Los Angeles x Lunch with Liam Payne
Hey everyone!
New week, new blog post :)
Typing this one this week is kinda bitter sweet because exactly this time, this week, this day, last year I left for Los Angeles.
I'm sad beccause I wish I could go back in time and wake up in Beverly Hills again but so happy that my first experience traveling to LA was such a freakin' insane one!
So not many of you know why/how we (Jethro, my boyfriend) ended up flying over and spending an entire day with Liam Payne... Jethro entered an online competition.
The competition was open to everyone worldwide and all you had to do was enter your name, age and email address.
AND... HE WON!
It was one in a gazillion that he'd actually win, so we were shocked.
We're still shocked he won.
TBH, I would've done this blog post way sooner but last year July, when we went, I had no intension on even starting my own blog and two, the day we met Liam we weren't allowed to take any pictures or videos. only the competition company was allowed to take pictures, which then had to be sent to Liam's team for approval.
(We literally only got the stamp of approval from Liam's team about 2 months ago and got the pictures too)
But up till 2 months ago when we got the pictures, it was our word against the world that Jethro and I did indeed fly to LA and meet LIAM PAYNE!
We've only told a few people about our trip and how our day with Liam was. So seeing as it's our "one year anniversary" of our great LA adventure I decided to share our story, our experience and memories with you all - some cool pics too!
So lets get to it...
23 July
We left OR Tambo and headed for LA.
Jethro and I had never been to America before this trip so we were super super excited.
Also, because Jethro is a musician himself he was hella excited to meet Liam (I think a lil' more excited than me!)
The whole family came to say goodbye!
12 hours later, we landed in London, Heathrow, for our 4 hour layover.
24 July
After a further 18hr flight from London, Heathrow we finally landed in Los Angeles!
We had a lovely gentleman wait for us outside with our names on a board, ready to escort us from LAX to our hotel.
As soon as we drove out of the airport is was incredibly surreal to see the LAX sign, all the palm trees that stand so tall and beautiful along every street and the people walking the streets who all just look "so LA"- such a dream come true!
We've arrived! LAX
Btw, how have I not mentioned that we were booked into the Sirtaj Hotel in Beverly Hills?
So straight from the airport that's where we were heading...
Our hotel was also one street away from Rodeo Drive, RODEO DRIVE guys!!!!!!!
When we realised that, I had a little freak out/screaming moment!
Our first day, first time seeing Rodeo Drive.
We walked past Rodeo everyday while staying in Beverly Hills
By the time we checked in and got all settled into our room, it was about 3pm. The next day was our BIG-MEET-LIAM-PAYNE-DAY. So we knew we needed a chilled and an early night with some solid rest to shake the jet lag off but like, a girl and guy's gotta eat though???
So Jethro and I went for a little walk-a-bout around Beverly Hills to check out Rodeo Drive and to get some food, snacks and water which was surprisingly such a mission. Only because we were in such a fancy, posh part of LA that everything in walking distance from our hotel was organic, expensive supermarkets and/or RODEO DRIVE.
(When I went to LA in March this year for work, I stayed in Beverly Hills again but there was a mall and Target Supermarket right across the street - so not EVERYTHING in Beverly Hills is fancy and costly)
Side-note.
We decided to not hire a car while we were down there because to be honest, the thought of driving on the right hand side of the road made us freak out, also because the American public transport system is top notch and we wanted to try it out and... Uber (You're able to choose the "pull" option when you request an Uber in America, which means you split your ride and the fee with other riders who are going the same direction/destination as you - which we don't have in South Africa).
About 3 hours later, we got back to the hotel with some very expensive water and snacks but very happy and excited faces for the next day - LIAM PAYNE DAY!
25 July - aka Liam Payne Day
Part 1 (Studio in Malibu)
So I wish I could say we had a really good, well-rested night's sleep but we 100% didn't.
We ended up waking up at about 3.30AM, it was a combination of being super excited about meeting "him" in a few hours time, the jetlag and also getting comfortable in a new country, new city and new sleeping arrangements.
Fast forward to 10am our ride picked us up from our hotel, we were also accompanied by the competition company's representative, Emma, she spent the whole day with us making sure everything ran smoothly.
In our ride, on our way to meet Liam Payne in Malibu from Beverly Hills
From Beverly Hills we made our way to Malibu, that's where we would be meeting Liam.
First we'd be spending time with him at this absolutely stunning recording studio - but whilst en route - Liam's team called and said they were running late - so we made a pitstop at the "Malibu Farm" before going to the studio.
We had a drink or two, walked along the pier, took pictures (obviously) and went into the cute stores along the pier too. I was actually low key happy Liam was running late so we were able to explore the Malibu Farm - it was a bonus!
We hung out at Malibu Farm for about an hour and a half and Liam's team said they were on their way, so we made our way too.
When we got to the recording studio, guys, it was scenically picture perfect.
We were greeted by the owner of the studio who was so chilled, dressed in flip flops and shorts, and he took us on a little tour. The studio sits on this huge piece of land (it's nearly like a mini forest) and it over looks the most beautiful ocean view.
The owner went on to telling us that the studio as well as that huge piece of land was used by Taylor Swift for a Children's hospital concert and also, if we'd come just a few minutes earlier we would have bumped into Lady Gaga, who had just finished up with her studio time.
(Oh how I was wishing we'd left the Malibu Farm a few minutes earlier now!)
Standing outside the studio in Malibu
After our tour, we waited about 10 minutes and we heard a car pull up to the driveway.
FREAK OUT. LIAM PAYNE IS HERE. HE'S ACTUALLY ARRIVED.
SCREAM. CRY. DIE.
HE'S HERE!!!
So we waited at the door for him to enter.
Now, it's not just him, btw.
Liam arrived with his team being his manager, his hair stylist, his A&R and a bodyguard too.
But the bodyguard was so low-key, I didn't even notice him until later in the day.
I think I built up this moment for so long in my head I expected trumpets, drums and an entire choir to sing as I greeted and hugged him but it was the most normal "hello, nice to meet you" encounter I've ever experienced - I was surprisingly so calm in the moment.
After the "hello, hi" formalities Liam left his team in the studio and he told Jethro and I to come with him to the outside balcony area, with the beautiful ocean view, there were couches and a chill-out section set up.
We sat there hanging out for a while, he actually knew quite bit about Jethro, seeing as Jethro was the competition winner, he'd gotten the low-down on who he is and what he does etc.
He also asked us what we think about his new music as a solo artist because at this point he'd just released his debut solo single "Strip That Down" a few weeks before.
He also told us that he had a late night shooting a music video for his next single - which we now know was "Bedroom Floor"
Looking back now, it feels pretty cool knowing we saw him the day after his music video shoot, hehe!
After our hangout session on the balcony we moved into the studio, we were in there for about an hour.
This was actually my fav part out of the entire day and experience.
I sat back and watched Jethro and Liam jam out in studio together.
Jethro played him some of his original music, which Liam then helped him with. Liam also took Jethro's phone and voice-recorded ideas for him. Liam sang and mumbled lyrics and melodies for him (Jethro will treasure those voice-notes like gold)
Jethro and Liam Payne in studio
Side-note
I always say this was such a blessing in disguise and that Jethro was such an appropriate winner, I mean, out of the entire world he won. Completely random draw, yet, Liam and him and something in common. Their love for music, going solo after both being in boybands which were both apart of the X-Factor competitions in their respective countries.
Everytime we thought about it and told Liam and his team - the similarities and chances of us sitting there as the winners was UNREAL!
After being in studio for quite some time, Emma realised we need to rush a bit to make our lunch reservation.
WE WERE HAVING LUNCH AT NOBU IN MALIBU.
As in, the one we see the Kardashians go to ALL THE TIME on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"?
Yip, that's where we are having lunch with Liam!
We took quick pictures with Liam in studio and then headed for lunch at Nobu.
Myself and Liam Payne in studio
Part 2 (Nobu Malibu Lunch)
Alright, so it was a short ride from the studio to Nobu.
When we got there we had arrived before Liam and his team, I couldn't believe I was walking inside THEEEE NOBU that I've seen for years and years on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" - mindblown!
At Nobu in Malibu
Because we arrived before Liam and his team, we got seated and settled and waited.
However, when Liam arrived they weren't happy with the table which was reserved for us and to be honest it was quite an awkward table. The table was smack bam in the middle of the outside area and everyone was staring at him, haha.
So another table was organised, another in the outside area but this one was a lot more comfortable with couches and it was more 'private' too.
Jethro, myself and Liam having lunch at Nobu in Malibu
And so our "lunch date" began...
They ordered tapas and everyone just shared and nibbled - there was sushi, yummy snap-peas, a steak cut into strips (which FYI Liam said was really really good, which in his defence, was incredibly good. But when we skimmed through the menu that steak was just over R3000 - JUST FOR THE STEAK! Woah!)
At some point during the lunch I stuck my hand into my bag and got out the little present we got for Liam, well, not really for Liam but for his little adorable son (Bear).
We got Bear an African shaker and one of those beaded/wired African giraffes.
Whether our gifts ever got to Bear? We'll never know but it's the thought that counts.
We sat at lunch for over an hour, even now when Jethro and I chat about this crazy cool day, we always say that hanging out with Liam and his team felt like just a group of people who we've met before, just hanging and chilling out.
They made us feel so comfortable, like we'd been part of their "crew" for years.
Emma even said to us afterwards that we are extremely lucky that everyone on Liam's team and Liam himself were so chilled and down to earth, that for as long as she's been apart of the company and accompanied all the winner's on their experiences, this is the longest one she'd ever been on, that usually the celeb wants to get out of there as soon as possible.
And I mean, I totally get it! They have bigger and better things to do than to hang out with lil' old me.
At some point during the lunch, I was apparently deep in conversation with Liam and Jethro didn't want to interrupt us. But afterwards, on our way home Jethro says to me, "At some point you were deep in conversation with Liam and I might have seen Kim K and Kanye West".
So I scream and go, "WHAAAAAAT?!?!?! YOU SAW KIM K AND KANYE"?
So here's Jethro's story, he says while I was chatting to Liam there was a couple who were walking out of Nobu, their backs were towards us and a whole lot of body guards were surrounding them too. He says it looked like the two of them and also because, who ever gets Kim K's booty wrong? Liiiiiiike?
So, a year later, I'll never know if that really was Kim and Kanye but also was I really going to be like, "K, Bye Liam! I'm running to Kim now..."
Nope.
After about 2 hours at lunch Liam said that he'd love to stay longer with us but he had to head to the Musically offices. Secretly I was wishing he'd go, "Man, I love your company. come hang with me the whole day!" But nope, that's just wishful thinking.
And you're damn sure we stalked him that day on social media and saw that he did indeed go to the Musically offices for an appearance - still cool to see paparazzi pictures of him throughout the day and knowing you touched that exact same outfit.
Freak much? Haha.
But we said our goodbyes at around 3pm, gave him and each person of his team a hug and thanked them so much for their time and hanging out with us.
They got into their car and we got into ours and we went our seperate ways, them to the Musically offices and us back to Beverly Hills - not a bad place to go back to after our memorable day!
Driving back and even when we got back to the hotel Jethro and I had a freak out moment. It all started to sink in, the realisation started to set in that THAT all just happened. It really just happened!
After calming down and coming back down to reality we remembered we still need to eat (and breathe, lol) so there was Jethro and Chanley, after such an insane day, we were walking the streets of LA to get some food. I remember, we felt so deflated during that walk, chatting to each other we realised that we were on such a high for months knowing we were coming to LA to meet Liam, we had something incredible to look forward to and now... it's all done!
Luckily, we extended our trip. We were meant to leave the following day after meeting Liam but we asked Emma if we can extend our trip for a few days, to which they agreed. Provided that we also agreed that everything was on our own expense on our extended days.
So as we moped, felt sorry for ourselves and walked around finding food with our long faces but soon after our frowns turned into smiles knowing that we're still in LA for a few more days, ready to explore and be tourists in America!
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So as much as I'd love to tell you about our extended next few days exploring LA, this post was going to be way too long with way too much reading.
I have started the next post about what we did and "the adventure continued" but I did realise it was extremely long.
So this week, you all get a double post.
Hopefully by Friday I would've posted part 2 of our LA trip.
Also a real bummer, this site won't let me upload short videos of our trip unless it's a YouTube video.
So I'll see if I get around to making a YouTube video for you guys...
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Thanks so much for reading this long-ass post of mine!
Hope you enjoyed reading our great LA adventure and please subscribe to my blog and YouTube channel to get notifications for future posts.
Thank you soooooo much again!
Love & light.
Chanley
xoxo