Walnut Creek

Time: August 21st, 2013 - August 31st, 2015
Place: Walnut Creek, CA, USA 
Company: Wife and Daughter 
Highlights: Our 7th city of stay (after Marlborough, Woburn, Nashua, Irvine, Costa Mesa and Fremont) in US. Was put up at Park Regency Apartments. One of the most memorable times. Excellent apartment with a soft-flowing stream and duckies visible right from our balcony. It was a treat to see the ducks first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. Great time spent in the balcony that overlooked the stream with evening tea and morning sunlight. Also the longest time ever spent in any one apt in US - 2 full years. For the first time, renewed the lease after 1 full year for another full year! Also enjoyed the summer swimming parties where we were showered with lots of goodies.

Fremont

Time: Aug 6th, 2013 to Aug 20th, 2013

Place: Fremont, CA, USA

Company: Wife and daughter

Highlights:

With a sudden rush of things in the end, after a relatively cool time, I had to head to Extended Stay America [ESA] in Fremont, CA on 8/6 to report to office in SFO Financial District on 8/7. With stuff not yet moved, it was a difficult decision to make (travel alone and let wife take care of movers or travel together and entrust moving responsibility to a friend) and a decision that I had to make within early hours of 8/6. Finally after having obtained a helping hand, decided on the latter. Also, it was more convenient to travel on road than by flight as well as the coordination of the car movement. So, drove from Costa Mesa, CA to Fremont, CA.

It took 8 hrs in all and was one of the longest continuous road trip that I had done in US after a very long time. I think the last time was from Grand Canyon to Barstow in Sept 2009, which too was just about the same – 8 hrs but that was more difficult since I had to fight sleep in an envelope of darkness. But then that was in a rental car. Last long ride in own car was from Pittsburgh to Boston in May 2009. This trip I hardly felt any fatigue and it was also a pleasant drive. Although I was tempted to take the 101 scenic road, there were plans to do some apt hunting if we reached earlier than 7 pm and hence took the 5 North. But by the time we reached, it was almost 9.

I had heard a lot about Fremont and the massive population of Indians in the city. And so it didn’t come as a surprise but it was still unique to see so many Indian restaurants, Indian stores, even commercial buildings owned by Indians in this city. There were Indians walking in the evenings, just like in metropolitan Indian cities, there were chaat houses filled to the brim on weekdays, sweaty waiters taking pile full of orders just like any darshinis in Bangalore, etc.

And then on Varamahalakshmi festival, we went to an Indian temple nearby. It had a nice Indian touch to it. On the way back, we stopped to get a pizza with more Indian taste than Italian. That weekend, we went to Saravana Bhavan – a pure Veg restaurant, which is a rarity in US. Since ESA was right across Chaat Bhavan, we might have visited it half a dozen times – each time trying a different item on the menu! So, if you are in America and have an Indian atmosphere, then why would one want to go back to India?

Our apt search came to a halt at Walnut Creek city, about an hour north of Fremont. Many friends could not understand why we were moving away from Fremont. Many thought Walnut Creek was a new apt name in Fremont – such is the strong assumption that any Indian who has a job in the bay area will try to find an apt in Fremont! But we had lot more reasons to stay in WC than in Fremont. And so, on 8/21, we moved to our 3rd apt of the year in WC city.

All in all, it was a [gastronomically] delightful stay in Fremont which we will cherish for our lives.

Orange County Beaches

Time: 2012 and 2013

Company: Various

Place: Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach

Highlights: 

During our stay in Irvine, visited many beaches at various times with different sets of people - family and friends - just as an outing. 

- HB was the least crowded and vast. Wanted to see fireworks here on 7/4/2012 but did not get car parking. Out of all of them, visited this beach the most.

- LnB was more of a dock where we sailed on the Pacific Ocean to Catalina island. Even the Aquarium was nearby.

- NB seemed dense but the 'density' added vibrance to the atmosphere. Specifically liked watching the moon reflected on the ocean at 5.30 am in the morning when I had to drop off wifey for one of her dance company's video recording on the NB. Surprisingly, parking lot was full even at that time because of people wanting to shop freshly caught live crab and other animals. 

- LgB also was dense, and either seemed too short or we didnt explore much. More than the beach, the neighbourhood seemed vibrant. 

Overview:

Having so many beaches near home made me feel as if I was in a place like Mangalore or Udupi back home in India. For some reason, I always had felt like staying in a place like Mangalore or Udupi at some point in my life, and staying in Orange County has almost fulfilled this wish!