I was heading out to Yosemite National Park this weekend to celebrate Eid al-Adha with the cousins. This is my sixth National Park camping trip this year. Its been incredibly glorious experience with adventure! And this particular trip, coupled with Zion in the later part of summer, have been a bit nostalgic. There was a time whereContinue reading “On Being a Yosemite Virgin”
Category Archives: California
Whispers from Atitlan, Zion on the Horizon
There was a lot swirling in my head as I sat behind the wheel of the SUV driving in the dark. At that moment a list was forming of all the things I had to take care of when I got back from this camping adventure. But it was hard to focus on the futureContinue reading “Whispers from Atitlan, Zion on the Horizon”
Devil’s Punchbowl and Frozen Chaos
A hike, a year in the making (and a blog post nine months later, yikes)! This adventure was originally accomplished back in 2009 by Ameechi and me. We originally were going to mountain bike the crap out of the trail. Naive were we, because neither one of us had mountain biked (like ever); and, worse,Continue reading “Devil’s Punchbowl and Frozen Chaos”
Plan Your Adventure; Where Ever You May Find It
“Anything to get me out of Palmdale,” explained the high school student to the other students seated next to him at the local Starbucks. “You know, I don’t want to live here, there’s nothing exciting. I want an adventure, not go to the Fair once a year to have fun,” responding the young girl’s friend, twirlingContinue reading “Plan Your Adventure; Where Ever You May Find It”
A People’s History of Alta California and the Bear Flag Republic
It is ironic that in the National Statuary Hall, in Washington DC, there stands a statue of Junipero Serra amongst the statues of Revolutionary fighters and thinkers. Considering that Father Serra represents everything that the revolutionaries were fighting against, it is all the more remarkable how the frontier was treated in drastically different ways. California is inContinue reading “A People’s History of Alta California and the Bear Flag Republic”
Samsung NX2000: My What a Big Screen You Have!
One year on with the Samsung NX2000, its been a wonderful adventure! This particular mirrorless digital SLR is a good kit for point and shoot enthusiasts who want something that has power but not necessarily the complicated functionality of comparable market SLR’s. I see things and I try to capture them, and I try really hardContinue reading “Samsung NX2000: My What a Big Screen You Have!”
On Being A Conquistador of the Useless
Lionel Terray wrote a memoir titled Conquistadors of the Useless which became an acclaimed bestseller. Shortly after its publication, he died climbing in the Vercors near Grenoble, France in 1965. This dude was a mountain climber legend, he made so many recorded first accents on mountains across the world, and he’s remembered as a hero inContinue reading “On Being A Conquistador of the Useless”
On “Wild,” the Pacific Crest Trail (In My Own Backyard!)
Cheryl Strayed’s book “Wild” is getting released this week as a movie starring Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl [1]. I read “Wild” when it came out, it was part of my 2012 one book a month goal. I found Strayed’s book enrapturing (Strayed is not her real name, but rather the one she chose to authorContinue reading “On “Wild,” the Pacific Crest Trail (In My Own Backyard!)”
Removing the Training Wheels on the New Hobby
I have been busy. Not the busy with life per se, but more so with certain hobbies. They eat up my time, so I haven’t been blogging as much. I think its time to start sharing again. We (the sibs and I) picked up a new hobby, road biking, to go with the local climateContinue reading “Removing the Training Wheels on the New Hobby”
Why I Decided Not to Vote
…By Mail No. I would not squander my vote like that. It’s actually the one responsibility I have as a citizen of this republic. Democracy is by the people, for the people, of the people; until those people stop voting. Its not perfect, but no human endeavor is. Worse, if people are dying in Iran,Continue reading “Why I Decided Not to Vote”
Corner Office Shaikh 