US TRIP 27th April - 11th May
Saturday, May 12, 2007
♥ Saturday, May 12, 2007
I think this is just about the first time I’ve been overseas with a group of close friends. Well, there was the other time at Malacca a few years back. But on a plane? Too a distant country?
And boy was it amazing.
Desmond, Linus and Chian Yee. And Linus’s parents.
Of course, there were those distinct moments of irritation, of fatigue and of boredom. But all in all, I cant imagine a more titillating holiday and fulfilling experience at the same time!
First day, in the midst of a sufferable jetlag, which is 12 hours by the way, we arrived in the morning and headed to Prime 1 shopping outlets. Checked in at a pretty huge apartment that we spent the next 7 days in.
Dinner was at a certain buffet restaurant, the first of many, many buffets to come. And that was when we first set our sights in awe of the anomaly called obesity. Just about every other person in the restaurant was twice our size, minimum. Now my friends, since young they’re the fit ones and well, I am the plump nerd then, so I could empathize with them (the big ppl) and yet enjoy the hilarity of my friends’ not-too-christian jokes.
Exhausting first day!
Now I could go on until the 12th day! But I think it will bore the crap out of any reader.
So the list of events that happened (not in chronological but in memoro-logical order)
We took an Airboat to see the rural side of Orlando, and Crocs-an experience most aptly described by Linus’s enunciation of “I don’t see shit!”
Disneyland, Universal Studios and Gatorland- these 3 parks which occupied 3 full days, have to be seen on the photos yet to come, to be believed. Universal studios has etched itself onto the aesthetic faculty of my cognitive as a place of fun and wonder.
Beetlejuice held a rock concert in Universal Studios, which captivated all of us. We were reluctant to go, but it was definitely no mistake. Played contemporary music that we all in one way or another were familiar with- so..COOL.
The evenings were spent eating, exercising, serving the net and clearing my mail. A banal set of routines that was sapid and relaxing enough for an evening.
What else was significant? Oh yes, one of Linus dad’s jokes about Americans not knowing where Singapore is. And that we should design a shirt that shows Singapore as the little red dot right where the naval is. Laughed till it hurt, that one.
Roller Coasters! The Mummy ride in Universal Studios was a killer. Conventional Wisdom has it that roller coasters are slow on the ascend, and free fall on the drop... in this case, it was g forces up the ramp and even more g forces down! And it was indoor with all the gimmicks- fire, bugs, water, you name it!
And the 3 D shows. One musical at Disney- an anthology of disney’s classics and their songs. Mind blowing.
Well, there’s the shopping. Got some stuff for home and all. Got Tarantino’s Jackie Brown at a whopping 30 bucks! Also, I managed to get another book that is turning out to be a pretty good read, other than for its overemphasis on the beautiful environment.
Our driver is bubbly. Her name is Rossanna and she’s a Brazilian who doesn’t take any offense to our jokes and laughter. Motherly-that meaning naggy, concerned, excited, thoughtful and entertaining.
Now if you’re ever planning a trip there, I suggest you rent a car. Travelling alone easily took up 20 percent of our overall expenditure.
And there’s something seriously wrong with America. Whilst we were there, a tornado, a flood, a forest fire, all took the headlines. Ask Janice, ask Al Gore, they’ll give you an educated explanation on the meaning of such ominous signs with terms like environment, pollution, global warming…
Also I finished 2 books! Self by Yann Martel, which was more a discovering of sexuality and appetites then identity, unless of course the 2 are inextricably linked? I went for another dose of spiritual enlightenment from the guru of contemporary communities- Jean Varnier’s Becoming Human. Recommend it to all. Not just a Christian. Anyone who has any yearning whatsoever of becoming a little more complete.
Kennedy Space Center. You watched Armaggedon? It would give you quite a good preview on what to expect. Its more like a space museum, with all the technicalities and historical histrionics. It was an informative one and I believed it would have been more enjoyable if not for the weather.
One thing about the weather, on the 2 times I came to USA. Its drains excitement and enthusiasm. The scorching heat means you do not want to be out for long, because it gets tiring and in the building, when you require concentration, you no longer seem to have it. But all in all, I must say it was something different and an acceptable departure from the previous theme parks.
Finally, LAS VEGAS.
Now I believe I was pretty ambivalent about coming to what seemed to be a huge gambling den engulfed in scorching heat.
But when I arrived, which was at night, and already at the runway I could see the magnificence of the light displays and blinking facades of the pyramid, the various hotels, I knew then that I wouldn’t want to miss this for the world!
Watched Mama Mia and some oldies’ concert featuring the Platters- the one who sang Smoke gets in your eyes and Only You? Felt pretty fulfilled when I brought the rest to watch Mama Mia and they enjoyed themselves. Truthfully, I shouldn’t have put Mama Mia down so much on watching Forbidden City and Phantom. As much as those were more arty, this was definitely more engaging.
And there were those slot machines. Tiny money-laundering devices that gives one the illusion that he or she has made a lot of money and will continue to do so if they spend more- and we were stupid enough to lose an average of 15 bucks a person. So yes, that’s what happens when you put too much into chance, very occasionally you strike a jackpot, but more often than not, you lose. Only Linus went back with his very proud $1.60 profit.
Grand Canyon! Now I’ve been to Yosemite Park in California with waterfalls and greenery. So a brown background with some rock formations and a lot of sand could hardly be as mesmerizing. But well the rest had their breaths taken away by the monolithic structures. It was quite ok I guess. Passed Hoover dam. And a few laughable occasions when I took shots of them with the background, not exposing the sky. So they looked as though they were at the back of a huge rock wall.
Speaking of Laughable occasions.
Was it when I wrestled with Desmond on the bed and got a video taken by Chian Yee?
Was it how Chian Yee kept criticizing the way I sang? And what’s that song? Yi chang you xi yi chang meng.
Was it when we shopped for their presents? That one particular gift I cant comment too much on.
Was it when we made fun of Desmond’s CCA?
Was it when we chat about what we missed in Singapore? Teh Peng, Jia Jia Liang cha, etc.
Was it when I realized my freaking flight home was booked one day late??
Or was it when they managed to reschedule my flight timing, and upgraded me to Business Class?
Was it when we talked about Edward Leonard and his mimicking our science teacher Mr Foo?
Was it when we talked about Ivan?
Was it when we watched the various plays and had songs we’re familiar with, performed?
Was it those stupid moments I had with Desmond? Our little squabbles and arguments that made the walks back from the Casino a timeless, memorable classic?
Thank God I went for this trip.
