More architecture

In Los Angeles.

It is an unusual downtown in that it has grown as did the city limits with the passage of time yet added some high profile architectural buildings to the portfolio that makes it exciting to walk around.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall - home to the LA Philharmonic opened in 2003. Designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry is an impressive wave like form that sits on Grand Avenue.

The Broad (named for the philanthropic founder who made his millions selling homes to the American dreamers and boomer generation) is a contemporary art museum recently opened next door.

Walt Disney Hall

Korean food trucks in front of the Broad

City Hall marks one end of the plaza that rises up the hill and ends where the Peace Memorial stands with its water fountain.

Peace Memorial makes a splash

City Hall viewed from uphill

Overall the city is complex and rich but parking can be daunting. Go early. It is also cooler if doing it in summer. We wrapped up our ambling by chilling in the catacombs of the Cathedral not far from where we were up top.

Here we got to see Gregory Peck's resting place.

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Of chocolates

I like chocolates. Godiva Dark with Almonds - not sure of the naked woman on the horse to be the icon of some choice cocoa based products but tastes good. Started in Belgium but now owned by some Turks. Cadburys - Fruit and Nut Milk Bars - awesome combination of dried fruit pieces along with a medley of nuts makes your toungue dance - started by a Brit now owen by Kraft USA. Lindt Hazelnut spheres - made by a Swiss confectioner are divine balls that melt in your mouth with a lingering nutty taste Ghirardelli Milk Crisp Squares - crunchy and light these milk squares are easy on the palate but pack some serious calories - all good I say! Originally founded by an Italian who moved around till he landed in SF Bay today also owned by the Swiss Lindt empire.

Columbia SC

The Palmetto state. One of the confederate kinds. History dating couple centuries back. We visited the capital yet again this time to take in the SC State Museum. Occupying the former digs (literally remodeled) of an erstwhile cotton mill this structure is an amazing piece of reimagination. Four floors of excitement for kids and young at heart alike. Located on the shores of the Congaree River formed when the Broad meets up with the Saluda River, this edifice is approx. 60 years old. The front of the building has a more modern planetarium that was added about a decade ago. The museum itself has different areas of interest segregated on each of its four floors. The first floor has gift shop and a diorama of some of the local geography including the swamps and the state beaches with audio guides to help understand what fauna thrives locally. The second floor is all about natural history and showcases animal kingdom that may have survived on this latitud...

But What If We're Wrong?

I attempted to read this book by author Chuck Klosterman backward to forward but it started hurting my brain so I decided to stop and do it like any other publication in the English language. Start from page 1 and move to the right. Witty, caustic and thought provoking this is a book you want to read if you believe that the status quo might, just might be wrong. At times bordering on being contrarian about most things around us it tries to zero in on the notion of what makes anything believable and certain in our minds. The fact that there is a fact itself is ironic. Something analogous to the idea that you can never predict the future because there is no future. Many books and movies have tried to play on this concept - best that I recollect (I think I am) was 'The Truman Show'. This book by Klosterman attempts to provoke the reader to at least contemplate that what they think they know may be wrong. He uses examples like concept of gravity, and how it ...

Brown Motion

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