DC/Niagara and back

We made the 3 day trip to DC and Niagara. Took the Chinatown L and L tour bus. It was a 2 night 3 day trip. Started on Memorial day on Monday morning at 7 am. The first day was very tiring. We reached DC and they made us change the bus as it was an NY tour bus. They took us to the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum, Capitol Hill, White House, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean and Vietnam war memorial sites. End of the day - dead tired. We stayed in Maryland at Holiday Inn.

Day 2 Tuesday started at 7 am first stop Hershey Chocolate world at Hershey PA, was pretty good, very entertaining for kids, next stop Corning Glass Factory, Corning, NY, next was Seneca lake at Geneva, one of the 5 Finger lakes, next was Niagara. We got the night view - but again we were tired. Stayed in Holiday Inn at Buffalo. By now Indian tourists have started complaining that they need an Indian vegetarian food. Also Day 2 the driver slammed into a trolley at Hershey Chocolate museum, which broke a huge glass window of the bus and passengers on that side narrowly escaped injuries. We changed the bus at the stopover at Seneca lake as it was not safe to drive the same bus till Niagara.

Day 3 - Maid of the mist and Imax movie. Imax movie was not as per my expectations they covered mythological stuff and experiements done in the past. Really was interested on facts and practical stuff - such as the electricity it produces to whichever cities/states etc etc

Back in Boston that night. Day 3 they made us change the bus again to put as back in a Boston bus - turns out that bus had started from Boston same time as our bus and covered the same spots as we did, then why didn't they put us in that bus to begin with - no idea! Bad co-ordination and we were made to miss our lunch time and asked to pick up something real quick to eat in the bus, I was trying to get food and the tour guide comes behind me shouting how the whole bus is waiting, that is it, lost my cool! Anyway it wasn't that big a deal!

Phew! Glad that the main east coast spots are done and parents enjoyed it at least despite the horrible wet weather! Luckily whenever we got of the bus - rain cleared and everything went smoothly!

खोया खोया चाँद .....

नाप तोल के जीये, या किस्मत पर छोड़ दें ?

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हजारों  ख्वाहिशें  ऐसी  के  हर  ख्वाहिश  पे  दम  निकले
बहुत  निकले  मेरे  अरमान, लेकिन  फिर  भी  कम  निकले .....

NY trip with parents

Took my parents to NY this weekend. I have been planning for the past few weekends but weather was very unpredictable, finally we decided to drive down irrespective of what the weather forecast said. We stayed over at a friend's place. I was very keen not to stay at anyone's place when we take parents around whether my husband's parents or my parents, but this time our friends really insisted we stay over at their place or there was no other way. Friday evening we drove down to Jersey city. Saturday morning parents and I started our tour. DH stayed back as he was very tierd and it made sense as he wanted to spend time with our friends. Their house was very close to the liberty island. So DH dropped us to the ferry terminal and we took the ferry and spend 2-3 hours at the island, and in the return we took the ferry to to NY city. I have to mention our friend's apartment location in Jersey city, we can see the serene Statue of liberty from their bedroom window and beautiful NY skyline from the living room. We just loved it! Did the usual Wall street, bull, etc and witnessed a television serial shooting there as well.

Stopped over at Star cafe for lunch and my parents really loved the Veg pannins there. I was keen that as much as possible they do not eat Indian as they get enough of it back home. Then took the subway to Penn station and did the Empire state building tour. The day had been pretty cloudy to begin with and cool but hadn't rained. By the time we reached the 86th floor on Empire, the clouds cleared up and parents got a spectacular view. I am glad the clouds decided to part and let the rays of the sun shine through. By the time we got out of the building we were tierd had walked so much. We met DH at Madison Square, grabbed a bite for dinner - which was Katti rolls - I really loved it. Our friends have been telling us so much about it we finally got to taste it. In fact the previous night also we had tried it but at Greenwich village. It was yummm! I also had the best Veg falafal there.

Anyway by the time it had got dark, and we had witnessed an arrest also in NY city. Some shoplifter was arrested by these handsome NYPD officers. We reached time square and it really wowed my parents as expected, clicked pictures and we rested on those stairs that have been built now. Almost 2 years back when I went with DH' parents we were struggling to find a place to rest our feet, so that we could admire the hustle-bustle, sitting. Now those stairs were such a blessing really. When my mom and I went and got some souvenirs, commotion had started again. An African-American woman was yelling at the cops as there was an emeregency and a baby was lying on the road and not breathing. So many cops surrounded the street and we happend to see a young Indian couple panicking and crying as their 3-5 yeard old son was lying on the side of the street- still and not breathing and responding. CPR was performed and by this time an ambulance arrived. It took 10 mins for ambulance to come. And whatever it is the paramedics did the boy started moving his hands and gave some hope to the parents. By this time our mood was kinda off, seeing the upset parents cry and the boy lying on the roada nd the exhaustion hit us. We then took a cab till the station and took the train back to Jersey city!

I had not left anything else for Sunday, so we got ready had a filling breakfast on India street at Dosa house, I sacrificed half my dosa to eat Pani puri (typical of me!) and we drove back home.

Now I have to plan the Niagara trip. Parents and I are planning to go sometime midweek in the Goto- chinatown buses and not bother DH with all the driving (I dont want to drive at all that far, beyond 2 hours of drive, thats not me!) .

bla! bla!

We visited Wrentham mall and we loved it - we have been wanting to go since ages and finally we did!

Weather is getting so unreliable to plan anything concrete....

Ages ago we had forgotten my DH's sweater at a friend's place, and I finally got it yesterday, its been 2 years since I had forgotten at her place and it was bugging me, it was brand new...

what's with Facebook and some people changing their status messages by the minute ....?

Isnt there a misanthrope in all of us?

These spring days....

Its May! Its a wet spring. Kind of a relief to DH's seasonal allergies. 2 weekends ago it was nice and warm and perfect spring weather and thats when he caught his allergies. After that until yesterday when he went to see the doctor he has been in a real bad state. 12-14 hour work days everyday and Hay fever, horrible combination, I dont know how he manages without complaining even once. He is not enjoying food as he should be and has lost some weight even. sigh! But that's just him patience personified with hardly or no mood swings at all that he shows. My pillar of strength. And I am glad its rubbing on to me.

Havent been able to take parents out much just yet due to reasons above - weather and husband. But they are relaxing at home, I am glad they are getting some rest. My mom is a restless soul and she used to never stay home while in India - every single day she would go out for some small shopping, or chase the tailor, maid or dhobi and somehow keep herself busy and occupied. My dad and mom are hooked on to some puzzle books I luckily had at home. My dad is so hooked on to Sudoku since last couple of years and to see this big book of Sudoku, he is excited to solve it. And ditto for my mom - difference being a words puzzle book is keeping her very busy. June is going to be a busy month for all of us. Travel and sightseeing!