akv's blogs

Saturday, June 18, 2005

A quiet week

Spent a quiet week at home and work. Was down with a little flu in the beginning of the week – it could just have been the heat as I recovered as soon as the temperature dropped.

We are back in our jackets and comforters - and its much better this way!

Sunday, June 12, 2005

The Statue of Three Lies.

Notice the shine on the left shoe. A good number of tourists and graduates make sure that no dust settles on the shoe as they rub it for luck.

With John Harvard, the founder of Harvard College. . Just kidding. This statue is located in front of the University Hall. Even thought the inscription on it says, John Harvard, Founder, 1638, none of those statements are true - as per the information provided here. It was graduation time and we waited about 30 minutes for our chance to touch his boots. Yes - its a tradition to place your hands on his left boot while posing for the picture.

Penang!

OK - so here we are - Penang, the restaurant. If you have nothing else to see and do at Harvard Square, just go there to eat at this restaurant. The Roti Canai will not last 5 minutes on the table. I assure you. Here, Shruti is devouring some of the stir fried noodles we had as well. yummmmm..

Another view from Penang, the Malasian restaurant, of a busy intersection. Boston and its surroundings are no place to drive. There is one predominant sign everywhere 'Road Work Ahead'. I think you can see one here too.

Bright colored buildings on JFK street close to Harvard Sq. We are sitting in a restaurant that serves one of the most delicious Malaysian food. More on that later. Notice individual ACs. This part of the country does not have central ACs. I bet they start putting in some after this year.

Harvard Square

Harvard Square last weekend. Its a couple of minutes away from Harvard University, very lively and a great place to hang out.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

About the weather..

They say here in New England, ‘if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.’

We have been on a roller coaster ride here as far as the weather is concerned. We had 40 degs F when we came here first, and raining 24 x 7.

Then we had a couple of days of good dry sunny days with 60 degs. Then a couple of days with 90 degs. One of those days, the evening temperature dropped by almost 30 degs to 60!

Now we are back to 85-90 deg range. How we wish we had rain. Both of us have promised we won’t complain.

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Lowell

Lowell is an old historical town west of Boston. Famous for its textile and other mills, the Merrimack river that flows through the center of the city, University of Mass at Lowell and an old and pretty big downtown.

We are in the part of town that used to be called ‘Pawtucketville’. Everything around here has a ‘Pawtucket’ in it.
Another interesting trivia is that there is no way in this world that if you throw a stone in any direction - it won't hit a Dunkin Donut store. Within a radius of ten miles, there must be about 100 Dunkin Donut stores, not to mention a ton of other Mom and Pop Donut corner shops.

When they say that America is going over-weight, they are not wrong. I can see it here.
And yes, every road has at least 3 or 4 funeral homes here. Go figure.

Monday, May 30, 2005

Boston in one picture

Bad weather, great buildings, and construction everywhere.

The Old and the New. A great amalgam that is Boston.

On the Freedom Trail!

For those who didn't know!!
The freedom trail runs through the downtown Boston through most if not all the important and historic sites from the 17th to the 20th century.

Boston Common

The heart of Boston, with the high rises in the background. We are here for a 12 week period for an internship at a company based in Chelmsford, close to Lowell, MA.

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Another Toll

For entering the New York State Thruway (I-95 N). We ended up paying nearly $25 in toll throughout the trip.

Entering New York City.

Stuck for a couple of hours before the George Washington Bridge toll on I-95.
We are on our way to Boston, MA!

Monday, May 02, 2005

Why its still a long way to go

Its still a very very loooong way to go for India before we can start calling it a civilized and cultured society, where people feel proud to be called Indians 7 days a week and 365 days a year, not just when India beats Pakistan at the world cup.

Most of the times, the culprit are the very leaders that are supposed to set example for the rest of us to follow. The custodians of the law, the lawmakers themselves.

The victims are those who want to do the right thing as proven by this story: http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Rail+official+pays+for+questioning+RJD+men&id=72413

At least we get to hear about these things. Making India slightly better than places like Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.