The Return of Lisa Valentine:

The return of Lisa Valentine:
So here I am, 5 months after returning from my grande adventure and despite the hideously rocky road I’ve travelled since then, I have not been deterred from my overwhelming desire to see the world.
As I have always been wont to do, I have various ‘maybe’ trips in pre planning. There are many variables that will influence, the where, what and how, but there is one constant… I will be heading off into the wide world for another peek sometime during the next year.
This trip was the most amazing thing I have ever done. Such a monumental undertaking for a single mum who’s never travelled alone overseas. My first time in America, my first real cruise, my first experience of having to fend for myself and I did an amazing job. The photos for me are not just a permanent reminder of where I’ve been but another of my obsessions in their own right. The pursuit of the perfect shot is something that drives me to some ridiculous lengths but it’s a passion that I cheerfully indulge …. And in case your wondering, yep… I did finally get some shots of the castle that I love and intend to add to the collection of my favourite shots on my office wall.

I’d also like to make special mention of my most fabulous Southern friends, Steve, Sherri, Evelyn and Bill. Had it not been for this wonderful family, I doubt my cruise experience would have been quite as rich as it was. I was welcomed into their family space with that famous Southern hospitality without a moments hesitation and I learned so much about life in the South and perfecting the art of that glorious accent that I emulated so frequently while onboard and also for weeks after my return to the land down under was such a treat. My next visit to the US will definitely include a trip to the Southern States to visit my friends and to see their beloved Razorbacks play.
I can’t begin to express how much this trip changed my life.
Not only did I see what I was capable of, but I suspect that the simple act of just experiencing life on other parts of the planet is something that will continue to be an addiction I can‘t shake.


Thanks for sharing my journey, these gypsy feet will be no doubt be dancing their way through more of the world before too much longer - feel free to join me again for more of my exploits. I’ll post a link so you can join team Lisa Valentine again.

I'll also add some more of my favourite photos when time permits...
Keep smiling… it makes them wonder what you’ve been up to. ;)
Love Lisa. Xxx

The Last Days:

This entry has been a long time coming. It has taken me months to recover sufficiently to finish this blog but there is good reason for that.
Two days before I was due to fly home, my beloved mum passed away from complications with her heart surgery.
I have never felt such desolation and isolation in my life.
The last days of what has been my biggest adventure to date were so scarred by such an enormous loss. My blood relatives now reduced to two sisters and my own two precious children.
I was due to fly home 48 hours later. As mums condition existed prior to my departure, her death didn’t qualify for an insurance funded alteration to my flights so I had to fill in another day an a half before checking out and heading back to the land down under.
I went through the motions of saying farewell to a place I’d dreamed of visiting as long as I can remember. I imagine every Disney fan feels a wrench leaving hallowed ground but for me it effected me deeply.
More life altering than anyone should have to bear.

I did what I imagine are all the usual things… last minute shopping, last rides on the favourites, last churro, last castle photo, last character hug.
Although, I can remember barely eating those last days, I was running on auto, so I did miss some opportunities to partake of distinctively Disney fare. I also lost the taste for the wild rides, and my last ride was on my favourite… the Tea Cups.
Then it was back to my room at the Menage for what was to be a truly Herculean effort of organising my luggage so that every little thing was packed and ready to go. I was the most worried about the huge bottle of Strawberry magarita mix that was nestled amongst my favourite clothes and leather boots but it made it home unscathed. It cost me a pretty penny to get that extra bag home but so very worth it.


The flight home was interesting. I got a bulkhead seat so I had so much room to stretch out it was ridiculous. Trouble was, I was on the window seat and then had to crawl over two men to get out when the need arose. The one on the end wasn’t such a worry. A spiffily dressed, chatty and surprisingly cute miner from WA, only a fraction younger than me, who I wished was the one in the centre seat rather than the old smelly man who actually got centre stage.
None the less, I again slept the majority of the way home and then the blur of travel included being back on home turf, unpacking ( read - upending my suitcase on the bed and hurling in clothes for a chilly Victorian winter funeral, which under any circumstances would have been dreadful) and then returning to the airport early the next morning heading for Melbourne.


So in 24 hours, I had been in LA, New Zealand, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and finally after a series of handoffs between cousins and a seemingly endless car journey, a tiny dot on the map in the middle of Victoria.
The sadness was so overwhelming, made worse by the backlash from some of my mums closest friends due to my being overseas at the time. Being snubbed at my mothers funeral by a few families was something I could never had envisaged coming from the people I grew up amongst. But grief has some strange side effects and some people need someone to blame. Despite the ill feeling, I managed to hold it together at her funeral to read a letter I’d written her earlier in the year, telling her how much she meant to us all.
I’m sure both mum and dad will still keep a seat warm for me in heaven, and I’m sure she’s surrounded by flowers more beautiful than any of us could ever imagine. I love you mum.

In my work, I have constant contact with many women my age, helping their growing-elderly mothers to shop. I see many frustrated daughters trying to grasp the changes in their parent as they age and require more patience. To those women I simply want to remind you how fortunate you are to see your parent at that stage of their life. Cherish it. Ask the questions you’ve been meaning to. Solidify your knowledge of your family’s roots. The opportunity to do so can be taken from you without a moments notice.
The last words I said to my mother were, ‘I love you mum’ said before I departed on my trip.
Her last words to anyone were ‘just love each other’.
Can there be any better advice?

Day 8: (The Block On Orange) shopping in the OC...Clueless....

Anyone seen the movie Clueless? You must have a million times like me.

I love love love that movie and if you can picture the scene where the girls hit the shopping mall and come out laden with all those lovely crisp cardboard carry bags and boxes... then superimpose my persona right there holding said bags and boxes in both arms, then you would have an accurate picture of what I looked like returning to the hotel tonight.

Exhausted but on a shoppers high like only the OC can muster.
Yep folks... I was shopping in Orange County today and what an amazing place the Block on Orange is.

Its the size of a shopping centre ( not satellite city sized but still huge) but its all outside rather than bound together by a roof, and outlet shops mingle with regular ones and all pretty much without exception were having a 'summer sale' and the bargains were just mind boggling.

Oh.... Girls.... The clothes.... the SHOES ...... (that needs saying again ) the SHOES..... and handbags and.....

OMG the lingerie....

You just know I wasn't leaving Victoria Secret without one of those gorgeous pink stripy carry bags with each delicate piece wrapped in pink tissue. Or Fredericks of Hollywood for that matter... (google it..... what can I say... some girls can't pass a handbags shop... I can't pass one with exquisite lingerie in it - thats my cross to bear)
And then there was the Guess store.... and Hollister.... and Old Navy.... and Papaya.... and Oh my giddy aunt... the list is just endless.

What a wonderland this place was.
I think I'm looking at an extra suitcase when I return home... and yep, while I was there, I popped into Flight Centre and asked about how much it was going to cost me (gulp)

I really enjoyed hopping buses (I had to change a couple of times) and seeing some of Anaheim and then the OC. What an eye opener. the shopping here in the States is wicked.

I really wished I'd had a shopping buddy ( or a sherpa ) but I still had a very satisfying day.
I had decided that I was having a bad hair day so I emerged from the hairdressing supply store with peroxide, tint brush, scissors and comb and gloves ( I'd brought my colour with me - can't take chances on having a colour disaster now can we girls) and had a complete makeover back in my room that night - the works.... colour, trim and blowdry... all for the princely sum of about $27... sometimes it pays to be an ex-hairdresser.

I was so exhausted when I got back that dinner was a Krispy Kreme (or two... oh ok... or three).

You know how just before Christmas you lay the present out and do an even up? Well, I do... anyway. I did this (and gulped for the second time today at the thought of having to get it all home) and made a list of the gifts I still needed to buy and then tried to write up the day but fell asleep at the keyboard again, so gave up and went to bed....
There's always tomorrow right?

Day 7: (Disneyland) When Fantasy becomes reality.

Once again, I only got to Disneyland late… I got a middle of the night phone call from home ( which I was genuinely delighted about) from my Sister telling me that my mum had made it through her surgery and was starting the recovery process on a heart/lung machine.
While not out of the woods yet, its looking promising so that was wonderful news.
It was also a treat to have quick word to my DD who I miss a whole heap.
But I just couldn’t settle back to sleep for hours, there was too much information swimming in my headspace… so when I finally did, I told the alarm to ‘hush’ ( yep, I’m still thinking with that Southern accent) when it went off and I slept a little longer than I’d intended.
But once I did arrive, I made the decision to do Fantasyland today… despite it being nearly lunchtime and its likely to be overrun with strollers and infants in varying stages of tantrums… I braved it and went with it.
I decided to ease into the ride campaign, starting with the less populated ones and then put on the ankle armour and head for the headliners.
So it was Pinocchios Daring Journey that called my name first, and the line was so short, that I virtually walked straight onto a cart and with the overly enthusiastic attendants assurances that it is ‘one of the best rides’ still ringing in my ears, I was going through the first set of doors on this apparently brilliant ride. I hadn’t done this one before so from that standpoint, it was interesting. And as a long time Disney fan, I appreciated the retelling of the story in a 3D form. I did actually ride this twice because it was really quick .
From there I decided that the carousel being one of my all time favourite things (anywhere - I can’t go past one) was the next thing.
I stood and watched for a short time… mostly checking out the horses and choosing which one I’d most like to ride should it be possible ( yep… like all the other 4 year olds in the line) And then I saw it…. The horse I’d been reading about on the internet before leaving home….
Jingles….
And in that instant, I had to have that horse. So I lined up and watched that horse go around and around and made note of its exact whereabouts so that when it was my turn to ride, I could make a concerted effort to be the first one beside that horse.
And wouldn’t you know it… I was.
And I beamed long after I’d dismounted, taken a dozen quick photos and then got shooed out of the way so the next punter could try their luck with this beautiful steed.
Jingles by the way, is the lead horse on the carousel and has in recent times been given a makeover - as a dedication to the work that Julie Andrews had contributed to Disney over the years. It has lots of hand painted elements that symbolise aspects of Julies life, including her role as Mary Poppins and that of a Disney Ambassador.
And is the most beautiful horse on the ride.
Ok, so the ride that always seems to have a long endless line was surprisingly quiet today and with only an expected 15 minutes wait, I joined the line for Dumbo… another ride that is way way up there as far as my favourite rides go. Not even sure why… its slow to load, the ride only goes for a few minutes and every kid in the line is determined to have the pink elephant it seemed. Lucky for me, I wanted the yellow one.
The line really did only take about 15 minutes before I was to be on the next round, and with feather in hand (the attendants hand you a wooden feather to indicate that you get to ride in the next round) I boarded that Dumbo in the yellow ensemble that will be easiest colour to scrap the photos of and after getting the attendant to take my photo, I was up up and away in a pachyderm paradox.
And loved every last second of it.
From there, I decided that a trip to the Mad Hatters was in order… I was in need of some ears… and I emerged with silver ears and on a blue hat that has a hidden button in the ears that makes the beads sewn onto the front of it sparkle like the garden at the entrance of the park…
Well,…. Come on people… like I’d pick a pair of non-glitzy ears….
And of course, it now has a lovely cursive Lisa stitched on the back.
And… are the first pair I’ve ever owned.
I wore them all day and only took them off when I rode Indy and then when I went to bed.
Then it was onto Mr Toads Wild Ride… another one I’ve not ridded before. A lot like the Pinocchio and Snow White rides… a little car that propels itself around a track that takes you through on a ‘wild journey’ with Toady. As luck would have it, my car was the little red Toady one and off I tootled through the doors after a very long hot wait. I was just pleased to be out of the sun.
Something I have noticed about Fantasyland is the weather vanes on all the rooves… I’d not read about them before and so I went around photographing all of the ones I could find. I wonder how many people going through this land actually bother to look up… Mostly they are looking down to do something with or for a child no taller than their knees, so I guess its something that might be overlooked a lot.
From Toady it was on to Peter Pans flight. Another one that was closed for maintenance in TDL so I was looking forward to this one. Boy what along wait it was though - some of these older slower to load rides could use a fast pass line. But there is no room for that to be built on so there is nothing for it but to line up and bake in the sun. There were a lot of fractious littlies in that line by the time they were getting close.
I got a black pirate ship and it was a really cute ride. But I’d do it early in the morning if I were to do it again.
Ok… I was chewing through the available rides and I was really surprised considering there were heaps in the park today. So far, Peter Pan and Toady were the longest waits but the others were really quick.
As was Snow Whites Scary Adventure. I suppose its not really a headliner but I was able to literally walk into the waiting area and hope straight onto a cute little cart that propelled me through doors and into the dark of this ride. It was over as quick as a wink and so I rode it again a couple more times seeing as it was practically empty.
By then my Indy FP was up for grabs so I went and lined up and it still took me 20 minutes to get there. The staging areas are amazing. Such detail that it took me ages to walk to the end of the line cos I was taking so many photos. There was no rush thankfully as everyone knew that the FP line was pretty chockers too so everyone was just kind of wandering along till they got to the stopped line. By the time I had gotten back for my FP time, all the FP’s for the day were gone and you could hear the disappointed crowds trying to decide whether to wait 2 hours in line for one ride or perhaps have time to do 3 or 4. Not a decision I was willing to make.. I have just walked away when the line was that long. I have the luxury of being able to try again another day. it’s a first thing in the morning or FP ride - otherwise be prepared for a long long wait.
Ok, well, this ride deserves all its popularity. Its just like being in a scene from the movie with grand sets and stunning detailing. And that ride on the jeep is not for the faint hearted. It really throws you around and thankfully they give you a place to put your stuff cos you would be hard pressed hanging onto your things when you are being hurled from one side of the set to the other in the jeep.
What a hoot though.
Lots in that jeep are sighing, some are crying and then most are buying in the Indy shop conveniently situated across from the exit.
Loved it. Going to do it again.
So I headed back to Fantasyland and caught the Sword in the Stone show which was also cute. Seems to be what Fantasyland is mostly about - cute. Which I like.
Then, because of the blazing Californian sun, I felt the need for a Mickey Sandwich - which is not a sandwich but an ice cream. Well, it has icecream sandwiched between two biscuits so they call it a sandwich. Which confusingly ,can and mostly does, also mean a burger of any description.
Sheesh…. If only they spoke English.
Well, it was time…. I had been saving it for the day I did Fantasyland and I lined up eagerly in the Tea Cups line - which again was pretty sparse and it took only two rounds of the ride until I was sitting in a lovely blue cup excited to be finally sitting there.
As usual, I got the attendant to take my photo ( not game to hand my camera to randoms - well, I’ve done it a few times but they have without exception taken dreadful photos so I don’t bother anymore - and the attendants always take a couple so you have a better chance of getting a decent one).
And all too soon, it was over and I was exiting through the nearest gate - and wanting to do it all over again but by the time my ride was over, there was an almighty line up and so I just moved on, resolving to ride it again the next time I was in the park.
I’ve taken castle shots every day, but I’m still not happy with them. Its impossible to get shots without people in them… even when you get there at the crack of dawn. I still haven’t managed a shot sans tourists but am still trying. I have gotten some nice shots of it but not ‘the shot’ yet I fear.
I caught the parade again and also some grumpy attendants that were firing off salvos at the people that were refusing to sit down despite having gotten there way before the people that were behind them - because of knee issues I think, but in the end, they were made to move on and I thought that was mean, the people that had arrived behind them ( not me in case you were wondering - I was over on the very edge of the standing area so I could see and take photos) were only there a short time and were insisting that everyone in front of them crouch down. It was right near the start of the standing section and I thought they were so close they should have been allowed to stay. Some attendants are really nice and some really need a ‘Disney magic’ pill. It seems to fluctuate greatly throughout the park.
I’ve seen some wonderfully helpful staff and then some really officious ones, who really are missing the ‘have a nice day’ gene.
After that I shopped briefly and went back to the hotel to take a break and make some arrangements for Monday, when I will be going to Seaworld.
I arrived back at the park just on dark and wandered around different lands, taking night shots ( which without a tripod is not giving me the quality of shots I want - I’m still trying though - and have a couple I like but has taken probably 100:1 to get them. ( The delete button is getting a real workout at night)
I wandered around to the rivers of America to find a spot to watch Fantasmic and was blown away by the seething mass of humanity waiting where I wanted to be. Just unbelievable quantities of people. Needless to say, it was more about finding ‘a’ spot than finding ‘the right’ spot. I just wanted to see it in the end… and it took a while to find a place where I could squeeze myself under the roped viewing area.
And as soon as the show started I found out why there was a gap there…. I couldn’t see the stage on the island for a massive tree… I could see the stuff happening on the water, but mostly, it was centred on the island so I just had to enjoy the bit I could see and then vow to catch the late show when there were less really young families there and I might have half a chance of finding a place where
A) I can see and
B) where I am not having to bend like a pretzel to get around all the gazillions of strollers that decorate the park.
It really takes some doing to get a photo without a stroller in it. And it doesn’t seem to worry the local but it has started to bug me.
The minute that it was evident that the show was over, I sprinted off and surprisingly beat the majority of the crowd ( gathering their sleeping children I guess) and I got a spot under the ropes for the start of the fireworks way way in the back and with a squillion heads in the way - but it was lovely to see them for the first time with the music and the castle colours to go with them.
I am going to endeavour to get a great spot (EARLY) at the park on Sunday night to try my hand at those castle at night shots. Wish me luck.
From there, I slowly wandered along Main street and bought a few little things ( yes, one of which was chocolate) and then headed back to the hotel.
I have block out day tomorrow so will be heading shopping to a shopping centre that is on the tourist Transit route and I can get there on the same ticket I use to get to DL .
Lets hope is anyway.

A couple more I liked....

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust.....

These shots are not all that sharp but I took them all without a tripod.

Day 6: (DL & DCA) Mix and Match parks

Arriving really early at the park (or so I thought - earliest I’ve gotten here anyway) I decided on a quick trip into Disneyland to do a couple of rides before heading over and joining the queue to be amongst the first in DCA.
The beauty of having an annual pass is that I can park hop to my hearts content and as it turned out, I went backwards and forwards several times catching shows and rides and then switching parks for a while during the course of the day.
So in I went and true to form, I couldn’t go past the characters mostly because I was first in line to see Mickey and then couldn’t resist a couple more for good measure.
I got Chip and Dale again - this time getting autographs and also Cruella De Ville. She was funny. She warned me about the danger of rodent worship ( seeing as I had on a Mickey T shirt.) I told her I’d take it under consideration.
By that time it was time to scoot back to DCA and line up to be amongst the first in the park as they actually let you in half hour before its scheduled opening, only certain areas are roped off until opening. And I lucked out and headed the right way and Soaring Over California was open and I caught the first flight of the day.
Wow….
What an amazing ride.
I love love loved it. I smelled the orange groves and the pine trees and the ocean as I flew over the top of them …. This is just an amazing piece of entertainment.
No wonder the fast passes go by about mid morning and the lines remain over two hours long ( well, so far that I’ve seen) for the remainder of the day. I had intended to return and ride it again but that was another plan that went by the wayside.
So I better explain why.
After Soaring, I headed for Paradise Pier and was amongst the first at the rope drop and power walked my way to Screaming, where I caught the first round of that ride as well… seeing as I am a single rider, I often get on way before others in the line that are in groups.
Ok,…. Well, I loved this ride until right near the end and the coaster does these little hills and, despite my having a pretty cast iron stomach… I felt a little yuck when I stepped off. So I resolved to do a quite sedate ride till I felt quite alright again.
And that is where I made an almost catastrophic mistake.
I chose the Sun wheel… thinking a nice sedate Ferris wheel would be just the thing to sit quietly and take in the view while I recovered.
Hmmm…. Someone should have ( and in hindsight - probably did but I didn’t take as much notice as I should have) mentioned that these gondolas rock.
Quite violently - enough to have me doing panting like I was about to give birth in an effort to keep down the breakfast that I didn‘t actually have.
When it came around to the bottom I was thinking “oh thank the Lord” I can get off now… little did I know, that it goes around twice… and by the time I could actually get off, I had that motion sickness bag in my hand and was a probably as white a ghost.
I can’t remember feeling that sick in many many years.
I could hardly walk I was shaking so much and I found a shady spot and fell into the seat there, nodding off leaning against a pole several times…
It was an hour before I felt confident enough to move without hurling.

Can you believe that… A Ferris wheel.!
I was ready to go back to the room at that point but decided to just wander a bit and see what happens.
I felt a bit better when I had a churro…
Checking the time, I realised that the other reason I was in the park today was probably getting a pretty long line by now. So I headed around to the Theatre for the Aladdin stage show.
And the baking in the sun ( yep, I got a bit sunburned) was worth it.
This show was spectacular. All thoughts of having felt so hideous only a short time ago were gone as the razzle dazzle of the Aladdin show wowed the audience.
The guy who plays Genie was absolutely hilarious and really, I’d have paid actual money to go see this show, such was the professionalism and spectacle.
I’m so glad I stayed.. It is only shown on Wed/Thurs and had I missed it today the last chance I’d have gotten would be next Wed - my last day.
I caught up with Snow White for a photo and signature ( yes Keith, I was probably still feeling the effects of the Sun Wheel considering my feelings about princesses… but Snow White is one I kind of like so I made an exception) on my way out of the park and into Disneyland again, I headed back to the Adventureland areas to see if the rides I missed out on were going today. And Yay… they were … but Boo…. The fast passes were gone already for Indy and the line was two hours long… that one is going to have to wait… I’m not lining up for two hours for anyone…. Not even Indy.
So I headed up to Pirates and hoped it wasn’t as packed as Indy… and to my amazement, there was only a 5 minute wait… yep… 5 minute… I virtually walked straight onto a boat.
I got the back seat ( the only one to have - it doesn’t get wet) and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the changes with Jack Sparrow there.
Its really well done and doesn’t detract from the original in anyway I don’t think.
And because it was such a fast line, I rode it 2 more times in quick succession. Loved it when that happens.
I seemed to zig zag all over the place after that. I had lunch in tomorrow land and then another churro. Then shopped for pins - one of the best shops is the pin shop in Frontierland. I have found ones there that no one else has. As I do rides - and the proviso is that I enjoy them - I then buy a pin of that attraction to remind me.
I’ve bought lots of pins… actually I’m on my second lanyard… I probably won’t buy too many more.. Perhaps an opening day one for the new Toy Story ride (for which all sorts of signage is starting to appear) . About that ride… It irks me watching other AP holders enjoying that ride because they got some coupon off the internet a month ago… the ride is almost always full and its only those people with the special tickets/AP that are allowed on.
Plenty of people are wishing they could ride it now .. Including me.
I also did follow through on my Dole whip float thought and tried it, but really, the whip is the best.
After what seemed like a hundred mile trek from shop to shop on a wild goose chase for stamps for my postcards, I finally found the vending machine in the locker area which proceeded to dislike my $1 bills… it didn’t like the new ones… only the old crumpled ‘too hard to get in the machine’ ones but eventually it had to play and I sent off the first of the cards.. .better late than never guys.
I watched the lowering of the flag ceremony as suggested by Anthony… Interesting, but I couldn’t stick it out to the end… it got a little serious for me when everyone was standing hand on hearts and singing the national anthem. Only my own national anthem gives me that lump in my throat feeling…so I sidled away and resumed my Disney holiday.
I counted up last night that I had taken almost 2000 photos since I left Australia and I still have a week to go…and that doesn’t count the photo pass photos either…. that is going to take some scrapping.