Posh or Rugged?
One of the best experiences I had was going on a trip to two very different but somewhat similar places: Los Angeles and Dallas.
Los Angeles is busy and lively; Dallas is laid-back and calm. The City of Angels has a magnetic urban allure while the Big D possesses captivating old world charm. Both of them have irresistible beauty that renders one speechless and full of words of praise at the same time.
Pound-for-pound boxing king Manny Pacquiao always touches base in L.A. before his fights. He does his last training and sparring sessions at the Wild Card Gym before flying off to the fight venue. The People’s Champ’s fights used to be held in Las Vegas, the Boxing Capital of the World where the best fights in the history of boxing were held. But, Texas entered the scene when it hosted the Pacquiao-Clottey welterweight bout at the Cowboys Stadium, marking a welcome change for boxing fans all over the world. The Pacman’s next fight against Antonio Margarito was again held in Dallas.
Los Angeles, the most populous city in the state of California and the western United States, is described as a world center of business, international trade, entertainment, culture, media, fashion, science, technology and education. The Wealth Report 2010 ranked L.A. as the fifth most powerful and influential city in the world. Of course, L.A. is known for being the home of Hollywood, earning the nickname “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
As an official media representative during the Pacquiao-Margarito fight, I stayed in L.A. with veteran sports journalist Eddie Alinea. Our brief seven-day stay was filled to the brim as we gathered and delivered news for the Filipino boxing fans. We went to Wild Card Gym everyday, watching Pacquiao’s sparring sessions, interviewing key people, and writing our stories, analyses, and commentaries.
Still we took time to enjoy our stay, especially the memorable dining experience at the famous New Hongkong Chinese food, a Chinese restaurant in West Covina. I also had the opportunity to have a little R & R at the Universal Studios, one of the oldest American movie studios still in existence. My cousin, Jean Medel, toured me around Beverly Hills, home to Hollywood celebrities and many wealthy families. I was particularly amazed at the extravagant and luxurious mansions, the most expensive in the United States. I was told that the smallest houses in Beverly Hills are just a little less than 2,000 square feet.
Then we flew to Dallas, the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth largest in the United States. Dallas is the top leisure destination in Texas and is a bit like L.A. because it has a reputation of being stylish, fashionable, luxurious, and prosperous. In Dallas, subtle meets extravagant as simple Texan grace is seen in the midst of towering skyscrapers and lavish infrastructure. Dallas is a blend of modernity and sophistication with its hotels, restaurants, night spots, and tourist attractions that are sure to make anyone fall in love with the city.
The Big D has numerous restaurants that not only serve steaks and barbecues as Texas is known for, but a wide array of American, Asian, Italian, and Mexican cuisine. Dallas is also the artist’s haven, the No. 1 city worldwide for art lovers according to the New York Times. The Dallas Arts District is the largest urban arts district in the whole USA. Dallas boasts of its world-class performing arts groups such as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Home of the Dallas Cowboys, the town’s pride is the Cowboys Stadium, a $1.2 billion state-of-the-art facility in Arlington. Its largest and most expensive HD video board, where 40,000 to 100,000 spectators can get a good view of what they’re watching, is definitely a must-experience, as my companions Eddie Alinea and cousin Mickey Tagle would attest to.
I was breathless at the luxurious Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center, the pride of Texas where Team Pacquiao and the People’s Champ were billeted. Gaylord Texan is complete on its own. The nine-story glass atrium has 4.5 acres of indoor gardens with a flowing river. It offers spots for dining, shopping, dancing, and working out and pampering yourself. It also has a 25,000 sq. ft. day spa and fitness center with massage rooms, salons, health spa, fitness equipment, saunas, and an indoor and outdoor pool with waterfalls. The “most technologically sophisticated hotel in the Southwest” has a 400,000 sq. ft. convention center with a 5,000-capacity ballroom and 70 meeting and event rooms.
So, posh or rugged? L.A. or Dallas? I like both and will definitely come back soon. – Article courtesy of Manila Bulletin
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