A Day in the Life: Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel

This may be one of the most memorable hidden treasures I’ve found in London thus far. I usually finish classes around 5 in the evening and my friend (who I spontaneously met at orientation), Naveen, and I decided to go cross the Thames River after our lecture. Naveen and I are infamously known for not being too geographically-inclined so of course, we got lost.

We began walking south from campus for around 15 minutes and reached the edge of the river. We were initially planning to go grab some grub, but we ended up at the Waterloo Tube station. What I love about long walks like these is that everything looks new to you. Every turn, glance, or stroll feels like you’re in a movie set. We crossed one of the many bridges through the Thames River and we got an amazing view.

Upon coming to London, one aspect of the city I was immediately drawn to was this rapid pace it was moving in. I step outside and I see businesspeople treating themselves to a rich brew at a pub after a long day of work, locals lounging with a cup of coffee outside, or even travelers hastily asking for directions. Although I loved this constant flow of energy London was radiating with, I noticed myself progressively appreciating my solitude, going on adventures in the city with just one other person, and especially some peace and quiet.

We ended up at an underground Tube station which, and much to my surprise, was almost completely empty. We strolled through this desolate part of the underground, as we listened to some musicians performing blues and saw locals heading home. After a few unprompted turns and staircase rises the rest of the world opened up to us and we arrived at what is now called the Leake Street Tunnel.

This tunnel was completely smothered with beautiful, ever-changing graffiti art. Luckily, we were able to witness some artists and other teenagers painting over the walls.

After chatting with some of the artists, I found that they come here almost every month and see an entirely new mural, creating a different scene at each visit. The Leake Street Tunnel, although eerie, was completely safe. Many other people pass through to take a short-cut or see a new design on the way to their destination.

Albeit some believe graffiti is a form of vandalism, it has always been such an underrated art form. But this 200-m strip of elaborate art murals and designs gives artists a way to express themselves freely (and legally) as well as take part in this underground culture that is not often exemplified in new media.

Anyone even remotely interested in underground culture has to come take a look. Bring your camera and see these remarkable street artists do what they do best.

“I don’t understand why when we destroy something created by man we call it “vandalism,” but when we destroy something created by nature we call it “progress.” –Ed Begley Jr.

Leake Street Tunnel

Leake Street

London SE1 7NN, England

A Day in the Life: London in a Day

It’s been quite a while since I’ve checked in, but I’m posting from London, England! I arrived a couple weeks ago, a day after American Independence Day (which is ironic, I know) and spent the entire week excitedly (yet nervously) familiarizing with my new surroundings, spontaneously meeting new people, and more importantly starting my summer courses at the London School of Economics. For the approximate week I’ve been here, I’ve visited some typical tourist destinations: Big Ben, the London Eye, the Buckingham Palace, various pubs, etc. but if any of you are trying to inch everything there is to do in London in a day, keep reading.

My friend, Samantha, back from the university temporarily visited from Dublin, Ireland (where she’s interning) and we woke up bright and early on a Sunday morning to go explore the vast regions of Central London. 

We woke up around 9 in the morning, gently opened the blinds, and got dressed for our day ahead. I’m not a morning person as I would like to be, so we took the London Underground (or the Tube as the locals call it) to Camden Town, home of famous weekend markets and Regent’s Canal, and went to a café for coffee right away. We decided to ease into our morning at Falla & Mocaer, a locally-owned bakery and cafe located in the heart of Camden Town. 

This beautifully lit store is owned by two brothers living close by and I was quickly greeted with a smile and a detailed layout of what was offered specially for today. I decided to order the quiche with chorizo and bacon and Samantha got a foccacia flatbread with ham and cheese. Did I mention everything on the menu is homemade?

Falla & Mocaer blew me away once I saw the beautiful seating area in the back of the establishment with a central atrium. The morning light effortlessly lit the room and created a warm, inviting atmosphere (something I desperately needed).

It was definitely comforting to hear a familiar voice from back home, especially being so far away from the states! I haven’t seen Samantha in a while so we slowly drank our coffee, exchanged travel stories, and admired the aesthetics of the cafe.

Just a few blocks away, Camden Market was our next destination. Camden Market is an outdoor flea market open everyday of the week. This place was bustling with people (both travelers and locals) and offered a variety of merchandise. My favorite aspect of this particular market was this constant flow of energy, vibrant colors, and distant sounds of stall owners convincing you to purchase their items. Almost like stepping into a completely different world.

This market offered stunning sights with every turn. One section would be street food and vintage collectables in the next. While we looked around for anything that would catch our eyes, we noticed interesting street wall art and couldn’t help but snap a picture.

If you continue walking further north of the market, you slowly enter a residential area with English style homes and quirky little neighborhood numbers. If you have some additional time to spare, consider walking around and taking it all in. With only one or two residents walking at your every turn, it can serve as a quick escape from bustling London life. You never know what you can find when you’re walking aimlessly.

We walked until we reached the nearest Tube station and ventured over to the Natural History Museum. This museum is located within walking distance of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum (all free admission) and is perfect for those traveling on a budget. The train ride was around 30 minutes and we arrived around 1 in the afternoon. The structure of the Natural History Museum is somewhat reminiscent of that in Los Angeles but one noticeable disparity was the extravagant somewhat Gothic architecture that made up its halls. This building was built in the late 19th century and features a large dinosaur fossil in center of the lobby (which is itself an amazing piece). Incredible right?

If your goal for the day is trying to visit as many places as possible in a short span of time, try grabbing a map and noting which specific exhibits you particularly like to see. We saw several ones before leaving but I will definitely be visiting this place again when I have more time to spare. Next, we walked to another celebrated museum in central London, the Victoria & Albert Museum located a quick walk away. 

A museum of decorative arts, luxury, and design, the V&A can be an interesting museum destination in London. They offer a variety of exhibits from design styles, Asian ceramics, to collective architecture, that it’s probably more understandable to make multiple trips here to really see everything. But Sam and I were experiencing a time crunch so we looked at which exhibits might interest us the most and started there. Make sure to walk around the surrounding neighborhoods for flush white architecture and dessert shops!

It was around 3 in the afternoon by then, so I took Sam to a little quirky part of town called Shoreditch. It holds an abundance of thrift shops, street food pop-up shops, underground markets, and younger London dwellers. We killed a couple hours here visiting multiple thrift shops and record stores before her flight in the evening. 

Looking back at this day, I would undoubtedly say I saw so much of London within a span of several hours. With warm, inviting company and a good cup of coffee in the morning, it's almost too easy to appreciate your surroundings and everything at the tip of your fingers.

"I want to take good photos. Drink dark coffee. And travel the world." -Nina H.

Falla & Mocaer

82 Parkway

London NW1 7AN

020 7428 7586

Camden Market

201 Camden High Street

London NW1 7BT

Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road

London SW7 5BD

020 7942 5000

Victoria & Albert Museum

Cromwell Road

 London SW7 2RL

020 7942 2696

Blitz Vintage

55-59 Hanbury Street

London E1 5JP

020 7377 0730

A Day in the Life: MOCA & The Bates Motel

One of my close friends, Jennifer, finally finished her finals last week! Woohoo~ She was only back home for about a week before starting summer courses at UC Davis so we jammed packed different places we’ve been wanting to go to in one day. With clear skies and the bright sun out all day, we set out to venture into two of our favorite cities in Southern California: Hollywood and Los Angeles.

I’ve been eyeing the William Pope.L exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Giffen Contemporary at MOCA) for a while now so we planned our first destination to be here. This is the smallest of the three MOCA locations so some of the art can be limited compared to some other museums around the block. But what really caught my eye here was the 16 x 45 feet flag installation placed right in the center of the warehouse. With large industrial fans rushing and blowing the flag on its left, this Trinket installation is an incessant force, symbolizing the need for the people to literally “feel their democracy.” It’s an interesting message for sure.

We continued to walk around and explore the grounds. This exhibition was smaller than most seasonal exhibits I’ve visited at this location. There were only two other rooms showcasing his art, but it didn’t stop us from capturing a few shots in this room with sheer blank walls and soft light.

Once we looked at everything, we set out to visit some other ol’ gem in the city: the Bates Motel. An old motel painted completely white and also featured in the film Psycho back in the 60s, it’s a pretty well known place for those who love flushed white images and somewhat eerie settings. Surprisingly, it’s located in an unexpected block in Silver Lake.

I continued to look at this strange building and admire the grounds. There is something incredibly beautiful about the stillness and the remains left behind. To me, time doesn’t necessarily stop in these sorts of places, it just moves at a different pace.

It was around 6 PM by then, and we heard our bellies calling for some evening coffee (yes, coffee in the evening is completely logical). Conveniently, we spotted a Dinosaur Coffee right across the street. We ordered two lattes and found a spot by the window.

Slowly sipping our coffee, we lounged, exchanged college stories, and winded down.

It’s truly a good feeling to be able to catch up with good company and visit places (old and new) that never cease to blow your mind, stimulate wonder, and transcend the present moment. From art revealing powerful political messages, eerie abandoned wastelands, to good ol’ cuppa joe, it was definitely a day well spent.

Giffen Contemporary at MOCA

152 N. Central Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 626-6222

The Bates Motel

4301 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90029

Dinosaur Coffee

4334 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90029

A Day in the Life: Make Music Pasadena 2015

The day had finally come—the free, annual Make Music Pasadena festival that occurs every June in the sunny and sweet neighborhood of Old Town Pasadena. This was my second time here that it’s almost like a summer tradition for me. Although I was pretty unfamiliar with the majority of the bands lined up this year, I was stoked to see Kishi Bashi and Sir Sly, two bands I had discovered some time back.

My sister, Amy, and I drove there around 4 in the evening, just in time for Kishi Bashi’s performance at one of the main stages. By this time, many families, dogs, and local or traveling teens had arrived, a much larger crowd than the previous year. Will it become a mini Coachella? Hmmm…What’s great about this event are the many stages available around the venue. With a line up and schedule of when and where certain bands are performing released days before, you can essentially plan your entire day out. Amy and I conveniently wanted to see bands performing at the same stage, by various food trucks and pop-up shops on Colorado Boulevard.

Kishi Bashi, a bright indie pop band based in Seattle, gave an uplifting, joyous performance that evening. The man behind Kishi Bashi is Kaoru Ishibashi, a violinist of the band “Of Montreal” and a musician voted “Best New Artist” by NPR in 2012. He concluded his last few tracks with one of my established favorites, Philosophize With It! Chemicalize In It!, one that can potentially end up on a Wes Anderson film soundtrack. Ishibashi’s renowned, electrifying skill in the violin proved itself evident after hearing Carry On Phenomenon, another song with a gorgeous violin solo.  The majority of his songs are unlike any other, which can make it a complex listen for those who don’t know the band too well, but I definitely warmed up to them after hearing their latest studio album released last year, Lightght.

Performing minutes after Kishi Bashi, Sir Sly finished the event off at the main stage. The Los Angeles based trio has a very unique, absorbing sound, somewhat reminiscent of the vocals of The Neighbourhood and catchiness of Terraplane Sun. This band had quietly lurked from the shadows all while releasing a number of EPs and singles. But after being ranked #1 on HypeMachine’s current tops in 2013, the indie pop band began to gain more and more name recognition. During their Make Music performance, Sir Sly played all of their widely known favorites—Gold, Ghost, and Found You Out—all tracks I’ve been loving off their most recent album You Found Me. Sir Sly definitely got us dancing, singing along, and sending shivers down our spines.

After a couple hours of enjoying live music, Amy and I did what we usually like to do, explore the ground. The streets were packed and heavy with groups of families and friends, so we walked through the quiet alleyways of Old Town. We eventually found one between two gorgeously built buildings with a New York/Breakfast at Tiffany’s feel.

I’m a personal fan of my sister’s fashion and of what she wore that day. Here, she’s sporting a black halter crop from Zara, light stressed boyfriend jeans from Zara, a plaid flannel from Uniqlo, and white Nike kicks.

Here, I’m sporting a striped tee from Zara, thrifted black high-waisted shorts, a thrifted thick brimmed hat, and thrifted black Aldo flats. (Note: I thrift a lot.)

We continued to walk around and enjoy the nice day out, all while listening to the distant sounds of other bands performing nearby. It’s definitely a fulfilling moment to listen to live music alongside your community. It’s a time when you get to together with others through the power of music, a medium that does nothing but heal and mend hearts. Thank you for a swell Saturday, Make Music Pasadena :-)

"Without music, life would be a mistake." -Friedrich Nietzche

A Day in the Life: A Summer Picnic

Now that it’s practical to wear denim shorts, sunglasses, and lightweight kimonos, a picnic at one of my favorite neighborhood parks sounded more than ideal. My sister, Amy, has recently picked up the art of long boarding so we each took turns practicing on a Venice-made Arbor board on our way to the park. A rucksack with a picnic blanket, my favorite magazine, snacks, and a camera in hand, we set out to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather.

When we arrived, I couldn’t help but look forward to the relaxation and moment of paradise ahead. Imagine a small park filled with children ecstatically running towards the nearest ice cream truck after getting the approval of their parents, dogs playing wildly in the sand, parents discussing their personal issues on benches, and the occasional bystander gathering his thoughts near the trunk of a tree. The scene was just like this, everything in perfect ratios. When I was younger, I never really took the time to notice such small details in my surroundings. But nowadays, I’ve been making the habit to appreciate these little things and seek beauty wherever they are.

After ten minutes of long boarding, Amy and I walked around for a bit until we found a nice spot in the shade. We fixed our blanket and took some deep breaths.

I brought with me one of my favorite seasonal magazines called Kinfolk. These quarterly lifestyle magazines feature gorgeous images, recipes, and travel tips written with grace. I would undoubtedly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a light, intimate read to unwind and slow down. While my sister was long boarding along the sidewalks by the park, I played some music (Blackbird Blackbird’s Hawaii being my initial track) and got a head start on the food…(*subtle-not-so-subtle evil smirk*).

Luckily, I saved her enough popcorn to keep her satisfied :-) After we shared some laughs and stories until we lost track of time, we called it a day. Sometimes it can really mean a lot to go outside and enjoy the weather, even if it’s just for a couple of hours.

“This curious world we inhabit is more wonderful than convenient; more beautiful than it is useful; it is more to be admired and enjoyed than used.” –Henry David Thoreau

A Day in the Life: El Matador State Beach

Come to think of it, I can’t think of one summer vacation I didn’t go to the beach. After waiting two full weeks of summer without seeing a body of water, my friends (Maxine, Magaly, and Tany) and I finally dedicated a Saturday to go to El Matador State Beach, one of the many beaches along the Malibu coast. As it was all of our first times here, we noticed entirely new things about the location that we wouldn’t have if we’ve been here before.

Blasting Kendrick Lamar’s “King Kunta” and classics for 90s kids at full volume during our commute, our fun started even before we arrived! Interestingly, the fog loomed over us right as we entered the Santa Monica Mountains, creating a drastic change from sunny 80 degree valley weather into full-on 68 degree beach weather (which is typical in some of these parts). Completely unaffected by the change in weather, we continued to sing the tunes at our lungs ~ After a good forty minutes of driving, we arrived around ten in the morning and got a head start before all the other families that usually arrive later in the afternoon.

Carrying an unnecessary umbrella, some wraps for lunch, and our small boom box, we eagerly started walking from the cliff down to the shore. Widely known for their caves and large rock formations, El Matador was just the place I’ve been meaning to visit.

We admired the comforting sound of the waves, the near solitude, and each others' lifted spirits as we looked at our day ahead.

We settled on the far right side of the shore and set up our things. We laid our towels, ate our wraps, and planted our bare feet into the warm sand. We didn’t want to sit idly by for too long so we quickly ate, left our stuff, and began to explore the land. When we walked to the edge of the shore, one would initially think the cliff ended there, but behind some large rocks, we saw a small opening that seemed to lead to the other side. After gently poking adorable sea anemones for some time, we snapped out of it and continued our spontaneous journey. As tides were high, some of the waves would startle us but we kept going, leading us to an entirely new part of shore.

With many stepping-stones ahead, I felt my bare feet getting number and number. Eventually, we walked to the end of the shore again and saw another small opening which led to a larger cave with the sea lurking behind.

In awe with what we saw, we sat back on the larger stones by the water and watched the waves come in and out. There’s something about these beautiful rock formations, the ocean, the sound of seagulls, and the scent of my beach hair that soothes my soul. My mind was in a clutter this past month with final exams and exercise hiatus that this specific moment was just what I needed, retuning my soul to the fullest. We knew we spent almost an hour in this cave when we started noticing more and more people pass through.

When we thought it was time, we left the cave and continued walking further. We soon walked out into what looked like a private beach open to us exclusively. …Almost as though we entered a completely different coast—the cave being our teleporter. Here we saw stunning beachfront homes settled by the edge of the cliff and couldn’t help but envy its habitants.

After suffering from minor scratches and numbness, our feet finally thanked us after we started running across the smooth sand. We spent some time at this part of El Matador as there were only less than ten people in sight (which is rare nowadays). There was something incredibly fascinating about how the overcast weather and teal-tinted currents created this dream-like ambience. Almost like a fantasy. I’ve definitely dreamt about moments like these. Great company and phenomenal destinations served as the ultimate getaway from busy LA life.

"There is nothing more beautiful than nature early in the morning." -Vincent Van Gogh

El Matador State Beach

32100 Pacific Coast Hwy

Malibu, CA 90265