Sunset view of the Golden Gate from Berkeley Marina

Captured this from the passenger seat while being driven down the Berkeley Marina back to SF. Such a good view, such good vibes.

All Dreams must end

Final evening in Berkeley today and incredibly sad to leave the city.
Berkeley was a literal dream come true. Ever since I visited the city for the first time in 2017, I have wanted to study in Berkeley. The university campus was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. So much greenery, the walkabilty of the city, the perfect weather. Everything about Berkeley was blissful. Alas, Berkeley didn't have a Masters program for Design. So for the longest time it seemed like that it would just be a dream.

Cut to 2019 November, I had just started giving a thought to pursuing my Masters. I looked at Berkeley again, no program. Sadly. I kept looking for a Masters of Design program in Berkeley every 3-4 months ever since. That's how badly I wanted to study in Berkeley; and one day it showed up. Berkeley had started a Master's of Design program, for designing emerging technologies with a focus on social good / social justice. It was the perfect fit. Exactly what I wanted to pursue. Exactly what I where I wanted to study.

So I joined the program in the Fall of 2023, and the next two years have been a literral dream come true. I had the best academic experience of my life. Wrote a thesis that was personally fulfilling. But more importantly met the kindest and most awesome people, whom I have the privilege of calling my friends.

For the first time in my life, I wasn't explaining myself. My friends understood where I was coming from, and not only that, some of them were in on those crazy ideas tooo. I blurted to a friend once "I know I am a bit crazy for thinking like this.." somehow, for some reason, they didn't think it was crazy at all. I realised I had finally met people who saw the world like I do, who were also marching towards what I aspired the world to be.

I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to spend my time in Berkeley with. But as is with all dreams in life, they must end. And so 8 months after graduation, my lease in Berkeley has finally ended, and I like my friends must disperse to other parts of the world. Will I miss Berkeley? Yes! Was it one of the best times of my life, that I will cherish forever? Yes!!

Berkeley in the evening

The Berkeley clock has been fixed

A few days ago, I discovered that the UC Berkeley Campanile clock on one of the faces of the tower was broken. Happy to report that as of this week the clock's been fixed. I walk by the campanile almost every day, and it's so fascinating to see that it took them this long to see the broken clock and fix it.

July 7, 2025: The clock facing the North Gate shows incorrect time.

July 18, 2025: The clock is now showing the correct time.

Wandering...

Went on a short walk in Berkeley hills yesterday, wandered astray into the fire trails just to see if the road lead to the other side of the campus towards the Botanical garden. The route was a bit of a dead-end, but I discovered some really good views, which are even better on a sunny day. Sometimes wandering is fun! Especially if the city is so beautiful.