The Weekend that went by

It was a feel good factor for me. I am returning to this place after 2.5 years. Somehow California seems to be my second home. This is the only place where I have spent considerable time of my life apart from Bangalore.

My previous trips here were frequent and long. This time, I am coming back after quite some time and this trip is relatively short. I find that nothing has changed. The landscape, the buildings, the infrastructure; even the restaurants and the billboards are the same. Contradicting to India, India is fast; very fast changing.

Leave your city there for 2 months and get back, you are sure to see a new flyover started, or a new underpass that has come up. The same happened last time I was away from India for 4 months. Before I left, never even read anywhere that Hyundai had plans for a new car; I came back to see lot of Hyundai i10s on the road.

Silicon Valley is in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay area in northern part of California. Home to well known and largest technological companies like Apple, HP, IBM, Oracle, Google, Adobe, Agilent, Cisco, AMD, Google, Facebook, eBay, Netflix, Yahoo, Brocade and many many others. You name it and its here. Its also home to the Stanford University.

I have changed 2 companies and somehow these company's headquarters are based out of here and I always end up in Silicon Valley. These last 2 days; I went to restaurants I always went; it was surprising that few folks recognized me. I could not believe it. Met few friends; a friend commented as well that I am a "Bay-ite" and I belong here. What was I doing back in India. All I did was smile.

For a techie as me; it is an unexplainable joy to see these technological companies all located one beside the other. No where in the world would such a nerdy environment exist. I just have to walk 10 steps from my hotel room to reach AMD's HQ!! Such is the surrounding here.

Apart from that; one thing that treats my eyes are the cars. I am a car maniac and its a glee to watch all these funky and swanky cars. Been enjoying my friend's BMW since I arrived :-D. He was kind enough to take me out for dinners and to buy essentials.

 This place has always treated me well; I have learnt lot of things. Saying that the place has treated me well; but not few people. Sorry if its sounding offensive, especially the Indians. The FOBs in particular. They behave as if they are Gods and have achieved something unachievable by landing in America with a job!! I dont like them and neither do I get along with them. I keep myself away from them. Others are nice; helping and kind. Talking about people; I have a Mexican lady; a Pakistani and a Chinese in my list of strangers who have helped me.

It was nice to meet Harpal Singh once again; my regular cab driver. Poor guy was waiting for me at the airport for 3 hours and was not ready to take a single cent for dropping me. I had to force him to take money. We did catch up on his things and mine; he finally succeeded in bringing his entire family to the USA. I am very happy for him.

Caught up with Gautam finally!! Yaaeeyyy!! He was in his best clothes to meet me. He hugged me as soon as we met; I didn't expect that and my lips kissed his shirt :-P Smeared his shirt with my lip gloss. Sorry Gautam!!

We had a wonderful Saturday; we talked a lot and it was fun. Clicked few pictures and watched a movie - The Expendables which sucked. Gautam; you are gonna get spanked for taking me to that movie. Went to his university; rested for a while. A squirrel was trespassing; or rather we trespassed into its territory. Tried capturing that fella; but he didnt stay at one place. Somehow got this one best.

Went to a flea market; bought a bag made of Lama wool from Peru. Wanna go to Peru!! :-( But when? My time will come. Took some pictures there.

The Red Indian got my attention. Why is he sulking?

Do you see a horn on the right side of The Last Supper? 

How every lady wishes to have this perfect bod as these mannequins? Sigh!!

Ballet dancing outfits I think. Very colorful

Myriad of T shirts.

Gautam found this interesting. Our Hindu Gods amongst skeletons and devils. 

False alarm and there were these 2 fire trucks with paramedics.

A light post in San Jose downtown. Loved these flowers. 

Overall, things have not changed a bit here. People are the same; doing the same things. The place is the same. I am at work; yeah; blogging instead of doing something constructive. I am going to do something productive now. Whats that? Go lunch!! :-D