White Boy/White Dog Move To Skid Row

Certified Beach Dude Moves To Downtown Los Angeles

I had a great experience at lunch today- my friend Yan took me to a very beautiful temple in Chinatown- the Thien Hau Temple, at 750 N. Yale St. It is extremely ornate, with decorations everywhere, and drums and cymbals playing softly (I think this is due to the fact they are still celebrating the New Year).

I used to consider myself an Atheist, but now I think I am Spriritual, and this temple wes the perfect place for me to reflect on life. We got a handful of incense sticks from a table, lit them, and went around and placed them in the various places to pay respect to Buddha (I think that’s what we were doing). Then we kneeled for a minute in front of one of the many “shrines” and reflected/prayed- I swear I am still thinking about how moving the experience was. Click on the link above and take the tour- it’s just what we did but I had not seen the web site prior to going- honestly, I am excited to return now that I know more about the place.

Thien Hau Temple- Wikipedia

After the spirtuality, Yan took me to Lucky Deli- 706 N. Broadway , where we bought some excellent Dim Sum- I bought an order of shrimp dumplings for $2.80. There are a few seats in the deli but it was packed as it was weekend and Firecracker festival time. (see Angelenic’s take on it- I have to agree that some of the food could be greasy/unhealthy- it’s a little scary, with unidentified, skinned animals hanging in a glass case for purchase, but the shrimp was very fresh and not “fishy” at all).

We went down to the main plaza (943 N. Broadway) where there was a music festival, and sat and ate our under $6 meal while watching a band. Then she returned to work, and I came home with some left over dim sum that I am enjoying as I write this- life downtown never ceases to amaze me in some way- today it was a very deep way.