My Travelogue

New Hampshire Fall Season

2006-10-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Falls

2006-10-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

Many trips I have made before and many I hope to make. But this will always be the first trip I made alone. That is if you don’t count that I actually arrived in the US on my own! A while back I remember having a chat with my cousin discussing the trials of a single life, one of which was that inevitably at some point in time, you are going to have to have to make a trip alone, watch a movie alone or at the very least eat alone in a restaurant. So with a heavy heart and I will admit that my heart was a little heavy (especially when I have to actually wake up at 5:00 in the morning to catch my bus at 6:00) and a little trepidation I started my journey towards Niagara.
The lessons I learned as a result of getting up a 5:00 in the morning:
è Dunken Doughnuts in my neighborhood was actually open. And I am guessing that if that is open chances are that a Dunken near you is open as well. The thought of a good cup of hot coffee and a freshly baked bagel is good enough reason to drag my ass out of bed!
è The Malden Center station actually has quite a crowd at 5:30 in the morning. I am not saying necessarily the most cultured of crowds but well, at least you are not alone.
è The Chinese language does not sound any sweeter to my ears at 6:00. In case you are wondering why I talk about the Chinese language, hold on to your horses for I will arrive at that eventually.

Well, I was here and as usual ill prepared. So except for the measly packet of Kachoris I had grabbed from the house last minute, I had nothing else for breakfast. So there I was, in the assigned spot at exactly 6:30, the assigned time for departure being 7:00 and my tummy was already doing the rumba. Still I mollified myself saying that I would be on the bus soon enough and that we should be on our way, and (hopefully) stopping for breakfast sometime soon. Now here is the catch. I had decided to join a Chinese Touring Group for my maiden adventure to Niagara Falls. Every big city in the states has a China Town and Boston, being no exception, had one too. And where there is a china town there are also concession read “cheap” tickets for traveling just about anywhere. The catch, my dear friends, in a situation like this, is that you must put up with people speaking Mandarin for the entire duration of the trip! Well I was thankful that at least I had my IPod.

So the trip began, quite uneventful at the start, with a long 9 hour bus journey that lay ahead of me. I began to munch on my Kachoris as it was my only hope for any breakfast that morning. That’s when this sweet Chinese lady called Mandy made me an offer I couldn’t refuse :). She offered me a beef sandwich and we began to talk. She was traveling with a friend of hers from church and her mother who had just arrived from China a couple of months back. We were quite the motley group, but it was different and interesting all at once, and I guess that is what journeys are supposed to be like.

Out first stop was Thousand Islands Region of New York State. This area has a river that separates the US from Canada. And on this river there are more than a thousand islands, which people have bought as personal property where they have their holiday homes and winter getaways and occasionally some of the rich build a castle or two. I loved the place. It had small town USA written all over it. There was also something uniquely interesting about seeing the Canadian border across the river. But what was truly fascinating were people’s houses. What a wonderful and calm place to build a house on an island in the middle of a river. I couldn’t have thought of a more serene place myself.

The thousand islands boat tour was just an hour long, and after that it was back on the bus to continue our trip to Niagara. We reached Niagara late at night and were allowed to get of the bus for about an hour to watch the falls lit up at night. Niagara is beautifully lit up during the tourist season which typically lasts from March to September. During this time, it is especially worth your while to go to Niagara over the weekend, as there is a beautiful fireworks display that should not be missed. However, as I had missed both the night colors and the fireworks and I must admit my first impression of Niagara was rather disappointing. Still I was more tired that anything and I really wanted to hit the sheets and catch up on some much needed snooze.

Early morning I woke up and decided to catch breakfast in the hotel itself. Sure at 9 dollars it seemed a little expensive for just sausage and eggs, but the view from the hotel’s dining area more than made up for it. The “Inn on the River” as my hotel was called was quite literally on the banks of the river, and from the hotel dining area, through the French windows, the river painted a most beautiful picture.

The falls in the daylight painted a most beautiful picture too. Niagara Falls actually comprises of three falls: the Canadian Horseshoe falls, the American falls and the Belle Vieu falls. The day was to be packed with interesting trips like the “Maid of the Mist” that took you right below the Canadian Horseshoe falls and the really quaint “Cave of Winds” that lets you walk below the Belle View Falls. I liked the Cave of the Winds and my Chinese friends couldn’t get enough of Hurricane Deck, which was this deck right below the falls that had the falls coming down on you like thunder! I think they went up to the deck at least three times!!

The falls were breathtaking in the daylight and the attractions at the Niagara Park are definitely worth the buck. Like there is this little museum cum artifact shop, that displays the history of all the people who tried to jump of the Falls. Most of them made this ‘ridiculous’ journey in a barrel , either made of inflatable rubber or wood, while some wierdos actually thought they didn’t need the protection of a barrel. Some made it and some didn’t.

All in all the trip was a wholly new experience for me. And one I will always remember.

At the edge of the Falls

2006-10-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

The American Falls

2006-10-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

Looking down at the rocks

2006-10-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

Getting up close and personal

2006-10-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Horseshoe falls from a distance

2006-10-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

The rainbow

2006-10-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

Sin City !

2006-09-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

For me, traveling has never been about a checklist of activities that I must complete in a predefined order. Don’t get me wrong, I do obsess with planning, but well (at least I like to think) that I obsess just the right amount:) But my Vegas trip in so many ways was like a virgin journey for me. Virgin because:
(a) I have never been to Vegas before.
(b) I did NOT PLAN a single thing!

It was just me, my friends and the City and I figured that we’d somehow make some beautiful memories together. And make memories we did! .(tejal : stop gigging - that's memories! )To begin with, what a landing!!! Landing in Vegas at 11:50 pm on Friday Night was nothing short of a heart stopper. Beautiful Las Vegas Boulevard stretched out in front of us with all its lights and glimmer and suddenly the 6 hours of flight time seemed really worth it. There are few sights as beautiful as an aerial view of Vegas by night. I must admit, albeit grudgingly (cause every one knows I love New York City) that Vegas beat NY hands down and there was no denying that!

So there I was in this lovely, glitzy city in the middle of the dessert in the middle of the night … the excitement was beginning to build. Las Vegas Airport lived up to the City’s name, and is definitely one of the prettier airports I’ve seen. Tastefully built with billboards galore, showcasing everything that the city yonder had to offer us. Why, they even had slot machines right there in the airport! As if to say, “you know what you are here for, so let’s not waste any time and get right to the gambling!”

But I was there for much more than the gambling… I was there to experience the Las Vegas night life…to watch the shows, to enjoy the fine cuisine and well maybe some ..ahem ..some (adult) entertainment as well ..;)

But before I could check out the city, some of the group had a quick trip planned to Grand Canyon. So we hired a van, crammed ourselves in (and believe me we were pretty badly crammed) and headed off to sunny Arizona. Despite the tight fit, the open road and the night sky and music kept us going. Not to forget our wonderful drivers Vishal, Naveen and Santosh without whom we wouldn’t have been going anywhere! So we crossed the Hoover Dam late at night and it looked really gorgeous in the night light. Then mostly I fell asleep and dreamt of the Grand Canyon that lay ahead.

Morning broke and everything looked perfect. We were six miles away from the Canyon and there was a chill in the air. The sky was a crisp blue and the sun shone brightly. So we freshened up and drove all the way to round to "Desert View" on the south rim of the canyon. What lay in front of us cannot be put in words. Something about natures magnificence always leaves me speechless. It would suffice to say that I was moved.

Desert view has this gorgeous castle that has been built of oddly shaped stones, that offers a panoramic view of the south rim of the gorge. The Colorado river was way down below and from where I stood at 7000 feet appeared like a trickle. It was around 10 and the sun was way up in the sky, probably not the best time to view the Canyon. My guess is early morning or late evening the sun is likely to cast deep shadows over the canyon, making it look larger than life. Nonetheless, the view was still riveting and I stood for a while over the edge simply reveling in its magnificence. Back to the castle: it was built with Red Indian paintings over the walls and had a very pleasing feel to it. We hovered around the castle for a while peeping out from all the windows and taking in the beauty of the gorge and a billion years of existence.

I left the grand canyon feeling so much more alive and a couple of pounds lighter. The long drive back to Vegas was good. But by now we were really eager to get to Vegas and get the party started !

The first night we hit the Casinos at Stratosphere. It was there that Tejal introduced me to Marge A Rita. She was at once enticing and gorgeous, even if I say so my self. But unfortunately one gulp down and I have to say it was a disappointment. Maybe I’m just one of those gals who will never understand a cocktail ?! Which brings me to a very important question: Can beer lovers ever like Cocktails? Or Vice- versa? So far all evidence has proved to me that Cocktail Lovers and Beer lovers simply don’t mix (no pun intended). So maybe my tryst with Margarita was doomed to begin with! But all was not lost (except for the couple of bucks that I wasted on the drink), and my excitement about the day was not about to be dulled by a lousy margarita… so I hit the Casino Slot machine hoping to at least win back the money I just spent on the drink! Unfortunately not much luck there either… but it was fun for a while.

For some reason Vegas at night had conjured up images of drunken brawls and junkies and more: it being called Sin City and all. But what I found was quite the opposite. The only people around (at least on the Boulevard) were fascinated tourists (like myself) gaping wide mouthed as we looked up in total disbelief at the opulence and grandeur that is Vegas at night. The place was filled with the Average Joe (and his aunty) patiently pressing the slot machine buttons in the hope that the next one would bring in the big dollars. I was wrong about Vegas, it’s not about the money or the adult shows, it’s just a temporary escape. If life was a stark dull monotonous desert, then Vegas is an oasis, or at least a mirage!

My pick of the Hotel to be seen at would be Bellagio’s. By no means a fair assessment (I don’t even have a clue about what the hotel room charges are) but it was grand, to say the least. The interiors were done very tastefully, with something grandiose and opulent built at every corner. The Bellagio fountains are also quite a treat, and come absolutely free. Just stand at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard every 15 minutes and catch the fountain show....you won’t regret it( well maybe if you want to pee , then the sound of water wouldn't exactly be soothing ! ). Some of the other hotels that are a must see are Paris, Caesars Palace and New York New York.

My pick of restaurant for the evening was the Valentino’s at The Venetian. And this one has been chosen not so much for the ambience or décor or even the service, but on the sole basis of the food alone. For as Jerome K Jerome mentions in his book “3 men in a boat”, “We are but veriest, sorriest slaves of out stomach”. And in this matter my stomach has passed judgment and who am I to argue.
I tried the Meatballs in Marinara Sauce, with a generous topping of parmesan cheese. This dish is probably apple pie for an Italian, but for the virgin Italian diner like me, it was a true delight. Tejal found something she liked too and that was a big plus point for the Restaurant.
Of course Santosh, just contended himself with our excellent company.:)

Maggiano’s (which Tejal informs me is a chain) did not do half as bad…The ambience was simply awesome, very old world Italian. And don’t we simply all love everything Italian! The Ravioli I ordered was just a wee bit too creamy for my taste buds but the ‘Reisling’, ah, that was something else! “Reisling” is this sweet white wine, very gentle on the taste buds and a good accompaniment to any meal. It really did the trick for me. I would highly recommend it with any meal .

Entertainment wise, Las Vegas has a lot of performance and Variety shows. And if you are lucky then maybe your favorite music artist or comedian may be in town. I checked out the Cirque Du Soliel. Literal English translation would mean “Sun Circus”. We caught “Mystere”, which is just one of their many shows. The music was brilliant and live, the costumes inspired, the feats awe inspiring, the choreography perfect, and to top it all off, it was funny too! A great show and totally worth the 100 dollars we spent on it.

We also went for the ever so famous “Chippendale Show”, of which all I have to say is “what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas! “

And if you’re an adventure enthusiast, do not miss the rides on top the 1500 foot stratosphere tower. As luck would have it, we missed out on the rides, on account of fear of lightning. That Universe, I tell you, has some sort of vendetta against me. This would have been the perfect end to a perfect vacation. But as they say in the movies “Whatcha gonna do ?”

Despite the last minute disappointment about the rides at stratosphere, the Vegas trip had to be the best trip I had made in the US by far. Of course, while Vegas undoubtedly had a lot to do with it, the company for sure made all the difference. And for that I have to thank Tejal and Santosh, without whom, the trip would not have been half as awesome as it turned out!

2006-09-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

Got a little artistic ! This is the view from the ladder that rested along the castle walls, that overlooked the plateau around the Grand Canyon

A cloudy Sky

2006-09-04T05:21:00.000-07:00

On our way back from the Grand Canyon ... the scenery was awesome...

2006-09-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

The Colorado looks like a little stream from where we stood

Bellagio Interiors

2006-09-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

Full of grandiose and Pomp !

A Pirate Boat at Treasure Island

2006-09-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

New York .. New York

2005-04-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

What can I say, it is the most overwhelming experience I have ever had! It is difficult to describe the way the city hits you. New York City is probably one of few American cities that receive so much media coverage and yet nothing in the world can prepare you for it. What with 200 feet tall video advertisements and tastefully done 50 by 50 feet murals and The ABC News Ticker and Ernst And Young building looking down on you and the Paramount Broadway theatre lit up in all its glory and the New York Police Officer traveling on horseback as he surveys his domain and the bright yellow New York Taxis with apna desi cabbies racing past and honking at you and the People – My God – its no joke – so many people – Blacks , Whites, Hispanics, The rich, The sophisticated , the poor , the bums, the weirdos, the street side saxophonist playing his lonely tunes as he begs for money , the colors , the noise , the glare, the intensity – it makes you feel like the most insignificant thing in the world. It’s as if the City can bend down and swallow you whole. There was one point when I was standing at Times Square, I could have cried.

And that’s not the end of it. There is so much to see and do in New York, what with Art and Culture coming at you from every angle. There are the old Broadway theatres playing the classic greats like “Fiddler on the Roof “, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and many more......And then there are the Jazz and Blues Cafes and Music houses. There are the street vendors with their Hot dogs and “Sheek Kabobs” and for the sophistically inclined there are a plethora of restaurants to chose from. The mood is fast - very fast – pretty much like Bombay. The subway is Old and dirty – much of New York is actually quite dirty with the exceptions of the Upper West and Upper East End of New York. These are big residential areas in uptown New York – A typical Flat in one of these areas would sell for 10 million dollars – that’s right – 10 million!!

And then there is Central Park – a haven in the middle of complete chaos. I wouldn’t say it was quiet – there is so much happening in New York at any one moment its difficult to imagine the city as still or peaceful. Even at the South West Entrance of the park (which by the way is huge) there were street dancers performing. There is a section called Strawberry Fields dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. You have various people who would just come there and start playing those old Beatles favorites that we all love and people would just join in and sing. Central Park is huge - with lakes and ponds and a zillion baseball fields. You can skate, cycle, take a horse carriage ride, dance, sing or do just about anything you please. It’s New York – anything goes.

And if it’s a panoramic view that you’re looking for – then your trip is not complete without visiting the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building. What a view – Towering tall above New York City – you can see all those places we hear about so often - the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station, the New York Life Insurance Building ,the Financial district, Chelsea, Queens , the Bronx, the Brooklyn Bridge and so much more. Imagine this – New York at 9:30 at night – brightly lit with a hundred different colors, Now, imagine yourself on the 86th Floor of the Empire state Building. Some view, huh!

Anyway I could go on and on about New York – but believe me if there is anyplace in America you ever get a chance to see – let it be this one. It’s simply unbelievable!

Celebrating the days of Old

2005-04-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

Old Broadway street in Manhattan....where the past is remembered..

Time to Stare

2005-04-17T05:45:00.000-07:00

Stealing a quiet moment at Central Park

Playing Baseball at Central Park

2005-04-17T04:38:00.000-07:00

just one of many ways to keep yourself busy at the park..

At the Statue of Liberty

2005-04-16T22:46:00.000-07:00

What a sight for sore eyes!

Looking at Sky

2005-04-16T04:40:00.000-07:00

Just walking down the street ..I glance upward to catch a bit of sky

Goa : where the good times never end!

2004-11-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

I’ve been to Goa more than 5 times now and each time I love the place even more. Goa brings out the laziest best in me. A typical day in Goa starts of in the late morning when you wake up to the smell of frying salami and cocktail sausages. My last visit found me and a group of friends at “Ozzy’s place” – one of them typical bed and breakfast kind of places: where the owners cook you breakfast and stop by for small talk. Sitting on the veranda: breakfast generally lasts for nothing less than an hour.

After that it’s into our shorts and head for the sun and surf. While the Goa seaface offers a lot of water sports opportunities, there are other interesting sports as well – like making out figures in the clouds or counting the waves at they hit the shore. The latter sport is more to my liking cause it can be achieved while not deviating from the horizontal position.

So much was the inclination to lie around and do nothing that we found ourselves in a Keralite Massage Place ( yes in Goa!), where for a mere 450 rupees you can enjoy a terrific body rub. And this was no ordinary place either- the ambience was great and so were the Tibetan chants that were playing in the background. That alone would have put me to sleep! After the massage was done and they had rubbed you with the sweetest smelling oils, you were allowed to take a bath and were offered lime tea. It was the works, I assure you!

Having pampered our bodies, it was time to pamper our stomachs. And when you are in Goa, oh what a pampering you get! (that’s if you are a non-vegetarian that is… or atleast a fishetarian!) So I ordered myself a pomphret raichad and some delicious boiled mussels. Add to that a glass of Irish Coffee and you have a complete treat for the senses. Of course I could go on and on about all the fabulous things we had to eat over the course of our holiday like some yummy sarpotel and spicy chicken curry and crab curry and flambé but we don’t want you to be drooling all over your keyboards now do we? And everything at pretty reasonable prices; considering we were in the heart of the foreign tourist hangout- Candolim.

A little more about Goa: A little state to the South of Maharashtra, this was the center of Portuguese Trade and a Portuguese stronghold right upto the 1960’s. To this day of course many goans love to associate themselves with Portugal rather than India: but then many of them have Portuguese passports so they aren’t wrong in doing so. Being a Portugal colony for as long as it has been has had a definite influence on the Goan way of life – which is completely distinct from the rest of India. One of the major events in the Goan year is Carnival which happens sometime in January ( that’s one thing I haven’t seen yet ). The typical attractions in Goa are Old Goa wherein lies the naturally mummified body of St. Francis Xavier. Once a year there is an exposition and all the faithful catholic queue up see their favourite Saint. Ok..so I don’t like everything about Goa! But the Goans are a simple people, fun loving and cheerful. And some of that light-heartedness and fun-loving nature creeps into you while you are there, making you forget the busy schedules of everyday life.

Like the last time I had been to Goa with a friend …it was Christmas time .. the next best season to be in Goa after 'carnivaal'. We were hanging out at this Christmas Party that my friends uncle had taken us to. And all of a sudden we stumble upon the keys to his car that he had left lying in a coat. (we were supposed to be guarding that coat!) . It was midnight and we were a couple of girls with car keys. So before we knew it we were in the car and driving along a road to nowhere. Ok. I can be totally dishonest and tell you we roamed Panjim at midnight on Christmas, but the truth is we didn’t get too far, cause we were both completely stupid about road sense back then….Still, we parked the car somewhere else and it was real fun to see the expression on her Uncle’s face when we finally called it a night. The poor man was talking about changing the car locks all the way home…..

That’s the thing about the place…it lightens your spirit and your mind!

At the sea..

2004-11-13T04:34:00.000-08:00

Coconut palms , sand, water, boats and sky.....a complete picture

Holy Cow !

2004-11-13T03:30:00.000-08:00

We are not the only ones enjoying the beach

A Midsummer Day's Reality !

2004-11-13T00:12:00.000-08:00

It is not uncommon for churches to form traffic Islands.........all life including traffic navigates around the edges of faith ..

Munnar..A Touch of Heaven

2004-10-23T00:10:00.000-07:00

I can still remember approaching Munnar...It had been a long nights journey from Bangalore . This had been one of those completely unplanned departures. I was in Bangalore visiting a friend and our original plan was to go to Ooty: A very famous hill station in the south. However as luck would have it, most of the buses were overbooked - what with it being prime holiday season and all that! That's when Nefi first suggested Munnar to me. I had never heard of Munnar before and I must admit I was more than a little skeptical , but I couldn't resist Nefi's quaint little Bangalorean quip "Don't worry Ma, I'm sure it will be great" ( all bangaloreans punctuate their sentences with 'MA', it's a term of endearment ). So before we knew it we were on a bus headed south to Munnar. At one point in the journey we realised we weren't even sure whether Munnar was in Kerala or Tamil Nadu! All we knew is that we were a 100 miles from Bangalore and there was no turning back.

So like I was saying, we were approaching munnar. It was around 11 in the morning. The landscape around us had turned to a blanket of green. The calming sounds of gurgling brooks and gushing waterfalls engulfed us. The air grew fresher and with every breath, so did our spirits. Munnar is a nature-lovers paradise. What I liked most about it is its rustic feel, unlike most other hill stations that have been commercialised/ 'civilized'. We found ourselves in a cosy little room and threw our bags down and went to explore the town.

First Stop - Find a guide or at least have him find us ( more like he followed us till we gave in :) ). I mean you can't blame the lot - they have to make a living!
Second Stop - Food. We spotted a decent looking restaurant in the city centre. Right at once our guide warned us against the restaturant - very costly he says . But what the hell - we were tourists and were determined to act the part. So despite our guide's warning we entered that restaurant, kept our fingers crossed and opened the menu card with a little apprehension . Beef Fry and Rice - 30 rupees ! I had forgotten that far away from Bombay in a little corner of india 30 rupees is a lot of money to some people. I made a mental note to value every penny I have and without wasting too much time tucked right into the beef fry! Of course, at this point any uncertainty we felt regarding which state in India we were in was laid to rest - Kerala is the only place in India that serves beef in a restaurant.

As soon as the meal was done and our bellies satisfied - we wasted no time and decided to head straight for a waterfall. Then again our guide must have thought that being from Bombay we had never seen a waterfall in our life; cause the first place he took us was little more than a trickle coming down the mountain side. But even though it was not what we were looking for our eagerness got the better of us and we decided to abandon our only guide and trek it out on our own. The rest of the day was blissfull paradise - had Buddha wanted to find Nirvana faster he should have come down south. Never has there been a more spiritual place. So quiet - so peacful - so completely frozen in time. Even a restless soul like me is commanded to be still. And in that moment a sense of complete peace.

In the evening time me and my two fellow travellers decided to take a walk round the city centre. There is not much entertainment in a little town like Munnar. The only social meeting points for people are the church , the temple and the little tea stall where our enthusiastic Kerela brethren can discuss politics with a fervour like no other. The little white church perched atop the hill looked so quaint and cute that I just had to stop by for a while. I entered the church and found myself a spot. From where I sat; I saw a strange sight: men and woman had occupied different pews. Another reminder ; how so little in India has changed and probably never will.

Out trip concluded at the most gorgeous and isolated waterfall I have ever been to. Completely off the beaten track with no signs of civilisation for miles around, an ideal spot for a romantic getaway. But for now I had to concede to enjoying the magnificence of it with my friend Nefi .Nevertheless - the image and the sounds stayed with me long after I had left Munnar. To quote Phoebe from "Friends", if ever I had a 'happy place' - it would be right there - under those falls.

For oft when on my couch i lie,
In vacant or in pensive mood,
they flash upon that inward eye,
Which is the bliss of solitude,
And then my heart with pleasure fills....
And fondly remember those munnar hills....

Of Beautiful sights and sounds

2004-10-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

My Favourite Pic

Anywhere Alone

2004-10-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

This could be Rotterdam or anywhere ..

Liverpool or Rome..

Cause Rotterdam is anywhere..

Anywhere alone..

On our Way

2004-10-18T21:00:00.001-07:00

On the road to Paradise....

a glimpse of a brook

2004-10-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Stopping by woods on a cloudy evening ..