Ansh Gala | Week 14: The Ultimate Thrill

 


        Roller coasters have to be some sort of canon event in everyone’s lives. I must have gone on over a hundred rides in my life so far, yet everytime I sit down into one of those carts and the bar comes down, my heart starts to race. Every dip, sharp turn, and flip make my stomach lurch just the right amount where the discomfort is enjoyable.


I try to go to Great America, with my friends every year, to keep my thrill-seeker side happy. Now that Great America might be closing in a few years, there are only going to be a few chances for me to spend my summers waiting in the lines and having fun on those rides. Of course, there are other amusement parks, which I do plan to go to, but Great America was such a vital part of my development. Those flying red chairs as soon as you enter the park, or even the 90 degree dip of RailBlazer, make Great America such an amazing place.


I also have to mention the rides at theme parks like Universal Studios, and the Disney theme parks. There was this one King Kong simulation ride at Universal, which absolutely blew scene year old Ansh away. The way the whole ride shook even though it was a tour bus, and how it looked like Kong was two feet away from me, were epic memories. Then of course at Disney, the Tower of Terror, sparked my love for horror. The way the scenes came so close to feeling like you were going to be possessed, but then you feel at just the right moment, made me so happy.


Roller coasters are an activity I hope to be able to do more often even when I am older, because I just do not want to lose touch with the fun I have always had on them.


Comments

  1. Harini KannanApril 4, 2025 at 10:40 AM

    Hi Ansh! This is a super unique topic for a blog, and I mean that in a good way. I really enjoyed reading your connections between memories and roller coasters. My first roller coaster experiences were at Disneyland, but I was terrified of roller coasters as a child. Still, my parents wanted me to go, so I pushed through and tried not to cry. But in the past three years, I've actually come to love the feeling of going on roller coasters! The wind in my face and drop in my stomach have become familiar feelings. Like you, I now enjoy rides such as Railblazer, King Kong 3-D, and the Tower of Terror! Thank you for sharing such an interesting read!

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  2. Hakim RadApril 9, 2025 at 9:03 PM

    Hey Ansh! Dude I swear this blog was so spot on. I literally love roller coasters; they bring back so many memories. I remember the time we had our thornton 8th grade Great America field trip and all the times I've gone out with my friends there, which really brings back so many good times and memories.

    I love that you mentioned Universal Studios and Disneyland because both those places are basically my haven. I'm a disney fanatic. I love the themes of each ride, the thrill of the journey, and the cute little food items that I get to keep to remind myself of all the places I've been. Roller coasters and theme parks honestly hit so close to home. Each time I go there I'm overcome with nostalgia from my childhood and memories of the last time I was there---the theme parks really just become measuring points for me to see my growth in the years I last visited.

    So after reading your blog I suggest that the two of us and our entire friend group take a trip to LA and hit up Universal Studios because I'm dying to make some fantastic summer memories and cherish the few years I have left of being a child.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Raghav SharmaApril 10, 2025 at 12:31 PM

    Hey Ansh!
    What a beautiful blog to write upon! I am the biggest fan of roller coasters, and have always had so many great memories, whether that's at Universal Studios or a nearby theme park, they always bring back such amazing times! My family and I go to LA once a month because of family, and every 2 months, we always go to Universal Studios to relive those amazing memories. You also mentioned Universal Studios, so maybe one of these days, during senior year, we should definitely go there, it'll be so much fun. Disneyland is also one of my favorites, but we usually go there because my cousin is young, so she enjoys those types of rides. Though, something I love about all these theme parks are the way they are designed, they always have some sort of idea behind it, whether that's catching the bad guy in the transformers, or just going on a small word in Disney, it's always so much fun just to be there and experience it. Brought back so many wonderful memories. The nostalgia it provides me is immaculate, especially since I'm frequent to that area. LA has so many great places for rides, whether that's Knott Berry Farm, or anywhere, it will always bring that same fun. Overall, I loved reading your blog and can't wait for next week!

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  4. EmilyApril 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM

    Hi Ansh,
    I can personally agree with what you say about roller coasters, especially with what you said roller coasters being a "canon event" for many people. I love amusement parks and the rides in them, so when you mentioned Universal Studios, one of my probably most favorite places in the world it really excited me. I also know what simulation you are talking about as I've been on it before too, and I agree, the ride was so surreal and the effects they added such as the scented mist at certain parts really enhanced the experience. Amusement parks have brought so much joy to many people, and I hope that younger people continue to enjoy them the way we did.

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