May 2008 - Our trip to the United States

Our first trip to the United States this year was an incredible experience. The trip was to organize our USA store & a little sight seeing.

We stopped in Auckland, New Zealand first. Then flew onto Los Angeles.

I expected the USA to be somewhat similar to Australia, yet, it's very different to Australia. The experience of landing at LAX felt like I'd been teleported to another planet. Australia is very laid back and small with a population of almost 27 million, the United States (well, Los Angeles & Hollywood) is just enormous and quite fast paced in comparison.

The first stop, our friends took us for a tour around the Hollywood hills, Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive, Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air etc..

Beautiful homes, had such a great day getting to know the area and seeing the Mansions !

Alfred Hitchcock's mansion (Please click on the images to enlarge them)

Charlie Chaplin's mansion

Hollywood Blvd in downtown Hollywood

The view of Los Angeles & Hollywood from the Mulholland Drive lookout

The Playboy Mansion (gates)

The John Holmes wonderland murders house (is much smaller than depicted on films) - on Wonderland Park Avenue

Rodeo Drive in Beverley Hills

Mansions of Bel-Air - Tara, from Gone with the wind            Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mansion               The Spelling Mansion

Marlon Brando's Mansion

Fabio's 'Cabo' cocktail bar in Sunset Strip

Mr Miyagi's Bar & restaurant on Sunset Strip

Sunset Tan on Sunset strip

The Whisky a go go on Sunset strip