The TASTE of the WEST

 I am writing this post while looking at the clouds and feeling nostalgic about flying over them.

As soon as I landed, I went to the immigration. I started to feel the temperature drop. I connected to the airport WIFI. I was not in touch with anyone for the past 20 hours. I messaged my family and friends that I landed safely. I checked all the messages while the immigration line was moving forward. After a long sleep on the flight, I came back to my senses. Then the fear of losing the luggage hit me hard. Luckily, my bags were safe.

My aunt came to pick me up from the airport, juggling her work. It was the first time we met each other. She patiently explained the surroundings as I questioned. She said the speed limit on the highway is 60 miles per hour because the roads were old. I said that in India, the speed limit is usually 100 km per hour. In her laugh, I heard, "Welcome to the US baby!".

To my surprise, there were no Skyscrapers along the way. My aunt explained that it is an earthquake-prone area. I longed for a hot shower post the long travel. I greeted my cousin and uncle. Post dinner, the next day was scheduled. My juniors made the work easy for me. Jet lag did not hit me hard.

The next day we travelled via Bart to San Francisco equipped with sweaters, jackets, snacks, power banks, phone chargers and water bottles. We witnessed people running shirtless and in shorts. We felt like outcasts. 

Bart= Train/Metro

At Fisherman's Wharf, I wanted to buy something authentic to the place. I searched a lot and found a journal. I brought it without a second thought and with the hope that one day its design can become famous like Anne Frank's diary ;) 

We explored the place and got excited to witness tulips, a woman eating grass with mayo, sea lions, love locks and a dustbin. I have a picture of a dustbin that is called a - "Trash Can" in the West. I realized I am not so bad with math after converting the prices displayed in USD to INR at every store.

Look at the cute TRASH CAN beside me.

We heard from a friend that Fisherman's Wharf is known for Clam chowders. It is a dish that tastes like corn soup with the flavor of fish. 

Clam Chowder

I visited the planned tourist places Golden gate bridge, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, Palace of fine arts, Marshall’s Beach, China street and Westfield Mall. I am excited to talk about our unplanned visit to the Indian Consulate and Post Office.

Do you remember the cartoon named Mr.Bean?

If so, you should know that Mr.Bean parks his green car in a parking lot and drops coins into a machine in front. The number of coins depends on the time you want to park. If the specified time exceeds, then you need to pay a fine. I saw that for the first time and dropped some coins into it. Yay! Fiction to reality. I got excited about a dustbin and this is beyond that.

I met a woman working in a US post office. She was so stressed to print a paper and make some signatures. I felt it was so funny. I didn't understand what she was stressed about. She asked us if the protest was still going on. 

I came across the Khalistan's Protest, in front of the Indian Consulate. That atmosphere turned me on. I did not think twice before enquiring about a person who was a part of the protest. That was the exact timeline of when Amritpal Singh was arrested in India. I had no idea who he was until I spoke with that guy. The man informed me about the protest and asked for my support. The first question I shot was, "Why are you protesting in the US if they need something from India? "

I didn't understand what he said but I concluded that there might be pressure on India from foreign governments. In that conversation, I felt he was brainwashed. If you know more about the Khalistan protest, do fill me in with your knowledge.

Khalistan Protest in front of Indian Consulate

The woman in the post office was referring to that protest. She spoke against the Indian government and how the people were struggling in front of the consulate. I didn't utter a word but listened to everything she explained. I understood that she doesn't know anything about the protest. She was concerned about people sitting in the cold and struggling in the rain. She is a sweet woman. We bid adieu and marched to experience the Cruise and Madame Tussauds. 

We trekked and went to the Marshall’s Beach. The beach was so peaceful. I felt like staying in that moment forever. We experienced a beautiful sunset. That marked the end of our expedition in San Francisco. 

Hold your horses!

Stay tuned for the next post.