Charas-Project

Off-Topic => All of all! => Topic started by: GaryCXJk on July 29, 2005, 07:40:37 PM

Title: Back from the West
Post by: GaryCXJk on July 29, 2005, 07:40:37 PM

America. The dream of some, the menace of most. However, the last mostly applies to the people who never been to America.

I've been there, and... it's great. I haven't noticed any rudeness at all. It seems that Dutch people are far bigger pricks than Americans.

But let's detail the journey. It started at New York. On the day of arrival my grandmother and I, we went to America together on a touring group, went on a night tour on our own, because the morning tour the next day costed money. Well, the tour we made also costed money, but at least we saw it in the evening, when it was less warm. Oh, and our hotel was located near Broadway.

The next day we visited the next sites in order of visit:

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which I really wanted to see for real.

The Central Park, something everybody has to see when they are in Manhattan.

We also passed Trump Tower.

Rockefeller Plaza, to which I only wanted to go because of the Nintendo World store located there.

Liberty Island, the island of the famous statue, which took us almost the rest of the day to reach because we got lost in the subways.

The next day we went to Washington DC, technically not a state of the United States, but still a part of the country. On our way we stopped in Philadelphia, where we visited the Liberty Bell. In Washington, we did an evening tour in which we didn't see much because of a heavy storm of some sort. It costed $23 per person. The only things we got to see and enter were the Union Station and the Kennedy Memmorial Center. We also saw the Capital by night though, which was very impressive.

The tour that followed on the next day began on the Arlington Cemetary, the place where a lot of KIA'd militaries were buried, but also the famous JFK. Next was the Lincoln Memorial, yes, the famous statue. I also got to see the White House, which didn't look very big. Finally, we got dropped off at the museum of space- and aircraft, which was somewhat near the obelisk.

I believe that the next destination was the Cherokee reservate, which was near the Great Smokey Mountains. Somewhere between this place and Asheville was our following destination, and finally, after three days, we arrived at Nashville. My ultimate destination was almost reached. In Nashville, we did the Nashville by Night, which was a Country night, a night where lots of country music was played.

Then, finally, after a short break at Casey Jones Village, named after someone who saved people from a train crash thus sacrificing his own life, we arrived in Memphis. And there it was: Graceland. Yes, Graceland, the house of my biggest idol, Elvis Aaron Presley. It was really impressive. I also got to see his airplanes, and I also got to see the Lisa Marie from the inside. My grandmother and I ended the day with a dinner at Beale Street.

Our journey went on to New Orleans. The first night was a night on a steamboat, or, not really. It was more a wheelboat, or however you might call it. We had to travel trough Bourbon Street. The next day we went on a swamp journey. New Orleans was the worst place to stay, in my humble opinion, because most of the streets smelled like a junkyard.

We then went on to a place I can't remember, mainly because it was a hotel stop. The desitination that followed: Orlando, Florida. And this brings me to a certain point I need to strike. Farfield Inn, part of the Marriot hotels, isn't really a great place to stay, to say it lightly. To be honnest, I think this hotel was the worst. Not because of the rooms, but the lack of rooms. When we arrived there, all rooms weren't ready yet. After waiting an hour I had the urge to kill somebody, because an hour later we needed to leave for Arabian Nights, a dinner show hosted by Disney FM, I believe. On top of that, our luggage got dropped off in the wrong room.

So, on to Arabian Nights, which was really good actually. If you live in Florida and you like fairytales, especially ones set in eastern countries, Arabian Nights is really worth a trip to Orlando. However, if you have hippophobia (e.g. are affraid of horses), then Arabian Nights is not really something for you.

Off to Universal Studios Orlando. When going there, I suggest taking two days, at least, and taking both the Universal Studios and the Adventure Island, both part of the Universal Resorts. Universal Studios Orlando isn't really much, though the rides themselves are really great. If you are lucky, you can get on each ride at least one time, see four shows, and still have plenty time left to eat.

Finally, our journey ended in Miami, where the tour officially ended. The next day we took a flight to Detroit, from which we left to Schiphol, Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.

I personally think this was a good experience, but I'm glad I'm home again. I did have a lot of inspiration, and maybe I'll show you some outcomes of them.

- Gary Kertopermono

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Post by: AsakuraHao2004 on July 29, 2005, 08:31:39 PM

Cool. So, I take it America isnt such a land of idiots as most Europeans presume?

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Post by: Drace on July 29, 2005, 10:18:43 PM

Well I have to agree Gary, us Dutch people can be very quick annoyed and mean. Not me though, I'm a like Santa. Only less fat and red.

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Post by: Tomi on July 29, 2005, 10:47:38 PM

Well I'm glad you had fun.  That tour you went on sounds awesome.  I havent been to half those places and I live here.  And America is not all that crappy as some people think.

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Post by: Osmose on July 29, 2005, 11:03:24 PM

America may not suck, but Florida does. Oh, sure, it's fun to visit, especially places like Miami, but live there. It's horrible.

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Post by: Darkfox on July 30, 2005, 12:06:49 AM

 

Quote

Well I have to agree Gary, us Dutch people can be very quick annoyed and mean. Not me though, I'm a like Santa. Only less fat and red.

Then can I ask you for presents?

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Post by: Grandy on July 30, 2005, 12:47:05 AM

By America you mean North-America, right? We down here are america too, people seem to forget about that.
 Its nice you have fun, but I wouldn't go to USA, unless it was my only option, its not bad, but definately it isn't good either, I would prefer going to Alaska or Portugal.
 Anyway, good you had fun.

 Edit: Your last name is Kertopermono? This is a name I would like to have.

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Post by: FFL2and3rocks on July 30, 2005, 12:48:54 AM

I want a pony! :jumpin:

 
 
 
Sounds like a cool trip! I'd love to go on a tour like that somewhere, but I'm afraid to ride an airplane. >_<
Although if I wasn't scared of airplanes and I had the chance to go tour somewhere... I'd have NO idea where I'd want to go.  :|

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Post by: Razor on July 30, 2005, 02:06:17 AM

Well then, welcome back, Gary.

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Post by: Kinslayer on July 30, 2005, 02:38:02 AM

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Originally posted by Grandy
By America you mean North-America, right? We down here are america too, people seem to forget about that.

*claps Grandy*

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Post by: oooog on July 30, 2005, 02:50:40 AM

Haha, you've seen more in America than me and I live in Michigan.  I wouldn't come to Michigan, it's confusing there.  You never know when you should turn the air conditioning on, or put a snow jacket on, due to the constant weather changes every 5 minutes.

But, I am glad to see that finally someone who doesn't live here, not trash the U.S.  (No offense to other people who haven't insulted the country.  It was an exaggeration.)

Oh, by the way Osmose, my Grandparents live in Florida, so I've been down there a few times.  Believe me, much nicer down there than in other parts of the country.

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Post by: Drace on July 30, 2005, 10:35:52 AM

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Originally posted by Darkfox

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Well I have to agree Gary, us Dutch people can be very quick annoyed and mean. Not me though, I'm a like Santa. Only less fat and red.

Then can I ask you for presents?

Of course, only one problem. I deliver them on the 30th of February.

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Post by: GaryCXJk on July 30, 2005, 02:58:46 PM

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Originally posted by Osmose
America may not suck, but Florida does. Oh, sure, it's fun to visit, especially places like Miami, but live there. It's horrible.

You might be right about that, but I only noticed it in Orlando. The service in at least the Marriot hotel Farfield Inn didn't have a good service. Let's begin with the fact that I had to wait an hour to get in my room, and then these retards delivered the luggage in the wrong room. And not just our luggage, the luggage of everybody on the tour. STINKING PIECE OF ROTTEN TOMATO PIE!

But overall, my respect for the USA has risen.

Oh, almost forgot, I also visited Williamsburg and the Kennedy Space Center. Too bad I missed the shuttle launch though, it was on the same day I went to Universal Studios.

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Post by: BlackIceAdept on July 30, 2005, 03:08:43 PM

well glad you had fun in my country of corupt goverment officals (yes they all are corrupt including *gasp* the  public schools).

PS: If you ever wnat to check out New Hampshire. Its nice quite and peace in every town except tilton, concord, plymouth, and manchester.

PSS: Yes I live in the boondocs! XD

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Post by: Spike21 on July 30, 2005, 06:40:08 PM

QUOTE]Originally posted by Grandy
I would prefer going to Alaska.[/QUOTE]

Alaska is in the USA.

But new jersey sux. it is a junk and not many peple are nice were i live

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Post by: FFL2and3rocks on July 30, 2005, 07:49:15 PM

The quote bug strikes again!

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Post by: Osmose on July 30, 2005, 08:16:45 PM

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Originally posted by BlackIceAdept
well glad you had fun in my country of corupt goverment officals (yes they all are corrupt including *gasp* the  public schools).

PS: If you ever wnat to check out New Hampshire. Its nice quite and peace in every town except tilton, concord, plymouth, and manchester.

PSS: Yes I live in the boondocs! XD

New Hampshire is evilie! Evile, I tell you! Massachusetts is way better.

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Post by: GaryCXJk on July 30, 2005, 10:34:20 PM

Well, that was one of the things I don't really like about America, the governement. And their social system. In America, most people live off the tips people give. And that's why I don't like Dutch people, they don't give tips. But anyway, because America lacks a social system, people are either forced to save a lot of money, thus mostly starving themselves, or take more than one job.

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Post by: Tomi on July 31, 2005, 01:08:56 AM

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Originally posted by GaryCXJk
Well, that was one of the things I don't really like about America, the governement. And their social system. In America, most people live off the tips people give. And that's why I don't like Dutch people, they don't give tips. But anyway, because America lacks a social system, people are either forced to save a lot of money, thus mostly starving themselves, or take more than one job.

Thats only waiters and doorpeople type people.  Most people get the money the same way anyone else would.

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Post by: Osmose on July 31, 2005, 02:55:05 AM

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Originally posted by GaryCXJk
Well, that was one of the things I don't really like about America, the governement. And their social system. In America, most people live off the tips people give. And that's why I don't like Dutch people, they don't give tips. But anyway, because America lacks a social system, people are either forced to save a lot of money, thus mostly starving themselves, or take more than one job.

True, there are many people who have to go through that, but it's not like every American is starving and grabbing for money. My mother and father both have one job, and my father builds fences on the side as his own little project. We don't starve ourselves, and we could probably survive if my father dropped the fences.

And most people don't rely on tips. The jobs that take tips would be working in a restaurant, golf club, supermarket, busywork. There's other jobs in the world, you know. We're not as poor as you think.  :D

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Post by: GaryCXJk on July 31, 2005, 01:11:09 PM

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Originally posted by Osmose


True, there are many people who have to go through that, but it's not like every American is starving and grabbing for money. My mother and father both have one job, and my father builds fences on the side as his own little project. We don't starve ourselves, and we could probably survive if my father dropped the fences.

And most people don't rely on tips. The jobs that take tips would be working in a restaurant, golf club, supermarket, busywork. There's other jobs in the world, you know. We're not as poor as you think.  :D

True, but you are also forgetting hotel staff, touring bus drivers, touring leader, that sort of crap.

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Post by: GaryCXJk on July 31, 2005, 11:46:29 PM

*bump*

Because I don't like another flamefest week.

NOW ASK ME ANYTHING ABOUT MY VACATION DAMNIT!

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Post by: Drace on July 31, 2005, 11:51:29 PM

Okay. What things in America are similar to things in our Dutchieland?

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Post by: GaryCXJk on July 31, 2005, 11:56:22 PM

Well, they both, eh, have tourists.

I've mostly found some differences.

They have illegal prostitution, we have legal prostitution.

They have bagels, donuts, waffels, cereals and toast, we just have plain old bread.

They have Broadway, we have Damrak.

They have the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, we have the monument on the Dam in Amsterdam.

They have Graceland with the King, we had Soestdijk with a queen.

They have Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, we have Nickelodeon and stinking Jetix.

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Post by: Drace on August 01, 2005, 12:38:03 AM

Damn our world! I would kill for Fox and Comedy Central! And I would mass murder for ABC, NBC and all those other good alphabet braodcasts!

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Post by: carmen on August 05, 2005, 06:34:09 PM

so how long were you gone?

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Post by: GaryCXJk on August 05, 2005, 06:40:56 PM

Well, about two weeks.

And I finally found the gap between Washington DC and Nashville, Tenessee. I first had a hotel in Roanoke, the next day in the Cherokee village.

Thank God for digital video!

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Post by: charaman on August 05, 2005, 06:43:20 PM

I'm glad you had a good time here.