A movie and a hike
The view from the window in our room at night is that of a some high-rise buildings in downtown Los Angeles with the alluring lights. It seemed to be a stone’s throw away from our residence. ‘Downtown’ is a term that signifies it is a hip and happening place, especially in the youngsters’ view. We spared a weekend after my roommates’ exam to go to a movie at ‘LA Live’, the entertainment complex amid the sprawling metropolis marked with skyscrapers. It was our first excursion together and we ensured it was well documented with a lot of photographs. I was glad to be at a crowded area in the city, which reminded me of Bangalore. The only difference is that here everything is more sophisticated as opposed to the chaos that we enjoy in our cities in India. The open air restaurants were full and there were people everywhere, relaxing on the weekend. The atmosphere in the theater was not anything unlike that back home, though I missed the hooting and dancing being seated which set apart my movie sessions with friends. The aura was all the more lively and dramatic when we stepped out after the movie as it turned dark. I was awestruck gazing at the host of lights and was seeing the huge screens showing live advertisements for the first time. I experienced what it is like to be in Los Angeles, one of the most popular cities in the world!
The weekend prior to a mid term exam, I was up for something different and joined a group called ‘Adventure Gurus’ made up of students from our university for an ‘easy hike’ to Switzer falls, around 30 miles away from our university. For the first time since I came to Los Angeles, I woke up before sunrise to be on time for the hike. There were a total of 35 people, including many first timers like me. We split into groups of 6 and drove to the falls gate. I was happy to meet many more people from Bangalore and other places in India, recalling former trips and feeling nostalgic. On the way, we stopped to click some photos and reflected on how there was such a serene place so close to the bustling city. The hike started with a quick briefing about ourselves and some important instructions. The hike leaders were very helpful, providing us with the right amount of guidance and a helping hand whenever required. The falls was not as spectacular as I expected it would be, but the locale altogether made for a beautiful sight. The more adventurous amongst us climbed farther up from the falls. It was time for us to get back after some snacks. The roughly 3 hours long hike comprising the slippery rocks and precipitous trails was a great beginning to many more such journeys that I would embark on.
The weekend prior to a mid term exam, I was up for something different and joined a group called ‘Adventure Gurus’ made up of students from our university for an ‘easy hike’ to Switzer falls, around 30 miles away from our university. For the first time since I came to Los Angeles, I woke up before sunrise to be on time for the hike. There were a total of 35 people, including many first timers like me. We split into groups of 6 and drove to the falls gate. I was happy to meet many more people from Bangalore and other places in India, recalling former trips and feeling nostalgic. On the way, we stopped to click some photos and reflected on how there was such a serene place so close to the bustling city. The hike started with a quick briefing about ourselves and some important instructions. The hike leaders were very helpful, providing us with the right amount of guidance and a helping hand whenever required. The falls was not as spectacular as I expected it would be, but the locale altogether made for a beautiful sight. The more adventurous amongst us climbed farther up from the falls. It was time for us to get back after some snacks. The roughly 3 hours long hike comprising the slippery rocks and precipitous trails was a great beginning to many more such journeys that I would embark on.
