Kansas Jayhawks vs. Iowa State Cyclones

Lauantaina paatin vihdoinkin kayda katsastamassa koulun korisjoukkueen pelia. Kausi on ollut kaynnissa jo hyvan tovin, silla ensimmaiset pelit pelattiin jo marraskuun alussa, mutta laiskuuttani en ollut aiemmin ehtinyt Hilton Coliseumilla kayda peleja katsomassa. Iowa Staten joukkue pelaa yliopistokoripallon korkeimmalla sarjatasolla, NCAA (1 Div), ja melko kovassa konferenssissakin, silla kauden aikana vastaan asettuu mm. edella mainittu Kansas seka Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M ja Baylor.
Lauantaina pelattu peli oli yksi kauden tarkeimmista peleista, silla Kansas on kansallisessa rankingissa sijalla #5, ja jos paikkaa maaliskuussa pelattavasta (March Madness) lopputurnauksesta hamuaa, niin voitto perinteikkaista "koriskouluista" on aina askel lahemmas lopputurnauspaikkaa. Urheilun saralla kuluva lukuvuosi on sujunut (Iowa State) Cyclones:ien osalta yli odotusten, silla jo syksylla koulun jenkkifutisjoukkue paatti kauden melko hyvalla voitot-tappiot "recordilla" (6-7) aiempiin vuosiin verrattuna. Futiskauden kohokohtia oli mm. kauden alussa irronnut voitto "paikalliskamppailussa" University of Iowa (Hawkeyes) vastaan seka viimeisessa pelissa kotivoitto Oklahoma Staten joukkueesta. Koripallon osalta kausi on myos lahtenyt mukavasti kayntiin, ja talla hetkella joukkue taisteleekin paikasta edella mainittuun 68 joukkueen kesken pelattavaan March Madness:iin. Pelia en ala tassa sen enempaa analysoimaan, mutta alempana on linkki ESPN -sivun videokoosteeseen ko. ottelusta. Sen verran pystyn kuitenkin paljastamaan, etta voitto sielta ISU:n joukkueelle irtosi, ja taas yksi kova paanahka osoittamaan etta Cyclones kuuluu NCAA koriksen lopputurnaukseen.

ESPN highlight -video, KU vs ISU
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7514089

For my English speaking readers I will keep it short, since you most likely already know the outcome of ISU vs KU game :)
Above there's a link to highlights of the game on ESPN.go.com.
Anyways, this was my first time seeing ISU men's basketball team play, and indeed they were very impressive by pulling out an important wink over #5 ranked Kansas Jayhawks. As in the ISU football games last fall, the atmosphere in this sold-out game was just unbelievable, too, and the crowd really did all they could to help the Cyclones win by rooting for their team right from the start until the very end. There are still a couple of big games left this season for ISU, so I think, after this kind of performance, I will probably have to go see a few more, in hopes of the Cyclones making it to March Madness ;)

Sold Out Hilton Coliseum (you can't really see the balcony level in this pic)

I wish I remembered who is this guy... Inside Hilton Coliseum anyway.

California Road Trip: San Francisco

Taman blogipaivityksen alkuun kertaan hieman mita tapahtui California Road Trip:in Los Angelesin etapilla. Losiin saavuttiin joulukuun 22. paiva, noin klo 3:n aikaan, ja matka kesti hieman vajaat kolme tuntia bussin kyydissa. Hotellimme sijaitsi Hollywoodin etela-osassa, mika ei nimesta huolimatta ollut mitenkaan satumaista aluetta. Ensimmaisena iltana tutustuimme paremmin LA:n kantakaupunkiin, ja heti hotellin nurkalla odotti naky, jota ei kovin useasti tule vastaan muualla (paitsi elokuvissa), kun 3 kaverusta odotteli raudoissa LAPD:n tutkiessa toverusten ajopelia, jos sielta loytyis mahdollisesti jotain takavarikoitavaa.

Kantakaupunkiin kuljettiin paikallisliikenteen avulla (bussi), eika sinne hotellilta kestanyt kuin ehka vartin verran. Ensivaikutelma Los Angelesin kantakaupunkista ei ollut mitenkaan mairitteleva, silla kodittomia oli (kerjaamassa rahaa) lahes joka nurkalla, ja illan aikana tuli viela lisaksi nahtya 3 muuta pidatysta aiemmin mainitun episodin lisaksi.

Alun shokin jalkeen suuntasimme toisena paivana Universal Studiosille, joka on kaytannossa huvipuisto (theme park) eri elokuvateemoilla varustetuilla mini-vuoristoradoilla seka kiertoajeluluilla ihka oikeilla kuvauspaikoilla. Parhaiten mieleen kuitenkin jai Terminator 3D -show, joka oli sekoitus 3D -elokuvaa ja pienimuotoista teatterinaytelmaa. Kokonaisuudessaan Universal Studios oli ihan viihdyttava paikka ja saattaapi olla, etta sinne viela joskus toistekin taman vuoden puolella eksyn, silla erikoistarjouksena lippuluukulla myytiin 2012 Annual Pass -lippuja kaupanpaallisina :)

Matkan aikana tuli tutustuttua myos Hollywoodiin jonkin verran. Walk of Fame:lla kaytiin useammankin kerran, ja Hollywood sign (en muista suomenkielista nimea, jos silla sellaista onkaan :P ...ne kirjaimet kuitenkin) tuli nahtya nakoalapaikalta. Lisaksi, ohjatun turistiajelun merkeissa tuli pyorahdettya Beverly Hills:issa. Voin kertoa, etta ei siella mitaan ihmeellista ole :D  rikkaiden kampat on pusikkojen takana, joten niista ei paljon paase nakemaan (ja tamankertaisellakaan kierroksella ei nahty ainuttakaan julkimoa).

Yksi nakemisen arvoisista paikoista LA:n alueella on silti ehdottomasti Santa Monica. Ja jos mielessa on matkustaa Los Angelesiin, niin suosittelen varaamaan hotellit juurikin Santa Monican alueelta: etaisyydet mm. Hollywoodiin, Universal Studios:ille tai Warner Bros Studios:ille ovat melko pitkat (julkisilla 1h-1h30min), mutta S.M.:n  alue on silti ylivoimaisesti yksi viihtyisimmista ja turvallisimmista mita LA:sta voi loytaa, ainakin omasta mielestani.

Toiseksi viimeisena paivana kaytiin viela Warner Bros studios:illa, jossa paastiin nakemaan taas kuvauspaikkoja ja lavasteita. WB tour:in ehdottomia kohokohtia oli elokuva-ajoneuvojen (Batmanin kiesi), -asusteiden (Batman, Jokeri, Harry Potter) ja Big Bang Theory TV-sarjan kuvauspaikan nakeminen! Kaiken kaikkiaan hieno kokemus tamakin reissu.

Seuraavana vuorossa oli sitten matkaaminen San Franciscoon, jonne taas kuljettiin bussilla reippaat 8h. San Franciscossa otettiinkin sitten hieman rauhallisemmin, ja paivat kuluivat enemman tai vahemman kaupunkiin tutustuessa kavelymaratoonien muodossa. Kaikista tahanastisista kaupungeista California Road Trip:illa San Francisco oli ainoa, jossa voisin kuvitella joskus asuvanikin (...viihtyisa siis). Ihmiset ovat ystavallisia, kodittomia ei ole yhta paljon kuin LA:ssa ja kokonaisuudessaan SFon melko turvallisen tuntuinen. Ainoana miinuspuolena ovat korkeuserot: yla- ja alamaet ovat melkoinen riesa, jos kavellen paattaa kaupungilla kierrella.

Rennommasta tahdista huolimatta pakolliset nahtavyydet tuli kaytya lavitse, kuten esim. Golden Gate -silta, Alcatraz -saari seka -vankila, Fisherman's wharf ja Chinatown. Nahtavyyksien lisaksi, San Francisco on myos "oiva" paikka shoppailulle, silla kaikki merkittavimmat vaateliikkeet yms. ovat keskitetysti Union Squaren laheisyydessa ja valikoimaa on enemman kuin tarpeeksi. Muutama lantti sinnekin tuli siis kulutettua.

San Franciscosta lennettiin takaisin (Des Moinesin kautta) Amesiin perjantai-paivana (6. tammikuuta) ja seuraava lukukausi oli alkava jo heti maanantaina. Lunta ei viela heti tammikuun alkuun Amesiin ollu ehtinyt sataa, mutta loppujen lopuksi sitakin sitten saatiin 15.:nnen paivan tienoilla. Lampotilatkin on tammikuun edetessa yltaneet -15Celsius asteeseen, joten ihan kunnon talvisaat alkaa olemaan. Viela en ole talvitakkia silti ostanut, ja koitankin selvita kevyemmalla varustuksella koko talven lapi, jos vain mahdollista. En uskoisi sen kuitenkaan ongelmaksi muodostuvan, silla sisukkaimmat kaduntallaajatkin kulkevat taalla viela mita erikoisimmissa yhdistelmissa -10C:n pakkasissa (mm. talvitakki-pipo-shortsit-sandaalit?!? ...ja kaverihan oli tietty pyoralla matkassa). No, aina ei voi ymmartaa :) ...

We traveled from LA to San Francisco on December 29th, so that we would have some time to get familiar with the city before the new year's eve. Our hostel was located near Chinatown, which made it possible for us to try different kind of Asian foods almost every day. And indeed we did try various foods, which was a nice experience (at least for a potatoe-based-diet-eater like me). In San Francisco we also visited the must-see tourist attractions, such as the Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz and Fisherman's wharf, but overall the pace of exploring everything was much more relaxed compared to how it was in LA or Las Vegas. 

Out of all the cities we had been during the road trip, San Francisco was by far the coziest one, and maybe the only place where I could ever see myself living in: the streets were clean, not too many homeless people, and in general it felt like a safe city. We spent a total of 8 days in SF, and the return flight to Ames (or actually to Des Moines) was on Friday, January 6th. Once again, it was time to say goodbyes to the last ones left from the Fall 2011 ISU (one semester) exchange group.

Thanks to the California Road Trip crew for awesome memories! I wish you all the best, Goodbye!

However, life goes on, and the spring semester is already in full swing. The next big trip I will be making, is going to be to New York during the spring break in March. Until then I try to study hard, enjoy this freezing Ames weather and hopefully have time to see a few basketball games.

At the Golden Gate bridge

Just a random street in SF

Alcatraz

California Road Trip: Los Angeles (in English)

Vegas and San Diego behind, the next stop was Los Angeles. Our hotel was located in South Hollywood, which, despite the name, wasn't that nice at all. We arrived at the hotel around 3pm or 4pm, and the first thing we saw was three people being arrested and their car being searched right next to our hotel! Nice! For the rest of the day we went to downtown LA just to look around and get a glimpse of the big city atmosphere. Along the way we saw three more arrests, and the first impression was that LA is not that safe! ...not to mention all the w*irdos :/

After a bit of a shocking start, we decided to visit Universal Studios on the second day of our stay in LA. For the ones who haven't been to Universal Studios, basically, it is a theme park full of different kinds of (rollercoaster) rides with their movie themes. Also, they have a tour, which takes you to the studios themselves (only outside though) and on the tour they have displayed few special effects and movie sets. We spent the whole day at Universal Studios, and got to see almost everything they have there (Terminator 3D, Jurassic Park, Simpsons, The Mummy, Shrek, just to mention few).

Like so many times, when you mention LA, you immediately think of Hollywood. So, on the third day we decided to have "a light day", and head out to see the Walk of Fame (where we would return several times later on during the trip). It was also Christmas Eve, so there was a lot of people on that particular street (walk of fame), some of them dressed up as superheroes, and asking by-passers to take pictures with them, only to get some tip. Needless to say, as a first-timer in Hollywood, I fell to this trick and had to pay $10 to Green Lantern, Spiderman and Black Spiderman.

Enthusiastically heading to the fourth day of our stay in LA, while temperature rising to around +24 Celsius degrees, we wanted to spend the day by the beach in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Pier, where we spend most of the (Christmas) Day, is also the home for Baywatch TV show. Unfortunately, the water was too cold for swimming, so I wasn't able to let "Mitch Buchannon" to save me that time.

Rested and fully recovered for the fifth day, we continued exploring LA and especially Hollywood area. We went for a tour that took us to see Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and in the end, also, the Hollywood sign from a good view point. The tour itself was more or less just speeding through the neighborhood of rich and famous people, so it was nothing spectacular actually. We didn't even see ANY famous people... or maybe one, but I didn't know him. However, the chance for me to be starstruck came the following day when we went to see a Lakers game :D Trying to keep this short, I won't start talking about the game too much, but going to Staples Center was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me!

If the trip hadn't already been unbelievable enough, it only got better when we took a guided tour at Warner Bros Studios on the seventh day! Again, we had the chance to see movie sets that had been used in several movies. For example, the upside down kissing scene from the movie Spiderman was shot there (see the picture below), and many other scenes from other movies, of which names I can't remember now. Also, we were allowed to enter a garage that was full of vehicles which were used in movies, such as Batman: The Dark Knight, Austin Powers, Harry Potter and Hangover. Nevertheless, my favorite part of the tour was seeing the sets of the "Big Bang Theory" TV show!

Even though it was our last day in LA, we still had enough time to go and see the campus area of USC (University of Southern California), as well as Little Tokyo, on Wednesday. Unfortunately, before leaving for San Francisco, we also had to say goodbyes to some of the exchange students who were returning back to their home countries at this point. So, for those people, I want to say thank you for making this trip, and the whole semester, unforgettable!

<3

Spiderman kissing scene set

Me and my ride

Me (and the Hollywood sign)

At the Lakers game!

  

California Road Trip: San Diego

Las Vegasin jalkeen vuorossa oli San Diego, jonne matkattiin bussilla. Tien paalla vietettiin reippaat kahdeksan tuntia, mika ei loppujen lopuksi hyvassa matkaseurassa tuntunut kovinkaan tuskalliselta tai pitkalta ajalta. San Diegossa vietettiin yhteensa kaksi yota, eli kaupunkiin tutustumiseen oli kaytossa vain yksi kokonainen paiva, koska maaranpaahan saavuttiin myohaan illalla ja lahto oli aikaisin aamulla toisen vietetyn yon jalkeen. San Diegon kantakaupunkialue ei mitenkaan paata huimannut nahtavyyksien tai kauneutensa puolesta, mutta kaupungin laheisyydessa sijaitseva Coronadon saari oli erittainkin viihtyisa.

Keskiviikko -aamupaivan (21. joulukuuta) vietimme enemman tai vahemman siis kantakaupunkialueen laheisyydessa. Iltapaivasta suuntasimme kohti Meksikon rajaa ja sen vieressa sijaitsevia poistomyymaloita. Jenkkilan ja Meksikon erottava raja-alue ei ollut ihan niin taianomainen kuin olin odottanut, ja kyseiset kaksi valtiota erottava "aitakin" oli melko vaatimattoman nakoinen. Henkilokohtaisesti odotin nakevani jotain kiinanmuurin kokoista rakennelmaa, mutta Tijuanaan vievan portin laheisyydessa aidan korkeus oli ehka 3 tai 4 metria, ja kauempaa katsottuna naytti hyvinkin vaatimattomalta.

Seuraavana paivana matkamme jatkui kohti Los Angelesia, jossa tulisimme viettamaan noin seitseman vuorokautta. Talle ajalle mahtuu jalleen sen verran paljon kerrottavaa eri nahtavyyksista, etta pyhitan niille oman kokonaisen blogipaivityksen, jonka saan toivottavasti kirjoiteltua ensi viikon aikana :)

Leaving Sin City behind, next up would be San Diego. On Tuesday, December 22^nd, we took a bus from Las Vegas, leaving at 11am and spending more than 8 hours on the road. We reached San Diego around 8pm and quickly headed to the hostel. The first impression of the city was that it was not that safe overall. However, this was before we went to LA, which is a whole another story.

 

On Wednesday, we walked around downtown, and took a ferry to Coronado island, which is probably the nicest area in San Diego. Later in the day we went to check the shopping outlets next to the Mexican border. Even though we didn’t have much time for the shopping, we still had the chance to see the border itself near Tijuana.

 

Long story short, we definitely had too little time to spend in San Diego, but managed to see at least a little bit of the city. Next destination was going to be Los Angeles, where we would go by bus again. However, this time it would take only 3-hours to get to our destination.

Mexican border

EDIT: Video added July 3rd, 2012