Dreamer's Day Out : Part 2
clicked at Universal city shuttle stopWe knew that we had to take the free shuttle to Universal City which is 10 mins walk from there. Thanks to Lady on metro and Sethu (a guy in office) for this useful information. We took the shuttle to Universal Studio Gate. This I think was the maximum number of human presence my eyes had spotted ever since I left bangalore. There was a sense of comfort in this chaos. Out of excitement I clicked some ramdom photos. Akash might have thought my mind has dislocated a bit.
Well, we had the tickets so we didn't have to stand in queue to buy expensive $61 tickets. We bought them for $50 online. Thanks to Sethu again.
We showed our passports at gate for identity and we were in. We saw the schedules of various shows, made some quick plan and rushed into the Terminator 2: 3D show. We took the eye protection glasses and entered the main lobby. Lots of people wore the eye protection glasses there itself. We also did. But seeing that nothing was happening, we took them off. Then came a fine lady with the typical hollywoodish essence in her voice and dress. She made some sarcastic comment on those who were wearing protection glasses.
"Super"
She screened some video as prologue for the movie cum performance inside.
"Super"
She repeated this word so many times that people had started repeating after every sentence of hers.
The show was Super. Awesome. This was the first time I watched a 3D movie and I truly enjoyed it.
Then we rushed to Animal Actors. Had no clue what they were going to do. What they actually did was they called on stage some animals and birds from Evan Almighty. I wanted them to bring some lion or Elephant but they stopped after chimp.
Anyways the show was decent.
Next we moved to Water World. I had to pack my camera as they already warned that we may get drenched.
They splashed lots of water on us and made a performance which left atleast me awestruck. It was as good as seeing a live action movie. They did some awesome breathtaking stunts.
We knew that this was the best thing at Universal (we still hope so). Do not miss it if you are going there. The main actress in performance was someone from You me and dupree... Though, I don't think she was Kate Hudson :)
We went to the not so scary House of horrors. But it wasn't even horrible. The sets were good. I had to rush to the front so that I were alone. I atleast enjoyed it after that. We did the Jurassic Park ride, the fun with Shrek 4D. The only thing we felt bad missing was the Studio Tour. It had 30 mins wait and it was 45 mins long tour. And we had only 5 hours in all at Universal Studios.
Its ok Dreamer, we'll go there next time.
Next time???
Anyways. We took snaps with Zorro-Elena and Shrek-Fiona. These would remain as the best memories from Universal Studios.
I bought one Hollywood travel mug for $ 5 as souvenir. We rushed to the shuttle and when we got down, one voice came from behind.
"Do you know the way to Red line metro."
Wow, so you guided someone in Hollywood, LA, USA
Yes we did.
"Where do you live?" he asked again.
"India." I answered.
"That I know. But where in LA."
Wow. It is written on our face.
No we are in Newport beach for one month stay. We don't live here.
Any job offers.
"Do you guys know Hindi?"
"Oh yes ofcourse."
"Then lets talk in Hindi."
"Aap kahan se hain India mein."
"Nahi main Nepal se hoon."
"Such good hindi." in hindi with a smile.
"We watch all hindi channels." told his wife.
Their son was talking in english. They were in LA for past 10 years. We did some more chat and said goodbyes.
Thankfully no job offers. They were a sweet family. We took red line to LA Union Station. Noone checks tickets in metro. That I think is because people do take tickets and metro is government run.
At LA Union Station we took the Metrolink ticket for $4 and went on platform 8B for boarding the train. We thought of confirming if we were on the right platform. This was the last train to Orange County so we didn't want to take any risk.
"Excuse me. Will this train go to Santa Ana?"
"I believe so."
Are you sure
"I don't know exactly but It goes in the same direction."
That sounds convincing.
"Where are you guys from in India."
No surprises
"Bangalore"
"I have been to India. I have been to New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and one more place." We helped him with Ahmedabad.
"I travelled on train also."
"You know the difference between trains there and here?"
What did he say; dirty, overpopulated, always delayed or something else
"The platforms there are higher than here..."
This was neat
"...And people use toilets on stations and that comes straight on the tracks."
Hmm
"I have been to bangalore. Its a very good place. Did you like this Place."
"Yes."
Would you like to stay here. What are you guys here for. Would you like to work here. Here's my card. Do you have H1?"
......
I initiated. "I don't want to settle here."
"Why?"
"I like it there in India."
"Oh yes you are from Bangalore. Bangalore is very different from other places in India. People live good lives there. They make good money, they have good looking wives and children and they enjoy life."
"You know when I went to delhi, I could actually see the air there. It was brown."
He gave us a card and told us his business. His company trains people back there in India as nurses and immigrates them to US. US doesn't allow Doctors to immigrate so they can only bring nurses.
And then his phone rang. He told the person on the other side that he was talking to two guys from India. By the time he hung up, train had arrived and we all went our own way.
We thought for confirming once more. We spotted a sweet lady nearby and asked.
"Will this train stop at Santa Ana."
"I believe so."
Great.
We thought they can't write wrong things online sowe boarded.
There was a guy who was telling some lady that this train doesn't go to OceanSide. We asked him.
"Does it go to Santa Ana."
"Yes it does."
Good
Metrolink train was good enough. Maybe not as comfortable as Amtrak but $4 (weekend fare, weekday is $8) Vs $14 (don't know the weekday fare) makes it very good.
At Santa Ana we rushed towards bus stop. Cause our bus was just 7 mins after train arrival. Bus came 4 mins before expected but we ran and waved to catch it. I had to say Akash a bye to catch another bus. Our routes were different.
My next bus came as expected but didn't run as expected. It went on some street which was not in my plan (see plan as link in last post).
I got down at a stop which luckily was a stop for my next (3rd) bus. So luckily I reached home safe and on time without using 1-800-commute :)
Today Akash told me he also took a wrong bus, reason was that the buses for both side run on same road in same direction at that point and run on same road for some time.
He had to walk all the way to his place.
He should have used 1-800-commute
In all the trip was fun. Mail me if you want to see the photos.
-dreamer
Labels:
Hollywood,
Places,
Travel,
US
Well, we had the tickets so we didn't have to stand in queue to buy expensive $61 tickets. We bought them for $50 online. Thanks to Sethu again.
We showed our passports at gate for identity and we were in. We saw the schedules of various shows, made some quick plan and rushed into the Terminator 2: 3D show. We took the eye protection glasses and entered the main lobby. Lots of people wore the eye protection glasses there itself. We also did. But seeing that nothing was happening, we took them off. Then came a fine lady with the typical hollywoodish essence in her voice and dress. She made some sarcastic comment on those who were wearing protection glasses.
"Super"
She screened some video as prologue for the movie cum performance inside.
"Super"
She repeated this word so many times that people had started repeating after every sentence of hers.
The show was Super. Awesome. This was the first time I watched a 3D movie and I truly enjoyed it.
Then we rushed to Animal Actors. Had no clue what they were going to do. What they actually did was they called on stage some animals and birds from Evan Almighty. I wanted them to bring some lion or Elephant but they stopped after chimp.
Anyways the show was decent.
Next we moved to Water World. I had to pack my camera as they already warned that we may get drenched.
They splashed lots of water on us and made a performance which left atleast me awestruck. It was as good as seeing a live action movie. They did some awesome breathtaking stunts.
We knew that this was the best thing at Universal (we still hope so). Do not miss it if you are going there. The main actress in performance was someone from You me and dupree... Though, I don't think she was Kate Hudson :)
We went to the not so scary House of horrors. But it wasn't even horrible. The sets were good. I had to rush to the front so that I were alone. I atleast enjoyed it after that. We did the Jurassic Park ride, the fun with Shrek 4D. The only thing we felt bad missing was the Studio Tour. It had 30 mins wait and it was 45 mins long tour. And we had only 5 hours in all at Universal Studios.
Its ok Dreamer, we'll go there next time.
Next time???
Anyways. We took snaps with Zorro-Elena and Shrek-Fiona. These would remain as the best memories from Universal Studios.
I bought one Hollywood travel mug for $ 5 as souvenir. We rushed to the shuttle and when we got down, one voice came from behind.
"Do you know the way to Red line metro."
Wow, so you guided someone in Hollywood, LA, USA
Yes we did.
"Where do you live?" he asked again.
"India." I answered.
"That I know. But where in LA."
Wow. It is written on our face.
No we are in Newport beach for one month stay. We don't live here.
Any job offers.
"Do you guys know Hindi?"
"Oh yes ofcourse."
"Then lets talk in Hindi."
"Aap kahan se hain India mein."
"Nahi main Nepal se hoon."
"Such good hindi." in hindi with a smile.
"We watch all hindi channels." told his wife.
Their son was talking in english. They were in LA for past 10 years. We did some more chat and said goodbyes.
Thankfully no job offers. They were a sweet family. We took red line to LA Union Station. Noone checks tickets in metro. That I think is because people do take tickets and metro is government run.
At LA Union Station we took the Metrolink ticket for $4 and went on platform 8B for boarding the train. We thought of confirming if we were on the right platform. This was the last train to Orange County so we didn't want to take any risk.
"Excuse me. Will this train go to Santa Ana?"
"I believe so."
Are you sure
"I don't know exactly but It goes in the same direction."
That sounds convincing.
"Where are you guys from in India."
No surprises
"Bangalore"
"I have been to India. I have been to New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and one more place." We helped him with Ahmedabad.
"I travelled on train also."
"You know the difference between trains there and here?"
What did he say; dirty, overpopulated, always delayed or something else
"The platforms there are higher than here..."
This was neat
"...And people use toilets on stations and that comes straight on the tracks."
Hmm
"I have been to bangalore. Its a very good place. Did you like this Place."
"Yes."
Would you like to stay here. What are you guys here for. Would you like to work here. Here's my card. Do you have H1?"
......
I initiated. "I don't want to settle here."
"Why?"
"I like it there in India."
"Oh yes you are from Bangalore. Bangalore is very different from other places in India. People live good lives there. They make good money, they have good looking wives and children and they enjoy life."
"You know when I went to delhi, I could actually see the air there. It was brown."
He gave us a card and told us his business. His company trains people back there in India as nurses and immigrates them to US. US doesn't allow Doctors to immigrate so they can only bring nurses.
And then his phone rang. He told the person on the other side that he was talking to two guys from India. By the time he hung up, train had arrived and we all went our own way.
We thought for confirming once more. We spotted a sweet lady nearby and asked.
"Will this train stop at Santa Ana."
"I believe so."
Great.
We thought they can't write wrong things online sowe boarded.
There was a guy who was telling some lady that this train doesn't go to OceanSide. We asked him.
"Does it go to Santa Ana."
"Yes it does."
Good
Metrolink train was good enough. Maybe not as comfortable as Amtrak but $4 (weekend fare, weekday is $8) Vs $14 (don't know the weekday fare) makes it very good.
At Santa Ana we rushed towards bus stop. Cause our bus was just 7 mins after train arrival. Bus came 4 mins before expected but we ran and waved to catch it. I had to say Akash a bye to catch another bus. Our routes were different.
My next bus came as expected but didn't run as expected. It went on some street which was not in my plan (see plan as link in last post).
I got down at a stop which luckily was a stop for my next (3rd) bus. So luckily I reached home safe and on time without using 1-800-commute :)
Today Akash told me he also took a wrong bus, reason was that the buses for both side run on same road in same direction at that point and run on same road for some time.
He had to walk all the way to his place.
He should have used 1-800-commute
In all the trip was fun. Mail me if you want to see the photos.
-dreamer
Deixe aqui seu comentario :
Wow!!! so you had a good time. But the best part aside from your awesome trip i loved was people offering you jobs.Sahi hai.As to people's impressions about india, i guess stereotypes exist everywhere. we ourselves have so many impressions of outside countries, so many myths that get changed when we stay there for a long time. wot say?
yaar tu disneyland nahin ghoom ke aaya.........and i am mad at you for that........:((((....ek dost ki khwaiish nahin poori ki tune.......tujhe dost ki haaye lagegi.......bhagwaan kare tumhare bed mein mickey mouse aake uchal kood machaye.....harrrrrummmphhh.