Today Alaric skipped school and we went to the Natural History Museum! We’ve been meaning to go there for a while but always end up skipping it in favor of something like the California Science Center and Rose Gardens next door. Finally, I thought of Googling to find out when is the free day for this one (most LA museums have at least one free day per month) and lucky for us it was the first Tuesday of the month!

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Russian/Русский

I am not a huge museum enthusiast. I mean, I enjoy going to the museums but mostly for the overall experience and not really for the things exhibited. The other day we went to the Petersen Museum for the first time. My mom and 11-year-old brother were visiting so we thought we’d include it on our list of touristy things to do. My 2-year-old son is also really into cars already so it seemed like a good idea.

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Spontaneous weekend adventures are my favorite! And how lucky am I to be living in the city with unlimited options? The other day we randomly decided to go to a museum which is something we never really do but why not? We went to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and while we didn’t actually go to see any exhibitions except for one we accidentally sneaked in, we still had a fun day out.

The LACMA lights always look cool.  It’s funny how they became famous thanks to the multiple music videos and movies. For me they are special because the first time I came to the US during my Work & Travel Summer I lived nearby and since then every time I visit I get sweet nostalgia of that fun and life-changing summer.

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Russian/Русский

The thing I like the most about LA is variety. Of cultures, people, foods, places… Lake Shrine is so far from its typical LA, it is truly a hidden gem of this city. Located in Pacific Palisades, surrounded by hilly roads it’s not that easy to find at first, but when you finally discover it, you can’t help but wonder how did I not notice it right away?

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Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine includes Meditation Gardens and Lake, a working Temple providing lecture, prayer and meditation services, a Court of Religions honoring the five principal religions of the world, the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial where a portion of Gandhi’s ashes is enshrined, a museum with exhibits on Paramahansa Yogananda’s work, and a gift shop with arts and crafts from India and more. There are also all kinds of events and activities available, such as silent retreats, group meditation, Sunday school for kids and adults. The temple itself is on a hilltop overlooking the lake. I would highly recommend getting more information straight from the source, if you are interested. This post will mostly be a visual journey through the Meditation Gardens and the Lake.

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Visitor Guide comes in handy, for multiple reasons;)
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An authen­tic reproduction of a 16th-century Dutch windmill.

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Golden Lotus Archway. In India the lotus flower is a symbol of divine unfoldment–the awakening of the soul to its infinite potential.

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