the food in other countries are just as bad. But seriously- if she ate something that didn't look good- why did she order it? Secondly she should have read some guide books about tipping habits before coming here. Hotels you generally type for certain types of service- but don't use the bellhop or concierage if that is a concern. Motels you don't normally do anything but maybe leave a tip for the maid when you leave. Do tip at a sit down restuarant- it is considered customary, and foreigners regularly don't do so. It is not mandatory, but sort of like respecting the culture enough not to wear shorts in a church in Italy. If she has time and inclination, she should go to the Getty Museum in LA- or the La Brea Tar Pits- both fascinating in different ways. Food she should try while she is here: California Mexican food- carne asada burritos, anything with avocado stuffed in it, fish tacos from a taco truck or taco stand. Don't go to fast food places- look for something interesting- Mexican is usually my choice, but Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese are all over the place. LA's not my favorite place, but there are some really cool things to do down there.
to be fair we don’t know if she had nay complaints about the food might just be her sisters opinions of a picture of it
Tipping is something Australians don't do at home (unless service is particularly good) but since it's part and parcel of the way of life in many other countries it's only the right thing to do when you are there. SFJEFF is correct, plenty of contemporary guide books explain the tipping tariff. Anyway she's probably just a bit disoriented at the moment, she'll get sorted out and enjoy herself. She will find out that Americans are very hospitable people and being a tourist in the US is great fun. Keep an open mind, ask politely if something doesn't make sense and remember "Lite" beer does not mean low alcohol....
Why is your sister watching TV in America? There's nothing on. You don't tip in a motel. Perhaps she was mugged? American toilets have a normal amount of water. It the water was touching her bum she may have been pooping in the fountain. Speaking of being mugged...
And by the way- Americans tend to love Aussie's. All she needs to do is speak to people to get a crowd of admirers.
Trying to base what America is like off of trips to LA and Las Vegas is like trying to understand music based on a Marilyn Manson concert and a free jazz session.
I think she may have wanted to, but because its a Contiki tour, she could only choose between a couple of tours, and she selected that one. Nah, because a friend of mine went there last year and had a blast. Grace was there for two months visiting pretty much every State. I've seen the photos she took, it doesn't look too bad. And Jess is having fun, too. You would be right. She put the picture on her Facebook and I saw it and couldn't work out what the hell it was she was eating! Australian toilets have only a small amount of water, your toilets look like ours do when they are blocked!
Well anyway, last I heard she was walking around Disneyland and her feet hurt! She says she had only one more park left to visit - I thought Disneyland had only one park, not multiple ones? Not sure where she is headed next. I think either tomorrow or the next day she will go to another State. I know she is going to see the Grand Canyon - its an optional tour, with a helicopter ride - and I think she'd be nuts to pass it up!
i can help you out on this 1 anaheim is my home town used to walck to disny land all the time its awsome on a slow day no big lines^^ any way till fairly recently it was just one parck but they added a 2nd one by building a masive parcking garage and then using a good chunck of ther parking lot space to build more atractions its called california adventure its a bit gimmick but it has a few good atractions tower of terrer a rapid ride and the only roller coaster of disnys that iv seen with a loop in it to name my favorits
or she coul be refering to knotts berry farm thats a decent theme parck and it relativly close buy you coud wack from one parck to the other but it would take a few hours and your feet would realy be killing you
