Did you know

that only bitches talk shit?

Sandy will be hitting your shores in December. Assuming you live in any of the following places.

San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle, Vancouver, New York, and hopefully a couple of days in Boston as well.

Squee.

Ello kids, long time no speakies.

So, as some of you may know, I'm planning a trip with a couple of friends to the USA (and a small part of Canada) in December. We've booked our flights in and out of the country (I arrive in San Francisco on the 9th, and leave from there on the 4th of January) but now we've come up against a couple of snags.

We hunted around for the best deals, and finally found an itenary that worked out well for our budget and schedule. The only problem is, we can't seem to book these flights. Initially we relied on websites (mostly Orbitz.com and CheapTickets.com), but when it came down to actually making the reservations, as far as we can tell, they don't accept credit cards outside of the US, Canada, or European Union.

Now, I'm thinking this is probably just a lot of stupidity on OUR part, and nothing to do with the website itself, because it's let us key in local phone numbers for contact purposes, and even quoted in our home currency. I can't tell what we're overlooking though, because we've scoured every inch of that website and just can't find a way around it.

So this is where I need some help.

1) Does anyone know how I could get those websites working for a billing address in Asia? If not, are there any other flight-hunting websites with competitive prices? So far the ones we've found are all a good two to three hundred dollars more expensive, and we're on a really stringent budget.

2) Keeping in mind that the entire part of the trip that's spent on the West Coast will involve just me and one other person, who doesn't have her license, how much sense would it make for us to rent a car, in the event that our flights just simply don't work out?

3) If anyone knows the areas, and could just point out things to do and see, that would be wicked and much appreciated. Also accommodation hasn't yet been fully figured out, so recommendations for cheap but safe and comfy stays would rock. _{Liam, you best get cracking on that tree house}

So. Here's the rough outline:

For the West Coast, we'll be starting out in SF, and we want to hit up Vegas and LA. I need to spend a weekend in Vancouver (it doesn't matter which weekend, as long as it's a full weekend). Initially we planning to fly SF - LA - Vegas - Seattle, take a train/bus up to Vancouver, and then back down, before flying across the East Coast. Now we're wondering if it wouldn't make more sense to drive, or take trains the entire way.

On the East Coast, if at all possible, I need to get to New York by the 21st of December to celebrate my best friend's birthday. We've got a place to stay there, and any travelling we do will probably be by train and only for a couple of days at a time. And I need to get back to SF by the 4th of January.

So. Any ideas?

Also, if you live anywhere along my route, and want to grab a drink, hit me up. I'm not the most sociable of people in person, but I've been told that a beer or seven into the night I make some damned good company.

<sub>( o Y o )

boobs.</sub>

I'm going to be in Melbourne from the 2nd of August till the 9th, with a mini-side-trip to Mt Buller on the 6th and 7th.

If you think there's anything I absolutely must see or do, please let me know. I want to do as much as possible, and I'm all set to have a damned good time. Keep in mind though that I'm already struggling to keep up with expenses, so as much as I'd love to, I can't do anything too costly.

Also, I've heard from a couple of friends who study/live there that the weather's been a little bit crazy. If anyone knows what it will be like during the period of my trip, and what kind of clothes I'll need to bring, that would be a huge help. I live in Singapore, and start reaching for a sweater when it hits 24C, so it's probably a good idea if I'm prepared.

Thanks in advance, and I promise to try and take lots of pictures