November 11, 2009
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Song of the Day
這一生中有幾位會讓你回頭望的人, 想必這是一位很重要的人…
在每一次的道別後, 我總會再回頭望, 看你走了之後我才會往前看…十一月的天空多麼清晰, 透明的空氣, 就像是過去的承諾…
抬頭看…就是藍天…我寫下了風景…
It was a pleasant November day. I finished “work at home” earlier than expected, a hike to the Hollywood Sign would be a good way to shed a few pounds. The trail/road leading to the hill top is up the street nearby, I just need to walk out of my front door and start the walk uphill. I brought along a bottle of water, house keys and camera. That’s all!!From a distance looking up towards the hill top, the Sign painted in catchy white color; with communication antennas next to it…..
It’s a long and winding trail going up and up, just follow the white picket fence….
At this point, not even halfway to destination yet, just have to keep on walking up the hill…
Along the way, catching a glimpse of the Griffith Park Observatory (white structure on the left) and Downtown Los Angeles….and yes, it was a smoggy day, the city covered in a shroud of haze….
Hawks circling above…
I finally reached the top (15 minutes later)….
The sign says…
Went up on a small ridge situated behind the road, the view is better up here…
Looking westbound, the tall buildings in Century City and Beverly Hills (right) are almost covered in a shroud of smog…
About time to head back…
(The weblog below is inspired by this entry by agmhkg “Hong Kong Phenomenon” – spoiled HK ‘children’)
My childhood friend K paid me a visit from London. Wait! Not so fast, is he suppose to be flying from Hong Kong? K: “I have a flat in London, where I spend a couple of months every year, mostly during the Summer.”
Me: “Okay, that’s nice. What brings you to L.A.?”
K: “Oh, my place is being painted and I need to get away from the remodeling. I also have to take care of some business matters here in LA. Will be leaving in a couple of days.”
We were having this conversation in Musha , sipping tea and munching over Tofu Salad, Edamame, Scallop Shumai, Ponzu Duck and their famous dish, Torched Saba. Before the dishes arrived at our table, K has already summoned the waiter a number of times for….”Get me a glass of water, without any ice cubes please.” and also…”Get us two extra pairs of chopsticks please.”…and more of….”Can we have an extra plate please.”…and also…”Get us some more napkins please.”
Gee….I have never asked for so many favors at this place.
K: “Hope you don’t mind about getting spare chopsticks, Hong Kong style is very sanitary, we each need an extra pair of chopsticks for sharing food.”
Me (thinking): “That’s alright. You must think I’m not ‘clean’ enough to dine with you.”
At some point during the meal, he said,”As you know, my dad passed away earlier this year, and (short pause)…he’s lucky to have me and mom to take care of him. Now, I’m starting to realize what will happen to me when I die. I’d like to have someone (like a son or daughter) to take care of my ‘business’ when I passed on. I want to get married, have a wife and kids, so that when I kick the bucket, I’ll have a family around my death bed.”
Me: “That’s quite forward thinking, K. But are you saying you want to start a family just for that?”
K: “Yeah, maybe I can do so with a surrogate mom. I just need a son to take good care of my burial.”
K: “Oh, by the way, if you’re not too busy tomorrow, would you drive me to the shops on Rodeo Drive? I’d like to check the place out.”
Me: (thinking): “I think I’ll be busy tomorrow. And I suppose there are other better reasons to start a family.”
Torched Saba.
Comments (21)
Neat, I always wondered what it looked like up there on the hill with the sign. I forget how smoggy LA is sometimes too; I can’t believe I used to not think much of it but now that I look at it, it seems very very thick.
Like you need to shed pounds. LOL
I haven’t been up there in over 2 years.
http://careygly.xanga.com/584050264/long-weekend/
We should go on the next clear day. LOL
been to LAX a couple of times but have never gone up there, interesting. gosh…the smog just doesn’t go away…. :-O
well….I wish your friend lots of luck on raising up his own kids….
i’ve never been to the usa, but the view from the hollywood sign looks really good – it looks really simple, but so much goes on down there, eh?
your friend K sounds like he has a lot of money, but his reasoning for kids sounds silly and he’s way too fussy at the restaurant!
I loved hiking with you to the HOLLYWOOD sign Gary. I had never seen it from behind.
About ‘k’, you still call him your friend??? I will give him the cold shoulder, and let him know that I am going to be very busy to drive him to Rodeo Dr. I am sure he can afford to take a cab there.
@chow@ireallylikefood -
Can’t imagine how quiet and windy up there during the weekdays. LA is famous for its celebrity sightings as well as the smog!
Yes, let’s take a leisure ‘walk’ up to the Sign. Would you bring Chazz along as well? LOL
@agmhkg -
Next time when you visit LA, we can take a leisure walk up there! I think I’ll be invited to a luncheon with K, during the Christmas week in HK. *eyes rolling*
@stepaside_loser -
I think we are in the same page regarding my fussy friend. Unfortunately, that’s how he is. I frequently hike up to the Sign, it’s good for me as an exercise, I suppose. LOL
@ZSA_MD -
Haha~Zakiah, I’m with you regarding my friend K. Unfortunately, that’s how he is and therefore, he is not very likable, even within our circle of mutual friends. At one time, he tried to “steal” the girlfriend of another friend of ours. And that caused a big drama. *sigh* Too bad about that. But he’s been keeping in touch with me through the years, even though I have been slowly ‘straying’ away. By the way, next time when you visit LA, let me know and we shall all hike up there! LOL
@CurryPuffy - I will take you up on that. It’s been a long time since I visited LA. Hope my knees will keep up the pace with my mind. lol.
Wow, what a deep conversation with your friend. I agree that there there are better reasons for starting a family but it is a scary/strange thought to have…what will happen to us when we pass on without a family to take care of those details…
@ZSA_MD -
No worries….we can take the leisure tour! LOL
@brooklyn2028 -
Yeah Sheldon, I need to start planning. I’m for sure not qualified to be a sugar-daddy yet! LOL
K sounds so entitled.
Since when is HK style sanitary?
“Entitled” is the right term….I like that. LOL!
@CurryPuffy - that will be great….I’ll give you a shout once a LA trip is planned…how long are you going to stay in HKG over xmas?
if u come to SF, I will take u to marin headlands to hike
Surprised about the sign!!!
And a big wow to K.
@yang1815 -
Surprised? You must expect to see something more glamorous, right? LOL
@CurryPuffy -
O no I thought there’s a trail for hiking up there!!! I totally did not know that there’s no hiking allowed.