chinatown 2
july 13, 2002
this is the second installment of the chinatown series. to read the first, please go here.
there are still certain parts of the los angeles chinatown that reverberates the whole hollywoodsque version of what people think of chinatown. in this certain part between spring and broadway, there exists this whole section built of pagodas, tiled roofs, lanterns and ornate entrances to feed into the minds of tourists and what they have conjured in their minds about a china town. the photo above is of the famous hop louie bar which to this day, i have never set foot in. but from what i hear, it's an interesting place to visit. i often wonder if the inside is as chinese as the outside. i suppose it's visions of places like this that brings to mind the whole mystique of china and its respective culture full of mythology, customs, legends and lores. i can just imagine the monkey king hopping along the rooftop of the hop louie. :p
chinatown i guess, wouldn't be a chinatown without entrances such as the one above, blantantly stating the word "chinatown" in neon lights. and as much as i abhor the whole ching chong chinaman stereotype, being in this particular section of the touristy chinatown makes me stare out in wide eyed wonder because you just can't help but think of how the non-chinese must think of china. of course if you're familiar with this part of the LA chinatown, you'll know that the restaurant across the street with the blue awning is from a very popular jackie chan movie. :p
didn't see too many jade hawkers during my outing but i did manage to see this couple selling old chinese coins and bills. i didn't get close enough to see how authentic this all was but a few african american women and latinas were buying stuff from them asking how old these coins were.
gift shops filled with chinoiserie items fill the shelves and window displays. this particular store seemed to have the best business in the whole plaza. filled with two stories of knick knacks, the smell of sandalwood kind of knocks you over upon entering. i didn't really get a chance to go through all the aisles but perhaps on my next on-foot outing. :) i wonder if it's places like these that those hollywood movie stars come to find these cheong-saams to wear.
one of the many benevolent associations throughout chinatowns in america. upon passing by this structure i was so very taken aback by the bright orange red walls. and naturally, i had to take a snap.
