The earthquake also caused tsunami warnings around the world. Some beaches in Southern California were closed, and others remained on advisory watch.

Residents of Redondo Beach, California gathered along a small hillside to watch for the tsunami, but so far we have been fortunate that wave levels appeared to remain normal. Even though everything appeared as normal, the National Weather Service expects tsunami wave height amplitudes of 2.1 feet for Redondo Beach, and higher forecasts for other areas of Southern California.  This can result in very strong currents, or waves dangerous to people close to shore, as well as damage to boats moored in harbors.

Redondo Beach, California residents line up to see tsunami

Young girl playing at the water's edge during the tsunami warning. Fortunately, a lifeguard came along and she left the beach with her parents.

Our thoughts go out to the people of Japan during this great tragedy!  Please keep them in your thoughts during this difficult time!

Redondo Beach residents woke up to find the marina covered with the dead Sardines, which were floating on the surface of the water.  Once cleanup efforts began, officials said there were another 2 to 3 feet of the dead Sardines lining the ocean floor.

I spoke with an unidentified harbor official, and he told me that all of the experts that were on the scene agreed that the Sardines entered the shallow marina and couldn’t find their way out.  With so many Sardines concentrated in such a shallow area, they quickly depleted the oxygen in the water which caused their death.

There were various theories as to why they entered the marina, but the two most popular ones seemed to be that they were seeking shelter from the high winds (and rough seas) that hit the area on Monday night, or they entered the marina in an effort to escape a predator.

A third theory is that this is yet another sign of the 2012 prophecy, along with scores of other mass animal deaths that have recently occured around the world.

An accidental occurrence, or 2012…what do you think?  Leave your comments below and tell us what you think about this!

Update: Two days after this, Japan experienced an 8.9 earthquake and a massive tsunami. Southern California also was on tsunami alert, although nothing near the magnitude of Japan’s tsunami. It makes me wonder, is it possible these fish sensed the earthquake and tsunami and somehow affected by that?

The Korean Bell of Friendship is 12 feet tall, with a diameter of 7 1/2.  It’s made of copper and tin, with other metals added for tonal quality.  A large wooden log is used to ring the bell, only five times a year:

• New Year’s Eve
• January 13 – Korean American Day
• Fourth of July
• August 15 – Korean Liberation Day
• Every September in celebration of Constitution Week

Also, the bell was rung on September 11, 2002, commemorating the first anniversary of 911.

Housed in a pagoda-like stone structure with intricate decorations, the Bell Pavilion has unbelievable views of the Southern California coastline, including Catalina Island.  You have to visit to see for yourself, but it’s hard to find a better view anywhere!

There’s a large park, with a huge grassy area, a basketball court, and public restrooms.  It’s a great place to bring children, fly a kite, have a picnic or just sit and enjoy the view.  And the best part of all is it’s free!  It can get windy, which is great for flying kites, but I’d recommend bringing  a coat with you.

The Korean Bell of Friendship, or the Korean Friendship Bell as it’s sometimes called, is located at:

Korean Bell of Friendship and Bell Pavilion
Angels Gate Park
3601 S Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-7705

Call ahead to confirm park hours.

Sarr arrived in Hermosa Beach, California in February of 1962.  Hermosa Beach at that time was considered by many to be the center of LA’s art scene, with a thriving community of artists and musicians.  In 2001, he moved to Santa Cruz, and has lived there since.

During his long career as an artist, Sarr has painted  over 5000 works of art.  His style varies wildly, and his paintings have been compared to Picasso, Matisse, and most of all, Van Gogh.  His subjects range from portraits, to landscapes, to koi, to intricate patterns.

Below are some paintings from the opening night of the exhibit.  Cannery Row Studios provided beverages and hors d’oeuvres, music, and the wonderful paintings of Wilfred Sarr.

These pictures were taken at the exhibit, and they give you an idea of the range of subjects that Sarr paints, as well as his varied style of painting.  Many of his paintings are whimsical, some paintings of dancers are so fluid in appearance.  His style is truly unique, and the texture and colors jump right off the canvas.

If you’re in the area, it’s worth a visit to Cannery Row Studios to view this lifetime work!  And maybe one of Wilfred Sarr’s paintings will catch our eye and become a member of your personal collection.

Wilfred Sarr: www.wilfredsarr.com/

Cannery Row Studios:
604 N. Francisca Ave.
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
888-366-1988
Hours: Saturday, Sunday and Weekdays from 4:30pm – 9:00pm
www.canneryrowstudios.com

The local ABC news has an amazing video on their website that shows these magnificent creatures from their chopper, shot with a high-definition camera.

It’s hard to tell from my photos exactly how huge these whales are, but you’ve got to see the ABC video from the air.

From KABC-TV Los Angeles:

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (KABC) — A pod of 20 to 30 blue whales was spotted about 3.5 miles off the coast of Redondo Beach on Wednesday afternoon.

Related Photos

Blue whales enjoy sunny day in SoCal

View all 21 photos

Several whale-watching boats and a few paddle-boarders were nearby to enjoy the amazing sight up close. AIR7 HD caught the whales on camera as they enjoyed the clear, sunny day along the Pacific Ocean.

It’s very rare to see blue whales in these waters; some say it’s been 20 to 30 years since they’ve seen a pod of blue whales in the area. The unique experience made the afternoon adventure on the Voyager Excursion a trip of a lifetime for the more than 140 people on board.  (read entire article →)

and this video taken from the Voyager boat:

If you haven’t yet, take this opportunity to make it to Redondo Beach.  You don’t know if this opportunity will come again!

Click here to visit Voyager Cruises →

The endangered Blue Whales, the largest animal on earth, have recently been spotted in record numbers off the coast in the Santa Monica Bay.

Estimates of 25 to 30 whales have been in the area for weeks, and this has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many.  It’s estimated that 2000 Blue Whales, out of a total world population of 10,000, feed off of the California coast.  But never before have this many been seen in the area at the same time.

Blue Whales can grow up to 108 feet in length (33 meters) and weigh 180 metric tons or more.  Their diet consists mainly of Krill (tiny, shrimp-like crustaceans), and experts believe the Blue Whales are in the area because of an unusually large amount of Krill here this year.

The whales blow (the large spray that can be seen when the whales rise to the ocean’s surface for air) can reach around 30 feet high or more (over 10 meters), and many whales blow can be seen from the shore around the Redondo Beach, California area.

If you’re lucky, you can see the whales fluking (like in the video above).  Fluking is when the whale begins to dive deep, and its massive tail comes completely out of the water…quite a display!

Voyager Excursions

After seeing so many whales from shore, we wanted to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and see them close up.  We booked a trip with Voyager Excursions, which operates their 65 foot double decker boat, Voyager, from the International Boardwalk at Redondo Beach Marina in Redondo Beach, California.

The tour is $25.00 for adults, and $15.00 for children under 12.  These appear to be higher prices than they normally charge for whale tours, but also seems like the tours are longer than normal.  Either way, at $25.00 it’s still a deal to be able to experience the Blue Whales up close.

The tour was from 12pm – 3pm, with a small group of very friendly people (most of them seemed to be from the local area) and an excellent crew.  Due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which was enacted to protect endangered animals, the boat would stop the engines at a safe distance from the whales and we’d observe them from a short distance.   Occasionally the whales would swim very close to the boat, allowing an amazing view and putting into perspective just how massive these beautiful creatures are.

Blue Whale getting close to a sailboat

As we floated on the water, Blue Whales were seen in every direction, and countless blow seen not too far.  The whales usually traveled in pairs, but there were many pairs in the area, we estimated we saw 15 to 20 whales close by.

Along with the Magnificent Blue Whales, we saw the local dolphin population, some California Sea Lions hanging around the boat, and a few of the unusual Sunfish, or Mola Mola swimming within feet of the boat.

Simply put, anyone that loves nature, or just wants to  be inspired must take this tour!

If you’ve had a chance to see the whales, or have any questions, please leave your comment below.

Contact Info for Voyager Excursions and more helpful links:

Voyager Excursions – click here to visit Voyager Excursions website
International Boardwalk at Redondo Beach Marina, Redondo Beach, California
(Click here for directions)
310-944-1219

View the Wikipedia page about Blue Whales

View the Marine Mammal Protection Act

Before moving to Southern California, my second family would make the best homemade Pozole ever, and it was always a special occasion and resulted in great get-togethers.  After moving to Southern California, I never found a place that served Pozole.  I’m sure there are places, but I’ve never seen one, and haven’t looked as actively as I should have.

Recently, I was really craving Pozole and began looking for places when, by coincidence, I came across El Baja Chef on the Redondo Pier.  They were closed, but they had a sign outside of their restaurant that said they serve Pozole on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I haven’t spent much time at Redondo Pier until recently, but I was happy to stumble on El Baja Chef and came back the next day to try their Pozole.

El Baja Chef is a small Mexican restaurant on Redondo Pier, overlooking the Marina section (across from the arcade).  We met the owner, Victor, and his daughter, and they were both very cool, friendly people.  There a lot of people there (seemed like regulars) having a great time.  The place has a very friendly vibe to it, and the awesome marina view always makes for a great atmosphere.

There’s a small bar inside, and along the outer wall another small bar, where you can sit inside with a great view of the marina, or sit outside in the sun.  The windows and doors open for a very open atmosphere, with a great view and lots of sunlight.  There’s a couple of booths in the back, some counter high tables, and some regular tables in the middle.  A couple of TV’s always playing the popular sports games, and always great music playing.  Today they were playing Maná.

Homemade Chips and Salsa and Pacifico Beer

We ordered the Pozole, with a couple of Pacifico Beers.  While we waited for the Pozole, we had the traditional chips and salsa.  These were not the tyipical chips and salsa that you get at most Mexican restaurants, but the real homemade chips and salsa that you would experience in Mexico.  These would have been enough!  These chips and salsa are great!  They taste like they were just made, nice and thick, with a great flavor.  Very crunchy and tasty!  Perfect to get us ready for the main event, the Pozole!

And then it came.  It’s been a few years since I’ve had Pazole, and I was ready!  It was just like I remembered, along with all the fixings on the side.  Inside the bowl, the hominy and pork in a somewhat spicy red chile soup.  On the side, cabbage, cilantro, onions, radishes and lime.  After dumping in the fixings and giving it a try, I can only say that you have to come here for a bowl of Pozole!  It was delicious, just like I remembered it.  Just the right amount of spice, the pork and hominy mixed with the fixings and I was in paradise.  Add to this a great environment, with beautiful views, good music and great people and it makes for a special treat.

A beautiful bowl of Pozole

I’ve since been back many times, for Pozole, of course.  But I’ve also tried some of their other dishes, all of which are excellent.  And if you don’t believe me, the old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” applies:

There's a happy girl!

El Baja Chef
102 Internatl Boardwalk
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
1 (310) 376-0838

After a little persuading, we talked Hiroko into asking for a picture.  There’s no way he can say no to a sweet, young lady, right?  And if she’s polite enough to ask instead of just taking a picture, surely he won’t mind?

Well, that’s when things went terribly wrong.  Let this be a lesson to all of you up-and-coming paparazzi…learn from our errors.  As Pierce was exiting the Yogurtland, Hiroko approached from the back and with an ever so gently tap said “excuse me, excuse me (words which she will never forget).”  Pierce Brosnan abruptly scolded Hiroko saying, “Don’t be so rude, I’m with the children.”  Well, there were children, many children, but none next to him at the moment, but alas it wasn’t meant to be.  And then the long walk back.  As a man, I’ve experienced the walk of shame many a time, asking a girl to dance only to be told ‘I don’t dance,’ or asking for a girls phone number only to be rejected.  Oh the humiliation   If you read this Pierce Brosnan, how could you?

But those girls had the courtesy to let me down easy, to at least make me think that maybe there was some truth to it (even though I knew I was rejected).  So Hiroko came back, rejected by Pierce Brosnan, and I felt like a jerk because I was sure he wouldn’t be mean to her.  Visions flashed before my eyes of watching myself on TMZ getting beat up by Pierce Brosnan in Yogurtland.  How could he?  How could you Pierce Brosnan?  But he was, and now we can never look at him quite the same.

So the picture wasn’t meant to be, until by chance we stumbled upon Pierce Brosnan again at the indoor skydiving booth.  Although this was my first paparazzi experience (me being the paparazzi that is, umm, or me being photo’d by the paparazzi come to think of it), I instantly sprung into action and captured Pierce Brosnan in action.  What a proud moment.  Maybe fate led me to this day, one that would change my life forever!

So after a couple of minutes of watching Pierce Brosnan cheer on the children, we were on our way, with many lessons learned.  Never try to read they psyche of an A-list Hollywood Actor, and never, ever, EVER approach a papa-bear from behind when his cubs are around.

With a little bit of counseling, I’m sure we will be Pierce Brosnan fans once again!

Blue skies, beautiful beach, the great Pacific Ocean and a nice breeze…the perfect combination for the 2010 Annual Redondo Beach Annual Festival of the Kite and Yo-yo competition.  The Redondo Beach Annual Festival of the Kite, LA’s best and longest-running kite festival, held its 36th annual festival on Sunday, March 15th, 2010 and the conditions were perfect for a large turnout.

The skies were dotted with the colorful kites, and the beach was full of people enjoying the festival, which also included the Yo-yo Jam contest and Craig’s Hot-Dog on a Stick eating contest, along with live music and lots of other activities.  The diverse crow of all ages enjoyed the festivities, as the kite fliers worked hard to keep their kites from getting tangled.

It’s really a nice way to spend the day, and if you didn’t make it this year, mark your calenders for next year’s event.  Who knows, if you practice hard enough, maybe you can take the Hot-Dog on a Stick contest next year!

Redondo Pier
100 Fisherman’s Wharf
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
View Website

Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors. An absolutely cool guy with an incredibly unique sense of style and personality.  And one of the few that can absolutely capture any role he takes on.

I just returned from watching Alice in Wonderland, the 3D version by Tim Burton.  The line above is my favorite line of the entire movie, and nobody can pull it off like Johnny Depp.  In shackles, forced to kneel before the Red Queen, she asks him “Where’s Alice” and he replies “What a regrettably large head you have.”  Perfect!

Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp

If you’re seeing the movie in the near future, get to the theater early.  We were running a little late (what’s new) and ended up having to sit about 5 rows from the front.  5D does not look as good as 3D (more about my thoughts on 3D later).

A few minutes into the movie, half of the screen turned a yellow tint.  So we’re watching half of the screen in 3D, and the other half looked like the Blue Blockers sunglasses that you used to see advertised on TV all the time.

After they restarted, we were back on track.  First, my thoughts on the movie, then my thoughts on 3D.  I really enjoyed this movie, except for the ending.  I thought the ending was very cliche, with the expected but unnecessary battle scene, and a ridiculous break-dancing meets river-dancing, called the futterwack, put on by both Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska, and a dose of excessive cockiness tossed in for good measure.  But it was a fun movie and I guess this was their attempt to appeal to the younger, hipper generation.

But those tiny annoyances aside, it was a cool movie and I recommend seeing it at the theaters. A grown up Alice returns to wonderland to save the day, with some of the funnest and goofiest characters you’ve ever seen.  Tweedledee and Tweedledum were great (reminded me of some of my friends hehe), and of course Johnny Depp nailed the Mad Hatter.

Remind you of anyone you know?

And of course, a great message: don’t be afraid to dream, to think big, and to follow your dreams.  If you like that kind of thing (and I do), there was a small dose of inspiration here as well.

So do yourself a favor and go see the enchanting Alice in Wonderland.  I’m sure you won’t regret it.

As far as 3D?  Well, I’m still not sold 100%.  It’s very cool as an effect, but I think I prefer the amazing resolution and brightness delivered by a standard movie.  The 3D version seems to lack the sharpness and resolution.  At times, the picture is stunning, but then it goes into a blur and it’s hard to follow.  Add to that the ‘looking through a window’ feeling I get and I have to say I prefer the standard 2D movies.  I look forward to seeing the bright colors and vividness of Alice in Wonderland in 2D, the way they were meant to be portrayed.

So allow me to put on my Movie Critic hat and announce my rating!  I give Alice in Wonderland a B.  Let’s hear your comments?