Big Basin Redwoods-Berry Creek falls-Oct 13 2007

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Joined an 'Outdoor Adventure Club' with the goal of doing something different, and getting outdoors exercise. That most of my friends are married and gradually growing into unfit 'middle-aged desis' with ponches didn't help.

Considered myself pretty fit, but this was a strenuous hike, with the group working up a good pace. There were some very friendly and garrulous people in the hike, it made the hike enjoyable. And our team leaders, including Richard, were very knowledgeable, friendly & amiable.

Such hikes should help me train for Gaumukh, probably Tapovan, or even the Annapurna circuit.

Overall, a strenuous & enjoyable experience. I was worried whether I had over-extended myself by signing up for two trips in a weekend, but as it turned out, it was a very enjoyable experience.

Spiritual Trapeze: Oct 14 2007

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Oct 14 2007:
Hmm, was this a good idea? Doing it so soon right after the hike? Which was strenuous?

Stretching helped, but still sore from the hike, and knowing from Richard that obedience was all that was required, drove all the way to Sonoma, meeting & picking up a really nice fellow first-timer on the way.

Saw the instructors, and they were all muscular & well-built. Was it really not strenuous, and just about obedience that Richard had told me about? And then it struck me. The experienced flying trapeze artists had a look of calm peace in their eyes. The calm that I would expect from a Yogi after years of meditation. And the energy they radiated was calm, Sattvic and powerful.

Based on my movie-watching experience, I noted that Merek, our primary instructor, had chiseled features that would be considered exceedingly handsome in American culture. Good looks were shared by all the instructors, including our elderly muscular helper. Or was it just the positive aura I had experienced?

There was one practice session on the ground trapeze. There were jokes about identifying the 'analytical engineer', control issues & commitment issues. Or were they just half-jokes, and half-a quick deep insight into the human nature?

I turned out to be the only guy in the group. And I volunteered to go first, it all sounded easy. And as it turned out, I was the most scared. At the top, when I had to hold the trapeze, I simply froze. And felt fear. Fear that I hadn't felt as far as my memory would carry me. And I started bargaining, asking to be let off this time, asking to go later etc. After a lot of help, I finally jumped. Once I jumped, there was no fear, only an exhilaration just to be swinging through the air. And being obedient was the last thing on my mind then.

Future jumps were easier, but the fear of jumping remained unconquered in this session. Our elderly instructor commented that he could psycho-analyze a person just on the trapeze. I told him it was probably true. An unfamiliar environment facing our fears, probably reveals some of the raw aspects of our nature, that can be caught quickly by an experienced trapezer.

Some of us moved on to the next lesson, and got caught by the instructors; others were getting back in shape, and my muscles, sore from the hike, felt a lot better.

In summary, I believe that the flying trapeze is not just fun, it is also a spiritual experience, and if you haven't tried it, you must. It is also a good body workout, esp the Abs and upper body muscles, and you feel it the subsequent days. And with regular practice, maybe one can gain the 'calm' serenity of the others, I don't think it is mere coincidence.

Capped off driving through beautiful Sonoma, seeing the grapes hanging on the vines, visited a winery for the first time realizing there were so many types of grapes, soaking in the fall colors, a nice book on travel getaways, including romantic ones :), a nice early dinner at the 'Mayan' Mexican restaurant and a wonderful chocolate Sundae at some 'Cow' ice-cream parlor. With some interesting chit-chat.

If just one different outdoors experience was so enlightening, how could the others be? I signed up for an annual membership. I plan to be back again at the trapeze, for another attempt to try & conquer my fear. After I try other different activities.

Body awareness-5k

Yesterday, I ran the VMware 5k in 35 minutes 29 seconds. For the first time in my life, I could jog without getting tired. This is the first step in moving towards longer runs.
Me, I was thrilled at this new body-awareness.

My earlier one was in the early Kung-Fu classes, where Jimmy, my demanding teacher, worked on my stances, and asked me to tighten my lower back. It took me a while to become 'aware' of such a body part. :)

Andaman trip memories of...

This was probably written around June 2006. Here are the pix: http://saiswa.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b356919aa415

...’s California Writing Skills Test (WST) Practice Essay-Andaman Honeymoon

Memorable journey

Intro :-

My most memorable journey is our honeymoon trip to the Andaman islands. The Andaman Islands are located near India. Three reasons why this trip which it is the most memorable one is:

1. It was my honeymoon trip
2. It was my the first time I visited an island
3. Our visit was around Nov 25^th, exactly one month before the killer waves tsunami hit the Andamans

Para 1 :-

1. After wedding left immediately landed in mainland Andamans. It felt The air in the island was so so pure and gave a relaxed feeling after the hectic wedding.

Para 2

Our first place of visit a cruise to an nearby small island called Big island near Andamans. It was famous for Corals, Snorkelling – A man helped me as I didn’t know swimming.

Para 3

We planned to visit a limestone cave. The cave was The different structures were very beautiful and naturally formed here was scenic surrounded by green trees mangroves, with the ocean very close, we the it trail was one of the most unforgettable trails I I have ever been. We crossed a bridge with a stream underneath and then suddenly there was a huge open farm. We walked in or in between the open farm and then again into the between the bushes and trees. After a The 2 mile trail it took us to the cave.

Para 4

Beach, light blue, white sand, coconut trees, we lied down in the sand.

Conclusion :-

The places are unforgettable I shocked abt Tsunami. I wonder if the places we went still exist. I later enquired about the Andamans indeed is my the most unforgettable trip in my life.

----------- X ------------

JP Morgan Chase Run

http://saiswa.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!E2CB4DA67D75A9D0!309/

Sep 19 2007: Ran 6K in about 38 minutes. (Clocked 40.55 per the clock but the start was around 3 minutes, I was told). My best personal time for this distance.

While at it, check out the party photos on Sep 15 2007-the 1 year party for Akimbi people at VMware: http://saiswa.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!E2CB4DA67D75A9D0!289/

Yellowstone Plan-Fall 2007

1. Fri Sep 28: Fly to Salt Lake City (SLC). Drive to Idaho Falls (IDA) and stay the night. Booked Comfort Inn.
   
2. Sat Sep 29: Check out of hotel and drive to West entrance of Yellowstone. Explore geological activities in the west side of the park. Explore, driving east. Stay at east of park: http://www.yellowstone-lodging.com/ near Cody, WY. Prefer a Cabin. Booked: Shoshone Lodge: http://shoshonelodge.com/cabins.html
   
1. Lower Geyser Basin/Fountain Paint Pots
   
2. Old Faithful
3. West Thumb Geyser basin
4. Yellowstone lake (Boating: Cruise/Canoening/kayaking/motor boats) http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/boating.htm
   
3. Sun Sep 30: Check out of hotel. Explore north portion of park. Stay in a hotel on North, preferably Mammoth/Gardiner (Roosevelt Lodge?), or North-East at: Cooke City/Silver Gate. http://www.silver-gate-cabins.com/
   
1. Hayden Valley
2. Mud Volcano
3. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
4. Tower Falls
5. Lamar Valley
   
4. Mon Oct 1: Check out of hotel. Explore north-west side of park completing north loop, and start moving South. Find acco near South of park (Flagg Ranch Info Station?). Jackson is an option.
1. Mammoth Hot Springs/Horse Riding (http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/horseride.htm )
2. Norris Geyser Basin
   
5. Tue Oct 2: Check out of hotel. Explore missed South Yellowstone attractions or skip. Explore Grand Teton national park. Cruise. Drive back to Salt Lake City/Boise (depending on which airport we choose) & stay the night. Booked Quality Inn.
   
6. Wed Oct 3: Fly back in the morning.

Telescopes & Observatories

hy dont we buy a telecope / binocular
from cosco and use it tonight from a park - central park santa clara /
benton park / los palmas park.

http://www.foothill.fhda.edu/ast/special.htm
- Foothill observatory should do this once in a while on friday nights 9
p.m - 11p.m - free. It doesnt mention about tonights special event. I
called but goes to a recorded msg...can someone dig in.

http://www.ucolick.org/public/bayarearesources.html
http://www.planetarium.fhda.edu/ - Deanza planetarium
http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/tourism/spacetour_sf.html
http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/planetarium/ - Berkely planetarium
<http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/planetarium/>
http://www.chabotspace.org/ - chabot space and science center
Lick observatory

Horse riding in the Bay Area

Half Moon Bay:
http://www.horserentals.com/seahorse.html
8AM-6PM (back by 7 PM)
1 hr: $40
1.5 hrs: $50
2 hrs: $60
Check for coupon

http://www.garrodfarms.com/
8:30 AM-4:30/5 PM
.5 hr: $25/30
1 hr: $40
.5 hr lesson: $49

Weekend of firsts

A weekend of firsts.
After work, had spicy eggplant at Amarin Thai with S, H & M. Had Gelato ice-cream for the first time, and the owner actually kept out the one ice-cream without egg by himself. After the ice-cream was my 1st experience in a bar at night. There was muted lighting for ambience, loud but some good music playing, and it gradually got packed as the night went on. Gradually people started dancing, flirty et al. I had a good mix of aerated orangeade/lemonade mix.

Woke up early in the morning for a movie! Then, saw a preview show for the first time of Shrek 3 with R, S et al. Was a very imaginative & creative movie.

Visited Villa Montalvo and walked a bit with S. Villa Montalvo is a nice place to just hang around. Then, visited Saratoga downtown for the first time, had some specialty chocolate (how does Grapefruit honey sound). It is upscale & expensive; a spa store had a very expensive small body wash for $12, a body mist for $15 etc. A nice place to hang around, though.