Mantralayam

Time: February 15th - 17th, 2017
Place: Mantralayam
Company: Wife, daughter, parents, uncle and aunt
Highlights:

This trip was not really planned but a family function made us not to refuse. The current seer's son was getting into Brahmachari and we also were feeling like visiting Guru Raghavendra Swamy. So off we went.

Day 0: Took the Udyan Express. Home made dinner on moving train. Nostalgic of several trips like this several years ago.

Day 1: Reached at about 7 am. Took an auto to Mantralayam. Our room was booked by a relative very close to the function hall. Bath in the room itself since Tunga is running dry :-(

Visited the Mutt and took blessings from Guru Raghavendra Swamy. Spent about an hour chanting slokas and doing Pradakshinas. Then at about 10:30, went to the function for breakfast. Spent some time at the function, blessing the child. Went back to room, for a nap. Back to function for lunch. Back room for another nap! Didnt have pretty much anything else to do! In the evening, went to Mutt again. Lots of people in the evening. Couple more darshans. Tontu slept peacefully in the courtyard itself amidst the bustle. At night time, had a light snack and left to the station although knowing that the train was 5 hours late. 

Waited in the station from 10 pm till 3 am, sleeping on the waiting room floor amidst mosquitos! Finally the train came. 

Day 2: While we all waited for Bangalore, Tontu had a great time playing in the train, going up and down the berths! General chit-chat until 1 pm at which time we reached. Took the parked car back home. 

Overview: A nice trip other than the late train. Had nice and easy darshan of Raghavendra Swamy. Too hot weather in M. But, all in all, good memories!

Tirumala

Time: February 9th - 10th, 2017
Place: Tirumala
Company: Wife, daughter and parents
Highlights:

Usually a trip to Tirumala is a family tradition yearly once. But the last time I visited was in 2013. In addition, parents tend to visit the shrine every Feb to celebrate their wedding anniversary. So this time, since we were here in India, we all left together in our parents' new car Honda Brio. It was a smooth ride.

Day 1: Left at about 8:45 am and reached Mulbagal Mutt at noon. Went inside for a short visit and bow but the priest there asked us to join for lunch since it was right time. So we enjoyed a delicious Mutt lunch although we had our own lunch packed which ultimately made its way into some needy folks. 

Three more hours and we reached Tirupati. But we continued on to Mangapuram temple to visit Padmavathi Goddess. Short queue there but very hot. The queue system is streamlined now and very fast. Mainly because it doesnt enter the main sanctum sanctorum. That done, we went to our Hotel Bhanu Residency near Kapilatheertha. Relaxed for a short while, then walked to Kapila Theertha temple. It was many many years since I had visited this temple. It is iconic, since it hugs the mountain range up close. Headed back, and on the way, saw a Hare Krishna Hare Rama chant on a nearby Krishna Temple. It was a mesmerizing form of Bhakti Yoga. Basked in the glory for some time and headed back to the room for dinner and rest.

Day 2: Up at 5 am, and headed to Tirumala without bath. Uneventful journey. No car-sickness for Tontu, thankfully. Parked the car near Uttaradi Mutt and walked to Pushkarni for a wonderful bath experience, as always. Then visited Varaha Swamy temple. For the first time, realized the significance of the idol. After watching Vishnupuran (for the second time), understood that this temple is for Vishnu's third avatar, and hence the idol really symbolizes a Boar protecting Mother Earth. All these years, I simply visited the temple without knowing the significance (I was loosely told that Varaha Swamy gave permission to Lord Venkateshwara to be situated in this holy place). 

After Varaha Swamy temple, joined the Rs 300 queue for Lord Venkateshwara Darshan. (The tickets were booked in Bangalore prior to the trip itself). It was a new line and much faster. The new rule is to have a traditional dhoti and no pants allowed. Although I had a dhoti with me, I had left it in the car. So had to purchase one on the spot and enter the premises. The line moved very fast, and we were near the sanctum sanctorum within 2 hours. Just like in Mangapuram, they have now stopped the line from entering the core of the sanctum. Still, the darshan was quite satisfying. Once darshan was over, we quickly ran to Uttaradi Mutt for lunch. Another Mutt lunch unplanned but worked just because of the timing.

Lunch done, we left Tirumala at 1 pm. It was an uneventful journey back. Reliance Restaurant mid-way is gratifying for a nice loo break and quick bites. Got stuck at Bangalore traffic at evening time and by the time we reached home it was almost 9 pm. 

Overview: A much-awaited trip finally concluded. It was a blissful experience - especially the bath in the Pushkarni which Tontu once again enjoyed so much, just as much as she enjoyed in 2013. The back-to-back Mutt lunches were also a surprise and very purifying. The Darshan of Lord Venkateshwara itself was the highlight of the trip and it was satisfying. 

Hubli

Time: Jan 24th, 2017 - Feb 5th, 2017

Place: Hubli

Company: Wife and Daughter

Highlights: 

Our first vacation in India after returning back from US for good. More of a visit to mother-in-law’s house for me than a vacation. My initial plan was to return back to Bangalore after couple of days but decided to stay back for the entire length since I was not getting bored anyways. Also, there was a 5-month old baby downstairs, wife’s cousin’s son, which was a great entertainment as long as we were there. It was fun to play with an infant once again, keep him occupied, make him smile, watch him turn over, etc. 

So, most days started off with a 30-minute yoga on the terrace facing the rising sun. Then, breakfast and some wi-fi tasks. Some random discussion topics, few relatives visits, lunch, siesta, evening walk to a nearby park or some delicious local snacks on the terrace like girmit. Even celebrated a birthday party (wife’s cousin’s) on terrace. All fun stuff.

Went out to Unkal Lake on 26th. Nice short boat ride and big enough park for kids to run around and have fun. Tontu enjoyed the swing and slide - although it was much dirtier than the parks she was used to in US for last 6 years! Once the mosquitos started attacking at 7 pm (!), we left and went to Raghavendra Swamy temple in CBT since it was a Thursday.

Went out to Nrupathunga Betta (Hill) on 28th. A beautiful setting atop a hill. Watched the sunset. It was wonderful. The hill had a park and play area for kids too. Also, it has a big trail for a nice long walk amidst the greenery. The views are awesome too. We could see the Unkal Lake from atop. Spent a long time there.

Couple of days, brother-in-law visited for some property task in Hubli and got busy with him. The days just passed with one thing or the other. Watched couple of cricket matches. Watched Australian Open Finals - Federer Vs Nadal - full match, after a really long time. Much of the time was perfect for unwinding and total relaxation!

Decided to get back to the grind, and booked tickets back to Bangalore for Feb 5th via Janshatabdi. Another long journey but this was faster. Train was delayed by 30 minutes, so left at 2:30 pm and reached at 10:15 pm. Home at 11 pm.

What was supposed to be a 2-day trip became a 11-day trip for me. What was supposed to be a month-long trip from wife became a 11-day trip for her. Either ways, we were satisfied with the amount of time spent in Hubli. Anyways one more trip to Hubli coming soon…

And its Bangalore!

Time: January 9th, 2017 -
Place: Bangalore, India
Company: Wife and Daughter
Highlights:

After 6 years and 6 months stay in various cities of US (from May 2011 to Jan 2017), finally moved back to home city Bangalore for good. The thoughts and discussions were going on for a very long time - almost 2-3 years - about whether to return back or not. Even read through many R2I websites and forums, but the question & answer that mattered most was - 'If you want to spend the rest of your life in one city, which would that be?' Bangalore won unanimously - by all three of us.

Once the decision was made, the implementation was next step. With almost 3-4 pages of points listed in the checklist on to-dos both in US before leaving and in India after arriving. In addition, had to dispose off innumerous things that we had purchased over the last 6 years. Some of them even had sentimental value attached - like daughter's birthday gifts like bicycle, scooter, etc. Heavyweights such as sofa, mattress were a worry but got rid of it at last minute. Donated several things for free. Much gratitude to several of our neighbours for providing the helping hand when it mattered the most. I guess we can never repay it back.

The trip itself was uneventful except for daughter's air-sickness(?). She had pretty much lost all her energy and very dehydrated by the time we landed but still in great spirits to see her grands. But a few hours in Namma Bengaluru and she was back to normal.

It was a wonderful time spent in the US with family. Unlike in 2007 when I had left US and come to Bangalore as a bachelor with still a valid US visa, 10 years on, the trip back home was almost like a final lid on the coffin with me shutting the doors to US pretty much in all aspects - work visa, GC, etc. But this decision had to be made and there was no time like now - especially with Tontu entering 1st grade in 2017. Any delays in the decision would have tilted the balance towards a lifetime in US.

Much thanks to the planets for giving me an opportunity to live, experience and enjoy the American lifestyle...

Bay Area

Time: August 6, 2013 - January 7, 2017
Place: Bay Area
Company: Mainly wife & daughter; at times with friends and relatives
Lesser-known places/events seen:

• Livermore Temple
• Sunnyvale Temple
• Concord Temple
• Milpitas Saibaba temple
• San Jose Children's Discovery Museum
• San Jose Christmas in the park
• San Jose Rose garden
• SFO Chinese New Year Parade
• Cherry picking at Brentwood
• Kid Fest at Concord
• July 4th Fireworks at Milpitas
• Milpitas Holi
• Diwali at Pleasanton Fairgrounds
• Byron Skydiving