Green Harmony Living

Miyako Hybrid Hotel

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In the afternoon we visited Miyako Hybrid Hotel in Torrance so that Naoko could confirm her reservation for the banquet room for Saturday’s meetup for her business. The hotel was fabulous, just built last year and it received a silver LEED rating for its sustainable design. It had a nice contemporary designed interior, the outside almost white. I felt the gardens could use some help since they kind of plain, nothing unique. They could have really designed a beautiful Japanese style garden but didn’t and there was no fish pond, only a water fountain.

What is your favorite green building that you have visited?


Tree People

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After that we drove north clear across town, making reasonably good time during rush hour. To visit The Tree People’s headquarters located at Mulholland Drive and Coldwater Canyon Avenue on top of the mountain ridge. There were many people there enjoying the sun at the adjacent Coldwater Canyon Park system of hiking trails. We visited the yurt village where the Tree People have there offices. A friendly young man gave us an impromptu tour of the village and let us walk inside one of the yurts. This was my first time inside a yurt! Interspersed between the yurts were various fruit trees including large carob trees. Next, we hiked in Coldwater Canyon Park and then we hiked into Wilacre Park up the hill where we had breathtaking views of the San Fernando Valley, otherwise known as the “valley” (remember valley girl from the 80’s?) Well up here in the mountains all one seems to see are wealthy people’s home perched precariously on top of the mountain or along the edges. This area is certainly prone to earthquakes, mudslides, and wildfires so I wondered about the sanity of who would want to live here, just for a view that is more often than not shrouded in stifling smog. Los Angeles is a real melting pot of cultures and one sensed it even up here as we heard many different languages being spoken upon the trail.
What is your favorite park?


Planet Raw Juliano’s Restaurant

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Next, we drove along the storied Mulholland Drive for a bit enjoying its winding curves and scenic views in all directions. There were quite a few for sales signs up, most likely casualties from the economic downturn. We drove south to Santa Monica where it felt about ten to twenty degrees cooler and there was no sun. After searching many blocks we finally found parking to visit Juliano’s restaurant, now called Planet Raw. I was ready to enjoy a nice rawfood meal, but unfortunately our baby felt otherwise as he started crying off and on the whole time we were there. We later realized that he didn’t like the very dark interior of the restaurant. He must have felt afraid. We didn’t like the extremely dimmed lights either since we couldn’t really see the food we were eating. So we ate hurriedly. The one standout was the Blood drink. It is one of the best fruit juice blends I have ever had. It’s very refreshing and tasty!

What is your favorite raw fruit juice or drink?

Roland’s Websites:
Green Harmony Living – Planet friendly website
Green Harmony Living Store – Raw, Vegan, & Organic Foods & Products
Green Harmony Design – Beautiful, Edible, & Sustainable Gardens
Green Harmony Tours – Sustainable Ecotours to Germany