Crossing Off The Bucket List (part 1)

So, I promised myself I would update more often on this blog....and well, here I am. 

As for those who're not aware of my current whereabouts, I am officially here in the land of the free: the United States of America! And of all places to end up with, I land smack-dab in Tinseltown, the Movie Capital of the World, Hollywood, the City of Angels....LOS ANGELES. Who would have thought....

Fate has dealt me a good hand here. 

It truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be admitted into a prestigious university in the States under a full scholarship no less, and of such, I only think it appropriate that I keep a record of my tales here in this foreign yet awesome land. 

There's so much to say, so where do I even begin? Perhaps a short recount of my escapades in the past year would serve good blogging material. Even with content, there's still the organization and prose to think about!   Gah, the horror! 

But a bucket list would probably be a good idea to kick things off. =) 

A bucket list is usually a list of things that people aim to accomplish and do before they die, so as not to look back and see a life lived with regrets. If it's anything that the people of Los Angeles have taught me, it's that You Only Live Once (YOLO). 

Like so many others, I compiled a bucket list of my own here in the States. Heck, American college life is probably the only time this thrill-seeking, small-town boy from Sarawak can get to live life on the edge. 

Without further ado, a recap of things that I can finally cross off my bucket list. 

1. Hollywood and Beverly Hills! 

Having finally found some respite from a violently hectic and stressful (more on that in a separate post), I rounded up a posse of good friends and set off for the historic avenue at the base of the Hollywood hills. 

Sure, there was glitz and there was glamor to be had with all the Hollywood stars adorning the sidewalk, but the whole affair was diluted somewhat by the overall sketchiness of the place. Roadside peddlers dressed up as famous pop-culture idols like Michael Jackson, Spiderman and Transformers in order to earn a quick buck and aspiring rap artists handing out their B-sides in a brutish manner were just some of the eyesores that dotted Hollywood all over.

The trip was not all a loss however, as I got to visit glitzy Rodeo Drive and the gargantuan celebrity mansions of Beverly Hills only to realize just how poor I really was compared to the local populace. My wallet cried a little that day.

Regardless, the scenic and historic aspects of Hollywood that our guided tour enlightened us with made for a pretty memorable experience, coupled with the sheer exhilaration of cruising down the iconic palm-lined avenues of 90210 Beverly Hills. 

2. First AMERICAN college football game. 

I'm not much of a sports person by any stretch but it was a truly refreshing and entertaining experience to see just how fanatically the locals are with their nation's favorite past time. 

And it helps that the Trojans of the University of Southern California make really good football players, ranking among the top teams in the West Coast. 

Oh, let's not forget the rivalries with our more...inferior peers across town, the UCLA Bruins......whom we beat with a triumphant victory of 50 to NOTHING.

 With all that love and passion going around, it was impossible NOT to root for your very own team. 

3. Disneyworld and Disneyland! 

Let it be said now that Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida and the Disneyland in Anaheim, California will be  the rites of passage for the future offsprings of the Sia family! 

Sure, I was skeptical at first going in there because I've outgrown Disney so many years ago. I was no longer the small little kid that fell in love with all those magical Disney tales of prince and princesses so long ago.

Boy, I was never more glad in my life to be proven oh so wrong.

The whole five day of park-hopping from one Disney-themed park to another was a magical experience unlike any other. Sweet nostalgia and memories lurked around every corner of Disneyworld, may it be the sight of a familiar character frolicking about or the humming of a familiar tune on park attractions and rides. 
  

I'll be proud to admit that tears were shed during my entire time at Disneyworld. Each tear would hark back to a time in my life when I believed magic was real, that princes would always save the princesses and that good would always prevail over evil in an aural and visual flourish. 

The company of good friends who shared my sentiments made the experience all the more unforgettable. 

Similarly, the experience of Disneyland California was made all the more awesome with  my newfound, crazy-ass, over-the-top American friends. Oh, I'll never forget all the laughter we shared and the ridiculous poses we made on each ride. Classic. 

Words cannot express just how glad I am to have found you guys here in the States.

Thank God for coloring up my life and making sure no moment is ever a dull one. 

 4. Fear Factor!! *le gasp*

Yep, that's right, ladies and gentlemen. It was just another one of those last-minute, impromptu decisions that seemed like a good idea at the time. 

But hey, I can proudly puff out my chest and say that I emerged as the champion of Fear Factor Live. That's saying a lot given the fact that I had to dangle fifty feet off the ground, dip my hand into a tank full of electric eels and handle disgusting, raw octopus with my bare hands.

But at the end, I came out a champion. Unfortunately, all I had to show for that was one measly T-shirt which didn't even fit me!

And best of all, to conclude my first semester in the States, we saw to it that we ended the year 2011 with a bang. And what better way to go out in style if not in Disneyworld where we celebrated the New Year under a sky lit up with Disney's signature and dazzling fireworks display.

And so, this concludes part 1 of my bucket list. I guess I've pretty much covered Fall 2011. Next up, Spring of 2012!

Stay tuned!