Seattle Desi Kids

Early in the morning, at 3 am, we started trekking up the mountain to witness the sunrise. When friends asked about managing the three-hour early morning sleep, traveling in darkness, and the cold weather on Seattle's mountain, numerous questions scared me. However, the opportunity to trek with friends and the rarity of the experience convinced me to go. Some said they would come with their families, while others decided to bring only their children. The journey from their homes to the foothills took around two and a half hours. We all reached the foothills at 3 am, having started from home at midnight. The trip consumed our entire night's sleep. As planned, we met at midnight and embarked on the journey in two cars, searching for a 24-hour coffee shop. Conversing to keep sleep at bay, the experience of driving at night was new to me. The distant lights of the cars behind blinked in our eyes, while the long and winding empty road ahead awakened us from drowsiness. The lane warn...

When I was five years old, I went to Marymoor Park and played on the slide. I enjoyed playing on the sit and spin and spent a long time on the swing. My dad was exercising with the equipment available, and there were high school students playing football/soccer. I think it was a tournament between schools. There were also many tennis courts, and I fell in love with the park on my first visit. Today, I visited the park again with my dad on our bicycles. He promised to take me around the whole area, and we came via an iron bridge that was not our usual route. We stopped on the bridge and enjoyed the beauty of the river, watching a few birds. As we crossed the bridge, we saw several baseball courts and a playground, but I didn't play today. I noticed that all six football courts had electric bulbs fitted. I remembered my mom telling us to check on our garden. She had hired a small patch of land for us, and our tomatoes had grown well. This is helpful for those who live in apartment co...

My father had bought me a co-pilot bike trailer, and we had ridden it a few times inside our gated community. I had been eagerly waiting for a long journey on it, and today was the day. We were going to ride our bikes around the Sammamish River Trail. My dad and I got ready by putting on our cycling outfits and helmets and filling up our water bottles. My dad also brought some snacks for me. I was enthusiastic and excited about this trip. Our journey began, and we had to travel alongside other speeding vehicles on the main road. Though my dad was riding, I was a little scared by the noise of the speed, but it was also thrilling. We reached Marymoor Park after crossing a small bridge and started riding along the banks of the Sammamish River. The river was gushing, and there were many other riders and walkers like us. The road beside the river looked beautiful, and the river flowing alongside the road was exotic. First, we stopped below a bridge where a few ducks were swimming. While we ...

A decision was made through a WhatsApp message to go on a cycling expedition around Samammish Lake at 12 noon. They added Chandramohan to the group, but he excused himself as he had to take his son to a class. I checked the air pressure in my wheel and it definitely needed to be filled. Deciding to fill it, I pulled out my pump, but the air wasn't going into the wheel because the nozzle of the pump was broken. I took the bicycle in my car and went to a cycle repair shop. When I arrived, there were two people in front of me in the shop. One guy was buying spare parts for his son's cycle, while the other was buying all possible accessories for his new bicycle, like an air pump, cell phone stand, puncture kit, and more. He finally finished his payment and moved on. The shopkeeper was polite to appreciate my patience about waiting and asked how he could help me. It was a beautiful moment. His unkempt hair and professional pride made him truly likable. I filled the air in the cycle ...

It is very common to hike mountains in summer, but to hike in the winter season on snow-cloud peaks is adventurous and difficult. It is a fresh and new experience. One winter, Karthi, Guru, Ganesan, and Sendhil set out to trek. Early in the morning at 5 am, they got ready and went to the Issaquah bus station to begin their adventure. After introductions, they discussed Thirumandhiram, the oldest Tamil book that speaks on both physical and mental health, yogic practices, breathing exercises, and more. Ganesan reminisced about Silambam (a folk art of fighting with sticks), and his Silambam teacher who worked in a tin factory. After his work hours, around 9 pm, with great commitment, he would burn old tires and teach Ganesan the art of Silambam. Those days, teachers were intelligent and trained with full commitment to what they did, serving as role models to youngsters. These days, such passionate teachers are rare and scarce. Students are even more scarce. Karthi expressed frustration th...

Train journeys are always very interesting. We can see everything through the windows while travelling. We can also walk inside the moving train, eat good food and snacks, play games and converse during our journey. Overall, it's an enjoyable experience. I have travelled from Seattle to Portland. We arrived at the station on time, queued up, and had our tickets checked. The staff confirmed our coach and seats, collected our luggage, and checked them in. The ticket conductor's uniform was impressive. Once we completed the formalities, we boarded the train. Railway stations always have their own unique fragrance. It's fascinating to see the parallel tracks converge and diverge. I never tire of watching this. Seeing the graffiti on the walls along the way was new to me. When we passed through villages, children waved at us. I waved back, but I'm not sure if they saw us. Our train had an observation and viewing car from where we could see all the scenic beauties. It...