Walking, many people view it as an annoyance compared to cars or public transit, many consider it an exercise. However you may view it, a good walk serves another purpose; A chance to observe the world around you, and even observe yourself. This project serves to be a diary of various observations I’ve made or noticed in this past semester. From as small as a simple walk from my room to my fridge to get a drink, or as beautiful as the stars above. There isn’t any order or theme to these posts, they were simply the thoughts I managed to get down during these walks.
From this project, I’ve grown to appreciate a good walk every now and then. There’s been many times where I’ve been having a rough day, and I decided to take a spur of the moment walk. It could be anything, from going to campus for a random study session, to visiting a friend’s place, or even simply to grab some food. You don’t even need a destination, you could simply let the sidewalks take you to new places. No matter where you end up going, I find that I observe a lot more about the world compared to taking the bus and looking out the window. Roads you’ve traveled several times before begin to pop, showing details you’ve never noticed before, like a cool plant in someone’s yard, or a building you never thought to look twice at.
While you read the entries, try to get inspired for walks of your own! Maybe one photo or topic reminds you of a place that you have near your college apartment, or even in your home town. Try taking a walk down there next time you can! When I made these posts, I wanted to show that the most common, mundane thing could allow you to see a perspective you wouldn’t have seen before, in which the way to see such perspective, was to take a good walk.
A is for Autumn
Prompt 2.03 – Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct 31
Figure 1. A picture of the sky taken near Union. It is mostly cloudy, but not completely overcast. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
My favorite part of coming to VT is witnessing the fall colors come in. This mostly comes up with the trees, but even the sunsets are remarkable. As we get further towards the end of the year, the weather changes such that the days are colder, windier, and the clouds are much thicker. I believe sunsets with clouds in the way are way more beautiful than clear sky sunsets. The way the light refracts among the clouds, causing some of them to turn a bright, golden yellow, is truly beautiful. (90)
B is for Blankets
Prompt 2.03 – Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct 7
Figure 2. A view of University City Blvd. The sky is completely covered with clouds, making the day dim and gray. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I saw this cloudy sky after having lunch at Mezeh with my friends. A lot of people describe cloudy weather as the worst weather to have. They describe it as dark, depressing, gloomy, etc. I honestly believe the opposite. To me, cloudy weather brings a sense of calmness and comfort. I always think of cloudy weather as a blanket. It’s like it’s covering me against the sun, which sounds paradoxical. Aren’t blankets supposed to warm you up, not cool you down? Nevertheless, cloudy weather is always a treat to have. (90)
C is for Cover
Prompt 2.05 – A Good Bench; Photograph and Text; Friday, Oct 31
Figure 3. A bench covered by a structure, meant for use by Blacksburg Transit as a bus stop. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I was walking back from a shopping trip at Kroger. Now that we’ve reached November, the weather has started to really cool down. There are so many BT stops around Blacksburg, and I am thankful for that, but I am even more thankful for this one that contains a covered set of benches. People love benches that overlook something scenic or cool, but a good bench doesn’t have to be anything special. All it should be is something to give a moment of peace before you go on with life. (90)
E is for Electric
Prompt 2.18 – A wish for something to be different; Photograph and Text; Thursday, Oct 9
Figure 4. A lamp post near the sidewalk, with an open junction box and exposed wiring. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
Instead of taking the bus back from campus, I decided to walk back instead. Usually, I only do this during late nights where the buses don’t run, but then it would be harder to see things like this lamp post with exposed electrical wiring. I wonder what could have happened that caused something like this, was it an animal, or a service worker that forgot about it? Either way it happened, I hope that it can be fixed soon. It’s quite the safety hazard, able to injure humans and animals. (90)
F is for Forgotten
Prompt 2.24 – A Meditation on Garbage; Photograph and Text; Friday, Oct 10
Figure 5. An upside down McDonald’s Big Mac box, laying on the sidewalk. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I was walking back home from a quick shopping trip at Dollar General, when I came across this upside down Big Mac box. This was right in front of an apartment, so maybe once they were done, they threw it out, quite literally. Or, maybe they had dropped it and didn’t notice, right before they entered their apartment. Unfortunately, this is a common theme around VT, or even Blacksburg. Regularly, I see discarded food wrappers and empty beer cans littered everywhere. Hopefully, we’ll be better at cleaning up after ourselves. (90)
I is for Intrusion
Prompt 2.17 – Desire Paths; Photograph and Text; Wednesday, Oct 31
Figure 6. A desire path on the space between the parking lot of Alight and the sidewalk. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
Desire paths, as a concept, are simply paths people create to save time. As more and more people use them, they get more and more obvious, ending up looking like this. But, I had to wonder, if so many people were using this unofficial path, why didn’t the designers think of that in the first place? From a sheer looks perspective, the straight line of trees uninterrupted makes the road seem like a forest. But at the same time, it makes pedestrians waste more time walking to the official path. (90)
P is for Pythagoras
Prompt 2.17 – Desire Paths; Photograph and Text; Friday, Oct 15
Figure 7. A desire path wrapping around the wall of Durham Hall near the Maroon Transit Center. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
More often than not, you see desire paths all over campus. These can be seen anywhere from the Drillfield to even places like right next to Durham Hall. People who’ve walked this stretch of sidewalk from the center to McBryde know how uphill, and in summer months, hot it can get. I think this desire path was made because people desired a faster way of getting to their classes, using the Pythagorean theorem in real life. Maybe it was also to get away from the heat. But what about winter? (90)
S is for Standout
Prompt 2.18 – A wish for something to be different; Photograph and Text; Thursday, Oct 9
Figure 8. An oddly colored fire hydrant on the side, being silver instead of the usual red. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I went on a walk back to my apartment when I came across this fire hydrant. When you picture a fire hydrant, you imagine it bright red, or even bright yellow. But for some reason, this one was perfectly silver, with only the outlets being red. This made me wonder, was this intentional, or did the paint simply strip off over time? What made it even more confusing was the fact that there was another fire hydrant a short distance away that was painted red. Maybe they’ll color match it. (90)
T is for Tale
Prompt 3.27 – Epic Walking Story; Photograph and Text; Wednesday, Oct 8
Figure 9. Goodwin Hall, taken behind the Maroon Loop roundabout. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
There once was a knight, sent from a faraway land on a quest to gain knowledge of this mysterious place. He consulted his guide, and began the trial of computers. He endured challenge after challenge, writing everything on the scroll given to him. Once he had finished, his scroll vanished, and his guide said he shall know his fate in 2 weeks. The knight walked, going to a chariot that would take him to safe lands. In the distance, however, he saw a castle. A castle with an ominous aura… (90)
W is for Watch
Prompt 2.13 – Step Counting Metrics; Photograph and Text; Wednesday, Oct 15
Figure 10. A screenshot of the Apple Fitness app, showing an outdoor walk with recorded metrics. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I’ve always liked the concept of smart watches. They do more than just tell the time, they act as a wrist worn phone that can track your vitals and maybe even save your life. I always try to have my watch on so that I can track these walks, so I can look back and see where I’ve walked. Many people think it’s unneeded metrics, but I see it as motivation. You can look at a long walk you did once before, and feel like you can beat that record. (90)
D is for Dark
Prompt 3.14 – Star Gazing; Photograph and Text; November 25, 2025
Figure 11. A photo of the night sky, showing various stars. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
This thanksgiving break, I went back to my home area of the San Francisco Bay Area. With how urbanized it’s become, the light pollution has become extreme in recent years. In my old neighborhood in San Jose, the sky has turned a murky, bright brown. I was able to find an area not that far from the city, yet unaffected by the light pollution, giving me a great view of the stars. It’s crazy to think that decades ago, skies with this type of view would be so common then. (90)
G is for Golden
Prompt 3.22 – Change the Ritual; Photograph and Text; November 22, 2025
Figure 12. A photo of the sidewalk on Patrick Henry Drive, in front of Alight Blacksburg. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I do this walk a lot, whether its if to get some late night food from Italiano’s, or to get a change of pace from taking the bus to class, walking instead. However, I usually do those walks in the afternoon to evening. This time, I decided to take this walk at 7 in the morning. I had a bus to catch at 8AM that would take me to the Dulles Airport, but since no buses ran this early, I decided to walk instead. The first thing I noticed is that there was a very different group of people out and about walking. Instead of students walking with their backpacks, I saw various people working out, walking their dog, and families out and about. I also heard more birds chirping. Even the scenery, which I had been so used to, was covered in a beautiful golden light, as you see in the photo. I’ve never been a morning person, preferring to wake up later in the day. However, after taking this walk, I’ve been more inspired to wake up earlier. (180)
H is for Hazy
Prompt 2.05 – A Good Bench; Photograph and Text; November 25, 2025
Figure 13. A panoramic shot of a tree and hills in the background, with some haze in the background. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I decided to go on a walk with my parents at a nearby trail. After walking for quite a bit, we were understandably tired, and we found this bench with an amazing view. I find benches, while they also let you rest, allow you to gather your thoughts and think about your walk more deeply. I like to think about interesting items I saw on my walk, neat landmarks, or items that seem they have been made by someone else who was walking this trail. You then think about why they made it, and who made it. For example, a common thing I see on walking these sorts of trails would be stacked rocks or pebbles. It’s always fun to see what rocks they used, how they placed it, and where it was made. One thing I found interesting, the haze. Northern California has been facing an excess of fog recently, especially this week, so haze has been showing up everywhere. This bench was able to give a view from above it, showing the hills in a river of haze. (180)
Q is for Quicker
Prompt 2.12 – Indoor Walk; Drawing and Text
Figure 14. A drawing of Torgerson Hall, Bridge, and Newman Library. An arrow shows the path taken regularly. (Original drawing, Aaditya Venkatesan)
Every Friday, me and my research group decide to have a meeting to go over what we’ve all accomplished that week. We usually hold these in Newman Library, so I usually walk over there straight from my apartment. Since it’s off campus, I come from the west side. What I usually do is I cut through Torg hall and bridge, which reaches Newman on the 4th floor, where we usually meet. This saves me steps and time, as I don’t need to take the crowded Newman elevator. I also am able to avoid the harsh weather, especially later in the fall semester. Whenever I do this walk, I take notice of details like that one column in the middle of Torg hall that contains random computer equipment. I find it pretty interesting that instead of using some boring room on the side, they used a room within a pillar straight in the middle. Another feature that I notice is the elevator in the middle of the 4th floor in Newman library. I was an avid user of this elevator in my freshman and sophomore years, as nobody seemed to know it existed. Because of this fact, it was faster to use this elevator than the main elevators in the lobby. However, it looked and ran like it was decades old. When I made this walk for the first time in my junior year, they have modernized it somewhat. It even had a screen, yet it still ran the same way. Either way, it’s an important part of my early years here, and I note that every walk I do here. (270)
M is for Mornings
Prompt 2.13 – Step Counting Metrics; Photograph and Text; November 16, 2025
Figure 15. A screenshot from the Apple Fitness app, showing a 13 minute walk recorded. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
This is a walk I recorded from my apartment to the nearby Food Lion. Me and my friends had planned to take this walk to the nearby donut shop in the early morning, but we all seemed to have overslept, thus explaining why this walk was at 1PM. We instead had a very well timed lunch instead, but we still got our donuts. I like to think step counting as a very good motivator to do things you usually wouldn’t. If I wasn’t counting, I probably would have skipped out on this walk and made something at home. Having your steps counted gives you a goal to achieve, a statistic to beat. You feel energized to match or beat it. I’ll say, last year, I started to stay inside a lot more that I usually do. My mental health declined, and I decided the next year I would push myself to go out more. One of the ways I did so was step tracking more often. Once I did that initial walk, I went out more to try and beat that record, and set another one. I have another friend that is also a believe of this way of step tracking, and we try and compete with each other to get more steps in the day. While step tracking seems like a random metric, it can be very helpful towards any aspect your life. It’s up to you how you want to use it, but the benefits of using said metric can be very beneficial. I saw my mental health increase tenfold by doing this. Step counting is truly great. (270)
R is for Refreshments
Prompt 2.32 – Shortest Walk; Drawing and Text
Figure 16. A drawing depicting the path taken from my chair in my bedroom, to the fridge in my apartment. (Original drawing, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I like playing games. After a while though. It makes me thirsty. What should I drink? Water, or a soda. Hmm, maybe a soda. Sweet tooth, I know. I leave the chair. I exit my room. I enter the living room. Go around the counter. Open the fridge. What drinks are there? Coke, Starry, Lemonade, water. Hmmm… Lemonade doesn’t sound bad. Maybe I’ll have that. Grab a cup. Open the bottle, pour. Oops! I spilled a little. I’ll clean that up. Nice! It’s cold, let’s drink. Very refreshing, very tasty! (90)
J is for Jordan
Prompt 2.02 – Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories; Photograph and Text; November 30, 2025
Figure 17. A photo of my shoes on concrete. (Original photo, Aaditya Venkatesan)
I first bought these shoes the beginning of my junior year of high school. They were my first ever pair of Air Jordans. I had always seen my friends wear Jordans, but I had never owned a pair. With a new school year coming, in an entirely different high school, I thought it was a good time to get some new shoes. It’s crazy to think these shoes have lasted so long. There are holes in the sole, but it still feels comfortable to walk in. I’ve taken these shoes everywhere, from my high school to across the world, to places like Dubai, Singapore, and India. It’s been with me for various stages of my life, for when I had my first day in my new high school, to my high school prom, to when I got admitted to Virginia Tech, even to my high school graduation. I even wore it to my first day of school here. When you put into perspective how far shoes have traveled with you, its hard not to feel sentimental when they finally become unwearable. I’ve never felt that emotional when I had to replace my shoes before, but I think the day I replace these shoes would be a sad day for me. I can’t say for certain how many kilometers these shoes have taken me, but it has to be an extreme amount. It’s what I wore on the daily walking back and forth between classes! A lot of people look fondly at their high school car or first house, but I think people should also remember an important pair of shoes. (270)