Los Angeles in a day

The glamorous city of Los Angeles, better known as Hollywood, in California is a dazzling city that to most looks like a playground for Barbie and Ken. "The Angels" as it translates to in Spanish, has street and street of perfectly manicured lawns in front of 20-room mansions in light pastel colours and over-sized 4WD's parked out the front is all a bit fake. But then when the glossy couple emerges with a poodle and designer it is all too fake.

But if you can get past the fakeness and frivolity of the rich and famous, there are a few other things to do in LA.

I had only one day in the city before I flew home, but I managed to see a few interesting things. I strolled along Hollywood Blvd, took a stars homes tour where you're not really sure who's front gate or garden hedge you're looking at, and went to the obligatory photo shoot in front of the Hollywood sign. Who knew it was originally put  up by a local real estate agent to advertise the neighbourhood. I stopped at the Chinese Theatre and Kodak Theatre that hosts the Academy Awards. Walked over the stars of Adam Sandler, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Jackie Chan, among the thousands of stars who pay up to $35,000 to get their name trodden on by snap happy tourists every year.

Then I was handed free tickets to the filming of the Late Late show with Brian Ferguson (that was ironically filmed at the cheerfully day-time hour of 4pm) which gave me a sneak peak into the makings of a quite unsuccessful late night talk show and the depressingly shitty job of warmer-up-er-er, a 40 year old wannabe comedian whose job is to get the crowd ready to laugh at the real comedian, who himself is only slightly funny. The warmer-up-er-er, sadly named Chunky, embodied everything you could imagine of a failed middle-aged comedian in LA who still thinks he's awesome!

I then wandered through a Neverland themed mall, complete with dancing fountain and Frank Sinatra tunes wafting through the perfume filled al fresco walkways. Designer MILF's and wanna-be young things paraded around with Abercrombie & Fitch bags battling against GAP and ZARA bags for room in their carriers hand.

Then it was time to head back to LAX, but not before an hour long train ride out to the un-glamorous, black suburbs of Northern LA. This is like another world, where push bikes replace those 4WD's and snotty babies  are carried on the hip of underage girls in baggy pants.

A city I am happy that I saw, but I'll be happier if I never have to see it again.