San Francisco

I remember my first trip to this city where I was stuck at Oakland at 12 AM with no clue what BART was... I couldn't see much of the city the last time I visited... rather I only saw the SFO International Airport and Highway 101...

I was getting back to San Francisco after 3 years and just hoped I could see the much awaited and talked about mega structure "The Golden Gate"

San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination, renowned for its "chilly summer fog" (it really does get chilly), steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture and cable cars and the Chinatown. Apart from being a major banking and finance center, San Francisco is also home to tonnes of Bio Tech companies and stands 18th in the world's top producing cities, 9th in the US and 15th in the top 20 Global Financial Centers. Its hard to believe the success the city has had so far was almost destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake.

Mark Twain once quoted "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." It was summer time when I was visiting SF and considering the city surrounded with ocean on three sides I thought it might be cold but not so much. Well the Pacific Ocean currents are cool enough to send those shivers down your body - Windy and Cold is all I say. Along with the chilly weather comes the fog, doesn't matter what time of the day it really is, you can see fog almost all day. This is one reason downtown San Francisco looks beautiful because most of the sky scrappers are hidden in fog - Mesmerizing. Standing down at a 100 story building and following the building to the top you would notice the top vanish.

I had been waiting for this moment all my life - the moment we hit the ramp on the Golden Gate Bridge a few moments you just don't feel like doing anything, the sheer size of the bridge hits your brains so hard that you just want to gaze at it. I clicked a few snaps from the moving car, but I was enjoying the ride more than anything. I wanted to capture more of the bridge but sometimes its just good to witness then capture them. It was Awesome!

Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay area city located in the Marina county near the northern end of the Golden Gate bridge. Because of its geographical location the city is always sunny. It’s about 8 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge but has nohas fog what so ever. The beauty of this city is that you can stand on the beach and enjoy a clear view of San Francisco downtown immersed in fog!  But you really don't want too much fog that it’s completely hidden.  It wasn’t my lucky day!

On my way back to the city, there are a couple of spots from where you can view the Golden Gate bridge.

Note: These spots once used by the US Army during the World War II

Apart from The Golden Gate bridge, the other places to go are the pieers at Fisherman's Wharf and the San Mateo Bridge (its magnificent). If the fog stays away, walking along Fisherman's wharf would get you to see the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island and also the Golden Gate bridge from the beaches or pier.

Thanks Rinkoo, but next time I hope the fog is a little less :)

Visit my flickr photostream for more pictures from my trip to San Francisco

Manchanbele

This trip had to happen - come what may! Having watched Prince of Persia and seeing off Sujith at 12:30 AM it was decided to meet up at 4 AM for a bike trip to Manchanbele. I made it at 4:30 AM though (half sleepy)

Manchanbele is about 30 Kms. from Bangalore, on the Bangalore - Magadi main road near the Thippagondanahalli Reservoir. Surrounded with lush greenery and hills in every direction, Manchanbele is one of the hot spots for serious birders.

Because of its geographical location with hills all around, once can see beautiful landscapes all around. Early mornings are beautiful with the sun rising behind the hills and gives you a clear view from the top of the many hills around and not to forget Manchanbele is infested with colorful Dragonflies and Butterflies apart from a dozen species of birds.

What I have always enjoyed about Manchanbele are the beautiful landscapes with lush greenery around the water body, blue skies and puff of clouds. Its quite a wait for the nature to build this up, however its worth the wait.

I have been to Manchanbele quite a few times. Its been a good get away form Bangalore apart form Nandi Hills. Its amazing to experience the serene atmosphere even if you are not with your camera here. The water is not too deep, so if you are a good swimmer, you can for sure take a plunge in the water. Kayaking is something that people have been coming to Manchanbele (I would definitely want to give it a try).

Its once place where you can take your time, set up a frame and CLICK! (what say Sujith :))

Was a great experience specially riding the Avenger to Manchanbele at 4:30 AM, chasing the sunrise after crossing the Big Banyan Tree, waiting for the blue sky, waiting for the puffed clouds, clicked the patterns and a sore arse by the time we reached Costa. All worth it!