Pleasant Hill

Time: September 1st, 2015 to January 7th, 2017
Place: Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
Company: Wife and Daughter
Highlights: Our 8th city of stay in US and the last one although this was just a block away from the previous apartment. So essentially it was the same neighborhood where we spent 3+ years. Reason for shifting was to ensure there was no entanglements with lease-breakage issues in our previous apt Park Regency Apartments. Shifted to Diablo Oaks apartments - rather an old one, with no laundry in the unit. For the first time in US, had to drag the laundry across the apartment complex for washing/drying. But didn't feel it as a major concern although it felt like one before the move. In fact enjoyed the lazy walks on Sundays with so many bugs and butterflies and snails on the pathway. The apt itself was super, with a lush lawn overlook from our balcony as well as the main road yonder. We almost felt like staying in an independent house, because just a short flight of stairs led us to the main road unlike in Park Regency where it used to take 15 mins just to get to the road. Also, the family could see me walk almost all the way to the BART station. The living room had a good length with a high-sloping roof which helped Tontu and I play cricket and many other games. Also, right beside the apt was the Iron Horse Trail, which inspired us to go on many hour-long walks during almost Summer evenings. All in all, an excellent house that gave us lot of joys and memories.

Big Sur & SFO for Thanksgiving 2016

Time: Nov 24th, 25th and 27th, 2016
Places: Big Sur area [Seaside, Pfeiffer Beach, Andrew Molera State Park, Garrapatta Beach] and SFO area [Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, Fisherman's Wharf]
Company: Brother, Sister-in-law, Wife, Daughter
Highlights:

24th: Brother and his wife visited for Thanksgiving. What was initially planned for a day trip to Big Sur, we changed to a night and day. Booked hotel at Seaside city for the night at evening and left Pleasant Hill at about 8 pm. Reached Seaside [Gateway Lodge Motel] at 10:30 pm and retired for the night.

25th: First stop in the morning was supposed to be Pfeiffer Beach but we got mesmerized by the waves on a nearby beach and we headed there. It was sandy but the waves were huge walls of water. We had seen a surf advisory but it was more of a boon than bane since Nature was all at it. It was like looking at huge waterfall! After taking some snaps, we continued onwards to Pfeiffer Beach.

On the way is the Bixby Creek bridge. More poses and more pictures. By the time we reached Pfeiffer Beach, the parking lot was just getting full and it was about 11:30 am. Thankfully we made it in. If the lot gets full, then we would have had to walk the last 2 miles from the main highway! Unlike last time when we came here, it was not so windy. It was very pleasant and warm. We lazily spent some time looking at the natural arch and built few sand castles, and then destroyed them all! Even at noon time we were able to notice the change in the sand color from brown to purple, which is the specialty of this beach.

At about 1 pm, we left Pfeiffer beach and headed to Andrew Molera State Park. Main highlight of this is the trek to the beach. At the very start of the trek is a short stream that needs to be waded through. It is about knee deep but water was very cold. Fun and thrilling. The beach is nice, but for me, it was kinda weird. There were some natural yet weird looking stuff all around the beach. But the waves were great here too. We spent some time looking and then headed back. 

Next stop was the Garrapatta Beach. This happened to be our last beach in the US, and it was one of the very best. The time was late noon and the waves were full-length cascading non-stop from huge heights. It was a stupendous sight. Even the short trail to the beach climbs down from the main highway and hence offers excellent views. We just kept standing on the trail for many minutes with our jaws dropped open at the magnificent scenery.

Finally we left the Big Sur area and headed back north. On the way back home, we went to the Christmas-in-the-Park at San Jose. Our third time in as many years. Bro and SIL had a nice time too. It was just as good with rides, Santa, the trees lighted up, etc. The Ferris Wheel is really scary with no belt and doors unlocked and dangling! Fun stuff!

All done, we headed back home and reached by about midnight after a longish dinner at Milpitas Tirupati Bhimas. It was a nice short trip, planned just a day in advance. We were lucky to get the Seaside hotel on a Thanksgiving weekend, and it was good that we planned for a sleep-over at the hotel. We could not have covered everything in a single day. Our third time at the Big Sur and second time at the Pfeiffer Beach - and it was just as great as the first. Kudos to Nature for all its beauty!!

27th: Brother's visit to my place always entails a visit to SFO. This time, we went to Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory and Fisherman's Wharf. Also contemplated the tram ride but it could not be accommodated since we had to park the car at one place. Didn't want to do round trip on the tram. I showed my family the building where I worked and drove along the Embarcadero. Wanted to show the Gandhi statue but couldn't stop there. Had reserved a car parking spot close to Ghirardelli. Walked there and spent some time lazing around. Not much to see other than to just roam around. Visited one chocolate shop, had some ice creams. Then walked to Fisherman's wharf. Posed in front of a WWII sub for quick clicks on the way. At the wharf, saw sea lions lazing around, went to a carousel and more pics. Finally it was time to head back. It was a nice easy relaxing time spent with family.