Ben's Potter Around Planet Earth

WEEK 1


DAY 1 - Flight and Arrive in Washington

- Flight was pretty plain sailing. There was one point in the departure lounge when we were frantically looking for our gate, when Guy stopped me:

G: Ben, look
B: For gods sake, what?
G: look, that guy there...he's fat and he's chinese...I've never seen one of those before
B: Brilliant, do you want me to take a picture of you both
G:..(genuinley hesitates)...no, dont be silly.

With Guys oriental fascinations done, we got aboard to find a posse of American Obama supporters. Regular Obama mexican waves were not ideal for sleeping. Naturally this was a good time for Guy to question whether 'Obama gets so much support because he is black'. This was my first opportunity to display my 'im not with him' expression.

In Washington, we stayed with a friend of a uni friend, Lisa - a lovely American-Vietnamese girl. She had an incredible house and me and guy were given a king-size bed each to sleep in with ensuite bathroom - not quite hardcore backpacking yet then.

- Lisa's dog, Honey, is incredible. The most enthusiastic bounding dog you will ever see. Naturally her and Guy kicked off a beautiful relationship. It was priceless every time her and Guy's eyes met - there was a definite sense that the two of them were intriniscally linked and perhaps only missing a few steps in evolution.

- Her parents own a very successful Vietnamese restuarant - food was touch intimidating - it was a bit like a bush tucker trial as i struggled to identify certain bits. it was tasty but I was glad I was hesitant as Guy ate everything and soon learned he had consumed a couple of blocks of solidified cows blood...nice.

- Amused when we were discussing Lisa's boyfriend's fashion style quite casually, when Guy waded in with 'no, seriously I love geek sheek'...therby implying that he (Corey) was a geek. Corey's face was priceless and I chortled under my breath.

Day 2 - Sightseeing

Today I really knew we were in US. We set out for a day in the capital and saw some iconic american sights:
- The Washington memorial -that tall spire next to the huge lake where Jenny and Forrest Gump hook up.
- Capital Hill - Home of US politics and where Obama will get inaugarated and that.\
- and...some lardy American's the size of a small European state, exerting there every muscle fibre to consume a hotdog in the most efficient time possible.

Day 4 - Inauguration Day

An epic experience. One where the old phrase 'something to tell the grandkids' comes in quite regularly. There were two to three million people in the central squares. We were somewhere in the middle. Although we could only see the action from the screens, it was quite exhillirating to hear the ripple of 'Obama, Obama' go up and down so many people.

- By the end of the day we were walking back towards our train station to get back home. Quite amazingly, Colin powell (former Secretary of Defence and an immensley well respected man in US and world Politics) walked straight passed me and Guy. Cool right? Well not really, because we both missed it...Guy was a dopey git by trying to open a packet of chrisps with his gloves. I naturally stared at him and laughed away at his incompetence. Before we knew it Powell had passed. Thanks Guy.


Day 5 - Travelling to NYC

- We got on thebus from Washington to NYC. Had a hardcore but cool bus driver. His opening monologue went something like this:

'Hey!! everybody listen up and listen damn well good. This is my bus...you hear me, my bus! Don't get it twisted, I am the boss here. This bus was clean when you got on it and it sure as hell will be when you get off. You hear me...I said did you hear me!!'

If that was entertaining enough, I watched Guy slowly and nervously remove the subway sandwhich from his jaw and slowly put in in his bag as if it was a ticking bomb. Brilliant.

- We were introduced to our apartment by Guy's contact Scott (new yorker who is old work friend of Guy's dad) We got lucky because Scott's close friend was on vacation and gave us her place for a three nights. Really cool location - we found out that the opening shot of the Friends Flat was filmed on our road. Guy whacked out the camera in an instant. Incredible to turn round teh corner to see empire

- Set out on a night out. Went to Irish bar to get the lay of teh land. Asked for a few pointers from the barmen. He suggested we go to a district called 'Meat-packer market,' . Guy comically putting two and two togetehr said , 'oh that's Soho right?'. He was wrong.

- Found cool bar, very much like a student union. Met some french girls, one of which was a stunner, Clementine she was called. A real femme fatale I reckon. She offered us a place to stay in Sydney which is where she is studying so hopefully havent seen the last of her. Got put on edge towards the end of night when a seriously dodgy chap inquired if I was up for a foursome with a few other girls and a night of cocaine. As you do! Valuing my life, I declined.


Day 6 - Statue of Liberty

- Great day. Statue of Liberty was incredible. We got a cheap ferry over to the lovley lady and looked her upa nd down for a few hours. There was a thick layer of snow on the island so it was brilliant to have a little snow fight with the immense Manhattan skyline in the background. This was what coming to the US was all about. On the ferry back the sunset just behind the statue - some great pictures were taken and Guy politley held himself back from putting his arm around me.


Day 7 -It was all going so well...

- Saw Times Square - lights were quite dizzying and you get neck ache trying to take it all in. Even more grand and bizarre than you see on TV. After some window shopping and pics we headed back for an early night after walking all day.

- Chaos kicked off at 2 am - the owner of the appartment came back a day earlier than we were told and boy was she not happy!

'Open this door, who are you, I want you out before I get up tomorrow' etc. I wasn't too fazed by this occurrence but significantly more disturbed that I was forced to sleep in the same bed as Guy. It was a dark time indeed. We would awake the next day without any place to stay for atleast 10 hours in minus 3 weather. It was like Home Alone 2 allover again.