Hollywood - LA, CA, USA

December 29 2007

Holywood in Los Angeles, California

We just joined our friends Ravi and Sabarish in their evening walk. Our intention of setting out of house on saturday afternoon was to get groceries for the week. But we ended up going for 3 mile walk and then Holywood. Though we are planned things take their own turns in an unplanned way. But that was good in a way. Our long dream of seeing holywood came true. especially for me after being here for almost 4 months.

The Kodak theatre in Holywood is a place where Oscar awards are presented to best performing individuals/teams of Holywood. It s really amazing to see at night. So colourful. The entire street has black granite footpath(I assume its a granite. Not sure). On the footpath, there are names of artists who have won the Oscar award. Every name on the star is associated with a symbol. There are three symbols. One for musician, one for TV star and one for Movie Star. Its really fascinating to see the names and people scream when they read out names that are familiar to them. I too exclaimed when I read names familiar to me.

There are many talented artists who ob their own perform on the streets gaining visitors attraction. Only a part of this street is crowded. This part of the street gains attraction. We roamed all around the kodak theatre. We saw the coloured water fountain at level two. We saw the chinese screen at level three. There are restaurants at level four. Level five does not allow visitors. Only invitees to hotel party allowed.

We had a nice view from level floor.

We got down and headed towards the chinese theatre which has foot and handprints of oscar award winners.

The hotspot here was Willy Smith footprint and Handprint as it was taken on 10th of december 2007. People posed and took snaps in front of that.

On our way back I saw a person dressed as an evil. So nicely dressed. Red Coloured dress. He had worn a long boot. He was a giant. Me a lilliput in front of him. I also saw spider man and gvrass hopper like dressed people. There was another person who was dressed like a ghost. His face was masked. He had a knife in his hand. He was surprising people by showing knife. He pointed knife at Sabarish. He was gone for a moment. He held his breath for a second. Then that ghost put the knife through his mask eye. Was scary. The Grasshopper was sticking to the tree. Suddenly it would hop at people scaring them. It was in all a good experience. A worth visit. We ended our tour by having yummy food at Thai Patio. Came home at 12:20am. First time ever I am so late home.

So dont miss holywood if you have come to California.

Wish I will cover Universal Studios before I leave.

Snow Walk in Mt Baldy

December 16 2007

Mt Baldy Trek
I would not call it a trek. Rather I would call it a walk in the snow.
The temp was not so less. But the time at which we went was so ideal that it had snowed the whole week and the weekend was a good time to enjoy.

Me and Sunil went ahead of Ravi and Sabarish(always called 'Rajani' by sunil) only initially.

Sunil Slided over the snow as he had worn a water proof track pant which was used for the first time. Thus he was satisifed that the pant was worth paying 30$ :) He had nt even removed price tag on the pant as he had plans of returning it.

Then we came down the small peak and started our trek in the snow. Ravi was ahead of us as he is tall and could take large steps through the steep mountain covered with snow. I was the last as i was short and could only take small steps. It was fun seeing sunil dancing and walking like a penguin. We enjoyed so much through out. I was not prepared to slide as I did not have water/snow proof pant. I had just made sure that I wear thermal pant and shirt. I always felt I should have worn my coat and gloves. I slipped so many times in the snow. Thats as usual. Whether it is snow or normal ground or rock or whatever; I have to slip and fall. I have fallen so many times in other treks also. But it was fun slipping in the snow and trying to grab something to stabilise myself in vain and sliding as though using skate board. Then realize that my hands had become senseless. Numbed!! Then rub my palms against each other trying to bring life in them :) It was overall a nice experience.

Video links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmXtirPvrPo

Disclaimer: I am not that fat as seen in these photos. PS: There are many layers of clothes.

Operation Curd Unsuccessful

Since the time we moved into this new house of ours(rented apartment), we wanted to try so many new different food items. And Of course we have been successful in this mission to such a great extent.

But the only thing that is bothering us is that we have not been able to make curd(yogurt) at home.

We tried low fat milk which is just like water. It doesn't even taste better when we drink this low fat milk.

So the milk that had more milk which tasted better with the tea was used for making the curd. Even this failed. Wonder how Gita used to make curd at home.

Have to research more on this. Which milk serves this purpose and more.
Hopefully I will be successful.

Public Transportation in California

Wherever you go in America, the two means of public transportation inside any city is

1. metro train(Amtrack/Metrolink)

2. Bus service.

I had heard that bus transportation in California is very difficult. People told me "California is bad when it comes to transportation". I realized it only when I started going to Office in bus. When it comes to bus service, Foothill Transit is the only service provider. We have direct bus to Office from our residence area. Still, this is a express bus which goes on Arrow highway. The frequency of this bus is only one bus in half an hour. Also this bus runs from wee hours of the morn till 9pm. I must say we are lucky to have a bus in every half an hour. Mostly in every other area, the buses are available only once in an hour. There will be no bus after 6:30pm. This may be because people prefer to use their own cars and less people use this facility. Quite possible.

I am annoyed with the noise pollution these Foothill transit buses make in Los AngelesIndia, very old buses which are quite inefficient will not make this much noise. These Foothill Transit buses are posh. Interiors are too good. I must say I am in a village in America. The areas are so peaceful. There will be pin drop silence. In the midst, when we hear this bus noise, one can imagine the extent to which my mindset will get disturbed.

Not only buses, all the vehicles here make a lot of noise. When we stand on a freeway, we will hear the noise and the intensity of it.
I wish a day will come in which these Buses/vehicles will run without noise. Hopefully!!!!!! county. Most of the times I wonder even in