SNAP SHOTS
* Early Friday morning. I left home a whole hour before the train was scheduled to leave for L.A. And I still managed to miss the train I was supposed to take. Once, just once, I wish a trip would go off smoothly without any hitches. I am tired of having all these misadventures. I go on trips to take a break and I end up with frazzled nerves instead.
This time, about 3 minutes from the Santa Fe station, a friend and I were stopped by a policeman. The reason? We had come out of a building where the alarm had gone off. Answering a bunch of questions on why were in the building’s lot (we had gone to get directions) and where we were headed ensured that I had missed the train.
** The train itself was a blue and silver affair and double-deckered to boot. It went by the fanciful name of “Pacific Surfliner.” Cheesy I know, but I loved it. It brought to mind visions of the sun, surf and the sand. All able-bodied people had to go on to the upper deck while the lower deck (is it called that on a train?) was for the feeble, handicapped and the elderly. Surprisingly, the train was crowded. There were people sitting on the aisles. Reminded me of all the trains back home in India. The only thing missing was the parade of vendors selling everything from hot tea to cd discs. Yes, cd discs, I saw this on my last trip to Kerala. Instead we had frequent announcements from the snack bar on the availability of a “wide variety of snacks and beverages”.
***Two concrete domes, a part of a reactor, with a smoke stack on the top of each. This view out of the train window inspired one young chap to comment to another, “Boy, what rock-hard boobs.” The domes did resemble the said part of the female anatomy. A few seconds later there was a third one!!!
****Metro link to Sierra Madre: Towards the end of the ride, the train was actually in the middle of two freeways with vehicles zipping full tilt on both sides. Who came up with the brilliant idea of putting a train track in the middle of a freeway?
*****Early morning car ride in Arcadia. Traffic completely at a stand-still. This early and a traffic jam? The reason: A whole family of peacocks crossing the road. Penalty for hitting one? Just $1000.00. Anyone up for an import business in peacocks?
******The tram ride from the parking lot to the Getty museum. A weightless feeling, like you are hanging in mid air. The tram slows down too, adding to the other-worldly feeling. Combine that with the knowledge that the tram (or is it called a cable train?) has no human driver and the feeling of being close to the Maker is reinforced.
*******The sight of kids (and more than a few adults) rolling down the gently sloping, grassy, landscaped, Getty Gardens. What fun to be crazy and to be able to let go like that.
********On seeing a sculpture that had three versions of the human torso, each smaller than the other, stacked one on top of another, my friend’s 13-year-old son commented, “Is that supposed to represent the American national obsession with dieting?”
*********“Enikyu Charlie Chaplinum ayittu photo edukanam.” Young wife telling her husband on the Star Walk in Hollywood Boulevard. The global Mallu has truly arrived.
*Coming back to a house filled with toys strewn all over, the air redolent with the smells of Indian cooking. Can this be packaged and sold? A fortune to be made, what with all the homesick desis that abound.
**Throwing darts at a dart board in a sports bar in Baldwin. Since there were 10 of us throwing darts indiscriminately, god save anyone who did not get out of the way in time. More than a couple of people had darts fly past their noses while they were trying to pull darts off of the dart board.
***The two dragons that guard the entrance to China Town in L.A. They represent prosperity and harmony. I felt a strange affinity to them. I am born under the sign of the dragon per Chinese astrology. That must explain the attraction.
****Eating “authentic” Chinese food. I don’t think I have ever eaten Chinese food that so oily. But nothing to beat the taste.
*****Mexican Dancers in the courtyard of the Institute of Mexican Culture. Thumping music, beautiful costumes. Feathered headdresses. Another dance, beautiful Mexican women dressed in colorful, fringed gowns and the men a perfect contrast to all the color, dressed all in black, with huge black sombreros.
******Memorial park, a native Indian, dressed in traditional costume, playing haunting music on various wind instruments. Beside him, his associate, a PYT (pretty young thing, all ye uninitiated) selling cds of the music.
This time, about 3 minutes from the Santa Fe station, a friend and I were stopped by a policeman. The reason? We had come out of a building where the alarm had gone off. Answering a bunch of questions on why were in the building’s lot (we had gone to get directions) and where we were headed ensured that I had missed the train.
** The train itself was a blue and silver affair and double-deckered to boot. It went by the fanciful name of “Pacific Surfliner.” Cheesy I know, but I loved it. It brought to mind visions of the sun, surf and the sand. All able-bodied people had to go on to the upper deck while the lower deck (is it called that on a train?) was for the feeble, handicapped and the elderly. Surprisingly, the train was crowded. There were people sitting on the aisles. Reminded me of all the trains back home in India. The only thing missing was the parade of vendors selling everything from hot tea to cd discs. Yes, cd discs, I saw this on my last trip to Kerala. Instead we had frequent announcements from the snack bar on the availability of a “wide variety of snacks and beverages”.
***Two concrete domes, a part of a reactor, with a smoke stack on the top of each. This view out of the train window inspired one young chap to comment to another, “Boy, what rock-hard boobs.” The domes did resemble the said part of the female anatomy. A few seconds later there was a third one!!!
****Metro link to Sierra Madre: Towards the end of the ride, the train was actually in the middle of two freeways with vehicles zipping full tilt on both sides. Who came up with the brilliant idea of putting a train track in the middle of a freeway?
*****Early morning car ride in Arcadia. Traffic completely at a stand-still. This early and a traffic jam? The reason: A whole family of peacocks crossing the road. Penalty for hitting one? Just $1000.00. Anyone up for an import business in peacocks?
******The tram ride from the parking lot to the Getty museum. A weightless feeling, like you are hanging in mid air. The tram slows down too, adding to the other-worldly feeling. Combine that with the knowledge that the tram (or is it called a cable train?) has no human driver and the feeling of being close to the Maker is reinforced.
*******The sight of kids (and more than a few adults) rolling down the gently sloping, grassy, landscaped, Getty Gardens. What fun to be crazy and to be able to let go like that.
********On seeing a sculpture that had three versions of the human torso, each smaller than the other, stacked one on top of another, my friend’s 13-year-old son commented, “Is that supposed to represent the American national obsession with dieting?”
*********“Enikyu Charlie Chaplinum ayittu photo edukanam.” Young wife telling her husband on the Star Walk in Hollywood Boulevard. The global Mallu has truly arrived.
*Coming back to a house filled with toys strewn all over, the air redolent with the smells of Indian cooking. Can this be packaged and sold? A fortune to be made, what with all the homesick desis that abound.
**Throwing darts at a dart board in a sports bar in Baldwin. Since there were 10 of us throwing darts indiscriminately, god save anyone who did not get out of the way in time. More than a couple of people had darts fly past their noses while they were trying to pull darts off of the dart board.
***The two dragons that guard the entrance to China Town in L.A. They represent prosperity and harmony. I felt a strange affinity to them. I am born under the sign of the dragon per Chinese astrology. That must explain the attraction.
****Eating “authentic” Chinese food. I don’t think I have ever eaten Chinese food that so oily. But nothing to beat the taste.
*****Mexican Dancers in the courtyard of the Institute of Mexican Culture. Thumping music, beautiful costumes. Feathered headdresses. Another dance, beautiful Mexican women dressed in colorful, fringed gowns and the men a perfect contrast to all the color, dressed all in black, with huge black sombreros.
******Memorial park, a native Indian, dressed in traditional costume, playing haunting music on various wind instruments. Beside him, his associate, a PYT (pretty young thing, all ye uninitiated) selling cds of the music.
posted by newatthis at 4:39 PM
2 Comments:
Can you believe it? I read through every single post of yours. Must say you have a huuuge talent! Way to go Missus :)
oh thanks siri, loved hearing that!!!
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