Archive for November, 2008

Motorcycle Riding Course

 After years of wanting to do this, I finally got it together to make it happen. There are quite a few schools around town. The average wait is about a month to get into any of them. This is due to the gas price and later the economic crisis. Being a city of car commuters, I think there’s a small shift of interest to motorcycles. My suspicion still remain in the history of California itself, tied up with car cultures, I doubt the motorcycle popularity will be anything more than a trend. I wish to be proven wrong on this. Maybe mopeds will take up the slack. Not everyone wants an Harley Davidson Sporster, right? 

This learning skills was a part of my grand plan to travel around the country next Spring time. I will ride one to New Orleans for the Jazz Festival visiting new friends and old friends along the way. It will be amazing.

A Fellow Student

A Fellow Student

On the Motorcycle Learning

Buci Chan at Venice Beach

Not until after Buci left, I was to fully realize I didn’t have enough time with Buci at all. This is also judged by the fact that I can’t seem to have enough pictures of him to round up his character. Our later electronic communication revealed to me how interesting, and definitely fun, Buci is. I always have a deep fascination with Eurasians, but this one – introduced me some new angles only unique to him. (And I really like saying his name.)

A French-Chinese from Malaysia, he truly exhibited the opposing cultures harmoniously. He had traveled everywhere and appeared very well rounded. He came to stay for a couple of nights when another couchsurfer Giovanni was already on my couch. They both find practicing Capoeira in common. They ended up hanging out with each other more as I kept excusing myself for naps. His departure came too soon when his friend, another couchsurfer, Chris, came to swoop him away eastward to Alhambra 10 miles from here. Giovanni and I followed them out for the last hang. Chris ended up treating all of us to an amazing Taiwanese-Chinese (late) breakfast. From there, I said good bye to Buci, not knowing when I’ll run into him again. Maybe Thailand?

Another installment of an internet radio TWFPS. I took couchsurfer photographer friend Giovanni Del Brenna with me.

Watt talking on his internet radio show

Mark Stangroom

Mark Mark… Mark…. I got a short notice contact from Mark requesting a one night stay at my place. Already I felt it was unjust for someone to come through Los Angeles to only pass through. From looking at his profile of interests, I immediately suggested that he may like to consider hanging around for another day when my friend Phebbie could show him her Kung Fu school in the early evening, and then to see my friend Scott Amendola from San Francisco play a concert in the evening. I picked him up from the Union station in Downtown LA on the 27th. It took some convincing for him to extend his stay. I mean, why wouldn’t you stay see the Halloween madness here? All in all I didn’t drop him off until 6 days later at the same place I picked him up.

“He’s funny as shit!” my dearest of all friends Phebbie proclaimed once she met him. “Yes, he is!”, I immediately returned. That’s pretty much the general theme of having him around. My invitation for him to stay for the duration was substantiated… but not without the expense of slightly diminish the fun factor in the town of Truth or Consequences where he was heading next. What’s the hurry to go there?

Mark is a genuine, sweet, honest, well rounded, and forever young at heart person. He’s also sensitive, polite, and considerate. Dragging him around to different places with me was just too fun. His natural curiosity, open mindedness, and the endless wit – was a sure winner to everyone I introduced him to. I got a chance to take him to Mike Watt’s internet radio recording on the 29th , a Krav Maga class, a run at the park, loooong walk TO the beach with a stop for the local famous Abbot’s Bagel Crust Pizza, and once we reached the beach, we did tandem bike riding (the most death defying joint experience  - where he kept accusing me of not contributing into the peddling.) The last day before I dropped him off at the train station, we went and grab some lunch at the Getty Museum to complete the Los Angeles experience.

The blog he keeps for his 6 month adventure of the Americas is here. He is well missed.
 

Mark at the Watt from Pedro Show recording

Mark on the back of the bus with me in LA

Mark in Chinatown near the "Rush Hour" chinese restaurant

Mark catching up with his friend Heather in Culver City

Mark at the Getty Center

Mark's last day in LA at the Getty Center