Blog 188: Japan Itinerary (10 days)

Published by prateekkhamesra on November 13, 2019

When you come back from a trip. Everything is fresh and you want to pen down the amazing experiences. First, I will start with the thought – what would I have done differently in Japan. This is my improved itinerary. Do a round trip from Tokyo so that you can optimize your JR pass. Before you ask: JR pass is a must. If you land in Tokyo: Narita Airport is an hour away, the express train is convenient and has good connectivity to any place in the city. You’ll be tired and jet lag. Take it easy on the…

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Blog 187: Sip memories and tea

Published by prateekkhamesra on October 9, 2019

New York City has an unpredictable climate. It was hot yesterday and suddenly, it is cold and cloudy today. As I sip my tea on a Saturday morning, I look outside the window and stare at the clouds for a while. Suddenly, I go on a memory trip that takes me back to my carefree and no responsibilities days in Bangalore. Just like today, I would sit on our balcony, drink tea and stare at clouds. Well, I am kidding – tea was an excuse to sit out and check out the hot girl who used to be our neighbor in…

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Blog #186: It’s OK

Published by prateekkhamesra on September 23, 2019

6 AM: Alarm rings. I pressed the snooze button. 6.15 AM: Alarm rings. I pressed the snooze button. 6.30 AM: Alarm rings. I pressed the snooze button. After I snooze my alarm clock for the fourth time and struggle to get out of the bed. I look outside my window to the beautiful Manhattan skyline and thought about my childhood in Udaipur. Suddenly, I thought about my father’s elder brother whom I call “Bade Papa” who wakes up every single morning at 4.30 am from the past 30 years. While wrapped in the blanket, I wonder whether he ever had…

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Blog 185: Lessons learned in July 2019

Published by prateekkhamesra on August 9, 2019

Every day, I learn something new and forget the next day. I have started a habit of noting down random thoughts or anything exciting to share. Below are lessons and random thoughts: 1. Drink warm turmeric milk to cure cough. 2. Consistency goes a long way. 3. Sleep is bae. 4. It’s always cold in SFO. Always carry a jacket. 5. SFO is hilly, wear comfortable shoes. 6. Drink 1-liter water after waking up – freshwater with lemon and salt for health benefits. 7. Note down the steps for any new process. It’ll come handy after a few months when you repeat the task at work. 8. YouTube…

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Blog 184: Guns & Grapes

Published by prateekkhamesra on July 4, 2019

Israel has always been one of my favorite countries. I had an opportunity to spend 6 weeks as a part of Johns Hopkins University Immersion program. We worked with Israel’s tech startups and learned about the country’s rich heritage and Jewish culture. We had a friendly student guide who showed us around on the weekend. Israel’s weekend is Friday and Saturday due to Shabbat. On one particular evening, we went to a wine bar in the German town of Haifa. We were drinking good Israeli wine and asked our guide about the wine. He suggested taking a quick detour in our…

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Blog 183: Patel Brothers Store

Published by prateekkhamesra on June 29, 2019

Familiarity is a weird feeling. Recently, I went to Patel Brothers Store. Those who are not familiar with the name. Imagine, it as the “Walmart of Indian groceries”. They’ve every Indian product available. Whether it’s Parle G, Dabar hair oil, even local toothpaste. You name it, they have it. Every time I walk into a Patel Brothers Store, I become nostalgic. It reminds me of my carefree childhood in India. It’s a comfort level when you’re thousands of mile away from your home. The Bollywood background music, starry eyes from judgmental aunties and conversation in Hindi. All these small little…

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Blog 182: Lessons learned in June 2019

Published by prateekkhamesra on June 29, 2019

Every day we learn something new and forget the next day. Recently, I forget to wear a jacket on a flight and wrote the first bullet as a pointer to remember in the future. This became a daily habit and gave idea to this blog. Below are the lessons learned: 1. Always carry a jacket in the flight. 2. Over communication is a better thing. 3. Never take a middle seat in the flight. 4. Take care of your skin. 5. Check gelatin before eating any dessert. 6. The defense is the best way to win a ping pong match.…

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Blog 181: How dating apps revolutionized modern romance

Published by prateekkhamesra on June 24, 2019

An impromptu dinner plan with a friend gave the idea for this blog. We talked about career, love, and dating apps! Dating apps like Tinder have revolutionized how people meet and interact. You don’t need the courage to walk up to a beautiful girl in a bar. All you need is a smartphone, 4G, and a good selfie. You must be wondering how it works? It’s simple. You download the app and create your profile. Another profile appears on the home page; you swipe right if you like the person or swipe left if you don’t like the person. If…

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Blog 180: Why I quit Instagram

Published by prateekkhamesra on June 12, 2019

I am at my favorite yogurt store, there is nothing interesting about it. Even before I take the first bite of my mango yogurt, I take out my phone, take a picture and post a story on Instagram with a silly caption. This became a pattern in my life to show my friends that “Hey, look my life is cool”. Instead of focusing on the present moment, I would spend my time scrolling on the app. If I have had a single free second, I would instantly check Instagram to see the no. of likes, latest comment or what’s happening in…

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Blog 179: Verandah

Published by prateekkhamesra on April 8, 2019

According to the Oxford dictionary, Verandah means a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor. For me, Verandah (we called it “chawk”) brings back the beautiful childhood memories. I grew up in a joint family where my uncles and aunts lived under the same roof but on different floors. My dad’s elder brother, referred to as Bade Papa, lived on the ground floor. We lived on the first floor. My dad’s younger brother, referred to as Kaka, lived on the second floor. Growing up in a joint family is an exciting experience. Like most…

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