A fall weekend at the bay

After many hiccups, that seemed like eternity, we finally took off. I was going for a 48 hr, action packed weekend at the bay area. Meeting family and friends. Come Friday evening, I was exhausted. All I wanted was to be home, curled up in bed with an early dinner and mindless TV. But here I was, belted in my window seat of an airline that was carrying me across two timezones. It was late when I reached and even later by the time I called it a night.

The sun decided to show up only around 8am the next morning, while I'd been up at the stroke of dawn. A belated Diwali lunch party had been planned for the afternon. Come 8:30, after a overly stretched morning kaapi session, armed with a sweater and an umbrella the two of us - my aunt and I set forth for a brisk walk.










As we stepped out, I sniffed at the air, much like a dog does. The setting was just right. There was a cool breeze, the sky was overcast, a drizzle had just come and gone. As one meandered out of the row of houses, there were leaves strewn all over. Signs of fall. Leaves of many hues- red, yellow and some the nascent green.

There was light conversation. But mostly, my mind was filled with thoughts of my hometown- Bangalore. I can never be sure if the Silicon Valley turned into Bangalore or vice-versa. Either way, this was like the Bangalore of yore, back in the mid-70s. What everyone called the naturally airconditioned city of the South.

My camera aimed at that time in the morning of a weekend when there was quiet all around. A lazy leaf, a fresh flower, a cheery fruit....there was nature at this job already. A few strides out, we could already see the mountains of the bay. I made many walks that morning. As the rains kept returning at random intervals, those gave me breaks to head home...for more kaapi sessions alongside the patio french doors. With a fleece blanket over the toes.....

My aunt, the undisputed vadai queen, sat on the covered patio- doling out hot, crispy vadais- the cabbage vadai, the keerai vadai and a combo. With a mango chutney dip into that was to die for. By noon I am not sure how many of those had been packed into my tummy.

By then the guests had begun to stream in. There was lazy conversations to be had, kids that needed to be indulged in and tables that needed to be cleared, post-lunch. And the time just flew with barely enough to spare for a last-minute family photo session.

By 4 I was to head over to a friend's place. His new place was beautifully done up by his new bride. More food was served- the tiffin from long gone days was resurrected. Poha topped with some spicy elaichi tinged chai. Within an hour we headed out- for more food- for my favorite kind of food- chaat!

When I was dropped off at my aunt's that evening, I could sense food right at the top of my throat(seriously!)- talk of an overstuffed turkey! Over the course of the next day, there were many lunch and dinner sessions with friends and family, drives from Fremont to Milpitas to Cupertino to Sunnyvale...all in the perfect bay area weather. A dash of sun, a sprinkling of rain, a cool breeze, a foggy morning, a cloudy evening...all the many flavours that make up the quintessential bay area weather. The one that reminds me of my hometown...green, warm and wonderful- namma Bengaluru.

Yenjoy while I go get my laundry done.