Dreamer's Day Out : Part 1

Dreamer's Day Out : Part 1

How does it feel when you have to wake up at 4:30 in the morning?

ahem ahem...

Ok now how does it feel when you have to wake up at 4:30 in the morning beacuse its your only (perhaps) chance to visit Universal Studios, Hollywood?

Yes, I woke up at 4:30am. And by 5:30am I was ready. If you want to enjoy a trip when you are alone or just two, then use public transport. Figure out all the buses and trains you need to board, draft a plan, and start the trip. We did something similar. And I was confident that we had a fool proof plan. Want to see my notes for the plan. download this page and you'd know what I am talking of.

http://www.mediafire.com/?0d9n2d0ged2

Ok I boarded the 6:15am bus of OCTA(orange county transport authority). I had to change 3 buses in all. Akash had to join me from Bristol-Spruce.

I did have a slightest doubt in mind as what would I do if he doesn't make it in time. Because my plan didn't cover a backup plan for that case. But thankfully I met him the way we planned. We had to change 3 buses to reach Santa Ana Amtrak Station. We took a full day bus pass for $3 (one time travel costs $1.25). After the first bus, we reached the stop for 2nd bus. We were looking into the map drawn on the bus schedule board when a car stopped by us and a middle aged man peeked out of the window and asked.

"Are you guys Indians?"
"Yes."
"Where are you going? Comeon in I'll drop you."
"Its ok we are going to Santa Ana Amtrak. That would be far for you."
"Santa Ana Amtrak. Thats too far. How would you go there."
"We'll take a bus to ** and then we'll change the bus."
"Come. I'll drop you there."

I was thinking why is he doing this, We could have recovered $1.25 more from the day pass bus ride. But Akash said lets go.

"So are you also from India?"
"No I am from Bangladesh. Where are you guys from in India."
"Bangalore."
"You study here?"
"No we are working in IT. We are here for a client **."
"Are you guys looking for job. Are you on H1."

here comes a job offer

"No Sir. We are on B1."
"Why don't you get your H1. There are plenty of jobs here."
"No sir we don't want to shift to US. Where are you from in bangladesh."

I wasn't prepared to hear an answer other than dhaka.

"Dhaka."
"Good."
...

We got down at our stop and waved him a goodbye with loads of thanks and all. We took the third bus and arrived at Santa Ana Transport Center. We spotted a white old man who was unparking his bike (bicycle) and asked him how to go to Rly station.

"You guys see that gate, the first one from here?"
"Yeah."
"Go from there, where do you wanna go."
"Amtrak ticket counter."
"Its right in there."
"If you wanna take metrolink then you gotta go on the other side of the station. Take metrolink."

he looked confused.

"Thank you."

Metrolink ticket costs $4 to LA Union Station while Amtrak costs $14. We had no choice because Metrolink train to LA didn't suit our schedule.

"Do you guys have any ID card? p(h)assport or drivers license?" Asked the lady at ticket counter.

We took our tickets and crossed the bridge to the other side. I saw an Indian Uncle and as our eyes met, according to the courtesy in US, I had to say a hi. Uncle didn't reply though.

I clicked some pics there. lemme add one. maybe it'll help you visualize the scene.

So we waited for Amtrak train. I had expected a fundoo train with huge windows running at a rocket speed and stopping in no time. When it came, it was slower than what I had expected. Well actually much slower. But there was one surprise in it. The train was 2 storey. I was amused. I had never seen any such train on TV. Maybe I've been too ignorant.

Inside, a lady in a uniform with a plate on her shirt confirming her post "Conductor" came to us. We showed her the tickets which looked similar to Air boarding passes, she teared the bigger half of it kept it with her and wrote a chit with two dots and sticked it on the baggage shelf. This was how they spotted a new passanger at a station. We discussed how would she do it if someone has to stand because of all full seats. Maybe she'd stick the chit on his face.

LA Union Station was as expected. Simple, bland, neither beautiful nor ugly. I am saying as expected because I was already disappointed by LA Airport.

We located Metro Red line station, took our tickets and reached the platform. We knew that there were two Red Line metros, one to North Hollywood and another to Wilshire. Universal City was one stop before North Hollywood.

We were looking for someone to ask which platform is for North Hollywood when one lady of seemingly middle age called for us.

"Where are you guys from in India?"
is it written on our face that we are from India? Well perhaps Yes :)
"Bangalore."
"Hi. I am from Goa."
"Which language do they speak in Bangalore."
"Kannada. But we are originally from North and we speak Hindi."

She gave us and another east asian family some gyan on which train comes where and how to identify which train is for which direction.

"Where do you live in US?"
"We don't live here, we are on business visit. We are staying at Newport Beach."
"O thats a long way."
"Are you guys in IT?"
"Yes."
"Why don't you contact me. Are you guys on H1."
Another job offer.
"No maam we are on B1."
"I am working for SAP."

And then she told us that her son is some CEO and her daughter is some MD. And she had floated a company also in past. She came to US 30 years back after her husband's death, all alone. Etc etc."

And then she revealed the secret of her life. Her age. She was 71 years old.

"Really?" We both asked in same tone at the same time.

"Yes." And I still work..........."

She gave us all funde of US of A. the helpline number 1-800-commute which can be used if you are lost in US. They help in 100 languages. She told us how to type commute in phone. She showed us her mobile phone and the three useful letters typed on every button.

She really seemed to have left India 30 years back.

She told us where she used to live in mumbai. She told us where her sisters used to live in mumbai. She told us that she helps all the indians.

Whenever you are lost and need a place to stay at, call me up, come to my place and stay. But pay me $20 per night. Nothing is free darling. She smiled, took her bag and proceeded towards the gate, her stop had come.

She took our numbers, maybe she'll call us with a job offer with some handsome salary when we are back to India.

Well, after that we had to wait for another 20 minutes for our station Universal city.
We got down at Universal City and climbed up to the main street.

Dreamer, Welcome to Hollywood.

Boy... this has been a long post.
More in next post.