Drifting down New England


Wading in Boston Backbay
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When I first heard the name Boston Backbay I imagined the sea shore,
wharfs drifting, cool blue waters, amidst New England country side -  a
laid-back town.  Sure enough, that's what it was. A glorious ride from
NJ to Boston passing through stations called Wellesley, Mystic,
Seaport, and Stamford brought me to the Backbay station.
The Atlantic waters accross the shore from NJ to Connecticut to Boston
split into rivers. Yeah, there's one called Thames.

I could see the pilgrim fathers arriving in the docks, trudging their
way up the green countryside and setting up England accross the
Atlantic.  The houses, the roads, the architecture, the people, reek of
Britain.  The most quaint sight is the train station. I was looking for
Market Snodsbury.  Just like you'd imagine Market Blandings.

My final destination was Worcester (pronounce wooster). The lazy
backbay station was yawning in the afternoon sun. The next train was
due in one hour. I loved the wait. Listening to Mukaabulla in Boston is
a good feeling. There's a grand plaza outside the station where you
find kids zooming by on roller skates and people scurrying accross
roads swanked by red brick buildings. Red brick is everywhere.  The
town shops, the stores, even the nail salons. These people have money.
Whatever lil of American history is out here.

I took the Worcester train to Framingham. It's all so small and cute
compared to a mega city like NY. The train dropped me off right out
into the station. Walked up and called Srini. Whatta a hick town. Srini
claims it's the largest village in America. It is a village. There are
small shopping centers, Peter Pan buses, grocery stores, restaurants,
and even an Indian store. Sweet stuff.
 

Downtown Boston was a few steel and glass bldgs, a dirty river, and
several dirty subways. The subway station is closed and dark like in
Alice.  There's a nice memory of a singer splitting the silence of the
station with her music and guitar. I dropped a quart (my quart's
worth).

We picknicked to a Science park and downtown Boston. Science park was
over croweded and no great shakes. I herded Srini, Suds,and their
friends Atul, Ritu into the Harvard train. Harvard university was
atmosphere. We sauntered into the Arts building giggling at the
suggestive sculptures and paintings.  There are some fundoo works out
there.

The highlight of my visit was Mahalakshmi temple, Boston. First class
south Indian temple with puliyodhare and thayir sadam. Lakshanamana
vigraham.  For the first time in five months, I did namaskaram and
pradhakshanai. Suds and Srini who never visit temples in India felt
distinctively outta place. Three days of Sudha's home cooking, their
charming family setting, Aashu's accent and Americanisms (oh no, not
again! that's not funny! you're funny), and nostalgic talks of TII - a
swell break. Talking of our TI jokers in Harvard! And both of us
exclaiming at this meeting here way back from Malleswaram and
Jaynagar.

I headed back in the 3.45 Framingham train to Backbay. A fat, forty
Mexican asked me for coffee despite thinking I was married with kids (I
told him).  Reached Newark, NJ at 10 and had to wait another hour. This
journey was full of odd blacks. One guy had several cuts on his face
and had been in a fight. One mottai was madly nodding his head. The
charming lady next to me was wholly black with short white-yellow
bleached hair and zillions of armlets, bracelets and chains. A beggar
(that beggars descrip) was touching people for quivers. A huge black,
totally stoned was yelling fuck this, fuck that ...near the doorway.
The chinese acc the aisle was fast asleep. Yeah the action is here.

I got home at 12.00 a.m. and haven't been able to catch up on my beaut 
8.