03/09Decided at the last minute to do the LA City Tour which was good - it cost a bit but I got to see everything in one hit which was good! Spent half an hour in Hollywood which I definitely want to go back and see! We started off by driving through Malibu (celebrities own 70% of the beaches there so the public can't access them - can you believe it??) We then drove through the Pacific Palisades where we were shown celebrity houses such as Jack Nicholson, Steven Spielberg, Goldie Hawn, Tom Hanks and the Olsen Twins to name a few! Houses in this area do not sell for less than 25million with some going up to 75million dollars!! Cheap…I think not!! There is a country club in this suburb that has an initiation fee of $500,000 (there are less than 100 members!!)We then went to Beverly Hills where we drove past the post office (this is the only post office in the US with valet parking!!!) We also drove past The Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel where Pretty Woman was filmed and then stopped at Rodeo Drive for half an hour to have a look around. DESIGNER CITY!!! It was at this point that my camera decided it didn't like me and ran out of battery!!! Didn't see any celebrities on Rodeo Drive :o( (I think they're all hiding because it's Labor Day Weekend in America). We then went to Hollywood which was AWESOME! I am definitely going back there because we got half an hour to look around and I think I could probably spend the day there! From there we went up Mulholland Drive to get a good view of the Hollywood sign. Managed to snap a few pictures before the battery ran out. Went to drop off some people at Universal Studios and had my lunch (which I had packed thank goodness because I couldn't see anything healthy in site!) Walked down the Universal City Walk which was quite interesting and then got back on the bus to have a look at Downtown LA. It was VERY hot today (41degrees) but was an excellent day all in all! Not sure if I'm going to do Universal Studios anymore…it's quite expensive. 04/09Woke up early once again thanks to good old jet lag! Had breakfast and then between phoning Caitlin and spending a fortune on the internet managed to register for the Whistler Job Fair. I have applied for the job of The Whistler Kids Program 'Den Master'. It involves looking after kids who are tired, cold and unhappy when they are having ski lessons and trying to cheer them up, making them hot chocolate etc. Sounds great because I'll get to work with kids!Took the bus to Hollywood which involved one bus change (It took me about 10minutes to find the corner that next bus left from!) The bus was very expensive!! US$5 for a day pass which is ridiculous I think. Considering I'll pay AU$2.50 for a day pass at home!! The buses don't give any change and they'll go before you've even paid (it's all automated…the bus driver doesn't handle any cash). Generally found the bus drivers to be unhelpful and rude but oh well!! Managed to get to Hollywood in one piece. Did the Hollywood Walk of Fame - didn't like the section near Hollywood/Vine Street just because it felt unsafe so got out of there quick! They were making a movie on one of the side streets which was pretty cool - got to see that first hand! Went to the Hollywood Wax Museum and the Guiness World Records museum which was okay…rip off though…Madame Tussauds is 1000times better!! Walked past the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are held every year - it is huge!!! The Chinese Theatre is also cool - famous celebrities have written in the cement out the front of the theatre. Had a photo with 'Elvis' (this one is from Tennessee). Walked down to LaBrea/Santa Monica Avenue and caught the bus to Beverly Hills. Walked up Wilshire Blvd to Rodeo Drive so that I could take some pictures this time and have a better look around. Caught the bus back to Santa Monica where I phoned Whistler to book Staff Accommodation. Things that are really different here:So many homeless people asking for money - feel so sad for them but I really can't keep dishing out dollars otherwise i'm going to be homeless myself!! Tipping for EVERYTHING!! Ends up costing so muchPublic transport - Everyone has a car in LA so not many people catch public transport so you can imagine the ones that do!! Your bum also goes numb after about two seconds because the seats are metal! Driving - people drive like complete maniacs!!! They are forever hooting and so impatient especially at intersections. Otherwise am having a great time!! Definitely learning the dos and donts!!05/09Had a chilled day today…woke up early, had breakfast and then called the Las Vegas shuttle to arrange my pickup from the airport - turns out I have to wait 2.5hours at the LV airport but it's ok because it's FREE!!! Lay on the beach this morning which was pretty gross - rubbish everywhere!! Didn't venture into the sea… Got very hot though and I now hopefully have a tan! Caught the bus to the 99c market which was in the worse part of Santa Monica I should think…wasn't a very nice area but went straight into the shop bought my groceries and then caught the bus back to the hostel again! Spent the afternoon reading and went for a walk around the shops again. Had a coffee at Starbucks and then came back to the hostel to have dinner and pack my bags for the 4:10am shuttle to the airport!!! 06/09Just arrived in Las Vegas. Will keep you updated!!!