One of the really cool things about LA, and SoCal in general is the large number of hybrid cars here, there are so many that these signs are quite common (this one is right outside my hotel)

So I went back to Thai Town, and the Canadian Ambassador to Encino was right, there really isn't much there. Other than a few restaurants one of which is the Thailand Plaza. They show videos of traditional Thai dancing early on and then they switch to karaoke later on, they have quite the stage, complete with metallic streamers and huge video screens. I'll have to find some easily influenced souls to go with some night...

These are the first clouds I have seen since I got here, so I figured they warranted a post. Haven't been doing anything exciting for the last two nights, just lazing by the pool, though I did buy season 3 of Arrested Development today!

Ok so I know they sell alcohol in grocery stores here, but I just bought a bottle of wine from a pharmacy?!

While hanging out in San Diego today before we headed back I realized that I'm pretty sure SoCal has the highest number of bong shops per capita of anywhere I've ever been.

We went to Sea World San Diego this afternoon and while I enjoyed seeing all of the birds/fish/mammals I was a bit disappointed with all of the advertising. They actually had a Pepsi add in the middle of the sea lion show, and a Fuji add in the dolphin show! Though I think the weirdest thing was when they had the video tribute to the troops before the Orcas, either that or all the Budweiser paraphernalia around the park...

Had my first ever surfing lesson this morning and it was a blast! We got to the surf shop at 8:30am and then headed to the beach where we were given wet suits, a rash guard and a board. For the first half hour we went over the parts of the board, stance, popping up and rip tides then we went into the waves. At first our instructor Randy was telling us when to start paddling and then he'd give us a push and tell us when to pop up, but pretty soon we were catching the waves on our own though and I actually managed to stand up (though it's easier to stay on one knee). After the lesson we had the boards for an hour before we had to go back in. While we were waiting for the right wave we saw a pod of dolphins riding inside the wave we were about to catch! It was so amazing, they stuck around for about 2o minutes or so , and it was really neat to see them playing right along side us while we surfed.

Is anyone surprised that I ride goofy?

Driving down to San Diego this eve!

We drove into Little Tokyo after work to see Shidara a Taiko group from Japan. I have never seen a performance with such intensity before, I had the chills for the whole 2hrs!

This group lives and trains together in the mountains of Okumikawa where they feel that they can hear the earth. Every piece is intended to evoke seasons or aspects of nature in addition to the ways of old Japan and the festivals they celebrated.

Every movement they made was so precise, and controlled. At points it was more like marshal arts than music as they used their whole bodies while drumming, there was ritual behind the way they handled the instruments, even the way they got out and put away their sticks. I'm still in awe of the speed and unison they had as a group, and the energy they generated. By the end of the show the whole crowd was on their feet and they were brining people on stage to dance with them.

It was an amazing experience and if you ever get the chance to see them, take it!

mmm new breakfast spot.

I went to Thai Town hoping to see a bit of culture, and either I walked down the wrong street, or the Canadian Ambassador to Encino was right and there really isn't that much to see.



Still trying to figure out what a hotdog is doing on top of a Thai restaurant...

Just got back from Graumann's Chinese Theatre, I know it's a cheesy tourist thing to do but I had to go for the Walken...

The man rejects punctuation, how can you not love him?

The first two days on the project have gone pretty well, everyone is really nice and it's a pretty laid-back atmosphere. Like Toronto, everyone here is from somewhere else, I think there is only one American working in my office.

Turns out the guy behind me is from Vancouver (flag owner), and the woman in the office across the aisle is from Quebec. So we've got our own little piece of Canada in LA.

It was a bit late when I got in last night and to be honest the only things on my mind were food and sleep. So when I finally got around to opening my curtain this morning I realized I've got a pretty sweet view!

I cleared US immigration in about an hour and a half this afternoon and it went without incident, not sure what I was so concerned about!

The view on the flight in was amazing, you see desert, then mountains, and then LA! The strange part was I could actually see where the smog sits over the city from above, there's a very defined line, kind of spooky actually.

Haven't seen much of the city yet, but seeing signs for "Mulholland Dr" and "Sunset Blvd" was neat.

So far the hotel is nice, and I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep!

I think I finally have all of my documentation for US immigration together:

1) my degree
2) letter of employment
3) print-out of my e-ticket (which I would have forgotten had a good samaritan not called to remind me)
4) resume (which I did forget to print and had to go to said good samaritan's office to print this morning)
5) my transcript (thanks Mel I owe you!)

Now all I have to do is keep my foot out of my mouth tomorrow when I'm being grilled by US customs and I'm all set!