Naik-naik ke puncak gunung, tinggi-tinggi sekali. Kiri kanan kulihat, well, semak-semak dan pemandangan kota Los Angeles.
Let's just say that we never intended to go on a hike.
Hari Minggu siang, di musim panas, sepertinya satu kota Los Angeles punya pemikiran yang sama: “Yuk, ke Griffith Observatory.” Tidak ada parkir kosong di sekitar tempat tujuan. Jadilah, kami mencari public parking terdekat, meninggalkan mobil di sana, lalu jalan kaki ke atas.
Sebenarnya ada banyak cara ke sana, selain dengan mobil, jalan kaki atau naik sepeda. Ada bus umum yang bisa digunakan untuk pergi ke Griffith Observatory. Naik DASH dengan tujuan Observatory/Loz Feliz dari Stasiun Metro B Line Vermont/Sunset. Mereka yang tidak mau pusing dengan parkir atau jalan kaki lumayan jauh, bisa mengambil opsi kendaraan umum ini.
Oh ya, sebelum lupa, disclaimer dulu bahwa tulisan ini adalah pengalaman berkunjung, sebelum Griffith Observatory terdampak kebakaran hutan di California, yang terjadi pada awal tahun 2025.
Mari Masuk Ke Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory adalah landmark ikonik kota Los Angeles yang terletak di atas Mount Hollywood di area Griffith Park. Temukan pameran menarik tentang astronomi, eksplorasi ruang angkasa, dan sejarah alam semesta. Samuel Oschin planetarium, teleskop, serta Tesla Coil exhibition di sana. Griffith Observatory buka hingga jam 10 malam setiap harinya, sehingga kita bisa menyaksikan bintang-bintang di malam hari. Observatory yang dikunjungi sekitar 125,000 per bulan ini, tutup setiap hari Senin.
It’s another day at Singapore immigration. A Sunday afternoon, when we line up with a bunch of other people, catching a flight out. My cousins, one of them is Andrew’s favorite uncle, dropped us off a few minutes earlier. We haven’t passed the border when Andrew asked: “when are we going back to Singapore?”
“Soon,” I replied. “When ArtScience Museum changes it exhibition.” Which by the time I wrote this entry, Big Bang Data had wrapped up and supposedly continues its journey somewhere else. So, it’s time for us to plan another Singapore trip.
The hand-shaped museum at one corner of Marina Bay Sands is the newest addition to our favorite dating place in Singapore. Its changing exhibitions, touch-and-feel as well as interactive sections always keep the children busy. It’s a museum alright, but a family friendly one. Something we’re always longing for on our weekend dates. Anyway, we arrived at theArtScience Museum on Friday noon, me and two tweens (Andrew and my cousin Audrey).
First we have to line up and it took us about 15 minutes to reach purchase the tickets. Ticket counter is now located at the basement (which is where Big Bang Data and The Future World also located) and the lobby has transformed into an exciting-looking café we would try next time. I paid my tickets and the kids got in for free. It’s Family Friday at the museum, where up to 4 children younger than 12 can enter for free with a paying adult. So it’s a real bargain when you pay SGD 30 for 3 people (kids ticket alone costs about SGD 19 each) to explore all three exhibitions in the museum.
How to reach ArtScience Museum? Took the MRT to Bayfront Station, exit Marina Bay Sands and follow signs to the museum. There are buses too, just find one that stops at Marina Bay Sands.
The Future World is recommended by many, but the lady at the ticket counter said that the exhibition is timed and the next admission would be at 1PM. We’re roughly 50 minutes away, so we decided to turn left from the elevator and entered Big Bang Data.
