Skip to main content

A trip to Austin




Austin is the capital of the state of Texas.  A very large state.  In the deep south of America.  Also known as the Lone Star state.  Over time Texas has been owned and ruled by Spain, France then Mexico until it gained republic status and hence the one star.  Eventually it became annexed to the United States in mid 19th century.

Austin is the second largest city and diverse in terms of people and its employment.  Aside from the state government running the employer shop there are many technology centric companies taking their HQ there to get tax benefits.

Tourism is also big and a younger demographic arrives each year to attend a vast University of Texas campus in the city.   Our kid attended a speech camp where folks with degrees in communication taught high schoolers the fine art of writing and speaking.  More like provided advanced strategy and technique.   The weather this time of year is not pleasant but we managed to make the most of it.   Me as a visitor to pick up the ward so literally in the city for 24 hours.

Below are some of the sights seen and calories consumed....

Let's start with the travel part of the trip - at San Francisco airport a family decides to spread out at the gate - all their children - feeding themselves...

Notice a baby sucking down some beverage lying face up and the family canine eating straight from a 'To Go' container.  It takes all kinds... and the face of our airports is now forever changed.


Then the feasts of pork for yours truly - there were many a barbeque to be had in Texas and they were flavorful enough but did not live up to the hype as drummed up to be..


The Black's I am told were a large family but there was separation or falling out of sorts...we tried the original one - or so said the sign... good brisket and pork ribs to be had.

Falling off the bone and all but bit chewy for my taste.

On the other hand a desi adda (Indian food place) in heart of the city turned up the heat on a sweltering 100 degree day for me.  Called the Clay Pit - somewhat of a play on words - the facade and structure are made from local limestone quarried not far from there and the naan bread is fired in a clay pit to accompany my Goan Shrimp curry (see below)...




Then the next morning it was on to more protein courtesy cows and pigs smoked for hours after being rubbed with special seasonings .... ate an early lunch (CA breakfast time) at Stiles Switch (former railroad depot)




Typical barbeque platter - meat and two sides included pork fat smothered fries and pinto beans with brisket


Finally had a decently nourishing lager as pre-flight reinforcements to honor the lonely star, before heading home.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On the go(zay masta) in Japan again

Cool cat the Japanese are Tokyo at dusk  My second visit to this land of the rising sun after almost a decade. Back then clearly I was wet behind the ears product manager and likely didn’t pay attention to all (efficient) things Japanese. But today I did and of course continue to be impressed. It is as much the obvious stuff like on time travel that is both clean and comfortable and all that which makes it possible. The impressive landmark and landscapes that these humans have put together despite their cramped (or because of it) surroundings and precarious geological conditions could amaze a novice architect among us. But it’s also the little things that someone had to think about which have a phenomenal impact on day to day lives that make the Japanese stand apart. Below are few random examples- 1. Providing a very fine machined wooden toothpick in every packet of wooden chopsticks. The said chapsticks are simply set on the To Go counter of any food vendor/ convenience store wher...
Post a Comment
Read more

Presumptive Society

Today's world is hyper connected.  I am not so sure what it means but you hear it a lot.  It is probably hyper but not sure how connected it is.  Sugar (fermented or not) is available in many ways than before and so getting hyper is easy.  It is probably more a threat than cocaine since it is sold legally. And what is this connected stuff?  Most people I encounter seem disconnected from reality.  So going back to this assumption that we are connected there are subtle and no so subtle instances of how brands and companies and middle men try to portray someone - A linkedin profile for somebody working for X years at a place advertises to the connected network that so and so is CELEBRATING X years @ Such and Such Inc. Do we know if (s)he is celebrating or cringing?  Perhaps a better way to portray will be - So and So LASTED X years @ such & such inc. Then it exhorts the readership to go ahead and congratulate them for this lasting effe...
2 comments
Read more

A few good books

 On an informal mission to read one book a week as long as the eyes allow for such ambition. Fiction or non is not important as long as it entertains and /or educates. To that end the past few weeks have brought a bounty in the form of some wonderful and then not so engaging literature. Among the notables are - Non fiction category: 1. Good arguments by Bo Seo (how to handle a dispute or debate the most efficient way possible) 2. Genesis by Eric Schmidt (and former US Secy of State Henry Kissinger, who recently passed) - how AI might affect our lives as we know it 3. One in a billion - Zarna Garg (an autobiographical look at an Indian born American woman with a bindi narrated in a standup format - yes it is at times cliched but still funny) Fiction: 1. Personal by Lee Child (a vigilante story with Jack Reacher the giant, nomad protagonist of Child's novels goes hunting for a sniper) 2. Ramayana unraveled by Ami Ganatra (she might disagree about it being a work of fiction but oh wel...
Post a Comment
Read more