Long Trip Part 2

Was so tired from Saturday's stuff that my alarms (I had 2 one at 4.30 and other at 5) rang and I dint even notice.. I was fast asleep.. Then my hotel room phone rang and I just sat up on my bed.. That was my wake up call (thank God, else I wouldnt have got up atleast for another 2-3 hrs). I had to be down near the pick up point by 5.50 in the morning.. [5.50 on a vacation day is too much]. So I reached there at 5.45 itself hoping that the bus dint leave without me.. Once we were in the bus.. I was very excited.. We went to the tour office.. checked in, had continental breakfast, picked up some brochures and got into the respecitve buses (South Rim or West Rim). I got myself a comfortable seat in the bus going to the South Rim..

The trip started off with our driver/guide telling us stories about Canyon and hoover dam.. We reached the architectural wonder - Hoover Dam in half an hr. Though we dint get to spend more than 15 mins there.. it was nice.. I was trying to enjoy the beauty there.. I always wonder deserts are so barren and yet so beautiful.. But the heat was really getting on to me.. Clicked a few memories.. and started walking to my bus... Just met a college friend of mine.. It was nice to see a familiar face there esp after 1 day of being alone.. We spoke for a couple of minutes and left to our respective buses.

Hoover Dam







On the way to Canyon ( this was taken from the bus)


Then we started finally towards the Grand Canyon. I was so tired and since the bus was relaxing, I just caught up with my sleep. We stopped for lunch (had pizza) and went to the IMAX where national georaphic had a movie on the Canyon. That was surely amazing.. Now I was getting impatient to go to the Canyon..After 10 mins or so.. we entered the 'GREAT' Grand Canyon.





The first stop was Mather Pt. We were given 1 hr here to look around. So I walked fast and as soon as I reached the point from where I could see the canyon.. I was just stunned. It was amazing.. This was something which I had never seen... Seems there is a saying

"Nothing said written or pictured can beautify the grand canyon other than the Canyon itself"

I totally agree with it.. Anything I write about it, I will not be able to justify the beauty.. But here are a few pics.. this is just what I saw and was so lost in the beauty.

















Since we had just 1 hr, I ran from one view point to another and took as many pictures I could take... With a sense of joy I left from there to the bus.. I reached on time and we headed towards the next stop. This is more famous than the previous point. This was the Bright Angel Point. We entered this from a small hotel and the back door led to the great view.. Again here I ran with enthusiasm capturing everything possible in my eyes and in my camera.. In the meanwhile there was a show going on about endangered birds.. Spent some time there and then after an hour started back to the bus.. Just on the way got an icecream (it was like heaven esp in the hot sun).























What are u looking at??



Now the journey started back to Vegas. With a heavy heart we all bid good bye to the wonderful Canyon. The journey back was very lazy.. I was still catching up with sleep.. And finally reached my hotel at 10.30 PM. I was a little hungy, but was very tired. I thought I'll just go to bed.. But my stomach wouldnt listen. So I just felt that I'll go out eat something and come back. As soon as I got out of the hotel hot air just blew over my face. I then got into the monorail. It was a nice ride, I got down at Bally's Casino and then spent a few hours roaming around. I again saw the musical fountain at Bellagio. It was already 12.30 so, I thought its time to go and eat.





I got down at Hitlon station and got a shock. It was a little far away from the strip. So now I had to walk all the way. It was little scary coz I was alone at the road was totally deserted. I walked as fast as I could, finally reached Dennis and then had nice dinner and then went back to the hotel and as soon as my head touched the pillow I started to float in dreamland.

Techies.. primitives

We use technology for the smallest of things..But we cant deny that primitve ways always come in handy wherever whenever..

We were in Atlanta on Saturday.. We wanted to go to a particular restaurant, and that was supposed to be on the West direction.. Now how do we find West sitting in a car. We dint have any GPS, no compass too :)
So this is what happened
Guy 1: Hey Arathi, bahar dekhke bata sooraj kis taraf hai??
(look outside tell which side is the sun)
Me : Huh!! Kyon?
(why)
Guy 2: Abe, sooraj jis direction mein hoga.. uske depending east/west decide karenge
(we will decide which east/west depending on which direction is)
Me : Oh!! Par ab to 12.30 hai.. sar pe hoga sooraj
(its 12.30 now.. it will be right on our head)
Guy 3:Arre yaar... ab west kaise dhoondenge??
(Now how will we find west)
Me : Itne techies ho.. phir bhi primitive mehtods use karna pada (*laughs*)
(all of u are techies.. but u had to use primitive methods)

After this.. with some guessing we did find West.. And had a extremely delicious lunch..

PS: By primitive I meant times when we didnt use any of our wonderful electronic Gadgets :)

Been very busy lately.. My Trip part2 is still in the making.. I hope to post it sometime this week.. I want to post all the details.. before I forget my beautiful moments... This is how I can relive those moments later :)

Long Trip Part 1

Day 1 : Saturday:

I start from the Los Angeles(LA) airport at nearly 2.00 AM with a Silver Chevy Mallibu (First trip where i never took a pic of the car). With my GPS enabled, I began my 4-5 hour long drive to Las Vegas (LV).
The drive in the night was not new.. only new thing was I was driving alone, and was going to be so for the whole of my trip.

The moment I reached Las Vegas (LV) I was very excited. Checked into one of the casinos (Sahara - Supposed to be based on the moroccon theme). I had to make calls to assue that I am safe and having a gala time. Though I wanted to sleep and take some rest... the excitement wouldnt allow me to do so... I was in the room at the 19th floor.. The view from my room was quite good...I could see the Stratosphere (one of the casinos in the end of the road).
Stratosphere from my room


I left around 10 in the morning. Before I left picked up the Strip map. All the casinos are in one road (thats the Vegas Strip). The northern part of the strip doesnt have much casinos (rather not many interesting ones). The first one in the strip is the Stratospehre. The second was Sahara. After this there is a huge gap. As I moved forward, somehow the place started to be boring.. well. that was because of so many reasons.. It was very very hot.. I was sweating as if just got out from the shower. I was very very hungry.. Felt as if I could eat anything then.. As I went on, reached the fashion mall. There I spotted a Italian restaurant. Maggino's Little Italy:)
I went in and ordered for a lemonade (so nice and cooling). Then ordered for fried Zuccini.. They were so yummy.. and so filling.. After this ordered the very famous Tiramasu.. (hmm such a yummy pastry, I can still feel it) The food was so lovely I even complimented the waitress and spoke for a few minutes. Once pet-pooja was done.. I had the enthu again to roam around... Outside Wyan (another casino) they had beautiful falls.. Once I crossed this.. i started to look at the bigger casinos. As I went forward. I went into Venetian..



Venetian is one of the biggies there on the strip.. The entrance has the Gandola Tours (Boat rides under the tunnels), It looked so nice.. They even had these tours inside.. (I personally felt inside ones would be better, one it had that feeling also its too hot outside to enjoy these).

So once you are inside.. all the shops.. and the ambience try their level best to make you feel at Venice.. and I must say.. they do succeed to a great level.



Once I got my tickets, I was having fun looking at the small shows like some jokers coming up with some funny tricks.. or a few performers coming and singing and dancing..


I had my Gandola tour scheduled at 3.00 in the afternoon.. So I had nearly 1.5 hrs to kill.. There were weddings going on.. It was so nice to see all that.. You could get a private boat for 2 too.. So I did some window shopping there.. bought tickets for the blue man show that night ( i got a free entry to Madam Tussads Wax museum).. I went out and took some pictures, I was not sure if I wanted to go the museum.. Took the Gandola Tour and it was a nice ride.. The boatman would even sing for you.. Though I dint understand a word of it.. I thoroughly enjoyed the song.. The slow pitch they start of with and the high pitch they end it with is just amazing.. These tours take you to a small round in the Venetia. It was great except the that it would be better if I had my humsafar there..



Well after this.. I walked all the way to Paris.. Oh this is another casino in the strip.. not the real Paris. But like the real one this also has the world famous Eifel Tower. The difference is that the one in LV is half the size of the actual Eifel Tower. It looked very good.. I was just wondering. if half the size is so beautiful.. then how wonderful must the real one be... We had a trip to the top of Eifel Tower.. The view from there was awesome... You could see the whole city from there.. I took snaps from all the angles. Stayed there on the top for more than 15 mins.. I even had a wonderful musical fountain going on at the bottom.. and that was a great view..






After Paris. I was very tired.. Walking in the hot sun in a desert environment is very difficult. I walked the strech even further down till Cocacola MGM casino..

MGM

Dint find much interesting things to do there.. Then crossed over to Newyork Newyork.. They had the statue of Liberty, brooklyn bridge, and inside the casino.. the ambience was all NY type.. It was nice.. Lot of stuff to eat around, but I wasnt that hungry so just moved out of there.. Next was Monte Carlo.. Dint go inside.. but took a couple of pics.. after that not much to look until I reached Bellagio...
This is right in front of Paris. Its very famous for the musical fountains which happens in front of the caino/hotel. People gather in front of this for a long time.. I was also one of them.. I had already seen this twice from the Eifel Tower. But still wanted to have a closer look. It was worth the wait.. The musical fountains were wonderful.. It gives immense pleasure to watch when water is jumping around with joy...

Once this got over, I still had time for the Blue man show in Ventian.. By now, my legs had totally lost it.. I just wanted to sit somewhere.. infact go to the room and sleep.. So I went to the next casino.. Caesar's palace.. This was all Roman.. It was another Huuuuuuge one.. they had the roman sculptures all over They even had Lord Brahma in a garden.. It said Thai people worshipped Lord Brahma.. After Caeser's I moved onto Mirage (another Biggie) They had huge water falls outside.. probably a Mirage :).. By now I was tired of the heat outside.. So I decided reluctanly to use my free ticket to Madam Tussad's.

I have already been to the NY Madam Tussad's, so did not want one more.. But then I thought I could as well use my free ticket.. So went in.. and I saw Johny Depp ( Captain Jack Sparrow).. I had just then kept my camera inside.. Instantly this came out.. and I wanted a pic of him and Will Turner.. Then I just rushed thru all the models..(Its nice to see first time.. or if u have comapany) Now it was nearly 9 and I had to go to my show by 9.15.. so I reached there on time.. and by the time everybody was seated it took a while.. the people there were a lot of fun.. After some time.. we were give crepe paper to tie around ourselves etc.. It was one crazy auditorium... Finally the show started.. I loved the acts with the paint.. Well when it was just music.. I dint find that much interest.. I must say. I dozed off.. Not coz of the show.. they were great.. but my body was overly exhausted... But then again... I woke up and enjoyed so much.. We were throwing paper all over... there was a time when paper was allover me.. i was drowned in that.. had never done such crazy stuff.. so that was fun..

After such an exhausting day.. I still had to walk back to my hotel.. That took another 45 mins.. But finally I reached.. and my body was totally out.. I just went and crashed into the bed...

Long Trip

I was out for 5 whole days.. I went to the West Coast of USA..

Been to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon..

Did Skydiving..

Spend all 5 days alone..

Went to one of the highest crime area in US (alone)...

Had a splendid time...

Details yet to come in the future posts.. Since its a long trip, I will have to split it in 4-5 parts..

Again!!!

We have seen in movies.. once a person falls in love.. there is no sleep there is no hunger... u dont feel like doing anything...
Well the same thing is happening to me..

Somehow.. i just cant sleep these days.. dont feel like eating and just so bored to do anything..( I can sing Mujhe neend na aaye song..)

Is it coz I have fallen in love again?? As in movies..

Sunset

So many people give so many meanings to Sunset...
But when you see this sight... Only thing which comes to my heart... how does nature paint such a beautiful picure in front of our eyes...
And a picture thats left to our imagination??

Is this a sunset or a pot of happiness which is to be uncovered.. Or is it hiding something in the water.. Can I go there and touch it.. I have never seen such a sunset ever.. Its the most beautiful sunset ever :)

Koi Roko Na....

I was listening to the song

Koi roko na deewane ko..
ke mann machal raha
kuch gaane ko

I suddenly remembered my lunch times a year or so back.. We had a cassette with this song remixed...
Ans coincidence was this song usually started off while we were going for lunch... So me A and R changed it to ...

Koi roko na deewano ko..
ke mann machal raha
kuch Khaane ko

Some of the fun times which we had..

Found the link in youtube :) and its this

Garlic

Garlic... one of the most important spices.. But when fried.. it gives out such a pungent smell.. Some people love it.. and some hate it.. Well I dont care who loves it or hates it.. I just hate it..I cannot stand the smell of this.. And these days.. i am getting kind of allergic to it.. Oh no not my body.. but its me.. moment i taste Garlic, i get this vomiting sensation.. I feel like rinsing my mouth a hundered times..
At home my roomie puts Garlic in Daal.. result I end up eating curd rice..
Today at breakfast in the morning.. we had got baegals from Paneera Bread.. They are supposed to be the best in breads. I love their baegals.. but today due to some confusion.. Got Sesame and something something today... (I had ordered for all baegals, but she gave me the wrong one.. :( I was in ahurry so dint check) So now I put this baegal in my mouth.. and all i get to taste is Garlic... (yuk!!!)
From that time i am trying to take out that taste.. Drank a whole glass of orange juice (juice over here is usually like its made from the skin and not the fuit. .so bitter) then had my strawberry cereal bar.. then had 3 gulps of water.. i still feel that vomiting sensation..
Probably its Garlic week :(

How Safe??

Back home in India.. girls somehow get used to eve teasing.. Either coz we dont know what to do about it.. or sometimes.. its not very serious.. Sometimes you notice a guy following you everywhere you go... But sometimes its very trivial like a guy asking your name.. You just ignore and go ahead.. But lately in India.. (havent encountered those serious ones in the recent times)
And nowadays where ever I go in India.. its either with a huge bunch of friends.. (most of them being guys.. so u know u r protected, moreover u r very busy trying to spot a beautiful girl for them) or go with family.. where all uncles brothers are there to guard you... Even when I go alone.. maximum i have encountered in the recent times are the trivial ones.. which I can easily ignore..
Well the post is not about eve teasing.. When I came to US.. hardly saw people on roads (atleast in my place.. and this is not a city) so eve teasing is out of question.. but then what if in this isolated place.. somebody comes and talks to you??

Well all this questions cropped up 2 days back..

I usually go to the gym in the evening.. There was a man(black) in there (usually the gym is isolated too, very rarely 1 or 2 come in a week at the time I go). Here usually people just smile at each other and say hi.. irrespective of they know you or not. I enter.. this guy smiles at me.. and I smile back.. Now he comes up to me.. and this was the conversation we had (the ones in brackets are either actions or things going on in my mind

He : Are u scared of me??
Me : (with my mp3 player going on) pardon!!
He : Are u scared of me??
Me : (By now headphones on shoulders) (why the hell would I be scared!!) No..
He : Oh I thought you would be
Me : (huh!! whatever) ok
He : I see you here always
Me : (what crap!! I am not even here always) ok
He : I like ladies who workout
Me : (Workout!!! I run for half an hr in the gym with so much difficulty and this guy thinks i workout.. am I Bipasha basu??) ok
He : What are u listening to (I was trying to avoid the conversation and putting back my headphones)
Me : Indian music
He : Can I listen?
Me : Sure.. (hand overs the headphone, was listening to a kannada song)
He : This is nice.. its cool..
Me : (smiles)
He : Its like R....
Me : ok.. Never heard of that...
He : Thats jamaican music
Me : ok
He : Cool

(by now I am desperate to go away from the guy and start my routine. I am on the threadmill)
He was leaving and on the way.

He : U work in (so n so company)
Me : (oh god.. leave me alone) Yes
He : I see you always
(this guy happens to work in the same place.. somewhere in business)
Me : (pissed off by now) I have never seen you
He : I even play tennis with those other guys
(Other guys here are - my friends in office - we all work together.. stay in the same apartment complex)
Me : (so what!!!) ok
He : My name is (so n so)
Me : ok
He : Whats urs??
Me : (None of ur concern) its A...
He : hmm.. thats a nice name
Me : Thanks..
He : So next time we meet say whats up.. ok
Me : (oh yeah!! I hope not to see ur face in my life) Sure.. (smiles)
He : Bye
Me : Bye (thank god.. Good riddens)

Well the point was .. I was actually scared when he left.. Is it safe here ??