Niagara Falls. ( Aug 1996 )
I rented a car on Friday evening and drove to Lancaster to Bakki's home. Next day morning, we headed towards Niagara falls. That evening, we
San Francisco, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Lake Tahoo. ( June 1996 )
I can never forget this trip. It was one of longest vacation I had ever had and the people I went with were also very nice. Our group included Ravi Raj, his wife Charulatha, Satish ( Ravi's friend) and his wife Sandhya. The trip started with all of us meeting in Las Vegas Airport. Ravi flew in from New Oreleans while Satish came from Boston and I flew from San Francisco. We gambled that night and next day, we drove to Grand Canyon, stopping at Hoover Dam. We reached Grand Canyon around 1800 hours and went straight to watch the sunset. Next day, we went for seeing the remaining of the Canyon and also went for trailing in Kabab trail.
Next day morning, we were on our way to Las Vegas to fly to San Francisco. We checked-in directly to the hotel that night. Next morning, we went to go Golden Gate Bridge, ChinaTown and Pier 39. Yosemite was our destination of our next day drive. We visited the Yosemite park the whole day. Next morning, we went to Redwood forests without Ravi as he was not feeling good. That evening we
drove back to San Francisco and I came to San Jose, whereas they took flight to Las Vegas.
New Orleans and Orlando.
I flew to New Orleans to Ravi's home on that night. Next day morning, Ravi, Charu, Ravi's friend and myself drove to Orlando and reached there by evening. We had chinese food that night in the restaurant nearby. Next 3 days, we went to Universal Studios, MGM and Disney world. We drove back to New Orleans next day and I took my return flight to Maryland.
Atlanta and Smoky Mountains.
Chennai
My first trip to India after I came from that country happened on Jan 9th, 1997. I took a Lufthansa flight from Dulles Int'l Airport to Frankfurt to Chennai. Father and Kumar came to airport and we reached home at 0200 hours early morning. I visited Tirupathi and Ranipet to meet to my old friends. Though it was a 4-week vacation, time flew by. I returned to DC on Feb 7th 1997, where I was received by Gati.
Chicago and St.Louis
Pittsburgh ( April 1998 )
This was a 1-day trip to the Shri Venkateswara temple. I, Ram and Hema rented a car and started around 0900 hours. I directly went to temple, had our lunch and tried to go the Pittsburgh Zoo. Unfortunately, the Zoo was closed. We came back the same day. It was a 6 hours drive.
Harrisburg and Allentown ( May 1998 )
Bakki was staying with me in DC for a week working in a project here. He had to go to Harrisburg for the weekend. Since I was doing nothing for that 3-day weekend, I accompanied him. I met some of his other friends in his house. On May 23rd, we just went to Harrisburg downtown. On Sunday, we went to Allentown Water Park, which was very enjoying. Next day, we planned to go drafting but it was full. So, we just went to "The Niagara of Pennsylvania" and returned to DC that night itself.
The National Capital
Toronto ( Jul 1998 )
On Jul 17, 1998, two buses were rented to go to Pankaj's
marriage from Adelphi, MD to Toronto, Canada. We were
around 100 people and started around 1900 hours and
reached the Arya Samaj hall at 0700 hours. We had some
breakfast and headed towards the motel. We refreshed
ourselves and at around 1300 hours, we reached the
hall for the ceremony. The ceremony lasted till 1600
hours. Gati, his wife Lolly and myself had our late lunch
and got ready for heading back to DC. We boarded the bus
at 1900 hours and reached DC at 0700 hours on Sunday morning.
Chicago ( Aug 1998 )
I flew to Chicago on Aug 7th, 1998 to see Ravi Raj as he was not feeling good. I also had a chance to meet RaviShankar ( Intech ) and his wife, Sumathi. I went to LakeShore Drive with them
on Aug 8th. On Sunday, we went to Aurora Temple and I relaxed for the next two days. I reached Baltimore on Aug 11th.
Chennai ( May - June 1999 )
This trip was a postponed one because I want to go to India to attend Kumar's wedding, which was on May 12, 1999. I left DC on May 1 and returned on June 26. I got a chance to meet all my relatives and friends and newarrivals in my family. I met my future wife, Lakshmi just a week before my departure to US.
Chicago ( Sep 3- 6, 1999 Labor Day Weekend)
This 3-day trip was mainly to visit 8-month old Dhruv, Ravi's son. Also, I got a chance to meet new groom Bakkiaraj and Lakshmi's sister, Uma and her mother. Myself and Ravi spent the rest of the time in downtown area and Lakeshore.
India ( Oct 19 - Nov 11, 1999 )
This is my second India trip in a year and marriage was the occasion. It happened in Chennai on Oct 24, 1999 with Lakshmi. It was memorable event with most of our relatives and friends ( including Chintamani Yadav, my college room-mate ) attending the event. After the marriage, we made a short trip to Tirupathi. Then we had to return back after celebrating Diwali.
Contact me at srini_siva@hotmail.com