Southern California Trip

What's a trip to Southern Cal without a theme park or two or a visit to the sunny warm LA beaches.

I had developed a fear of theme parks, a few years back. The grating noise of the rides were especially bothersome. So this was a theme park trip after a long time for me. There was some apprehension on my part, as I entered Universal Studios in Hollywood. But in the end it all worked out.

I quite enjoyed the Jurassic Park Ride and went on it twice. Everyone kept predicting that dinosaurs would pop up so it because less of a surprise. I felt the Mummy ride was totally pointless - what's the point of moving back and forth violently in pitch darkness. It's extremely disconcerting, especially for someone like me. I use my vision a lot to help me keep track of my body in space and time. Vision needs light - when you take that away and remove gravity as well - what then, am I to do.

The sudden effects of the Studio Tour such as the fires and the earthquake, did take me by surprise. Dad had to constantly reassure me. The WaterWorld show was fast paced, entertaining and a chance to get drenched in the splash zone. Overall Universal Studios was an interesting experience and helped me in my fear of theme park rides.

Is Disneyland really the happiest place on earth? But it is certainly a fun way to spend your day. And there are really too many rides and attractions to cover in one day. So technically, one does leave a little wistful as there are many things in the park not seen.

My fav ride was the Pirates of the Caribbean. Some new effects put in from the movie, especially Jack Sparrow and the Davy Jones curtain were nice touches. The night sky of the Pirate Cove is so realistic that it feels like you are sailing past a real pirate ship out in a cove. My next fav was probably the Indiana Jones ride especially when the ball is headed straight at you in the end. I even got to be the driver, at the wheel of our jeep on the ride. Parts of the Haunted Mansion reminded me of the Harry Potter books, especially the ghosts dancing. The 50 foot drop at the end of Splash mountain - well, there was some built up anticipation about it, but quite fun actually. The Bobsled ride - a mad quick rush up the Matterhorn, ups and down and then voila, it was done. The Street Party parade had some nifty dancers but I missed seeing Lion King characters.

My little cousin Kavya lives in LA. She was barely entering preschool the last time I saw her. In a year she's become quite the feisty toddler and a preschool veteran. She was thrilled to get a pink princess crown from Disneyland- just putting it on transformed her into a real princess in her mind's eye.

Sea World in San Diego is an absolute delight to visit. The orcas and dolphins danced in graceful leaps as they raced across their tanks during the Shamu and Dolphin shows. Elegant and very much home in their element in the water are these creatures.Though giants, they are able to navigate and maneuver their bodies in amazing rolls and twists. The audience eagerly awaited the drenching of the front rows, and there was much squealing each time it happened.

The sea lions, otters and walrus performed in several skits parodying popular TV shows - the funniest ones being Iron chef and American Idol. In Iron Chef, Clyde the seal, kept gobbling up the the cooking ingredients (fish) given out to both contestants. In American Idol, the seal chased the host, Ryan Wavecrest, off the stage, after the feedback it got from the judge about its singing - "A bit pitchy for me, Dawg" (just like Randy on the real American Idol). The show itself was called Seal Lion Live.

Have you ever wondered what a bat ray feels like to touch? At the Rocky Point Reserve, there was a shallow pool of a number of large bat rays. The bat ray kind of feels like rubber, yet there is energy within - it is a vibrant living thing.

The Shipwreck Cove ride was another run and wet ride. Every bump in the ride would bring some water into the car. But just to make sure, in case you did get any water on you, the car also passed through a curtain of water. The Wild Artic Adventure was a fast and exciting ride through the artic, including through an avalanche.

There were other animal exhibits to view. The otters seemed to have the most fun, swimming on their backs, even as they nibbled daintily on a tidbit held deftly with their front flippers. The artic penguins on other hand, stood frozen in place in their ice-cold exhibit.

The LA beaches failed to live up to expectation during this visit. Both the Santa Monica and Santa Barbara beaches were windy and cold.

The ride back up along the Cal coast through San Luis Obispo provided spectacular ocean views way down below the sheer cliffs on the side of the road. McWays Falls in the Julia Pfeffer State Park was unusual in that this quite picturesque waterfall falls right onto a great sandy beach.

Great visit, made even better with the presence of my cousin Madhu, my Athe and Atimber - all visiting from India.

- Hari Srinivasan