UNIVERSAL STUDIOS....CITY WALK

I made it to here but I didn't enter the Universal Studios.

 Tell you the reason later.

It was gigantic but alright to walk around under the sunny yet breezy wind

This is the ticket booth to buy your admisstion pass(es). If you can read clearly, one have to pay at least USD129 in order to enter the studios. But being a stingy person, I did my calculation and not way I will pay for such an expensive fee! I would rather spend on buying branded handbags, watches and etc that will last me perhaps for 2-3 more years.

For those who are lazy to walk around, just hop and sit to enjoy beautiful sceneries.

This is what I reward myself for not entering into the studios. USD80 for the latest design Guess watch which was available in Malaysia during Valentine's Day this year.

Few lovely key chains and they aren't cheap after currency conversion.  My life time habit  buying things where ever I travel...lasting memories!

THE GROVE & FARMERS' MARKET

We passed by Beverely Bouvelard, an upper class residential area with low  traffic flow in order to reach The Grove, a retail and entertainment complex  and the historical Farmers Market.

I was totally amazed and speechless standing right in front of a 14-screen movie theater complex. It was so huge just like the shopping malls & center park.

Anchored by Nordstrom and Crate & Barrel.

Walking here in the morning was such a relax stroll. What's more,clean air and cool wind!

Large center park

Portable patio heater (in metal triangle) is commonly placed

 outside restaurant during winter

Overlooking from the top of the shopping mall.....

animated fountains

Great restaurants

Big shopping malls

Top fashion chains 

Live entertainment outside the Farmers Market

Clock Tower an icon of

 Farmers Market

SANTA MONICA

Looking back, I captured a total of 750 photos during my 3 weeks vacation in US. But then I realised I had blogged mainly on food only. Now, I shall share with you photos on places I visited which was indeed memorable too me.  Not only I was awed with a big WOW looking at scenic views but overall I love the winter breeze (sunny yet cool and windy)  made me feel fresh even after hours of walking without any tired feeling.  Having said this, the weather is dry and humid too and I didn't drink enough of water which causes dehydration from lips cracking, body heatiness, skin dries up easily even after layer of lotion.

The Santa Monica Pier

 a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in California/west of Los Angeles overlooking Pacific Ocean. I was totally fascinated by the beautiful and charming beach.

 spotted cute chihuahua. seems that dog is the most fave pet

colorful painted shop houses

 oldest hotel in St Monica..The Georgian

  

Trendy hotel made of glasses...

  

 cycling, walking, driving in a relax manner  

road leading to the pier

beautiful and clean beach 

bicycle for rent

popular Pacific Park

This is my no.3 fave spot in US

PASTY D AMORES PIZZA IN FARMERS MARKET, LA

I wanted to try pizza and my wish came true when my friend and family finally took me to the Farmers Market on my last day in LA.  The Farmers market there is quite similar to our wet or flea market here but much more better in terms of cleanliness and air ventilation due to cold weather. 

As planned,  came lunch time, we queued up at Pasty D'Amore's Pizza, a stall located inside the market. This is one of the oldest stall selling legendary New York pizza baked in the original brick oven and also other stuffs such as spaghetti and etc.

2 slices of Pepperoni, Hawaiian and Pepperoni + Sausages + Mushroom thin crust pizzas for the four of us.

I had my pizza with Pepperoni + Sausages + Mushroom toppings. This New York style slice  was  cut from a medium size pizza freshly out from the hot oven.  I get the nice charred taste from the crust with plentiful melted cheese and generous ingredients i.e tasty cut ring sausages, salami and cut mushroom. With a hot cup of coffee, this totally complete my pizza craving.

 

 Tips to make good pizza dough from the owner of this stall

The hard part of making a good pizza is knowing how to mix the right ingredients into the dough. They’re simple, but you have to know the amount of water to put in so the dough isn’t too hard, soft or sticky. It’s hard for some people to learn. The dough reacts to your hands immediately.

It takes practice. You have to press it down, turn it, press it down, slap it. Then you put it on the other side of your palms, on the back of your hands, away from each other, to stretch it. And keep stretching it. You could toss it up and some guys do, it helps make it round and spread it out. Then you put it on the board and flour the board a bit. It’s pretty easy getting the cheese and sauce on it, but the other problem is getting it off the paddle and into the oven. That’s why flouring the board the right way is important because if it doesn’t slide right off, you could mush it into itself and then you have to start over.



SEAFOOD VILLAGE

This is the restaurant we had our lunch, three hours after our dim sum breakfast. Though still feeling half full, I would say all food flavors are spot on as this eatery serves excellent authentic Cantonese seafood dishes.

Most of their special menu items are nicely plastered on the wall, so you can just point to them your choice of dishes

Free large bowl of boiled pork & barley soup

 Brimming with barley and sweetness from the pork ribs, comforting enough to quench my dried throat

Hot piping white rice in a red container

Customer who can't finish this entire pot of rice can take away

without additional charges

Fried Flounder Fish drizzled with light soy sauce

 Lightly battered, it was fried till crisp while retaining the meat tenderness

 Best known for their House Special Crab,  we ordered live dungeons crab deep fried, leaving a thin crispy coating on the crab shelled and then stir fried with spices, chillies and deep-fried garlic bits.  Meaty and sweet, it is lip-smacking good.

 

Steamed Tilapia (t)

 no hint of unwanted mud smells and not overly steamed

 Fried Omelette (b) 

It was definitely an enjoyable lunch and would want to try more dishes if my tummy do permit me to do so during that moment.