Spunky did not find Spella (perhaps she was attending a casting call for the latest Jonas Brothers series, Jonas L.A.!), but Spunky did have a lot of fun!
Not only did Spunky spend time in LA (Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Downtown LA, Anaheim), Spunky also had the opportunity to spend a night in Vegas!
Never had Spunky encountered such cool, icy weather, it made my tail tingle! I know, I'm such a lousy excuse for a seal, right? -.- anyway, Spunky was probably the only seal in California wearing a pair of gloves when it was not even winter.
Being Spunky's first time travelling out of South East Asia with Spunky's mystery friend (let's call him Ozzy), it was truly eye-opening!
1) artery-clogging food.
2) incrrrredible service.
3) thugs, yo.
4) reel life to real life.
Hit #1: Savoury Garden Crepe from iHop @ Anaheim
Anyway, having tried their pancakes, it's ironic but Spunky and Ozzy thought their crepe was in fact more 'awesome' than their pancakes!
iHop
Hit #3: Sushi @ Hollywood Highland metro station
Spunky and Ozzy settled on sushi when we were in Hollywood on the first night! There, we met a waitress who came alllll the way from Indonesia to serve tables! Spunky and Ozzy speculated that she's probably doing auditions for her next big break in Hollywood!
Anyway, the food was great but the portions were Heee-yoooj! Typical American fare size.
Spunky can't remember the name of the shop or the address, but if you come out of the metro station, turn left and walk down the street for ten minutes and you'll see it :)
Hit #4: Cheesecake Factory
This famous establishment has a really unique interior- think high ceilings and fine dining decor in teak and marble. Spunky's come to realise that US eatery names are really misleading - cheesecake factory doesn't only sell cheesecake, in fact it doesn't even resemble a factory.
Misses:
2) INCRRRREDIBLE SERVICE
But before you belittle us for our mistake, you have to know that a bus-stop in LA is not like those in Singapore! In fact the bus-stop comprises merely of a pole and the bus-stop number, placed randomly on a street.
Fortunately, there was Madame Tussaud's to whet Spunky's appetite. This wax museum was pretty fun, where Spunky and Ozzy posed with many celebrities. At one point, Spunky was taking so many photos of the figurines that it almost felt like Spunky was a paparazzi!
- Starline Tours has many amazing, reliable and affordable tours. For 35USD, you can hop on and hop off their red double-decker bus anytime you like to go from the California coast all the way to Downtown LA. The bus stops at various popular hotspots such as the beautiful, carnival-like Santa Monica Pier where you can watch a gorgeous sunset. It even goes past Beverly Hills, where you can check out stunning houses and the famed Rodeo Drive, shopping heaven to the stars!
Being Spunky's first time travelling out of South East Asia with Spunky's mystery friend (let's call him Ozzy), it was truly eye-opening!
Who is Ozzy you say? Well, he's Spunky's bestest friend and is really into photography! If you liked any of the photos that you'll see later in this entry, credits go to Ozzy as well!
Back to the USA story!
Rather than boringly attempt to list down in chronological order everything Spunky did, Spunky will give you a list of 4 things in LA and Las Vegas you're bound to experience. Here goes:
1) artery-clogging food.
2) incrrrredible service.
3) thugs, yo.
4) reel life to real life.
1) ARTERY-CLOGGING FOOD
Since Spunky is such a big food maniac, let's start off the list with FOOD shall we? =D
Since Spunky is such a big food maniac, let's start off the list with FOOD shall we? =D
Hit #1: Savoury Garden Crepe from iHop @ Anaheim
iHop is the Macdonalds of LA: you can find it anywhere, even in the desert en route to Vegas! iHop is this pancake eatery that is open 24 hours- which is really rare in an area where most shops close around 6pm and most eateries around 10pm.
Anyway, having tried their pancakes, it's ironic but Spunky and Ozzy thought their crepe was in fact more 'awesome' than their pancakes!
Filled generously with mozarella cheese, spinach, an omelette and drizzled with some herb-cheese fusion on top, this was one dish we tried not once, but twice! Verdict: Yum!
iHop
1840 S Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92802
Anaheim, CA 92802
Hit #2: Ethel's Ice Blended Chocolate
This Only-in-Vegas chocolate establishment was recommended in the guidebook Spunky borrowed from the library!
Ethel's prides itself on serving fresh chocolate (factory's in Vegas itself) with no preservatives. Spunky tried the Double Chocolate Ice Blend and it was amazing! The concoction had a smooth texture and tasted like pure chocolate heaven!
This Only-in-Vegas chocolate establishment was recommended in the guidebook Spunky borrowed from the library!
Ethel's prides itself on serving fresh chocolate (factory's in Vegas itself) with no preservatives. Spunky tried the Double Chocolate Ice Blend and it was amazing! The concoction had a smooth texture and tasted like pure chocolate heaven!
Ethel's Chocolate
Fashion Show Mall 3200 South Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas, NV 89109
Hit #3: Sushi @ Hollywood Highland metro station
Spunky and Ozzy settled on sushi when we were in Hollywood on the first night! There, we met a waitress who came alllll the way from Indonesia to serve tables! Spunky and Ozzy speculated that she's probably doing auditions for her next big break in Hollywood!
Anyway, the food was great but the portions were Heee-yoooj! Typical American fare size.
Spunky can't remember the name of the shop or the address, but if you come out of the metro station, turn left and walk down the street for ten minutes and you'll see it :)
Hit #4: Cheesecake Factory
This famous establishment has a really unique interior- think high ceilings and fine dining decor in teak and marble. Spunky's come to realise that US eatery names are really misleading - cheesecake factory doesn't only sell cheesecake, in fact it doesn't even resemble a factory.
Their Hot Cheese with Spinach Dip was so delectable and unique, served fresh with tacos!
Cheesecake Factory
321 West Katella Avenue
Anaheim, California 92802, United States
Anaheim, California 92802, United States
Hit #5: Serendipity in Las Vegas
This was where we had the famed Frrrrozen Hot Chocolate and awesome Grilled Salmon with rice dish!
Simply scrumptious, and servings were big so you can share a meal with someone!
Serendipity 3
3570 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, United States
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, United States
Misses:
Joe's Crabshack in Anaheim had a lively atmosphere with dancing waiters and balloon sculpture artists, but unfortunately the food was too oily and too salty!
Spunky was had a pleasant surprise whilst dining in California! In the land of big, hearty meals, smiles were big and plentiful as well! Spunky was always greeted cheerfully by the waiters and waitresses, and on top of that, they regularly checked with us to see if we were doing good and if the food was okay.
In fact, from their constant checks on us, Spunky has identified a very distinct Californian drawl that goes something like this:
You guys okayyy? Everything alrightttt? Great!
The way that LA residents talk seems to ooze the 'cool' vibe and they tend to drag their words when they speak, unlike the Hollywood stars that you see on TV! Amazing the things you pick out if you keep your ears peeled! =)
3) THUGS, YO.
The best way to spot shady characters is in the LA Metro Subway (that's their version of the MRT) as well as in Downtown LA!
In fact, Spunky and Ozzy had one near-mug experience when we were stranded in Downtown LA
This was not exactly a dreadful experience, but it was indeed pretty scary!
First, on being stranded. Spunky and Ozzy missed our last bus to Anaheim, which was where our hotel was! And taking the cab back would have cost us over a hundred US Dollars (*faints*). That's as much as a ticket to Disneyland for a WHOLE day!
This might seem incredibly silly for a seal, who is supposed to have superb travel/migratory skills. Spunky and Ozzy were standing at the wrong bus-stop, and that's why we missed the bus!
But before you belittle us for our mistake, you have to know that a bus-stop in LA is not like those in Singapore! In fact the bus-stop comprises merely of a pole and the bus-stop number, placed randomly on a street.
And given that it was night-time, all the streets looked alike!
So anyway, we were waiting for the bus on the wrong street when this white fella came up to us and spun a tragic tale of a drunk buddy, being lost with no idea how to get back to his hotel, and the need for a few dollars so he could get a bus back to his hotel. The thing is, this fella sounded incredibly shifty the whole time he was talking! Luckily, Ozzy told him to go into a restaurant to ask for help instead of taking out his wallet on the dark, almost desolated street.
4) REEL LIFE TO REAL LIFE
It was a shame that Spunky caught no glimpse of a star, not even those on the D-list of fame!!
Fortunately, there was Madame Tussaud's to whet Spunky's appetite. This wax museum was pretty fun, where Spunky and Ozzy posed with many celebrities. At one point, Spunky was taking so many photos of the figurines that it almost felt like Spunky was a paparazzi!
In fact, Spunky was so still whilst he was taking shots that people thought that Spunky WAS a wax figurine. Excuse me, people, a seal does NOT appreciate random butt-groping by people with warped animal fantasies.
Madame Tussaud's
6933 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Besides Madame Tussaud's, Spunky had a REALLY, REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY FUN time in Universal Studios Hollywood. For one, their studio tour was AMAZING! Especially the one where you could put on 3D glasses and witness as if for real, King Kong and T-Rex fighting and falling off a cliff, complete with water splashes for a realistic effect! Spunky also saw special effects such as a train accident in an underground subway, as well as a re-enactment of a flash flood that was so cool! Additionally, the tram we were in even brought as to the set of The Desperate Housewives, which felt so unreal! If only Eva Longoria was there on Wisteria Lane waving to her biggest fan!!
The Studio Tour really exceeded expectations. Well, that was good because the rest of the rides such as Shrek 4D was just average. Spunky also got his heart beating really fast on The Mummy ride. In fact, Ozzy laughed at Spunky for closing his eyes throughout the entire ride. Spunky cannot help that he does not like rollercoasters =(.
Anyway, if you're looking for long thrill rides, you might get disappointed because most Universal Studios rides are short - 5 mins at the most. But that's one of the reason why you have a shorter wait at the queue, which is always good.
Universal Studios Hollywood
1000 Universal City Dr.
Universal City, CA 91608, United States
Universal City, CA 91608, United States
One good thing about the trip to Las Vegas was that Spunky and Ozzy managed to roll in many trips in one!! Why, you might ask? Well, because in Las Vegas, you'll feel like you've been to Rome, Venice, New York and Paris!!
See for yourself:
Traveller's Notes:
Walking down the Las Vegas strip can occupy you for a day or more! Shopping arcades are aplenty too. There are many things you can see and do for free in Las Vegas. Catch the Bellagio Fountain outside the Bellagio hotel for 5mins of water ecstasy. Or visit the MGM lion descendant (yes, a really big lion!) at the MGM Grand. Experience singing gondola men in the picturesque man-made river in The Venetian. Catch live pirate-action where a real boat sinks before your very eyes outside Treasure Island.
TIPS AND TRICKS.
- Plan your trip itinerary in advance. Borrow guidebooks and research on the Internet on transport alternatives! LA has many train lines and buses running through it such as the Amtrak, Metro (bus and subway) and Metrolink. Planning in advance will ensure that you have a back-up plan in case you miss the last train or bus. Taxis are really expensive so it's best to avoid them.
- Plan your trip itinerary in advance. Borrow guidebooks and research on the Internet on transport alternatives! LA has many train lines and buses running through it such as the Amtrak, Metro (bus and subway) and Metrolink. Planning in advance will ensure that you have a back-up plan in case you miss the last train or bus. Taxis are really expensive so it's best to avoid them.
- Starline Tours has many amazing, reliable and affordable tours. For 35USD, you can hop on and hop off their red double-decker bus anytime you like to go from the California coast all the way to Downtown LA. The bus stops at various popular hotspots such as the beautiful, carnival-like Santa Monica Pier where you can watch a gorgeous sunset. It even goes past Beverly Hills, where you can check out stunning houses and the famed Rodeo Drive, shopping heaven to the stars!
You can even book the Lux Bus to Las Vegas, a 4.5 hour journey with great service such as 2 rounds of drinks, snacks, comfortable seats as well as a stunning view of the mountains of Nevada:
- For cheap stays in Las Vegas, try the Imperial Palace, an older hotel but with discounts aplenty and a great location, right smack in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip where you can see everything mentioned above. To purchase tour tickets, simply book online, or you can go to their office located outside the famed Chinese Graumann's Theatre.
P/S: On being stranded after missing the bus, Spunky managed to bunk in a hotel with a friend a few streets away from the bus stop we were waiting at! This was AFTER wandering the dark streets and seeking refuge in a hotel lobby after approximately 1 hour of walking. Thank my lucky stars for such a lucky twist of fate!
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Love,
Spunky
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