A Universal Adventure

It was a restless night .... jet lag was playing havoc with Miranda and as a result, all of us. Then the hotel and local fire department decided to conduct a fire safety check which meant all the power in the hotel was shut off; so right at the time when we were all awake off went the power. Certainly didn't help... But nothing a little panadol couldn't help fix.

7 am and up to get ready for a day at Universal Studios. Welcome to Monday morning peak-hour traffic; so a 40min trip turned into 80min. We thought there must have been an accident, however as the driver in the van next to us was reading the paper, yes while

moving we figured this was just routine. Anyway, Dick Johnson did a fantastic job getting us into the carpool lane which helped to get us along a little quicker.

So with "front of the line" passes (thanks to Nanny & Poppy) we entered the park; some us with a sense of adventure and one of us with fear and trepidation of all the hideous rides I will be forced to endure .....

Eighteen years ago, the studio tour ride took us on a loop around the sound recording studios and outdoor facades used in film and TV. The tour still exists today but on a more modern scale with a 3D interactive show of King Kong (which the girls loved) and a new and improved Jaws "attack" - a little more authentic than what I remembered.

Our first 'ride' was the 3D Transformers ride -> it was easy and even enjoyable. Then came The Mummy ride; thankfully (for mum) the entrance was a tad too scary for Hayley, so we let Miranda and Peter go. Once finished they convinced Hayley that it was just like the Red Rocket 'kiddies' ride at Movie World ......GREAT, that essentially meant mum HAD to go on it. Oh and by the way it's not nice when you are actually sitting strapped into the ride to say "oh and by the way it goes

really fast at the beginning" ...... Screaming, and darkness. We were on a dark rollercoaster ride!!! Around corners, down up and THEN backwards ... all the way! Finished, heavy breathing .....and "that was great, can we go again !!!" GREAT!!!!

Last time I had visited we went to view the Special Effects Show studio, obviously the place where they orchestrate all movie effects. In 1996, I was selected as a volunteer to lay on a platform and scream so it looked like I was falling. Well, this time, we were all chosen; very exciting!!! Miranda was the captain of the ship and we were her passengers, attacked by mosquitoes and then an octopus. A wonderful thrill for all of us.

It was a fantastic day which ended with multiple stair climbs, from the bottom of the theme park to the top - four sets of steep stairs that Hayley and I decided to conquer. Then a large dinner at Bubba

Gumps where Miranda was determined to eat Gumbo .... a peppery soup/gravy mixture with squid, fish, okra (have no idea what that is .... will need to Google and add-in) and sausage. The rest of us had fish and chips and squid/veggie skewers with rice and salad.

What a wonderfully exhausting day .... Thanks Dick for getting us there and back. You deserve your $2, 1-litre can of beer.