DAY 22

Woo Texas and bring on the sights!

So brianne and to go to work naturally as she isn't a lazy traveling person like me so she dropped me off at a park thing that had museums and a zoo.

I was excited! Wooo so exciting. The park was pretty big and I have no idea what the name of the park was but needless to say you could ride a little train around it!

So I had to wait a bit for the zoo to open so I just walked around the park and taa daaa it opens.

It wasn't like a giant zoo but it was pretty darn big.
I walked around and found a cool sign that said vulture feeding. Ah I have a weird thing about vultures. I think they are intriguing. I have no idea why but they look creepy but wow amazing. So I went to the vulture pen which is next to the elephant pen.

I watched an elephant eat for like 15 mins while waiting for the vultures to be fed. But lo no vulture feeding. Ahh birds are gun no be hungry man! But well I have now learnt elephants arepretty interesting to watch eat.

They were also washing the elephants which well is a mammoth task pardon the pun! They had a baby elephant that basically wanted to play in the water. He did so enjoyingly I wanted to be him. It was like 30 degrees and humid. So reminded me of Brisbane.

I walked around the zoo, found a flamingo enclosure ahh they are beautiful birds. Funny looking and I guess that's why I like them.

Took lots of photos of frogs and lizards and this albino crocodile. Freaky thing all white and weird.

From the zoo I got a ticket for the train, and an ice-cream. Hoped on the train while the lady taking my ticket was devo about me not buying her one. Ah I didn't know you were alive until just then so sorry I dint buy you one. Not quite but almost.

The train took me to the natural history museum which I was excited about. I went to the front desk to purchase a ticket and the lady said to wait 10 mins and you can go in for free. Ahh boo ya! So waited in the gift shop and found stingray leather jewelry. Ahh right then. The stuff cost $500 min so you have to have some serious cash with you. But I had never seen anyone make jewelry from stingray leather.

So went to get my free ticket and I just walked around. Saw the part dinosaur skeleton which is exciting. I guess you have to think about where did they come from and do they still exist somewhere? But I learnt that my favorite animal is pre historic. The jelly fish was one of the first organisms to evolve from the big bang theory. So jelly fish are dinosaurs in a non reptile way. They found jellyfish remains at an archilogical site in south Australia.

The only time australia is mentioned in museums here is for their fossils and opals of queensland. Saw some pretty cool gems and stones ain the gem stone section of the museum. It was pretty big. One part was all about energy and they demonstrated how bombs are sorta made.

There are bombs which are compounded energy that explode whilst under water. It's electric so like an underwater electric bomb thing. That had A demo one in a small tube that went off and heck was loud and powerful when you touched it. Made your whole body Shake.

Down the bottom of the museum was a Macdonalds so I treated myself to a mcflirry thing.

Brianne had finished work by that time yay so came and picked me up.

I had a desire to eat steak whilst in Texas so Brianne took me to saltgrass which is the texas steak of steak houses so welcome me!

The waiter was a gem and I truely didn't understand what she was saying because I was counting how many times she said Y'ALL. Dead set she said it at least 5 times. I was like ha wow I love Texas.

So we had bread which was a delicious, then salad huge...then the big guns a TEXAS T-BONE STEAK with steak potatoes which was gigantic. So mouthwateringly delicious I devoured my steak and then undid the button on my pants! Nah didn't but oh I was stuffed! I am glad I ate heaps on my mission because heck it prepared me for America! The waitress asked if we wanted dessert and I was like ahhh no. But I wanted to see the cool tray they had of plastic desserts. I was like ahh what the heck fake food cleaver. I thought they had made one of each of the foods and then put it on the tray. Then a guy touched the food I was like ewww dude.

From my Texas steak adventure we went back to Brianne's house and waited for steph to come home. Brianne made cinnamon scrolls. These are heavenly. I remember on the mission brianne tEaching me how to make cinnamon rolls but later on I tried to make them and I failed miserably...ahh good times! So I sat and reminisced the joy of that day.

After the cinnamon rolls we headed out to frozen yoghurt yay! It was called yoghurt land fitting! They had taro flavored yoghurt. Not bad kinda tasted like taro which was disturbing but hey you live once so bring on the taro! If you don't know what taro is google it.

We got a cool spoon it had hello kitty on it and well I was wearing my mascot tshirt which is hello kitty and an American flag behind her. Of course I had to choose her.

Well my friends that was my exciting trip of Texas! I love Texas and like the giant sticker on my suitcase says "don't mess with Texas!"

Do something crazy with your days enjoy and remember police cars are not comfortable.

DAY 21

DONT MESS WITH TEXAS!!

Well I had my plane trip to Texas and was I excited. Mainly because I had never been there but also the fact that well it's Texas.

So I have a 2 hour flight with peanuts which I love and sprite. I like drinking sprite on plans...not sure why.

I get all nervous because I am seeing my first mission companion for the first time in over a year. It's exciting actually it's close to 2 years. Woooo. She was my trainer so the missionary I looked up to! She was an amazing missionary and is still an amazing person love ya!!!

We meet and greet and I still think it's like the mission but Brianne didn't think so. She even has a wicked white Toyota corolla. Love it!!


From the airport we head home and drop off my bags and then head to the giant mall to find postcards. Ha love it inside the mall there are pirahanas and a hotel. A hotel inside a mall. Crazy I guess your just going to shop if you live there so that would be a good reason to stay.

W try on the toe shoes the ones that separate your toes and are still hard enou to be. Shoe...weird but strange becuse you only have four toes because your last two are together. Weirdo knowwbut kinda comfy. I think my feet would sweat too much if I had them.

W then headed home and steph Brianne's roommate came home. Yay and then we headed out to Mexican hahah it's Tex-Mex cause your in Texas eating Mexican!! It was delicious I had a taco and rice and beans and gorilla chips and salsa crazy how much you eat here! It's disturbing but it's so good you don't want to waste it!

From there we head to family home evening. We are writing cards to an American solider in afghanastan who people know and eating ice-cream sundaes yummo.

I think so Odets need a bit of hope and encouragement whilst they are out serving their country so I decide to write a nice and loving letter to a guy I have never met. It was heartfelt about how much I loved Texas and topped off with a hint of perfume and kisses in red lipstick to seal my love for Texas. I hope he enjoys the piece of unthawed gum I left him inside the envelope which also had my address in it so if he wanted he could write to me. That's right!! Solider penpal.

So unfortunately we had to leave because a friend of Brianne and stephe was in a car accident. She was fine but her car was a bit mangled. "hello mr policeman!"

I thought this would be an opportunity not to miss. There is a fun policeman who doesn't like his job and thinks that San Antonio is a nice place to visit. So I ask him if I can sit in the back of the police car. W had to wait for the ore cop to go before my dream was accomplished!!

It took for ages for the other guy to go but my chance came. Is not that comfortable in the back of a police car. The seat is hard and plastic with these weird hard plastic things that when you sit on them jab into your bum. Not my kind of car but hey when you've done something bad your not going to be given the royal treatment. It was a bit scary when they closed the door because there are no door handles on the inside so you have bars on the windows, plexiglass infront of you and your sitting on some weird plastic seat thing. but hey all in the name of crazy things.

We left the policeman with a card that had the Mormon.org website on it. One day he'll be baptized!

We drop Brianne's friend off at her house and then head home. To sleep. It's hard doing crazy things but it's fun!

So remember to do something crazy but avoid being arrested the car ride isn't comfortable!

DAY 20

Sunday yay!! Church!! Church started at 9 and I managed to be late. Mainly because I didn't trust my directions. But when you4're about to give up the Lord always shows us the way. I was about to turn down another street but I turned to my left and tadaaaa there was the chapel. I know hey!

I had missed sacrament so I waited a bit and the man told me of a Samoan ward meeting at 11 that I could go to! Ahhh Samoans my people ha jokes! The talks were about missionary work and being a missionary. One of the speakers was down syndrome man who was the happiest person I had ever seen in my life. He was smiling and so excited to be sharing his testimony with us. I didn't really understand what he said, but I felt that he loved His Saviour Jesus Christ.

From there I ma friends with a Hispanic lady who showed me to Relief society but we just sat in a room which was weird but we chatted and then I had to go at 11.

Well the almost the whole service was in Samoan. Which was hard because the only word I knew was amen. Ha so I just waited until everyone said it and then I knew it was good. But it was an experience. One I was excite dot be a part of. Polynesians are so warm and friendly. I think if we adopted their love for each other we'd be alot happier and more loving towards each other.

So after my Samoan love I headed out to the famous sign of Las Vegas. I took a photo and then chilled out in my room eating the left over cereal and peanut butter. Yummy meal love it. You do strange things.

But it was a good day. It was my last day in Vegas and I was excited but sad to go. D because I love the temple more then anything and happy because I wasn't a fan of the weird sin city lifestyle.

Smetimes you get the weird things mingled into the nice. But just remember to do something crazy with your day even if you don't know what's going on!

DAY 19

It was a bit of a lazy start to the day but one that was far beyond heavenly.

Today was the day where I would go to the Las Vegas temple. A temple I love dearly and one that I think is my favourite temple. I am not sure why but I think its just so profound that it's an oasis of refuge even in the slum of the world like the sin city of Vegas.

I arrive and am like sweating from nerves and excitement but also the 45degree desert outside. I remember feeling excited to go inside. I wanted to feel something special in this temple and I did. I know that our Father in Heaven has a profound love for each of us. It's a love that will never end. Sitting inside the temple you begin to put life into perspective and to think beyond this mortal relm.

I will always love the Las Vegas Temple. It was my oasis admits the sin city. It doesn't look the same as the pictures, it's better when you walk around the grounds and feel heaven.

Reluctant but almost 3 hours from arriving I left to do some shopping. I had heard of the legendary outlet stores so I hit the road to catch the bus to the outlets. Well I was surprised. It was alot different then I had thought and yet I found another pair of converse shoes...that are actually kids ones but are amazingly cool. I love them and will not disclose there decoration until I return. I got a couple of tops and that was all. Oh and a wallet. Still looking for a watch.

I got back to my hotel at around 9 and I just hit the streets and walked around absorbing the perfume of the Las Vegas night life. It's a different one of chlorine and gas. Random I know but the night life is really the best time to see Vegas. It's ment to be a night time city because of the spectacular water performances that look like volcanos. It was fun just walking the street.

That was pretty much my Saturday. A realxing yet filled day with fun times.

Remember people do something crazy with your life.

DAY 18

Friday

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!

It was a dream to come true. Io have always wanted to go to Vegas and I have no idea why but I have and just wanted to see it and live it and to just be there.

So my sad farewells from the beloved Bistline family I love them so much for letting me stay and chill out at their house LOVE YOU GUYS!!

From Orderville to Vegas was like 3 hours but I had a hankering for peanut MnM's so I stopped at wall mart second home!

Once you leave the mountains of Utah that in a way separate the states there is nothing but flatness...all the way to the city of las Vegas. You occasionally see houses but rarely unitl you come closer to the city it's self. 

It's drugs sex and gambling. That's Vegas. As you come closer to Las Vegas you can see the strip nestled in houses and casinos and flatness.  It's pretty amazing how just one street is home to like a million pele a night and turning over $1 billion dollars collectivly. I have no idea but heck it would be alot of money!!

Well I rocked up to the valet at le Paris hotel. Had booked my room from next door at the Flamingo because Paris was cheaper and the lady at flamingo said the rooms were nicer...and they are Gorgeous.

So the valet man took my car and I went to check in. So inside the Paris is just a nice lighting of mid afternoon. Genlt not harsh lights and neon polled left right center up down everywhere. Money is being destroyed here all set in the fun and exciting interior of a little cobble stone street in Paris. Te roof is curved so the painting of the sky seems so real you feel like your floating when you look up.

There are 3 sets of 8 elevators that service over a thousand rooms. It took me a couple of goes to get to my room but hey the elevators have nice music so pleasant and french.

My room over looked the strip so I could see part of and across the way was the Bellagio hotel famous for it seated spectacular which I could see partially form my room. I scored on the room!

It was huge I had a Room sorta on the corner of the 6th floor and could see a beautiful view especially at night. The bed comfy, the bathroom fancy and French and then rest of the room was just well decorated!

I wanted to see a couple of shows so I went down stairs and came to the concierge who directed me to the discount tickets! BET! 

I walked like a mile ok so more like a few meters down the road to where it was via a bus and bought tickets to see Cirque de Solie' s magical performance of Ka! Google it. And finally the bodies exhibition that I found out about in Idaho many moons ago!

So I headed over there after trudging back to my hotel to pick up I'd because well people take cards so you need an I'd to match it. I know hey random but true. 

The bodies exhibition was being held in the Luxor casino which is egyptian themed and is actually a giant pyramid in the middle of the strip. Inside is pretty mad with like a massive water feature and arch thing that leads you to the casino. 

I took about 3 hours walking through the exhibition just staring at the bodies and how Heavenly Father made them so intricate. I was blown away and felt insignificant in the grand scheme of things but grateful that I have a unique body which I now appreciate more.

I learnt that our tounges and brains have individual patterns on them setting us even more apart. Scientists don't know why we yawn and it's not because we need oxygen they just made that up.the folds in our brin give it more surface area to hold stuff. It was mad and I got to touch a lung that had been plasticized and part of the instestines I think I dunno but it was amazing. I think I spent 1 hour just on the bones and muscles of our body. Wiggling my toes and fingers and being amaized. The funny thing is that the bodies were mainly men and Asian. I think they had fake eyes but it looked real and that's kinda how you could tell they were Asian.

By that time it was about 7 so I went back to my room got pizza down stairs and then changed and went to my show!

I sat next to two love birds who were on their anniversary from Utah but weren't members. They told me to watch the seals in San Fran and that Kentucky is a bit backwards. Tey couldn't tell me much about Chicago...no one can so I guess I'll just explore.

The show was amazing and seriously gravity defying. At one point we saw a guy skippin on a moving spinning thing and nearly die!! But he kept going and did it again. Crazy guess thats why my dad will never let me join the circus. Sad but safe.

It ended about 11 as it started about 9:30 so I headed back to my hotel and freaked out when the lights were still on afternoon mode. It was weird because it was way late and darkish outside well minus the neon lights everywhere.

But Vegas day one classic!
So I guess Vegas to some is the age old motto do something crazy with your life.

DAY 17

Thursday

Early start as Anna's dad made a full on breakfast! Yip we had pancakes, eggs, bacon, beef patties, potatoes and grip ketchup and milk. My friends I love breakfast. It is my favorite meal of the day! I love it because it tastes so good! And to have it made by The Bistline family I love you guys!!

The best start to our day. We were heading to St George as it was my last temple to see in Utah and Anna's grand mother had passed away so her viewing was in St George.

On the way to St George there is a town called Colorado city. This is a place where polygamists live. They are a break off of the LDS church and are now known as the fundamentalist Lds. They still practice polygamy which involves havng more then one wife. It is illegal but the other wives except the first are not classified as married but are single mothers with 12 children. Interesting hey.

They dress in old styled clothing and some refrain from using the Internet and have strict rules about contact with the outside world.

The LDS church of which I am a member stopped polygamy a long time ago by official commandment from God. But many continue the practice today and are not part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However they are living what they know.
For more information on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints look at www.lds.org and more information about plural marriage can be found.

So we went to the temple which was beautiful and the St George area was built on a swamp. It took 7 years or something like that to get the foundations solid enough to build the temple on it. They had taken lava rock form the hills and pounded it in that ground with a cannon. The ones you shoot cannon balls out of in pirate movies. The Prophet Brigham Young said that the foundations will be finished when the cannon bounces on the surface 3 times. And sure enough it did bounce 3 times and that's when they could start building the temple. 

Check it ous on www.lds.org and see the St George temple and all the other temples I have visited! Beautiful!

So after our wonderful time in the temple we head to luck at the infamous Cafe Rio ah delicious! For dessert we head next door to the frozen custard p lae and ahhh yummy!! I had chocolae almond one that was just heavenly and huge. Like a Sara lee tub size for $4 something. Amazing but late it melted in the car...

Finished at the frozen custard place we head to Annas grandmothers funeral. It was the first time i had ever seen a dead body in person and well they look plastic. No disrespect but they do. They don't look alive. It wasn't weird but I found out the Japanese do the same and have viewings. I don't want an open cascket funeral. I want it closed.

But it was an experience. I had said to people I was going to America for 2 weddings and a funeral. Me hoping the funeral Was a dead animal not so much a dead person but however I got to see one. She looked like a happy lady who loved life. Her family members spoke highly of her. My condolences to the Bistline family for their loss.

So it was a sad trip home but we got to go and see Zion national park which was more rock and some ancient cave drawing of the native Americans. That was cool. The rocks out those ways are really pores so your like walking on sand paper so your walking on a slanted rock but you don't slip or slide. PRetty neat experience. More rock photos taken too!

Home was a happy sight and the bed an even more exciting one. It had been a long day and a long few days now it was in deed time for bed.

Remember to do do something crazy with your life!

DAY 16

Wednesday

Welcome to Grand Canyon. Not yet but today was our day to drive to Arizona and check out the natural wonder of the world.

But we had to drive back to Bryce canyon to see if anyone had found my wallet. I'd had that night so many dreams about going home and only this time it wasn't as scary as having them on the mission. I was just going with what the Lord had in store for me. I wanted my wallet back but if I don't find it well...such is life.

So the drive was shorter this time and my stress levels...could have been cured with some more shooting but I pretty much ran to the visitors center I don't think Anna stopped the car but I went in had to wait and then braced myself for the verdict...home or USA?

I thought about how I would have more money, if I left home early how I could buy that house...ha dreaming! But the nice man at the desk looked excited when I told him I had lost my wallet. 

Describing my wallet is easy, it's green with flowers and has Kathmandu on it. The man asked wher ei lost it and I told him at the general store. He then opened a cupboard and gave me a piece of paper that had...the description of my wallet on it. He said he'd be back. Longest wait of my lfe! And he walked through those doors holding my wallet. If the bench thing hadnt of been there I would have hugged that man till his eyes poped out! He was the best thing I had seen. My wallet I love it! And immediately separated my credit cards and hugged it.

I know Heavenly Father answers prayers. He has a plan for us and I guess my plan was to stay here in USA for just a little bit longer.

We drove back to Orderville and the smile was still on my face. How excellent! We plucked up Si and Brandon friends of Anna who are legendary and we drove to the Grand Canyon.

It took us a bit and we got there at about, 1pm not bad. I think one word sums the Grand Canyon up. HUGE you look for miles and miles and it just keeps on going. 

We did some sight seeing walks around the main part and went to the visitors center and then headed further north up the canyon to some ancient American ruin. Lol ha.

The ruins were of their old houses and where made of stone. It was pretty neat. In the summer they would live at the top of the canyon and then in the winter they would live in the bottom of the canyon. Interesting how they would have made it cause heck it's steep.

We then went to the famous rock I think called Angels window where we took some sweet shots with Brandons camera.

It was fun and there was a cloud out on the canyon whic had a shadow of a t-Rex dinosaur ha so cool. It's a beautiful place and full of some amazing views. You feel small when you look at the grand wonders of this world. I think Heavenly Father made them so that we can be reminded that ere are bigger things out there!

We headed back to our little home town Orderville ready for movies and peach cobbler. AMAZING!

So institute was held at the seminary building only for like 30mins and then with the glory of peach cobbler which was made by Boots his nickname I honestly can't remember his first name but he served in hawaii on his mission! Love it! And love his peach cobbler!

Then the movie was up at the little legue field with a projector, white sheet and a laptop and speakers. BET! We watched source code which if you don't think about ti s a mad movie but if you do then its dumb. Just watch and let your brain be mystified!

At one point I think a bat fly across the screen. We were sitting outside on camping chairs. The best! Ever stars above us and cool air! Love Orderville!

That was that. Wednesday was my day for miracles and emmense gratitude for my Heavenly Father. Not only for answering my prayers but for creating such beautiful things so that we Can be reminded of Him. So remember to do something crazy with your life and don't loose your wallet!