LA is such a quirky place. there's a whole lot of wierdos wandering around the streets, it's not uncommon to see a batman or a pirate posing for photos with over-excitable kids (and their parents). Everyone here is arrogant, they all want to "make it". Be that in music, acting or just the regular job they all have the attitude that they should get what they want. It makes for a very interesting culture.
America is the home of the "American Dream". The majority of the population strive to be the best they can possibly be, and make the absolute most of their life. They want the biggest car, the nicest house, the prettiest wife etc etc. But such a culture of want and success leads to people who don't make it. The city is very much split into the "haves" and the "have nots". On every street there are homeless, people fishing in trash cans to find food, walking around asking for money etc etc. It's sad, but unfortunately a fact. You also don't know how real these people are. They come to the tourist areas because they rely on donations from people who aren't revisiting the same streets every day.
It's a crazy city - it has everything in it. There's the big rambling (very famous) hills, and the gorgeous beaches with hot-pant cladded girls skating down the boardwalk, to the big CBD areas and the wannabe actresses. I can wander around the same streets every day and see a thousand new things and be amazed at the sheer ecclecticity of the people who live here.
My favourite place has to be Venice Beach. I walked there on my first day in LA (I had to do something otherwise i would have fallen asleep and been even worse). It's a cool walk, down past Santa Monica pier, along the boardwalk past infomercials being filmed, tourists on bikes, locals on inline skates and skateboards, surfers running to the sea, past the local gym bunnies using the free equipment and little beach cafes serving ice-cold beverages to squealing children. It's such an entertaining walk and I was happily amused for the duration.
Venice is loco. They have all these kitsch stalls along the boardwalk selling everything from bracelets and tie die tee-shirts, to bongs and bob marley memorabilia. The people too are like nothing you have seen. Goths walk by, next is a typical California girl, followed by a big black basketball player followed by the crazy person who's walking around talking to themselves. It's such a crazy place to be. It's where all the misfits from society seem to come and be, and the atmosphere there is great. I really like it.
I think the thing with LA and surrounding areas is you have to forget a lot of what is portrayed in the media. Not everyone is out to murder you or rob you or rape you, they are just curious people who want to talk. Of course there are the wierdos, and yes you don't go to the beach at night and yes you avoid certain districts due to gang stuff, but if you avoid those places its such a cool place to be. I haven't been anywhere like it. I'm glad I've only had 5 days, I think any longer and I'd go insane. It's a very intense place to be, very energy draining, but its still incredible to experience.
So, I already mentioned that on the first day I went and saw Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier. They've been in many films as outside shots. Someone once told me that it's an odd feeling the first time you go to New York as you already know your way around from seeing so much of it on TV. I found it very much the same in LA, you recognise so many places, and street names and just generally feel like you've been there before. It's cool, but slightly surreal.
I also went and had a look round the shops on 3rd Street Promenade. Some awesome stores, everything you can imagine. I had good fun looking found them all and exercised incredible restraint by only buying 2 singlets and a pair of shorts!! That first night, jetlagged and exhausted from walking around all day, I was in bed by 7!
The following day I went up to Griffith Park. This involved going on public transport for the first time in America, and it's not known for its ease of use. I had to get the Big Blue Bus into downtown LA, and then transfer to a Metro bus to take me through some of the more unsavoury neighbourhoods, and Chinatown (flipping incredible one I have to say) to drop me off outside LA Zoo and the Autry centre. I didn't visit the zoo, instead it was the gateway to one of the big parks in LA. It gave some incredible views over the city and it was nice to walk in the countryside - I did wonder where I was going when I saw the sign saying to watch out for mountain lions!!
It was a boiling hot day, so it was good to top the tan up. I did get quite dehydrated tho, so made my way back to the zoo to find a drink. However, the queue to get into the zoo was at least a 2 hour wait and I just wanted some liquid so I popped over to the museum instead. I had a nice drink, looking at some native artefacts and soaking up some more sun. I wanted to head back before it got too late, as certain parts of the city are incredibly unsafe after dark. I got back to the hostel not having to pay for any public transport the entire day (a pretty girl can get EVERYTHING for free in LA, it's really cool!!) and another early night was planned.
What happened was I ended up chatting to this Aussie guy, and an English guy who went to uni at Oxford. We get chatting and I get invited to go to the troubador room to see some up and coming singer/songwriters. Awesome, we get in the car about to go when "I'm gunna have to be over 21 to get in here, ey?" Yep, I'm too young and couldn't go!! So FLIPPING annoying! So instead we went and got italian food. It was tasty!
The following day was relatively chilled. It was boring housework and chores (yes still have to do those travelling), until I went to go to get some coffee (it's so good having decent coffee again, how i've missed starbucks). My friend from the hostel (he drove over from Sacramento) was stopped at the lights - he shouted out the window that he was going to Hollywood Blvd and did I want to come. So, I ran across the road, jumped in the car and we went to the place where the hold the oscars (Kodak theatre), saw the stars thing, and saw the hollywood sign. We drove past beverly hills on the way there, so we drove up rodeo drive, all through the residential area and up, and up, and up until we were right on top of the hills. The sun was setting so we had the most beautiful sunset over a panoramic view of LA. It was pretty incredible.
I got back to the hostel, after having a burrito, and chilled out in the tv room. Ended up chatting with another American, inspired him to go travelling as he just got made redundant! And ended up chatting until 3am, at which point I decided it would be a good idea to sleep.
And that my friends is what I've been up to. San Fran tomorrow :)
Peace and love xx
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