Los Angeles Passion Day 5

Sisters...

Today is the second day of our Sex, Passion and Enlightenment (Get It On) workshop and started off with a ‘movement’ period for the masculine and feminine in separate rooms at 0800 hrs. Lasting 30 minutes, this was enough to start the stomach growling for breakfast, which was provided.

The masculine and feminine

Throughout the day, we were put through exercises where the men learned to stay in their power and the women learned to live in their feminine sexuality. Fun practices were set up during the whole day where both the masculine and feminine practiced separately and later got together to put into practice what they learned as a team.

A masculine in his power

There was lots of fun throughout the day and the session was very meaningful, not just for those in relationships but also for those who were looking forward to being in a relationship with the man/woman of their choice.



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Los Angeles Passion - Day 3

Although our flight time was pushed back by forty-five minutes, we reached our destination, Los Angeles, just ten minutes after our scheduled arrival time. As we had already cleared US customs and immigration in Honolulu International Airport, we managed to exit in record timing. The bags also were placed on the conveyor belt in good time..

Los Angeles Airport shuttles We proceeded to the hotel shuttle service area and waited almost half an hour for the shuttle bus to Crowne Plaza International Airport hotel. By the time we reached the hotel at 0700 hrs, the receptionist was kind enough to check us in at that time of the morning.

Checking in at Los Angeles Airport Hotel - Crowne Plaza International

It was a relief to be able to soak in the bathtub, wash up and catch a short nap before catching the shuttle bus back to the LAX Airport. Our friends, Lionel and Lisa, were coming in via UA with an estimated time of arrival at 1111 hr.

Tempted to just jump into bed

We reached the LAX UA terminal 7 as advised by the shuttle driver but discovered that it should be Terminal 6 for international arrivals.

When we finally saw them exiting from the restricted area, they did not see us. Although we followed behind them closely all the way to the hotel shuttle area and they turned to look back a few times, they did not realize that we were behind them. When they were at the Honolulu International Airport shuttle area waiting for the bus, we were standing just next to them. It took a while before it registered to them that they knew this couple who were standing beside them. We had a great laugh about this!

Catching up with them on the happenings over the past few days, we waited for some time before the shuttle bus to Los Angeles Airport Hotel Crowne Plaza arrived. It was a great and pleasant surprise to see our Sex, Passion and Enlightenment facilitator, Steven Garrett, and his wife, Sonora, on the airport shuttle bus as well.

We had a wonderful time connecting once again with Steven who we met more than a year ago when we attended the Awakening Enlightenment Meditation retreat in Denver Colorado. That was a most wonderful experience for us and what got us started on this journey.

Los Angeles Airport Hotel

After the shuttle bus dropped us off at our accommodation, Crowne Plaza International, we spent some time with Steven and Sonora before we headed to our room where Lionel and Lisa started unpacking.

Lobby - Crowne Plaza International Airport Hotel

Another section of the lobby

Next we decided to have the buffet lunch at The Brasserie where a buffet comprising Pasta, Soup, Salad and dessert cost USD18. With the 50% lunch discount voucher that we were issued upon checking in, we enjoyed the great food. It was real value for money with our 50% discount voucher.

The Brasserie

Lunch at The Brasserie

Yummy bread rolls

Dessert counter

When lunch was over, we headed back to our room to allow Lionel and Lisa to freshen up before booking the Ocean Express bus at the reception counter at USD5 per person. This bus service is a loop service that stops at Downtown Manhattan Beach, Manhattan Village Shopping Centre as well as Plaza El Seguindo. These are all shopping areas where we could explore.

We enjoyed the beautiful 17⁰C / 63⁰F weather as we got into the open to take a short walk to the bus stop just around the corner. The Ocean Express bus arrived slightly behind schedule and it was a fifteen minutes ride to Manhattan Beach.

Taking a walk to the bus stop

Ocean Express Trolley service

Manhattan Beach

Downtown Manhattan Beach

By the beach

A beautiful beach with super soft white sand coupled with awesome breeze, it was heavenly just to stay and walk along the beach. Moving along the area, we spotted quite a few varieties of cactus, huge and with flowers too.

For pictures of the various lovely plants that we saw, visit Los Angeles Plants.

Exploring the shops around Manhattan Beach



Lovely cake decoration

Taking a slow stroll along the shops in Manhattan Beach, we then boarded the next Ocean Express Trolley which runs every half hourly and alighted at the next stop, Manhattan Village Shopping Centre.

Ocean Express Trolley

Manhattan Village Shopping Centre

At Manhattan Village

Godiva Chocolates

Here we had some fun time shopping and enjoying the lovely and unique items. It was not until a few hours later when our stomachs started rumbling and we realized it was time for dinner.

Manhattan Village at night

LA Foods, a restaurant with the concept of foods that you simply must try whilst in Los Angeles, caught our fancy.

LA Foods

We ended up devouring their roast rack of lamb, calamari as well as the chocolate molten cake with vanilla ice cream.

Soup

Roast rack of lamb

Calamari

Chocolate molten cake

Mmmmmmm….. the dinner was delicious! With the wonderful company that we had, it was indeed a memorable time for us.

We managed to catch the 2140 hrs bus back to the Crowne Plaza hotel.

Having fun!

Upon entering our hotel room, we realized that there was a must smell as the carpet earlier had been slightly damp. We reported this to the Reception and managed to get a room change.

We finally got settled in and retired for the night by 0030 hrs. It had been a great day in Los Angeles and we could not wait for the Sex, Passion and Enlightenment workshop that starts tomorrow. mmmmmmmm..........................

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Narita Village 9 Jun 2010

Our main purpose in flying to Los Angeles is to attend the Sex, Passion and Enlightenment workshop from 12th – 14th June 2010 which will be held in Crowne Plaza Hotel LA Airport.

One of the cheapest airfares we could find online was by Delta Airlines. There were other cheaper airfares but with unavailable seats on the dates we selected. We finally decided to book our flight on Delta Airlines.

Our itinerary was as follows:-
9 Jun DL280 Singapore – Tokyo Narita 0545 hrs / 1400 hrs
9 Jun DL646 Tokyo – Honolulu 2115 hrs / 0935 hrs
9 Jun DL1558 Honolulu – Los Angeles 2125 hrs / 1745 hrs

Singapore Changi International Airport

We left home at 0300 hrs and arrived at Singapore Changi International Airport just after 0330 hrs. As the flight to Tokyo was overbooked, we were asked if we would like to standby and travel by ANA flight leaving at 0825 hrs. Since we were going to be having a seven hours transit period in Tokyo Narita, we agreed as it would allow us to reduce our transit period. We would also be issued a USD400 voucher each for future booking of airline tickets with Delta Airlines.

Just before 0500 hrs, Delta airlines staff thanked us for volunteering to go on a different flight but informed us that we could carry on with our original flight.

Recycling at Singapore Changi Airport

Taking just over seven hours, we arrived in Tokyo Narita airport on what was a smooth flight. Since we were going to be on transit for seven hours, we tried our luck and asked the airport staff if we could get out of the airport. We were advised to use the various facilities in the airport. However upon probing further, we were informed that if we wanted to move around Narita or the city, we should be back at the airport by 1900 hrs.

WOW! Narita, here we come… This was unexpected good news for us. By the time we cleared immigration and customs, it was already 0300 hrs.

We proceeded to Keisei Line to purchase the train ticket to Narita village. Costing 250 Yen (USD2.90), it took us a little more than 10 minutes to arrive in Narita.

Purchasing ticket for Keisei Line

Ticket for Keisei Line

Taking a slow walk to Narita Shinshoji Temple, we discovered that many of the shops were closed. It was surprising indeed. We were hoping to see some stallholders in action getting the unagi (eel) ready. We had seen that the last time we were in Narita san. However since it was already afternoon, there was not much activity.

Even the senbei (Japanese rice crackers) shops had stopped making the popular senbei biscuits. So if you wish to see more action, visit Narita san in the morning.

This monument can be seen at thebeginning of the street leading to the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.

Senbei crackers

We were fortunate that the weather was cool as we took a stroll and made some purchases.

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, the highlight of the stroll

Steps to the entrance of Narita Shinshoji Temple

Beautiful flowers along the roadside

Old shophouses

Statue near the entrance of the street leading to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Great shopping at any of the 100 yen shops

Next we went to the bus stop and took the express bus no. 6 to Aeon Mall, a huge shopping mall, ten minutes away by bus.

At the bus stop waiting for the bus to Aeon Mall Narita

We had a late lunch of yakisoba (Japanese fried noodles) and tako (octopus balls) where the set meal cost 830 Yen (USD9.65). Tasty and fragrant, they would have tasted better without the mayonnaise.

The device that beeps when your food order is ready for collection... Interesting!

Tako

Yakisoba

Aeon Narita Mall

Picnic Court where we had our meal

Some interesting shops in Aeon Mall includes Daiso, where all items cost 100 Yen (USD1.16), Jusco, a supermarket cum department store and various other specialty stores.

Returning to the airport the same way we came, that is, by bus followed by Keisei train, we were back in Narita airport by 1845 hrs.

On board the Keisei line

Keisei line train

Here we had some time to walk around the airport before proceeding to the boarding gate area to await boarding for our 2115 hrs flight to Honolulu enroute to Los Angeles.

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