At Universal Studios we saw many movie
sets from some of the greatest movies ever made, and we were also shown how special effects were created within these
movies. There was also some great rides there, including the Jurassic Park ride which is the tallest ride in the world,
it starts off with you cruising very calmly pass some very realistic dinasours but the ride soons becomes fast and scary and
you end up totally saturated by the end of it all. One thing to be aware of though is that if Los Angeles was hit with
an earthquake that the site of Universal Studios would be the first hit.
Just like any tourist I wanted to see the stars on the pavement at Hollywood, so we took
the evening tour not only because we were a bit pressed for time but because there is nothing else there to see.
When we went to San Diego to visit Seaworld it was Memorial Day, it was very busy with
large crowds but I was not bothered about that because I went there for one reason, to see Shamu the killer whale, the show
was absolutely breathtaking with many tricks and acts performed by this magnificent mammal, but unless you want to get wet
don't sit in the first few rows. The dolphin and seal shows were also entertaining but not as good as the shows we have
here in Australia at our Seaworld on the Gold Coast.
Hawaii by far was a Tropical Paradise. The water was very warm and inviting and the
views breathtaking. We went on an island tour which was great as you saw many different parts of the island, and you
were shown their great beaches and landscapes. We were there during their Summer and there were no waves, so if you
are going for the surf go during their Winter. We also attended a Luau which was not worth the expense, as the entertainment
and food was a bit ordinary. We would have been better off going out for a nice meal and then going to the beach where
dancers put on free performances every evening. Pearl Harbour was the highlight of my Hawaiin visit, I was so touched
by it all. We caught a ferry to the Memorial, and from the Memorial you can actually see the stacks from the "Arizona"
just below the water's surface and there is still oil leaking from the ship. Entrance to Pearl Harbour is free, with
public transport only costing about $2 to get there.
