Travel is one experience that can be reminisced and enjoyed time and again. Every time we reminisce our travel experience we see a new information that we would have missed the previous time. I travelled to two different continents within a year to be with my  loving sons and their wives . Pacific Ocean is one common line of connection to both the cities I visited . Sydney first in my itinerary is a coastal city and Berkeley the second one in San Francisco is a Bay Area.  Different facets of the majestic ocean I could see and enjoy. In the coast it was an endless vast expanse of water. And the walk along the coast endlessly meandering presented varied moods of the pacific and also its magnificence marine lives like the humpbacks , sea gulls and other birds I know not. In the Bay Area the same ocean was a cool enchanting lady with her cool fog passing by me everyday. In the coast I had to go seeking her and in the bay she came to touch me everyday in the form of fog. It’s water water everywhere in the bay, she so close yet so huge and larger than life.

Sydney is a city of universities. Wherever you’re in the city you are sure to spot a university or a college. The city full of milling crowd of students engrossed in their own world , always plugged on to their phones. Weekends buses are full of young people in beach wear going to the beaches for their sports activities. Water skiing, surfing is a major activity in Sydney. For outdoor activity there are many walking trails. A well connected city with pretty good public transport system we could explore the suburbs and even a little further on like blue mountain. 

Berkeley is more of relaxed laid back experience. People on streets had time to smile acknowledge and engage in exchanging pleasantries. Not plugged on to their phones, no definitely not. Soccer, cycling, sailing are some of the sports played here. A little travel  interior one can see the majestic sequoias, also called red wood trees. So majestic standing tall 300 to 500ft high for thousands of years. The resilient warriors facing the storms and raging forest fire with grit and grace have a lot to tell us about hope and life. Not great public transport system but well  connected road network allows one to explore the city and suburbs. Trip to Joshua tree and Yosemite national park is a memorable experience. 

Both the cities had their own charm for me mainly because my sons and daughters in law live there. Also I met long lost friends and relatives, made new friends. My horizon expanded a little more, really grateful to people who made this possible. Without the flying bird that I hopped on to I couldn’t have traveled this far. It’s more than a lifetime experience. 🌊