Ayan

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A Prodigious Peregrination

Life seems to have zipped past by me. The wedding fatigue was just wearing off. Had barely been a month and a half since. And there...we find ourselves, off and in air, on A Prodigious Peregrination. No, no, it isn't the honeymoon that I talk about. 30 weeks and an India trip later (no, it isn't even the India trip that I talk about), I find it in me to write something. 30 weeks, 3rd trimester, it is going to be real and visible to the naked eye in a matter of 2-something months! And I muse, as I always have...I did not write, but I mused still...that never stops.

Accept...such an important word. Beautiful email discussion I had with a friend as a routine conversation, striking me now as so profound.


Me: why is this happening
woke up at 10:15 today
still couldn't get out of bed
didnt think could make it to work before lunch
so wfhing
you?

S: I was thinking of you, about to enter the end of this pregnancy.
By now, so much is changing in your body, mind, and life, that you should just accept.

Me: yes, accept... telling myself that everyday
and should, even after the baby arrives
it's going to get a part of my parents, a part of prit's parents...
i got my eye color from my father's sister -- believe it or not

S: go buy Marc Cohn’s song “Things we’ve handed down”
unbelieveably beautiful musical rendering of exactly what you just said
but, never underestimate your influence as a parent or pair of parents
there is both nature, and nuture, and more

Me: yes, nature, nurture, and more

Here are the lyrics: http://bit.ly/hdXGsr

"a strange new combination of
The things we've handed down."

I am overjoyed, overwhelmed, nervous, scared, possessive, protective etc. Life is curving an angle. Sometimes I absolutely know not what to expect. But...do know...the best things right now, are the responses in kicks and moves and flips to the parental pair's one-sided baby talks to a rounded rippling belly. Can't wait to hold the reality in my arms!

Phrenic Pereginations

What is more relaxing than a Sunday afternoon! I know you'd say, 'and what is more depressing than a Sunday night', but I am not going there just yet. I'm happy that it's still afternoon and that it's so relaxing. Random thoughts, brain chasing stream of consciousness, sleepiness, music, food, web, books, Dr. Dobb's Journal -- a little bit of everything. I don't make sense, do I? Well, not everything is supposed to make sense.

And can't get PH off my mind -- someone rightly said, 'songs chosen like pearls in a necklace', how better to put it...
"You can trust the moon to move the mighty ocean, you can trust the sun to shine upon the land;
take the little that you know and you do the best you can, and you see the rest with the quiet faith of man..."
"Follow that road; back thru' time, back thru' distance, back to me..."
"Back in the days, when anything was possible, having less meant knowing more..."
"All of my yearning, all of my hunger; maybe I'm learning, sometimes I wonder....Good Night, New York..."
"And we plough once more familiar ground to old and seasoned lovers...and one heart...is all I hear..."
"My dreams have no horizon lines, this promise knows no bounds..."

"Spring comes, rivers run; your song stills my rambling heart..."

And that hollow voice, more beautiful than a flute...How does someone get a voice like that? And those impeccable enunciations!
I guess I'd better get my lazy butt off the oh-so-comfy couch, spare you from the disorganized ramble(or is that tautology) and get ready for 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Peregrine Parents

June 19, 2008

My peregrine parents are off again on a longer-than-a-month peregrination in the Himalayas. Base camp in Jammu. Off to visit some of the most beautiful and not the most safe places. Yes, the disputed territory as my American friends would refer to it and nothing more. It is so much more, it is animate, it is a part of our hearts. I am not the kind to support quarrels over pieces of land that cost human lives but a map of India with the "disputed territory" taken off of its peak undoubtedly breaks my heart.

Growing up seeing that map everyday with Mother India embossed over it in all her beauty and glory, crowned with Kashmir, imbibes in you the patriotic feelings from the very onset. You grow up and start supporting peace, importance of human life, the cause that any reason, however strong, must be considered worthless over loss of lives, with all the fervor you have. But seeing that Kashmir could slip away does jiggle the nerves. Why can't I be the adult and just say, "Oh let them have it, be done with it and live in peace"? I think because I support justice with as much fervor. I search for answers. I get carried away. But before I do, backward to the introductory discussion.

So my parents are out to visit that legendarily spectacular Gulmarg where they had honeymooned 36 some odd years ago... and Wagha Border and Vaishno Devi... and on it goes. I think this trip pretty much sums up all of India for them -- they have been everywhere. Now they dream of Kailash ManSarovar... Keep up the peregrine spirits, my young darlings!

Smoky Mountains

Smokies were to be a vacation trip, a travel break from all the traveling. And just how do you take a ‘travel break’ from traveling? This is how – you don’t prepare, you don’t plan, you don’t pack. You avoid airport security lines, you avoid having to be anywhere on time. You hop into the car and you just go.

A Rand McNally is all you need. Alas, but we were spoiled enough to carry our GPS and our laptop, just in case. A quick look at the atlas suggested a night halt in Savannah, GA. So that’s how much we planned for the day… We stopped at a grocery store to buy snacks and at a mall to buy clothes and other necessities that we could have, you know, thrown in. But that would mean preparation, even if very little...

The most haunted city, Savannah, was worth the visit.
Although we did not reach in time for any ghost tours, we enjoyed every bit of East River Street -- the historical and southern charm, the cobblestone-laid street, the antebellum mansions and the antiquated candy-manufacturing machines. I was probably not the only one going berserk buying salt water taffys and soft, warm pecan pies. We suddenly recalled some old friends of ours now lived some three hours inland of Savannah. It was too late and it was well out of the way. But, so what…we had no plans and we felt like it so we had to do it. We decided we would enter Smokies on the west or the center and drive directly to Gatlinburg the next day instead of entering from the east through Asheville. So we surprised our friends in Albany, GA with an unexpected late-night visit and spent the rest of the night reliving the old times.

A scrumptious lunch ended the Albany visit and commenced the Smokies trip. We drove till we made it all the way to Gatlinburg. Stopping on our way in Sylva, Cherokee and a few other mountain towns, we savored the Smokies. Spring was peeking from here and there, not fully, but in full bloom wherever. The focus that day was to reach Gatlinburg before unearthly hours and find a place to spend the night. We passed the highest point, Clingman’s Dome and Newfound Gap where we would come back to hike the next day. Clingman’s Dome was blanketed with clouds. Dense fog only allowed hazy, silhouetted views of the giant mountains and the heavy forests, making them mysteriously beautiful. Winding roads and thick woods with a dash of bright color here and there, made us anticipate what splendid view the next turn would bring. Waterfalls and streams sprinted out of the rocks from nowhere just as frequently as a twist in the road. The tunnels that we passed through, although nowhere nearly as long in comparison, reminded me of the incredibly long Alpine tunnels of Italy. Nothing felt better than a road trip!

A walk around quaint Gatlinburg at night let us observe how different the south was from anywhere else. Charming in it’s own way and well, different! Not as much late-night drinking or clubbing but still no less fun. Exploring the specialty shops and boutiques that housed very pretty and selected few southern specialties was a fun shopping experience. For my refrigerator magnets though, the countless shops filled with cheap tourist souvenirs made in China sufficed.

We checked out of our cabins to begin the next day with a drive to Clingman’s Dome and a few wonderful hikes. The 5-mile-or-so hike was, according to me, the most beautiful. The narrow trail had been formed by a stream attempting to cut its way through the Appalachian rocks. It meant walking on water all the way, literally!

Dense forest on one side and valley on the other, is all one could see. Half way through the trail we felt quite lost and debated if we should turn around to return or continue on to see if we hit some civilization. Meeting no soul on the way, we could hear nothing but the wind rustling through the trees and the sound of the flowing water. Carrying the GPS would have helped, maybe… We decided to continue a little further and then return before getting more lost. After walking a mile or so, we heard some familiar sound. Did we, really? Was it just an illusion? We walked in the direction of the sound till we found a couple of fellow-hikers resting on a rock and chit-chatting. It is with their help that we found the right way out and by the time we got back all the way to our car, we were exhausted. The day was almost over. A relaxing dinner with drinks felt heavenly. We found lovely, creek-side cabins to spend the night and ended the day listening to excellent live band music.

The next day had almost the same things but for the trails. We explored some new trails and sat by Little River that runs through the length of the Smoky Mountains National Park and gives rise to some very scenic views as it’s galloping water bounces over the rocks and through the flora. A number of tiny bridges at various spots along the road were meant to lead to some marvelous hiking trails.

I never wanted to head back home but isn’t it always true for any vacation place I visit? On our way back were newer and better scenic spot stops and roadside shanties for boiled peanuts, indian art and homemade jams and jellies.

I couldn’t believe Appalachians are older than the Himalayas! And would have continued to be taller than the Himalayas if it wasn't for the erosion that wore them off!

More Peregrinations

They say you grow picky as you grow older. Right on. As I stretch myself thin, unable to decide among the various obtained and potential job offers and where I wish to end up next, I find myself criss-crossing the country for interviews.

The whole process, along with bringing exhausting travel schedules, so far has brought quite a few short friend-visits and very fun ones at that.

Bay area:
After two successful day-long interviews with the startups, I got to the long-awaited weekend. I did squeeze in an evening visit to Mangu's before that though. What a delight it was to see his brand new baby! A wonderful Friday night dinner in Palo Alto downtown with Sunil and Gagan brought back so many old memories. Then...mmmm....off to our favorite gelato place. Gagan still has that same esoteric taste in ice creams. This time it was ginger and green tea! We recalled many a good times that Vibha, her and I had enjoyed during the Stanford days. I decided to abandon my hotel room and spend the night at Gagan's watching 'Becoming Jane'. Could it get any more girlie than that?

Next day had been reserved to be spent with Pete's family. After my usual sleeping in and a late, delicious 'aloo parantha' breakfast at Gagan's, I barely made it to Pete's house in the afternoon. Pete's is a beautiful home in Palo Alto not even ten minutes from Stanford. It was great seeing Per and Linnea. And of course, the cat, Neesha. The action-packed rest of the day began with a couple of hours of chit chat and a trip to the movies. Pete and I ended up watching a very well-made, intense French movie while Linnea and Per enjoyed an animated movie of Per's choice. I got to take advantage of Pete's culinary skills and relished the delightful pasta at dinner. A bluegrass concert at the local church waited for us right after dinner. The sound system was great and so was the band. Perfect way to end the day.

All in all, a fantastic trip!

New York city:
It is always fun to see my dearest friend Vivek...and his latest girl (jk) ;-) I enjoyed meeting Eustina and also got to see Kucki and her new husband who was visiting from India while on a project.
An Indian fast food frenzy at Sukhadia followed by an extremely refreshing, energetic, colorful, lighthearted, talent-filled and highly entertaining Broadway show marked the evening. Mamma Mia it was! And there had to be the mandatory drinking and bar-hopping soon after. Thanks for everything, Viv!

Another trip to NYC followed right after!

Austin:
Although a very quick trip, seeing my favorite cousin is always worth all the travel hassle. Boy, do I love all the pampering or what!

Phew...I don't know how people travel for a living! It feels like I have been traveling endlessly since the Bahamas trip last October and it is starting to get to me. Oh but wait, I am not done yet! Need I mention that a vacation trip to the Smoky mountains is right around the corner and I have two days to prepare for it?

Excitement never ends...

Digression from Peregrination...

...or not. I will soon be on my way to finishing up my Italy trip account, hopefully, but I felt like I completed another remarkable peregrination as I held on to the last few pages of "A Soldier of the Great War" before calling it the end. What a novel! It is passably an epic really... Then comes the familiar vacuum that I normally experience when I wrap up reading a great book. The feeling is somewhat of the likes of having your closest friends or family leave after an enjoyable and intimate long weekend together.