First Haircut – visit Golden Gate Bridge

Had my first haircut in the US in a Saloon called Supercuts in San Rafael on 26 Jul 08 (Sat). The Saloon was meticulously neat and clean just like one of the high profile barber shops back home – the only difference was that here you have ladies giving you a haircut too ! As it was early in the morning on a week end and I was the first one to walk in did not have to wait .And the one who did my haircut (Chinese American male ) did not take more than 10 mts !




He used something like a miniature lawn mower ,used very little of scissors and did not use the barber’s knife at all !Yet he did a clean job of it . Cost 20 USD plus a tip of 2 USD !Interesting experience as back home we certainly do not pay Rs 880 for a haircut and that too which was completed in 10 mts ! Went to Berkeley market to finalise sarees for Stephanie's bridesmaids to the same Indian saree shop where Stepahanie Betty and Natalie were already present. Once again seven sarees of the same colour and design were just not available.Also did our vegetable groceries purchases from the Ranch market.

The weather was very clear and Sai drove us down to the Golden Gate Bridge in the afternoon . He was saying that he had not seen such clear weather for the past 3 years . The Freeway leading to the Bridge was choked with cars as everyone wanted to enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful weather . We counted the numer of cars passing by and we counted 60 vehicles crossing the Bridge every minute ! Back home Latha made some excellent Bondas and chutney which we simply relished !It was so hot ,crispy and tasty.

As the weather was very clear,bright and sunny with no chilly winds blowing, we all enjoyed walking up to the vantage point for having a better view.For a change we did not wear our sweaters and jackets . We could see downtown San Francisco very clearly and was it beautiful - the majestic towering buildings on the skyline, the clear blue skies and a beautiful panoramic view of the entire city .

The Golden Gate was even more breathtakingly beautiful . We have seen this Bridge so many times by now and yet every time we see it, it looks more enchanting than ever before .No wonder it is still one of the 7 Wonders of the World .Needless to say there were plenty of tourists and each one was obliging the other by taking their group photographs !

Words cannot describe the exhilarating experience that we had that day .And I just could not but help feeling Swami’s presence and His Omnipotence . Swami says “ God is everywhere . He is in front of you , behind you, above you , below you and within you . Theres is no need to search for God .All forms that you see are manifestations of the Divine . All human beings you see are forms of the Divine . Correct your defective vision and you will experience God in all things” .

Baseball match

Went to see a Baseball match on 25 Jul 08 (Fri)between San Francisco Giants celebrating their 50th year in Baseball and Arizona Diamond Backs.33 USD per ticket ! The Americans are really crazy about Baseball just like we are crazy about cricket .The match was held in AT & T stadium near the water front .A huge stadium which accomodated about 33,000 spectators that day .The match started at 7 .15 pm and went on till 10 pm. It could go longer if the teams were evenly matched .The Giants lost to the Diamond Backs 10 - 2 ,in spite of a highly partisan crowd which cheered the Giants all the way !

The Giant scoreboard was very beautiful. It showed instant huge replays whenever a player was out or whenever there was a run scored.The sound system was excellent.The game is very racy and you do not get bored at all .In between, you are of course welcome to go get your beer and your burgers or pizzas or anything edible to suit your taste ,from plenty of stalls .You require energy don't you ,to keep cheering or booing !Yes there were hawkers selling peanuts, coffee , etc advertising their wares loudly just like back home .Latha and I had popcorn and some good hot coffee as it got cold as the night advanced .

The sight of the surrounding areas from the top of the Stadium was also great. We could see the Bay bridge on one side and on the other the large number of boats anchored for the evening on the waterfront.We had to park our car in an unofficial parking lot though - parking fees 20 USD just for the duration of the game !The parking lot was however quite close to the stadium.The crowd in the stadium was initially thin although it started

increasing as the office goers joined in and started thinning out once the audience came to know the match was going out of the hands of their favourites- the San Francisco Giants!

Yes they have an amusing tradition .The TV cameras in between the game start focussing on the audience and any couple caught on camera have to kiss each other. They call it Kiss scam !They showed about 20 couples like that .Most of them did not hesitate but in some cases there was some hesitation and they looked at the camera with a look - ME ? And then they also continued with the fun.It was hilarious to say the least ,to see the couples looking into the camera ,with their puzzled looks and then kissing each other- on camera.I believe in one such match the camera focussed on two males - for quite some time . San Francisco is the world capital of gays you see ! The two males were not gay.They were really embarassed and did not know as to what they should do .Ultimately they somehow managed by just hugging each other, as the camera did not leave them!

The video shown below was taken from the place where we were seated .We got good seats and could view the game quite well - ring side seats. As I have been following the game somewhat on TV ,I could make out as to what was happening. Latha did not know anything about the game . Yet she was cheering the maximum! I wonder how many were there like her in the audience !Overall it was great fun to see a game after which Americans go crazy , cheering and booing like children, like we do for cricket !

The Baseball season has just begun and will keep going on for the next 6 months till a National champion team is chosen . Here they have very well organised championship schedules for all the games like Basketball, Football ,Ice hockey etc .Each sport is played during a fixed season every year . No two sports seasons clash. For each sport they have 32 teams . 16 teams from the West Coast ,where we are located and 16 teams from the East Coast ,towards New York.These 32 teams play against each other.The winner of the West Coast finals plays the winner of the East Coast finals .And the National champion team emerges out of this battle.

There is huge money invloved in the game .All corporate sponsorships.Sportsmen are icons and they earn millions of dollars every season. They even have there own private planes and people go ga ga over them .And the sportsman is chosen right from the College level and coached and trained all the way up !The game that these sportsmen play is also excellent. I have seen the NBA's (National Basektball Association's)matches right upto the finals , live on TV and they are just incredible in their technique, their physical fitness and even sportsman spirit !

First Bus Ride - visit Sai office and San Francisco Ferry Terminal

On 24 Jul (Thurs) we went for the first time by bus , to San Francisco Financial District from a bus stand close to us. It was a unique first time experience. The buses are like our high Tech buses and local trains in Mumbai. Our bus came dot on time.No conductor .Only Driver . You have to tell him your destination .He tells you the fare and then you have to slide the exact fare into a box .As we were boarding another bus en route at Marin City bus stand , he gave us a ticket . Otherwise no ticket is issued. The bus reached Marin City on time .

We had to wait for our connecting bus for half an hour though as it was non commute time and the frequency of buses is low and ultimately reached San Francisco after one and a half hours from start .The San Francisco Financial District is full of high rise buildings although may be not like New York where you have 150 floors or more . Still 30 to 50 floors is a big figure considering that the place is earth quake prone !The avenues are really broad and absolutely clean .We thoroughlty enjoyed walking across Market Street where Sai's office is located.

Sai's office is located on the 26th floor and he came down to receive us and then took us around introducing to his colleagues.There was pin drop silence in the office although on each floor there should have been at least 200 people working .No chit chatting no gossipping all busy in their work in front of their desk tops .That is American professionalism for you . We really have a lot to learn from these guys .Sai then got back to his work. We went down to Market Street, did some window shopping in a book shop and walked back to Starbucks for some coffee .It was 5.30 by then Sai came down to meet us.

Sai's office is within walking distance of the San Francisco Ferry Terminal.He used to come from Larkspur Ferry terminal to this place and then walk across to his office.The Ferry Terminal is a huge affair with Ferries coming and leaving with clock like precision. And pasengers boarding the ferries silently ina Q withut making any fuss or noise .Discipline everywhere .

The Bay Bridge seen from the Terminal is awesome in its appearance.The Ferry Terminal also has a huge shopping complex - mostly restaurants and fast food stalls selling pizzas ,burgers, ice cream,Beer and what have you .Once again a very festive atmosphere where everyone was enjoying themselves !Captured on video the fedstive busy atmosphere and a Ferry leaving the Ferry Terminal - another beautiful sight .

Spirituality in day to day living

I am a part of a Senior Citizens Yahoo group in which a person had asked the following question to which I had replied as under

Question : When you are on the path of Spirituality you have to adhere to the truth, but when we are fighting legal battles how do you avoid speaking the untruth in the Court ,because if you do not speak the untruth you cannot win your case ?

Answer which I gave, based upon Swami's teachings

Your dilemma I can truly understand. This is what all of us face in our lives whether during legal battles or otherwise. In the Bhagawath Geetha the very first stanza is Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre.We are always in Kurukshetra fighting our battles!

Now let us come to the point.

Firstly, whether you are at fault or otherwise - surrender to the Divine .Accept everything good or bad as His will. After all the One who is making the Earth rotate about its axis once every 24 hrs; makes the Earth go around the Sun at 66000 miles per hour; makes your heart beat and makes your digestive system work and takes care of 36 million miles of your nervous system pumping blood through the entire system in 12 seconds flat .He definitely knows best what is good for you. Accept accept and accept whatever He wills good or bad (as per your definition).

Secondly, strictly go by your Inner voice which will guide you towards the next step to be taken by you. This Inner voice (God's voice -intuition- sixth sense ) you will hear when you sit down just silently for 10 mts in the early hours of the morning when there is silence all around ( any time from 3.30 am to 6 am ). Ideally chant 21 times Omkar followed by your Ishta Devata's mantra or Shlokas. Gayatri chanting will do a lot of good.

In the depths of silence, the voice of God can be heard. Initially the voice will be very feeble. But if you practice silent sitting regularly then it will become stronger and stronger and ultimately a stage will come when it will reverberate throughout your entire body, till you go ahead and implement the direction that you have received.

Thirdly, Silence is Golden. In the Court follow the policy of keeping silent .Avoid speaking Untruth but you need not speak the Truth either. Make the other party to utter the Untruth .Under the worst circumstances follow the policy of "Ashwathama Hathaha Narova Kunjaraha" which Krishna followed in the Mahabharatha war .When Yudhishtra announced "Ashwathama is dead -the elephant" ,Lord Krishna blew His conch when Yudhishtra said "The elephant" due to which the great Kaurava warrior and Guru Dronacharaya thought that Ashwathama his son was dead!

The very best is of course TOTAL SURRENDER TO HIS WILL - ACCEPT, ACCEPT, ACCEPT.LEAD A HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE LIFE , ATTRIBUTING GOOD AND BAD TO THE DIVINE !

Climbing up Mount Tamalpais

Went on 20 Jul (Sun) to Mount Tamalpais which is quite close to Mill Valley .While climbing up the motorable road we went through the same place where we had attended a Mountain play some time back.The climb was very good . The route full of lush green landscape and beautiful.Hardly any traffic at that time of the day - Sun morning !

We motored upto the top literally and then parked our car and started climbing up the rocky trail which could accomodate only one person at a time .The climb was not very strenuous and was in fact enjoyable as we could drink in the scenery as we trudged along.There were a few fellow trekkers also like us who were walking along the trail alongwith with us .All full of energy and happy - a marked characterisitic of the average San Franciscan cheerful all the time and very loving and courteous.

Reached the top - elevation 2571 feet only !After having climbed altitudes ranging from 15000 ft to 18000 ft in the Himalayas while I was in service this was obviously child's play even though I have crossed sixty summers!It was not obviously the same with Latha the housewife .Sai was in his elements although he spent most of the time helping Latha negotiate the mountain trail!

view from the top was simply breathtakingly beautiful .It was not all that sunny .We could therefore not get a clear picture of San Francisco from the top. During sunny days I believe you can hava a 360 degree view of San Francisco and the three bridges - Golden Gate , Richmond and Bay bridges.Whatever we could see was still beautiful .Photos and words cannot describle the actual splendour of nature in all its pristine beauty and glory !

Bollywood party - Berkley Saree stores - Fisherman’s Wharf

We had the “Bollywood party” as scheduled on 18 Jul (Fri). The first to arrive was Teresa, followed by Nina and Hannah. Later the remaining, Erica and Pranjal, Dan and Jennifer, Melanie and Frank joined in. Latha made some excellent Idlis, Aloo Bondas, sambhar and coconut chutney which was really lapped up by everybody. They were all absolutely at home discarding the fork and knife and using their fingers and really appreciating the food.

While everybody was having their Idli - Bonda - Sambhar, Sai put on a Bollywood movie with English subtitles, on the DVD - “Hum Hain Rahi Pyar ke” - an Aamir Khan starrer with Juhi Chawla .It was a very light hearted comedy and as the film progressed, everybody was so relaxed that they all became very informal sitting on the carpet, some lying down as they watched with rapt attention trying to understand the nuances of the film and its comedy. At the end of the day everybody had enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

On 19 Jul 08 (Sat) went to Berkeley to pick up eight identical sarees for the bridesmaids for Stephanie’s wedding with Sai.Went around four to five saree shops out of about ten shops. What an amazing variety of Indian clotheswear they had. And all the shops were constructed typical Indian style. The shops could have been anywhere in India – Mumbai, Delhi or Hyderabad.

All the salesgirls were Indian and they spoke chaste English and Hindi. One shop was probably owned by a Gujarati and another one by a Punjabi – all second or third generation Indians settled probably for more that 100 years yet maintaining the Indian tradition. It was all very interesting indeed. We could locate the sarees alright but they did not have eight of the same colour and design so the shopkeeper may have to get the same from India.

Later in Berkeley itself, we went to “Viks’ - an Indian restaurant .Had some Chat items, as tasty if not better than stuff back home in India; then went to the Fisherman’s Wharf in downtown San Francisco. Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's most popular destination and features the Pier 39 Shopping/ restaurant malls/ a row of seafood, restaurants, street vendors, and souvenir stores ,combined with a major fishing pier.

The Fisherman’s Wharf is more than 400 years old – the Spanish being the first people to occupy it in the 16th century. Surprisingly we saw some horse driven carriages right in the middle of the busy approach road to the Wharf! Reminded me of Bombay .There was also a Bakery where we could see them baking bread in a unique way,which they have been following for the past 150 years or so . We could see the same through huge transparent glass windows. There was a “Bread crocodile” made of several pieces of freshly baked breads on display!

On the edge of the mall are also a lot of sea lions that sunbathe themselves! We however did not go near them and saw them only from a distance. Thousands of tourists flock here on a daily basis to see these sea lions perched on cement platforms ,on the waterfront making a lot of noise. From the Wharf we could see Alcatraz - an island where they used to send the prisoners who were sentenced to various crimes. It was notorious as no prisoner could escape from the prison and even if he did he would die due to the freezing water around the island. Now it is a hot tourist spot to which cruises are organised.

On the waterfront there was a floating restaurant ( see the photo) .We could see the restaurant swaying in the wind on the waves of the ocean !The weather was really very good and we really enjoyed ourselves otherwise it could be really really ……….freezing cold !The shopping mall was crowded and a carnival like atmosphere prevailed in the air. The shops especially curios made out of sea shells and other oceanic stuff were attractive and reasonably priced. Ideal for taking gifts home.




We walked through “Hard Rock Café” a prosperous shopping Mall.The Owner of the Café sold a roaring business to the present owner and donated the money to the Sathya Sai Medical Trust . His donation was mainly responsible for the construction of the Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital in Puttaparthi – one of the most modern hospitals in the World and that too in a small village in India ! We saw a crepe being made in an Italian restaurant. !A Crepe is something like a Masala dosa - made of rice flour and instead of the Aloo Masala you stuff it with a stuffing of your choice – generally some sweet stuff .In this case as you can see in the photo it is strawberries and Ghirardelli chocolate!