Trip II - Washington DC tour

US's ex-capital, US's disintegration experience, Independence declaration bell, India's 240k saffire (hope diamond) and 80deg F weather are highlights of our Washington DC trip.

We got a cheap deal to Washington DC from New York by a Chinese tour bus operator for 70$ per person including Accomodation at Mariott (Courtyard) hotel for a night. On Saturday morning May 28 (Memorial day weekend), we left by Yellow cab from house, picking up young TCS colleagues (Vijay and his wife Sukanya) at East Rutherford, NJ to China Town, Grand Street, NY. Taxi charge was $81 including Toll for Holland Tunnel. We met plenty of TCSers in that area ready to depart to Niagara and other places. Bus started at 9am after the tour guide, a chinese guy counted the number of people more than 5 times moving to and fro inside bus. First half of bus is occupied by Chinese and the rest half by Indians.

Bus reached Philadephia at 11am. Chennai Central station like building in white named as Independence Square is the attraction. Security check was there and my wife's dress is with zarigai, so the security device beeped and created a funny as well as embrassing situation there. A bell that was struck during Independence denoting the liberty was kept there. Sukanya commented, why so much security for a broken bell. After taking photos in Video/Digital/Still camera, we left that place. Excellent weather!! Philadelphia was one time of US capital it seems! Supreme court also functioned between 1790-1800AD.

Lunch at a Chinese restaurant, but we took food (Lemon rice/mixed veg curry) we brought. Bus proceeded. Weather changed and it rained for sometime, but luckily climate changed again. Reached Baltimore around 3:30 pm. A beautiful/scenic harbour was the attraction. Took starbucks coffee. This place has something to do with British!

Reached Washington DC at 5pm. Proceeded to Natural History Museum to see dead (existing and extinct - girafee, striped goat etc) animals covered with actual fur and they looked like real ones. Blue Saffire called Hope diamond which came from India then to France (for Louis XIV), then to Britain, then to US was kept there and our India group got delighted. Then we had viewings at White House, Capital Building and Washington Monument. Then dinner and then to hotel Mariott (Courtyard) for rest. Indians struggled to convince the Chinese guide to take to a Indian restaurant, but he didn't oblige as his company policy is to take to a Chinese restaurant only!!

Indians in bus formed a group and had anthakshari session in bus. Indiana jones movie was going on parallely in bus video. Bus guide talked in English as well as Chinese. Initially few indians were making fun of chinese language and I was little bit agitated over it, but soon everyone got used to it. Me and my wife has good exposure (only hearing) to Chinese in Singapore.

Then next day we visited FRD Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam memorial Korean War Memorial and took lot of photos. Then finally we went to NASA (National Aeronautical and Science Administration) museum and watched huge flights of different ages, sizes kept. Original Mars explorer, Apollo 11 satellite, Wright brother flight, stone from moon are some of them. Had lunch at a pizza restaurant and proceeded back to New Jersey! Vijay/Sukanya company was really enjoyable. Vijay has already started asking me about going future trips. A co-Indian passenger called Divya took photo of all Indians in Bus and took our e-mail ids. With that our ENJOYABLE TRIP came to an end.

Chinese tour guide who is a old person was really friendly and although not good in English conveyed very interesting information including US Presidents, Southern States of US fight over Northern States and how it was suppressed. This was the only dis-integration effort in US it seems. He also told "Okay" 100 * n times, and we all started repeating that after sometime.

Trip III - Canada tour

Niagara Falls, Canada



This is my 2nd trip to Niagara Falls, Canada. Previous one being in 1998 and now in 2006. Altogether including American Side, it is my 6th trip!!! Still I find Niagara Falls, as great and stunning as ever!! When I overhear talk nearby, I can always here WOWs and Wonderfuls. A great rush to take photos. Eagerly waiting crowd to go Maid of Mist Boat ride well into middle of Horse shoe falls. Journey Behind the Falls, tornado like water falls in front of us!!!

Fireworks, Helicoper Rides, Colorful lights to add!!

Toronto, Canada



Last time I was a bachelor when I came to Toronto with around 14 friends.. so not much bothered about maps, routes, stay, parking etc... as there are people to help me... but this time, travelling married with one year old baby... don't want to take chances... so spent around 1 week to 10 days to make sure, correct maps, parking information, Virtual tourist help etc etc.

Stayed in Welland, ON near Niagara Falls, started around 8am after breakfast in Comfort Inn. Reached Cambridge, African Life Safari. Yahoo Map didn't look that much perfect as in USA, one route tells, take "local road", without mentioning Road Name. Really enjoyed Lions, Monkeys, Giraffees, Yaks, Zebras, Ostriches (they see their beautiful face in Car windows and enjoy). There are many more attractions here.. but due to short of time, left for Toronto. We went directly to Casa Loma, a Palace/Castle with really good collections. Although built in beginning of 20th century, articles look antique. Worth seeing!! Then we went to CN Tower. Parking was not that much difficult, you can park your Car in Convention center next to CN Towers, if you are okay to pay 14$, but this place is good and convenient. 1 hour wait to goup the skylon tower, later we found it not worth for the wait!! My baby daughter was one of many babies cried/irritated parents, not able to tolerate this long wait. Due to this, we missed our very much wanted Ferry trip to see the Toronto skyline.

Returned back to my hotel in Welland around 10pm. Pizza Pizza is one place near it, convenient to finish our dinner.

Pros: "Beauty, Population, Land Area, Vegetarian Food Availability" Cons: "Costly Tickets [Monuments, Parking]" In A Nutshell: "City to feel Canada"

My First Trip to USA and Canada

I was in Louisville, KY from 3rd May 1996 to 5th May 1998. As I don't have the habit of writing stories of my trips that time, I was not able to give my tour details and the people I was with.

The people I can remember of during that time are Sriram Krishnamurthi, Sandeep Chavan, Lakshmi Valada, Mandar Joshi, Ninad Manelkar, Sanjay Shetty, Asim Chowdhry, Cathy Kupper, Christopher Hudson, Ayan Chakaraborty.

The places I have seen in US are
- Washington DC (Memorials, Capitol, White House)
- Boston (Boston Common, MIT, Harvard)
- Niagara (Falls)
- Chicago (Sears Towers, Gandhi Street, Temple)
- Florida (Universal Studios, Disney Kingdom, Water World)
- New York (WTC, Empire State Building, Manhattan Area/Bridge, Time Square)
- Indianapolis (Casino)
- Nashville (Temple)
- St. Louis (Arc)

The places I have seen in Canada are
- Montreal (Olympic Stadium)
- Toronto (CNN Tower)
- Niagara (Falls)

My address that time is:
116, Barley Avenue
Lousville, KY - 40218 Ph: 502 459 3199 (H)
Ph: 502 452 5555 (O)