To Live and Die in L.A

I had no idea what to do last night, and after struggling out of bed I was unsure as to what I was going to do.

But the morning drive from Burbank to Glendale was invigorating. After taking stock of the situation things were pretty good. I had a car and could go anywhere I wanted in the L.A area. All I to do was be back in Glendale by 4.30 pm. Here's what I saw when I pulled over after dropping off Leslie and Sherry.

So I chucked on some tunes 'now known as the 'L.A playlist' and headed back to the hotel to tidy up and check out. After a minor detour I got back tto the Holiday Inn (no idea if this is the one to do with Snoop or not - im tipping there about 50 of these across L.A) and found time to jump online. My searches of 'top things to do in L.A' 'top things to do in Burbank' were fruitful and I was keen to get on with things. So much to do!!! Massive change on perspective from last night.

First task. Let's see if I can squeeze a ticket to the Jay Leno show. So in the car park opposite the Inn first song was Hip Hop Hooray by Naughty by Nature. Off I went. Great day, fantastic weather, had the tunes pumpibng - I had to pinch myself that I was driving in L.A with the Doors cranking on the way to NBC Studios with no real agenda.

I found NBC Studios no problerms and parked in a 'permit only zone' but I was only going to be quick. So i ran across the road looking for the entrance. Bubkas! Anothe guy looking for the entrance was someone who had been called to appear on some new game show - a quiz show of sorts. Apparantly he had been on Deal or no Deal and had enough spunk to called back to do another show. I was happy for him but he clearly was overshining his shoes I thought (not literally - he was wearing black sneakers for driving -he said).

After getting some directions I went around the back to the Guest Services area - where there are no parks at all - I ended up driving the wrong way up an alley and parking in smoe secured area that I'm tipping you needed a special swipe card to access from the correct entrance. I spoke to the front desk people and I was put on the 'stand-by' list for today's show. I then thought I'd employ there help as to what activity to do next - The Huntington Library or The Getty Museum. Apparantly I was pretty much smack bang in the middle. After a few smart remarks frmo me about wanting to see the more subtle side of L.A - that's why I'm here to see Jay, I drove to San Marino. It only took about 20 minutes. San Marino reminded me of a poor man's Beverly Hills. Really wide streets and beautiful nature strips - just not as well manicurred as it's cross-town cousin.

I pulled up at the GPS' route end and I wasn't 100% certain that I was where I needed to be. Next to where I parked there was a huge garden hedge fence that extended for a fair way, but I had not seen any signs that indicated that this was the Huntington library. So i though I'd just get out and walk around and see. I walked up the street and saw the tiniest sign that said Huntington Library. I walked through a metal double gate and I felt like I was somehwere where I shouldn't be - It felt like private properly 'Smithers....Release the hounds'.

But I was in the right spot after all - I kept walking along and said g'day to the boom-gate bloke. I dont know why he even needed to be there. There was no boom gate and no parking fee - just a small building in the middle of the carpark approach. I grabbed a few prelimary snaps and then walked over to see what it was all about. I walked down to an area and then was stopped by security. He said that I had to pay to go any further and the place wasnt open until midday. So I had about 15 minutes to kill. I ended up talking to him for a fair while and he gave me some great tips and other smaller things to see around the area as well. The Arboretum in Arcadia and the Norton Simon Museum. I think he called me 'guy' - I can't remember if it was because i let a few 'man's' slip - don't know.

After paying my money i walked down and met a lady who was giving a brief garden tour. She was a volunteer in her 60's I think and it turned out that I was the only one with her on the tour. So basically I got a personal tour of all the gardens! It was a quick tour - so I didnt really have time to explore any areas in great detail - but in an hour and a half I was shown heaps.

First thing I saw was the palm tree garden. There are species of plant from everywhere.

Next up was the cactus garden. This was one of the most impressive areas. Or maybe it was just more photogenic.

Next up was a bit of a collection of trees from all over. Maybe general parkland area. The guide pointed over to the Australian Garden and mentioned a bunch of trees I hadn't heard of. I asked if they had the 'Sturt Desert Pea' and she had no idea what I was tallking about.

I think next was the jungle garden.

The famous orchard

Then it was a walk past the library and into the English garden, Rose Garden and Herb Garden

Finally the Japanese and Chinese Gardens.

Chinese Garden up next - a lot more archecturally based. Makes me think that the one in Sydney is actually a Chinese Garden.

And that was the tour. I don't know if she should have got a tip, but she wa a volunteer. I then quickly checked out one of the galleries in the gardens.

After getting a bit disorientated I got some directions back to the entrance of the gardens and hot shoe shuffled off as I needed to burn and turn back to NBC Studios to see if I could make it in time being a stand-by for Jay Leno. I had a bit of trouble finding the other side of the NBC lot - but eventually after some shifty manouvres I found Bob Hope Drive and the right area (or what I think was the right area). So I looked for a park but there was absolutely nothing available except for 2 parks which looked like they were in front of hydrants so I gace them a miss. I took this as a sign that I wouldnt make it in for the show - which started at 4pm. it was only just after 2.30 but I was told to be there by 2.30 to really have a good chance. There were no spots, lots of people and I just took that as a sign.

Dangas do you do the Barry Bissle here or a Howard Stern or what?

So I plugged in the Getty Museum into the GPS. Off I went - Changing freeways was pretty cool. Sometimes you have to do 270 degree turns on the ramps to go the right way. It didnt take too long to get to the Getty. Initially I tried to drive straight up to the Getty. I thought the Boom gate would open but it didnt. What is going on? Just as I realised that it was for staff only a guy organising traffic flow about 100 feet behind me blows his whistle frantically. So i backed back and headed down into the underground carpark.

You catch a cool little tram up the side of hill to the Getty which overlooks North L.A. This place was really impressive and I will have to come back here. I only had about an hour or so before I'd have to get back to Glendale to pick up Sherry and Leslie - so I only really had time to quickly browse the area. I got some great photos of outside. All day I was managing time and caera battery. It was on one about 3/4 of the way through the Huntington Library tour. I should have charged it last night.

Called 'The Spanish Steps' Oh Reginald!

But the architecture of the place was fantastic - It was perfect blend of modernism and art. Impressionest such as Monet and Van Gough were on display. I only had time for a really quick walk though so I couldn't really study it like I would like. Some people were sketching some of the pieces which was cool to see. i talked to a woman who had been to Paris and she said that while the Luvre is great - Mona Lisa and all - there is a sperate gallery that consists solely of impressionist art (which i can't remember or find on google).

Apparantly the gardens here are really nice too, but I didnt see those - I did see some great views of central Los Angeles and its surrounds. The Getty really has a great vantage point is just something you would never associate with L.A. Maybe that is why it is on top of a massive hill isolated from everything else.

I left at about 3.55pm to go back to Glendale - I knew I'd have to drive in some pretty mean traffic. Turns out it is really busy, but any seasoned peak hour driver from Melbourne could handle it easily enough. I'm gettin gso used to driving on these freeways I'm half way to being confident without a GPS around here. The signage and lane guiding is excellent. Its funy - L.A has so many more cars than Melbourne but still - even in peak hour the traffic at least moves.

I got to Glendale by 4.45 - right on time as Sherry and Leslie had just completed there Nestle shopping. Some great bargains with up to 300 percent off! The drive back to Santa Barbara took a couple of hours. I was exhausted and considered saying 'I'll just sit out tea and go home' - but it's hard to resist Japanese. Sake is just awesome and the meals are just sooo good.

Baltimore rolls were delicious. Fried oysters were good apart from the batter - It was all really good. We all ate our fill and then some only having to pay 20 bucks each. That consisted of Sake, rice times 3, the baltimore rolls and about 6 appetizer dishes.

As we got home we saw a grocery truck selling groceries to someone on the side of the street. Similar to my 'Dial a Munchies' idea. We then Donovan McNabbed that spot and climbed the stairs to our cottage. Sherry went in a bit before me and as I approaced the door I saw a cat just skoot out the door and leap off the top down to the ground below (chook style minus the wings). Turns out it was Morticus - Alex's cat. We gave Janet a call and she had been worried sick. Happy endings for all - minus the poo on the rug at the foot of our bed. haha.

Finally home - 6 hours short of being away a full week.