la di da

being in LA is akin to being in a really bad movie that i can't press the stop (or even pause) button on.

the LAPD really are an over-zealous lot: i've been here a day and a half and have seen two bomb squads, a truck fleet, multiple cars, helicopters, motorcycles, and bikes. i'm recalling that quite a few of the reality cop shows feature edgy LAPD officers, probably because they instigate enough action, even on the time-poor/lazy jaywalker, for a weekly half hour TV slot. i have yet to see SWAT and riot police (on horseback) though, but there is still the rest of the week to go.

hollywood is literally around the corner from the not-so-affluent mexican area. as soon as you turn into hollywood boulevard, it is instantly a different world of shiny lights, hints of the oscars, celebrity stars and foot/handprints, gawking tourists, and street performers (out of work actors?) posing as marilyn monroe, captain jack sparrow, charlie chaplin, and even spiderman. i don't know how people can live in such (ethnic) segregation; the boundaries between neighbourhoods are invisible but extremely clearly defined.

parts of downtown are interesting though, due to the mexican influence. it's got a bit of life to it, rather than the (materialistic) glamour and image that seems to plague other parts of the county. i'm impressed with the food and friendly locals, and i love the mexican gear that fills the (touristy) market. i don't even know what i ate and drank but damn it was good. and after hand signalling with a shop assistant who spoke to me only in spanish, i have learnt about the mexican version of bingo.

santa monica is overrated. sure, forrest gump may have made it there, but in reality it houses a touristy pier and beaches full of locals exercising madly or hooning by in their expensive cars blaring bad music. there's also an interestingly high percentage of mentally-odd characters. but, and this shows my age and bad taste, the lifeguard gear in baywatch looked remarkably like those on the beaches i saw today. a friend did say that the america featured on tv is mostly in LA, and i'm finding this to be an alarmingly true statement: baywatch, hollywood, LAPD (highway patrol!), and the original beverly hills (90210). i'm not going to orange county to see how accurate the OC is, i've seen enough affluent caucasian neighbourhoods.

i'm being dragged kicking and screaming to vegas tomorrow. it's the bribe (and supposed stopover) for the grand canyon, which is what i do want to see. i'm going to cause trouble in vegas, or run around in the desert and chase tumbleweeds, just to get away from rampant money spinning.

but, LA is not all completely rotten with spaghetti freeways and one-person cars: the bus driver to santa monica (on the number 10 from downtown), was the best driver i have ever come across. not for his motoring skills, but for his character and personality: saying hello and goodbye to every passenger, greeting regulars like one would greet a long lost friend (hugs and all), and politely defusing a sticky situation between a crazy man and a stubborn young lady. his cheery demeanour made the long trip to the coast worthwhile...