Europe 2025 (Part 1): London, UK

Friends! Before I start out with my standard (and EXTREMELY overused) dialogue of “I can’t believe how quickly the year went by” or “apologies for the delay in posting”, I want to give the full disclosure and credit to one of my best friends, Shreya Thiagarajan the motivation to finally make this post. She’s one of those friends who is instrumental in being honest, yet so compassionate in aiding someone with their journey in life. Whether it’s helping someone get over their writer’s block to express themselves, cracking through medical exam questions, or even being the right push to get someone out of the house and let their friend feel the sun on their face for the first time in a while. She’s that ray of honest sunshine that pushes away the dark, ominous clouds that loom over oneself, and for that, I want to say I love you, girl! This post is dedicated to you 🙂

It seems that sometimes, even when there’s so much to write about, so much to explore and experience, the person writing can suffer through that large wave of writer’s block. Maybe the experience itself was so vivid, surreal, so “larger than life” that it’s difficult to even articulate into words the sensory images, sounds, and emotions that the person felt. My Europe trip was exactly that- it was a type of adrenaline rush that I’ve never felt before- an experience I dove headfirst into, something that my gut was telling me was just the right-fitting piece of a jigsaw puzzle that was in the works for years.

So I took the plunge and dove headfirst by booking tickets for a European tour with the Georgia Tech Alumni Association! I learned early on that the itinerary was: London, Paris, the French Riviera, Tuscany, and Rome: the perfect concoction of history, modern wonders, natural beauty, lovely food, and even lovelier people. So without further ado, let’s dive right in:

London, United Kingdom: The first stop was London, UK, the capital city of England. As soon as we landed in the city, we checked into our hotels and immediately started trekking around- soaking in the tiny streets with bustling red buses trolleying around, Harry Potter wands and merchandise, with lush greenery sprinkled in between. Disoriented, delirious, yet FAR from being disillusioned, our group mates and I set our sights on the British Museum, one of the largest museums in the world, with over eight million works. Despite the baking temperatures indoors and out, we set out to explore what was essential in the history of the entire world within one gargantuan building. We saw Egyptian coffins, the famous Rosetta stone, Parthenon sculptures from Ancient Greece, and Tang Dynasty tomb figures. Being a personal fan of history and culture, this museum greatly stood out to me, reminiscent of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, but much larger, older, and broader. An absolute must-see in London.

The Reading Room in the British Museum

After the British Museum, we ventured into local Harry Potter gift stores, with wands and brooms plenty. It was as if I could view JK Rowling herself on the streets of London, brewing out the brilliant bits of wizardry and witchcraft right there. Admittedly, growing up, I never read Harry Potter myself, but the movies and the tumultuous Quidditch rides at Universal Studios in Florida were plenty enough for me to absorb, acknowledge, and appreciate the wizarding atmosphere.

We concluded Day 1 with a lovely, delicious dinner of fish and chips, devouring the crispiness and freshness of the two items with the sauce of the UK’s surprising national dish, chicken tikka masala. Overall, the perfect first impressions (and sensory overload) of our European adventure.

The cutest little pub is a good two-minute walk away from our hotel, which I unfortunately don’t remember the name of

The next day in London, we had an action-packed itinerary which consisted of a walking tour around London, through the streets of vibrant Chinatown, through Buckingham Palace and the famous Tower Bridge of London. The surge of locals and tourists, combined with the historical backdrop of the Thames River, with the scents of Fordham and Mason candles and the concoction of cuisines from all around the world, made the vibes absolutely immaculate.

Me, myself, and my pair of nifty headphones that were provided during the walking tour

Our tour of Buckingham Palace included a practice processional parade for the King’s birthday, in which we saw majestic horses cocking their heads back and forth to the exuberant beat and music of the trumpets and drums. While it would have been obvious that horses are extremely trainable, it was still awe-inspiring to see how disciplined, graceful, and brilliant these animals were in their pursuit of honouring the Royal Family and displaying their majesticness to the stricken audience they had gathered around and adjacent to them. The whole ordeal could have been described as a bit comical, even with so much time, effort, organisation, coordination, and discipline, all for the PRACTICE of a birthday processional. Nonetheless, it was a sight that was so unique to my eyes, a blend of sights, smells and sounds that my senses had never registered before.

The Garden at 120, a free rooftop bar, in which you can get a 360-degree view of the city

London is one of those cities that is so welcoming, giving open arms to those from all walks of life, allowing folks to experience history and modernism simultaneously, paving the way for the richest history lesson one can experience. Growing up and hearing rhymes about the London Bridge, binge-watching all of the Harry Potter movies and learning that apparently the best Indian food is in London was not nearly the same as seeing it all for myself. It was quite the full circle moment and the perfect kickstarter to our European adventure, one that I’ll be ever so grateful for. Stay tuned for the next part- *hint, I got to practice my French 🙂

Cheers mate!

The Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake

Ah, the Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake! One of the most quintessential works of art right in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas.

According to austintexas.gov, The Boardwalk was a $28-million dollar project with over 300 piers, 2,200 pre-cast concrete deck planks, and approximately 7,250 feet in length. For me, walking the full stretch of the Boardwalk every evening after work has become the key meditative ritual I never thought I had needed.

Ever since starting my new job in South Austin, my evening routine became simple. Grab my earphones, set a killer workout playlist on Spotify, and drive over to the Boardwalk. Maybe it’s the breeze that gently glosses over my face when I turn into the entrance of it, or the airplanes I witness in their impeccably precise descent into Bergstrom International Airport. Maybe it’s the stillness of the lake water or the kayaks and paddle boards that cruise along that water, holding smiling faces and nature-lovers. It could be the slow, yet steady turtles that glide across, over, and under the water, seemingly laughing at us land creatures who couldn’t possibly recreate their graceful, synchronized-swimmer type of movements. Maybe it’s the view of the brightly lit and creatively colored downtown Austin skyline, whose reflection brilliantly rests in that very same lake water. Maybe it’s the pink and orange skies, illuminated by the setting sun, providing the colorful hues and picturesque streaks in the sky that truly make one feel in awe of the universe’s beauty. And maybe, it’s the music that dances its way into my ears, sparking rhythm and movement in my body like nothing else does, as I start walking, and soaking in all of these sensory experiences.

Walking along the Boardwalk every day fully allows me to unplug, see within, understand the power of my mind and body, and how those two can connect seamlessly with nature with such little effort. As I start walking, my mind begins to mirror the stillness and calmness of the water adjacent to me. During these walks, I’m able to introspect, take time to process the hecticness of the day, and I can even brainstorm my goals- whether they are to be accomplished the next day, or within the next 5 years. I can appreciate the world for what it is, the constant of nature, and for the like-minded Boardwalk-walkers who appreciate it along with me (and of course, their adorable dogs).

It sounds so simple, because it is- walking is an incredibly beneficial activity, for physical and mental well-being, but can also serve as an excellent opportunity to seek within and just enjoy the simplicity of what we are given. I look forward to continuing my nightly walks here, and wherever life ends up taking me. Remember to keep exploring, keep appreciating what’s around you, and keep seeking purpose within.

Yours,

Audheya

Leveling Up!

Hello my dearest friends and blog audience!

Ah, the good old intro where I start off by saying “Wow! I can’t believe it’s been almost an entire year since I’ve written a blog post, apologies!” While I don’t have any other witty introduction than that at the moment, I seriously AM baffled at the fact that it is almost March 2025. Time has been flying by at rocket speed and sometimes it’s hard to keep track of the days, let alone be able to work through some writer’s block and crack the perfect blog post.

But I’m going to approach my writing endeavors differently this year. I don’t think there even IS a perfect blog post, or that there needs to be one. I’m just going to be myself, and whether that means continuing to write about some exciting travels (which hopefully should be coming up soon), or a recommendation on a book that changed my life, or switching it up and just introspecting and being completely raw and vulnerable. I’m going to write how I feel, in my heart, and can only hope that the content is something that people can resonate with, and maybe even draw inspiration from.

I find that the older I get, the more that I’m seeking out genuineness. Whether that’s from the people I surround myself with in real life, the characters I watch in movies, or the folks I see in the media, authenticity is something I’m craving. And what better way to begin satisfying that, than becoming the most authentic version of myself.

And that leads me to this critical point in my life, which I like to refer to as “Leveling Up”.

To “level up”, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary, means to “improve or increase”. For me, leveling up is exactly the point where my mind, body, and soul all work towards the common goal of self-improvement and self-actualization. This isn’t an overnight task, or a project that can be done within a week, a month, or even a year. It’s a life-long journey of recognizing where I can improve, where I can work harder, where I can give back and contribute harder. Leveling up means striving not for perfection, but for living up to my potential and what I was made to do on this planet. It also means to celebrate the wins, and giving myself credit where it’s due. It means working towards goals through positive reinforcement and intrinsic motivation. This mindset has already allowed me to accomplish the following wins since December:

I graduated with my Master of Science in Cybersecurity Degree from The Georgia Institute of Technology!
I passed my CompTIA Security + exam!
I passed my ISC² CC (Certified in Cybersecurity) exam!
I started journaling, not only to keep myself accountable for this journey, but to evoke some nostalgia. I used to write SO much when I was younger, including speeding through several diaries in elementary school. Just remembering how much joy, satisfaction, and purpose that writing gives me, is what motivates me throughout the week.
I started walking and hiking more! And just being more appreciative of nature and realizing the refreshing feeling of simply being outside.

There is so much more to accomplish this year, in various aspects of my life- my career, my health, my hobbies, my travel, my family, my friendships. But it’s also important to celebrate and cherish the small wins throughout the day. Maybe it was the little joke I said to my friend that made her laugh during a moment of stress (or maybe it was a pity laugh, I guess we will never know). Maybe I pet my dog for two extra minutes in the morning and it helped me realize even more so than before, how much I unconditionally will love and protect him. Maybe I rearranged my desk, and the feng shui of the new layout is promoting peace and harmony in my room, my safe space. Whatever it is that you feel in your life that is giving you peace, positivity, and purpose, then just do it! There is no right or wrong here, there is no playbook or protocol. You can level up in the way that YOU want. We have full control of the narrative of our life. We are the authors of our own story and our journey. No matter how difficult anything gets, or how impossible something may seem, the only person that is ultimately stopping it from happening is ourselves. Don’t get me wrong- life absolutely is not perfect. It is not easy, it is not always forgiving. There are all kinds of hurdles and challenges that have already come our way, and will continue to come our way. But we have the power to keep pushing forward and making our daydreams a reality (yes, daydreams- shoutout to all the homies who have slight maladaptive daydreaming).

If you want to level up or just want to connect with me to talk about motivation, goal-setting, productivity, health, or anything really- I would love to learn from you, and vice-versa! Feel free to reach out.

Happy Leveling Up!

With Love,

Audheya

Wanderlust Diaries: Vancouver 2023

Hello!

I know it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted on my blog, but I needed some breathing space to think about how and what to write about, as a lot has happened in my life over the past two years. But one of my most memorable moments was visiting Vancouver in July of 2023. Vancouver was one of the most beautiful and scenic places I’ve seen, and it honestly was almost a full circle moment, given that I used to live in Canada many many years ago. Shoutout to my cousins for letting me stay at their house for the week I was there. Without further ado, here is Vancouver, British Columbia.

The first place we went to was Kushiro Park, in the Burnaby area (which is the suburb where my cousins live). Kushiro Park is essentially a ‘park within a park’, and even has totem poles that are symbolic of the First Nations people in the B.C. area.

The view of the harbor was brilliant, the landing of the seaplanes, and the entire city of Vancouver behind it was surreal.

Next, we went to an island of Vancouver called Tofino, a very quaint, small town that didn’t have much to do, yet had a lot to do at the same time (if that makes sense). On the way to Tofino, we stopped at Nanaimo, another small island, and had Tim Horton’s (a specialty of Canada). We took a B.C (British Columbia ferry) to get to this island, and the view of the mountains whilst on the ferry was incredibly scenic and serene in itself.

(1) My cousins and I on the B.C ferry on the way to Nanaimo (2) Departure Bay Beach, Nanaimo

After checking into our hotel in Tofino, we were immediately floored by the incredible harbor views and sailboats that stood right in front of us. We ordered breakfast and headed our way to go whale watching in a Zodiac (speed boat). Entering the whale-watching center, we put on large suits that were designed to keep us warm and safe from the freezing British Columbia waters. Putting on the suits was a feat in itself, as it had to cover all of our extremities.

Once we were suited up, we walked over and hopped into the Zodiac boat. As the boat picked up speed, we found ourselves flying through the cool mist and enjoying a 360-degree view of the beautiful mountains. The water was a deep blue, and it just felt like it was gliding past us all at 100 miles per hour. To put it in film terms, my cousins and I concluded that it felt like we were in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie sailing through the waters. We got closer and closer towards the whales and once the captain of the boat spotted a pod of grey whales. The gray whales somehow seemed to be familiar with the boats and the people that were on them. They remained in relative proximity to the boat and slapped their tails left and right. We saw the calves trailing closely behind their mothers and circling the boats at the same time, with somewhat of a gentle curiosity as to the mysterious species that was in the vessel in front of them.

And then, the nausea started. Maybe it was the smell of the seawater, the unique motion of the Zodiac, the smell of the sea lions near us, or a combination of all of the above, but nearly everyone on the boat started experiencing a large bout of nausea and vomiting. So much so, that the captain had to pass around ginger pills (which are conveniently kept with him at all times for times like these). And this nausea remained a consistent theme throughout our entire boat journey but we got used to it (somewhat).

As we continued our venture into the beautiful waters of Tofino, we encountered sea lions, seals, and puffins, all native to the area. But for me, the most profound encounter was with a male and female orca whale that was swimming miles adjacent to the Zodiac. I had never seen an orca whale outside of captivity, and to see it gliding through waters in its natural habitat, dorsal fins up, healthy and happy, was so surreal. It was truly an image I will never forget.

1) Sea lions wading on a small island 2) My cousins and I all suited up for whale watching

After our whale-watching adventure was over, I took some rest in the hotel for a few hours and then headed off to my next endeavor- ocean kayaking. Sea kayaking was a whole different beast from kayaking in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake. We had to go against strong currents, navigate through sometimes relentless waters, and ensure that we stuck together as a group so that we wouldn’t get lost. It was the biggest arm workout of my life, to say the least. What was different about these kayaks was that they had foot pedals, so could change the direction of the kayak with our feet, as opposed to solely relying on our arms/paddles. We also used ‘spray skirts’ which we tied over our legs to prevent water from entering into the vessel and splashing us. We kayaked through a series of small islands and landed on Meares Island, where we went hiking in a temperate rainforest, encountering some of the oldest trees in British Columbia, and in the world. One of the trees was titled, the ‘Cedar Tree of Life’, which was over 1,000 years old and provided a nursery to all of the other lifeforms around it. Once we were done hiking, we got back in the kayaks that we docked and headed back to Tofino. It was a LONG journey, and I made sure to massage my arms with the neat-smelling hotel lotion for hours afterward.

Our kayaks docked at Meares Island while we hiked in a temperate rainforest

And before we knew it, we were back on a B.C ferry back to Vancouver.

The next day, I decided to switch it up to ‘leg day’ by taking a guided biking tour around Stanley Park, a 405-hectare public park in Vancouver. We biked around the seawall as our tour guide gave us detailed historical facts and stories at every stop we went to. We stopped by English Bay Beach, and nearby were statues by the name of A-Maze-Ing laughter statues, which were representations of humor, sarcasm, and fear, by ordinary citizens fearing the Communist China government, during the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. We also encountered totem pole replicas by the First Nations people, who suffered incredibly at the hands of the colonizers many hundred years ago. Each segment of the totem pole had meaning, and it was important to recognize the artistic and cultural significance behind them. We then biked into Beaver Lake, which is exactly what it sounds like- a lake filled with beavers and their dams. We also had a much-needed protein bar break. We then made our way into another temperate rainforest with similar centuries-old trees and nature, with pinecones as evidence of the age of the trees. Eventually, we circled our way back into the Cycle City headquarters in Downtown Vancouver and gave back our rented bicycles, with a final viewing of the map of where we all biked.

Ready to get on my bike to go to Stanley Park

After heading home from biking, I made my way into the heart of Downtown Vancouver, where I walked around and explored Gastown, a small part of Vancouver known for its whistling Steam Clock, souvenir shops, indie art galleries, and decor stores in Victorian buildings. I stopped by what I always do which is purchase a laptop sticker and some city merch (t-shirts, mainly)- but this, also purchasing a signature Canadian home piece- maple syrup (which we later used to make pancakes). Gastown, as mentioned has a steam clock which was built in 1977, which is powered by steam and whistles to tell the time. Needless to say, there was a crowd of tourists surrounding this antique masterpiece by the time I was ready to take a video of the steam clock whistling at 6 pm sharp.

Me in front of the famous Gastown Steam Clock

The next day, I grabbed an Uber to Capilano Suspension Bridge, a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in Upper Capilano, British Columbia, Canada, in the District of North Vancouver. It not only had its main suspension bridge, but had bridges connecting between treetops, a bird-viewing attraction, and many other beautiful and scenic hiking trails in between. The bridge was extremely wobbly (as expected) and I almost felt that with every step I took, I could fall into the abyss at any given moment. Luckily, I got used to it as I made my way up and down the bridge a few times and was able to soak in the beautiful views of the trees from such an aerial point of view.

The following day, my cousin and I headed to Grouse Mountain, one of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges in the District Municipality of North Vancouver, British Columbia. We took a sky gondola up to the top of Grouse Mountain, where we watched a live bird show in which eagle trainers showed us their exotic birds as they flew from post to post. We also were able to view grizzly bears in their sanctuaries, in addition to ski lifts and paragliders looking to get even more scenic and adventurous views of the mountains adjacent to them. After coming down the sky gondola and exiting to the ground below, we took an Uber back home.

The view from the top of Grouse Mountain

On my final day in Vancouver, I decided to go to Granville Island, a peninsula and shopping district in the Fairview neighborhood of Vancouver. Here, I grabbed a blueberry tart and sat outside near the water bridge and enjoyed the views of the waters below, with water taxis carrying people around the city. I explored the massive public farmer’s market in Greenville, which had a plethora of sweet candies, pastries, savory snacks, and handmade paintings and carvings of Vancouver-themed art. I bought a bookmark and a hand-drawn card in which I was going to write to my cousins, thanking them for an amazing trip. I finished off my day by grabbing a water taxi and sailing through the shallow waters before they dropped everyone off at the final stop. I took an Uber ride back home, made some pancakes with my newly bought Canadian maple syrup, and wrapped up by watching Suits (which they had just released on Netflix).

All in all, it was a wonderful trip not only because of the beautiful nature, scenery, and fun places I got to see and the experiences that I had, but the people I got to meet along the way. The newfound independence and freedom I felt from traveling solo to a lot of these places was thrilling, exhilarating, and tranquil all at the same time. I loved the routine that week of waking up in the morning, making breakfast, looking up where to go on Google Maps, and heading out for the day by myself. Walking around Gastown with Maps walking directions on, meeting brand new people in Tofino whilst kayaking, and learning how hand-made art is made by Vancouver locals are all images that will permanently resign in my mind. It’s safe to say that my Vancouver trip made me appreciate nature so much more, people even more, and solo travel above it all. Cheers to the next adventure! Thank you for joining me in my journey.

April Book Reviews!

Hello hello! If you’ve been following my blog, it might be evident that I’m trying to revamp it a bit and make some major changes. This includes writing about newer, more interesting, and more diverse topics. Today I wanted to write in detail all about one of my favorite books and that is “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. I’ve mentioned this book in a previous blog post, but never went into much detail about its synopsis, or my detailed opinions on it. So, here it is! Feel free to contact me directly with any questions/comments/suggestions/feedback. I don’t think there is anything more relaxing than sitting down with a good book and some hot chocolate after a long and stressful day. It’s soul-nourishing and can provide some amazing insight into someone else’s world. So, here’s my first in-depth review of one of the best books that I’ve read in the past two years. Enjoy!

“Becoming” by Michelle Obama

This book is essentially a biopic/autobiography. It captures the entirety of Michelle’s life thus far- from her roots in the South Side of Chicago, all the way to becoming First Lady of the United States. But it doesn’t recount the events that lead up to earning one of the most powerful titles in the world- it recounts the emotional turmoil, happiness, and surprises she faces along her journey. The book allows us to embark on Michelle’s world and allows us to understand the perspective of an African-American woman during one of the most eventful periods in the United States. Here is my breakdown of her book and all that it has to offer:

“Becoming Me” describes Michelle’s humble upbringing in the South Side of Chicago, a place that’s still very much near and dear to her heart. She describes her mother, father, and older brother, Craig, all of whom have shaped her character, inspired her to follow her ambitions, and taught her to never forget where she came from/her roots. Her father worked at the city’s water purification plant, while her mother stayed at home to take care of her kids and the house. She grew up taking piano lessons and always strived to succeed academically, as education was a paramount principle in her parents home. She gains admission into Whitney Young, a magnet school, and eventually makes her way to Princeton University, where she majored in sociology. After graduating from one Ivy League, she moved onto the next by going to Harvard Law School. After Harvard, she joins the Chicago-based law firm, Sidley & Austin, and eventually, meets a man with a peculiar name- who would later become President of the United States. “Becoming Me” is a culimination of everything that shaped Michelle Obama since she was just a child. The adversities that her family faced as a working-class family in Chicago (from her dad having multiple sclerosis, to not having much money, etc.), pushed her to become the best version of herself and provided a launchpad for all of the accomplishments she would go onto achieve in the future. I personally loved this section of the book, as it provided so much context for understanding the Michelle Obama that we know today. Many of the details provided in this part were not disclosed to the public before, and they allowed us to understand where Obama’s brilliance and drive to better America came from in the first place.

“Becoming Us” departs the readers on a new journey: the romantic relationship between Michelle and Barack Obama. Michelle was Barack’s mentor at the law firm Sidley & Austin, and after some coffee dates and getting to know each other, they fell in love pretty quickly. She admired Barack’s passion for changing the world. She was awestricken by his wisdom, his political knowledge, and his inquisitive nature (although at times, she felt it was a lot). They soon get married, and before they know it, she’s helping him with his campaign for the Ilinois Senate. Michelle also has a career change as she shifts from corporate law to non-profit work, in order to help take care of her kids and help Barack with his campaign at the same time. Eventually, her husband becomes President of the United States, and suddenly she’s juggling being the First Lady, taking care of her family, her marital commitments, and her own goals and ambitions. I loved this section of the book. She goes into deep detail about her marriage- the positive and the struggles, even describing the sensitive topic of her miscarriages and eventually deciding on IVF to have her children Sasha and Malia. Michelle describes attending marriage counseling with Barack and reveals that they never had a perfect relationship, like what is shown in media and to the outside world. She strikes a chord with the audience about the challenges of marriage- the struggles between blending two lives together and making it work. This section of the book allows us to the intimate details of Michelle and Barack’s relationship and allows us to understand the significant role that she played during his campaign and presidency, while at the same time, understanding her own emotions and feelings throughout both. She makes it a point to share all aspects of their marriage- not just the highlights, but the low points as well, which makes it very relatable for the audience.

Finally, “Becoming More” details Barack Obama’s presidency, as well as all of the initiatives that Michelle Obama undertakes as First Lady of the United States. One of Michelle’s biggest passions is health and nutrition and allowing lower-middle-class children the chance to eat healthily and stay fit. She started the “Let’s Move” campaign, one that strived to end childhood obesity and encourage a healthy lifestyle in children. Some other initiatives that Michelle undertook as FLOTUS include: Joining Forces (supporting veterans through education, wellness & employment opportunities), Reach Higher (inspiring young people to attend higher education), and Let Girls Learn (a government-wide initiative that helps girls around the world to go to and stay in school). She had become a role model for women all around the world- being the first African-American First Lady, and undertaking these four initiatives with the goals of helping to make families healthier, help service members, encourage higher education, and empower girls to go to school. In this section, she also describes being the “mom-in-chief” to her daughters, and how being in the White House required her to put forth the extra effort to raise them like “normal kids” and push them to reach for greater pursuits. This section of the book really allowed us to see all the different facets of who Michelle Obama really was. She’s a mom, a lawyer, a wife, a daughter, a non-profit worker, a philanthropist, and the First Lady of the United States. It is inspiring, it is awe-striking, and it really allows the readers to see the backstory of everything they see about Michelle on T.V.

Overall, I can say that there is no wonder why this was the highest-selling book of 2018. Everyone knows that Michelle Obama is an awesome person, but this book reveals her life through her OWN perspective and gives us so much more insight than we could have seen otherwise. 10/10 recommend.

Wanderlust Diaries: Sydney (continued)

Hello hello! Here is the continuation of my December 2019 Sydney trip. Enjoy!

(5) Koala Park Sanctuary: Here’s the thing: I’m not the biggest fan of animals being held in captivity, and I normally would not support such kind of institution- however due to the fact that koalas are an endangered species (due to prolonged habitat destruction, bushfires, road accidents, etc.), I figured it was better to support a place that actually cares for and rehabilitates these cute little creatures. So, I figured why not give it a shot and pet some cute koalas. This was about a 45-minute drive from my aunt and uncle’s house and the drive included some nice scenery as well. As soon as we entered the park, we saw signs to see all kinds of animals- koalas, kangaroos, emus, llamas, and a wide variety of birds. The koalas were enclosed in a temperature-controlled environment, where they are able to eat and sleep in absolute comfort (especially since they sleep up to 20 hours a day). They had cool mist spraying all around them to protect them from the brutal Australian heat and smoke from that year’s bushfires. We also got to see a mini aviary and view exotic birds, many of which were much more temperamental than I expected :). We also got to pet-tamed kangaroos and feed them. They weren’t wild kangaroos- the ones you’ve seen on National Geographic which have six-pack abs and kick each other incessantly. These were Eastern kangaroos, and much smaller and quieter- reminding me almost of domestic dogs. Last but not least, we got to see a reptile/amphibian show where a trainer allowed us to pet Australian snakes, lizards, and other reptilian creatures much to my aversion in the very beginning. Overall, it was an amazing trip- I got to learn a lot about Australian animals and even got an unexpected hello from a llama during the reptile show.

(6) The Grounds of Alexandria: This was probably the most unique restauarant/coffee shop/garden I’ve ever been to- especially considering that it was a combination of all three things! It has homestyle food, speciality coffee, and a completely organic garden. Every year, they change “themes”, and because it was Christmas time, they made it “Frozen” themed (the Disney movie). There were immaculate decorations, lots of greenery, and a lot of space around the place. I had the pesto mac and cheese, and it was quite delicious. I also had fresh-squeezed lemonade with a hint of rose. They host all kinds of celebrations at the venue- from weddings, to birthdays, to corporate events. They even host “high tea” events where guests can get dressed up and live their classy high tea dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed this place, and HIGHLY recommend if you visit Sydney.

Pesto Mac and Cheese from The Grounds of Alexandria

(7) Kiama: This was a quaint city, about one hour and forty three minutes south of Sydney. Its known for the Kiama Blowhole, which are cliffside caverns that periodically shoot water up in the air. There’s also the Kiama Coast Walk trail which has whale-watching spots along the way, as well as a series of smaller blowholes. There are many scenic spots and photo opportunities, as well as picturesque, high-rise views of the ocean down below. There are multiple stretches of coastal walks, volcanic rock formations, lighthouses, and quaint beaches as well. I will add that the beachside food spots are amazing in ambiance and taste as well. Overall, Kiama is a beautiful seaside town off the NSW (New South Wales) Coast, and I would LOVE to go back.

Chicken burger from “The Hungry Monkey” seaside cafe

(8) Sydney Opera House/Sydney Harbor: This was probably the most “touristy” part of my trip- as the Opera House and the Harbor are pretty much what Sydney in general is known for. The Opera House was a lot bigger than I expected and was an architectural masterpiece. After all, it is one of the world’s most famous and distinctive landmarks. Although we didn’t actually go inside the Opera House, we saw the myriad of restaurants and dining areas from the outside. It’s shaped very uniquely as well. The drive to get to the location was quite fun, as we took the open-roof Jeep and blasted our favorite Telugu songs as we drove across the Sydney Harbour bridge. Highly, highly recommend.

Me overlooking the Sydney Harbour and the sailboats in the water

My cousin, Upamanyu and I in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge near the Opera House

Overall, Sydney was probably the best trip I’ve made in my entire life. Not just because of my amazing family and the city itself, but the solo element to the entire adventure really boosted my confidence and made me proud in my own ability to navigate the world. Travelling internationally alone is one of the best ways to hype yourself up and it helps you realize how much potential that you truly do have. I am so excited to come back to Sydney, and this time I want to explore other Australian cities- including Melbourne, Brisbane, and the capital, Canberra. Until next time!

Wanderlust Diaries Part 1

Hello friends! Once again I am apologizing for the late post. Life has included all kinds of ups and downs over the past weeks and it’s been genuinely difficult to keep up. Alas, here I am, back and better than ever before! This post is dedicated to all my past and future travels! Just like many other Millenials/Gen Z folks, I have been struck by wanderlust. Wanderlust (as defined by Google) = is the strong desire to travel). But I see it as so much more than just hopping on a plane and landing at a destination. I think when you’re able to travel and explore the world on your own, it’s almost a cathartic feeling- a spiritual awakening perhaps. Experiencing new places, new people, and new cultures will open your eyes to the world and change the way you perceive it. It can even boost your creativity and motivate you to accomplish your goals once you’re settled back at home after an arduous adventure. I love traveling, and even though I haven’t gotten nearly as close to all the places I wanted to go to, I’m SERIOUSLY looking forward to doing so. Because there are just so many places that I want to right in detail about, I decided to break this apart into a series- one destination per post. The first one is Sydney, Australia- a solo trip that I made during December (winter break) of 2019. Enjoy! And feel free to reach back out to me for any questions/comments/suggestions/travel tips!!

Sydney, Australia Part 1

I already knew for a long time that I would end up in Sydney, just based on the fact that my aunt/uncle/cousins have lived there for many years now. But when I went, I decided I would fly all by myself- marking my first ever international solo trip. I hopped on plane to LAX with a dream and (not a cardigan, because I was going during Sydney summer time), and wound up in sunny, beautiful, and laid-back Sydney via Virgin Australia flight. The total flight time was close to 20 hours, making this the longest length of air travel I have been on. Once I landed, I immediately knew what everyone was talking about when they said Australia was laid-back. The people there are just so friendly and relaxed. It’s a very outdoorsy place- with people prioritizing physical/mental health over stress. That’s why it’s known to have one of the best work-life balances in the world. Sydney (and Australia in general) is known for its vibrant food culture, pristine beaches and blue harbor waters, as well as its shopping. And of course, the creatures, including adorable koalas and kangaroos. Here are some of my Sydney favorites:

(1) Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most iconic beaches and got a glimpse of people surfing, exercising in the outdoor gyms, and swimming in the massive Iceberg pools. My cousin and I took an Uber to Coogee Beach, and took the long walk from Coogee to Bondi. We soaked in the sun and beautiful views of the ocean below. We saw people parasailing, paragliding, and tons of other water sports happening in the ocean beneath us. Along the way, there are many viewpoints and perfect photo opportunities- especially since there were panoramic/360 degree views of the ocean all around. Although I didn’t actually go swimming, Australia’s broken ozone layer caught me way off guard and gave me the biggest/only sunburn I’ve had in my life despite packing on the sunscreen beforehand. So pro tip, whether you’re going to the beach or even just taking a drive in the car, make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen to protect your precious skin!

(2) Queen Victoria Building (QVB), iconic and historic shopping centre located in Sydney’s CBD (central business district). It was first opened in 1898 and its colonial-style architecture consists of beautiful domes, with one grand dome accompanied by 20 smaller domes. It shops include Australian-made stores, entertainment/leisure stores, music/books, homeware, food boutiques, and multiple cafes and restaurants with all different cuisines. I loved the unique design of the mall- historic, yet modern at the same time (the interior was designed in a modern fashion). Although I didn’t actually do much shopping itself, I got to absorb the surroundings and soak in all that QVB had to offer.

(3) EY, Ernst & Young Sydney office. Obviously, EY is a big 4 accounting firm and has thousands of locations around the world but the Sydney office stood out to me the most out of any other one that I have visited. EY Sydney is located in the heart of the city, overlooking the world-famous harbor and is next to the famous Four Seasons Hotel. I really liked the building’s modern design, and it was so fascinating to see the views of Sydney harbor from the very top (we were able to see it as there was a large conference that got finished up). Right when we walked in, we saw hundreds of people piling out of the building in blazers and business suits and that made me more excited than ever to start my internship in the summer (I scored an internship in technology risk consulting for financial service clients for the summer of 2020). The hustle and bustle of the people was really motivating to see and getting to explore the office in a completely new country was definitely a memory that’s permanently etched in me.

Interior of the EY building: “building a better working world”

(4) The Blue Mountains. This was about an hour and a half drive from Sydney, and we actually went off-roading in a Jeep to explore the Mountains. This place had neat rock formations, quaint villages, and overall epic wilderness. The views of the forestries were also immaculate. Because we went off-roading (a somewhat risky endeavor), there was always a risk for vehicle malfunctions and we ended up getting our Jeep stuck across a branch after heading down a way-too-steep path. (See picture below lol). We ended up having to call a fellow Jeep owner on Facebook marketplace to help us get out of the pickle that we were stuck in (see picture below). Overall, it was probably the most adventurous I’ve ever been and we had a taste of what it was like to be stuck in the wildnerness for prolonged periods of time. Super super fun, and highly recommend.

Off roading in the mountains and guiding my cousin on where to drive

our jeep getting stuck against a branch after going down a very steep path

–Sydney, Australia, Part 2, Coming Soon!–

Atlanta 2021

Hello! Long time, no post! Sometimes it can be hard for us writers to create “readable” material because let’s be honest- some of our lives are not interesting enough to be curated into a blog post (i.e mine). But something that I experienced recently WAS quite eventful- and that was my trip to visit family and friends in Atlanta. So, here’s my ATL trip in a nutshell. Enjoy!

Actually, before I get started, let me just start by saying, I think Atlanta is a VERY underrated city. Aside from the sometimes-horrendous traffic, I think Atlanta just has so many things to do- whether it’s the abundance of nature trails and hiking areas or the ultra-urban lifestyle downtown. It has a myriad of Fortune 500 companies and accompanying fancy, glass skyscrapers. Prices are also quite reasonable, and it has so much history to explore throughout the entire city. I would definitely live there given the chance.

Day 1: We landed in Atlanta and got picked up by our family friends! These are people who I’ve known my entire life and every time we meet, it’s like a wave of nostalgia overcomes me and makes me feel comforted. Sometimes I feel like I can just spend hours reminiscing about all of our childhood memories and laugh with them.

Day 2: My friend and I visited the waterfalls at Roswell Mills at Vickery Creek Trail. This was a beautiful, short hike to see small cascading waterfalls over a rocky cliff. I would say it’s one of the best hikes in the Chattahoochee River area. There is something just so serene and tranquil about waterfalls. It’s almost like they symbolize the flowing of negative energies. This area is also very historic and holds remnants of an old textile mill. We even saw a pelican at standstill, waiting for its next catch of fish. After our hike, we feasted at Moxie Burger, ordering a delicious meal of chicken sandwiches and zucchini fries.

Day 3: I interviewed and got accepted for a job at a Big 4 firm! This was definitely a surreal experience, as I had been in process of applying to full-time roles and scrambling to find a career that I thought would be the ultimate culmination of both my previous internship experiences and my academia. It was almost a cathartic feeling to get the call saying I got the offer and I was filled with excitement for the rest of the day. My friend and I went to an outdoor shopping/eatery complex called “The Battery”, which also happened to be adjacent to the Atlanta Braves baseball stadium. We walked around, soaking in the Atlanta sun, and eating gelato from Antico pizza while doing so. I highly recommend an afternoon at the Battery for a weekend day trip, work happy hour, or any other occasion.

Day 4: We met up with my cousins/aunt/uncle and explored the Atlanta Botanical Gardens! This is a 30-acre botanical garden that houses a myriad of plants- flowers, vegetables, and all kinds of succulents. There was a rose garden, orchid garden, and a gargantuan conservatory that had tall bamboo shoots, and even housed poisonous dart frogs. It felt like I was in the midst of an actual rainforest. We even saw an Indian wedding happening in the center and enjoyed the tunes of familiar Bollywood music playing.

Day 5: On my last day in Atlanta, we visited North Point Mall, and got boba tea with my little cousin. We also went shopping and enjoyed the wide selection in stores like H&M and Forever 21. As we left in the evening, we saw a beautiful, pink sky. Sometimes it’s the little things in life like a colorful sky to demonstrate the beauty of the Earth and all that it has to offer.

Throughout the trip, I made sure I logged everything I did so that I could recount all that I did. That’s something I want to do with all of my memories- jot them down so that I could relive them, and cherish them. Atlanta has a very, very special place in my heart. It’s where I had my very first job back in 2019. It’s where I was able to experience life as a real adult, making real money, for the very first time. Having that first internship at Macy’s Technology gave me the kind of confidence and sense of fulfillment that I never had before in my life. I can’t wait to visit my home-away-from-home once again when the time comes. If anyone wants any recommendations for places to visit in ATL, feel free to contact me! Thanks again for reading my blog and joining me in my journey through life and its unexpected twists and turns, I love having you here.

My Year of “Firsts”

2021 was a new chapter for me. I did so many things and achieved much more than I ever knew was even possible for me back in 2020. So, here’s my list of “firsts” that I’ve done in 2021. Enjoy!

First time trying kimchi fries at Chi-lantro (Korean Mexican fusion cuisine)
First time in an actual club (not really an accomplishment but it was fun lol
First time visiting the boardwalk in Austin (a long pathway over Lady Bird Lake, where you can get a breathtaking view of the Austin skyline)
First legal drink that I purchased after turning 21 (at Chuy’s which was Day 2 of my birthday weekend)
First time ordering drinks at a BAR after turning 21 at Buckshots (ok maybe these aren’t really accomplishments but I’m including them because they were fun times)
And I have a whole list of new food places that I’ve tried here they are:
1. Mandola’s Italian Kitchen (pretty solid Italian food, I ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana)
2. Jeni’s Ice Cream at the Domain (one of the best ice cream places that I’ve tried, has a bunch of unique flavors too!)
3. Joi Asian Bistro at the Domain (get the tofu steamed buns, reminded me of the Disney short film “Bao”)
4. Tumble 22 (Nashville Hot Chicken- I highly recommend the lil hot sandwich with a side of dirty mac and cheese)
5. Snooze AM Eatery (the BEST breakfast place, I got the OMG French Toast)
6. CAVA (the Mediterranean equivalent of Chipotle, very healthy and lots of options- I usually get a bowl with half lentils and half rice!)
7. Blue Corn Harvest Grill (a friend introduced me to this, it’s all organic and farm fresh Mexican food! very healthy and delicious, lots of vegetarian options as well)
8. Andy’s Frozen Custard (it’s like ice cream, but way creamier- I like the butter pecan concrete a lot!)
9. Scoope & Score Ice Cream (I got the birthday cake flavor, solid ice cream place would rate it an 8/10)
10. Manoli’s dessert bar (a cute little dessert truck in Downtown ATX, has items like mango ice cream, tiramisu cake, popsicles, and more!)
11. Rainey street food trucks (I don’t remember the exact names but we had momo’s, crepes, and ice cream, and they were 10/10)
12. North Italia at the Domain (9/10 Italian food, I usually get the chicken pesto pasta)
13. Voodoo Doughnut (finally tried this iconic place, has lots of interestingly themed donuts, I got the Voodoo doll doughnut, which has rasberry jelly filling, 10/10)
14. Mozart’s Coffee Roasters (I’m not sure why it took me this long to try this place but finally went! amazing views and solid coffee)
15. Veracruz Tacos at the Line Hotel (the most delicious tacos that I’ve ever had- definitely beat Velvet Taco, Torchy’s Tacos, and Tacodeli)
^^ k that was an exceedingly lost list, as you can probably tell, this year I ate GOOD. anyways, back to my list
First time KAYAKING. This was another one of those things that made me wonder how it took me this long to try an activity that was an Austinite essential. You can rent a kayak for $20/hour and get a good arm/leg workout in Lady Bird Lake. If you go around evening time you can catch breathtaking sunset views and make you realize how beautiful the Earth really is. Check out my Instagram @audheya6 for a visual https://www.instagram.com/audheya6/?hl=en
First time exploring Las Vegas as an adult!! We went inside all of the hotels, casinos, the Stratosphere, and the largest ferris wheel in the world!!
First time watching Eminem’s 8 mile- very inspirational movie with a great soundtrack
First time recording my own music in an ACTUAL recording studio- one of the nicest friends I have surprised me on Day 4 of my birthday weekend where I got to sing in a mic and have professional music done (private message me and I can send them to you if you’re interested)
First time going to MIAMI. I’ve been to Florida many times before- Orlando and Panama City Beach but Miami was something else. The nightlife, the diversity, the culture, the food, the beaches were nothing like no other. We tried Cuban food at Calle Ocho, had Italian at Espanola Way, went to Everglades National Park and rode an airboat in the swamp, drove to Key West and swam in the clearest ocean water, went on a tour of millionaire’s homes in downtown Miami, went to Miami design district, rented bikes and rode around all of South Beach!
First internship at Salesforce! (great company with great company culture and work-life balance)
First time re-visiting Westwood High School with my best friend (it’s a pretty surreal experience to visit your old high school for the first time you graduated, the doors were unlocked for some reason and so we just explored around the building reminiscing about all of the fun times that we had there)
First time trying different rooftop restaurants in Austin (P6 at the Line Hotel, The Edge Rooftop in JW Marriot)
First time buying Chanel perfume (this was little bit of a splurge but 10/10 worth it, I think perfume is a great investment and this thing will you make feel FRESH)
First time getting a second ear piercing! (pretty self-explanatory)
First time having a social media job! (two actually- I worked for Riddle & Bloom doing marketing for Amazon, as well as GIST, a San-Francisco-based startup)
First time seeing the Grand Canyon (I was going to include this in the Vegas line since it was during the same trip but I figured this needed a line of it’s own). We went to the skywalk in Grand Canyon West and it was just full of the most beautiful views that you can possibly imagine. 10/10 recommend going if you haven’t already.
First time at City Line in Dallas (nice shopping/eating place that’s not that far from UTD)
First time at Laguna Gloria Contemporary Art Museum (beautiful outdoor sculptures and Italian-themed architecture with GREAT photo-ops)
And probably one of the biggest acccomplishments for me, but I graduate undergrad in 3 years!!!

It’s only October, and I plan on doing so much more this coming fall/winter- travelling, job interviews, preparing for grad school, and more. I can’t wait for the journey ahead.

2020-2021 Diaries

Hello hello! It has been quite a while since I’ve posted on my blog, and since the semester ended (and I’ve graduated-finally!), I thought it would be the perfect time to finally get back to one of the things I love doing the most, which is of course, writing. Needless to say, the past year and a half were probably the strangest, most unexpected, and challenging time in many of our lifetimes. The COVID-19 pandemic has flipped the entire world upside down and has changed so many functionalities of our daily lives, and will continue to push our boundaries for the next few years to come. I’ve learned so much about myself, the people around me, and the world in such a short span of time and thought that I could share some insight + stories with you all. I’m sure many of you can relate to many of these and if you, feel free to share your thoughts with me directly, because I’d love to hear them!

There’s a lot to be grateful for (extremely cheesy, but hear me out). When I came back home from university to live with my family at home, I didn’t realize that for the next year we would pretty much be stuck at home and locked away from the outside world. It became scary to go outside, to even see friends, in fear that we would be spreading the virus and getting ourselves and others sick. Seeing the news was petrifying, and only exacerbated the need to stay at home and stay isolated. Even though it was difficult to miss out on formerly essential daily outdoor activities, I sooner or later found solace and serenity in staying at home and spending time with the people I care the most about it. I learned how to find “fun” and happiness from within. I picked up on the classic quarantine pasttimes such as yoga, meditation, reading, journaling, and baking. There’s so much that you can do at home, and being at home really amplified how spending time alone and working on bettering yourself is just as crucial as going out and exploring the world.
WTF is technology. Obviously, before the pandemic, the world was already becoming globalized and technologically advanced at a rapid pace, but at the onset of COVID, it became evident that technology was not only a means to communicate but a FRIEND. Whether it was Teams, Discord, Google Meet, Zoom, Facetime, or whatever: we needed these to function for our social life, work life, and literally everything else. The good thing is, we’ve clearly all become experts at how to use them, and will continue to use them for years to come.
More ambitious, driven people. Myself included, I’ve seen and heard from many people that because they’ve seen all the horrible things going on all around the world, and have had time to reflect on worldy issues, they’ve become more motivated to get involved in altruistic activities and passions. I’ve seen more premeds, people deciding go to law school, more social media presence, and volunteering. Even though I’m still trying to figure out how exactly I want to get involved, I’ve become more motivated as ever to give back to the world and play a role in bettering our society.

That’s all for now, but lots more blog posts to come your way! I have tons more passion projects that I’m working on that I can’t wait to share with y’all. As always, thanks for joining me on this (tumultuous), but very gratifying, journey.