Back in LA and I was so relieved to be able to spend a couple of days relaxing at Freehand Hostel. This hostel is slightly more expensive than your average hostel, but in all honesty this rooftop pool area makes it completely worth it. I didn't love Downtown LA as much as I thought I would. I think it was mainly due to my location. I was situated more in the Garment District. Most of the places I wanted to see in Downtown were closer to the Art Walk. But in saying that, when I go back to LA I will probably stay at Freehand again, you can't really beat this for a hostel rooftop pool.
So obsessed with the decor of this rooftop area. Hoping I will be able to return here in the future.
Right near my place was a weed store called MedMen, and hey, when in LA do what they do. I only really got a few edibles that were dangerously delicious. I think they best thing about these places is you can actually get different strains, learn what each actually does and how it effects different people. It is a LOT easier to get educated about drugs when they are legalised, and honestly its a lot safer. You know how strong the doses are as well as recommended uses and amounts. It just seems a lot smarter in the end. Compared to in Australia where you just buy sticks of miscellaneous weed. I mean that's as far as my knowledge in Australia goes, I don't smoke.
I spent this day wandering around and photographing Santee Alley and the surrounding area. Lots of fabric and jewellery wholesalers and sewing stores.
Above is a Mexican hotdog with a side of fruit and veg in cup with a kind of lime dressing. Both were phenomenal and I really wish more places in Sydney did hot dogs like this. Fully loaded and traditional style.
I checked out the Santee Alley Markets and the Garment District. Overall it was all a bit meh to be completely honest. Great to photograph but there wasn't much I was all that interested in buying there. It was mostly half broken technology parts, out of fashion clothing and shoes and a weird mixture of old toys and souvenirs.The places I more wanted to see were a slightly further walk away from my hostel than I would have liked, but theres nothing wrong with getting my steps up. One place in particular was this book store.
The Last Bookstore is a true Mecca for all Bibliophiles out there. It is a huge, glorious bookstore that has a section for anything your heart could possibly desire to read. This was top of my Downtown LA bucket list. I spent at least 3 hours in here. I ended up only purchasing a couple of old school Buffy books because lets be real I was travelling and couldn't afford to carry more weight around.
Upstairs in the Last Bookstore is a darling little art shop. Think cute prints, knick knacks, greeting cards and everything in between. A lot of art is displayed on the walls outside, if you follow them you will find this shop.
The next stop on my little self guided tour of Downtown Los Angeles was the Grand Central Market. These markets were inside a big building with permanent market fixtures that all had these gorgeous LED lights above each one to let you know what they were. This is the most organised and well designed market space I have ever been to. Being smack bang in the middle of the Downtown LA Art Walk definitely had a great influence on the aesthetic of these markets.
Photos really don't do this huge LED wall piece by Lisa Schulte justice. Some seriously gorgeous light art.
Made it back to Freehand after a big day of walking the streets of Downtown Los Angeles. Met up with my friend Ned from back home and we had a couple of cocktails before he had to head off to a movie premiere, so LA. I spent the night packing as the next day I would be starting my first USA CONTIKI!!!
Funny story. As this was my first Contiki ever and I am a complete idiot and didn't realise that it began at 7am. I called them up on the day and found out that they were basically doing a tour around Venice Beach and Santa Monica for the day. I had already spent a lot of time at both of these places so I planned to meet with them at dinner. This gave me a last day by myself in Los Angeles. This worked out great for me as I still had a couple more bucket list places I wanted to visit here. First up was the Museum of Death.
You aren't allowed to take photos inside the museum, which makes sense. This is just the entrance area/ gift shop. If you are for lack of a better word "into" true crime, murder, serial killers, aliens and everything else macabre in between, like me, then this is the place for you. The goal of this museum is apparently to make you "happy to be alive". The museum features a large collection of "memorabilia" of various serial killers, mostly Californian based. Think Charles Manson, Richard Ramirez, OJ Simpson and so many more. There are also a lot of funeral and mortician tools, taxidermy pets and a heap of really intense crime scene photos. I wouldn't advise if you have a weak stomach. You go through the museum at your own pace, taking in as much or as little of the morbidity around you.
Popped into Iguana Vintage Clothing for a bit. Genuinely the biggest vintage store I have ever been in. It was sorted so well with each row basically representing a different genre or era or clothes. Some seriously amazing costumes as well. If I lived in LA and had a themed party to go to, this would hands down be my one stop shop for everything and anything I needed. There is even a downstairs!
I spent so long trying on this hat and I am still kicking myself that I didn't end up purchasing it.
Glitter Death was right next to the Cobrasnake store. This store reminded me so much of the crazy vintage shops in Japan that are full of old school toys and memorabilia. This store was full of some really amazing clothing, especially festival wear.
I've loved Cobrasnake ever since I was a tumblr obsessed highschooler. I would stalk the party photos religiously and remember being very obsessed with their OG "it" girls. Atlanta De Cadenet was my all time favourite. She was so insanely cool all the time and I just wanted to be her so bad. Cory Kennedy took these amazing creative photos that inspired me all the time, Jesse Jo Stark made me want to colour only the roots of my hair and Alice Dellal made me want to shave the side of my head (thank god I didn't). For reference, please see the girls below in their prime.
I didn't end up buying anything from the shop but I had a good chat with the guy working there and he gave me a cute Bart Simpson keychain because he saw the simpsons background on my phone.
After checking out the streets of Hollywood I headed back to Downtown to check into my Contiki hotel and start my new adventure! I met everyone at dinner that night, completely missed the dinner part because I was late, standard. I couldn't tell you who from the Contiki I met that night, it was all a bit of a blur. Before heading back to the room I went for a little solo wander to get some dinner.
I saw Wurstkuche recommended online, but I decided I felt like ramen instead. I do love a good traditional sausage though. My grandparents are Polish so I guess it runs in my blood.
I finally got some food in my belly. Daikokuya serves a pretty delicious Tonkotsu ramen. Would recommend if you are hanging out in Downtown LA. It's not the BEST tonkotsu I have ever had but it was decent. Afterwards I headed home. My roommate was still not back yet so I ended up just heading to sleep. Let the Contiki Adventure begin!
erica
