SFO trip for Thanks Giving 2010

Quite honestly, after staying for 3 months in Fremont last year, if I have to go back to SFO it would only be to enjoy night life, bicycling and etc stuff. So when Bhanu and Phani proposed a trip to SFO, I reluctantly accepted it. I sniffed on how it’s going to be? On a discussion, I proposed down town, golden gate bridge, Alcatraz, pier 39, 17 mile drive and Livemore temple as the famous places to visit.
There were couple of hiccups due to snow on Monday, but we took a start on Wednesday morning. So members of our gang are Bhanu, Phani, Sajay, Sowjanya (w/o Bhanu) and Divya (w/o Phani). Our vehicle, white colored Chrysler. If you have seen our gang before, you would only notice us for spontaneous and crazy fun (not much by me and Sajay though).

Day 1:

When we started at 5 AM in the morning on Wednesday, Phani was our pilot. We have 4 drivers on record just to make me comfortable. Bhanu extensively used Facebook check-in feature for IPhone at every road and made people perceive that we are having blast. Our first stop was Portland rest area. It was so damn cold and we couldn’t have our home made breakfast (Idly) comfortably. Sajay took over the driving seat for next couple of hours and we stopped at some unknown (means I don’t remember) rest area. Here I heard some good news, a call from MS that I cleared first few rounds of interview and asked me to be prepared for final round next week. We had lunch here and we started off. Ash ford drive is recognizable drive surrounded by Snow Mountains and curvy roads cleared from snow so soon. It ends Portland and takes us to California. No need to give any special mentions on California roads, they are the best. As soon as we entered California, bright sun was awaiting us and certainly a view for Seattlites. It was at 8:30 we reached Fremont

We checked into Homestead, Fremont. I give it top position from the bottom of all the hotels I have stayed. Roll away bed was listed on the site, but hotel just got 3 roll away beds for so many rooms and they didn’t offer one to us. Some essential stuff was not given too. We had dinner and immediately slept as it was a long day.

Day 2:

I took over the driving seat and we started at 9 AM to SFO down town. Headed to Pier 39 straight, not many sea lions were available for us to watch. We had couple of photo sessions at piers and fisherman’s wharf. Later we visited wax museum. I wish I haven’t seen it. After visiting Madame Tussuads in London, it seemed below average to me. We decided that morning to go to New Delhi restaurant near union square. So, after wax museum we headed to this Indian restaurant and we missed directions for some time after that tiresome first half (of the day). Bummer, restaurant is closed for thanks giving. We took a turn back to have taco at Mexican restaurant, but same there. Subway had no sitting tables. We hopped on to Tian Sing, a chinese restaurant to experience the pathetic service. No one was content with quantity of food or quality of service. Our next visit is to Golden gate bridge, I didn’t find any one enjoying the bridge but I walked on bridge for some time and I bet, it’s the best experience one can have.

I have called my engineering senior friend Sateesh and we fixed on meeting that night for a movie. We all went to Orange movie. Orange is about the age of love and honesty. Honestly, I liked the movie if not the best. It was not the same with others around me. I desperately needed some drinks though we are so tired. I took Sajay and Sateesh to some nearest bowling arena and had drinks. Then we left Sateesh at Sunnyvale and planned to meet him later.

Day 3:

17 mile drive, Monterrey, CA

One of the best drives I have experienced last year. We reached there at around afternoon and had lunch at Anbrosia Indian restaurant. Not a great lunch, but ambience is appreciated. We had fun time at one point and I am little disappointed to say that we neither covered all points nor any one enjoyed the drive. I don’t want to talk about rest of the evening. It was certainly fun.

Day 4:

Downtown and temple:

We visited Livermore temple, one of the best temples I have seen in US and glad that everyone experienced the sacred feeling. I met Sailaja, my friend/partner during some social activities down in India. We maintained a school at Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad in a slum for a year. I have visited her after long time and it was good to see her again. We headed down town to visit Crook Street, china town and etc. More than Crook Street, our struggle to get off the steep uphill road on Lombard will be on memories. It was not an easy drive and we scared the vehicle behind us to hell. Crook street is very good scenic spot (but not worth our drive I feel, it may be easy drive for drivers who are used to such conditions). After a photo session at Crook Street, we visited few shops and thanks me, I didn’t take anything. We played some rummy after reaching hotel.

Day 5:

We headed back to Seattle. Except for couple of traffic jams due to crash, everything was smooth.

New Activities

I love to meet new people and know them. Later, I observe them and later, I absorb part of their activities as well. If you ask me, who inspired you to get into this activity, “I don’t know” will be the honest and right answer because I don’t track it, but I am planning to track it now

Shooting:

It’s been long time, I thought of “shooting” ranges. But I didn’t know where to start. I left it there as I had no clue on how to start it.
I have chosen to close this bad week end with a movie on Sunday night. My self and Subhash checked into “Due date” at regal cross roads, Bellevue. Movie is about two strangers who end up in a road trip for few days. It got some unusual action and unhealthy comedy sequences but not every movie is “hangover”. It still got some ridiculous comedy worth your ticket price. I enjoyed the movie and was happy to end the week end with a good note. Bummer, my car got flat tyred and I don’t have road side service covered in my insurance. So, estimated cost given by my insurance company is 68$ and minimum of 1 hour for towing the vehicle. I am used to these unexpected incidents which will test you during bad times. I called in Sajay (my roommate) and realized that we can fix it with the help of AAA and called them. I didn’t want to waste that lag time and I offered another movie to my friends  (movie after movie, I am fine with it unlike others). We started playing video game for 2 quarters and some gun shooting game. It triggered my interest towards shooting and I proposed it to my 2 friends there and they were ready for it. So, I made an enquiry with Wade’s guns, Bellevue. They offered a package for beginners. We visited them following week, there was a small training on how to handle the gun without hurting yourself and others. Trainer also decided that my left eye is dominant and I have to do left hand shooting. We took some easy targets and started off with 0.22 caliber pistols and then jumped on to semi -automatic pistol. It is a kind of experience I want to have again and I want to try more guns.

Whole big poker tournament and new rummy buddies:

On the same bad week end, one of my friends offered me to join their poker tournament following week. It’s just a 5$ check-in and far better compared to my 200$ investment for 0$ output. Again, I took along Subhash and Sajay with me for this tournament. This tournament went on for like 6 hours and finally I took a poor decision and got eliminated in last table. But, 6 hours for 5$, that’s like greatest thing for me. I just hopped on to my friends place (Bhanu) and we started rummy there, thus I got rummy buddies too. I came back home at 1 AM that night after lot of activities.

Rock Climbing:

When I been to hiking for my first time formally (I call it formally because I did many informal hikes at India), I was thinking about mountain climbing. But I don’t have any directions again. So I gave up. I was always impressed with TG’s activities. Her face book page is full with pics of so many activities. When my cricketing season is over, I immediately emailed her about snowboarding and rock climbing. Busy girl took a week to reply me and offered a free rock climbing training. Wohoo! What else do I need, a nice group and a nice start off, I happily accepted the offer and started off climbing yesterday. She helped with couple of easy climbs (5’6’’ and 5’7’’). I did 4 climbs well and 5th one, I couldn’t and I just gave up. I know I easily give up. Yes, something to work on. Thank full to TG.

Snowboarding, I am coming soon.

Deepawali - One such memorable festival

Is there any Indian festival, which doesn't mark the end of evil? I rarely come across such except for the birthday's of God (which is often referred as Birth of Good to end evil), so its again one and same. But the way we celebrate each festival definitely changes the pattern of one's life. Change may be unrecognized and invisible, but i still believe in it.

Talking about Deepawali, Shop keepers launch opening ceremony a week before festival by opening stalls. We step into festive environment by bugging parents to buy more clothes and crackers. Lay over between the time we buy fire crackers and the time we crack them is all an exciting phase. Every evening we feel like journey to cloud 9.

With a slight variation to other festivals, Deepawali starts evening. So, our foot hardly stay on ground during the last hour of the school. On the way home, we feel the festival, every home got smile on its face.

When dusk makes an entrance, clay lights at every home lightens the place. Very symbolic philosophy. I have reached cloud 9. Mom lightens the home and places fire crackers on Wool stiched holder (dont know the exact term). I know they are not all we got and other fire crackers are hidden. But yeah, we have to fire them economically as festival is for 3 days. Except for deaf and old people, every one will be on street firing crackers. You will see some adventorous guys making some adventures (like firing rockets horizantally, i did that after my schooling :)) and your parents will be watching you to make sure you run a mile away from fire cracker as soon as you fire it. This is the right time to take on some painful neighbours (those who mess with you). All you have to do is, fire crackers at 12 AM in front of their home. Its fun. As we will have to celebrate the festival for 3 days and my father's peanut budget to crackers is inversely proportional to my excitement (and me and my brother has to share crackers), it was always incomplete. But yes, Mom know the art of solacing. The word "we still have festival tommorrow" makes it complete.

Our family used to celebrate next day morning and i don't see many families doing it. One extra session brings edge over neighbours and makes neighbour hood kids jealous. Wow, this is a complete feeling. It ends during night. We clear everything. Though we crave for more. But that's it. Deepawali is over.

Oops, did i miss the part of sweets and new clothes? They can be ignored. For other festivals, they definitely take front seat, not for Deepawali.

My writing got a long break and my mind is so occupied with some crap now. I have a good feeling that i am going to set off everything after this writing and work on new resolutions.