Little Saigon.

Little Saigon started out right here at this small plaza around late 1978 or early 1979 as a convenient store a la 'Seven Eleven', then a mini market and later on Hoa Binh supermarket. I do have a vivid memory about the place, because, as an E.S.L. teacher at the time, the children of the owner were my students at Wardlow of Fountain Valley School District. Now, after many owner changes, the super market no longer exists.

An overpass for pedestrians is badly needed at this main walkway connecting two main plazas of Little Saigon.

Phuoc Loc Tho (Asian Garden) mall.

Upstair is a big restaurant specialized in wedding banquet. Downstair is the famed pho 'Hoa' restaurant now open around the clock with outdoor tables and heater to cater the smoking clientele.

A luxury SUV makes a turn into the mall followed by another identical vehicle.

View from inside the mall.

Here, at the food court inside the mall, one can find a variety of Vietnamese dishes from pho to salad roll. The place has improved its look and service over the years. A good place to rest your tired feet and sample the Vietnamese cuisine. There is a big travel agency upstair where I buy all my plane tickets.

A view from one major plaza to the other one.

A woman and her companion at the shrine inside the mall, she is probably wishing good luck from the red face deity.

Surf City.

On week-ends, parking spaces near the beach are extremely hard to find and also costing money. Late comers have to park their vehicle way inland in the residential areas, the walk is long but the parking is free of charge.

A male pedicab operator.

A female pedicab operator.

It's a very good place for a nice view looking at the Pacific Ocean.

For a cooler and sometimes chilly walk, try the peer that sends pedestrians further away from the shore.

You can also watch the ocean and the beach people sitting a la stadium.

The motorcycle in the foreground might cost more than a medium price automobile.

Blessed by a peculiar climate, California coast is very cool in the summer and mildly cold in the winter. Even in summer nights, sitting out without warm clothes or without heating device is not a good idea. Here, a waiter is turning on the heater for the upcoming evening dinner servings.

Each Summer, there is a new beachwear fashion. Is this Summer 2005 fashion with its ultra low waist garment? I wonder if the outer skirt always stays in place during a long walk. Huntington Beach, along with other Southern California coastal cities, seems to be a trend setter in beachwear.

More of the low waist skirt.

Rock N Roll old timers gather for a surf music jam a la Dick Dale, the big tall guy at the left end plays the rhythm, the other guys take turn to show off their lick.

These oldtimer guitarists revive the surf classics of the Sixties.

Hot weather always brings big crowd to the beachwalk, especially on weekends.

Strange people show up with the big crowd, no captions needed for this guy.

This guy hauls his surfboard in his towed babywagon or something like that. Huntington Beach is the mecca of surfing thus its nickname 'Surf City'.






Surfing scene. Each year, there's a surfing championship going here at this beach where you see these surfers. I miss the big event by a week, big crowd never fits me so it's alright.

The daredevils on their flying motorcycles.





It's an harmonious crowd like this that makes a day at the beach pleasing and relaxing after a week of hard work.

And a face like this that gives a man sweet dream. All afternoon, I was looking for a nice looking face to end my photo day with then I found this beauty candidly. She never knew she was being photographed. Although the picture is blurred due to insufficient lighting and movement, I value this picture way above a stiffly posed razor sharp picture with hundred of mega pixels.

Fashion Island Concerts.

One of The Three Dog Night. Without the other two members of the rock group, One Dog Night can't hardly stir the audience up.

Considered to be a top city of America in terms of median income, Newport Beach shows off a name brand fixture on a clear Southern California blue sky background.

This free concert series started way back in the early 90's as far as I know. Back then, Keiko Matsui's performance was so good that it brought tears to my eyes.

B.J. Thomas on stage. He thrills the audience with his big hits from yesteryears: 'Don't Worry Baby', '(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song', 'Hooked On A Feeling', 'I Just Can't Help Believing', 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head'. 'Rock And Roll Lullaby'...

Sly & The Family Stone revive their hits: 'Dance To The Music', 'Everybody Is A Star', 'Everyday People', 'Hot Fun In The Summertime.'

Not in direct view of the stage, these folks seem to be enjoying a picnic rather than a concert.