Trip to California - Feb 6 - 8, 2009 - Day 2

At the apartment before going for a day out

LA road on the way to Hollywood

We woke up around 7:30 am and went to Denny's to eat breakfast. Our destination for the day is Universal Studios located at Hollywood, California which is about an hour away from the apartment. On our way there, I was able to see the mountain with a big 'Hollywood' sign on it. I feel like my trip is now complete just by seeing that sign!

At first it was raining but fortunately, the weather is nice in our destination. We first got ourselves some coffee in Starbucks and took some pictures.

Hard Rock Cafe on our way to Universal Studios Park

We bought our 1-Day ticket which is around $60 (ahem, thanks to Reymond and Randy for always getting the tab). Universal Studios Hollywood is really fun. It will take a whole day to experience almost all the rides, studio tours, shows, etc.

Tourist na tourist!

Statue in front of the entrance

I don't know how many times we've asked a stranger to take a picture of the three of us. We just kept on taking pictures here and there.

House of Horrors!!

As we were walking, Reymond suddenly turned left. Randy and I just followed him. When I finally realized where we were going, it's too late - I couldn't back out. The sign is deeply sketched on my mind - House of Horrors. My last memory of entering such a place was back in college, in Star City. It was a very unpleasant memory. I didn't enter it when Melvin and I went to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia. But Puto was able to trick me into doing it by just an impulsive change in direction! It's a trap! This is not my idea of fun, $%#f*!k# .

Chucky, Puto and the Crybaby

House of Horrors is on the top of my list for the things that I don't want to experience again. Why would you submit yourself to such torture? It was the longest walk of my life. For the most part, Randy is just dragging me around coz I was really scared to my wits end. Ghosts keeps popping out. At one time, what I thought was a statue (a little taller than Chucky doll, covered in Mummy bandages) suddenly sticks his hand and walks toward us! F%$#k, $h!t!!! Some of the corridors and hallways are very narrow but I still cling to either Reymond and Randy so I could use them as shields in case one of the creepy figures at our sides make a move again. Then we arrived at a room full of bodies in transparent bags that hung on the ceiling. It's like a butcher's room. Then this brilliant Reymond exclaimed that one of those bodies is a real person and will chase us. Awesome...just what we need. The walk ended on what looks like a madman's laboratory where Frankenstein is created. On our way to safety, Frankenstein suddenly turned up on my right side and scared the living hell out of me. My friends were also chanting 'scare her! scare her!'. So I started to cry and Reymond and Randy dragged me out of there. Two monsters were still waiting at the exit. Great, this is soo great.

It's ogre time. Shrek 4-D

Our next stop is the Shrek 4-D. It's a 4-D movie wherein the seats move so it seems that you're also part of the movie. Water is also sprayed on your face whenever there's a scene involving splashing water.

Cars used in The Fast and the Furious

We then boarded a train for the studio tour to see the famous backlot in the largest movie studio. We were able to see the cars used for various blockbuster movies such as Back to the Future, the Fast and the Furious, Blues Brothers, Jurassic Park, etc. We also witnessed some of the special effects used for the Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift movie.

Set for the wild west

Among the many structures we saw are neighborhoods for the wild west, European style setting for the middle ages, etc. We also passed by a lake and we get to see the special effects used for movies with sharks.

Wisteria Lane

Wisteria Lane is the set for ABC's series Desperate Housewives. I've watched a few episodes of it and it didn't cross my mind that the houses they used are not actual houses but are especially built for filming purposes.

Norman at the Bates Motel

We saw Norman (Lopez?) at the Bates Motel. He suddenly went toward us while grabbing a knife hidden on his coat.

War of the Worlds

For me, the wreckage from Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds was the highlight of this tour. An airplane was dismantled for this scene.

After the studio tour, we tried the Simpsons Ride. At first I thought it was a roller coaster ride, thankfully it wasn't. We boarded a vehicle, the ceiling opened up and we were elevated. The whole place was like a big screen and it seems like we were part of the whole experience with the Simpsons family.

Scooby Doo and Shaggy

The guys went to the Jurassic Park ride. As I was waiting, I saw Scooby Doo and Shaggy while driving the Mystery Machine. We also entered the Backdraft where they showed the pyrotechnics. After that, we went to the Special Effects Stages. Here they presented how the special effects for Heroes were made especially the scene for Hiro Nakamura who has the power of space-time manipulation. They also showed how audio effects are added to the movie scenes.

StarWay - links the upper and lower portion of the lots

After our interesting trip in Universal Studios Hollywood, we searched for a Thai Restaurant to eat dinner. Then we head back home. It was an exciting and enjoyable day!

Trip to California - Feb 6 - 8, 2009 - Day 1

Delta Waiting Area - Myrtle Beach Airport

Delta domestic flight going to Atlanta

I'm finally going to California! A week before, I decided to visit Reymond and Randy - otherwise known as Puto and Aso. I've wanted to visit them when I was in Virginia last 2007 but I wasn't able to do so. It has been years since I last saw them. I have a Dollar-off credit voucher from Northwest and fortunately, I was able to use it in Delta Airline. My flight leaves Myrlte Beach at 2:32 pm and arrives in Atlanta-Hartsfield Intl Airport around 4:05 pm. My connecting flight from Atlanta leaves around 5:30 pm and arrives at LAX around 7:34 pm (California is 3 hours behind). So, off I went to sunny California!

Los Angeles Intl Airport (LAX)

Los Angeles Intl Airport (LAX)

When I arrived, it was raining.....bummer. Randy and Joanne picked me up. I'm a bit surprised that with a little rain, the roads of LA gets a little flooded. Randy told me it really doesn't rain much in LA. Before going home, we stopped by Gerry's grill and I was able to eat sisig!! I really love California!

Randy (Aso) - Gerry's Grill

Reymond (Puto) - Apartment at Anaheim

Reymond and Randy lives at Anaheim. When we arrived at their apartment, I saw Puto lying on the bed. I made it clear beforehand that I'm gonna claim the bed! And both of them are sleeping on the floor! Reymond was still talking to his wife over the phone while I chase him out of the bed.

But, California or any other state, sleeping on the bed or sleeping on the floor, I really don't mind. I'm just really happy to see both of my friends. Cheers!