Home Sweet Home: Freeeeeemont

All this traveling is fun, but sometimes I just want to kick back and relax in my own town, with my family.
Fremont, the city I grew up in, had so many things that I love- the friends, the Farmer's market, the burrito place that has no name, and Pakwaan- the place that is packed every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7 pm- 11 pm.
The trips that I used to make to the park with my brother and mom when we were first learning to bike ride. Mission peak, the mountain that I have been climbing since I was six- and we used to take the "illegal" shortcuts. And the Baskin Robbins near my house where my cousins used to take me to when I was little. Those are the best parts of my childhood and Fremont.
Sure, it doesn't have a downtown, and isn't a large well known city, but at least it has its own charm, and I guess I could say that there really is no place like home.

A Flight to Nowhere

We had planned this trip for a long time, and in august the weather would be perfect to go to Alaska. It wasn't a cruise or anything- but it was a packed vacation.
I remember spending almost two hours packing clothes the night before and I was so excited that I could visit Alaska. My parents had told me that we were going white water rafting, hiking, and potentially renting ATVs to ride in the forest. I was pumped.
However when we boarded the plane, there was some notice that we might not be able to take off because of a volcano that had erupted that day and ash was spreading in the air.
If ash were to get caught in the engine, then the plane would be in trouble. But nonetheless, after moments of waiting, we finally were able to get up in the air. About three hours into the plane ride, they sent another notification saying that we were above Washington, near Canada and the ash would not permit us to go any further. We couldn't land in Seattle because there were already 40 planes that had done so.
What else to do, but turn around and go home for another three hours. Unfortunately we weren't able to go to Alaska, but at least I can say- I've taken a six hour flight to nowhere.

Centipede on a Stick

Imagine walking through a dark alleyway which several crowded stalls and the only light is the fire from the grill. As you look in to see what everyone is eating, you are surprised by the several insects roasting by the fire.
The night market, one of Bejing's famous hang-out spots, is where I saw the most unusual foods and signs. First of all, there was no light whatsoever, so you couldn't really see what you were eating. Then the signs that were somewhat illuminated had rather gross names of the food. How about "boiled goat head", "goat soup of whole internal organs" and finally "meat-bunch items"- and I have no clue what those "items" are.
That was just the animals, but there were many crawly critters being fried up in the back. As I looked in one of the stalls, I was shocked out of my skin to see a hundred huge cockroaches staring back at me with their long stick-like legs dangling off their sides. Served fresh on a stick, I was appalled to see so many people munching and crunching on this snack. In another stall, I saw a few people picking up sticks of what looked like caterpillars. Nice and fresh they were, but those centipedes were perfectly stranded on the stick, ready to be sucked right off. Nice substitute for a lollipop right?
After our adventure through a variety of creatures, we decided that it was best to stick to some nice vegetarian green food. We stopped by a little restaurant and ordered a plate of veggie noodles and stir fried soy beans.

Not So Nice

Two days in France and a lot can happen. There is a little town called Nice- but pronounced like Niece- and I stayed there for a couple of days to enjoy the fabulous food and the beautiful port city.
We visited a perfume factory where I got to see how the different oils and chemicals and fragrances were all put together to make Eau de Toilettes and perfumes. It smelled wonderful
On the first night, I went to a little cafe restaurant with my family for a lovely seafood extravaganza. It satisfied me until around 12:00 am when I got a horrible case of food poisoning. Unfortunately the rest of the trip was just downhill from there. The doctors there did not speak much English, and when my mom (thankfully a pediatrician who knows a little French) went to the pharmacy- a little room with local medicines- she was able to find something.
The last night, my parents went to a restaurant where the food was AMAZING... but I couldn't eat anything- so I just watched them eat the lovely presented platters, which I slurped some vegetable soup and munched on pieces of bread. Although it was seven courses, it felt like much more as I watched in envy.
Maybe next time my trip to Nice will be nicer.

Skiing Through Town

I love skiing, especially when the snow is perfect and the sun is shining, but there is a slight chill to the air. That's the best type of weather for skiing, and in Switzerland, I got to ski in the perfect condition.
The hotel was walking distance from the train station, which took us all the way up the mountain to the top of the peak. Here there is a 5-10 minute chair lift, but in the Alps, theres a 30 minute train ride. So the runs were 1 hour long and the scenery was beautiful. You pass by a town called Wengen, with little cottages and cafes.
At the top of the peak, when we stopped for lunch of course we had to get the local food. Sausages that were being grilled right in front of you, fresh hot potato soup, and Sauerkraut, a shredded cabbage pickle that goes inside the sausage. It was way better than chilli and a sandwich.
Other than skiing, we explored the town through the cold nights in the snow. At one restaurant, we ordered the famous Fondue. Now, when I heard that they eat Fondue for dinner, I was pretty excited to be eating strawberries dipped in chocolate- but I was quite wrong. It was meat in a bubbling broth where you dip it in until it cooks and eat it with a bunch of vegetables. It was pretty good. Unfortunately, the other kind of fondue they had was potatoes in cheese which was not as pleasant.
However to make up for that, there is always Swiss Chocolate. The best invention ever created by anybody. And trust me, we had lots.
After the entire trip, I realized that Switzerland is really the home of cheese, chocolate, and the Alps.

I Didn't Know Seals did Yoga and More...

I love how the sparkles are dancing on the water.

March of the Penguins... literally. I think they know single file more than we do.

If you don't see the yellow streaks in this penguin's hair, well it's there. Thats a Macaroni Penguin :) and as you can see they are distinguished from the rest of those penguins.

This elephant seal, which is known for its lazy nature to just lie on the ground, found the energy to do this pose!

Bye Bye Antarctica!

Beyond Freezing

I stood at the gangplank of the ship, with thoughts rushing through my brain- should I do it, or not?

Aboard the ship to Antarctica, on one of the last days, the crew had a tradition called the "Polar Plunge," where they tie you to a rope and you jump into the freezing cold waters of the Antarctic ocean. The rope was so that you wouldn't get pulled away with the current.

So you're probably thinking, wetsuit, or full body suit at the least, but no. It was me and my bright pink swimsuit tied to that rope on the edge of the boat waiting to jump in.

And so I jumped, knowing that it would be cold, but not that cold. The temperature was 1 degree celsius, which is about 33 degrees Farenheit. And it was freezing cold- like a thousand million billion needles attacking me at once.

I came out screaming like a little penguin jumping out of the ocean. But, hey, at least I did it. And unfortunately I couldn't have one of those Vodka shots that all the adults got when they completed this "absurd act of heroism." Atleast I could look forward to the hot shower that was soon to come.

My certificate specified that at 64° 53' South and Longitude 62° 52' West, "I did most sturdily enter the invigorating waters of the Southern Ocean... and had a temporary loss of any common sense." You can basically say I was crazy.

Why Did the Penguin Cross the Tracks?

To get to the other side of course, but really it's because he had to pick up another stone to build his nest. Poor little birds- its so cute how they waddle down the hill just to get a rock for their homes. The nests are mounds of stone which they sit on for days and in order to build that they have to trudge down hills picking up one stone which they carry up the entire hill so that they can repeat this process again.

On our first day at land, we were greeted by thousands of penguins who would just walk around, fighting and picking at eachother, and an occasional slapping here and there with their wings.
Sometimes the penguins would waddle up pretty close to you, but most of the time these flightless birds were too scared.

During the course of our trip to Antarctica, we encountered five species of penguins. The Adele penguins, whose eyes are like perfect circles one inside the other, and are the color of sapphire blue. The second ones were the chinstrap penguins, because they looked as if they had a black chinstrap. Then there were the Gentoo penguins, whose beaks were orange. The other two had black beaks. We also encountered two Macaronni penguins, whose name comes from the yellow feathers sticking out of their heads. And last, we saw one lonely lost emperor penguin sitting all alone on an iceberg.

At every stop we made, hoards of penguins surrounded the land, and these cute little creatures became the symbol of my entire Antarctic experience.

Seven Meter Swells

Thank God I don't get sea sick! On our journey to Antarctica, the boat took 2 days to reach land- and those two days were filled with upset stomachs and sleepless nights for some. This period of no land was called the Drake Passage- where the waves just go crazy.

During the first few hours of the boat trip, the waters were calm and peaceful- which served for a lovely dinner and a good nights rest. However that did not last long.

As we woke up the next morning, the boat was rocking side to side, back and forwards making it almost impossible to stand up without holding on to the table or bed or pole. It was fun for me because I love when the boat rocks- to me it feels like I am riding the waves like a courageous captain. (although many others did not quite feel that way)

As I stepped out of my room to the main hall, I saw a creative layout for the given circumstances. The crew had lined the hall banister with throw-up bags in case you just had to right on the spot. How clever!
As I went out onto the deck, the boat had rocked so much that the floor was completely soaked. The strong cold wind blew in my face and the waves (about seven meters (21 feet) at some points) crashed onto the sides and in some cases onto the boat. It was crazy.

A grand total of ten people out of the 60 guests showed up for meals during those two days. Soup was not even an option to be served- for fear that it might do the same as the waves- and slosh everywhere. I was the only one of my family who ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Thankfully, the Drake Passage, that dreadful gap between the penninsula of Argentina and Antarctica, only lasted for two days.

Finally, after much waiting, we spotted something in the distance- the gray fuzzy strip was what we had all been waiting for. Land Ho!

Bottom of the World... Almost

At the tip of all tips, the southernmost city of the World, is the little town of Argentina, called Ushuaia. This fully functional city is the place where I stayed right before my family and I boarded the ship to Antarctica.

Although it was a small town, it was quite bustling with small cafes and restaurants, hotels, little souvenir shops, post offices, houses, and the best icecream parlor in the world! Argentina is known for its Dulce De Leche, or caramel.

The national park in Ushuaia had been preserved quite well, and from the surroundings were so surreal. Snowcapped peaks, but at the same time there was greenery with little rabbits digging up the grass. And the rocky coast of the southern waters. It was amazing.

The little town had so much character, and our one day stay just got better as we boarded the ship on our way to Antartica.

We waved goodbye to Ushuaia as we anticipated the arrival of ice, snow, glaciers, and ocean.

Baklava, Dervish Dancers and Turkish Delight

Let's just say our flight landed at 1 AM and even after we drove to our hotel and got settled, there was enough action out on the street where we could sit down for a nice "dinner." The trip to Turkey, along with our Europe summer trip, was memorable.
Every morning, as we sat on the terrace of our hotel for breakfast, we had a great view of the entire city- including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the rest of the city. I always love visiting places with tons of history- and Turkey was one of those places. With the museums, the ruins, and the culture- and don't forget the food!
The Grand Bazaar- with over 4000 shops inside, kept us occupied for hours: hopping from store to store, we searched for a Turkish rug and other souvenirs. With each welcome from the different shopkeepers, we were greeted with hot Persian tea and some very tasty Turkish delight. And even after the hundreds of stores, the food just got better.
Not only were our appetites filled with the scrumptious Turkish delight, but each evening, after we finished our large and filling dinner, we would stop by the Baklava bakery where they would serve us each a freshly made warm piece of Baklava. The honey was dripping from this phylo dough and Pistachio pastry, and I tried to fit it in my mouth in a single bite. It was absolutely delicious!
After a couple of days touring the city, we decided to take a trip to Ephesus via a small plane trip taking less than an hour. There we walked through ruins of columns and large amphitheatres used by the Greeks. We also visited the Temple of Artemis where we saw several Greek statues of the gods. I felt like I was living in history- surrounded by pillars thousands of years old.
After that, we went to Pamukkale, the calcium springs, where you are literally walking on Calcium deposits. And there were also hot springs where we got to swim in water with pieces of ancient pillars at the bottom- imagine sitting on a thousand year old column in the water. It was truly an experience

On the way back to the city, we stopped by a small pottery store- I actually got to make a peice of pottery (something like vase). It was pretty cool shaping the rotating clay into a bowl. And the painters on the side with their finely tipped brushes making intricate strokes.

On the last day, we stopped by the Baklava cafe to eat our last piece of honey filled pastries from Turkey. Even though we spent an entire week there, I didn't want to leave- it was one of those places that I could keep coming back to because the culture, food, and history kept me wanting more.

Sometimes You Don't Have To Travel Far...

During Spring break last year, a few of my friends and I ventured out to Catalina Island. Not only was the vacation fun, I enjoyed it most because I got to spend it with the people whom I love to be around. The city, well more of a town, was filled with small street cafes, little souvenir shops, and beaches all around.
Though we were there for a few days in this small town, the options kept us occupied. On the first day, we headed out to the beach of course and went kayaking. Although my rowing skills aren't quite at the highest level, we managed to go out pretty far- with much help from the backseat rower.
There was also a nice hike- a couple of miles, to the top of a peak where we could see the entire view of the sea and city. It was beyond fantastic. But it wasn't the only experience I had where I could see the view from a high point. On the second day, we went parasailing. By then, my fear of heights had subsided and I was able to enjoy the experience. Up, Up, Up and away we went- it must have quite a few feet up in the air we were, attached to this giant parachute flapping in the wind. It was great fun.
On the last day, we were all sad to leave the beautiful port and go back to school. But we managed to detach ourselves as we headed back on the boat to LA, awaiting the long six hour ride home.
I found out after this trip that not all vacations require miles of extensive driving or flying- sometimes its the local, or So-cal, trips that are just as fun.

Mind the Gap

Double decker buses, tea time, and the tube. All classic signs of London. That trip during the summer of 2005 was one of the most enjoyable and fun excursions.

I had always wanted to go to London because it seemed like a city with much history, fashion, shopping, theatre, and food, and after I went there- it definitely lived up to my standards. For five days in the city, I was able to visit many landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, Shakespeare's home in Stratford upon Avon, and the famous 22 B Baker Street where dwelled the fictional character, Sherlock Holmes.

Madame Tussaud's, the famous London wax museum, was amazing- and the statues looked close to real- as if it were taxidermy (which they were not thankfully) I was able to see the changing of the famous London Guards, whose job it is to not laugh no matter what is in their sight. We also visited the prestigious Oxford University, and saw the room where the Harry Potter Great Hall was filmed. Apart from the landmarks, there was much more to the British atmosphere which made the trip fun.
The food was delicious. Indian food is a major part of London cuisine, and I must say that it may have surpassed the taste of even the Indian food in India! And of course there are the traditional pub lunches- the famous fish and chips. The only downside of the restaurants was that it was quite expensive, but every place that we dined served us a scrumptious meal.

The theatres in the city are fabulous- and like New York, there are many shows to catch. I happened to see the Producers- and it was funny beyond funny. I was laughing non-stop and the actors and actresses were phenomenal.

During the week that I spent in England, I can genuinely say that I enjoyed every moment of it. And when I return, I will always be sure to mind the gap.

Ziplines, Volcanoes, and Monkeys

Imagine yourself 600 feet above the ground hanging from a rope and looking down into a deep abyss of rainforest trees, and just thinking that it would not be a good idea to let go right about now. That's how high up I was when I went ziplining in Costa Rica. Although my fear of heights started to kick in at the top, I must admit that the view was gorgeous from there.
Apart from ziplining, the rainforest offered a huge variety of fauna and flora. I went into a butterfly sanctuary where there were thousands of butterflies just flying around, and they sit on you and flap in your face. I was unfortunately not a huge fan of these creatures (and still am not).
There were also the monkeys, which reminded me of little children playing and fighting. One of them came and climbed up me and sat on my head, grabbing my nose, and sliding down my arm. It was quite adorable.
Of course Costa Rica is known for it's beaches and the sparkling water of the Caribbean, and our home was overlooking the water with a splendid view. However, the one thing that bothered me about this tropical destination were the insects and other various crawling creatures. Especially in the night, when we turned on the lights in our home, all the bugs got attracted to it so there would be moths, and other species that were unidentified. And one day even a praying mantis!
Nonetheless, a trip to any Caribbean location is always worth it- just to get away from the stress and relax.

Angkor What?

Walking through the ruins of a temple almost 800 years old- now that was an experience. In Cambodia, the small country neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, lies the ruins of an ancient temple, influenced by Hinduism. The large stone blocks scattered all over the floor, thousands of Buddhist statues and intricate carvings depicting Hindu mythology are part of the temples known as Angkor Wat. As we entered the ruins, many roots from the trees had already taken control of the site- like the large tentacles of an octopus, they reached out onto the stone grabbing whatever part of the ground they could. And the stairs leading through the various elevations of the temple were another sight- just imagine looking down from the top and not being able to see the rest of the stairs. That's how steep they were.
Besides the historic part of Cambodia, there was much more to see in the two days of our stay. Our favorite restaurant became the a local cafe called Khmer Kitchen- where all four of us were able to eat dinner in under 20 dollars- and it wasn't even fast food. All transportation was done in a Tuk-Tuk, a small carriage on wheels connected to a motorcycle.
Although the visit was rather short, we managed to pack in as much of the history and culture into the two days as possible- and the short stop really was worthwhile.

Foie Gras, S'il Vous Plâit?

What is the view like from the top of the Eiffel Tower? Is Madamoiselle Mona Lisa smiling or frowning? What in the world is Foie Gras? Only Paris can tell.
At the age of six, I couldn't really have a vivid appreciation for this beautiful city, and most of what I remember now is hopping from museum to museum, climbing up the infinite stairs of that huge tower and being thankful that there was an elevator to the last floor, and trying to learn French from the little pocket dictionary so I could sound smart in restaurants. Although most of this is just a blur now, there are some highlights that I remember quite vividly. My first experience in the city was a night time boat ride on the River Seine- and seeing a rush of colorful lights- that's when I first fell in love with Paris.
My other large appreciation for food was satisfied when I went to my first French Restaurant. Trying those slimy slugs that crawl around in my backyard- now there was an adventure. I really had to scoop out the meat from under the shell, but after I got past the fact that it was a snail, escargot was not bad. In fact I even went on to greater and more authentic foods like Foie Gras- any guesses? Well, it happens to be goose liver, and as nasty as it sounds, I loved it!
Even though it was more than 8 years ago, it has stayed in my memory for quite a while. The art, the food, and the people all make me what to go back to Paris once again.

My Second Home: India

Even though it is roughly 9000 miles from my first home to my second, I still find time to visit it every year. India, with its culture rich in history, dance, art, music, and food. The first trip I ever took to India was much before I can even remember, but over the past few years I have really begun to grow an appreciation for this country with so much culture which I am a part of.
Many people do not know of India apart from the Taj Mahal- a huge marble masterpiece also serving as a tomb for the architect's wife. And beyond that- what else has it got to offer? When I go to India, I rarely ever visit the famous landmarks- instead I spend time bonding with my relatives, shopping on the busy Commercial Street in Bangalore, observing the people cranking sugarcane juice from a machine that has probably never been cleaned, and while you drink from the plastic cups, you are "literally fighting for lip space with the flies" the way my dad puts it. The early morning walks with my grandparents around the neighborhood or trying to find a single moment where nobody is honking their shrill autorikshaw horns on the road.
It's visiting the village in Mangalore, another city, where my parent's cousins live and playing in the acres of rural forest and farm. Being able to first hand experience milking a cow and eating on banana leaves with my hands. And living in a house with the most modern technology as a small ten inch black and white television, and still being able to appreciate and love it.
That is India as I see it- I live it and breathe it, and still after a month's stay, I don't want to leave it.

Why Travel?

Why do I travel? Why do people travel in general? Because there is so much more to see than what is outside our windows. The world is so vast that nothing can be captured entirely in a 3 by 5 photograph. Because we want to live and breathe the culture of another country. That's why I travel. I know that I cannot visit every single country in the world, but at least I can try.
I love to see how other places exist, how the people live, the food they eat, the music they play, the art and architecture, and the religion they follow. Everything is so different everywhere- when you travel, you discover, and everything comes alive.