Hollywood

 

Having lived in Mumbai I have seen the frenzy of visitors flocking outside the homes of film personalities in Juhu and Bandra with the hopes of catching a glimpse of their favorite stars. The Mumbai film industry got its name Bollywood from its firangi cousin,Hollywood. When I moved to Los Angeles I saw tourists behave the same way when it comes to film stars and their presence. 

Many of you may have seen the Hollywood Sign in pictures or in person. These 9 lettered sign erected high up on the hills in 1923 is iconic not just for Los Angeles but really globally. It is historic, it is a landmark, a hotspot for locals and tourists alike. But it is much more than that. It is a metaphor for ambition, glamor, success, wealth and fame. 

The popular landmarks like the Dolby Theater, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, Madam Tussauds of Hollywood, Avenue of the stars, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive etc related to the film industry one way or other definitely are tick marked on the list of an average tourist to Los Angeles.

Hollywood the place, however, is much more than the film and television industry or what this industry stands for. Even after seeing the above places you can spend a good week or more exploring this corner of the city.

When our kids were young we would frequently take them to play at the Griffith Park. They would run happily on the huge grounds and around the trees. There used to be a small train there for kids to ride on. Very often we combined a picnic at the park with a half day visit to the Los Angeles zoo nearby. 

This morning for the first time we visited the west side of this large park with our son. The skies were overcast and temperatures were in the 60s making it a very pleasant walk up the hill. It was a steep climb for the most part but still enjoyable with views of the city from time to time. The vegetation changed at higher elevation. We walked past forests of bamboos at the beginning of the trail and saw cacti , African fountain grass, wild tree tobacco, lavenders and toyons as we climbed. The Griffith Observatory sits atop the hill. It wasn’t open today to see from inside but there were a lot of visitors regardless. A couple chose the venue for their wedding. There were hundreds of people who had come with their dogs. I don’t remember the last time I saw so many dogs of so many different sizes, breeds, colors and temperaments in such a short period. 

Standing prominently in front of the observatory is a tall concrete sculpture called Astronomers Monument. It has statues of six of the greatest astronomers of all time including Galileo. Between this Monument and Observatory stands a Sun Dial that can tell the accurate time based on the shadow of a needle placed on it. 

The land and funds for the Observatory were donated by a generous benefactor by the name of D W Griffith. It took 39 years since his donation for the Observatory to open its doors in 1935 to the public . Mr. Griffith’s dream and will was to have this place for the citizens to access free of charge and get familiarized with the science and scope of astronomy. Indeed today over a century after his donation people can avail of the amazing exhibits and planetarium inside this impressive dome. The occasional special shows need tickets to be purchased but the tour of the observatory is free. It is only open Friday through Sundays. 

The hilltop offers a nearly 360 degrees view of the Los Angeles basin and surrounding hills. We walked around, took pictures before starting the hike downwards. The clouds had moved out a bit and the sun was out. Temperatures were rising but still not high enough to call uncomfortable. The leisurely walk afforded time to catch up with my son, sharing between us our time spent in last few weeks and plans for months ahead.

Once in the car I realized I had not eaten anything before leaving home. Pangs of hunger were beginning to nudge now that the attention was lifted off the hike and excitement. Stopped to pick up some pastries at our favorite places: The Urth Cafe in West Hollywood. Talking of Urth Cafe there are a whole lot of really nice restaurants in the area. The only trouble you will have is too many choices to choose from. 

Hollywood is a shopper’s dream come true. The Beverly Center is an upscale mall with the top department stores. Not too far from it  is another shopping center The Beverly Connection that houses step down brands like TJ Max, Marshall, Ross, Nordstrom Rack and Off 5th all under one roof. Found some home essentials like soaps, pillows, glassware there. 

Besides these malls there are plenty of exceptional furniture stores, musical instrument stores, car showrooms and what not. Even window shopping becomes fun when the displays are so beautiful and extraordinary. 

The Hollywood Bowl is an amphitheater that hosts world class concerts. Next month it will be the venue for a concert by the renowned tabla maestro  Ustad Zakir Hussain. 

Just around the corner from the shopping places is the world class medical facility: The Cedars Sinai Medical Center. It fills the heart with pride to think that our son has the opportunity to train under the best doctors in the profession there. Because he needed a place to stay close to the hospital we now have a small home in the area. 

H for Hope!

H for Happiness!

H for Home!

H for Hollywood!

H for Hiking!

H for Holiday!

H for Happening!

Had never imagined all these coming together in one place. 

Next time any of you are in Los Angeles do visit the Griffith Park and walk the way up to the Griffith Observatory. If you are able to watch any show at the Observatory consider yourself lucky. A sunrise or sunset view from the top of the hill will be a cherry on top of the cake. 

Happy Fourth of July to the friends in the USA. Celebrate the freedom we have and keep up the fight to defend some freedoms that are threatened from time to time. 

Saree is a repeat cotton weave from Assam. Green and white thread work motifs on a burnt orange background make a pretty picture and at the same time a very comfortable daily wear.