Welcome to another edition of L.A. Adventures! This is the portion of our life blog segments that focuses on visiting and appreciating the landmarks of this great city we live in that we may otherwise take advantage of or just never get to appreciate. This is, after all, a hustle and bustle type of city!
Last time, if you may remember, Michael and I visited the Santa Monica Promenade and Pier. This time, to celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Tiger (that’s my year, btw!), we ventured off into Chinatown, located north of downtown. We didn’t drive this time because like any event held in the middle of a major city, parking would have been ridiculous. We opted for the metro this time, a rail system much like the subways of New York.
Upon arriving, we settled on a spot where we could see the entertainment that was to take place in the epicenter of all the action! There were acrobats, musicians, contortionists and balancing acts. Not to mention a noodle-eating contest, which we’ll get to later!
There was a lion dance, which is one of the things that many people may think of when they think of Chinese culture. It was really interesting and pretty to see these people move around in these costumes. They don’t do much to hide the humans inside, but it doesn’t matter because you’re so entranced by the way they move that you don’t care!
Next, there was a young contortionist who trained with Cirque d’ Soleil.
Her show was intriguing and at times, very disturbing! This sort of thing isn’t limited to Chinese culture but for some reason a lot of entertainment was “freak”-based. Perhaps to hold the attention of the audience? Lord knows the MCs weren’t holding our attention. They were HORRIBLE! We could only roll our eyes when after a balancing act, “Sonny” exclaimed, “Now if only she could balance my check book! … Oh wait. She can’t. I don’t have any money!” Oh, brother.
After watching a bit of the acts, Michael and I decided to explore. The place is surrounded by incredible architecture! It was also very nice to enjoy the little shops and cultural tidbits around the area. Don’t forget that it’s always good to expose yourself to different cultures and ideas throughout your lifetime, and what better way to do it than in your back yard?
The funnest part of the day was when Michael participated in a noodle eating contest! The MCs called up volunteers and a group of people came up to the stage to participate in the daunting task! To be honest, I thought it would be a bigger deal. Like a giant trough full of noodles, but alas. It was only 12 oz. The noodles were flavorless and the “broth” was hot water. Not very appealing. Michael was so disgusted, he said he gagged a couple of times! Sounds like a personal problem! At any rate, to see the results of the contest, check out the video below!
After the contest, Michael and I decided to roam around a little more. We came upon various shops and restaurants. We mostly browsed but it was nice to see all the little trinkets and what-not. Chinatown is definitely a tourist hot-spot!
We had dinner at a place called Pacific Restaurant, which served family style platters. We played it safe and went with chow mein and shrimp fried rice, and it was delicious! My only complaint is that the seasoning may have been a bit strong because after awhile, I began to get tired of the meal. Their “lemon-up” was pretty good though!
It rained on us a couple of times, but nothing too heavy. Nothing strong enough to scare the crowd away, anyway! We learned a lot about a different culture without being lectured or officially taught, so that’s nice.
Once again, I strongly encourage anyone to appreciate the sights and sounds in your city that you may otherwise overlook. Look at things as a tourist, and you’ll get a whole new view!
Until our next adventure!
Check out more pictures of L.A. Adventures :: Chinatown here!