But, when I travel, I feel a need to record things in my mind, not on paper or the screen. I don’t want to whip out a notebook—the old-fashioned kind or the high-tech type. I once tried to keep a travelogue, on a trip to Singapore and India. As soon as the plane took off I took out my handheld but as soon as I did, the desi guy sitting next to me, obviously an IT-type, started looking on and asking questions about the device. I couldn’t type with him watching (and reading), so about 20 minutes into my travels I gave up. On another trip I thought about jotting down my thoughts and experiences at the end of the day, but really, when you’re sitting on a beach in Goa in the moonlight, do you really want to be looking down on paper when you can be gazing (okay, listening) to the sea?
So what made me think of writing a diary this time? For one thing, wi-fi everywhere makes it easier to connect and download photos. For another, I’m actually traveling for work most of this trip so, I guess I knew I would be logged on anyway. Or, maybe, since I don’t know how often I’ll come back this way again by car, I felt it was time to put it all down.
Day 1 - From desert to ocean in seven hours or less.
It seems that my traveling for work comes in spurts. After having stayed put (thankfully) for 3 months, here I am with back-to-back-to-back trips. Less than 24 hours after a 2-day conference in another part of the state, I hit the road on my way to another one. I have been looking forward to this one for a year. Last year I couldn’t drive to Monterey, California but this year I was determined to do so again, to retrace my drive from a few years ago when I left the San Francisco Bay Area for the Midwest. Then, I drove down the Pacific Coast and stopped for one last night on the coast before heading to Las Vegas for a stopover on my way to points further east. Now, I was headed back west, leaving home (that’s ‘home’) early in the morning across the Mojave Desert. 
It doesn’t usually rain in October but last week about an inch fell over a period of 2 days (we usually only get 3 inches in an entire year!). In the desert, away from the city, however, it looks like it rained much more than that. As you cross into California from Nevada, usually you see a dry lake bed. It’s a spot that has always fascinated me and one of these days I’ll will pull over and properly take a photo of the vast, flat area of sand. But, something was different this time. The dry lake bed was under water completely. Look closely in the car’s side mirror of the car and you’ll see the lake--way in the background. 
About two years ago, I did drive to the Bay Area from home and I remembered that I made it to Bakersfield, CA in about four hours without stopping. I did the same this time, except this year I was in pain by the time I reached Bakersfield. Never, ever drink 32 ounces of water AND a tall latte when driving 4 hours straight. By the time I made it to the west side of Bakersfield I could barely contain myself, if you know what I mean. But, I did manage to make it very slowly to the rest room and relief. Despite my discomfort during this part of the drive, I enjoyed the Mojave Desert. There are some small towns and, of course, Edwards Air Force Base, where the space shuttles land if they can’t make it to Florida. One of my favorite spots here is the parking lot for airplanes located in the small town of Mojave, CA. In 2001 the highway went right past the lot where what seemed to be hundreds of jet liners were parked. To this day I regret not taking a photograph of that sight. Now, the highway swings away from the lot but the planes were still visible from a distance. There aren’t that many parked there nowadays—I counted about 20 as I drove past. (I did take a photo this time but the planes are too small to make out here).
Before reaching Bakersfield, the terrain (and climate) change. It’s fairly gradual, this change. Leaving the desert behind, the landscape goes from flat and dry to more green and rolling hills. The driving gets interesting also--two lanes, lots of trucks and drivers irritated by their relatively slow speed. Then there are the curves to navigate and cross the low hills. The curves aren’t sharp but after driving straight across the desert, the first one took me by surprise! The rolling hills serve another purpose—they house the wind farms.From a distance the white structures looked like crosses, like at Arlington National Cemetery, where rows and rows of white crosses mark the graves of soldiers.
After taking some photos and not liking the way I was swerving while shooting, I put the camera away and decided to enjoy the drive. And, how odd, there in the middle of nowhere (literally) I see a truck, a huge semi, with a large, red Om emblazoned on the front. In an instant I was transported to an Indian highway. Okay, so the truck wasn’t as colorful as an Indian lorry and this one didn’t have something like Jai Mata di painted on its rear or front, nor did it have that bhonpu-type horn blaring away unnecessarily, but, what a sight, to see the familiar Om and script out of nowhere! Then, not an hour later, as I turned to get onto Interstate 5 north, thinking it’s time for a latte or a sandwich, I see “Taste of India” Imagine that. Right alongside the Subways and McDonald’s there’s an Indian restaurant, just in case you want to dine on curry or tandoori instead of fast food.
Before the Taste of India, though, I had to cross Bakersfield, CA. It is a place that gets a bad rap, even from those who are from there. No matter which end you approach it from, it’s pretty bleak. But, I get a kick out of it, because it reminds me of the small town I grew up in. Although, I like to think the green, fertile land around my hometown increases its appeal. It’s through this junction, Bakersfield, that one gets to points west (the ocean), or north…the state capitol or down to LA and Hollywood. 
If you’re coming from Las Vegas, that is. The surrounding landscape is flat, dry, dusty and the sky hazy. All of which make sense in the desert, but this isn’t quite the desert, just the edge of it.
But, even in this hostile environment farmers grow all kinds of fruits and nuts. Along the highway are signs of almond and pistachio farms, or orange groves and fruit orchards. It seems surreal. Look to the left and you see rows and rows of trees. Look to the right and it’s barren.
They grow these funny looking things also around Bakersfield. Right near the fruit and nut trees are oilfields. Like I said earlier—surreal.
After a short while on the interstate, I head west on Highway 46 to cut across the central valley to the coast. The last time I drive on this road I was thrilled. This is how it used to be, driving from town to town on such two-lane highways. They say it’s still the best way to see this country. Not by taking the interstate, but the US highway system. Sure, it means slowing down for every town, and they are more of a challenge than the wide 4-6-10 lane freeways, especially if you get stuck behind a slow truck. With rolling hills it’s tricky to pass them (and illegal if you pass when the lane indicators forbid it!). As a kid I remember watching from the backseat nervously as my dad overtook a car in the wrong lane (the left lane).You had to time it right—no cars coming at you, enough speed to overtake the person and then getting back into the right lane without swerving too much. In the driver’s seat I felt much more in control, but still, I remember my heart stopping a couple of times as I zoomed past a truck or a camper. I don’t want to say how fast I was going during one of these take-overs, but let’s just say I’d never hit that speed before, even for just a few seconds. And my car didn’t even groan.
After the town of Paso Robles and a short jag south on Hwy 101, finally, the scenic drive to the coast begins. Highway 46 west at this point is dotted with vineyards, vineyards that have become extremely popular thanks to a recent movie, Sideways, and the numerous cars parked in front of each one were proof of this. But for me, retracing as I was my drive of a few years ago, I was looking for the vistas where it seemed I was above the clouds. And finally, there it was.
I could smell the ocean now and there, ahead, were the low clouds that hang over the coastline—from the hills straight down to sea level, into the mist.
Then I was there. I had made it to the small coastal town of Cambria, where I had stopped for the night a few years ago. That year, I reached in time for sunset and left at sunrise the next day. This time, I reached in time to enjoy my lunch with a view.
I had picked up some hot soup from a local eatery and instead of eating it at the deli I did what I had seen some locals do in Monterey several years ago. Imagine living in a place like this, with the ocean so close. Say you’re an accountant and it’s lunch time. You get in your car, drive a few minutes and there, while the waves crash below you, you have your…peanut butter and jelly sandwich and gaze at the ocean for your lunch hour. Who could have stress in their life if they did that once a day?!
Day 1 went as I had hoped. I reached the ocean earlier than I thought I would, the weather had been great throughout and Kalu Miyan a.k.a. Black Beauty (that’s my car) performed admirably. And, I had music to keep me company. No road trip for me is complete without music. I LOVE listening to my music in the car, even if it’s only to go around town on errands during weekends. That year I drove east from California, it was ARR(ahman) all the way. ALL the way. Three 12-hour days of ARR.
But usually, I vary it much more, the music. I generally start to line up the music that will accompany me a day or two before a trip. So, what kind of music works for a work + vacation road trip from the desert to the coast? Starting at 7am I eased into the day and the drive with a little Kishori Amonkar. My favorite bhajan sung by her is Ghat ghat me panchi bole. Almost ten years ago I heard a local artist sing this bhajan and that led me to Kishori Amonkar. Uff, the lyrics are divine. Literally divine. As are the other bhajans on this tape like Nainan neer bahe and Mai kaise aaoongi.
45 minutes later, I’m ready for something a bit more peppy, so, I put on one of my recent favorites—the soundtrack of Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya. Awful movie, even though it does have Sushmita Sen in it but I love the remix version of Laga prem rog and then there’s Just chill, chill just chill. Well, that is the point of this trip, even if it’s for work, but how can one not just chill when work means driving to the Pacific Ocean, and where each work day ends with a view of the sun setting into that ocean? After the chilling, another compilation of recent filmi songs is in order. By this time I’ve passed the desert, the road has gotten interesting and I’m in the mood for some variety. The songs range from Tere liye from Veer Zara, followed by the gorgeous music of Parineeta (yes, the new one I was skeptical about earlier) and then, the other P-movie of 2005, Paheli, with Dhire jalna, dhire jalna. The crescendos are fantastic when blasting through the desert. Then a little Dus—Who’s dat girl and Dus bahane and Deedar de! Even if I was in danger of feeling tired after four hours of driving, music like dat is sure to keep me energized. But, it gets better with a little Boom and Dance with you/Nachna tere naal by Rishi Rich, Juggy D and Jay Sean followed by Panjabi MC and Mundian to bach ke. Then, it’s time to put on some memories…no, not golden oldies, but memories of another trip—1999 and India—a compilation of the filmi and pop songs that made the trip memorable. Jo haal dil ka from Sarfarosh, Musu musu haansi, a Nepali/Hinid song from a movie I never did see but the tune was catchy. Dhoom pichak by Euphoria with Shubha Mudgal's gorgeous vocals blending in. The compilation contains some bhangra, some Lucky Ali, some Ham Dil De Chuke Sanam. Sigh.
And, when you’re 11 miles away from the ocean, how fitting is the catchy title track from what must have been a forgettable film from around 1999 or 2000, but the music from Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaaye has stuck in my mind since ...and it takes me right to the shoreline and to the end of a wonderful drive.
Ae dil bataa yeh tujhe kya hua
Tu hai kyoon beqaraar itnaa
Kahin pyar na ho jaaye…..