Dallas

I had been to Dallas recently, in my own car! I have lived in big cities, crowded cities, where traffic jams rule the roads. But, never on my own car. Having driven only in a small place like Norman, where you own almost the entire road, and the only (very) irritating thing that you will ever come across would be the STOP signs,  driving in Dallas was something that I absolutely hated, and I am sure I will hate it forever. 

The traffic jams in Chennai(where I lived mostly) were horrible, and don't even ask about Mumbai! Thats exactly why I liked those crowded trains more than those buses! But looking back, it was not even half as bad as making me want to leave the city! Maybe because I never drove myself there. Yes, withing minutes of being in downtown Dallas, I wanted to get away from there!!! I din't mind going back without having spent te day's woth there in the city! All I wanted to do was to get out of the crowd! OH, look what a year's stay in a place like Norman can do to you! Now I am left with two options, settle down in the smallest town I find ( still assuming that I am going back to India sometime :P) or never drive myself in the big city I want to live in!

Travel - USA

I love to travel, but haven't done too much travelling! One of a dreams that I need to achieve before I complete my PhD is: "To travel to all the 50 states in the US". Over-ambitious, you may say! I am going to try just that! So here are the states and places I have visited so far:

OKLAHOMA: I live in Norman, OK. Not the place that would come to your mind when you think of US. This was my first impression about Norman, OK until I realized that US is most of such town and a few of big cities! Norman is according to me, an ideal place to live when you study! Small, inexpensive, and cute. Ranked 6th best small cities to live in the US in 2008, I think Norman lives up to its name. But I wouldn want to choose Norman as a place to settle down when I work(I maintain: I want to go back to India for work) ! 

Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, Noble, Turner Falls, GW Exotic Animal Park (lots of lions and tigers here), Chaikashaw National Reacreational Area are the few places that I have visited in OK! I guess I have seen a lot of Oklahoma by now! :)

OHIO: The state I landed on, in the US. Columbus was the first city that I went to in US, and the only city that I have visited in the US. Home to Ohio State University, Columbus has both the sky scrapers as well the small town charm. 

PENNSYLVANIA: Writing this from Philadelphia, PA. One of the most beautiful cities I have visited in US, this my third time. If you are interested in the  American Independence Movement, Philly has a lot for you! Pittsburgh is another city I visited in US, yet there is still lot left for me here to see.

(To be continued...)

NEW YORK:

WASHINGTON D.C.

NEW JERSEY:

TEXAS:

DELAWARE:

To start with..

It has been an attempt for a long time now, a few years I could say. I once saw my grandfather's diary, and since then wanted to maintain my own. One of my bad habits is that I am very inconsistent with everything I do. I am not persistent with my efforts. I did try wrinting my diary, and I have one now. I make an entry once in a few days whenever I feel like writing (that would be once in a very long time). I wanted to upgrade my diary to a blog. Many months have passed between the thought and the action. Finally, here it is! Let me see which of my thoughts actually get transformed into words!