Welcome To Hollywood

Last Saturday, I was feeling a bit adventurous. So, I talked my husband into visiting the famous Hollywood Sign. You know, the big block thing on top of the Hollywood Hill that spells H.O.L.L.Y.W.O.O.D. Ever since I was a little girl, that thing has been featured in most American movies that I watched. So, tak sah la kan kalau dah ada sini tapi tak visit that sign.

We started from home around 3 p.m. It took almost 40 minutes to reach Hollywood Hill. We got the direction from Google Map. I'm not sure which moronic creature came up with the direction that it was such a complex route, it took another 20 minutes for us to reach up there, with lots of small snaky roads among the big mansions. I'm pretty sure any postman who is assigned to Hollywood Hill would curse himself. Hehe.. Anyway, when we came down, it was only about 5 minutes, using the route that dear hubby taken so adventurously.

Along the way, we came acrossed lots of big mansions. No..I mean, HUGE. Ni orang kaya-kaya punya tempat..orang kayap takde tempat kat sini aaa.. One time, I thought we passed by a movie star walking with her two daughters. Can't remember his name though, but even dear hubby agreed that the guy looked very very familiar and famous.

So we continued up there and eventually reached Mulholland Highway. This is the closest point we can get to the sign. Unfortunately, hiking up to the sign is prohibited. If it's not so, I would surely go straight up. It was so closed, and the hill was not so steep at all. The kids were asleep, but we woke them up for posing time. Yeah..my dear little pumpkins...still so little, but already they've been to one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Haihhh..bertuah badan diaorang, tumpang rezeki Abah. Alhamdulillah.




Info time...here's a little knowledge about Hollywood Sign.

The Hollywood Sign is a famous landmark in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, California, spelling out the name of the area in 50 feet (15 m) high white letters. It was created as an advertisement in 1923, but garnered increasing recognition after its initial purpose had been fulfilled. The sign was a frequent target of pranks and vandalism but has since undergone restoration, including a security system to deter vandalism. The sign is protected and promoted by the Hollywood Sign Trust, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to physically maintain, repair and secure the sign, to educate the world about its historical and cultural importance, and to raise the funds necessary to accomplish these projects.

The sign originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND", and its purpose was to advertise a new housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. H.J. Whitley had already used a sign to advertise his development Whitley Heights, which was located between Highland Avenue and Vine Avenue. He suggested to his friend Harry Chandler, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, that the land syndicate in which he was involved make a similar sign to advertise their land. Real estate developers Woodruff and Shoults called their development "Hollywoodland" and advertised it as a "superb environment without excessive cost on the Hollywood side of the hills."

It became so associated with Hollywood that in September 1932, actress Peg Entwistle committed suicide by jumping to her death from the letter "H", as she saw the sign as a symbol of the industry that had rejected her.

The sign is located on the southern side of Mount Lee in Griffith Park, north of the Mulholland Highway. A good viewpoint within 100 yards of the sign can be reached by driving north up Gower Street from Hollywood Boulevard and then north along Beachwood Drive.

More info can be read at The Official Website of Hollywood Sign.