“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

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Frequently, we stay in areas that are comfortable for us, places that we know. One of my favorite Youtube channels, Yes Theory, encourages their audience to “Seek Discomfort.” In other words, go beyond their comfort zone and explore the world that awaits them.

For this post, I decided to “Seek Discomfort” and travel to Los Angeles with a few friends of mine. Although Chapman is relatively close to the City of Angels, I have yet to go into the heart of Hollywood and explore the booming city that is filled with lively streets, beautiful views, and a plethora of tourist attractions.

Pictures from my trip to Los Angeles.

Going into this project, I thought that Los Angeles was remarkably similar to New York City. After all, they are the two biggest cities in the nation. However, after going to Los Angeles, I can confidently say that they are nothing alike. For starters, the first thing that I noticed was that Los Angeles has hilly areas. With beautiful spots that overlook the entire city. New York is entirely flat, with little to no trees, hills, or grassy areas (excluding Central Park)

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The streets of Los Angeles (Left). The streets of New York (Right).

Walking down Hollywood Boulevard was an exciting experience. Although I spent most of my time looking down as I walk above the names of many Hollywood Legends, I did notice a lot about the area. For instance, most of the stores were tourist spots, filled with unique souvenirs. As I walked past a plethora of restaurants, I was hit with the sweet smell of pastries, fresh from the oven. This sensation was extremely different than that of walking through Times Square. Los Angeles is quite busy, but nowhere near New York City. Walking around, I didn’t feel like an outsider; I felt as if this is where I was meant to be.

Photos taken on Hollywood Blvd.

The restaurants were clean and relatively cheap to eat at. I also was able to try California Pizza Kitchen for the first time, and I can confidently say that Pizza in New York is slightly better. And, the people in Los Angeles are way more laid back and overall, more helpful people. Each employee, waitress, and local I shared a conversation with was overwhelmingly lovely.

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My first time trying Lemonade and California Pizza Kitchen.

I ended my trip to Los Angeles by attempting to go to Griffith Park to overlook the city as nightfall was upon us. Sadly, everyone was there that night, because there was nowhere for us to park our car.

Pictures from our evening. (L to R) Taking pictures in front of the famous Paul Smith Wall, the only view I was able to see as we drove through Griffith, The LACMA Lights. 

Overall, I have to say that I do like Los Angeles better. Although New York City has been part of my life since I was a young child, I feel as if I fit into the Los Angeles culture. There are a plethora of people, cultures, and genders present in Los Angeles, from the tourists taking pictures in front of the Hollywood Sign to the locals walking to work. Although I was in Los Angeles for less than half a day, I felt notably familiar with my surroundings, as if I had been there in the past.