Catalina Island

Time: April 16^th 2013

Place: Catalina Island (City of Avalon)

Company: Wife and daughter

Highlights:

Since Catalina Express was celebrating its 30^th birthday, a free ticket was being gifted to all those who took the cruise on their birthdays throughout 2012 until April 30^th 2013. Since both me and my wife share the same birthday, the free cruise became extra special! So this trip was planned about 6 months ago when we first came across this discount flier!

Since I couldn’t take the day off (as I had to conserve my leaves for the upcoming India trip), we planned to take the 2 pm cruise from Long Beach to Avalon and return on the 7.30 pm cruise. Left home at 1, reached Long Beach bay at 1.40, boarded the cruise at 2. Got the pamphlet and was surprised to see many freebies for birthday folks - ice cream, golf, shopping discounts, bowling, etc.

Unfortunately though, the cruise was extremely disturbing. Thanks to high winds and waves, there was a lot of seasickness. A very unpleasant experience. First time experience in life, though – although I had heard about it a lot and seen it on movies too. Thankfully it was a short 1 hr ride.

Kinda chilly but gradually became warmer. Enjoyed some of the freebies, but otherwise relaxed on the sand dunes, and let Paavani enjoy herself. Return journey was better but still traumatic.

All in all, a memorable trip, with all the freebies making the birthday that much more special for both me and my wife. But to be fair to the island, it definitely is worth a visit for more than a weekend to enjoy all that it has to offer.

Irvine to Costa Mesa

Time: April 8th, 2013 till date

Place: Costa Mesa, California

Company: Wife and daughter

Highlights: Moved to another neighboring city of Irvine. Did all the shifting between wifey and self, and with a toddler toddling around us! Quite a laborious experience but somehow managed! Got a nice house, nice quiet balcony (balcony in Irvine was facing a main road where cars used to zoom at 60 mph which gets quite noisy especially when it rains) and significant less rent. Costa Mesa is not as posh and luxurious as Irvine nor do the records indicate that it is as safe but now the office (same Santa Ana office) is just 2 miles. Adding one more chapter to our stay in US…

To The West Coast!

Time: March 30th, 2012 to April 7th 2013

Place: Irvine, California

Company: Wife and daughter

Highlights: Quit Infosys and joined CTS. Hence the relocation. Exactly 3000 miles diametrically (in the US map) away from current location (Nashua). City of Irvine was mind-blowing. Palm trees everywhere, wide roads. It was like a tourist city. Reminded me of Mauritius. Also came to know that it is a fairly new city, developed in 1971 by a realty company by the same name! Plenty of shopping plazas, luxurious apartments and extremely safe. So, although work location was in Santa Ana, a neighbouring city, preferred to stay in Irvine. Stayed in Avalon Irvine, after initial 2 weeks in Homestead. Had to move out of Avalon Irvine due to rent increase after the annual contract. Enjoyed the 1 year stay in Irvine, and will always cherish it…