I flew into LAX this morning from Sydney.
I’m struck by:
* How good LA smells;
* LA is far from the hell hole that many think it is. For millions of people, LA is the best place in the world for them to live.
* How uncomfortable public life is here (we have little in common, half of Los Angelenos don’t speak English);
* Australia has a higher quality of life but the most ambitious Australians will frequently leave the country for the US or Europe;
* LA’s Westside is reasonably similar to the Eastern suburbs of Sydney (low crime, high real estate prices, fit thin residents);
* How I couldn’t wait to get inside behind my locked doors after using public transport, while in Australia, I would often decompress by going outside;
* After three months without fear of crime in Australia, it rushed back in me as I made my way from LAX via the bus;
* Given LA’s lack of cohesion and trust, government seems to work here about as efficiently as can be expected;
