Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one’s self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all. – Utsav Mamoria As children, we learn constantly without questioning the process. Learning is simply our default state - we have no choice but to absorb new information and skills as we navigate the world....
Figure 1: We ❤️ Baby Coos! We woke up still full from the late-night Thai feast, so we skipped breakfast and headed straight to the University of Glasgow. Gothic, grand, and imposing, the university is meticulously maintained. We entered via the engineering division, where I delighted in nerdy admiration of every department sign. Figure 2: Glasgow University The campus features two picturesque quadrangles connected by archways — a dream setting for amateur photographers (i....
Figure 1: The Wildcat vegan cafe, Fort William Some vegan places pretend to be non-vegetarian — Wildcat in Fort William was one of those intriguing types. The hip vibe pulled us in: minimalist design, moody lighting, and a menu that read like a wellness influencer’s dream. We went for Scrambled Korean Tofu with Mint Sauce and Hummus Chickpea Toasted Bread, paired with smooth lattes. Figure 2: Scrambled Korean Tofu with toast, The Wildcat, Fort William...
Today was our last day on the Isle of Skye, and the emotions were already bubbling. The skies were moody, the lochs were still, and we were…hungry. After wolfing down another hearty Highland breakfast, we loaded up our trusty German steed, and bid a fond farewell to our delightful host, Margaret. Magic in Motion Figure 1: Vast open landscape for Fairy Pools. Next, we headed to the famed Fairy Pools in southern Skye....
Figure 1: Breakfast spread, Gables BnB! The day kicked off with a million-pound view (thankfully, free), and a hearty British breakfast that could’ve convinced even a hardcore dosa-lover. We were all set for an epic day in the Highlands, armed with layers, ladders (well, hiking shoes), and low expectations of WiFi. Old Man of Storr – Take 1 With caffeine in our veins and enthusiasm in our hearts, we jumped into our trusty german steed and galloped toward the iconic Old Man of Storr....
Another Edinburgh morning went without a hitch. Woke up at 8:40am to blaring alarms with a head full of dreams stretching all the way back to childhood (perhaps last night’s advocate’s whisky in the evening has a way of unlocking those guilty mental filing cabinets). Figure 1: Nice breakfast in the train. Booked an Uber XL to Waverley station. Our driver, Ibrahim, was kind enough to drop us near the elevators—bless him for sparing us the luggage-dragging marathon that station entrances usually demand....
Woke up at our usual, very respectable 10 AM, feeling fresh after completing my 4 AM blogging ritual. We stepped outside expecting the usual Scottish gloom, but lo and behold— California sunshine! It’s almost as if Professor Dumbledore himself had cast a weather charm, keeping the rain at bay. Egg McMuffins & A Train to Stirling After days of indulging in grand feasts, we decided to keep breakfast light (relative to our usual)....
Jet lag is a funny thing. You’d think after an exhausting first day, we’d wake up bright and early, ready to conquer the city. But no. Day 2 of our Scottish adventure started at a leisurely 10 AM, because our bodies refused to acknowledge local time. But when we finally stepped out, what a sight! The golden sun was beaming down, the sky was an uninterrupted stretch of blue—no clouds, no drizzle, no reminders that we were in Scotland....
Long flight, crying babies, and existential questions about why I ever leave my house. That’s all I remember from our sojourn from SFO to DUB. The flight itself was, shockingly, not too bad—decent legroom, food that didn’t taste like cardboard, and wine that was just about drinkable. Usually, we play it safe and order the “special” Hindu Vegetarian meal, but this time, we threw caution to the wind and took whatever the airline gods bestowed upon us....
Chants of “Happy New Year!” echo everywhere, and the TV is filled with celebratory shows. But what are we really celebrating? Is it the events of the past year or just the fact that we made it through another lap around the Sun? Honestly, I had to pause and reflect to remember what made this year special for me. The beauty of New Year’s is that it’s a globally shared moment for all of humanity....