I reached Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 6 am. After stepping outside the terminal, I decided to use the restroom before retrieving my backpack from the luggage belt. However, as I approached the urinal in the corner, I was met with a disgusting sight: a large piece of feces lying in the urinal. “Welcome to Los Angeles, Maarten,” I muttered to myself with a wry smile.
Breakfast at the Aiport
A few minutes later, I retrieved my bag from the baggage pick-up area. Deciding to grab breakfast first, I inquired about nearby dining options from the security officers stationed outside the baggage claim. They directed me towards a large building in the distance, so I began walking in that direction. After a bit of walking, I realized I might need more specific directions and asked a girl at the parking booth for help. She kindly offered to escort me, leading me all the way to the building and inside to the restaurant. Her assistance was much appreciated, and I thanked her before settling in to order my breakfast.
After enjoying my meal and taking a moment to unwind, I felt ready to proceed to the car rental company. Making my way back towards terminal 12, the same exit point I used upon arriving at the airport, I noticed a row of car rental shuttle buses waiting outside. I patiently waited for about 10 minutes until the shuttle for Thrifty arrived, signaling the next step of my journey.
Another Day, Another Rental Car
Ten minutes later, I reached the car rental company. The attendant at the desk greeted me warmly. As I went through the paperwork, signing my name where required, the attendant struck up a conversation, asking about my origin. To my surprise, he shared his own experiences of visiting the Netherlands. I was impressed by the efficiency of Thrifty; the process went smoothly and swiftly. Taking advantage of their fuel offer, I accepted it, knowing I would receive a refund in a few days—quite a humorous twist to the transaction.
I scanned the options in the car bay, finding an array of vehicles to choose from—ten, to be precise. Remembering my previous positive experience with a Nissan, both for its fuel efficiency and my familiarity with its features, I opted for one again. Among the selection, I settled on a striking red Nissan, feeling a touch of extravagance as I settled into the driver’s seat. Oh, the joys of feeling affluent in Los Angeles, even if just for a moment!
Navigational Troubles in the City of Angels
Now equipped with CDs full of music, my journey through California promised to be enjoyable. As I pulled away from the car rental agency, I encountered a frustrating setback—the navigation system refused to cooperate. The dense network signals in the area obscured my GPS, leaving me driving aimlessly in circles. Eventually, I found myself on a highway, but with no clue of my whereabouts, I soon veered off in search of clarity.
After fruitlessly wrestling with the GPS for half an hour, I conceded defeat and parked the car. Turning to Google Maps for guidance proved equally futile amidst the labyrinth of roads. Instead, I relied on the old-fashioned method: following road signs. Hollywood, my destination, may be renowned, but in the vast expanse of Los Angeles, its signage was scarce. Ah, the quirks of navigating a mega-city where Hollywood is but a humble suburb.
Exploring the surrounding neighborhoods of Hollywood on Google Maps proved to be an educational experience as I committed the names of nearby places to memory. Returning to the highway of Los Angeles, I finally found my route to Hollywood, although navigating the busy lanes demanded my full attention. Speed limits soared to 70 miles per hour, a thrilling change, yet I had to remain vigilant, alternating between high speeds and sudden stops. Despite the heavy traffic around Hollywood, the journey from the airport lasted a manageable 40 minutes. The highways, with their impressive infrastructure, offered a smooth and enjoyable drive.
I wished to capture more photographs along the way, but my attention was divided between navigating and focusing on the road. Had I been completely at ease, I might have snapped some pictures, but it wasn’t feasible at that moment. Fortunately, as I neared my destination, the GPS regained functionality, guiding me towards the correct location.
Arrival at the Banana Bungalow Hollywood Hostel
As I drove past the hostel, situated at the beginning of Hollywood Boulevard, I made two left turns and was greeted by an impressive sight. Towering palm trees lined the street, leaving me momentarily awestruck. After parking my car, I made my way towards the Banana Bungalow Hollywood hostel, a welcoming sight with its fresh paint and cleanliness. To my surprise, they offered parking, a detail I hadn’t known beforehand.
During check-in, I encountered an Indian man who seemed familiar, reminiscent of a character from a Facebook movie I had seen. Seizing the opportunity for a lighthearted exchange, I quipped, “Hey, I know you from Facebook! There’s a movie of you.” His response confirmed my suspicion: “Yes, the guys in the dorm made that movie,” he explained.
Later, as the man observed me checking in as a newcomer, he seemed puzzled. “Wait, are you checking in? Where were you before, and how did you know about me?” he inquired. With a smile, I responded, “I was in Hawaii before LA. I just arrived this morning, and like I said, I saw it on Facebook.” His astonished expression amused me—I couldn’t resist a bit of playful banter.
Nap Time
I hadn’t seen Phillip yet, but I knew we would meet up later. Phillip was someone I got to know at the Waikiki Beachside hostel in Honolulu two weeks ago, and he was set to join me on the upcoming road trip.
For convenience, I opted not to bring much into the dormitory, choosing instead to leave everything in my car, which I parked securely on the hostel premises. With the night approaching, I decided to catch a quick hour-long nap. The Netherlands football game was set to start soon, and after the exhausting flight, I needed to rest up before enjoying the match.
Unfortunately, I overslept and missed my alarm, sleeping for two hours instead of just one. By the time I joined everyone in the party room, the game was already in its final 15 minutes. Despite missing most of it, I was glad to hear that everyone found the game amazing. It was a much-needed victory, especially after the disappointment of losing the World Cup in South Africa back in 2010.
Lunch and Exploring Hollywood Boulevard
After the game, I opted for lunch at Subway and took my camera along to capture some shots of the boulevard. The weather was delightful, with perfect temperatures and clear blue skies (definitely not “California Dreamin'” gray). As I strolled along, I admired the stars embedded in the pavement and caught sight of the iconic Hollywood sign in the distance. Los Angeles’ Hollywood Boulevard surpassed my expectations—it was expansive and bustling. After only walking a quarter mile, I decided to head back to the hostel, thoroughly impressed by the area.
Afternoon Plans and Tips
An hour later, I arrived back at the hostel and spotted Phillip engaged in a game of ping-pong with others. I approached him and suggested heading to Santa Monica this afternoon, but he preferred to unwind with his friends and take it easy. That was perfectly alright with me. One of Phillip’s buddies, JP (Jean Paul?), generously shared a wealth of information about Hollywood. Despite my navigational struggles, JP provided valuable insights on driving routes, including tips for Santa Monica, Mulholland Drive, and other noteworthy spots. I expressed my gratitude to him; he proved to be a friendly and knowledgeable companion from Switzerland.
I navigated towards Los Angeles’ Mulholland Drive, reminiscing about the movie I needed to watch again as I drove. My memory was fuzzy, but I recalled the iconic sign and Naomi Watts. Upon reaching the turnoff, I spotted the sign and quickly made a U-turn to capture it on camera. However, my attempt resulted in a disappointing photo, capturing the sign in less than ideal quality.
Mulholland Drive
The drive offered stunning scenery of Los Angeles, with beautiful mansions dotting the hillsides of Los Angelos. After about 10 minutes, I reached a lookout point and decided to park. Luckily, there were several parking spots available, but only one was vacant. Despite the crowd, with tour buses from various companies, I managed to find a spot. The view of Los Angeles from the lookout was breathtaking, and I particularly enjoyed the vantage point that offered a clear view of the iconic Hollywood sign.
I struck up a conversation with an older Dutch couple. They asked me about the World Cup match, so I filled them in on the latest match, describing it as an extraordinary game and perhaps the most captivating one of the tournament so far.
I pressed on along Mulholland Drive, and before long, I spotted another lookout point and decided to make a stop (as shown in the last three pictures below). From this vantage point, I could glimpse the other side of the mountain. Though unsure if it still fell within the boundaries of LA, it seemed likely.
Detour via Beverly Hills
At one point, I took a wrong turn and had to reconfigure my navigation system. After getting back on track, I headed towards Los Angeles’ Santa Monica Beach, passing through Beverly Hills along the way. The drive through Beverly Hills was truly remarkable, with stunning houses lining the streets. Regrettably, I didn’t stop to capture any photos of the houses, but I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of towering palm trees and the procession of luxurious cars cruising through the streets. Truly an impressive sight.
As I drove along Sunset Boulevard, the plethora of iconic names conjured up memories of the System of a Down song “Lost in Hollywood.” The idea crossed my mind to download the song, burn it onto a CD, and blast it through the city streets. However, as the day progressed and I encountered the eccentric characters in Hollywood, I reconsidered my plans. But I’ll delve into that later.
Cruising through those streets was an exhilarating experience, especially with my music blaring at full volume. The car I was driving had a sleek design and impressive acceleration. At crosswalks, I cranked up the music to the max, with all the windows rolled down. “Paradise” by Coldplay filled the air, often drawing stares from passersby.
It ended up taking me longer than anticipated to reach Santa Monica Beach, but I didn’t mind at all. I had my music blasting, and I thoroughly enjoyed cruising through the bustling streets. Contrary to my expectations, the driving atmosphere in Los Angeles was surprisingly calm and orderly. While there was some occasional honking at other drivers, it was nothing out of the ordinary.
Santa Monica
I parked my car in front of the beach, where the daily rate was $8. The fee was valid until 6 pm, and it was currently 5:30. As I approached the ticket machine, a car pulled up beside me. The driver handed me his ticket with a friendly smile, and I gratefully accepted it. With his unexpected gesture, I could now park for free! “The world is full of nice people,” I thought to myself, though I knew there were also some crazy ones, but I’ll save that story for later tonight.
I strolled toward the pier, enjoying the pleasant beach ambiance, although the air was starting to cool. Upon reaching the pier, I ascended the stairs and headed towards the small amusement park. The scene before me sparked memories of a TV show called Rocket Power, a favorite my brother and I used to watch during our afternoon breaks from primary school.
The pier was bustling with children and families. Although tempted to purchase a ticket for the Ferris wheel, I opted against it, knowing I had to head back to the hostel soon. Nonetheless, I cherished every moment of my stroll along the pier. Despite spending only a day in LA, I felt a strong desire to return someday. While one day was sufficient to explore the city’s highlights, it wasn’t enough to truly unwind. Having just returned from a relaxing trip to Hawaii, I was eager to explore new destinations.
The vista from the pier was breathtaking. I couldn’t resist capturing the beauty of Los Angeles’ Santa Monica Beach from both ends. Personally, I found the left side to be slightly more picturesque. After soaking in the scenery, I made my way back to the car and cranked up the volume on my music. As I handed my ticket to a man at the ticket machine, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought that he might find it useful.
Back at the Hostel
I made my way back to the hostel, which was about an hour’s drive from Santa Monica. It’s interesting how on Los Angeles’ map everything seems close, but in reality, it was a 20-kilometer journey through a maze of buildings. The sheer scale of this city is surreal.
Upon returning to the hostel, I took some time to unwind. The sunset took me by surprise, occurring at 8 pm. By 8:30, darkness had fallen, which was quite different from the early sunsets I experienced in Hawaii and Fiji, where it would dim around 6 pm. Although there was a party happening at the hostel (as seen in the first picture below), I chose not to join in, as I had to drive the next day and couldn’t afford to indulge in alcohol.
I opted to stroll a bit farther along Hollywood Boulevard. As I drove back to the hostel, I marveled at the length of this iconic street. It stretched on for miles, which was truly impressive. However, walking its entire length seemed a bit daunting, so I only aimed to explore the most renowned section.
Nightly Walk Along Hollywood Boulevard
At night, Hollywood Boulevard was teeming with tourists and eccentric characters. As I walked, a man handed me a CD without pause. However, he quickly halted me, insisting I pay for it. I responded, somewhat annoyed, questioning why he’d offered it for free in the first place. He persisted, asking for a donation for his efforts, but I chose to ignore him and continued on my way.
I proceeded along the boulevard, crossing the street and spotting Batman and Bane. Taking a quick snapshot, I entered a massive building housing a Dolby Cinema and another Japanese cinema. While tempted to catch a movie, hunger won out, and I set my sights on finding the renowned burger joint, Juicy Burgers.
Outside, I finally stumbled upon the famous artist concrete imprints. Capturing the moment with my camera, I noticed Captain Jack nearby. The artist’s performance was truly captivating. His expressions and voice were spot-on, showcasing his incredible talent.
Weird Loud People
As I made my way back to the hostel, I couldn’t help but notice the diverse array of people populating the streets. From the homeless, who seemed to be ubiquitous, to skaters, goths, and hippies enjoying drinks in a corner, the spectrum of individuals was vast. Amidst them all, there were also those exuding wealth and privilege, creating a fascinating tapestry of humanity.
As I crossed the crosswalk, I witnessed a scene unfold—a guy abruptly throwing his skateboard down and skating away, the clatter of his board drawing some attention in the bustling boulevard soundscape. Suddenly, a nearby individual erupted, shouting, “If you can’t skate, then don’t bother, you asshole!” However, by the time he finished his outburst, the skater had already vanished into the distance. Puzzled by the confrontation, I couldn’t help but find the whole interaction a bit odd.
On the opposite corner, a girl stood, pleading for a burger. While some individuals seemed dubious, the overall atmosphere didn’t evoke a sense of danger. With numerous tourists and security personnel present, the neighborhood felt relatively safe and secure.
I contemplated playing that System of a Down song while cruising through Hollywood but decided against it. The lyrics were critical of the very people I had just encountered, and I didn’t want to risk provoking any unpredictable reactions, especially considering I didn’t have insurance—or so I believed at the time. (More on that later; something happened with the car.)
Late Night Chores
Back at the hostel, I settled onto a couch in the corridor, facing the main door, and pulled out my laptop. The party crowd returned around 3 am, but I stayed focused on chatting with folks back home and working on some articles. The experiences in Hawaii had provided endless long blog articles. Around 4 am, I finally decided to call it a night. I set my alarm for 10 am and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
