Sunday, November 7, 2010

So.Cal Vacation (Part 2 of 3)

We decided to go to a town called Newport Beach. We heard it was a pretty little town. But we did not know it is exclusively a rich area. According to Wikipidia, more than a quarter households have an income greater than $200,000, and the median value for homes exceeds $1 million. Newport Beach is famous for its Gondola ride. But we did not take the Gondola ride. We have been to Venice, Italy, and went on Gondola ride. Compared to Venice, this city’s Gondola ride did not impress us.

The streets are beautiful. You can look at them all day.

Many TV serials are based on characters (people) living in Newport Beach.

In the evening we went to Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. While having dinner, you can watch medieval style games and sword fighting. Six knights wearing full armor clash in a combat tournament for the title of King’s Champion.

Audiences are seated in 6 different section of the arena. People in each section are to root for their own knight. They are given the matching color hat for their knight. People take this fighting seriously and shout at the top of their voices. We were in the Green section. But that night, the Green knight did not win.

Inside the stadium everything is medieval. There are no forks and knives to eat. We have to eat with hands, just like the medieval times. Even the soup is to be drunk like you would drink a cup of coffee. All the employees (bartenders, sales people at the shops, waiters, bus boys, people who greet you at the door) address all customers in a royal fashion. All men are addressed “My Lord”. All women are addressed either ‘My Lady” or “My Princess”. I could not digest this. I don’t like it even when someone calls me ‘Sir’. But many Americans seem to love this.



Here is something funny. During the show, they would announce over the microphone any important occasion that day for people like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. This announcement was funny, I thought: “Mr. and Mrs. Xxxx are spending their honeymoon. But what the heck are you two doing here?”

Here is a picture of a hash brown from McDonald’s. Goes well with coffee. Nothing like, as they say in Tamil Oru Kadi Oru Kudi (one bite one sip).


Please enjoy these video clips fom the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.

35 comments:

  1. I like Medival times, its a nice place to go to. I am ok with a pretend 'Lord' and 'Lady' for an evening.

    But I cannot stand 'Good morning maam, How are you maam and how is sir?'.

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  2. wonderful photos :D
    ROFL at the honeymoon announcemt :P
    enjoy your trip :D

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  3. Beautful pics and a lovely post...thanks for sharing SG :)

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  4. Now that was worth waiting for SG.

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  5. Thanks for your comments Geeta. You are right. Once in a while a little royalty is a warm welcome.

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  6. Thanks for your comments Rajlakshmi. That honeymoon announcement was funny. The whole audience laughed.

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  7. Thanks for your comments Sana. I am glad you liked the pics and the post. When is the happy occasion?

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  8. Thanks for your comments Rama. i am glad you liked the pics and the video clip especially.

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  9. Nice pictures. Medieval times concept is really good. Cant be a Lord or a Lady in real, at least enact them for a while :-)

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  10. Thanks for your comments Insignia. We enjoyed Madieval Times. Enjoyed drinking soup like coffee. You are right. Once in a while enacting is real fun.

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  11. the medieval times place sounds like fun!.. the classic touches are drinking soup out of a bowl without spoons and the sir and princess bit .. very charming.and thats a really big hash brown !

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  12. Wouldn't mind being addressed as 'My Lady' once in a while.

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  13. That medieval night looks like such fun - my idea of a good night out.

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  14. The medieval times concept seems funny to me. I wont mind being there for some time. Drinking soup from pan ? Did you spill it down SG?

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  15. After a sojourn in Kerala I am back , celebrated Diwali in my home town.
    Read your earlier posts also. Saw your picasa web albums. I can see you have enjoyed your vacation well.

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  16. Thanks for your comments Bedazzled. We had a great time there.

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  17. Thanks for your comments Radha. Yes, if it is once in a while it will feel good.

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  18. Thanks for your comments Tracy. You are right. It was a good night out.

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  19. Thanks for your comments Stranger. No, I did not spill it down. It was very tasty.

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  20. Thanks for your comments Chitra. We had a great time.

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  21. Those pictures make one to visit this place. Is that you on the horse? if not, jk:)

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  22. great clicks. please mention © SG of Shoot The Breeze on each image. :)

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  23. Thanks for your comments Vanitha. Even though I am a "night" person, i am not the "knight" who is on that horse.

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  24. Thanks for your comments Neha. i am glad you liked those clicks. And, thanks for your advice. i will certainly consider.

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  25. Thanks for your comments SM. I am glad you liked the photos and the slide show.

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  26. Enjoying this recount of ur vacation, will be awaiting the third part

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  27. I had seen the soup bowl in some Western movie! The other pictures are also superb!

    Announcement for the honeymoon couple is funny! We cannot talk about these things openly here but watch the dirty dances in every filmy song, without batting an eyelid!

    We can enjoy being addressed royally for once!

    Thanks for the virtual experience of your tour!

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  28. Thanks for your comments Bhagyareema. Third part is coming soon as soon as my lap top is fixed. (i am typing this in my very old lap top). My lap top problem is deserving a post by itself.

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  29. Thanks for your comments Sandhya. i agree with you 100%. Any dance song from Indian movies, turn off the volume completely and watch. You will be disgusted and turn off the TV.

    Apart from that, is that called a "dance"? Do they need a dance master for that?

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  30. SG,

    It is a nice post. Good pictures. But NC is prettier than CA....:))))) You can present the facts but I am BIASED...hahaha

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  31. ena solunga ponga... oru kadi correct than... sry me met with accident so went missing :( !...

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  32. Thanks for your comments A. I am glad you liked these pictures.

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  33. Thanks for your comments HaRy. Ada Paavamay. Enna aachu ungalukku. I am very sorry. Hope you are doing OK.

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