Neverland: My Respect

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my respect, originally uploaded by bobotsky.

News all over different mediums are centered to Michael Jackson's memorial venue. Whether it'd be held at Encino, Forest Lawn, Staples Center or Neverland. And so many people thought it would be just makes more sense to have it on Neverland.

Many arrived and pitched their tents on the either side of the whole stretch of Figueroa road, and stayed over at the early part of the week assuming they'd be the ones to be there first. Later, the news broke many hearts with disappointment.

D and I drove 130 miles north of 101 from Los Angeles all the way to San Olivos one thursday morning to see the Neverand. We don't intend to stay there overnight. We brought just the basic stuffs. Twelve pieces of siomai. fried rice. large Robek's. two bottled water.

As we turned right to Figueroa coming from Hwy 154 West, both sides of the road were streaming with cordon tapes in between by little post that says: No Parking Between Signs. Santa Barbara County". It was a pretty long stretch. A stretch where all the campers used to stay. They're all gone.

You'll know you're on the right track when you're seeing a stream of cars and SUVs are passing on the other side of the road. It is obviously unusual to see hordes of such in a rancher's place. Suddenly, big white trucks started to show up parked on either side of the road. Flaunting their huge antennae dish on their roofs. The road ground was lined with cables and power lines. Around fifty trucks. Easily.

And there we were.

I never realized I would drive all the way this far just to see Neverland. I used to see this place in the news many years back. The most recent before Michael's death was when he abandoned it and stayed for a while in Dubai.

Many people, half from the news media were there. But eerily silent. No parties. Just there. Many took pictures of the main gate emblazoned with "Neverland", two large white rose wreath adorned each side of the gates. Michael's music played in the air, bringing others to tears.

Three young ladies drove all the way from Vancouver, Canada came and burst into tears upon arriving the Neverland. Journalists, photojournalists and news anchors are everywhere. All in the same spirit of mourning.

We left with a little note on a huge white board.