We went to Malibu but did not see anybody famous...

Just lookalikes.

Lame!

While it was an opportunity for us to turn our celebrity radar on, for Pancho, it was a trip down memory lane. Before his family bought their home in Van Nuys, they lived down there for 2 years or so. He pointed out where he used to watch movies, get his contacts, and hear this, where Elizabeth Taylor always hangs out. Cool.

But we were not so amused by Malibu. We were expecting Newport style set-up, with quaint, lovely shops lining long avenues. Instead, there were only cemented and cold complexes of shops and dining areas here and there. Pancho said they intended to make it that way so as not to attract tourists.

Sad.

First view of the ocean.

Awesome!

Can you see that? A flock of birds flying in a line! How awesome is that?!? Even more if you consider that this is their natural environment. They were not locked up and fed according to the tricks they participate in, like in zoos. They flew in such a style by instinct! Super awed!
(I unfortunately can rarely identify a bird. Let's just stick with... birds. Ok?)

The jukebox at Paradise Cove. So cool!
Last song played was a Bob Dylan, who, Pancho said, lives in Malibu.

True enough (or false alarm), at Starbucks after lunch, I saw an old guy who looked many bits like him, I was almost convinced.

And at the same Starbucks, I saw Chase Crawford's crown. We had to rush tho before I could confirm the rest of the head. But I swear it was him!

Waiting for lunch.

I actually liked Paradise Cove but for their very expensive menu. Each meal is over $15! Maica, Bien and I shared a sampler with french fries, fried seafood and chicken at over $20 and clam chowder at $6 (whew -- and it was huge!). The good thing is that if you dine there, you only have to pay $3 for parking at max 4 hours. It's $25, otherwise.

The Paradise Cove area has its own expanse of the Malibu shores, access to the nearby pier and generally, a nice place to hang out in. It may be expensive, but I think it's worth it if you really want to style your hang time Malibu way. (Though honestly, the beaches at Boracay and Bohol are much, much better!)

P.S. Maica saw "Josh Dunhamel" (alas, only a look alike!) here.

A seagull dined with Leila.
Yes, they're very confident, rubbing elbows with humans, etc etc.

While we hit the shores, mother stayed put.

In style.

House by the beach, maybe 100 meters from the pier.

The pier.
These guys wait for hours.
Wish I talked to them and asked how they do it, every time, every day.

Me and the coast.

The wooden structure behind us, down at the shores is the Paradise Cove restaurant.

You see this kind of pier in many beach communities in Southern California.

Some have wooden walkways, others cement. But they're always inviting.
It's the perfect place to observe fishermen in waiting and gawk at surfers who dare.

Lost.

Bieni testing the waters.

It's cold.

Footprints in the sand.
(Can you see what I mean by saying we have better beaches in the Philippines?)

And let me repeat, can you see what I mean by saying we have better beaches in the Philippines? I thought this was leftover from the huge oil spill last year, but apparently, not.

That's the way it is, Pancho would tell me.

Um, yuck?

Style sister!
Bieni and I wanted to walk all the way to the end of the shoreline but didn't want to keep the others waiting.

Flying V!
I don't think I had ever been as thrilled by birds as I was at Malibu.

Not counting trained and contained birds at the zoo of course.

If only we had more time, I'd sleep on those beds!

I liked these wooden signs. Plain, yet home made and charming.

All lunched out, well rested and ready to go.

*** Pancho suddenly felt like road tripping so instead of driving back home via the same way we came in Malibu, he suggested we follow the Pacific Coast Highway all the way to Camarillo. We dropped by the Outlet Stores and took forever at Forever 21. They have the biggest rack collection of dresses on clearance prices we've ever seen! (So don't waste your time clearance-hunting in the other 21 shops.) We finished at past 6 and decided to cancel seafood dinner at the nearby Oxnard.