VISIT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD. NEW SIMPSONS RIDE, HOUSE OF HORRORS, CLASSIC MOVIE MONSTERS.
Welcome to Universal Studios in Burbank.
Since I’m blogging about our adventure, I was fortunate to receive four free passes (which are otherwise $72 a pop). My tips for visiting are the same as for Disneyland: go early on a weekday, bring snacks. There were no lines, so we saw everything we wanted and made a getaway in our Deathmobile before the dreaded LA rush hour.
Our first stop was the Studio Tour, a mandatory ride that takes you through the movie lot, where productions such as Desperate Housewives are currently filming. We trolleyed past Hitchcock’s office and a partially-rebuilt New York facade (it was burned last summer in a fire).
Part of the fun was being thrown into special effects situations, such as a collapsing subway station and a Jaws shark attack. The Japanese vending machines and signs are convincing little pieces from Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Just like in the movie, a gas station caught fire and — ka-boom — the cars exploded into the air.
On the angry face side… we kept getting soaked by water! It turned into a bad joke: every single Universal Studios attraction left us drenched. Including the Shrek 4D ride. (Apparently, the fourth dimension is having water spat at you.)
Thankfully, the new Simpsons Ride was H2O-free and had us smiling from start to finish. We felt like yellow 2D characters as we explored Krustyland and the Kwik-E-Mart. There’s usually a line, but waiting isn’t so bad when you have Simpsons episodes to watch.
The ride itself is “psychological,” meaning that you sit in a 6-person box in front of a 360 degree screen. Although you never leave the room, the images and movements make you feel like you’re roaring down a rollercoaster with the Simpsons!
The classic House of Horrors is a scream: as you tiptoe through scary sets, monsters jump out at you! Outside, we saw plasters from the faces of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and other Universal stars.
Oh Hot Topic…
Thanks to all of you who donated to help Takumi get badly-needed heart surgery.
Song of the Day #337: OMG Moi dix Mois released a new track! Come check it out!
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GOTHIC LOLITA MANGA DRAWINGS, CUTE GOTH GIRL OUTFIT SKETCHES. ASIA VINTAGE SHOPPING, BEST SECONDHAND STORES IN SINGAPORE & JAPAN.
Dost thou recall my blog post about Horror High School, the Gothic Lolita horror-comedy film made by Professor Fearstone? (The sallow-cheeked ghoul above?)
There’s now a Facebook page for the movie, which we invite you to join. And the dear Professor — who also cavorts as The Candyman — posted these mahhhvelous concept sketches of the characters!
That’s Fearstone on the top left, Dravarious on the right and a soon-to-be-corrupted student in between. Below is the set-up for the classroom scene.
The movie is populated with bloody Sweet Lolitas and Japanese Goth girls.
You wouldn’t want these youngsters to show up on your doorstep selling raffle tickets.
Come see how the concepts and outfits came to life by watching Horror High School here! There’s now a Pause button, so you can take a matcha break in between.
Laura of Askew Magazine told me about a heart-breaking situation… Takumi, a young man near Osaka, has three holes in his heart and desperately needs surgery. His dad kicked him out for being gay and won’t support his medical care, and the situation is desperate. Reading about his daily struggles — nosebleeds, vision problems, heart attacks — is simply heartbreaking. I urge you to find out more on Takumi’s website and Twitter; please let others know and consider helping him out. (I checked it out and it’s legit.)
Required reading: my new CNNGO article about the rise of vintage stores in Asia. I interview green-haired Tavuchi (of fairy kei fame) and two Singapore secondhand boutique owners. And I mention my mom’s odd phobia of used garments…
When I was a teen, vintage shops were my salvation from cookie-cutter mall clothes. My Hong Kong-bred mother, however, couldn’t comprehend why I wanted to wear “smelly old rags.” Every time I brought home a treasure from the 1970s, she’d make a face and send it straight to the dry cleaner. (Read the rest here.)
Any Asians out there who have had a similar experience? What do your parents think of the way you dress? Thanks to all of you for helping Takumi.
Song of the Day #336: Gina T – Tokyo by Night (I wish I had gelato in my house. All I got is my Italo Discooo.)
LA CARMINA
