Family saw me off from Tullermarine. Air Pacific was the service I selected to get to LAX. I thought that breaking the trip by a short stop an Nadi, Fiji would be a good idea and less tiring. Still jetlagged when I arrived. The next time a flight right through will be the go.
How is this for fate. The second leg of the trip (Nadi to LAX) I sat next to two Australians who immigrated from Central America. Carlos and Gabrielle. Carlos was born in El Salvadore and Gabrielle in Venezuella. They were interesting to speak to and gave me plenty of advise. They were going to spend a month in Venezuella travelling by bus. Carlos asked me to be very careful as he thought travelling alone in Central America is very dangerous.
Arrived LAX only to find the Homeland Security computer had broken down. Huge numbers waiting for clearance. Someone eventually gave the instruction to go back to the manual system. The customs officer asked why I had no ticket to leave the country and what my intentions were. Told him I intended to leave USA at El Paso and enter Mexico on a motorbike. He said, "Don't go it's dangerous." Asked if he had ever been and he said that he hadn't but he watches the news.
The sun was out so I decided to walk the 1.5 kilometres to the hotel. Couldn't find a pedestrian walkway out of the airport. Asked police and volunteer helpers. No one knew and they thought it strange that someone would want to walk when free shuttle busses were available.
My first experience of tipping, this trip, the porter at hotel wanted a tip eventough I carried my own bags into the hotel but he picked them up and carried them to the lift. Gave him the smallest note I had $5.00 and he looked at me as if I was tightarse. Thats Australians for you.
Got myself a meal (more tipping) and went to bed. I arrived before I left due to the time zones.
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