BEVERLY HILLS & SANTA MONICA, USA

Beverly Hills is the home of many rich and famous in Los Angeles. It is also a high-end shopping paradise. In case you’re wondering, there is no West Beverly High. The residence at flat part of Santa Monica Boulevard is merely middle class, the gradually slopping part is for upper class and the fabulously wealthy people lives at the hills north of Sunset Boulevard. There are many celebrities’ homes at Beverly Hills too. But the chances of meeting your favourite celebrities here are pretty slim.


On the way to Beverly Hills.


The Beverly Hills Electric Fountain erected in 1931, featuring a a statue of a local native American tribe, Tongva. kneeling in prayer. Managed to capture this picture with a rainbow effect.


Dan Tana’s restaurant at Santa Monica Boulevard is a fine Italian dining restaurant where Who’s Who of Hollywood dine and wine. It is famous for star sightings. Who knows you may get lucky if you dine here. 


Hi there!


The iconic Beverly Hills logo marking the city’s limit. This is where the rich and famous lives. Before 1940, black people were not allowed to live here even if they have the money.


This is the official seal for the Beverly Hills City. The logo is protected by copyright and not to be used for commercial purposes. I guess it’s all right if I post it here.


The world’s famous city is synonymous with wealth, status and celebrity.
 

Road towards the Beverly Hills houses. No commercial vehicles over 3 tons are allowed on these driveways.


Every Beverly Hills driveway is lined with towering trees at both sides. Each driveway has different type of trees.


Church of the Good Shepard in Beverly Hills is a Roman Catholic church. One of the most famous celebrity wedding held in this church was the wedding of Elizabeth Taylor with her first husband, Conrad “Nicky “ Hilton. They ended up in divorce after nine months of marriage.








Posing besides a Beverly Hills police car.



My beau's obsession for the Beverly Hills Police because of the movie “Beverly Hills Cop”.



Beverly Hills City Hall built in 1931 was also previously used by the Beverly Hills Police Department as their headquarters till 1990.


The Beverly Hills City Hall is designed by Architect William Gage. The low classical base, which symbolizes government, is dominated by an eight-story tower, which represents commerce.


The flags of the America, California and Beverly Hills.


You won’t miss this building while in Beverly Hills.


Did you know why the fire hydrants in Beverly Hills are painted in silver colour? It seems that the residents of Beverly Hills think that the tacky yellow colour is a sore eye.


Beverly Gardens Park stretches for almost 2 miles along the busy Santa Monica Boulevard.


This beautiful stretch of green space offers a two miles jogging path, big and shady trees, sculptures and the arching Beverly Hills sign which is a recreation of the original arching historic sign built near the city’s center.


The Starline tour bus passed by the Beverly Gardens Park. You can get down at this Beverly Hills/3rd St. stop to visit the park and walked over to Rodeo Drive.


The Beverly Hills arch sign is a favourite spot for tourist to take pictures.


My turn, my turn!


Now this is a perfect shot. Thanks to the couple who took this photo for us. Of course, we returned their favour too.


Best to come here in the morning where there are lesser people.


A sculpture of psychedelic tulips by Yayoi Kusama called Hymn to Life.


Another sculpture at the park named Hunter and Hounds.






Niketown located near Rodeo Drive.


The world’s famous jeweller Mikimoto is located here in Rodeo Drive.


The Rodeo Drive stores spans three city blocks but the street stretches further north and south.


Shops and boutiques along Rodeo Drive.


It is the flagship locations for some of the most prestigious brands in the world. Even if the price tags are sky-rocket high, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy window shopping in Rodeo Drive.





Want to buy from this shop? Sorry, you have to make an appointment first. This is Bijan’s exclusive boutique on Rodeo Drive and has been described as the “most expensive store in the world”.

To be honest, I have not heard of this designer before. I guess I’m not really into the fashion industry. If you manage to make an appointment, prepare to spend thousands of dollars. You don’t want to make an appointment and buy a pair of socks do you? Which by the way cost USD 50. The average Bijan customer spends USD 200K on clothings there.


Let’s get back to the more ‘affordable’ designers like the Bottega Veneta. Hmmm….USD 3,000 for a small handbag, still not for me.



A stunning black vintage Porsche parked at the roadside of Rodeo Drive.




Wonder who it belongs to.






La Perla is a sophisticated and luxurious lingerie brand worn by the rich and famous. La Perla’s pieces can cost over USD 300!







Rodeo Drive offers some of the finest and most expensive shopping in the world. If you want to buy from here, you just want the latest collection and don’t mind the price tag.




I’m here just to look around and take some pictures.





Hublot Boutique store.




Fancy for some fine dining at Beverly Hills?


Or you can opt for the food truck.



A white mansion near Rodeo Drive.



Beverly Hills Civic Center.


Beverly Center is a eight storey high shopping mall at the edge of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.





The Beverly Center also has several restaurants such as The Capital Grille and The Grand Lux Cafe.





Interesting sculptures.


This forest of streetlights titled “Urban Light” by Chris Burden features restored cast-iron lamp posts that were once actual street lamps in L.A. County. It is located at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Wilshire Blvd. This is also one of the filming location in the movie “No Strings Attached”.


The trees are trimmed in that way to allow the Starline busses to pass through.


Nice fit.




Avenue of the Stars.


At first I thought it is a place where celebrity hangs out. I guess wrong. It’s just a name of a place where office buildings are located.


After Beverly Hills I proceeded to Santa Monica.






Interesting looking building.


It’s the luxurious Century Plaza Hotel.




Passed by Fox Studios.





Spanish Broadcasting System, one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in USA.



The Westside Pavilion shopping mall.


Wohoo! After a 30 minutes ride, I arrived at Santa Monica.


Passed by the Santa Monica College.


Santa Monica, a beachfront city West of Beverly Hills.



For more info of Santa Monica, drop by the visitor center.




At last arrived at the famed Santa Monica beach.


That’s the Santa Monica Pier, a Historic Landmark which offers the best in entertainment for all ages.


The Pier has restaurants, shops and of course an amusement park. You can also do some fishing here at the pier.


The Pacific Park, a family amusement park located at the pier. The Ferris Wheel is the city’s icon which also provides a nice view of the city and Pacific Ocean if you take a ride on it.


A Visitor Center at the Santa Monica beach.


The people of Los Angeles often comes to Santa Monica Beach during their holidays to enjoy the large and beautiful beach.


Well, the beach is not world famous, but it should suffice for the people of Los Angeles.
 

You can always rent a bicycle and cycle along cycle path while admiring the Pacific Coastline.


Or just sit at a bench and enjoy the cool sea breeze.


Santa Monica offers some of the best people watching venue which I did while in Santa Monica. It was very hot that day, so I made a move after capturing some photographs.


The statue of St. Monica erected in 1934. The City of Santa Monica, was named after her.


The Ocean View Hotel just located adjacent to the beach.


Streets of Santa Monica.


You can check out the PF Chang’s restaurant at Santa Monica.


Some of the street are lined with coconut trees.









Passed by Montana and Brentwood Town Center, Los Angeles as I headed back to Beverly Hills.




The Sinai Temple, a Iranian Jews Judaism synagogue.






Mother and daughter time.


As usual, you often see people jogging on the streets.


I am back in Beverly Hills.


The Beverly Hill Plaza Hotel.


The Beverly Hilton.


I had a really good time in Los Angeles and what can I say, I Love LA. After spending weeks in mainland US, its time to head back to Hawaii.


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