Another Day in Universal Resort

I woke up yesterday feeling a little cold and drained of energy. Not a good sign since I still had an entire week to spend in three cities before I can fly home. I had to eventually borrow some Motrin (the American equivalent of the Indian Disprin) to keep me going through the day.

After our 2-day meet came to a close at lunch yesterday, my host took me on a water-taxi ride to the nearby City Walk. This is Universal's version of Downtown Disney. While it is smaller, there is still enough for those who prefer Universal to Disney.

In addition to Universal's theme park and Islands of Adventure with it's roller-coaster rides, the Blue Man Show, celebrity chef Emeril's signature restaurant, a 20 screen AMC cineplex, Hard Rock Cafe and Margaritaville are many of the options available for entertainment, drinks and dining. And of course, there are the ubiquitous shops for gifts, clothes and toys all around.

After a nap in the afternoon, I decided the only thing I was in a shape to do was watch a movie. So I ended up watching Ratatouille which was every bit as good as I expected it to be. However, no fancy dinner today. Instead, I got myself an 'Americana' pizza and a tall mocha from Sal's Market Deli within the hotel; it was actually a darn good handmade pizza (check out the picture of it being made in the wood-fired oven!).

I had to wake up at 5AM so I could catch a United Airlines flight to San Francisco today. Which gave me time to complete one of the most interesting books I have read lately, Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.

This book is about an insider's story on the restaurant business with special focus on the heroes of the kitchen. A must read for those who wonder what goes on beyond those steel doors. I bet you will learn a thing or two, such as why you should not order fish in a New York restaurant on Mondays, or what you really get when you order a steak well done!