Santa Monica Close-up

Falun Gong practitioners  play the waist drums and perform the sword dance at Palisades Park during  World Falun Dafa Day on Sunday, May 11, 2008. Falun Gong (also called Falun Gong, or just Dafa) teaches truth, compassion and tolerance, an exercise practice for the body and mind.  While the exercises have deep inner meanings, they also help to reduce stress and can bring great improvements in health and fitness. 

The Tourism Malaysia Los Angeles Cultural Troupe perform  at the Third Street Promenade during the 'Taste of Malaysia' on Sunday, May 11, 2008.  Taste of Malaysia is a day celebrating the delicious food and colorful culture of Malaysia.

(above) Chef Mior pours Teh Tarik (pulled tea) during Taste of Malaysia at the Third Street Promenade on Sunday, May 11, 2008. Teh Tarik is the national drink of Malaysia. In Malaysia, there are also occasions where Teh Tarik brewers gather for competitions and performances to show their skills in making this drink. This tea is special in that it is prepared using a unique technique. The tea is poured from a hand held high into a container held in a hand below. The tea is poured back and forth in this manner to create a thick froth. Aside from cooling down the tea to drinking temperatures, it is believed that this method mixes the tea with the condensed milk more thoroughly. Chef Mior has competed and won many Teh Tarik competitions in Malaysia and showcased his talents in several Asian countries, Australia, the Middle East and the UK.  (top) Chef Mior tosses and flips the Roti Canai, Malaysia version of the pankake, during Taste of Malaysia.

(top) Stephanie Button, 9, caries her puppy, 'Cupcate' down the Catwalk during the 17th Annual Santa Monica Festival  at  Clover Park on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Children turned newspapers into wearable fashions during the recycled art workshops, then modeled them on the re:Fashion Catwalk. 

Ballet Folklorico Nueva Antequera perform indigenous dances representing the seven regions of Oaxaca, Mexico during the 17th Annual Santa Monica Festival at Clover Park on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

Ursula Knudson  of the Fishtank Ensemble  performs during the 17th Annual Santa Monica Festival at Clover Park on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Fishtank Ensemble is a band that offers a unique blend of Gypsy, Balkan, Flamenco, Klezmer and original tunes.  The arrangements are always surprising and include instruments from many countries such as violin, accordion, flamenco and gypsy jazz guitar, shamisen, bass, saw and voice.  From the smokey cafes of Bucharest to the Gypsy caravans of yesterday, Fishtank Ensemble evokes the spirit of a past age with the sounds of tomorrow.