Loving Los Angeles

When one thinks of Los Angeles, the words glitz and glamour immediately come to mind. Images of sensational film stars on the red carpet — or in poker-faced mugshots from jail — flash through one’s mind.  After all, the city is the world’s entertainment capital, with many of its residents also fixtures of the silver screen. Los Angeles has the star power, and much more, to offer, says Diajeng Hendratmo-Brown.   

The fact that Los Angeles is synonymous with the entertainment industry attracts millions of tourists to such hotspots as the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s 2,342 stars and the Grauman’s Chinese Theater. More than that, though, this fascinating city is also home to a vibrant cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes and a diverse collection of cuisines.  In many ways, it is a microcosm of the world.

Established in 1781 by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve, the city’s full moniker is El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles del Río de Porciúncula, or The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of the River Porziuncola. Initially a Spanish colony, and then the territory of Mexico, Los Angeles became a part of the United States of America when California achieved statehood in 1850.

Today, Los Angeles County spans approximately 54957.5 square kilometers.  The City of Los Angeles is 1,821.5 square kilometers, or twice the size of Surabaya. The County has 121 km of coastline and encompasses a diverse geographical topography. From the San Bernardino Mountains, the Mojave Desert and the beaches of Malibu and Santa Monica, Angelinos, as its residents are called, can go from skiing to surfing within a one-hour car ride.

One of the best drives in California is down the Pacific Coast Highway, captured in many movie scenes. The shores that inspired many songs by bands like the Beach Boys are famous for their blue waters and bikini-clad beach bums in search of the perfect wave. From dolphin watching in Zuma beach to enjoying one of the rides on the Santa Monica pier, one could do a range of activities on the idyllic beaches of Los Angeles. With its sunny and warm climate and picturesque scenery, it is no wonder that 24.9 million tourists visited Los Angeles in 2005, according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Where do these millions of visitors go when they arrive in Los Angeles? A large number of them probably head to tourist favorites, including theme parks like Disneyland and Universal Studios.  Others might go to photograph themselves next to their favorite stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But is that all that Los Angeles has to offer? After all, these tourist traps do not, in and of themselves, make for an interesting city.

Culturally, Los Angeles is going through a reawakening. Museums such as the Getty Center and the LACMA are inspiring places to visit. With exhibits on Pompeii and the Roman Villa at the LACMA, or the collection of modern art at the Getty Center, LA is buzzing with artistic endeavor. Not only that, if one is lucky enough to visit the city on the second Thursday of every month, one should go to the downtown LA Art Walk, where the whole downtown gallery district stays open well into the night. Thousands of visitors walk the streets in search of great art or just to have fun with friends and strangers alike.

Downtown Los Angeles is also home to one of the most fascinating architectural work of recent times. Frank Gehry’s stunning Disney Concert Hall will take anyone’s breath away. The concert hall was designed by the superstar architect to be one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world, one that would befit the LA Philharmonic’s electrifying conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Not classically minded? No worries. Local bands like the Silversun Pickups or international musicians from all over the world regularly play in any number of clubs located on Sunset Boulevard.

Another popular venue for musical events is the Hollywood Bowl. The outdoor amphitheater has hosted many musicians throughout the years. During the summer, the venue is jam-packed with visitors enjoying the various musical events under the blue sky. Over the years, performers ranging from Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti to Maxwell and Depeche Mode have graced the stage of ‘The Bowl’.

Music is just one part of the city’s liveliness. Another element that contributes to the city’s unique vivacity is the diverse cultural background of its people. According to a US Census Bureau estimate in 2006, 3.8 million people called Los Angeles their home.  Stroll down any street in this City of Angels and one quickly sees how ethnically and nationally diverse Angelinos are. People of Latin, Asian and African heritage are as much a part of the community as people of Caucasian descent, and the city’s residents include members of 140 national groups, speaking 86 languages. It’s not uncommon to hear Indonesian or even more surprisingly, Javanese, being spoken on the streets.

In fact, Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Indonesian communities outside of Indonesia. It comes as no surprise, then, that one of Los Angeles’ sister cities is none other than Jakarta. According to the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles, there are 60,000 Indonesian citizens who live in the greater Los Angeles area, and half of whom live in the city of Los Angeles. A large number of Indonesians in Los Angeles are immigrants or first generation Americans. The rest are expatriates, having been born in Indonesia or elsewhere.

Why do so many Indonesians call Los Angeles home?

Maggie McDonald, a physical scientist for the US Department of Defense, who is of Indonesian descent, says, “I love the diverse culture of Los Angeles. You can meet different people from all around the globe. It’s like the epicenter for ethnic diversity.”

Niken Sekar Dewani, a sales executive for a server company, also admits to loving Los Angeles for “its diversity. It helps that the weather is always so mild and perfect. I also love the beaches, the easy access to the best food, fashion, design and the friends I’ve made.”

Beyond the flashing lights of the paparazzi, Los Angeles is filled with exciting and innumerable point of interests. Maybe one day soon, Garuda Indonesia will resume its route to Los Angeles. Until then, get on another airline and visit. The City of Angels awaits with open arms.

Back to The top page