A Month in the States: Five + One States, Countless Memories

There are two things I like about myself: I write — I might not be the best writer, but I still write. And there are people who ask me when my next blog is coming out (even if it’s just one or two — I’m really grateful for them!).

It’s been two weeks since I got back to Singapore after spending a wonderful month in the US. Sometimes I still can’t believe it — was that really me who spent the past month in the States? (Of course, yes! It’s one of the perks of having a life partner in IT — when he gets a business trip to the US, his friends and family there are an added bonus. And the cherry on top? He even booked tickets for his wife too!)

For someone like me, visiting such a country was once just a dream. And because of the political situations there, even a tourist visa holder like me had to face a round of questions — just to prove that I was really a tourist!

Apart from that, flying through the clouds for 16 long hours to reach the destination felt like a journey straight into a dream I had always imagined. The tall, majestic buildings, the charm of individual homes, the magical moments in New York (that deserves a chapter of its own!), the joy of snow, the breathtaking fall colors, the crush I developed on Denver — it all felt like a new life.

None of it was what I had anticipated. I was simply amazed by the vastness of the country — how huge it was — and all I could think during the flight was, “In just a few hours, I’ll actually be there.”

I actually went through many travel blogs to check out the places worth visiting in the US. They were all so meticulous — filled with details, history, and facts. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I began to feel a little hesitant, wondering how I would ever write about the five (plus one) states I had visited. That’s why this post took a while to begin.

But then, clarity struck — this isn’t a travel blog. My blog has always been heart-to-heart. It doesn’t need detailed descriptions or historical facts; it just needs to speak what the heart feels.

The first place I landed was Los Angeles, where I stayed at my uncle’s home for two days. From there, it was on to New York! Setting aside my jet lag, I was wide awake with excitement—it was NEW YORK! This dream began back in my Higher Secondary school days when I was first introduced to English songs. Alicia Keys’ voice echoed in my ears:

“In New York… Concrete jungle where dreams are made of… There’s nothin’ you can’t do… Now you’re in New York… These streets will make you feel brand-new… Big lights will inspire you… Hear it for New York… New York… New York…”

For me, it instantly sparked a dream of walking the streets of New York in a long winter coat. Throughout the flight, I remember staying wide awake, watching the clouds and our transit over Las Vegas—the sparkling city lights, the ocean, and countless other flights in the sky. Dreaming of the beauty of the clouds and cities felt like floating amidst cotton candy clouds and a constellation of stars. And all I can say is this: there are already countless poets who have beautifully captured it; I can only marvel at it.

It was a one-week stay, and I literally experienced it in its fullness. There is a saying in the book Goat Days:

“We shouldn’t dream about the unfamiliar and about what only looks good from afar. When such dreams become reality, they are often impossible to come to terms with.”

These words struck me the moment I caught the faint smell of weeds rising from the area just below the apartment. That scent lingered in many of the places we visited—and until that moment, my imagination of the city had always been filled with towering buildings, bustling streets, and restless energy, but never this smell.

Yet, beyond that, the stay was warm and cozy with Janisha (my sister-in-law) and her husband. Pancakes neatly cut into small squares with a dab of butter on each, the aroma of coffee and Horlicks wafting through the air, and the gentle care I received every morning made it truly special.

Roaming around the city with her truly felt like roaming with that one best friend. The view of the city across the river, the car rides, the street walks, the train journeys, the visit to the Statue of Liberty, the view from the World Trade Center, the souvenir shopping, the drive to the Catskills Mountains to see the fall colors, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, that one Indian street where I could get Dahi Puri, the movie night, and finally Times Square—I experienced it all. I truly felt like I had seen all of New York. And of course, how could I forget the chill in the air—he he!

That’s about all I remember seeing in the Spider-Man and Tom Cruise movies—and of course, in Transformers 2, I vividly remember the Decepticon standing on the Brooklyn Bridge! And those fall colors in the Catskills—uff, something I had only ever seen as a wallpaper in my Periamma’s home back in my hometown.

It was then another one-and-a-half-week stay with a friend’s family in Texas, right after New York. During that time, we also visited Colorado. Texas is completely different from New York and California, especially when it comes to climate—it’s hot! It was Halloween month, and the spooky vibes were almost as intense as the scorching heat! I learned that Texas is famous for its ranches (what we would call “Pannai Veedu” in our regional terms), despite the heat, which we saw along the way from Bearne to Austin while visiting some friends’ homes.

In Austin, we spent a long day—lunching and dining at friends’ homes. In between, we managed to see the famous Capitol Building, climb Mount Bonnell to catch the sunset, and visit Oasis Texas Brewing Company on Lake Travis. I mostly remember sleeping through the drive back home!

While I was in Texas, I remember making a video call with my brother to show him the place, the beauty of the sun shades, and the huge independent houses around. He said the last time he saw Texas was in a movie.

Then I realized how grateful I should be to life for taking me to places I had never imagined. Adding to that gratefulness, life took me to Denver as well. We flew just a few hours and then took a rental car—a Dodge—to Colorado Springs. My attention was immediately captured by the fall colors along the way. Yellow, orange, red, purple, and green trees stretched everywhere. The chill in the air made it even more magical, but what truly mesmerized me were the houses nestled among those colorful trees. It was a kaleidoscope of colors everywhere! I even developed a crush on Denver—“A Christmas in Denver” became my instant daydream, imagining snow-covered roofs and trees.

I never anticipated seeing snow, as I told you before, but on our way to the cog rail after our overnight stay and our visit to Cabrini Church, we were able to see snow-capped mountains—which I had only ever seen in a Thumbs-Up drink advertisement! We finally reached our destination, and the cog rail journey began. It was a colorful train ride, about an hour long, taking us up to 14,000 ft to Pikes Peak. Honestly, I didn’t pay much attention to the facts and stories shared by the conductor—my poor understanding of the American accent, he he—but the view was absolutely spectacular! Mountains, rocks, trees (mostly pine and aspen), and even small waterfalls. For someone like me who loves the sound of water, oh my goodness—the sound at that height was magical. We even saw a rainbow and a large lake down in the center of the mountain.

I remember the conductor mentioning that it would be very cold at the peak. But to our surprise, when we stepped off the train, it was snowing! We had only come prepared for the cold, not the snow. I was in a denim skirt and crop top with a shawl over it, and a jerkin (thanks to Jereena Akka for lending it—otherwise, I would have looked like a snow(wo)man freezing!). It was our first experience with snow, a moment that felt so uncertain, so real, and so utterly cherished.

The next day, we went to the Royal Gorge. The Royal Gorge is approximately 1,250 feet deep, with the Royal Gorge Bridge suspended 955 to 956 feet above the Arkansas River, making it the highest suspension bridge in the United States. Though we missed some activities like the zip line, just walking across the bridge made it all worthwhile. Looking down from the bridge was both scary and thrilling, but an unforgettable, evergreen experience for sure.

After returning from Denver, we spent another three days in Texas, which gave us plenty of time with Orlee and Biscii, before heading back to California—the place where I first made my mark in the US. During this period, we also visited the San Antonio Riverwalk, enjoying a short boat ride along the river. On that day, Jereena Akka, Divya Akka, and I did a little makeover at home and had a fun photo shoot. I wore a sari, and thanks to Divya Akka for doing my hair and make-up, I felt all groomed and truly liked the way I looked that day. It was one of those moments where I felt beautiful and confident, fully enjoying the experience.

This brings me to the “5 + 1” states I visited on this trip. The five states I explored and roamed around were New York, California, Texas, Colorado, and Nevada (Las Vegas). The “plus one” state was Arizona (Phoenix), where we only had a transit stop. We didn’t roam around much in Phoenix, but it left an impression—it’s scorching hot, and I remember it reminded me of Bella’s favorite place in the Twilight movies. It’s okay to call it the “plus-one” state, where I made a brief landing.

During this time, we got to meet another aunt in California—so I got another sister-in-law to mention, Nithila. She owns a truck that’s almost as old as she is! The truck has been with her since she was born, and she cherishes it as a memorable part of her life—she even used to go to school in it. After enjoying the homemade stuffed parathas, we went out for boba tea in that very truck. Riding in it, full of memories, felt so special, even though they also own a Tesla.

Then back at our uncle’s home, we went on a ride to Laguna Beach to take in the view and watch the sunset. The scenery was truly remarkable. Later, as a family, we traveled to Las Vegas, renting a Ford and enjoying the ride as a family of six. The journey was full of laughter, chit-chat, and, of course, occasional naps. Janisha drove, letting the rest of us relax and sleep peacefully—he he!

As we approached Las Vegas, the landscape looked like a desert—empty lands, steep, solid mountains, sparse snow-capped peaks here and there, and cactus-like plants scattered around. Despite the scorching heat, there was traffic everywhere. By the time we reached the city, it was already evening. We stayed at the MGM Hotel, which was grand. Late that night, we explored the city by train, enjoying the dazzling lights. Las Vegas is famous worldwide for its casinos and nightlife, and experiencing it firsthand was incredible. We also visited Caesar’s Palace, and I was amazed by the sky inside—it gradually changed as it got darker, creating a magical effect. The casino areas were full of smoke, adding to the typical Vegas atmosphere.

The next morning, we had some time to roam a little more before returning to California. Two days later, we were back on a flight to Singapore. The first day after returning, the jet lag hit me hard—I was sleeping like a log, lying on the bed all day, completely drained from the time zone changes across the five states I visited. My sleep deprivation had peaked, and that intense sleep was much needed. Thankfully, I’ve slowly started recovering from it.

I’m checking the time now—it’s been four hours, and I’ve finally finished writing to wrap this up. During my entire stay in the US, I tried so many different foods: Chipotle, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, In-N-Out Burger, PF Changs, and more. But the one taste that stayed with me was the ravioli my aunt prepared on the day we traveled to the airport in Los Angeles, just before returning to Singapore. That homemade ravioli was the flavor that truly lingered on my tongue and in my heart.

There are so many other details I could describe line by line, word by word, about the entire month of my stay. I see this blog as a fragment of my trip—like a perfect ravioli, capturing the memories and flavours my heart and tongue will always yearn for.