That's me - yes, me - at HOLLYWOOD, being the model tourist. Squint to see the iconic signage.
Frankly, Hollywood is best viewed on the screen. Take away the clever camera angles and lighting, the make-up and expensive gowns, all that red carpet dazzle, and all you have left is a couple of blocks of famous buildings along a street that is only impressive if you unfocus your eyes, blank out the dowdy souvenir shops, lousy diners and the vulgar tourist trap atmosphere of the place, and think glossy Hollywood thoughts - hard.
And that's just Highland Hollywood. A large part of Hollywood is a somewhat decrepit, sprawling town, indistinguishable from the rest of semi-urban Los Angeles. Or at least, the part I saw when I got off the subway at the wrong station and spent an hour wandering around lost with my roommate. You have to pay to see the homes of the rich and the famous, perched up high on the hills of Hollywood, away from the unwashed masses. No tales of celebrity spotting from me, I'm afraid. Besides, I'm so horrendous with faces that I probably wouldn't even recognise them anyway.
I actually find San Diego to be more appealing than LA. It has a cohesive, compact and aesthetically agreeable Downtown, beautiful weather and beaches, and is less... socially complicated. I can wander the city of San Diego in relative security, but I lack the street-smarts to tackle LA. The City of Angels has to be treated with respect and the utmost wariness, and is no place for a blundering tourist with the commonsense of roadkill. Like me.
[edit] If I don't screw up in The Biggest City in the World aka Tokyo and miss my flight, I am scheduled to arrive at Changi Terminal 2, 1:20am, May 31. The flight number is SQ 11. I am coming hooooooooome.
words were spilled on Saturday, May 27, 2006
Comments:
... your hair looks rather nice.
continue not to die, have fun in tokyo, take care.
continue not to die, have fun in tokyo, take care.
# posted by 
: 9:34 PM
: 9:34 PM
no your hair doesn't. looks flat.
I Can't WAIT.
I'm itching to watch X men 3 with you
It received plenty of great reviews and I can't wait to gape in horror at the number of deaths.
oh my oh my Come back quickk!!! I can't wait to see you again my dear
I Can't WAIT.
I'm itching to watch X men 3 with you
It received plenty of great reviews and I can't wait to gape in horror at the number of deaths.
oh my oh my Come back quickk!!! I can't wait to see you again my dear
# posted by : 12:41 AM
: 12:41 AM
haha ur sis is so cute!
it's great to have you back in s'pore! :D but meanwhile, do enjoy yourself in hollywood haha. the celebrities are probably hard to spot, I think.
and dun worry abt tokyo. I don't think the same thing will happen twice.
it's great to have you back in s'pore! :D but meanwhile, do enjoy yourself in hollywood haha. the celebrities are probably hard to spot, I think.
and dun worry abt tokyo. I don't think the same thing will happen twice.
am not going to be drawn into ongoing discussion about hair. but seriously, it's fine in the photo.
oh, and i really hate places that scream "tourist trap". the rialto bridge in venice is a great photo-op, but every third shop there sells masks. and each mask shop invariably sits between a general souvenir/food shop and a glass/jewellery shop. all very nice, but boooring. still, they're traps because most tourists /have/ to go there....
have a great time in tokyo. will you be travelling anytime during the summer hols?
oh, and i really hate places that scream "tourist trap". the rialto bridge in venice is a great photo-op, but every third shop there sells masks. and each mask shop invariably sits between a general souvenir/food shop and a glass/jewellery shop. all very nice, but boooring. still, they're traps because most tourists /have/ to go there....
have a great time in tokyo. will you be travelling anytime during the summer hols?
# posted by : 11:59 AM
: 11:59 AM
i'm in tokyo, taking advantage of more free wireless internet at the cheap guesthouse where i'm lodging for the night. so far, it's been great, and the only thing that sucks is the limited time i've got here. damn, i should have requested a longer stopover. 1 day just isn't enough.
jy: staying alive on bento from convenience stores and water from public water coolers. talk about doing tokyo on a budget.
wt: i thought hollywood was overhyped. i liked pasadena better, even though all we did was drive around and gawk at the pretty houses. downtown LA was kinda creepy. i walked around a bit and got scared.
yh: yes, yes, i can't wait either (and will you STOP telling me about the deaths already i've had enough spoilers from my roommate's family, damn them) and meanwhile don't you DARE watch it without me. oh, and feel free to buy tickets in advance if it's likely to be booked out.
xm: thanks! and i hate tourist traps too, because i never spend much money and have no interest in souvenir shops etc. will be going to taiwan right after i get back to s'pore. for a week. i just hope the jetlag won't be too bad this time.
Post a Comment
jy: staying alive on bento from convenience stores and water from public water coolers. talk about doing tokyo on a budget.
wt: i thought hollywood was overhyped. i liked pasadena better, even though all we did was drive around and gawk at the pretty houses. downtown LA was kinda creepy. i walked around a bit and got scared.
yh: yes, yes, i can't wait either (and will you STOP telling me about the deaths already i've had enough spoilers from my roommate's family, damn them) and meanwhile don't you DARE watch it without me. oh, and feel free to buy tickets in advance if it's likely to be booked out.
xm: thanks! and i hate tourist traps too, because i never spend much money and have no interest in souvenir shops etc. will be going to taiwan right after i get back to s'pore. for a week. i just hope the jetlag won't be too bad this time.
