09/10/2006: Hollywood!

Hello little ones, I'm back in Hollywood, and I mean IN Hollywood! Stepping back for a minute though. My night in Bakersfield was a quiet one before my bus trip back to LA. You know, riding the reyhound simply lacks the romance that seems to be portrayed in the movies. The depot is in the crappy part of bakersfield. It's a depressing place with life's transients and vagabonds frequenting it whether it be to catch a bus or to catch a free drink or meal from a garbage bin. Not nice. I had several released cons getting the bus back to LA. There must be a jail in Bakersfield. They were no bother to anyone but there was no mistaking the attitude and "aura" around some of these guys. Not dissimilar from some of my ex clients. Anyhoo, got into LA and found my way to my hotel, not before I was accosted by a black dude who struck up a conversation and tried assist me with getting to where I am now. Of course, the friendliness was not without a price, he asked me for a smoke before we parted ways. Nice guy but the begging around here is rife and some are better presented than others and they are very polite and helpful. I see it as a fee for service. No drama. Yestrday afternoon I got my first taste of Hollywood. Let me tell you, after spending the past week pretty much surrounded by nothing, walking into Hollywood Blvd was a bit of a shock... There are just thousands of people milling about this huge mall called Hollywood and Highland. There are shops and restaurants of all types. Walking through this you get a sense of the sheer scale of tourist valuse in this place. The mall is impressive but, once I hit HB, that's when the real action presented itself. Lights everywhere, street performers, movie characters everywhere (chasing a buck by getting you to pose for a photo with them and then tipping 'em) I was once again accosted by a black dude carrying a discman and a handful of CD's. I got sucked in and stopped. His name was Sweet P and he put headphones on me and gave me a sample of his stuff. Didn't sound great but I only had a few seconds and it was all so hectic... I bought his CD when three more of them swooped thrusting their headphones or CD's at me...I bought 'em all. Only cost me 20 bucks all up. Deano, hope you like at least one of them. Sweet P signed the CD ( "put it on Ebay when I get famous, man"). It was a laugh. right next door was the Kodak Theatre where the academy awards are held, next to that, Graumanns Chinese Theatre with all the hand prints of the stars out front. Across the road, a cinema called the El Capitan, great old theatre. NBC studios, tattoists, gift shops, Mel's Drive-In restaurant and much more. What a place. I went into a t-shirt shop, trying to find souvenirs for my friends. I passed by this huge black dude who gave me this dirty look, like I'd just killed his dog. No idea why, maybe just didn't like my face. So, I got out of there pretty quick before I was forced to give him a beating... Today I went and bought another bag to split the luggage load. Just got a $9 el cheapo. Cheaper than paying for an overweight suitcase at the airport. After that I went to the movies! I don't know if Scorcese's new film "The Departed" is out there yet but it is magnificent. Just got back from seeing it. The real attraction was that it was playing in the Chinese theatre. Had to see a film there. What a great cinema. Huge, absolutely huge inside and very ornate in a Chinese theme. Splendid!! Now I'm going to nip back to HB and take my camera. I don't walk around with my gear..too awkward and too touristy. I'll go get some shots now and come back to my hotel. Rest up before heading to The House of Blues to see Hatebreed, Napalm Death, Black Dahlia murders and more! More aural assault. I have to move to the hostel tomorrow so I'm not sure what I'll be up to. We'll just have to wait and see. Anyway, I'm off. Cheers and blessings. M