Better late than never!

Well it's been a good few months since committing to the 101 Challenge, and fortunately my efforts to complete the tasks have been somewhat better than my efforts to update this blog! Despite my best intentions, writing this thing has been harder to achieve than the actual goals, though you would think it would come easily since there's been plenty to tell. 

Rewind to May, where the 101 ball started rolling...

I was able to cross a few of the biggies off the list in May... 

# 43.     Visit the Grand Canyon 

Wow, what an experience this was! All the stops were pulled out for this one, we had an early morning limo drive us to the heliport, then I had my first experience in a helicopter (should have put that on the list), love the birds eye view you get in them! Flying into the Grand Canyon was so surreal, it stretched for as far as the eye could see, I was in awe. The trip we'd booked on included a champagne breakfast - and there was a moment I had to take stock and think: You are standing in the Grand Canyon - this massive expanse of land you never dreamed of going to, and you are drinking champagne, look at you go Tovee! 

The shot above actually almost killed me, I lost my balance getting up and almost ended further in the canyon than what my insurance would have covered! 

Would I recommend it? Definitely. Would I go there again? In a heartbeat. 

# 42.     Do the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Though I'm not one to while away the day watching the E Channel, the Walk of Fame always intrigued me - if for no other reason but the decades of entertainment history it spans, and the great names that you get to see. From Big Bird to Chuck Norris, and every possible name in between, this was definitely a must-see for anyone that finds themselves in LA. 

# 27.     Start a conversation with a stranger

So this one was a bit tricky for me, as I'm not the most outgoing and the idea of trying to initiate and maintain a conversation with someone I've never met frankly makes me want to find the nearest rock to hide under, and without photographic evidence I'm afraid you're just going to have to take my word for it... but I managed to strike up a conversation was a girl on the plane that had found herself with the same shocking flight itinerary as myself (Akl>Syd, clear customs, collect bags, recheck bags, then board Syd>LAX in under an hour.. yeah right!) so we joined forces and it made the ordeal significantly more bearable. Turned out she was on the same flight back as me as well, and lived in Te At's too, there's that 'small world' thing happening again!




I also made a dent in a couple of others..

# 91.     Attend 5 Comedy Festival shows 

x 1: Went with Emma to see Dan Nightingale during the Auckland Comedy Festival. Had me in stitches, very talented British comedian and a great night out!

# 4.      Visit three new places in the world: x2

1. Las Vegas - I was so excited about this trip for so many reasons, it was my first holiday overseas with friends, it was Andee's 30th, and it was Las Vegas!! Never thought I'd go there, and it was touch & go for a while as to whether I'd get in the country, but so glad I went - everything was BIG BIG BIG! The food, the attractions, the personalities - it was all larger than life and so much fun! The highlights: Grand Canyon, limo drives, the glorious sunshine, the day parties, seeing dolphins for the first time, and the endless laughter at my many failings in behaving like an intelligent human - and total acceptance of such failings from the amazing group of friends I was surrounded by. 

2. Los Angeles - LA is one great big amusement park! Between the drunk squirrels and Bruno Mars singalongs along Pacific Coast Highway, the death defying and fear conquering rides at Six Flags, the repeated drenching's we received at Universal Studios, and the gravitational pull of Santa Monica wharf (every time we wanted to go somewhere that wasn't Santa Monica wharf, we would end up there) this place was fantastic. Fun Factor: 9/10. Would I go back? For sure... there's so much more I want to see there! 

# 60.     Visit 5 beaches I've never been to before (x3)

LA certainly has some beautiful beaches, we spent an awesome day cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway and went to El Matador, a beach that came highly recommended and totally delivered on all expectations! It was beautiful! 

1. El Matador

Our trip to Venice Beach included Muscle Beach, and a very feeble attempt at a pull-up by yours truly.. 

2. Venice & Muscle Beach

The one time we actually ended up at Santa Monica wharf intentionally was a beautiful evening, and the sun setting over the beach was enough to make me fall in love with the place... such a shame we couldn't stay longer!

3. Santa Monica

So that was May in a nutshell... Stand by for June!