Silicon Valley Diaries: My Day at Meta and the Famous Hacker Board*

 Subtitle:   Where "Build Brick by Brick" Became Real to Me*

I’ve traveled to many places. Disney parks, jungles, temples.  

But *Silicon Valley* felt different. 

It wasn’t about rides or shows. It was about people building the future, one idea at a time.

*1. The Buildings That Run the World* 

The first thing that hit me was the *surroundings*. 

All around were big buildings. Not fancy tourist spots, but offices. Glass buildings, steel buildings, simple buildings with company names that we see on our phones every day. 

I took so many photos from my laptop that day. The parking lots full of Teslas. The bikes outside offices. The flags. The cafés where people were typing on laptops at 10am on a weekday. 

It didn’t feel like a tourist place. It felt like a working place. Like the engine room of the internet.

Most of my American readers have heard of Silicon Valley, but many have never walked there. So let me paint it for you: it’s clean, it’s busy, and it’s surprisingly quiet. Everyone is focused.

*2. Meta: More Than Just Facebook* 

And then I saw it. *Meta*. 

Standing in front of that campus made me think of Mark and how it all started in a dorm room. Now look at it. 

by the Meta

   But the part I remember most isn’t the big logo outside. It’s what’s inside — the *hacker board*. 

On the hacker board were words, ideas, quotes. Things engineers and designers write when they’re trying to solve something. It wasn’t polished. It was real. Messy, honest, creative.

That board told me something: even a company as big as Meta still thinks like a startup. *Build. Test. Break. Build again. Brick by brick.*

I stood there and thought — this is where decisions are made that affect billions of people. Including me, sitting in Oman, and you, reading this in the USA.

*3. The Mindset of Silicon Valley* 

Disney was magic.  

Silicon Valley was *mindset*. 

Nobody was shouting. Nobody was performing. People were just... building. 

I saw small startups in one building, and right next to them, a giant company that changed how we talk to each other. 

That contrast is Silicon Valley. Risk and reward. Failure and success. All on the same street.

I didn’t code. I didn’t pitch an idea. I just walked and watched and learned. 

And I left with this thought: *Love it is reality too.*  

Dreams are nice. But reality is built with work. Every day. Brick by brick.

* Why I’m Sharing This* 

I’m sharing this because I know many of you in the USA read my blog "Around the World" and you’ve seen New York, Florida, Texas... but may be not this part of California. 

I have the photos from my laptop — the buildings, the streets, the signs. I’ll add them here so you can see what I saw.

Travel isn’t always about beaches and theme parks. Sometimes it’s about standing in a place where the world is being changed, and feeling it.

*Build brick by brick. Love it is reality too.*

Have you been to Silicon Valley? Which company would you visit first?  Tesla or Meta ??  Drop a comment below!  I visited TESLA too.  Where I saw ocean of vehicles. Not many out side ,I saw  three people, a security guard and two workmen. Wait for reding  my next episode, "Visit to Tesla " 

By  : lonely solo traveler

 

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Around the World -- A Beautiful Day in Tokyo with Yuki

 A Beautiful Day in Tokyo with Yuki

 Photo caption :   During one of my sightseeing tours in Tokyo, I had the pleasure of spending time with a lovely friend whom I shall call Yuki.

I may have forgotten the year and, sadly, even her real name has slipped from my memory. But the photograph has preserved that moment for me. There we were, standing together in Tokyo, dressed so differently yet sharing the simple happiness of discovering a fascinating new country.

Japan was a world of contrasts to me—ancient traditions living alongside modern wonders, quiet temples beside busy streets, and a culture that seemed both mysterious and wonderfully welcoming.

Looking at this old photograph today, I realise something: travel is not only about the places we see. It is also about the people we meet and the little moments that stay with us long after the journey is over.

That day in Tokyo became one of those treasured memories in my journey Around the World. 🌸🇯🇵

“Tokyo, Japan — a treasured moment with my friend Yuki during a sightseeing tour. The year may have faded from memory, but the friendship and the photograph remain

A Day With My Japanese Friend - Our Visit to Akihabara

A Day With My Japanese Friend

My impression of Japan and its people was one of deep admiration. I found the Japanese people friendly, helpful, polite and wonderfully organised.

Yokawa accompanied me to Akihabara. We visited temples and walked through a traditional Japanese market.

I was fascinated by everything around me—the sights, the sounds, the people and the unfamiliar culture. Everywhere I looked there was something new to discover.

Naturally, I wanted to take a few souvenirs home with me.

Whenever I found something I liked, I opened my wallet to pay.

But Yokawa would not allow me to do it.

She insisted on paying for my purchases.

At first, I thought perhaps it was simply her custom. But I felt embarrassed that she was spending her money on me, so eventually I stopped buying things

Her generosity touched me deeply.

And she was not finished.

A Feast of Friendship

Yokawa took me to one of the best seafood restaurants for lunch.

She ordered a wonderful variety of seafood that was available that day.

I enjoyed the food tremendously—but the meal meant much more to me than simply eating delicious Japanese seafood.

I was sitting there with a woman whose language I could barely understand, yet somehow I felt the warmth of friendship.

There was no need for long conversations.

Her kindness spoke for her.

Her generosity spoke for her.

Her smile spoke for her.

That day with Yokawa became a beautiful memory that has remained with me for years.

When Language Became Unimportant

That experience taught me a lesson that I have carried with me ever since.

Language is not always necessary for friendship.

Yokawa and I could not have a proper conversation in English or Japanese. Yet we understood one another through gestures, smiles, kindness and generosity.

I realised that friendship does not always begin with words.

Sometimes it begins with a simple gesture

Sometimes it begins with a hand reaching out to help.

Sometimes it begins with someone opening a refrigerator and pointing to a piece of fish!

And sometimes, thousands of miles from home, a stranger quietly becomes a friend.

The Kimono I Still Treasure

In the photograph, you can see Yokawa posing with me during that memorable day.

I am wearing a beautiful kimono that Yokawa gave me as a gift.

Whenever I look at that photograph, I do not simply see myself wearing a Japanese kimono.

I see a memory.

I see the woman who welcomed me despite the language barrier.

I see the Japanese market, the temples, the seafood restaurant and the kindness she showed me throughout that unforgettable day.

Most of all, I remember her generosity.

I often wish that Yokawa could speak English so that she could read this story.

I would want her to know that, although many years have passed, I have never forgotten her.

The Little Japanese I Learned

Here are some of the Japanese words and expressions I can still remember:

Ohayō gozaimasu — Good morning

Oyasumi nasai — Good night

Gomen nasai — I am sorry / Excuse me

Hajimemashite — Pleased to meet you

Dō itashimashite — You're welcome

Shikata ga nai — It cannot be helped

Omedetō gozaimasu — Congratulations

Arigatō — Thank you

Koko — Here

Watashi wa Jariya desu — I am Jariya

Anata no namae wa? — What is your name?

Sayonara — Goodbye

These may be only a handful of words, but to me they represent something much bigger—the beginning of my attempt to reach across a language barrier and connect with another human being.

A Memory That Time Could Not Erase

I have travelled to many places and seen many wonderful things. I have visited famous cities, admired beautiful scenery and experienced different cultures.

But as the years pass, I have discovered that the memories that remain strongest are often not the grandest ones.

Sometimes it is a person.

A smile.

A helping hand.

A meal shared together.

A small gift.

For me, that person was Yokawa.

She taught me, without saying it in English, that kindness has no language and generosity needs no translation.

I went to Japan as a traveller.

I left with memorA Stranger Who Became a Precious Memory — My Journey in Japan

Francis Bacon once said, “Reading maketh a man, and writing perfects him.” I would add my own thought:

“Travelling is fun and recreation; it relaxes the mind, opens the heart, and teaches us lessons that no classroom can teach.”

I have always loved travelling. Over the years, I have trotted across a quarter of the world, collecting memories rather than possessions. I thank God for giving me the courage, strength, means and good health to travel and experience the beauty of different countries and cultures.

Among all my journeys, my first visit to Japan remains especially close to my heart.

My First Days in Tokyo

I stayed with my son in his apartment in Tokyo and spent a whole month exploring Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

At that time, I knew practically no Japanese, and my son's landlady, Yokawa, could not speak English.

How, then, could two people who could not speak each other's language possibly become friends?

That is exactly what happened.

On the second day of my arrival in Tokyo, Yokawa came up to my apartment. She began speaking to me in Japanese. I listened, completely lost, as the unfamiliar words sounded like a beautiful but mysterious melody.

Then she tried gestures.

She said something that sounded to me like “sakuna.”

Again and again she repeated it.

I had absolutely no idea what “sakuna” meant.

Then she took me gently by the hand and led me downstairs to her refrigerator. She opened it and pointed to some fish.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

She was asking me whether I eat fish!

I smiled at the discovery. We had communicated without sharing a common language.

But that little incident taught me something I would never forget: when travelling to another country, even a little knowledge of the local language can open a door to friendship.

“Necessity Is the Mother of Invention”

The very next day, I walked into a nearby bookshop and bought some books and CDs to learn what I called “survival Japanese.”

I whispered to myself:

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

I began learning a few useful words and expressions. I was determined not to remain a helpless foreigner surrounded by words I could not understand.

Soon, I knew enough to accept Yokawa's invitation to spend a day with her.

I had no idea that this simple invitation would become one of my most unforgettable memories of Japan.

A Day With My Japanese Friend

My impression of Japan and its people was one of deep admiration. I found the Japanese people friendly, helpful, polite and wonderfully organised.

Yokawa accompanied me to Akihabara. We visited temples and walked through a traditional Japanese market.

Her generosity touched me deeply.

And she was not finished.

A Feast of Friendship

Yokawa took me to one of the best seafood restaurants for lunch.

She ordered a wonderful variety of seafood that was available that day.

I enjoyed the food tremendously—but the meal meant much more to me than simply eating delicious Japanese seafood.

I was sitting there with a woman whose language I could barely understand, yet somehow I felt the warmth of friendship.

There was no need for long conversations.

Her kindness spoke for her.

Her generosity spoke for her.

Her smile spoke for her.

That day with Yokawa became a beautiful memory that has remained with me for years.

When Language Became Unimportant

That experience taught me a lesson that I have carried with me ever since.

Language is not always necessary for friendship.

Yokawa and I could not have a proper conversation in English or Japanese. Yet we understood one another through gestures, smiles, kindness and generosity.

I realised that friendship does not always begin with words.

Sometimes it begins with a simple gesture.

Sometimes it begins with a hand reaching out to help.

Sometimes it begins with someone opening a refrigerator and pointing to a piece of fish!

And sometimes, thousands of miles from home, a stranger quietly becomes a friend.

The Kimono I Still Treasure

In the photograph, you can see Yokawa posing with me during that memorable day.

I am wearing a beautiful kimono that Yokawa gave me as a gift.

Whenever I look at that photograph, I do not simply see myself wearing a Japanese kimono.

I see a memory.

I see the woman who welcomed me despite the language barrier.

I see the Japanese market, the temples, the seafood restaurant and the kindness she showed me throughout that unforgettable day.

Most of all, I remember her generosity.

I often wish that Yokawa could speak English so that she could read this story.

I would want her to know that, although many years have passed, I have never forgotten her.

The Little Japanese I Learned

Here are some of the Japanese words and expressions I can still remember:

Ohayō gozaimasu — Good morning

Oyasumi nasai — Good night

Gomen nasai — I am sorry / Excuse me

Hajimemashite — Pleased to meet you

Dō itashimashite — You're welcome

Shikata ga nai — It cannot be helped

Omedetō gozaimasu — Congratulations

Arigatō — Thank you

Koko — Here

Watashi wa Jariya desu — I am Jariya

Anata no namae wa? — What is your name?

Sayonara — Goodbye

These may be only a handful of words, but to me they represent something much bigger—the beginning of my attempt to reach across a language barrier and connect with another human being.

 Memory That Time Could Not Erase

I have travelled to many places and seen many wonderful things. I have visited famous cities, admired beautiful scenery and experienced different cultures.

But as the years pass, I have discovered that the memories that remain strongest are often not the grandest ones.

Sometimes it is a person.

A smile.

A helping hand.

A meal shared together.

A small gift.

For me, that person was Yokawa.

She taught me, without saying it in English, that kindness has no language and generosity needs no translation.

I went to Japan as a traveller.

I left with memories of a beautiful country.

And that is why my first journey to Japan will always have a very special place in my heart.ies of a beautiful country.

But somewhere along the way, I also gained a friend.

And that is why my first journey to Japan will always have a very special place in my heart.

I was fascinated by everything around me—the sights, the sounds, the people and the unfamiliar culture. Everywhere I looked there was something new to discover.

Naturally, I wanted to take a few souvenirs home with me.

Whenever I found something I liked, I opened my wallet to pay.

But Yokawa would not allow me to do it.

She insisted on paying for my purchases.t first, I thought perhaps it was simply her custom. But I felt embarrassed that she was spending her money on me, so eventually I stopped buying things.

A Stranger Who Became a Precious Memory — My Journey in Japan

                                                                  Yoshikawa and me
Francis Bacon once said, “Reading maketh a man, and writing perfects him.” I would add my own thought:

“Travelling is fun and recreation; it relaxes the mind, opens the heart, and teaches us lessons that no classroom can teach.”

I have always loved travelling. Over the years, I have trotted across a quarter of the world, collecting memories rather than possessions. I thank God for giving me the courage, strength, means and good health to travel and experience the beauty of different countries and cultures.

Among all my journeys, my first visit to Japan remains especially close to my heart.

My First Days in Tokyo

I stayed with my son in his apartment in Tokyo and spent a whole month exploring Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

At that time, I knew practically no Japanese, and my son's landlady, Yokawa, could not speak English.

How, then, could two people who could not speak each other's language possibly become friends?

That is exactly what happened.

On the second day of my arrival in Tokyo, Yokawa came up to my apartment. She began speaking to me in Japanese. I listened, completely lost, as the unfamiliar words sounded like a beautiful but mysterious melody.

Then she tried gestures.

She said something that sounded to me like “sakuna.”

Again and again she repeated it.

I had absolutely no idea what “sakuna” meant.

Then she took me gently by the hand and led me downstairs to her refrigerator. She opened it and pointed to some fish.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

She was asking me whether I eat fish!

I smiled at the discovery. We had communicated without sharing a common language.

But that little incident taught me something I would never forget: when travelling to another country, even a little knowledge of the local language can open a door to friendship.

“

Necessity Is the Mother of Invention”

The very next day, I walked into a nearby bookshop and bought some books and CDs to learn what I called “survival Japanese.”

I whispered to myself:

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

I began learning a few useful words and expressions. I was determined not to remain a helpless foreigner surrounded by words I could not understand.

Soon, I knew enough to accept Yokawa's invitation to spend a day with her.

I had no idea that this simple invitation would become one of my most unforgettable memories of Japan.