Well, I have my tickets! Thank you God!
Phew, it was a stressful night.
I received my e-mail from KSC saying 'Sorry, were all out of tickets' this, really bummed my out because I checked ebay to see that some scalper had no less than 25 tickets for sale, all for almost over a grand! That means he won the lottery system 25+ times, I can only imagine how many accounts he used to sign up...
Anyway, but at the bottom of that sad email was two links to two local tour operators who were also given a handful of tickets.
This was God's 'I'll do you one better' moment. Because getting a ticket from one of these tour operators means they'll pick me up and bring me back, as apposed to a ticket from the KSC where I'd have to make my way there myself somehow.
So it was 2am here, or 12noon local time Florida when the tickets went up for sale. I have Nathan on one tour operator, while I check out the other.
At about 11.30 their time the website became REALLLLLLY slow, I mean 5 minutes for a refresh slow.
And came 12noon? I couldn't even access the website, it was totally down for me.
Nathan however managed to get on to the other guys, sort of. Anyway, long story short, we were both sitting there for 40 minutes + just refreshing like mad, Nathan would get a few steps closer with each very hundred refreshes, while I on the other hand was still get 503 time out errors. I was almost in tears. I mean, I had prayed so hard, fasted all day and I was really looking forward to this ticket.
It was then that Nathan read to me, over skype: "Thank you for booking with us. Your booking number is xxxxx"
At first I almost didn't register what he was saying, I had lost all hope. Then I asked him to repeat, and with a non excited 'are you serious?' it was then too, when I hear the welcoming BING from my iPhone indicating an email just arrived.
And it was confirmed, I had my ticket!
The next morning I learned that there were over 60,000 individual IP inquiries of which they were only letting in 250 at a time. Also, on top of that, they reported ebay'ers with bot programs, "SLAMMING" their servers. Those scalpers! As if 4 pages of thousand dollar tickets on ebay isn't already enough.
Anyway, God was good and He delivered, I have my ticket. The pickup is close to my hotel too!
Oh, I also received word from my Hotel in NYC that my reservation is booked, and I'm all ready to go.
Been packing my bags slowly the last few days, I'm almost ready to go! Just 3 exams ahead of me now...goody.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
And the wait begins
Well, NASA is being very clever (as they always are I guess) and they are doing their launch ticket sales lottery style. Everyone had last week to register their interest of getting a ticket. And now, for the next two weeks, we all wait for get an email saying we have the opportunity, or we missed out.
Problem being is I leave in about 2 weeks, I hope they can mail my tickets straight to my hotel or something...
Anyway, I need to organize my flights now, time is getting short and I need to make some plans.
So I'll be emailing the travel agent.
I'm going to ask for an open ended flight.
Meaning that I don't have to specify a return date, that is useful in case there are any further delays for Atlantis.
Will keep you posted.
Problem being is I leave in about 2 weeks, I hope they can mail my tickets straight to my hotel or something...
Anyway, I need to organize my flights now, time is getting short and I need to make some plans.
So I'll be emailing the travel agent.
I'm going to ask for an open ended flight.
Meaning that I don't have to specify a return date, that is useful in case there are any further delays for Atlantis.
Will keep you posted.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
A change of plan
Well, at first they (NASA) predicted the launch for mid July, however a couple of days ago (21 May) they set the targeted launch date for July 8. And what is July 8? The very day I am to come back!
So, my travel agent says I can change my plans, the only problem being that it might incur fees from airlines.
So, it's both an amazing turn of events, and also a potentially expensive one. But I'll continue to pray for something special to happen.
Now, one more matter of concern, the launch tickets bought from NASA for the viewing will be placed on a lottery system simply because of the huge volume of people interested in seeing the launch. (500k for the Endeavor) But I guess if I don't get a ticket, I'll just have to try to organize to get to the public viewing spots somehow, maybe I can meet a nice family who is willing to take me with them.
But once again, I'll pray for something good to happen.
So, the plan now - I have a few options:
1) Keep my plans as is, but push my return date back. This would mean an extra flight back from NYC to Orlando, and from Orlando to LAX.
2) As dad recommends, I should push my entire trip forward a week. The fee for rescheduling the departure date and the return date (for the international flight) is the same as just rescheduling one instance of it, so changing both is exactly the same.
So here is what I'm thinking. Push it back a week (I need to remember however that uni holidays are only 3 weeks long.) Leave later, say July 1, fly from LAX to NYC (As apposed to Orlando first). Arrive there at sometime July 2. Spend about 4 nights and 5 days in NYC as previously planned. Fly out of NYC to Orlando on the 6th. Spend a few days in Orlando, see the launch on the 8th, and stay in the hotel for the planned 8 nights. That has me leaving Orlando on July 14, flying to LAX, then back to Australia.
I'm just thinking though, perhaps I should not have my return flights set, just in case another change happens. That is possible according to my flight attendant but it just means I don't know how much I might be in for cost wise.
So yes, exciting stuff, but also stressful stuff :)
So, my travel agent says I can change my plans, the only problem being that it might incur fees from airlines.
So, it's both an amazing turn of events, and also a potentially expensive one. But I'll continue to pray for something special to happen.
Now, one more matter of concern, the launch tickets bought from NASA for the viewing will be placed on a lottery system simply because of the huge volume of people interested in seeing the launch. (500k for the Endeavor) But I guess if I don't get a ticket, I'll just have to try to organize to get to the public viewing spots somehow, maybe I can meet a nice family who is willing to take me with them.
But once again, I'll pray for something good to happen.
So, the plan now - I have a few options:
1) Keep my plans as is, but push my return date back. This would mean an extra flight back from NYC to Orlando, and from Orlando to LAX.
2) As dad recommends, I should push my entire trip forward a week. The fee for rescheduling the departure date and the return date (for the international flight) is the same as just rescheduling one instance of it, so changing both is exactly the same.
So here is what I'm thinking. Push it back a week (I need to remember however that uni holidays are only 3 weeks long.) Leave later, say July 1, fly from LAX to NYC (As apposed to Orlando first). Arrive there at sometime July 2. Spend about 4 nights and 5 days in NYC as previously planned. Fly out of NYC to Orlando on the 6th. Spend a few days in Orlando, see the launch on the 8th, and stay in the hotel for the planned 8 nights. That has me leaving Orlando on July 14, flying to LAX, then back to Australia.
I'm just thinking though, perhaps I should not have my return flights set, just in case another change happens. That is possible according to my flight attendant but it just means I don't know how much I might be in for cost wise.
So yes, exciting stuff, but also stressful stuff :)
Monday, 9 May 2011
Atlantis postponed
Well, bad news, Atlantis has been postponed to 'early July' due to Endeavor's delays.
It's to be expected I guess and in a way it's actually taken a huge load off.
It's been stressing my a bit not knowing if I'll be able to get my hands on those launch tickets and if I didn't how I would go about getting to the public viewing areas.
At least, if it's early enough July, I might even still be in the country and might even still be able to make my way there. Who knows. I'll leave that up to God. In the meantime however what is great is I'll still be able to SEE the shuttle. My travel agent is trying to book my tour of the Kennedy center so I'll see all the inside workings where they prep the shuttles. I might even be able to see some of the other, now decommissioned, shuttles being prepped for transport to their respectful museums. And Atlantis will be waiting on the launch pad by this time (or maybe still on it's huge transport platform driving REALLY slowly) either way, I'll see it up close and it'll be awesome.
So; disappointed - but I guess it was to be expected, I feel alright about it.
A slight silver lining would be that I might actually now be able to focus that bit better on my fast approaching exams.
It's to be expected I guess and in a way it's actually taken a huge load off.
It's been stressing my a bit not knowing if I'll be able to get my hands on those launch tickets and if I didn't how I would go about getting to the public viewing areas.
At least, if it's early enough July, I might even still be in the country and might even still be able to make my way there. Who knows. I'll leave that up to God. In the meantime however what is great is I'll still be able to SEE the shuttle. My travel agent is trying to book my tour of the Kennedy center so I'll see all the inside workings where they prep the shuttles. I might even be able to see some of the other, now decommissioned, shuttles being prepped for transport to their respectful museums. And Atlantis will be waiting on the launch pad by this time (or maybe still on it's huge transport platform driving REALLY slowly) either way, I'll see it up close and it'll be awesome.
So; disappointed - but I guess it was to be expected, I feel alright about it.
A slight silver lining would be that I might actually now be able to focus that bit better on my fast approaching exams.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
First blog!
Well well here we are!
This blog will detail my upcoming trip to the USA starting on June 25 and returning on July 8.
Story so far: All this began upon the announcement of the decommissioning of the USA Shuttle program.
Seeing as the Shuttle have been operating since the late 70's it's been one of those little boyhood fantasies of mine to 'one day' go see them take off. It was also one of those little fantasies I just assumed would never happen. Until now. This news of end of the program resurrected that forgotten desire, and as I was at work last Saturday (April 30) that the idea just came to me. Why not go?
So I contacted dad, he said yes and so begun the trip planning.
I went to the travel agent this morning. Spent about two hours there and this is what we came up with:
Leave form Brisbane via New Zealand airways and fly to Auckland. From Auckland I fly to LAX (Los Angeles) I have a 10 hour stop over there from where I'm planning to do a quick day trip of the city to be back for my flight in the evening which will take me to Orlando.
I'll be landing early morning in Orlando (Jun 26) and will make my way to the hotel. I'll have two days free, Sunday and Monday during which I will probably visit Universal studios and or spend a day at Disney World (I have a 4 days pass). The following day, Tuesday, is the so-far scheduled launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135.
So far my plans are to hopefully get a ticket from the Kennedy Space Center which is a day pass where they come around with a bus and pick me up at the hotel I am staying, taking me out for a tour of the facility and when the time comes, take me to a piece of prime real estate from which to view the shuttle launch from. The one problem with this is, is that these tickets are not yet available, usually only available in limited numbers, and will probably sell out quickly. So my plan is is to give the center a call and see if I can organize something with them. Alternatively, I'll have to find a way to get to one of the other popular viewing destinations, however traffic is normally horrendous, so if this is happening, I'll be leaving early that morning and just camping out on the grass.
The following day I have planned another trip which will take me through a 12 hour tour of the Kennedy center, during which I'll also have lunch with an astronaut! haha how awesome.
On July the 5th, I'll be catching a plane to New York City from where I would have joined up with an organized Contiki tour where they show me around the city. However, that idea has no been scrapped, for one saving me over $800, (considering most of the places they will take me too is actually free) Thanks to a long chat I had with Cameron (a friend who's been traveling the USA backpacker style) he's convinced me to do the same. Hostels are cheap, and he's given me a list of one that are actually decent, not to mention they do allocate private rooms if one requires. I also have a major list of things I want to see in New York, and I am also planning to catch a train and check out Washington DC (about 4 hours away) (None of this would have been possible if I were still with the Contiki tour)
I'll post up a plan of things to do in NYC one I come up with it. Cameron has filled my head with so much to do I don't think I'll actually have time for sleeping!
Unfortunately I just booked and paid for my flights this afternoon, if I hadn't I would have shortened my stay in Orlando to allow for more time exploring NYC.
Anyway, this is what I've come up with today only haha. The next few days I'll be checking over maps, scouring the internet and planning my trip. I am really getting excited now!
Oh BTW, a spot is still open to anyone who'd like to come with! :)
This blog will detail my upcoming trip to the USA starting on June 25 and returning on July 8.
Story so far: All this began upon the announcement of the decommissioning of the USA Shuttle program.
Seeing as the Shuttle have been operating since the late 70's it's been one of those little boyhood fantasies of mine to 'one day' go see them take off. It was also one of those little fantasies I just assumed would never happen. Until now. This news of end of the program resurrected that forgotten desire, and as I was at work last Saturday (April 30) that the idea just came to me. Why not go?
So I contacted dad, he said yes and so begun the trip planning.
I went to the travel agent this morning. Spent about two hours there and this is what we came up with:
Leave form Brisbane via New Zealand airways and fly to Auckland. From Auckland I fly to LAX (Los Angeles) I have a 10 hour stop over there from where I'm planning to do a quick day trip of the city to be back for my flight in the evening which will take me to Orlando.
I'll be landing early morning in Orlando (Jun 26) and will make my way to the hotel. I'll have two days free, Sunday and Monday during which I will probably visit Universal studios and or spend a day at Disney World (I have a 4 days pass). The following day, Tuesday, is the so-far scheduled launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135.
So far my plans are to hopefully get a ticket from the Kennedy Space Center which is a day pass where they come around with a bus and pick me up at the hotel I am staying, taking me out for a tour of the facility and when the time comes, take me to a piece of prime real estate from which to view the shuttle launch from. The one problem with this is, is that these tickets are not yet available, usually only available in limited numbers, and will probably sell out quickly. So my plan is is to give the center a call and see if I can organize something with them. Alternatively, I'll have to find a way to get to one of the other popular viewing destinations, however traffic is normally horrendous, so if this is happening, I'll be leaving early that morning and just camping out on the grass.
The following day I have planned another trip which will take me through a 12 hour tour of the Kennedy center, during which I'll also have lunch with an astronaut! haha how awesome.
On July the 5th, I'll be catching a plane to New York City from where I would have joined up with an organized Contiki tour where they show me around the city. However, that idea has no been scrapped, for one saving me over $800, (considering most of the places they will take me too is actually free) Thanks to a long chat I had with Cameron (a friend who's been traveling the USA backpacker style) he's convinced me to do the same. Hostels are cheap, and he's given me a list of one that are actually decent, not to mention they do allocate private rooms if one requires. I also have a major list of things I want to see in New York, and I am also planning to catch a train and check out Washington DC (about 4 hours away) (None of this would have been possible if I were still with the Contiki tour)
I'll post up a plan of things to do in NYC one I come up with it. Cameron has filled my head with so much to do I don't think I'll actually have time for sleeping!
Unfortunately I just booked and paid for my flights this afternoon, if I hadn't I would have shortened my stay in Orlando to allow for more time exploring NYC.
Anyway, this is what I've come up with today only haha. The next few days I'll be checking over maps, scouring the internet and planning my trip. I am really getting excited now!
Oh BTW, a spot is still open to anyone who'd like to come with! :)
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