the longest 48hrs of my life

[nighstar]

made it to Vegas and have been here for less than 24hrs... it's so weird being in this house and in my old room. i haven't lived here for any significant amount of time since 2004...

the trip from Brisbane to Honolulu to Vegas was crazy long and exhausting... i'm still too tired to recount things in any detail, but i will say this:

• Hawaiian Airlines isn't too bad
  
• Honolulu International Airport is crappy and is badly in need of rebuilding. ugh.
• Waikiki is as much of a tourist trap at Vegas' Strip
• i totally went to Honolulu unresearched and underfunded; because of that the experience sucked compared to what it could have been
• OMG, but the majestic mountains in the background-- the sweeping rain and low hanging, fast moving clouds-- the mix of cultures.. Honolulu is amazing, once you get past the rundown-ness of the city itself
• i want to go back to Hawaii as a photographer, not a tourist/person in transit; maybe i could even live there some day
• the presence of Japanese people and the Japanese language in Honolulu is mind boggling. i could so get a job there using Japanese if i wanted
• my first experience with reverse culture shock has been GUNS. GUNS GUNS GUNS. seriously, America?? do customs officers need guns? is it appropriate that shooting galleries and schools target Japanese tourists all over the streets of Waikiki?? "COME SHOOT REAL GUNS BECAUSE IT'S SO FUN AND YOU CANNT DO IT IN YOUR COUNTRY LULZ!"?
• this country is polluted with fast food places. not that Australia isn't as well, but dear god

...along and many other thoughts that i may elaborate on later.

ugh, i have so much to do but i'm kind of stuck in this state of disbelief, confusion and just general mental limbo.