Wish: USA

Ok, I really, really want to go to USA once I graduated from Poly. Like seriously.

I have been looking forward to this trip since last year and have save quite a sum for it. All the money I earn from my work and internship are in the bank, waiting to be spent.

It's now or never. I don't mean for it to sound so morbid but it's true. This is a good time to just "let down my hair" and be sinful for a couple of weeks. You would think that after more than 13 years of schooling and stress, I deserve that two weeks vacation.

Anyway, I am not intending to use the parents' money for this trip. Everything will come from my own pocket and it will be sweet.

When will I ever get the time and spirit to truly enjoy myself again? University is not going to be a blast and it only means more stress to come once the term starts. After that, perhaps there will be time for a graduation trip and then it's out to the working world.

And you know what happens when you have a real job - no more holidays! All you get are public holidays and 14 days of leave. But when you are old, going on a trip seems to be a drag?

Recently, I and a couple of friends were lamenting how difficult Life is. Truly, when you are this young, with a long future in front of you, you have to wonder how to make it right.

To project it to the future, how can we cramp University, work and getting hitched into the 10 years before hitting 30? To me, 30 is considered old, in a way. As a friend puts it, by 30, she wants to accomplish something.

Well, well, well. I guess I'm glad that I am not the only one getting all jittery and suffering from what is coined "quarter-life crisis". I used to think I worry and want too much. I am not really to grow up and be an Adult. I am responsible, yes, but to tackle all these issues, gods, I have no confidence in myself, at all.

So what now? I can always go to Orlando during the year, but there is nothing to cheer about. I am planning to use this trip to reward myself for all these years in school and all that jazz. Now, the plans seem to go down into the drain, and I don't know how to salvage it.

The big problem here is NO ONE can accompany me. It is too expensive, for one. And with me having no confidence to make this trip alone, I have no idea how to pull this off. Countless of people travel by themselves daily, I don't see why I can't do it. And what with the distance being so far away, I need someone by my side!

I can go to LA, but there is no one to accompany me to Orlando, Florida and this is the crucial part of this trip. It may sounds silly a reason to make this trip because of the Wizarding World but I don't see why can't I enjoy what I want.

I still wish I can make it. This will be the greatest thing I done for myself. I hope that somehow, I can go there, even if it's only one or two days in Orlando.

I want to shop till I drop too. Shop and sightsee, oh please. I can always find my friend in LA and then travel to Orlando by myself and stay inside Universal Studios where it is deem safer. The only downside is that I won't be able to venture outside of Universal Studios.

Truth is, I only have enough to make this one trip, and make it memorable I shall. After that, it's saving all the way till I can go for my University graduation trip.

There is simply no second chance. This is why I am in such a dilemma. I want to seriously enjoy myself, do the things I want and plan to do. If there is a compromise, it depends on what it shall be.

Perils of Holidays & Universal Studios Singapore

Alright, I am totally procrastinating. There. I finally used that word. I used to think that the word don’t apply to me and doesn’t exist in my dictionary. But, this time, I shall admit it.
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Gosh, where have the last 2 weeks gone?!
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Why must time pass so fast that I can’t catch up with it? Day after day after day, I just couldn’t bring myself to complete my tasks. Why?! Argh, the perils of holidays! Oh, the pain! Of seeing my time slipping away.
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Trust me, I am having the time of my life. But, I can’t help but to get guilty over not studying for the exams, yet. This time, though, I WILL learn my lesson and revise early. Really, I will.
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On Monday, 16th August 2010, I went on to Universal Studios Singapore located at Resort World Sentosa with my cousin’s family. It was fun indeed and has been the place I want to go since it first open. They have an extra ticket so I went with them.
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It’s too bad that it rained earlier that morning, but the weather cleared after we reached there. Wow, the place is really filled with tourists all around the world, even for a Monday. Although, I must say, the whole area looks so small compared to the bigger scaled cousins like the famous one in Orlando, Florida.
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Still, it was pretty enjoyable even though I don’t play a lot of rides. The whole atmosphere is quite fun, especially Hollywood and New York section.
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I love the shops the most. I bought quite many pins and a shirt. I could spend all day there.
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In the evening, after watching a couple of performances, we ate dinner and walked around the other parts of the resort. We saw the beautiful hotels and Festive Walk. I really want to thoroughly explore the whole place and I am in luck since my parents will be going to Universal soon. I won’t be going inside with them because the price is atrocious. I rather spend the money on something more substantial like clothes or bag.
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I can’t wait to go to Universal Studios Orlando because I know I will spend till I drop.
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On another note, I hope that we can stay for a night at one of the hotels within the resort, but I doubt so. Sigh, why must the price be so darn high? Seriously, why? Because they cater to the rich and tourists, that’s why.
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So You Want to be a Wizard

http://www.grandopeningwebevent.com/

Let's us, Harry Potter fans, rejoice in another milestone in the Harry Potter Universe! Nothing else can come close to this!

Today, 18th June 2010, is the grande opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter located at Universal Studios Orlando! The stars from the films were there to welcome the first wave of visitors.

3 years. It has been 3 years since Universal Studios Orlando first announced of the plans and blueprint to build a wizarding world for muggles. I'd been stoked then. Now, it's officially open to muggles all around the world!

The first thing I want to do when I am there will be to soak and breathe in the sights. It's going to be so awesome! I'll send letters home via owl post. All letters passing through will be stamped with a exclusive motif only found inside the theme park.

I want to get myself a wand, lots of goodies and merchandises and literally spend till I drop. I want to try butterbeer too! The reviews are good, from what I heard and seen.

Before that, I must get on the Forbidden Journey ride first. I need to see what it is like inside Hogwarts and experience it. The Forbidden Journey ride is going to take a lot of courage to get on because it is almost a roller-coaster of sorts. I'll have to do it at least once because this is once in a lifetime experience!

Oh boy. I can't wait till it's my turn to go! Even though the means to the end will be very tough, it will be worth it, won't it?

Some people think chasing after something fictitious is silly and stupid. But, from one Harry Potter fan to another, only we will understand what the buzz and fuss is about. Besides, the more for us.

You know, salivating and staying awake in the wee hours watching men chasing after a ball is silly to naysayers too. In fact, every other hobby in the world will sound silly to some. "One man's treasure is another man's trash", the saying goes.

"To each his own", I say. Fishing and stamp-collecting is boring to some, yet others love it. So, don't judge me for what I adore and love. Everyone is different and the world don't revolve around you.

Live from Orlando

I'm so glad I can be part of this glorious moment!
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This morning, which is Florida's Wednesday night, there was a live feed from Universal Orlando Wizarding World of Harry Potter grand opening kick-off event. I'm so thrilled that I can be part of this, despite living halfway across USA and sitting at home viewing via telecast.

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This is most awesome news ever for the Harry Potter franchise! Ever since 2007, when Universal announced that they will be building the village and Hogwarts, I've been eyeing to go. I lost track of its progress for a few years and suddenly, in late 2009, coverage of the construction and wondrous promises reached my ears and I decided to make it my graduation present.

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Voila! The quest for earning enough money to enjoy myself fully is born!

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June 18th 2010 is the grand opening day for the Wizarding World. Today's event had actors and J K Rowling herself attending.

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At 9.10pm, J. K Rowling was on the red carpet. And the Hogwarts frog choir led by Professor Filtwick (Warwick Davis) started off singing the Hogwarts March and Something Wicked This Way Comes.

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John Williams, composer for a few Harry Potter movies, directed the Orlando orchestra. Haunting notes from Hedwig's theme floated around. My heart clenched a little because it just brought back memories.

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The Knight Bus arrived to the scene with the Harry Potter stars: Tom Felton, Oliver and James Phelps, Bonnie Wright, Michael Gambon, Matthew Lewis. Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint arrived in the Ford Anglia. Cheers rose as they went on stage.

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With a swish of the wands, led by Dan Radcliffe, shouts of Lumos were heard. Then, the most spectacular sight and memorable moment appeared. Hogwarts was finally revealed! It was aglow with lights; a light show and fireworks set the atmosphere nicely for those who were present.

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Even for viewers across the globe who have managed to catch the live feed on the official website, this is the moment to be savoured.

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Of course I would give anything to be there, right here, right now. It's my greatest wish to attend the grand opening! Sighs, the chance is nada unless someone offer me a ticket to Orlando.

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I couldn't be there this year, but never fear, I'll be there the next. This is my promise to myself. I will spend all I can there, to bring back memories I will always look back with love.

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Oh, what I would give for the year 2010 to speed by.

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They promise that the Wizarding World will meet the expectations of Harry Potter fans and we will get a completely immersing experience once we're there. You breathe Hogwarts, you live Hogwarts. Now is the chance to see what the other world live like.

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For a day, you can pretend you are a student, destined to graduate from Hogwarts, buying and eating wizard goods. Oh, I can't wait to get my hands on some Slytherin merchandise.

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