Time Travel Really Exists!

Well hi ya'll!!

We are in LA and arrived safe and sound! Our flight left Auckland on the 23rd May 2009 and was 11 1/2 hours long. We arrived in LAX (Los Angeles) at 10:30 am Saturday the 23rd May which was kind of weird. Why would that be weird you might ask? Well, its weird because we actually left NZ at 6pm on Saturday the 23rd of May so yes, time travel really does exist, we just went back in time!!

We had 2 Saturdays and yes, the movie Ground Hog Day did come to mind.

We were met at the airport by two of our lovely sisters, Patti Ann and D Lo (said like Jlo). Patti Ann and her husband Mike are the people we are staying with while we are in LA. They live in Redondo Beach which is quite lovely.

There is a buzz in the air with the International Convention fast approaching (Johnny and Amber, you will love it here). Long Beach is just south of where we are staying.

Please excuse me if some of this sounds a little disjointed as the effects of time travel are setting in!

Some things though have not changed, for example its currently 2:10am here and yes, Im wide awake as usual and everyone else is fast asleep. Things are definitely upside down though, we had to get up at about 8am to get ready for the meeting on Sunday and if you work that out, thats equivalent to 3am nz time. I would normally be going to bed about then and for Dave, that would be the middle of the night! So, yes, its taking a little to get to used to. LA is 19 hours behind NZ.

We went to our first meeting in the US on Sunday. We attended the Manhattan Beach Congregation which has approx 110 pubs. They have about 12 reg pioneers which is great. The congregation was so welcoming and we instantly felt at home. It was as though they had known us for years! They have problems with their sound systems here too, we had to sing without music to all three of the songs, which, to say the least, was interesting. Then the microphones used for the answers stopped working too, so you had to speak nice and loud, so everyone could hear you. A wonderful time was still had by all.

In just two days, we have met so many people and been so many places, yet there is so much more to see and do. Tomorrow evening, we are being taken by a brother into LA central where we will take a walk along Rodeo Dr, take a drive around Bel Air and Hollywood and check out some of the homes of the rich and famous. Many a photo will be taken, Im sure.

Time for some interesting facts:

LA 19hrs behind NZ
Left hand driving, not natural!
"The Hood" really does exist and you DONT want to go there!
The biggest house we saw today was 32,000 sq feet
LA has been in drought for about 5 years
LA is huge, and you cannot see the other side, not even from the highest lookout
LA is surrounded by mountains that can often be covered in snow
Dont get fooled by the prices at restaurants, theres the price on the menu and then the undisclosed 9% tax and plus tips
Apparently the state of California is bankrupt
Everything in the supermarket in HUGE! I saw a packet of corn chips that was 1.3KGS!!!!!

Well, sorry guys, but thats all for today. I will post photos and video clips for you all to see and try to keep you posted with all our travels and adventures.

Take care, see ya!