Slow day.

My last weekend in town before I drive up to my home home winds down and it’s been quite slow. Slow days.

I had to run some errands for mom yesterday, buying logan meat for mom and so I decided to just take the Expo Line down to DTLA and explore Grand Central Market and then go to Chinatown and get what mom wanted.

I did just that.

I spent a few hours at GCM, having a nose-to-tail breakfast and then just sitting at the hipster coffee bar sipping on some espresso and sparkling tea and then a nice frothy cappuccino.

It was nice. It was serene. I wasn’t really rushing to get anywhere, enjoying my time sipping the coffee, reading whatever news that came up on my phone and reading some pages on the book I’m currently reading.

Slow down.

Slow day.

That’s one of the things I’m trying to get better at in my life, to just slow down. I tend to rush everywhere, in terms of how fast I walk and wanting to get to my destination.

I usually just go with the flow for the most part, but yeah, rush rush rush.

Slow down.

Slow day.

I walked over to Chinatown, exploring, walking, with no time constraints, re-treading on familiar ground that grown unfamiliar from the not having been to Chinatown in years. It was just great getting reacquainted with it again, but it was also sad. Many stores are being priced out of the location and either moved or just flat out closed.

Very sad indeed as we see the tell-tale signs of gentrification with new condos and new western/hipster restaurants popping up around the area.

Sad. Sad indeed.

Chinatown was on its slow death years ago and I’m assuming it will finally meet its end soon as more and more businesses are moving east towards the new Chinatown of San Gabriel Valley and Monterey Park; the 626.

Plazas emptied. Stores closed and shuttered. It’s a sad state of affairs in Chinatown.

The big Wing Hop Fung shut down and moved to Alameda and San Gabriel.

I found another herb shop across the street and had short convo in Canto with the Auntie that ran the shop. She called me good looking. Liang jay. Hahhaa. Too funny.

She’s one of us – a Vietnamese – Chinese Immigrant.

There are a lot of us in the world. A lot.

I ended up getting a roast duck and some pork for dinner and hiked it on the train and went home.

I do have to say, even though it would have taken me less time if I drove down to dtla and Chinatown, it was worth it taking the train, even though I stood the whole time on the way back.

It was just easier. Don’t have to worry about traffic and slow ass people and crazy LA drivers.

Plus, it was cheaper, even if I did have to pay my own way. It’ll just be about $3.50 and if I drove, I would have to pay for parking at both Grand Central Market and Chinatown.

Worth it worth it.

Today, would be a slow day.

Relaxing and getting my brain in shape as I mull over what I need to do for Leslie and her Loaner Tap card history page.

I think I may have gotten it down, but I just have to think about it some more.

Slow day.