HYDERABAD: Rows and rows of palm trees stand erect like sentinels along the winding roads of Los Angeles. Rubbing shoulders with them are towering high rises that fall just a few feet short of the doors of heaven. As one scurries along the highway flanked by Herculean concrete monuments and verdant hills, one feels like an ant trying to make its way to the anthill.
Los Angeles or LA is the city of sun, sand, amusement parks, ship loads of moolah, man-made wonders, showbiz, technology and a throng of crazy people. Like perfect tourists, you begin your day by scaling Mt Hollywood to feast your eyes on the famous HOLLYWOOD sign.
At the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, one is suddenly plunged into utter darkness and just when you start to believe that power cuts afflict first world countries too, the rotunda above our heads bursts into tiny stars, and you find yourself staring at a full moon sky at noon. Star gazing makes the entire visit a tad bit more special.
It is here that one can opt to find out, for a measly sum of 30 bucks, if I am eligible for being prescribed medical marijuana (the men inside the green walled shop look like drug peddlers and the customers look like zombies) or buy a vibrantly painted human skull for your souvenir collection back home.
King Solomon, the Snake Charmer strolls around scaring people with a slimy cobra around his neck while a girl sporting the Gothic look - black nail paint, heavy black eye shadow and mascara, black leather trousers, nose ring - ambles by with a board around her neck which says ‘Help a girl in need with some weed’. There is a flower child sitting on a ledge chanting over and over again ‘I ate an apple and died’.
In deep contrast to the Venice beach lies Santa Monica which suits those with deep pockets. It offers plush hotels with sea facing terraces, shiny malls with big brands, happy people dressed in haute couture heading out for a night of revelry and the Santa Monica pier with its numerous fun rides, most prominent of which is the glittery Pacific wheel.
Keep an eye on this space to read about a heart racing account of Universal studios and Hollywood Boulevard in my next post.
Preeti Sharma blogs at www.preetisharma84.blogspot.com