The Meaning and Purpose - Time's soliloquy

Read Bjørn Stærk's moving rendition of what the year meant to him. It touched me very deeply since it has so much truth. I urge you to read this too.

Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz

It was an option for us to visit this place on our way back to Los Angeles from San Francisco. And by golly, thank godness we opted to check this out. It is a perfect example of how amazing certain laws of persistence affect our being.


It starts with the legend of how the area came to be known; how the peasants were more than willing to part with the land since it was a bearer of mis-fortune, etc. What is striking is the sparseness of the enterprise which later makes logical sense. The twisted trees, the oddly balanced and designed cabin and the lack of vertical and horizontal references. Once you are in the midst of a forest hill where objects provide a different symmetry and there is no artificial level to gauge by, the mind starts falling prey to visual stimuli. Thats all that I could manage to force my brains to agree with. Since the visuals and the feeling is too loaded for the mind to understand, I gave up trying. Some of the snaps here leave you with that funny feeling.



What was more shocking was the apparent difference in heights of two people depending on where they stand. When the places of the two people are exchanged, all logic goes missing. Check these out!

Viral Detention

The city beckoned. And I relented. So did nature. For a guy who is generally hale and hearty most of the time, nature decided to even the odds and get me sick. Have not been in the best of health of late (old age catching up ;)?) and yesterday was the pits. Extremely depressing climate of showers all day aggregated into a fit of watery eyes and running nose. Excellent time for a soup and rest. But not on Christmas day. Not in San Francisco!!
Thats how merciless life can sometimes be! Nevertheless, here is a snap of the juxtaposition that is SFO - ancient blended with the new. Cheers!

If you're going to San Francisco!

You gonna meet some gentle people there... I was remembering the strains of this song as I left for experiencing the magic that is San Francisco!

Whatever you've read about it, nothing can prepare you in any way for the sight that you will behold when you enter this place. The air is ancient - the streets smell of a culture that is so metro yet understated. The people are welcoming and the style quite european.

The crookedest street in the world is right here - with twists and turns that leave you agape.


Then "Fisherman's Wharf" on Pier39 is another gem - meant to separate tourists from their money. The prices are outrageous here, but the place is really beautiful. With sea lions making it their resting place, its about natural beauty all along.


We also visited the dreaded Alcatraz. The place where no prisoner could escape. We travelled there by ferry and it was a lovely experience.


From there on to the mystical Golden Gate bridge. I cant say any more.. u have to see it to believe it..


We also visited a small quaint neighbourhood called Sausolito. We had soup and coffee there to the strains of piped music..


Finally there was the fabulous Christmas Mass at Oakland. A celebration of joy!

San Diego - Seaworld

SanDiego was another blip on my radar that had to be marked and photographed. The opportunity presented itself Saturday when Yogesh proffered to take me there. His homely parents joined us on the trip to SeaWorld, which was our destination for the day. Its a two hour drive from where I live and the journey was a rather quick one. We grabbed a home made 'aloo paratha' to satisfy our cravings for the moment and made along.


We did the scene for a day - its wholesome fun for the entire family, especially kids. For me, to touch the dolphins was what i cherished most. They feel like smooth but dry rubber and they loved being caressed. It was too precious a moment to capture on film, so my minds eye has the snap.However, this is of one of the little beauties at the scene.


Shamu's show was the most definitive of where the US stands in terms of showbiz. A dollop of patriotic ferver by giving an ovation to families of US troops and an add sponsored by Budweiser during the show to thank US troops . The added bonus were adverts in all toilets encouraging people to drink Budweiser and not Miller so that "your dollar stays with us"?!!!! So much for patriotism.
However, the show was rather cool. With histrionics and stunts that leave you thrilled....

Comparatively the dolphin show was not that grand, but more direct. The dolphins were the stars here and the trainers did a real good job with a good story line.
But for the "piece de resistance" it was the Pets Rule show that won my heart. Completely dominated by pet animals, brilliantly choreographed, and superbly executed.

The various aquariums and viewing galleries were also decent. Similar to the Seaworld in Sentosa, Singapore but not better.
All in all a wholesome day spent well :)