Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soulJamie Lyn Beatty
Travel is liberating, but when your job entitles travel then its more than liberating
. Joining Meta was a blessing in many ways and has led me in a very adventurous career path which is rewarding exponetially. Now when the opportunity presents itself to visit the Meta headqaurters in California – I dint blink twice. Though I couldnt travel with Audrey and Amoli this time around , hope they can join me next time. Join me for my first business trip to the US, visiting San Francisco and enjoying the Golden gate bridge and firing all guns at a shooting range.
While we are avid travelers, at the same time we arent the fancy luxury seekers. We travel with a budget and try experiencing the real world , which aint masked behind the walls of cash. However this time around Meta offered to travel in Business class and again – No blinking twice 
. Though I did travel once before purely by luck – this time around it was a different experience booking and navigating the world of the other half or lets say the minority. I was awestruck with everything which money can buy – the priority, the experience, the lounges, the food and much more. Who says Money cant buy Luxury !
Landing at San Francisco we hired a convertible Mustang to drive around (All on the company though 
) and drove to the Marriot at Palo Alto. This was my first few moments in the US and wow– the place felt so different. In a nutshell – everything is over the top – XXXL – Huge Highways, Monstorous cars, Gigantic meals, Palatial houses and more.
While business never took a backseat and I visited the Meta / Facebook headquarters at Menlo Park. What an amazing campus. I still remember seeing the pics of these fairyland offices and finally it was a dream come true. It was a little town in itself – Restaurants , Sweet shacks, Bike repairs, Laundry – too spoilt for choice.
Evening we ensured we drove to San Francisco to visit the Golden Gate Bridge – what an amazing site overlooking the bay. Drove further into the downtown before heading back to the hotel as the jet lag was quite true! San Francisco was quite happening and you could feel the vibes of being a cool place to hang out but one thing you couldnt ignore is the number of junkies and homeless people on the street!
The next day when we finished office, our colleague offered me a once in a lifetime chance to visit a shooting range! While I have always had strong views about the gun laws in the US – I wanted to experience it for the first time. Visiting the range was a surreal experience and also scary at the same time. While I cherished the experience in itself, I dint enjoy the shooting. However my colleague was over the moon with the same – different personalities and different perceptions I guess.
Finally the week rolled by and it was time to say goodbye till we meet again. My first trip to the US further strengthened my views about this continent. There is a hell lot to explore but not without Audrey and Amoli. The joy on Audrey’s face when I surpised her on my return was everything I needed after a week away.
This is Aldrin and my partner Amoli. We bring you "Earths Pilgrim" - a unique insight into our travel escapades while leaving life in a cubicle. If you are looking for some inspiration to break the shackles of a regular life, then you are the right place. Read more about us- Click here.