Californicashite - Land of Fruits & Nuts

[worldofceri]

There's some cracking shots in this thread. Thanks for sharin'! I'm loving some of those rods and old Yanks.

[gtd2000]

We actually had dinner in Chinatown - the food was fucking awful to be very honest.

 

If anybody wants to visit Chinatown and enjoy a good meal - avoid this place like the place - it sucks:

 

 

I lived and worked in Hong Kong for 6 years so know my Chinese food pretty well - this place was awful by any standard.

[gtd2000]

We actually had dinner in Chinatown - the food was fucking awful to be very honest.

 

If anybody wants to visit Chinatown and enjoy a good meal - avoid this place like the place - it sucks:

 

 

I lived and worked in Hong Kong for 6 years so know my Chinese food pretty well - this place was awful by any standard.

[gtd2000]

So far, the part that I like about California is the weather, it's not rained once since I got here.

 

It's certainly a significantly more expensive part of the USA in my experience.

 

I was out for a beer at one of those chain bar restaurants (BJ's Sportsbar or suchlike) and the beer started at $6 up to $8 for a 16oz (not 20oz as it is in the UK).

 

Now, I'm not in downtown SF and think this is a bit OTT - especially when you need to include a dollar on top of these prices for the tip.

 

Going out to eat is around 50% higher than Florida and so far has not been as good quality, not that it's that wonderful in many places there either.

 

I've eaten in a few nice places (mainly through work) and although some of the locations and premises are very nice indeed the food has been very very average to tasteless and bland.

 

Anyway mustn't grumble I'll see if I can do any snapping today to add to the collection.

[gtd2000]

So far, the part that I like about California is the weather, it's not rained once since I got here.

 

It's certainly a significantly more expensive part of the USA in my experience.

 

I was out for a beer at one of those chain bar restaurants (BJ's Sportsbar or suchlike) and the beer started at $6 up to $8 for a 16oz (not 20oz as it is in the UK).

 

Now, I'm not in downtown SF and think this is a bit OTT - especially when you need to include a dollar on top of these prices for the tip.

 

Going out to eat is around 50% higher than Florida and so far has not been as good quality, not that it's that wonderful in many places there either.

 

I've eaten in a few nice places (mainly through work) and although some of the locations and premises are very nice indeed the food has been very very average to tasteless and bland.

 

Anyway mustn't grumble I'll see if I can do any snapping today to add to the collection.

[ashmicro]

Brilliant photos! Interesting to see images from the US not through an NTSC fog.

[ashmicro]

Brilliant photos! Interesting to see images from the US not through an NTSC fog.

[cort16]

I dream of californication. Seeing the pictures it doesn't seem like 5 years since I was there.

I'm loving the car wine. Truly shite at $2 at bottle. I'd have probably bought it and spent the next 4 days suffering as it past slowly through my nervous system.

[cort16]

I dream of californication. Seeing the pictures it doesn't seem like 5 years since I was there.

I'm loving the car wine. Truly shite at $2 at bottle. I'd have probably bought it and spent the next 4 days suffering as it past slowly through my nervous system.

[Pete-M]

splendid pics. Ta.

[Pete-M]

splendid pics. Ta.

[gtd2000]

Brilliant photos! Interesting to see images from the US not through an NTSC fog.

 

I have to admit my enthuisiasm for the place has waned a bit...

[gtd2000]

Brilliant photos! Interesting to see images from the US not through an NTSC fog.

 

I have to admit my enthuisiasm for the place has waned a bit...

[gtd2000]

I dream of californication. Seeing the pictures it doesn't seem like 5 years since I was there.

I'm loving the car wine. Truly shite at $2 at bottle. I'd have probably bought it and spent the next 4 days suffering as it past slowly through my nervous system.

 

Well how about this then?

 

I actually met Natasha McElhone at the embassy in London!

 

It was actually 5 years since the last time I visited California as well but it was further North to see the Redwoods and the coastline.

 

You can get wine very cheaply in some of the shops round here - that's something cheap at least!

[gtd2000]

I dream of californication. Seeing the pictures it doesn't seem like 5 years since I was there.

I'm loving the car wine. Truly shite at $2 at bottle. I'd have probably bought it and spent the next 4 days suffering as it past slowly through my nervous system.

 

Well how about this then?

 

I actually met Natasha McElhone at the embassy in London!

 

It was actually 5 years since the last time I visited California as well but it was further North to see the Redwoods and the coastline.

 

You can get wine very cheaply in some of the shops round here - that's something cheap at least!

[gtd2000]

splendid pics. Ta.

 

I should probably use my camera more than my phone but it's just so handy to have in the pocket.

[gtd2000]

splendid pics. Ta.

 

I should probably use my camera more than my phone but it's just so handy to have in the pocket.

[Ian Nexus]

I struggled with working for a month in LA, it wasn't how I expected it to be, the novelty wore off after a week and ended up staying at a colleagues place in West Hollywood, which was much more busy than Silverlake where I rented a room for the first week. The cost of housing in the habitable parts of Los Angeles is outrageous, I was looking at a 3 bed 1300sq ft apartment in Torrance for $2050 a month, it made me realize why the salaries where double what they where paying in Jackson MS!.

I honestly don't think anyone goes to LA to live permanently, they just tough out a year or two save some money and go home!

[Ian Nexus]

I struggled with working for a month in LA, it wasn't how I expected it to be, the novelty wore off after a week and ended up staying at a colleagues place in West Hollywood, which was much more busy than Silverlake where I rented a room for the first week. The cost of housing in the habitable parts of Los Angeles is outrageous, I was looking at a 3 bed 1300sq ft apartment in Torrance for $2050 a month, it made me realize why the salaries where double what they where paying in Jackson MS!.

I honestly don't think anyone goes to LA to live permanently, they just tough out a year or two save some money and go home!

[PhilA]

There's not a whole lot of interesting tat around here. People use vehicles until they fall apart, then they replace them. Or the local Mexicans pick them up and take them away.

 

Still toying with the idea of moving out West though.

 

Thanks for the pics

 

--Phil

[PhilA]

There's not a whole lot of interesting tat around here. People use vehicles until they fall apart, then they replace them. Or the local Mexicans pick them up and take them away.

 

Still toying with the idea of moving out West though.

 

Thanks for the pics

 

--Phil

[gtd2000]

There's not a whole lot of interesting tat around here. People use vehicles until they fall apart, then they replace them. Or the local Mexicans pick them up and take them away.

 

Still toying with the idea of moving out West though.

 

Thanks for the pics

 

--Phil

 

Well they have a saying over here in California that you should never leave as you won't be able to afford to come back!

 

The funny thing about being over here is that it makes the price of used cars in Florida look very reasonable!

[gtd2000]

There's not a whole lot of interesting tat around here. People use vehicles until they fall apart, then they replace them. Or the local Mexicans pick them up and take them away.

 

Still toying with the idea of moving out West though.

 

Thanks for the pics

 

--Phil

 

Well they have a saying over here in California that you should never leave as you won't be able to afford to come back!

 

The funny thing about being over here is that it makes the price of used cars in Florida look very reasonable!

[gtd2000]

I struggled with working for a month in LA, it wasn't how I expected it to be, the novelty wore off after a week and ended up staying at a colleagues place in West Hollywood, which was much more busy than Silverlake where I rented a room for the first week. The cost of housing in the habitable parts of Los Angeles is outrageous, I was looking at a 3 bed 1300sq ft apartment in Torrance for $2050 a month, it made me realize why the salaries where double what they where paying in Jackson MS!.

I honestly don't think anyone goes to LA to live permanently, they just tough out a year or two save some money and go home!

 

Well I'm very fortunate that I get paid a living allowance to live where I work but the current allowance they are giving me is way out of touch with the actual living costs here to be honest.

 

One of my colleagues is renting a 1 bedroom (unfurnished) apartment in Walnut Creek for $1600 per month - by the time you add utilities that'll easily be $1800 then he has a 45 minute commute and still has to furnish the place.

 

Another pal of mine is working in LA and he's found small pad for around $2200 per month - his parents came over from the UK and commented on how expensive the place was in general.

 

What made me laugh (ironically) was one of my coworkers contemplating buying a 5th wheel trailer (read big caravan) for around US$60K and putting it in an RV park park for $600~800 bucks a month, which he considered to be cheap

 

Then again another coworker of mine was renting a trailer in California for $1200 per month way back in 2001....maybe $800 is cheap after all....

 

I'm really not sure WTF is going on in the USA now at all - it used to be that you came over here and everything was cheaper than the UK. Nowadays many (everyday) items are much cheaper in the UK compared to the USA. As far as I can tell, this all started to change when the recession hit?

[gtd2000]

I struggled with working for a month in LA, it wasn't how I expected it to be, the novelty wore off after a week and ended up staying at a colleagues place in West Hollywood, which was much more busy than Silverlake where I rented a room for the first week. The cost of housing in the habitable parts of Los Angeles is outrageous, I was looking at a 3 bed 1300sq ft apartment in Torrance for $2050 a month, it made me realize why the salaries where double what they where paying in Jackson MS!.

I honestly don't think anyone goes to LA to live permanently, they just tough out a year or two save some money and go home!

 

Well I'm very fortunate that I get paid a living allowance to live where I work but the current allowance they are giving me is way out of touch with the actual living costs here to be honest.

 

One of my colleagues is renting a 1 bedroom (unfurnished) apartment in Walnut Creek for $1600 per month - by the time you add utilities that'll easily be $1800 then he has a 45 minute commute and still has to furnish the place.

 

Another pal of mine is working in LA and he's found small pad for around $2200 per month - his parents came over from the UK and commented on how expensive the place was in general.

 

What made me laugh (ironically) was one of my coworkers contemplating buying a 5th wheel trailer (read big caravan) for around US$60K and putting it in an RV park park for $600~800 bucks a month, which he considered to be cheap

 

Then again another coworker of mine was renting a trailer in California for $1200 per month way back in 2001....maybe $800 is cheap after all....

 

I'm really not sure WTF is going on in the USA now at all - it used to be that you came over here and everything was cheaper than the UK. Nowadays many (everyday) items are much cheaper in the UK compared to the USA. As far as I can tell, this all started to change when the recession hit?

[Ian Nexus]

Im glad that is not just me that thinks that things are getting silly price wise here in the USA, I was lucky with the pickup truck as it was unwanted and a non runner when my Father in law gave it to me, our Jeep seemed expensive at $1500 18 months ago but has proved to be good value. Im still in the "negotiation" stage with the Buick, I dont want to swap the Toyota for it as they seem to be worth a lot of money compared to the "unreliable" Buick Park Avenue.

Impressive shooting yesterday evening, guy was standing next to the apartment building across the way from me starts firing his 45 cal at what looks like a parked car (7 shots) and quickly dissapears, Police arrive surprisingly quickly - I tell them what happened and they find a rather worse for wear guy lying beside the car - guess the first hit must have knocked him to the ground and probably saved his life. I'm not sure I like living here anymore!!

[Ian Nexus]

Im glad that is not just me that thinks that things are getting silly price wise here in the USA, I was lucky with the pickup truck as it was unwanted and a non runner when my Father in law gave it to me, our Jeep seemed expensive at $1500 18 months ago but has proved to be good value. Im still in the "negotiation" stage with the Buick, I dont want to swap the Toyota for it as they seem to be worth a lot of money compared to the "unreliable" Buick Park Avenue.

Impressive shooting yesterday evening, guy was standing next to the apartment building across the way from me starts firing his 45 cal at what looks like a parked car (7 shots) and quickly dissapears, Police arrive surprisingly quickly - I tell them what happened and they find a rather worse for wear guy lying beside the car - guess the first hit must have knocked him to the ground and probably saved his life. I'm not sure I like living here anymore!!

[gtd2000]

Im glad that is not just me that thinks that things are getting silly price wise here in the USA, I was lucky with the pickup truck as it was unwanted and a non runner when my Father in law gave it to me, our Jeep seemed expensive at $1500 18 months ago but has proved to be good value. Im still in the "negotiation" stage with the Buick, I dont want to swap the Toyota for it as they seem to be worth a lot of money compared to the "unreliable" Buick Park Avenue.

Impressive shooting yesterday evening, guy was standing next to the apartment building across the way from me starts firing his 45 cal at what looks like a parked car (7 shots) and quickly dissapears, Police arrive surprisingly quickly - I tell them what happened and they find a rather worse for wear guy lying beside the car - guess the first hit must have knocked him to the ground and probably saved his life. I'm not sure I like living here anymore!!

 

There are some very fucked up people over this way it has to be said, e.g.. "Pregnant Woman Kidnapped, Set On Fire, Shot, And Is Expected To Survive"

 

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/28/pregnant-woman-kidnapped-detroit_n_1550535.html

 

I spend most of my time off in Sarasota where the two English lads were shot dead - turns out that despite being quite a prosperous town, Sarasota has a much higher than average crime rate but you wouldn't believe that when you live there.

 

The things I like about America are the convenience and comfort factors and the mentality that if you are willing to work hard you'll be well enough compensated. Other than that, I'm not so sure of the positives.

[gtd2000]

Im glad that is not just me that thinks that things are getting silly price wise here in the USA, I was lucky with the pickup truck as it was unwanted and a non runner when my Father in law gave it to me, our Jeep seemed expensive at $1500 18 months ago but has proved to be good value. Im still in the "negotiation" stage with the Buick, I dont want to swap the Toyota for it as they seem to be worth a lot of money compared to the "unreliable" Buick Park Avenue.

Impressive shooting yesterday evening, guy was standing next to the apartment building across the way from me starts firing his 45 cal at what looks like a parked car (7 shots) and quickly dissapears, Police arrive surprisingly quickly - I tell them what happened and they find a rather worse for wear guy lying beside the car - guess the first hit must have knocked him to the ground and probably saved his life. I'm not sure I like living here anymore!!

 

There are some very fucked up people over this way it has to be said, e.g.. "Pregnant Woman Kidnapped, Set On Fire, Shot, And Is Expected To Survive"

 

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/28/pregnant-woman-kidnapped-detroit_n_1550535.html

 

I spend most of my time off in Sarasota where the two English lads were shot dead - turns out that despite being quite a prosperous town, Sarasota has a much higher than average crime rate but you wouldn't believe that when you live there.

 

The things I like about America are the convenience and comfort factors and the mentality that if you are willing to work hard you'll be well enough compensated. Other than that, I'm not so sure of the positives.

[gtd2000]

One of my colleagues was looking into buying a .40 caliber pistol today. I asked why he wanted that as he already has a semi-auto shotgun in the car.

 

One of his buddies was telling him the story of how some fat guy took a whole 9mm magazine load (13 rounds or so) and kept advancing on his intended victim - so he wants to avoid that type of scenario.

 

He explained that at the times of day the he goes to Walmart, there are some pretty dodgy looking characters hanging around that may possibly mug him.

 

I said, "I think it might be time to try a different Walmart?"

 

I'm just going to pop out to the gas station now to fill up - so I better look out my M60 to be on the safe side...