tldr; moved to the Bay, joined Tesla, started enjoying driving, showed my family around California, worked on/helped ship Robotaxi, picked up tennis.

Some 2025 highlights:
January
- Mumbai: Started the year at home with family. Lazed around while my sister prepared for her medical entrance exams.
- Ann Arbor: Spent a few weeks in Ann Arbor. Religiously patroned the IMSB.

- Contrary Retreat: Scotsdale, AZ. Waymo-ed to a hike. Saw giant cacti. Met friends, new and old.

February
- Mountain View: Officially employed. Moved in by an Idli Express. Found the neighbourhood rather boring, but hosted some fun board game nights.
- Hiller Aviation Museum: Saw some cool/funny/insane aircrafts.
- Crosstown Trail: Walked across San Francisco. Traversed beaches, canyons, hills, and parks. 10/10.


March
- Skyline Boulevard: Discovered my favourite driving route. Great vistas, changing landscapes, windy roads, and an encouraging speed limit. Has since become a bit of a weekend routine.

April
- Point Lobos: One of the best spots along Highway 1. Azure water. Elephant seals. Rocky coves.

May
- “Graduation”: Showed my dad the famously fat Diag squirrels. Said many goodbyes. Officially moved out of my college apartment.
- Familial visit: Took my family around the Bay. Clicked extensively critiqued pictures of my sister. Felt ‘grown up’ planning outings. Temporarily became a Sunnyvale resident.

June
- Robotaxi: Traveled to Austin to help with Robotaxi. Terry Black’s BBQ has great Mac and Cheese.

- Purisima Redwoods State Park: Hiked with some Michigan friends.
July
- King’s Canyon and Sequoia: Saw massive trees. Some hollow, some fallen, some standing. All very impressive.

- Sunol Open Space Preserve: Scenic drive along Calaveras Rd. Interesting landscapes. Good hikes.
August
- Boston: Visited my grandma and uncle. ‘Boston Duck Tour’ on an amphibious bus.
- Contrary Annual Retreat: Played a lot of pickleball. Caught up with old friends.
- Lassen Volcanic: Labor Day weekend trip with Porvesh, Arvin, and Hriday. Visited sulphur pools and rivers. Yellow hills. Beautiful vistas. Got spooked by a deer while stargazing. Also saw Mount Shasta.


September
- Topgolf: First time. Scenic venue by the ocean (and airport).
- Pinnacles: Did a half-day trip. Solo-spelunked pitch-black caves. Realised the entire city of Gilroy smells of garlic.

- Laver Cup: Watched Alcaraz lose. Realised tennis is kind of fun.
- Tennis: Squash clubs were too expensive, so opted for the budget option. Started playing with my roommate, Ajay. Reveled in kicking pickleball players off their courts.

- Point Reyes: Beautiful lighthouse. Saw elk from close up. Many elephant seals.


October
- Big Sur: A microcosmic drive along Highway 1. Got clear views of Bixby and McWay before a sea of fog enveloped the coast.


- Diwali: Eventful Diwali party. Visit from a college friend, Suryansh.
- Redwoods: Otherworldly. A rainy fall day brings out the best in the parks (Jedediah Smith, Prairie Creek, Humboldt). Highly recommend driving down the 24 mile Avenue of the Giants.


- Halloween: Dressed up as Mr. Baggins.
- Doctor in progress: My sister started her medical studies! She is on track to become a doctor before I retire.
November
- Lick Observatory: Drove up Mt Hamilton. Incredibly smooth road. Concerningly, didn’t see a single speed limit sign throughout.

- Muir Woods: Some more redwoods. These looked a lot more pristine due to no major fires. Not as much personality as their cousins up North.
- Big Basin: Drove by/walked through the charred remains of California’s oldest state park. Encouraging to see some new growth.
- Friendsgiving: Made paneer biryani. Feasted on dumplings.
- Thanksgiving: Memorable trip to Vegas with high school friends Varun and Hardik. Went to Mojave, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon. Also explored many man-made wonders in the area.


December
- Ice Skating: Abused my ankles at the Union Square Holiday rink.
- Lands End: Witnessed a starry nightsky by the ruins of Sutro Baths. Hiked by it during light a couple days later.

- Death Valley: Visited the driest spot in the USA during a flood alert. Lowest point of my life (-280 ft). Beautiful nightsky despite some clouds. Spectacular sunrise at Zabriskie point.


- Joshua Tree: Saw goofy-looking trees. And interestingly-shaped rocks. And cacti. Many cacti.

I clicked many photos this year. In large part due to the landscapes I found myself amidst (c/o NPS), and the Google One cloud storage I recently purchased. But also because I experienced many moments I would like to remember.

I cherish these memories largely due to the people I made them with. For them, I remain grateful.

I hope to click many more photos in 2026.