Travel

Went on a long long holiday. Almost all of four weeks off. In Peru and loved it!
For most part of it was travelling by myself and had the best of experiences. Learnt some Spanish. Had conversations with people from all over the world and of all age groups. Loved how Peruvians would try and hold a conversation with me even though I had next to no Spanish vocab. How the cab drivers never yell and are ready with a smile. How everyone seemed to like Indians. One of the first things most travelers are interested in finding out about you is your age. Time blurs but for when you have to be up early for that hike or that tour. And days of the week just don't matter. Expecting good stuff all around seems to work. Backpackers are the friendliest bunch around. Juices are by default fresh squeezed! Breakfast is a common presence every day. Toting a heavy heavy camera around is just worth it! Despite all the complaints along the way :)
Drinking beer helps. Beauty is everywhere.
Hammocks rock (note to self: see if you can string one up around the house). Sunsets over water rock more! I sweat too. Humidity in the air is the coolest. Hippies exist everywhere. Boat rides are "wicked". Europeans are the most world "current affiars" aware. London kids are stoned half their life. Americans get/take the shortest breaks. Quitting job and traveling is not a bad option. There is sooo much to see and learn. Leaving behind travel buddies is pretty sad. Bus rides suck. Train rides are rad. Flights are not bad. Walking is pretty high up there next to train rides.

Window to Life on a Rainy Day

Its been great weather recently. Sun shiny days and warm evenings. In the midst of all this, we have resfreshing showers today. More of my grey and fresh green weather.

Was sitting next to a window lazily munching on some oatmeal and whiling time browsing at work anticipating my vacation coming up, when I saw the gardener head out in his yellow rain jacket. Shears clipped on hanging low at his waist. Glove covered hands pushing the lawnmower in front of him. He is one with his surroundings.

A perfect setting. As he pushed the lawnmower around between the low hanging trees, scattering the grass and the rain drops in a splatter around the mower. Surely wafting smells of fresh cut grass. And I had to make a note to myself - when I'm past the holds ups enforced on my work life cos of VISAs etc, I should one day sign up to be a gardener. I have a feeling I will love it, and with some help from my green-fingered Mothers gene pool, I should do grandly at it too!

Evocative II

Was cooking yesterday evening and happened to open this sealed bag of dried chilies. The aromas that hit the nose on opening the bag brought images to the minds eye. Images of sun filled fields, the land baked to cracked pies. The red chilies drying lazily in the sweltering haze undisturbed by the disinterested crows.
A snap of one chili and more fresh flavors hit the nose. Reminding one of summer days gone by. Ah the Indian summer. How I miss you!

Perspective

I keep coming back to this often. Sometimes I sadly lack in perspective.

Recently had a conversation with a semi-bum who confessed he was looking for a dog to keep him warm on cold days. And I was instantly revolted by the idea. Like a curtain had been lifted, ever since I seem to spot dogs with most of the homeless people on the streets of SF. It just felt wrong that this was the reason for them to keep those pets. I guess earlier  I assumed they must have found stray dogs and are looking after them - not that the dogs were helping out by acting as warm water bottles.
And then yesterday I was having some meat and fell to thinking why I should denounce the homeless when I was on one hand killing animals for my eating pleasure. I hate how my head fights my cravings all the time. How can so many contradictory thoughts co-exist in the same space? 

Evocative

I've always loved dancing. Tonight totally randomly happened to go for this movie Pina and it is simply awesome. Might have something to do with the fact that I was sipping on a glass of wine on a totally empty stomach. But I prefer to think that just enhanced the experience. On an aside: I feel I'd totally buy the idea of mushrooms to make life that one dimension more amazing.
I digress. Pina. So. Its supposed to be a documentary. Who likes those? Least of all me. So when I sat down and the reel started with some random people dancing around to some random words I was worried I'd have to sit through another couple of hours of this. But then the dances evolve and the characters speak. Very little. But enough to give you a sense of what they feel. And its beautiful Very evocative. Takes you just that far and leaves you reeling to the music visualizing the flow the dance should take. It was some experience. Totally worth the whole two + hrrs of 3D experience.


On the Veggie front - the Will died a sad death.

Of Habits and Randomness

As my friend puts it: Alert - Indulgent!

I'm fast becoming a creature of habits. Wake up around seven in the morning. Get ready and turn up at the train station by 8:17am. Yup, I’m counting the insignificant digits between the zeroes and fives these days. Reach work. Head to café if it’s one of those days I wake up hungry. Hopefully catch a glimpse of that cute guy at work. Then work or pretend to do so till noon when I head for lunch. Some random conversations with colleagues or pretend I’m a super busy girl who has to stay in touch with her email all day - even at lunch. Or get entangled in situations where I get asked by a HR guy (he should have warned me before suggesting we eat together!) what keeps me at my company still. Just when I’m seriously contemplating quitting and finding what I really like. Just when I’m searching for a reason to stay on. And admitting to him that the company goals and value system didn’t jibe with me much. All this when I was almost tongue tied cos said cute guy was sitting right next all through. 

Going back to the creature of habit – lunch and then osme more pretense of working. And then rushing off to catch that 5:20 light rail on my way home. Have even given up the pretense of taking my laptop home and maybe working. And my boss seems totally fine with that. Though I wonder what my neighboring colleagues think of the hours I keep. I’m sure I’m setting a terrible sense of morale all around considering how much everyone else seems to be slogging.

Home by 6:30pm picking up that wrap on the way for dinner. I seem to have peculiarly become very non-picky about food these days. Cut up some fruit and settle in with some Netflix. Just to wake up to another day of the same. Till the weekend rolls in.

So the random stuff. The jogging that I have gotten back to again these days. The three miles I’m trying to perfect and be able to run without sweating. The escape to the badminton courts. Though that’s a new one (translate just happened once so far). I walks around campus with colleagues. The occasional jaunt with the camera. Though that has had a temporary hiatus enforced after I messed up the lens trying out the new stand recently. Hope to get it back fixed soon. The beautiful beautiful moon rises. The overheard conversations. The amazing music I’ve uncovered recently and rediscovering repeat playing of the same song over and over and over and over…

The lazy perusal of whatever book draws the fancy over the perfect duration train rides. Spotting the regulars on the train or rather at the stations I get off or board at. And weekends. Now those are a totally different story. For some other time. Great days. Great lazy days. 

Weekends in Pictures

Lost...

...in Questions. I seem to be having a lot of questions these days. Like today. I was reading this book about the struggles of this kid in Africa. How he was living every day worried it would be his last. And realized one of the top things I worry about in a day is what do I eat next. Or how do I fill my evening. I guess its a nice world when those happen to be my topmost worries.
But today I had this thought about how obsolete some of these questions should be. The what to eat thing for example - I mean with this whole evolution thing which helped us weed through food choices, and develop habits which should naturally be healthy (else we should not have survived this long?).. possibly have arrived at a life style which ensures we live a longer & healthier time. And yet today many of our hours in the day are spent obsessing about how to eat healthy and what to include in our diet and how to keep our bodies exercised and fit. Are we in this age ignoring life lessons from our ancestors somehow? Or has this been the way of life always? Learn some lose some.
I remember how my Dad used to always chide me to learn from others experiences instead of making my own mistakes and learning from them. Shouldn't evolution have taught us to think the right way? But still how much joy we get from trying new things! I guess its true that sometimes the arch-nemesis lies within itself. Our willingness to try new things and grow/learn might also be the trait that leads to our downfall too. Take nuclear energy for instance.


Hmm. Sometimes there are no answers. And even if there are we, ignore them in the pursuit of small pleasures. But then isn't one supposed be appreciating the small things in life. This kinda sounds like that proof for 2 = 1 :)

(My) Yesterday in Pictures

Sundays Again

Now that I'm back to jogging, I've decided to jog Sundays at different locations in the city. Ending with brunch. Back to my Sunday Brunches. And so to keep the trend going I've picked the Golden Gate Park for this Sundays jog with brunch at the Japanese Tea Garden within the park. Lets see how that goes. Shall review the place in Sunday at Brunch.
Oh and this is if I don't go off on some trip for the long weekend. Which reminds me, I should evaluate my resolution last year to travel to twelve new places. Not sure if I did. Lets see... There is Grand Canyon, preceded by Alaska, Seattle, San Luis Obispo, Arches in Utah, Yosemite half dome (not sure this counts as I've been to Yosemite before even if not on the half dome hike), hmm.. thats it! Half the number aimed for... not bad considering.. Hopefully will finally get that VISA and go visit outside of US this year. Should work on a new list. Coming soon.

PS: Doing great on the vegetarianism these past 2 and half months! Proud of me-self :)

Back to Jogging!

Woke up with some enthu on Sunday morning. Instead of whiling hazy time playing something on my phone decided to put on my running shoes and venture out. And glad I am I did! (All caught up on Star Wars! and wondering why it took me so long.)

Got reminded how much I enjoyed it. So went and got myself some running friendly clothes and shoes to work so I can head out on weekdays too. Lets see how long I'll keep it up this time. And here are some views from my run yesterday. No wonder I want to keep it going.

Note to self: Avoid concrete paths! And oh - milk does inherently taste sweet. Cut down on the sugar.

Christmas Weekend

Started with a stroll on the beach with nice company. Sat on the sands and talked about the explorations of our companion who has tried his hand at bee keeping, carpentry, advertizing, music, cooking, computer engineering... the list goes on. And hes so young. Loved the energy he has for life. Got back home to churn up a nice spread for our guests that night. Played board games well into the night and finished three bottles of wine between the six of us without even getting a cursory high!

The day after was better yet - started with a hike on Mt Tam where we traipsed about hunting for mushrooms! Learnt quite a bit about mushrooms. Was a beautiful beautiful day with clear fresh air and rolling landscapes. Rested midway through the hike on a vantage point giving us unending views of the ocean and the shores to the right. Scrambled through some underbrush in the lush redwoods and finally got rewarded with a cluster of Oyster Mushrooms. Wound our way back home where our young fellow (have to admit I do feel old with him around :P )whipped up a yummy yummy pasta with the mushrooms and Parmesan cheese with some kale tossed in. And oh the bread we had - just that little extra touch he put in with the toasting and garlic and cheese on it - soul food. Ate till I was ready to burst! Ended watching some TV online and finally dozed off with thoughts of a lazy work week ahead.

The Grind of Bodies

That's what a pub dance floor usually is. A mill. Bodies colliding, crushing those poor little toes, that elbow in your back, unknown drink in your belly, and in SF pot fumes swirling around. And I love it. Which is crazy. But maybe with reason. Its probably the one place & time when I express myself uninhibitedly. Move in a way that makes sense to only me. Get rid of all that pent up energy from leading a non physical life ( I truly believe many city dwellers would happily go at it on a farm with shovels and etcetera just for the sake of it given half a chance - man has no idea what he has given up introducing machines for everything. But then again he created dance floors..). When I can stomp on toes with my heels and get away with a smile. No hard feelings. Good will and benevolence is abounding all around.
And then closing time comes around all too soon and you know your friends are going to get you home safe and all accounted for and that that key is waiting for you to get you inside and into a soundless sleep (stupor more like). To awake the next morning and wonder how many people had stomped on your sore sore toes or is it maybe the shoes...

Transient Beauty

Was on the train today when i saw this bit of grass on some playground lit up by a stray beam of sunlight on an otherwise cloudy morning. Had this golden effect on the grass. Was ethereal. Just like that one glimpse of hazy sunlight filtering through the trees speckled with dust raised by the street-cleaner on another early-morning-on-the-way-to-work. Or that night at the beach with the waters glazed by silver moonlight. When we rushed back fearing the dark shadows. All passing moments. But with a permanent image in my memories. Maybe thats the true secret behind beauty - transience. But then again maybe not.

My Kinda Art

If there is anything in man made things that keeps me captivated for some time its the written words. I can spend hours on end reading captivating stories, articles, etc. Pictures painted with words. The real killer is that they let me add my own interpretation on things. That's the true beauty. And I don't come out at the end saying, "What was that?!".
Been reading again. After a long long hiatus. And the words are beautiful. Love the images. How plain old boring words can create such a crack up of a story. And I'm just now discovering the pleasures in finding the odd articles worth reading. Never was one for newspapers before. Though I still don't end up reading much of  the news part of it anyway. And Opinions. That's the good stuff.
 Not to forget - never realized all those esoteric words were hiding in such plain sight all these days. Hope the reading continues.

How (In)Appropriate

My company gives us a lot of discount on public transportation. About 45% off on Caltrain etc and free pass for the VTA. Sort of to promote the use of public transportation. They need to sweeten up the deal to make us take it. On the other hand I see all these people on the train who do all they can - take tickets for only part of the distance, sometime not get one at all and risk getting caught. All cos they can't afford it. The full price ticket. And here I am with the sweet deal.

The Mad Dash

The nomad has moved again! Now to SF. A good friend had suggested time and again that I do this a long long time ago. Finally here I am, sharing a house right on top of a hill. With an amazing amazing view, and good weather so far. I have yet to explore, but like what I see so far. The commute on the train, the welcoming rain, nice & helpful landlord (?) who loves to cut up things (!?), the hikes up and down the hill daily, the views, the people. That is probably my favorite. The mill of people churning around.
Changed the settings on my alarm & slept late yesterday, only to realize in the morning that I had overslept! But not till I was at the door did I realize how close I was to catching the train, and I couldn't give up without trying. So out the door I went, dashing down the hill, running in front of cars over the zebra crossing, just to see the train doors close right in front of my eyes about fifteen steps away! But wait the train wasn't moving yet and a few people were walking to the front of it. And so I followed too. There it was, the bothersome door, refusing to close! Oh how I loved it at that moment! And so the stars aligned to get me in on that train where I sat beating my brains over a crossword (not even one extra solution did I get though while on the train!).
I have a feeling my friend is right. And I will love it here.

Experience of a Lifetime

Backpacking South rim to North rim of The Grand Canyon. We were supposed to be eighteen of us on the trip, but dwindled down to fifteen cos of one collar bone fracture and two last minute drop outs. I knew only five of the others; but by the end of the trip got to know the rest too. Over long lazy afternoons, and early morning hikes. The shepherds - always looking out for the straggling hiker. The driven  hikers. The loyal one and the one underestimating his own capabilities. And the one hiker who stayed unfussy through the trip - not her usual style!
Got to know the unrelenting heat of the Canyon and how good it feels to rest in its shades. The pretty little nooks it has hidden away for the hikers who seek them out. The beauty of its vastness. The wild flowers springing in the most unexpected setting. The rivers trickling down over time smoothed rocks. The tranquil deer getting a drink from the stream, that decided to empty its bowels upstream of where we were unwinding in the coolness of the flowing water. The oasis in the dessert - where our thirsty & hot bunch got quenching, chilling & amazingly refreshing lemonade! And chilled out with some Uno, who would've thought!
The unbroken uniformity of the landscape while trudging along only to turn a corner and suddenly feel the cool breeze from the river flowing nearby. Ah the cool waters, how good they felt on the dipped feet. That piece of paradise formed by a piddling little stream of water. The grandest view of the Colorado cutting through the Canyon in the setting rays of the Sun. Chance meetings with strangers and getting to know that quintessential detail about them which somehow stays with you. Nights spent under starry starry skies with streaks shooting across every so often! (I've made a loot of wishes! :) ) The clamorous crickets and incessant buzz of more insects. The daring squirrels, the un-bothered deer. The soaring birds. The crisscrossing switchbacks. The sandy uphills. The sweet support of the trekking poles. The undying solar lamp. The never ending last two miles (so true is the untaught law - weight is directly proportional to time!). The beautiful beautiful sight of the dumpster which heralded civilization!
Best four days.

Alaska

 

 

 

Random Tidbit

Read this somewhere today - the reason we sweat when nervous is cos our system is preparing to run! Fight or flight. So apparently we sweat in areas which chaff when running so it helps against chaffing. Isn't that interesting?! the first reaction our body has to any kind of agitation is - run! :P
I find it hilarious for some reason! :D