Universal Studios Again!

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xoxo,
Jo
7.40pm
101010
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I've decided to take a break from updating the happenings in May where I left off. Since, I've already had my photos done up in collages and edited them for my colleagues on Facebook (and for the photo-taking competition), I shall write about how much fun I had at Universal Studios (again).

This year instead of organizing a D&D, the company took a different approach and organized a day out for us at the theme park. Hence, there I was at USS again at the end of September, barely 4 months after my previous trip there.

I've written quite a bit on USS and you can read more about it in the "happenings in May" link above. You have to scroll 1/4 way down the page though.

As usual, it would be an image heavy post so let the photos roll, shall we?


An obligatory shot with the "UNIVERSAL" globe but we could all see that the focus was on the pink vespa on shir's T shirt.




While waiting for the rest of our co-workers to arrive, my group decided to take some funny shots in and around the Hershey Shop.


I don't know why, but this photo reminds me of little cartoon mice trying to twist the bottle open.




More mice joined in... while mouse jo was relegated to being the "snapper" instead of the "drinker".




Hungry hungry mouse!




Nope, we didn't dine here. Celebrities did.




The popcorn thieves didn't quite succeed in stealing the popcorn.




I was trying to achieve an artistic backview shot of my group.




Behind the scene




Betty Boop store... I'd no idea why I didn't think of stepping into it for the 2nd time!




Kungfu Panda was such a hamsap lo. We were all ready to strike various kungfu poses and before we could get ready, it/he gave me such a huge, long bear hug and refused to let go! Initially, I thought it/he was being really warm and friendly. Then, I heard from my colleague from another group that it was very hamsap to them too. In the end, all we could do was to wallop Kunfu Panda.




Along the way, we were stalked by Frankie...




"Save us!" viv and I got caught by Frankie but somehow we're all in smiles.




We decided to explore Madagascar first.








Just as what the sign warned...




This group of colleagues were so happening and enthu in dressing! I called them the "rainbow brites". I wondered if people mistook them as mascots.




We visited the useless King Julien and took a spin in his merry go round. I didn't sit on it the other time round. It didn't have the magical carousel feel like those with horses, mirrors and glittering lights but I quite enjoyed the ride.







The 3 of us in front did not realise that viv took a video and was frantically trying to get us to turn back and wave.




Next, we trekked to Far Far Away land. Along the way, we saw Shrek and Fiona's swamp banished to the part just outside the entrace of FFA land.




In the queue for the Shrek 4D adventure.







At Fairy Godmother's Potion Shop...







Watched the Water World show again.




We went to Discovery Food Court at The Lost World for a lunch spread of local delights. Try the Hainanese chicken rice! The rice was fragrant and the chicken tender. Love the ice lemon tea that came in the potion bottle which zy got... at a price of cost, I mean of course.




Mean old T-rex reduced to bones...




But like the T-rex from Night at the Museum, it breathed to life!




Outside the Jurassic food court where we found 2 dinosaurs fighting over some eggs.



Is it just us in Singapore or do kids in other countries also love to play at every single fountain and shallow water bodies?


While queueing for the canopy flyer.




After that, we went for training sessions with our dinosaurs... not dragons... ignore my error in the picture.




The weather was so scorching hot that we decided to cool ourselves down at the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure. Depending on your luck, your position in the raft and your general feng shui, you could get really wet or remain as dry as a bone by the end of the ride.

The last time, kh and I got totally soaked to the bones. While sharing this experience with my group, pris mentioned that the last time she sat this ride with her family, she was totally dry. So the big question while waiting for our turn was:

Would I be the lucky one this time and pris the unlucky one or would it be that I would be unlucky once more and she lucky for the 2nd time?

I think I really had rain clouds showering misfortune on me wherever I went for I emerged the wettest during round 1. Pris was 2nd and viv was 3rd. rn, zy and sg was totally dry! No fair!

We went for round 2 since the group was all game for a second round, plus the queue was surprisingly short. For me, I refused to believe my ill luck and thought that if at the 3rd try, I still got wet, I would just resign myself to fate. Imagine our joy when the water came splashing at rn, zy and sg at the final 4m drop. We clapped out loud upon seeing that.

Enuff said, the picture below sums everything up.




Sci Fi City was so boring coz the most shiok ride Battlestar Galactica was still under maintenance. That's like so many months already!




The only ride there was the Accelerator which was boring for me but viv and shir made it fun by shouting our names at random to while the time away.




Where to next?




Along the streets of New York. Could you spot us?



A series of point everywhere and anywhere shots







camera film roll





I can't decide if the sepia or the faded old photo effect look more artistic. What do you think?


After viv's failed attempt at stealing the popcorn van earlier in the day, she tried to take on a yellow cab. She failed once more so we had to hail for the next cab and get ready to mug the driver.




Charlie Chaplin and his entourage




Next, we advanced to Hollywood.




The eng dept with our various hats



jo jo joker!




everyone with our hats





Ssshh...




Watched Lights, Camera, Action! by Steven Spielberg




Marilyn by the manhole




Arrived at Ancient Egypt where we had to raise the death to the world of the living.



and also to take revenge on the mummy... I meant, to take the ride called Revenge of the Mummy.


Anubis, protector of the tombs






CK, Armani or DKNY underwear? Alamak... never wear!





Shrek and Fiona looked dazed.




There was practically no queue at the Enchanted Airways by the time it was evening. The queue was freaking long earlier in the day.

Cute dronkeys on th head and the tail of Donkey's wife by the name of... well, Dragon.




Puss-in-boots was frigging cute with all its antics. Such a cassanova with the ladies and a swashbuckling buddy with the guyz.

There was a good-looking couple in front of us in the queue. Puss pushed the guy aside, took the gal's hands in his paws and did a mock proposal on one bended knee. It was really hilarious.




Cyclops called. He wants his visor back.




Since we had $10 retail coupon each, we alternated between Fairy Godmother Potion Shop and Penguins Mercantile to figure out the best way to spend our $10.






I didn't see anything I wanted so I passed the coupons to viv who bought 2 gingys.

Gingy, meet Gingy.




Singapore boast the largest candy store in Asia. The flagship store is located in Dubai at 10000 square feet while the one here is the 2nd Candylicious store at 9ooo square feet. The saying "like little girls in a candy store" is apt to decribe us there.




Hand in hand we stand
Outside candyland




We had buffet dinner at the nearby Starz restaurant @ Hard Rock Hotel. The food wasn't too bad. Pity about the lack of variety though. The best part was the ice cream.




The 20th, 19th and 17th prize for the lucky draw came from our group. We all won $40 Takashimaya vouchers. That's pretty decent and we were all happy despite having won the lowest value of prizes in the draw.




We spotted a vintage car with dazzling insides outside the casino which ended our day with a bling.