« July 2006 | Main | September 2006 »
August 31, 2006
Gridiron Gang
This poster is on the wall of the Sony Picture Studio. So, in that sense, it's
right in the lion's den. The movie seeems interesting, but there's a very
slim chance that I am actually going to go to the theatre and see it. I am
not really a big fan of The Rock.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)
August 30, 2006
Crank
No, I have not seen this movie. And I don't think I will in the theatre either. I rarely
watch movies in the theatre these days. We found this poster, not too far from home,
while shopping at Trader Joe's.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:33 PM | Comments (0)
August 29, 2006
The Guardian
Rash took this picture as I was driving, so it came out in a awkward angle. I had to work
wonders to get it to this form. Costner hasn't come in a movie in a long time, though
I wish he didn't have to come in a movie with Kutcher...
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:19 PM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2006
Memoirs of a Geisha
This poster has got to be my all time favourite. I will get a framed copy for the house
some day. The movie was quite good I thought, though the critics lashed at it. I
also really loved the book.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:35 PM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2006
Angel's Landing
This is the Angel's Landing. It's the second most climbed rock face in the United States,
after El Capitan at the Yosemite. We did see a lot of climbers that day, but none on
this face. Atleast I can't spot one in the picture.
On a different note, today was the 265th picture. That means there's a 100 posts left
to the end of this project.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)
August 26, 2006
Court of the Patriachs
This is the official name of the point. The three peaks from left to right are
Abraham, Issac and Jacob. There were named in 1916 by a Methodist minister,
Frederick Vining Fisher after characters in the Old Testament.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:58 PM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2006
Erosion
It's incredible what water does to rocks. The rock formation in the image is common
around Zion National Park. It's caused by millions of years of water erosion.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2006
Great Arch of Zion
This is the Great Arch of Zion. It's a blind arch carved on a vertical rock face. This arch
is visible only if you drive through Zion. The Zion tour doesn't take visitors on this route.
What is cool about it is that it's entirely a natural formation.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:57 PM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2006
Driving by a French Kiss
I was driving when I took this shot. Maybe it was Rash that took the shot, but the car was
definitely moving, as you can notice from the tree. The center of the mountain looked
like two side profiles kissing to me. If you cant' see it, look harder (or give up...)
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:25 PM | Comments (2)
August 22, 2006
The Great Hump
Ok, I admit. That's not the official name for it. But then, the names that are given
for these mountains are rather boring, as you will find out later in the week.
And to those who though of other 'humps', shame on you...
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:06 PM | Comments (0)
August 21, 2006
Red Pillars
This was taken at the entrance of Zion National Park. This is also in Utah. Utah was
first inhabited by the Caucasians who followed the Mormon sect, and their messiah
thought he found Zion when he went there. (Something like that anyway)
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:18 PM | Comments (1)
August 20, 2006
Sun Yat Sen
Known as the father of modern China, Dr. Sun Yat Sen was involved into the Kumungtang
party which overthrew the imperial court and foresaw the exit of the British from China.
They were in power for a very short time though, due to the rise of communism and
Mao. He escaped to Formosa where, with the help of his followers, created the Republic
of Taiwan.
Until a few decades back the west only recognised Taiwan and not China. Mainland China
still considers Taiwan as a part of China.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2006
Crossroads
This is the heart of Chinatown in Los Angeles. Everything radiates from this point. Well,
the place is not really that big though, so it's not really a big deal. I like the window in
the background. It probably has seen a lot of this over the years.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:17 PM | Comments (1)
August 18, 2006
Golden Pagoda
Actually, it's now the Hop Louie-Jade Pagoda. It was built in 1941 and was possibly the
last major construction in what is considered today as Chinatown. Currently, it is
a restaurant.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2006
Gate of Maternal Virtues
This gate was built in the late 30's by Y.C. Hong. It was dedicated to his mother, and
the inscription, which was composed by the then Chinese consul, T.K. Chang, reads -
The spirit of (Mother) Meng and (Mother) Ow.
Some of the camphor wood that was used in the construction of this gate is over 150 years
old.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:01 PM | Comments (0)
August 16, 2006
Balcony
The interesting aspect of Chinatown is that it is made up of buildings stuck in a
time warp. These anachronistic pieces were built around the 1930's and encorporates
a lot of Medieval Chinese architecture. They also have a strong Californian influence as
the Chinese had been in the area for about 80-100 years by then.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)
August 15, 2006
Foo Chow
Well, as the sign says, this was the place they shot some of the scenes in the
movie Rush Hour. The scene where they first to to find Juntao...
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)
August 14, 2006
Gateway of Chinatown
This is the gate into Chinatown. Chinatown in Los Angeles goes back about 150 years.
However, the present location is rather new, and is only about a hundred years old.
The area is generally considered a dump, and it's unsafe to venture there later in the
evenings.
This particular gate is the West gate, and is the older one. The camphor wood used
goes back 150 years.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:38 PM | Comments (0)
August 13, 2006
Manhole Cover
The names of the eleven men that came and settled in Los Angeles first is commerated
on the sides of this manhole cover. I mean, come on. Is that all they get? This area
was a dung heap in the middle of nowhere when they came here and settled. Look
at it now, some 220 years later. Los Angeles has done well for itself...
H.
Posted by hriday at 06:08 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2006
King Carlos
King Carlos III was the one that ordered the settlement at what is now Los Angeles. It
was all then a part of Mexico, which was under Spain. Funny thing is that it was
after the US got it's independence.
By the way, there's a bird on the King's head.
To those counting, this is day 250 in the endeavour.
H.
Posted by hriday at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
August 11, 2006
Artist Center
This ancient building houses the gallery and the artists center. Or so the sign says. The
place looks like it was some warehouse back in the day, and is rather unwelcoming.
Kind of like the lower floors at Pike's Market in Seattle, or Palika Bazaar in Delhi.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:56 PM | Comments (0)
August 10, 2006
Avila Adobe
This is the roof of the oldest house in Los Angeles. It's called the Avila Adobe, and was
the home to the Avila Family. It was built in 1818, and still stands. Apparently it was
badly damaged in the 1971 quake, but has been restored rather well. The Avila
family were well to do and managed their vineards, among other things.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2006
X marks the spot
This huge cross is at the head of the Olivera street. It's quite possibly a touristy gimmick,
but looks pretty good where it is. And to all those 'doubters', the full name of Los
Angeles is carved on it.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)
August 08, 2006
Biscailuz
Notice an anomaly here? It says Mexican Cultural Institute, and they have the
American flag. Confused people indeed...
The Biscailuz building was built in the 1920's, and after a brief stint in the beginning
as a church headquarters, it has housed Mexican exhibits throughout. It was named
after Eugene Biscailuz, a former Los Angeles county sherrif.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:15 PM | Comments (0)
August 07, 2006
Bird Cross
This is the oldest church in Los Angeles. It was founded on the same day that people
started living in the village called El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles sobre el Rio de la
Porciuncula (town of the Queen of the Angels on the River Porciuncula).
The birds decided to take a dump on the sign though :)
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:51 PM | Comments (0)
August 06, 2006
Nandita
Devika's sister came a visiting, and was a willing model for the closing shot of this
theme. Well, technically, I never asked her, but she didn't seem to mind. She's
just finished her B'Com, and has come to the US to work. She's a citizen, and
(to the best of my knowledge) is eligible! First though, you got to get past
her sister's approval :)
H.
Posted by hriday at 06:26 PM | Comments (0)
August 05, 2006
Vinu
Vinu poses like this. Yeah, go figure :) He's an IIT-IIM (I never get tired of saying that...)
But, he likes playing dumb. Not fooling me though...
It's great fun when he comes around. Rash is on her toes to please him, which is funny
to see.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)
August 04, 2006
Priya
This is Priya (Jr). She's Vinu's (Rash's cousin) wife. Vinu went around the country to
show her off the moment she landed in the US. For good reason too. She's a bundle
of fun.
She designs clothes for a living. Or something like that...
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:09 PM | Comments (0)
August 03, 2006
Siby
Siby was in town earlier this year. Some interview he had in California. Yeah, apparently
it worked out, but he decided to stay in the East coast. I didn't know he was a big
Hopkins fan, but this was the only star he posed for at the walk of fame.
It was nice weather when he came, so he was lucky.
H.
Posted by hriday at 09:45 PM | Comments (0)
August 02, 2006
Madhu
That's Madhu. Rash's cousin. He's doing his terminator pose. The glasses
he's wearing is apparently his fav. Thing is that there's only half of it.
H.
Posted by hriday at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)
August 01, 2006
Beniffer
That's Ben, my buddy from CMU. Well, he's in Netapp now. Some people call him
the brain. I think he's got this back channel communication with God. Get's all
the answers that way...
He's just announced that he's getting married. Congrats Ben! And there's one really
lucky girl in Kerala. Beware though. He went to this artist ONLY coz J-Lo was a
hanging display.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:14 PM | Comments (1)