We hung out with everyone down at the Santa Cruz boardwalk till about 5 then all the girls got into their riding gear and rode home on the backs of the bikes.
A fun but TIRING day, except the sunburn wasn't really needed...
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Motorbikes!
Erichs brothers Erwin and Earl along with friends decided to do a day trip from Daly City down here to Capitola in order to move Erichs motorbike here. To do this, since I still don't drive here (though eventually I will) Erich and I drove up to Daly City (just over an hour trip) and the three guys rode, while Ashlyn, Jasmine and I, the three girlfriends took Erichs car.
We hung out with everyone down at the Santa Cruz boardwalk till about 5 then all the girls got into their riding gear and rode home on the backs of the bikes.
A fun but TIRING day, except the sunburn wasn't really needed...
We hung out with everyone down at the Santa Cruz boardwalk till about 5 then all the girls got into their riding gear and rode home on the backs of the bikes.
A fun but TIRING day, except the sunburn wasn't really needed...
Friday, 18 April 2008
Johnny Rockets & Horton Hears A Who
Erich and I went to Johnny Rockets, a retro diner-style burger place with Christina, a friend from dancing. After that Erich and I went to see Horton Hears A Who, the Dr Seuss movie at the cinema. It was pretty funny, we both enjoyed it
Horton Hears a Who! is number three of Dr. Seuss books brought to the big screen by Hollywood looking for a new avenue to draw cash from. This movie is slightly different from The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas though. Whereas those two films were really just vehicles for their manic stars to showcase their talents in (Mike Myers as the Cat and Jim Carrey as the Grinch), Horton puts the Seuss message to the forefront.
That message is, “Everyone, no matter how small, has a voice that deserves to be heard and a right to an existence”. Or perhaps in this political landscape it is, “No matter how big and powerful you are (U.S.A. Republicans), you need to be mindful of the little, seemingly insignificant guy”. Whatever it is (you can accept mine or come up with your own), Horton (voiced by Jim Carrey), a goofy elephant, finds himself stuck in the middle of it. “Why”, you might ask, “would an elephant find himself entangled in a situation like this?” It’s because of his ears. They’re so big, he manages to hear a tiny screech from a speck on a the head of flower. Responsible for that holler is the mayor of Whoville (voiced by Steve Carell). He’s a Who, who happens to be the only Who concerned about the strange occurrences happening around town (caused by the random movement of the speck). He’s convinced his only course of action is to protect the Whoville citizens by postponing the upcoming Who-Centennial until Horton places their speck into a safe location.
But both of them are having a hard time getting their assigned roles accomplished. The Whos don’t grasp the idea that they’re not the center of the universe or the concept of bad news. The mayor basically finds himself ostracized by his family and the community as he makes his case. Horton, on the other hand, is catching heat from the self-proclaimed law enforcer of the Jungle of Nool, Kangaroo (voiced by Carol Burnett). She believes imagination is the first step into lawlessness, so she sets out to stop him at all costs. This means bringing in help from the two “crime families” of the jungle – the Wickersham monkeys and Vlad the vulture (voiced by Will Arnett) – in an effort to reestablish her absolute order.
And so the story pings back and forth between Horton and the mayor as they try, up until the very end, to convince those around them that they are indeed telling the truth. It’s mostly cute and funny – Carrey and Carell both bring a refreshing dimension to their characters without overdoing it. I’d also suspect, Dr. Seuss would be proud to see his bright, vivid visions of Nool and Whoville recreated on the big screen. My only caveat is the similarities to the current political climate of the world. Sure, the argument can be made that Horton Hears a Who! follows the original Dr. Seuss story (with a few embellishments of course) and kids won’t be able to connect the dots without some help, but nonetheless, I don’t like it when these kinds of overtones are attached to a movie meant for children.
That being said though, kids will absolutely love Horton Hears a Who!. It’s colorful, silly and has talking animals – all mainstays to a successful family flick. And even though I’m not sold on movies preaching to my children (or anyone else’s), it does have a good message of tolerance. Could it be better? Absolutely. But at the time of this review it is the best full length adaptation from the whacked out imagination of Theodor Seuss Geisel.
Horton Hears a Who! is number three of Dr. Seuss books brought to the big screen by Hollywood looking for a new avenue to draw cash from. This movie is slightly different from The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas though. Whereas those two films were really just vehicles for their manic stars to showcase their talents in (Mike Myers as the Cat and Jim Carrey as the Grinch), Horton puts the Seuss message to the forefront.
That message is, “Everyone, no matter how small, has a voice that deserves to be heard and a right to an existence”. Or perhaps in this political landscape it is, “No matter how big and powerful you are (U.S.A. Republicans), you need to be mindful of the little, seemingly insignificant guy”. Whatever it is (you can accept mine or come up with your own), Horton (voiced by Jim Carrey), a goofy elephant, finds himself stuck in the middle of it. “Why”, you might ask, “would an elephant find himself entangled in a situation like this?” It’s because of his ears. They’re so big, he manages to hear a tiny screech from a speck on a the head of flower. Responsible for that holler is the mayor of Whoville (voiced by Steve Carell). He’s a Who, who happens to be the only Who concerned about the strange occurrences happening around town (caused by the random movement of the speck). He’s convinced his only course of action is to protect the Whoville citizens by postponing the upcoming Who-Centennial until Horton places their speck into a safe location.
But both of them are having a hard time getting their assigned roles accomplished. The Whos don’t grasp the idea that they’re not the center of the universe or the concept of bad news. The mayor basically finds himself ostracized by his family and the community as he makes his case. Horton, on the other hand, is catching heat from the self-proclaimed law enforcer of the Jungle of Nool, Kangaroo (voiced by Carol Burnett). She believes imagination is the first step into lawlessness, so she sets out to stop him at all costs. This means bringing in help from the two “crime families” of the jungle – the Wickersham monkeys and Vlad the vulture (voiced by Will Arnett) – in an effort to reestablish her absolute order.
And so the story pings back and forth between Horton and the mayor as they try, up until the very end, to convince those around them that they are indeed telling the truth. It’s mostly cute and funny – Carrey and Carell both bring a refreshing dimension to their characters without overdoing it. I’d also suspect, Dr. Seuss would be proud to see his bright, vivid visions of Nool and Whoville recreated on the big screen. My only caveat is the similarities to the current political climate of the world. Sure, the argument can be made that Horton Hears a Who! follows the original Dr. Seuss story (with a few embellishments of course) and kids won’t be able to connect the dots without some help, but nonetheless, I don’t like it when these kinds of overtones are attached to a movie meant for children.
That being said though, kids will absolutely love Horton Hears a Who!. It’s colorful, silly and has talking animals – all mainstays to a successful family flick. And even though I’m not sold on movies preaching to my children (or anyone else’s), it does have a good message of tolerance. Could it be better? Absolutely. But at the time of this review it is the best full length adaptation from the whacked out imagination of Theodor Seuss Geisel.
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Long Drive Home
In the morning I went with the Bitonios to church, then we went to Sams Town, another casino (and coincidentally the last place Erich and I visited last night). Sams Town is less glitz & glamour and more home-town for the locals. We had lunch there, spent a dollar on the penny slots then headed back to the house to pack and go home.
Erich again took the first leg and we headed out into the desert. and into the desert. and into the desert. and into more desert. Straight flat roads to the horizon. I don't think I've ever seen so much "more of the same" until driving through that desert. It was awesome.
When we reached Bakersfield we stopped for dinner about 9pm and Mrs Bitonio took over the driving for a while so Erich and I could sleep in the back and Mr Bitonio could get more rest for their last leg. We got back to Sunnyvale where Erich works, switched cars and Erich and I arrived home some time after 1am. All in all, a very cool weekend.
Erich again took the first leg and we headed out into the desert. and into the desert. and into the desert. and into more desert. Straight flat roads to the horizon. I don't think I've ever seen so much "more of the same" until driving through that desert. It was awesome.
When we reached Bakersfield we stopped for dinner about 9pm and Mrs Bitonio took over the driving for a while so Erich and I could sleep in the back and Mr Bitonio could get more rest for their last leg. We got back to Sunnyvale where Erich works, switched cars and Erich and I arrived home some time after 1am. All in all, a very cool weekend.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Viva Las Vegas
After unpacking, Mr & Mrs Bitonio took the car to take care of some stuff while Erich and I got some sleep. At about 4pm they were back and Erich and I were ready to head out and take in the sights.
Heading towards all the glitter, I was surprised at the number of low-budget seedy looking motels. I guess people want to spend their money on gambling, not accommodation.
Down, but not out
First we headed out to Fremont Street, the "original" strip, and still a hub of casinos and bright lights
The arched ceiling is actually a giant screen, Viva Vision.
The world-famous, one-of-a-kind entertainment venue is home to Viva Vision, the biggest big screen on the planet. More than 12 million lights in the Viva Vision canopy and 550,000 watts of concert quality sound pumped to speakers throughout the venue produce an incredible array of eye-popping imagery and heart pounding music. The giant LED screen towers 90-feet above a pedestrian mall lined with unique retail shopping kiosks and two permanent performance stages. Ten legendary casinos line Fremont Street Experience with more than 60 restaurants and thousands of loose slots. Free concerts, special events, and roaming street performers entertain the nearly 17 million visitors who come to experience the vintage Vegas attraction each year.
Unfortunately it was too early in the evening to have anything displayed on the screen, but the music was upbeat and the people weren't hurrying anywhere.
Erich tells me that Las Vegas is the only city where you can wander the streets and in and out of the casinos with alcohol, and it flows quite freely. If you're sitting at a table or slots, drinks are free. The casinos want you to stay with them. There are streetside vendors who we brought a great tasting margarita from and people were wandering around with football shaped drinking vessels, Yard glasses with shoulder carry straps and any number of other novelty shaped (advertising!) containers.
After leaving Fremont St, we headed towards Las Vegas Boulevard, the "new" strip. On the way we saw many of the famed Las Vegas wedding chapels
We stopped to take a pic of the Stratosphere - the tallest freestanding observation tower in the US, and three amusement park rides at the top - a ride that spins you around over the edge, one that shoots you over the edge and one that shoots you up and down the mast.
After dark not many of my photos turned out, but EVERYTHING sparkles in Las Vegas at night. Even McDonalds.
We drove down the strip (slowly because traffic is crazy) to MGM grand where we parked. We saw Sarahra, Wynn, Circus Circus, Treasure Island, Venetian, Mirage, Ceasars Palace, Flamingo, Bellagio, Planet Hollywood, Monte Carlo, and New York New York. We walked from MGM Grand as far as the Flamingo and back, which was quite a distance, especially considering we wandered in and out of casinos the whole way, but that was still just a small portion of the strip.
At the MGM Grand they have a Lion Habitat - To honor the lion and help safeguard its preservation for future generations, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino has created a one-of-a-kind Lion Habitat as a showcase for public education and appreciation for this majestic creature of nature. The lion has been a part of the MGM heritage for many years, beginning with the legendary Leo, whose roars have welcomed generations of moviegoers to epics of the silver screen.
The lions live in custom accommodations on an 8.5-acre ranch 12 miles from the MGM Grand.
Each day they bring in different lions to hang out in the habitat.
We finally headed back to the house about 3.30am. Tomorrow, the long drive home.
Heading towards all the glitter, I was surprised at the number of low-budget seedy looking motels. I guess people want to spend their money on gambling, not accommodation.
Down, but not out
First we headed out to Fremont Street, the "original" strip, and still a hub of casinos and bright lights
The arched ceiling is actually a giant screen, Viva Vision.
The world-famous, one-of-a-kind entertainment venue is home to Viva Vision, the biggest big screen on the planet. More than 12 million lights in the Viva Vision canopy and 550,000 watts of concert quality sound pumped to speakers throughout the venue produce an incredible array of eye-popping imagery and heart pounding music. The giant LED screen towers 90-feet above a pedestrian mall lined with unique retail shopping kiosks and two permanent performance stages. Ten legendary casinos line Fremont Street Experience with more than 60 restaurants and thousands of loose slots. Free concerts, special events, and roaming street performers entertain the nearly 17 million visitors who come to experience the vintage Vegas attraction each year.
Unfortunately it was too early in the evening to have anything displayed on the screen, but the music was upbeat and the people weren't hurrying anywhere.
Erich tells me that Las Vegas is the only city where you can wander the streets and in and out of the casinos with alcohol, and it flows quite freely. If you're sitting at a table or slots, drinks are free. The casinos want you to stay with them. There are streetside vendors who we brought a great tasting margarita from and people were wandering around with football shaped drinking vessels, Yard glasses with shoulder carry straps and any number of other novelty shaped (advertising!) containers.
After leaving Fremont St, we headed towards Las Vegas Boulevard, the "new" strip. On the way we saw many of the famed Las Vegas wedding chapels
We stopped to take a pic of the Stratosphere - the tallest freestanding observation tower in the US, and three amusement park rides at the top - a ride that spins you around over the edge, one that shoots you over the edge and one that shoots you up and down the mast.
After dark not many of my photos turned out, but EVERYTHING sparkles in Las Vegas at night. Even McDonalds.
We drove down the strip (slowly because traffic is crazy) to MGM grand where we parked. We saw Sarahra, Wynn, Circus Circus, Treasure Island, Venetian, Mirage, Ceasars Palace, Flamingo, Bellagio, Planet Hollywood, Monte Carlo, and New York New York. We walked from MGM Grand as far as the Flamingo and back, which was quite a distance, especially considering we wandered in and out of casinos the whole way, but that was still just a small portion of the strip.
At the MGM Grand they have a Lion Habitat - To honor the lion and help safeguard its preservation for future generations, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino has created a one-of-a-kind Lion Habitat as a showcase for public education and appreciation for this majestic creature of nature. The lion has been a part of the MGM heritage for many years, beginning with the legendary Leo, whose roars have welcomed generations of moviegoers to epics of the silver screen.
The lions live in custom accommodations on an 8.5-acre ranch 12 miles from the MGM Grand.
Each day they bring in different lions to hang out in the habitat.
We finally headed back to the house about 3.30am. Tomorrow, the long drive home.
Friday, 11 April 2008
All Night Drive
Friday morning saw us packing for a trip to the family's holiday home in Las Vegas for the weekend. The plan is to leave Erich's car in his work's carpark and get picked up at midnight by his mum & dad and go down together. So after doing some work in the morning and packing for the weekend, Erich dropped me off at the mall while he went to work himself. After a couple of hours he was back and we were off to the dance studio. Erich was on duty DJ'ing and I enjoyed myself chatting to friends till 11.30pm and the dance party wound down. Back to Erichs work and it wasn't long after midnight that Mr & Mrs Bitonio arrived.
The first leg driving was taken by Erich, with me in the passengers seat, and Mr & Mrs Bitonio in the back to get some sleep. I accidentally slept for a bit myself. At about 4am we switched into the backseat and Mr & Mrs Bitonio took the front for the rest of the trip. I was sleeping off and on between dawn and the time we arrived, so didn't catch much of the desert sights on the way in. We arrived at Las Vegas about 8ish and had McDonalds for breakfast before going to the house.
The first leg driving was taken by Erich, with me in the passengers seat, and Mr & Mrs Bitonio in the back to get some sleep. I accidentally slept for a bit myself. At about 4am we switched into the backseat and Mr & Mrs Bitonio took the front for the rest of the trip. I was sleeping off and on between dawn and the time we arrived, so didn't catch much of the desert sights on the way in. We arrived at Las Vegas about 8ish and had McDonalds for breakfast before going to the house.
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Pebble Beach Hyatt
Erich's work were doing a presentation today at the Hyatt at Monterey Bay and some equipment had problems, so Erich was asked to deliver some replacements. He picked me up on the way and we headed out there. Monterey Bay area is really cool and once we dropped the equipment off we had to hang around the area for a few hours in case of any more problems. While we were waiting his work shouted us a restaurant meal, which we had at the Fish Hopper. Patio dining with outdoor heaters and a really romantic atmosphere. Another great evening :)
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