The Strip

I landed at LAX on 3/3/10-Wednesday morning local time. Confirming every report I've heard, LAX is a shithole. It's also eerily quiet considering it's the main airport around here. Where's all the people? They weren't at the customs desk that's for sure, because only one guy was on duty and it took over an hour to pass through. That said, there were free cookies at the internet booth I used so LAX did partly redeem itself in the end.

I got a bus from the airport to Union station and got off at West Hollywood, on Sunset Strip, and walked from there to my youth hostel on Melrose and Fairfax. It took me about two hours and 4 longnecks to get there. Drinking at 11am on Wednesday morning isn't the done thing here judging by some looks I got but I didn't care much, just wanted to unwind after the flight. I saw some really bright shiny fire trucks. They are really cool around here, shiny and red with plenty of chrome, and the cabs have enough room in them for the firies to play cards on a central deck.

Credit to the the Americans. How they've managed to glamourise Sunset Strip into the international icon it's become is beyond me. It's just a dusty potholed stretch of road with some specialty shops mixed in with pharmacies, (small) shopping malls, doctors offices and clinics offering free HIV testing.

If you live in Sydney, the Strip is a cross between Oxford Street and Parramatta Road, leaning more towards Parramatta road, but without the kebab shops. So, it's definately better than Parramatta road but not as good as Falcon Street, for example. They could probably use the HIV clinics on Oxford street but for any given stretch of road Oxford St, or Darlinghurst/Victoria Road in the Cross has this place covered. Sunset is a bit longer though. It's got a better name too.

At any rate, I know why Americans love their pickups and 4wd's-all the BMW's I saw kept bottoming on the potholes and seams in the road. There's only two types of cars in Hollywood-Prius Hybrids and V8 pickup trucks...and BMW's.

You really need a car to get around. The public transport is pretty average and it's huge. There are far less train lines than in Sydney and they are shorter, so you either bus it or don't bother.

When I arrived at the youth hostel I got showed my dorm. The first thing I noticed was the V8 supercar mag on the floor next to my bed. Christ, 20,000km later and the first person I meet is another Australian. We're like the Irish, and cockroaches-everywhere!

West Hollywood is pretty spread out. I've spent hours walking around looking for different types of shops. I found a vintage shop which was like all the Vinnies I ever went to in one spot. I wanted to buy all sorts of junk but knew it couldn't fit in my backpack so had to restrain myself but there were some sexy beige ski jackets from circa 1987 that I can't stop thinking about. My little brother, who is a very fashionable young chap (err) would love them. It was really exciting. At any rate, I've bought some hiking boots, travel guides and some cold weather gear and will now limit myself to $10 a day spend (ex accomodation). Things are cheap here-I found a pair of Nike high tops for $80-I paid $200 for my pair back home.

I have to say the people around here seem to be quite friendly. Everyone you walk past says hello, and one guy said I had a "totally fresh getup dude". I assumed he was talking about the mustache I'm cultivating-it does lend me quite a sophisticated and considered demeanour. It also helps me to appeal to the Mexicans who are everywhere around here. And they are short, even shorter than me so I really like having them around because I like people who make me look tall(er).

At some point in my ancestry a rancid ginger has infiltrated my genetic heritage and it's showing up in the growth on my upper lip-crikey! Im loosing patience with the red stain but I'll give it another month, it might turn blonde which would be quite distinguished.

I must look dopey or loaded because I kept getting hit up by guys on the strip with rap CD's who wanted to sell me copies of their recording for a few dollars. One guy claimed to be the next 50cent, and he was pretty persistant so I told him my favourite arist was Michael Bolton and he left me alone.

Anyway it's Friday night and there's a free piss up at the hostel-all the beer we can drink, and wine. The notice says it's drink till you drop-I think I just might!