This trip both Shruthi and me had decided that we would not visit all those fancy places like the Disney land since she had already spent enough time. We instead decided to travel down to South America - to Peru and visit the ruins of Machu Pichu or if it didn't materialise, the Mayan ruins in Mexico. We did not give enough time for a visa and therefore this had to be struck out. Now, how disappointing could that be! These places will remain high on my priority list during my next trip. When we said where else, we realised we would be getting back to India only in the first week of July. So, we said why not the last frontier? Alaska? The gold mine and the stuff? And then the excitement caught on. We surfed, wrote to friends to find out about the place and started pressurising bro and family to go with us on that trip sometime second week of June. The trip was assured and we left Chennai to New York on the 10th of April. The next three months almost it was travel, travel and more. How wonderful and after so long. Being outdoor has always been exciting for me. And, this trip was just that.
A list of the places I visited for the sake of memory:
Washington D C - all the places any tourist would visit - the memorials and the like. Most impressive was the Lincoln memorial and we enjoyed the stroll around Arlington memorial. Apr 19
Luray Caverns: En route to Luray Caverns from Virginia, all the way, I remembered the memorable, lovable John Denver song. More than the cave rich with stalacite deposits which were impressive, it was the preservation, the pride and the presentation which deserve a big applause. - Apr 20
For the first time in an alien country, I was left to take care of both Shruthi and me. We stayed with Hari, Bindu and Smruti in Fredrick. We got acquainted with Phogat Sanjay, his kids and his energetic mom. Shruthi and me strolled around the nice, big roads of DC as though we belonged to that place.
Natural History museum: A huge one, well maintained, well documented and superb. Shruthi was keen the see the Hope Diamond and we did a glimpse in the big crowd. Apr 21
The First weekend of May we were in Boston. The town is energising and makes one feel young and compelling. We stayed at Nashua, New Hampshire at a friend's place. (Gowri, Vanita and Siddharth)
Visited Harvard - Student conducted tour.
Went on the Boston Duck Tour - was fun and Shruthi enjoyed the tour the most. She bought a duck whistle by paying an outrageous sum of 4 dollars and went making noise throughout the trip.
Visited the Boston Museum - Science center. The best demos, very educative. We had to make two days for the entire museum and had a great time.
The second week of May, we visited D C again. This time, we visited the NASA museum and once again the Smithsonian. More than anything we enjoyed finding our way through the maps and using the metro trains. Yes - Shady Grove that is the station from where Sanjay picked us that evening. Another station we know is Vienna!
We visited the village adjoining Hari's place - a ten minute drive. the country side smelt of hay and fields and it was as good as being in a village in India.
Week after this we moved away from the east coast - to the dreamy, freaky Las Vegas!
We spent a day in Las Vegas walking around the crowded roads, stopping by to watch the strip tease shows but couldn't go near the casinos with Shruthi around. It is fun. A different world altogether. We stayed at a hotel called Luxor - on the 25th floor. This place is modelled like a pyramid. Waking up early morning was an experience. The place looked golden, very beckoning and a beautiful sight that I would cherish. The musical fountain was a total freak too. We stayed back for three shows at the least.
We left Las Vegas and drove to death valley. The route was thoroughly uninhabited. More details later. Visited furnace creek, sand dunes, bad water and daltons peak above bad water.
we then drove right across Las Vegas towards Williams - a small town near Grand Canyon. A long drive it was. This was special because Shruthi forced Cash to drive on Route 66. She felt she was part of the Cars characters.
We halted the nigh at Best Wester in Williams - late night and day two survived with fruits, coffee and Subway sandwiches. We desperately needed the comfort of our beds.
We left Williams on day 3 to the National Geography center outisde the Grand Canyon park. A movie about the Canyon, some window shopping later, we left to the Canyon. Stayed for the night at Best Western Canyon to make it for the sunrise. But Guess what?
After spending almost till lunch at the Canyon - South Rim visited all those old copper mine and looked for more. for want of time, had to leave. We made it to the Hoover Dam in the evening for the last tour. It was memorable. Back to Las Vegas and by a red eye to NJ the next morning.
The next weekend Penn mountains beckoned. Nothing like that. Wish to spend more time among the mountains.
The tickets for our trip to Alaska were finalised. We laughed, roamed a lot in the malls, went for movies, sorted out temper tantrums among children and read books.
First week of June, Shruthi and me flew to Detroit in one of those silly 25 seater planes. The airport was indifferent and Michigan was dirty. Tirupati picked us up.
We visited the Ford village and museum. it was good and shruthi had a great time. We then drove on to Windsor, Canada to Tirupati's place.
The next morning we left to the University of Windsor where he works. We walked along the river and visited an art gallery there. That evening we visited Point Pele - the southern most tip of Canada.
Day 3 at Canada - we left to Torronto. Shruthi visited an African Safari while I met with Raman and visited the CN tower. We then drove to close to Niagara park on the Canada side and stayed at a nice little place called Niagara by the fall.
Day 4 at the Niagara Park and stayed at Torronto at a Travelodge.
Day5 at the Niagara the US side and visited Rochestor enroute to NJ.
It was then a hectic five days to wash and pack for the trip to Alaska.
Day1: A day long flight from NJ to Minneapolis ( a 5 hour break) and then a 5 hour flight to Anchorage. Stayed at Hawthorn. Had delcious pan cakes topped with fresh cream strawberry. Had dinner at Bombay deluxe.
Day 2: Visited the Alaska Zoo, watched float planes in amazement and bought provisions. Didn't do much except go around the same shops we did in NJ. Payless shoes, Shoprite, Walmart etc.
Day 3: Drove to Seward. This is the name of the guy who shopped for this state with the Russians? Went for a cruise in the Pacific. It was an experience watching the glaciers, floating through the Kenai Fjords, watching killer whales pumping out water and sea otters floating cutely. We also walked to exit glacier. The walk was very very good. traced Bear routes through their poops and the glacier, touching and feeling it was a wonderful experience. Back to Hawthorn in the night though it was as bright as day since we were close to the solstice.
Day4: Left to Fairbanks. We drove for most part of the day. En route we decided to see Mt Mckinley in Talkeetna. We stopped at a Homestead cum Book shop which offerred a majestic view of Mckinley. This is owned by a writer jane Richardson and her son who is a DJ in radio Alaska. At Fairbanks, we stayed at Harding.
Day 5: We drove out of Fairbanks for a ride in the Goldrush train. Visited the goldmine, seived for gold, got some and drove to North Pole a small village up north of Fairbanks. A shop called Santa's house receives all the letters written to the Santa Claus.
Day6: We drove out of Fairbanks to Coldfoot. It was an exciting experience with the guide Stephaney filling us in with details. Stayed at Denali National Park.
Day 7: At Denali National Park and stayed on.
Day8: To Talkeetna, Mt Mckinley and then back to Anchorage. This time in Mariott. It was June 21st.
Day 9: We visited the Sourdough Chocolate factory and left by the red eye to Minneapolis and then to NJ.
After this trip we hardly had 4 days to pack off and we were back on the 1st of July.
The trips to NY almost everyday have not been mentioned here.
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