Yup. I've been in California now for 9 days and tomorrow, I'm finally heading home. YEAH!
So much has gone on this past 9 days being a part of SuperCamp San Marcos with about 100 high school kids from all over USA in a high energy program that I wish was done in Singapore the way they do it. Many friendships being built and many stories to tell when I get home.
Today, of all the 9 days, was unique.
Today, I got to fulfill 2 1/2 of my little dreams that I had.
Today I visited Hollywood. :o)
Superficial some might say but I've always wanted to visit Hollywood. Being a film student and a movie lover, I'm attracted to the place. Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars, is somewhat a pilgrimage for all film students with Cannes probably being the other place of a pilgrim's journey.
So today, I stepped my foot onto the steps where many celebrities have walked. Not wanting to pay obscene amount of money to see the inside, I'm content with walking around the place and soaking in atmosphere of Hollywood Boulevard.
The other dream that I had was to see the big Hollywood sign for myself. Not just in the movies or on pictures but to see it with my own eyes. Following the directions on my GPS, I found myself driving towards it with much excitement only to realise that it actually looks quite small from the road. (I'm sure there's a better spot somewhere but I'm a contented man)
The third dream that I've always had as a child was to visit Disneyland. During this trip in California, I've looked at the schedule hoping to find a free spot to visit but the program just doesn't allow any sightseeing apart from Day 9. And even then, there just wasn't enough time.
Funny enough, the long drive from LA back to our campsite at San Marcos meant that we have to drive past Disneyland and stopping there for a break after an hour drive isn't that bad an idea after all. So off I detoured happily onto Disneyland drive and speeding into the driveway into the magic kingdom.
Unlike all fairytales in Disneyland, my ended quite differently. That's where the 1/2 dream is about. As I drove into the place, I realised that the world famous castle gate is hidden behind this humongous multistorey carpark that you need to pay to enter. I was content just to catch a glimpse but all I saw was this carpark and a pink exit ticket stuck to my windscreen saying, thanks for coming to Disneyland. That was it. The closest I ever got to visit the magic kingdom.
Still, 2 1/2 dreams fulfilled in one afternoon is quite an achievement.
The only downside of today is that all this travelling made me miss Daphne and Maegan a whole lot more today. Walking all by myself through Kodak Theatre and Hollywood was fun but it wasn't meaningful because I couldn't share it with them. Seeing the Hollywood sign was great but Daphne wasn't around for me to complain how small the sign looked.
The only good thing about missing Disneyland is that now, I get to enter the kingdom like a kid when Maegan is old enough for me to bring her. That would be fun.
I realised that after a while, all the excitement and joy of doing fun stuff like being in Hollywood is only meaningful when you have someone you can share with. I didn't even bother going into Universal Studios or Warner Studios because I wanted them to do it together with me.
So this Day 9 of SuperCamp, I got the chance to fulfill 2 1/2 dreams of mine.
I still enjoyed and utterly grateful for dreams fulfilled. Even if Disneyland now resembles the HDB Multistorey carpark back in Singapore.
I'll fulfill the other half of that dream someday.
This time, as a family. :o)
