Blizzard of 2010

The Northeast blizzard made a memorable debut yesterday late afternoon into today. For the NY city area, this was 6th biggest snowstorm since 1869 with accumulations up to 20 inches. For myself and Ajo, this snowstorm has truly welcomed us back to the NY weather - the real feel temperatures, the icy conditions, and the menacing commute.

 The windy conditions and the zero visibility became a real and a first-hand experience to us yesterday evening when we went to pick up my sis-in-law from her work around 7PM. The warning to stay indoors sounds almost like a chastisement until driving in such conditions becomes inevitable. Despite the 4wd which was such a blessing, driving was a nightmare yesterday. I could honestly say that it was only prayers which got us up the snowy Yonkers hills, sustained us on the icy highways, and guided us through the invisible ramps into safety. All glory to God. One wrong turn, a small inaccurate judgment or even the smallest skid by one of the neighboring cars could have made a difference. It is at these moments, you realize how awesome God is and you can't thank Him enough.

The snow plowers continue to pile up snow on either side of the road and the house owners strife to clear walkways and driveways. The norm of life halted and the "state of emergency" kicked in and there in lies the limitation of human beings. I love every bit of this insecurity.

Clearing my mind

On August 20, 2010 we arrived back in NY.  These are a few things I noticed about life since I got back.

• The traffic - It seems to me that the traffic has increased substantially and driving in the city is like being on a battle field. 
• Tolls- The price of tolls has hiked since two years. Traveling has become more expensive for us since the west coast pampered us with toll free roads and wide open spaces.
• Getting started - It is turning out to a challenge to get started or perhaps to get restarted. It is easier to change lanes when your car is already moving than a parked car. The job situation is much worse than I had actually imagined.
• Pursuit of happiness - The drive for the pursuit of happiness is ever more obvious now than ever. It really depends on what "happiness" is to you. Is it earthly or eternal? 
• World of self service - Payment counters, grocery check out, ordering kiosk, donation counters, among many others have adopted self service.
• Fearing the known - People seemed to have adopted this slogan today. Fearing the UNKNOWN is no longer applicable when people have enough to fear about the KNOWN.
• Out of Focus - My recent love of photos and my hubby's amateur shots has got me thinking. It is natural to want to have everything in focus. It is easy to have job, school, family, church, sports, music, and entertainment in focus. Americans are thriving and we are doing a good job  I think. It is much harder to get everything else out of focus but one. 

There are probably a lot more I can think about and jot down but like my title says I am using this post to simply clear my mind.

Milestone!

Today I became an aunty. What a lovely feeling! God blessed my brother with a baby boy. Baby Francis, 6.1 lbs, 19 inches and precious to each one of us.

Harder reconnnecting than connecting

Contrary to the popular belief, I found out today that it was harder reconnecting than connecting. Perhaps I have to blame myself for that. It felt like life was going in a circle and it was tougher to get on and off. Finding solution to problems are hard. I have learned that it's much easier to let God figure it out. It is not easy.

Baby shower today was fun. Laughter, joy, and gifts filled the room. I am eagerly waiting to meet my little "cupcake".  May God bless their little one.

To God be all glory! - Day 24

I am writing my last blog in this series of "Road trip USA" from our very own  home sweet home.  Praise God and to Him be all glory for His many mercies, immense love, and unending promises during this trip.

Yesterday, we left our hotel room in Cumberland, MD around 11AM. We had Chick Fil A for brunch. We headed on I-68 to I-70 to I-81 towards Pennsylvania. We were expecting some traffic but to our surprise it was actually moving very well. We took I-78 to NJ and then I-95 towards George Washington Bridge.

Around 7PM, we got into some traffic prior to GWB about 15 miles away from home. We were in traffic for about 21/2 hours. What a great welcome to NY!  We were getting restless, claustrophobic, and anxious in traffic. Who would love driving in the East. We miss the West coast and Reno a lot.

Our parents and siblings were anxiously waiting for our arrival in Yonkers. We got home last night around 10PM. It was great to be with family again and we had a great welcome home. Thanks to our little brother for all the decorations. Home cooked Indian food for dinner tasted good.

24 days, 6,500 miles, and 22 states - We finally arrived home.

I opened my eyes this morning in our bed and I felt like I woke up from a really long dream. The dream was mesmerizing West coast and Reno, our second home. We have experienced God's immense grace during this trip and we know that He has great plans for us.

Getting closer & closer - Day 23

We got back on the road around 11AM after breakfast at the Hampton Inn. We took I-64 towards West Virginia. We briefly entered Ohio around WV and KY border. The drive through West Virginia was mountainous and scenic. We stopped at the state capitol building at Charleston to take some pictures.It was peaceful and weather was less humid. We had lunch at Chick Fil A in WV.

We took I-79 North towards Morgantown, WV. We swung by West Virginia University in Morgantown. They are famous for their basketball team. After wards, we took I-68 East towards Maryland. We had dinner from CiCi's pizza, a chain not seen in NY. It was some decent pizza with a great price. We spent the night at a Red Roof Inn, Cumberland, MD.

Yesterday was our last night in a hotel room. We are getting closer and closer to NY. I am definitely happy to get home to see family and friends, yet there is that "something" I am starting to miss a lot. We have another long day ahead of us today. We hope to get to Yonkers, NY around evening time. Our families are eagerly waiting for our arrival. We thank God for all His travel mercies so far and we commit the rest into His hands.

West Virginia, the wild and wonderful

Highlights from Day 23

• Entering West Virginia, the wild and the wonderful
• State Capitol building in Charleston
• Welcome to Maryland

The Smokies and Kentucky's special - Day 22

We had a good sleep at the Spring Hill Suites, Pigeon Forge. Left the hotel after breakfast around 10:30AM. We stopped at the Grand Resort and Convention Center at Pigeon Forge since Ajo wanted to revisit the hotel after 10 years. A decade ago, the CSI conference was held in Pigeon Forge, TN. Hence the revisit. The hotel grounds and the hotels looked non-maintained and unhygienic. I was glad we chose not to stay there.

We drove to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the most visited national park in the US. It's free to the public, hence busy. We took some pictures. It was beautiful yet no where close to the parks in the West. The mountainous roads were not new to us, and the high elevations of the park were not high for us. We drove up to the 2nd highest point beyond Mississippi.

We left the park grounds around 2PM and drove through I-74 North towards Lexington, TN. As forecasted we did encounter some heavy rain and thundershowers on the road. We had two big traffic jams which took a lot of time out of our day. For the first time in a long time, we had to wait at one spot for traffic to clear up. It was not pleasant. Later we found out that both the traffic jams was due to highway collisions and one was between a truck and a car. The car was being towed away as we drove by after the fact and the car looked almost flat. I really hope and pray that the people survived. We often forget how much God protects us and cares for sinners like us.

The rain had gotten better when we got into Kentucky. Kentucky, the home of the Kentucky Fried Chicken. So we drove to the first KFC location and ate from there. The chicken tasted really good since a long time. Our planned destination was Huntington, WV. Due to traffic delay, we weren't able to go that far, and hence decided to spent the night at Hampton Inn, Winchester, KY. We had some delay getting our room last night due to system issues. We had an awesome breakfast and we are ready to hit the road for another exciting day through the East coast traffic. Today is our 2nd to last day of travel. I can't thank God enough for His mercies.

Highlights from Day 22

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• KFC original location

Atlanta to Tennesse - Day 21

Yesterday, we left Atlanta at about 10:30AM. We were on the road and realized that our camera had Zero charge to take any photos. Hence we had to stop at a Borders to charge our Camera battery.

Our next destination was Knoxville, TN. We are staying at Pigeon Forge, TN. We are planning to visit the great smoky mountain this morning.

Family Fun - Day 20

Good morning Monday!

We visited Ajo's two other uncles, saw our cousins, met Ajo's 18 month cousin for the first time, and met with some friends. How exciting!

We were exhausted by the end of the day and we were stuffed by the end of the day. Family is always fun.

Welcome EST! - Day 19

From Meridian, MS we drove to sweet home Alabama and from there to Atlanta, GA. We made some stops to buy gifts for Ajo's cousins in Atlanta. The drive was great, and weather was pleasant. We were finally in the same time zone and getting closer to home.

We ate lunch at Zaxby's, a chain in the south. We got to Buford, GA around 8:30PM EST. We spent the night at Ajo's uncle's place in Buford. Ben & Christine, our little cousins were excited to see us. It was nice to see them all.

Three digits to two digits - Day 18

We are in Meridian, Mississippi and headed towards Atlanta, GA today. We hope to get their by evening.

Holiday Inn at Little Rock, AR was a great hotel. We went to Waffle House for breakfast. We had the most amazing breakfast we have ever had. We had to do Laundry in the hotel premises and that was quite the havoc and time consuming. We checked out around noon.

We drove by the state capitol building to take some pictures. It was humid and 102 degrees. The downtown was empty and it felt like a ghost town. I guess that's what heat does to you. Keep you indoors. We headed on 540 South to Pine bluff, AR where we shopped at a Walmart for drinks. We took US 425 South into Monroe, LA and then I-20 East towards Meridian, MS.

Most of our day was driving and passing by different states we haven't had the opportunity to see yet.

My title is a little vague and let me explain what it means. We entered Texas on Monday and we haven't seen a 2 digit temperature read until yesterday in Louisiana. 3 digit temperatures with humidity is absolutely insane. Feels good to get out of the heat wave even if that means it's for day or two.

We stayed at a La Quinta Inn last night. We had Church's Chicken for dinner and I think we were in the East LA part of Meridian, MS. We waited 20 minutes for our chicken but it was worth the wait I tell you. I woke up at 3AM to lightning and loud thunder. I have heard thunder and slept through thunderstorms but this was frightening. The could not slept through the one last night. But eventually I did. I closed my eyes, prayed to God, and woke up this morning to a calm and peaceful day.

Highlights from Day 18

• Drove through AR into LA
• Mississippi

From Little Rock, AR - Day 17

We are in Little Rock, AR. Yesterday we were in Joplin, Missouri. We headed to Baxter Springs, KS to see the Kansas border. We shopped at a Walmart in Baxter Springs. It was a cozy town. We visited the Precious Moments Chapel & Museum at Carthage, MO. The paintings were really amazing. It was so peaceful to walk around inside the chapel area with stained glass windows and wall paintings.

From Carthage, MO, we took US 71 South to Bentonville where we visited the first ever Walmart (called Walton's back in the day). We also took pictures by the Walmart Head Quarters. We also stopped at Springdale to take a snap of the Tyson world head quarters.

We took I-540 South and I-40 East towards Little Rock, AR. We are making some progress towards our final destination. We stayed at a Holiday Inn near Little Rock Airport. Today, we are headed towards Mississippi.

Highlights from Day 17

• Precious Moments Visit
• Head Quarters
• Entering Kansas and Arkansas
  

Entering Missouri for a day- Day 16

Getting up in the morning did not feel so good. We wished we could have slept more. Ajo's little cousin was waiting by the door since 6AM or so to play with us. She is such a cutie pie. Love her unending entertainment and her funny Malayalam conversations.

We had breakfast at Ajo's aunt's place and we spent the rest of the morning there and had lunch before we got back to Ajo's Grandma's place. It was hard to say goodbye as always to family.

We left Yukon aorund 3:30PM and drove through I-44 East towards Tulsa and then into Joplin, Missouri. Our time in Missouri is very limited. We are pretty much driving through a small fragment of the state. The exciting part is "we are in Missouri". We love it. We slept at a Sleep Inn last night. We are headed towards Arkansas this morning.

Highlights from Day 16

• Entering Joplin, MO

HOT... HOT... HOT - Day 15

We left our hotel room around 11AM. Our next destination is Yukon, OK. We continued our journey on I-45 North towards Dallas, TX. I thought Houston was hot. It was cool compared to 110 degrees around Dallas area. Dallas also had an air pollution warning the same day. We had lunch at Whataburger, a burger chain in the south.

Oklahoma was flat, redundant, and hot. This is our second time in Oklahoma. We headed to see Ajo's Grand Mother and Aunts who live in Yukon. We made a quick stop at Mardel Christian Book Store in Norman, OK buy gifts. We enjoyed the store a ton and wished we had some thing similar in the Northeast.

We had quality time with family on Wednesday night.

Highlights from Day 15

• Entry to Oklahoma
• Family Visit
  
  

Quick drive through Galveston - Day 14

We woke up around 8AM. Ajo took the car in for a tire balance in Houston Toyota. We drove to Galveston, TX around 10:30AM with Ajo's cousins. It was a fun trip. We went to Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX.

We went to our friends place in Spring, TX around evening time. We paid three different tolls a total of $4.50 on San Houston Tollway. Our first toll since we left Reno, NV two weeks ago. We enjoyed nice home made dinner from our friends place. We had a good time with them reconnecting and reminiscing.

We drove to Huntsville last night and we stayed at a La Quinta off  I-45.

Highlights from Day 14

• Galveston, TX

San Antonio & Houston - Day 13

We left our hotel room 8 AM and continued on through I-10 to San Antonio We stopped to visit the Alamo in downtown. It was a pretty interesting visit. It was so hot and humid that we had to get back into the car after 2 hours.

We reached Ajo's aunt's house around 6:15PM. They live around Sugarland area. We spent time with the kids and family. After dinner, we headed over to another aunt's house in Michigan City to sleep.

Life is good and above all God is good. We look forward to today and we are planning to visit Galveston with Ajo's cousins.

Highlights from Day 13

• The Alamo

We say good bye to the mountains & the western states - Day 12

We left La Cruces, NM after our cooked  to order breakfast at Best Western. We got on I-10 East towards Texas. We had traffic near the US border patrol check-point past El Paso area. Luckily we got a head nod and a "go ahead" but we did see a few people pulled over to the side who were actively giving explanations to the officers.

We entered central time zone around central Texas area. As we drove on I-10 towards San Antonio, the sage brushes disappeared, the mountains dissipated, and the horizon got closer. It was sad to say good bye to the mountain ranges and the western states.

We got to Sonora, Texas around 8 PM CST. We are staying at a Days Inn tonight and we are headed towards Houston in the morning. Though we are eager to get home to family and loved ones, this trip is quite the bitter sweet experience as we say our good byes indefinitely to the west coast. We will surely return. When and how soon, we don't know....but we hope it will be soon.

Highlights from Day 12

• Entering Texas, the lone star state
• Central Time Zone
• Saying adios to our beloved west coast
  
  

White Sands - Day 11

We left our hotel in Albuquerque around 10 am and stopped at Dunkin Donuts for breakfast (our first Dunkin Donuts in a while).  We sat with four strangers who meet there everyday for the past 20 days. We conversed with them for awhile and it was a great experience. They were so welcoming and friendly.

We got on the road to Las Cruces, NM, our next destination. We stopped at Hatch, NM, the chile capital in the world. Their locally grown green chilies has won many awards for the best green chile in the world. Ajo had to stop here and eat at Pepper Pot restaurant.

We got to Las Cruces, NM around 4PM. We took a side trip to see the White Sands National Monument. Miles and miles of white, I mean pure white sand. It looks like snow. We enjoyed a warm sunset on the sand and took a stroll through the sand. We had dinner at "Si Senor". It was great american food, I mean New Mexican Cuisine. =)

We are heading to Texas today and saying good bye to the beautiful Western states which has entertained and intrigued us the past two years. Memories of the West will stay with us forever.

Highlights from Day11

• Dunkin Donuts experience
• The Chile Capital in the world, Hatch, NM
• White Sands National Monument

Santa Fe & vicinity - Day 10

We headed to downtown Santa Fe in the morning. The weather was pleasant in the 70's. What more can you ask for in August. We walked around downtown, visited the state capitol building, the oldest church building in US (San Miguel Church), and stopped at the Lorretto chapel's miraculous staircase.  The downtown adobe building were so unique and beautiful and added great charm to Santa Fe.

We headed north to Chimayo to have New Mexican cuisine at Rancho de Chimayo. They had great food and it was so authentic that we fell in love with the restaurant. The prices were reasonable as well. Our next stop is Albuquerque.

We drove to Albuquerque through I-25 South and checked into the Marriott in the uptown area. Albuquerque reminded me a lot of Reno with mountain around and with streets that resembled McCarran Blvd and Virginia St. The city sits in a valley similar to Reno.

Of course for dinner we had to try New Mexican cuisine again. We ate at El Pinto restaurant in Northern part of town. The food was little pricey and I felt that the Sante Fe restaurants were way better. We headed back to the hotel after dinner. Today we are headed to Las Cruces.

Highlights of Day10

• Downtown Santa Fe adobe building
• Rancho de Chimayo Cuisine
• Albuquerque downtown and historic route 66
• El Pinto New Mexican Cuisine

The Land of Enchantment - Day 9

We had a really long and busy day yesterday. We picked up our Rav 4 around 9:00am. Global Collisions did a great job and we were so excited to continue our journey. We continued on I-25 South through Colorado Springs and Pueblo to New Mexico, our next destination. We stopped at the US Olympic Training Facility in Colorado Springs.

As we drove through I-25 to New Mexico, the mountains became smaller and  the horizon grew closer. It was valleys and plateaus  for miles. After we entered New Mexico, we encountered a thunderstorm. We passed through some big downpour and hail on the roadways but luckily we did not have to drive through hail. We sang songs and prayed through the thunderstorms and God brought us safe to Santa Fe. The skies cleared around Las Vegas area, and it was beautiful to see the greenery and low lying mountains.

We got to Santa Fe, the oldest and the highest elevation (7000 ft) state capital in America. We checked in to the Econolodge (also owned by an Indian) around 7:30PM. We headed to the historic plaza, Santa Fe. It was quite busy and touristy. We had dinner at the plaza cafe, the oldest restaurant in  Santa Fe. Ajo had a bowl of green chile with carne asada and two fresh sopapillas - he fell in love with the dish and New Mexican cuisine in general. He told me he might come to stay here forever just because of the food.

Highlights of Day 9

• Got our car back repaired
• US Olympics Training Facility
• New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment
• Thunderstorms on I-25 in northern New Mexico
• Santa Fe Historic Plaza

The Rockies - Day 8

Our day started with a trip to Global Collisions to get an update about our car. We then drove to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO. The rocky mountains is the world's longest mountain barrier and it forms the backbone of North America. It stretches from Mexico to Alaska. The park's main road Trail Ridge Road inside the park is the highest continuous highway in the United States. It reaches a maximum elevation of 12,183 ft (3,713 meters). It was a very scenic drive.

I miss my small city already. Coming back from Rocky Mountain National Park was an ordeal. There was traffic every where and the rush hour added more chaos than ever. Two years in Reno has perhaps spoiled us that the site of heavy traffic is aggravating. We are in for a rude awakening when we get back to NY.

We got news that our car was ready for pick-up. We will be heading over this morning to Global Collisions. We plan to get back on the road and head to New Mexico today.

About 11:15 last night, I was startled from my deep sleep by the hotel emergency alarm system. No one could sleep through that noise. The alarm was accompanied with an announcement to exist the hotel immediately. My heart was pounding and Ajo & I rushed out to the exist with many others who were in panic as well. Going down those 6 floors to reach the bottom was perhaps an experience I will never forget. My mind was blank. We even had no idea what time it was. It was about 40 degrees outside and within minutes firefighters arrived. Apparently someone pulled alarm for no reason and the hotel evacuation alarm set off. We got back in our rooms by 11:50 or so. Out all the hotel rooms we had stayed, it was our first evacuation and I was able to gather that my crisis management skills was not the best.

Highlights from Day 8

• Rocky Mountains
• Maximum elevation we have been at changed to 12,183 ft (3,713 meters)
• Hotel evacuation

The Mile High City - Day 7

We are still halted in the mile high city meanwhile our car is getting repaired. Yesterday, we went for a city tour by Graylines. The tour was satisfactory but it could have been a lot better.

We got picked up from our hotel at 7:30am (half an hour late) and we started from tour at 9am (again half an hour late). The 4 hour tour lasted about 2 hours or so and our guide was done and just drove the rest of the way. He focused more on neighborhoods and houses instead of downtown buildings, old down-town and so. Despite all the negatives, Portland tour still ranks # 1 as the worst city tour so far.

The tour took us through posh  neighborhoods, Governor's mansion, State Capitol, and a quick drive through downtown. We got dropped back at the hotel at 12:15PM. We ate Chick Fil A for lunch and then checked in to our new hotel.

Around 3:30PM, we drove to Littleton, CO. Columbine High School incident in April of 1999 will never be forgotten. It was our generation. The high school kids were as old as us. I still remember the incident like yesterday, a tragedy that shook the country and school systems. We visited the Columbine Memorial in Clement Park next to the school. Memorials to the 12 students and 1 teacher who lost their lives and quotes from students, teachers, and parents after the incident brought tears and great sadness to my heart. Ajo wanted to visit this memorial for a really long time and I am glad we got to do it.

After Columbine, we drove to the city to take some pictures at the State Capitol Marker which says "One Mile Above Sea Level". It's a popular marker and perhaps one of the most photographed spot by tourists. We had dinner at Noodles & Company. We are hoping to get our car today evening. We are heading to Rocky Mountain National Park today.

Highlights of Day 7

• City Tour
• Columbine Memorial
• State Capitol Marker

A Stressful Day - Day 6

We are currently in Denver, CO. Around 11am, we were on our way to get our windshield replaced at safelite, we got into a  small car accident. God really protected us and kept us safe. It was a shock but no one got hurt. Our passenger side bumper area, fender area, and the head lights got damaged. There is a reason every thing happens in life the way it does. We put our complete trust in God.

We have to get our car repaired in Denver at an auto body shop. Currently, our Rav 4 is at Global Collisions getting repaired. We rented a Toyota, Prius to get around in town in the mean time. We are hoping to get back on the road on Thurday morning if everything goes as planned.

Events like these often cause great disappointments and sadness but life is such and as long as you have an anchor to hold on to, you will survive the roaring waves and the high winds.  We will hold on to Jesus Christ, our anchor more than ever starting today. Perhaps, that was His purpose to draw us closer to Him.

We spent our entire day on the phone. We went to dinner at Chipotle. This was not just any Chipotle. We ate at the every first Chipotle and we got free T-shirts as well.  I guess that was the highlight of our day.

First ever Chipotle Mexican Grill at Evans Ave, Denver. CO

Highlights of Day 6

• Lessons learned from a fender-bender
• Visit to the first Chipotle restaurant

Welcome to colorful Colorado - Day 5

We left our hotel in Moab at around 11am Sunday morning. We took I-70 East to Denver, Colorado.  The entire stretch to Denver was really impressive especially the Glenwood canyon area and the Eisenhower Tunnel area. The Eisenhower tower has a maximum elevation of 11,158 feet and length of 1.7 miles. It is the longest mountain tunnel and highest point along the Interstate Highway System. 11, 158 feet is the highest elevation Ajo & I have been at so far.

It was drizzly all day and we encountered some moderate showers by Veil pass and Eisenhower tunnel area. We had quite a bit of traffic driving into Denver after the Eisenhower tunnel. It took about 2 hours to get to our hotel room. We ate at a Popeyes Chicken for dinner.

Colorful Colorado

Highlights of Day 5

• Scenic Interstate Drive through Colorado
• Eisenhower Tunnel elevation at 11,158 feet

More adventure and more GRACE - Day 4

To visit Arches National Park has been a dream of mine for about a year or so now. It was the Utah license plate with a photo of a stand alone arch that grabbed my attention. A year or so later, I am here at one of the most beautiful places on earth.

We checked out of Days Inn at about 7:00 AM to go back to Arches National Park. Why so early? We were on our way to hike a 3 mile round trip to see the "delicate arch." A 3 year old inspired us to  venture this hike. Amazing, isn't it? Hike up to the delicate arch is labeled as a strenuous hike due to the elevation climb and the unpaved steep trail. To make a long story short, a 3 year old hiked up the trail and here we had already given up even before trying. This hike is the major tourist attraction not because of the hike itself but to witness, touch and admire the delicate arch up close.

The 1.5 mile up to the arch was pretty tedious but we hydrated ourselves, took breaks, and chatted along the way to keep us busy. We met tourists from all over the world hiking and finally there it was the delicate arch stood tall, unique and fearless. It was worth every bit of the time and adventure to view this natural arch. It was just simply splendid. For a moment I felt it was a dream. Am I really here? Did I really do this?. At the top, among hundreds of tourists of all ages admiring the arch, I was among them. It was an incredible experience.

The hike down was easier and went by quicker. We drove back to Moab to have lunch. About a mile away from the city area, I heard a popping loud sound. Ajo & I were totally shocked to see that something, perhaps a rock had hit our passenger side windshield and it cracked. The crack is about 8 inches or so but luckily by God's grace it is only superficial. We are thanking God for his divine protection.

We ended our day at Canyonlands National Park which was about 40 miles away from Moab.The canyon was vivid, serene, and beautiful. We got back to Moab around 9PM. Driving down the park, we saw some amazing lightning at a distant. We are spending the night at a Super 8 Motel in Moab. We are headed to Denver next.

Delicate Arch - that's me standing under the arch

Highlights of Day 4

• Hiking up to delicate arch (3 mile round-trip) at Arches
• Delicate Arch
• Canyonlands National Park

From the land of arches and canyons - Day 3

Friday morning at about 10:30am we left Richfield , UT and continued on I-70 East after having breakfast at Arby's. I-70 through Utah is amazing so far. It is the most beautiful stretch of Interstate we have been on so far. The view points off the highway were just stunning and no photographer can capture the immensity and beauty of the canyons and rocks as the I-70 passes by San Rafael Swell. I-70 through Utah and Colorado is considered an engineering marvel and among them is the San Rafeal Swell passage in Utah.

We stopped at a Subway in Green River, UT for lunch and took US 191 South towards Moab, UT. We got to Moab area around 4PM. We spent the rest of the evening at Arches National Park. I was marveled at the natural high-risers, the many nature's arches, and the elegance of  earth. We stopped at Park Avenue view point, balance rock, and the windows view point. We hiked one mile to the admire the beauty and the grandiosity of the nature's windows up close. We ended the day at the Delicate Arch view point and took some late evening shots. We headed back to Moab after sunset and checked in to a Days-Inn (Also owned by Indians...how funny...two consecutive days and that too in the least expected towns and cities).

San Rafael Swell on I-70 East

Highlights of Day 3

• San Rafael Swell on I-70
• Arches National Park -Park Avenue, Windows, and Balance rock
• Hike of the day - 1 mile round trip hike to view the "windows" closer

Stepping into Mountain Time on Day 2

We left Ely, NV around 11:30am after breakfast and we continued on US 50 and headed to Baker. We stopped at Great Basin National Park, perhaps one of the least visited park in the US park systems. Great Basin is the only cold desert among the four deserts. The park area itself is huge but paved roads are few with numerous hiking opportunities. We took a 12 miles scenic drive to the Wheeler Peak look out spot. We were at an elevation of 10,000 + feet at one point and that is perhaps the highest so far in our travels.

We headed to Utah after visiting the park. We took pictures at the Nevada- Utah state-line. It was a sad moment as we said good bye to Nevada one last time. Nevada has no stunning architecture, no spectacular must-see attractions, and no picturesque beauty like Yosemite, CA. I had tears in my eyes when I looked back one last time to glimpse at the endless desert, the brown mountains, and the miles of sagebrush.  Who would have thought that we would fall in love with such a place on earth.

Saying good-bye to Nevada, our home for the past 2 years

Welcome to Utah, Life Elevated.

We stepped into Mountain Time Zone a few miles past the border. We continued on US 50 until we joined I -15, our first Interstate in 600 miles. I-15 to I-70 to Denver is our route for a few days. We stopped at Richfield, UT to spent the night. We are staying at a Super 8 Motel owned by an Indian. Exactly, a small town in Utah has Indians. Are you serious?.

We are heading towards Moab, UT today. I ask for God's provisions, guidance, and forgiveness.

Highlights of  Day 2

• Wheeler Peak Drive at Great Basin National Park
• Highest elevation so far at 10, 000 + feet at Wheeler Peak trail. 
• Good bye to Nevada and welcome to Utah
• Entering Mountain Time Zone

Day 1 of our USA road trip

July 28, 2010, Wednesday, marked a very crucial day in our life. We said good bye to Reno. Two years sure doesn't feel like a long time but it was long enough that it was hard to say our final good byes to our friends and friends who became our family. We will miss Reno very much.

We left Reno officially around 1 PM yesterday. We took US 50 to Carson City and then to Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and finally Ely, NV. We stayed at a Motel 6 at Ely, NV. I am writing this blog from our hotel room. US 50 also known as the Lincoln Highway has a stretch from Fallon to Ely, NV which is called the loneliest highway in the United States. It did feel lonely at some spots but it was a great drive. We have a long way ahead of us and we cling on to God's promises.

Fiery Sunset

          Highlights from Day 1

• Survived the loneliest highway in the US
• Rainbow in the desert on US 50
• Fiery sunset near Ely, NV
  

Service Today

Walking in and out of Grace Church, Reno, NV on Sundays came to an end today as we attended our last service in Reno, NV. Our hearts were filled with sadness and great amount of thanksgiving as we said good bye to Grace Church today. Grace Church, Reno served as a comfort and a spiritual stepping stone since we arrived in Reno two years ago.

Words cannot express our joy to have found a church like Grace. Each service was a new experience.

"Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see" the song writer wrote years ago which we sing to this day and regardless of where you are in life, a song that kindles our hearts and our souls each time we sing it aloud. Our lives in Reno is a perfect testament of how God provides.

The Grand Loop in a Week

I am back from a fabulous road trip to Yellowstone National Park. Ajo & I had a great time with lots of stories and memories. Here is a brief synopsis of our trip highlights:

June 4, 2010 , Friday - We left Reno in the morning and drove down I-80 to Winnemuca, then took US 95 North via Oregon state to Boise, Idaho. It was drizzly and cloudy all day but we enjoyed the drive down. We spotted a coyote crossing the road but unfortunately we couldn't capture it in our camera. Friday night we stayed at Hyatt place in Boise.

June 5, 2010, Saturday - The complimentary breakfast at Hyatt Place did not meet the standards of a Hyatt chain hotels. We drove to  Boise State University and then headed to the downtown area and  the state capital building. We left Boise and drove through I-84 E, I-86 E and then took US 20 to West Yellowstone, Montana. In Montana we witnessed "the most beautiful rainbow" and it was just splendid. We checked into One Horse Motel in Montana.

June 6, 2010, Sunday - We drove from the West entrance of the park to the North entrance at Gardiner, Montana. We saw numerous Bison, few deer, and handful of elks. The drive was beautiful and apart from the occasional cloudiness, it was a gorgeous day. We stopped at Mammoth hot springs a popular tourist attraction. We drove back to our hotel in West Yellowstone and we visited the grizzly and wolfe discovery center at West Yellowstone. We saw four grizzly bears and four wolfs. Though they weren't in the wild setting, it was good to see them up close.

June 7, 2010, Monday - Since we were speculating a long drive to Jackson, Wyoming, we started our trip at 6am in the morning. Our first stop was the famous "Old Faithful Geyser". This famous geyser is perhaps the most visited site at Yellowstone National Park. The geyser erupts every 90 minutes and the eruption is a great visual treat to the eyes and an amazing wonder. It was cloudy and rainy most of the day but we were able to see the geyser erupt. After breakfast at the Old Faithful lodge, we continued our road trip. We took a detour to see Yellowstone Lake, the largest mountain lake in North America. The day was hazy and the water looked pale gray to white. We drove to the south entrance and entered Grand Teton National Park. The worst part of the trip was not the rain but  potholes. I drove through some really bad potholes and it was so bad that I had tears by the time I departed the mile long treacherous road. We stopped at a few turns outs on the road to Jackson when we were near the Teton mountain range. It was about evening time and sun was out again. We checked into our hotel, Anglers Inn at Jackson, Wyoming.

June 8, 2010, Tuesday - The weather on Tuesday was the best weather of the entire week. Sun was out, it was warm, and most of all it was consistent all day. Weather predictions were out the door for that day. In order to take advantage of the weather, we drove to Yellowstone National Park and tried to do most of the sightseeing that day. The roads were pretty busy as Tuesday turned out to be the best weather for the week for all Yellowstone tourists. We drove through Yellowstone lake and the water was blue and pristine with the sun's rays. We spent part of our afternoon visiting the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The view from artists point was just stunning. The roaring and the uninterrupted waterfalls at distant combined with the multi -hued rocks was simply breathtaking. We also took a short hike to the brink of the upper falls . We stopped at the Old Faithful Geyser to catch another eruption against the clear blue sky. It was worth the stop. We drove back to Jackson admiring the beauty of Grand Teton National Park.

June 9, 2010, Wednesday - We checked out from our Motel at Jackson and spend the morning in Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. We started our return back home to Reno Wednesday afternoon. We drove to Idaho Falls that night. We stopped and took some waterfall shots. We stayed at Best Western at Idaho Falls. The hotel had reasonable rates and very good breakfast.

June 10, 2010, Thursday - We drove to the Idaho Potatoe Museum at Blackfoot. The museum was small but quite informative. We visited Shoshone Falls and Twin Falls in Idaho on our way back home. Thursday night we stayed at a Motel 8 in Wells, Nevada.

June 11, 2010, Friday - We drove back to Reno  from I 80 West from Wells, NV. We stopped at Lovelock, NV which is about 90 miles from Reno. We "locked our love" which is an old Chinese tradition adopted in the year 2006 by locals in the area. When we got home at about 7PM, our odometer read about 2300 miles. God was so great during our trip. He protected us and guided us and kept us safe until the last minute. It is awesome to proclaim the greatness of his grace and mercy.

West Coast Escapade

We are back in Reno from a great west coast tour with our families. It was quite the adventure and I enjoyed every bit of it.

May 13, Thurday - Our parents and brother landed in Reno airport about 5pm PST. We picked them from the airport with our rental 2011 Toyota, Sienna.

May 14, Friday - After shopping at Walmart together, we went to Grand Sierra Resort and ate the buffet. Friday evening, Ajo graduated from the MSIS program at UNR. It was blessed ceremony and a really proud moment.

May 15, Saturday - We attended our prayer fellowship and headed to Lake Tahoe and then to Sacramento.

May 16, Sunday - We drove to San Francisco. We stopped at the popular tourist attraction like the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, and the Painted Ladies.

May 17, Monday - We started our longed drive from Hayward, CA to Los Angeles. We were able to see the Hollywood sign and the city skyline before it got dark.

May 18, Tuesday - We drove to Vegas and spent the afternoon strolling down the Las Vegas Strip and enjoying the so called "Entertainment Capital of the World."

May 19, Wednesday - We drove to the Grand Canyon. On the road we stopped at Hoover Dam on the Nevada- Arizona border. A glimpse of Grand Canyon brings awe and wonder. The grandiosity of God is what Grand Canyon reminded me off.

May 20, Thurday - We spend the morning till late afternoon exploring Vegas. Our families boarded the plane to JFK at 11:00 PM. Ajo & I drove to Stratosphere to experience the night time view of Vegas. It was windy but stunning and worth the long wait.

May 21, Friday - We started our drive back to Reno. We drove to LA and visited Griffith Observatory on Friday evening.

May 22, Saturday - A long drive though 395 -North got us home to Reno about 9:15PM.

Here ends the long escapade of  a great road trip. God's grace empowered us, strengthened us, and protected us till we got home Saturday night.

Happy Graduation!

Today is May 14, Friday of 2010.  Ajo is graduating from his MSIS degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Congratulation to my truly beloved. He is going to accomplish one of the many goals in his life today. This day is special and dear to us for many reasons. This diploma is not just another piece of paper which confirms his higher educational accomplishment but it is more so a reminder of God's grace, His love, and His purpose.

Both our parents and Ajo's brother are in town for his graduation. They arrived yesterday evening. They came all the way from NY. When Ajo started this program back in 2008, this day seemed so distant and the days ahead seemed foggy. But now looking back, it was just the greatest experience in our life.

Air Traffic Gridlock

On April 14, Wednesday, 2010, the world awakened to the news about the eruption of  Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano which was dormant for about 200 years. As ashes, fumes, and lava fill the air, it caused chaos all over the world when all jets and airplanes were grounded in the surrounding areas. Travel planes for thousands were disrupted and airliners lost millions due to the recent havoc.

Today, flights resume in Europe as authorities confirmed the safety of the air-crafts after almost a week of chaos. Perhaps it will take days or even weeks to recuperate as airliners struggle to reconcile the effects of more than 95,000 canceled flights. Time will tell and time will heal. 

Desert in its fullness Part 2

Here, I will continue my previous blog from yesterday. Friday evening we drove through the Panamint Mountain Range to get to Death Valley. The road was steep and curvy. The drive was scenic and serene. Our first stop was Stovepipe Wells visitor center followed by Sand Dunes where we watched an amazing sunset. We drove to our hotel at Amargosa Valley, NV. The Longstreet Inn and Casino is where we lodged for the following two nights. It was just by chance, Ajo found this Inn near Death Valley which was not publicized at many of the Death Valley visitor sites. God's guidance was the reason we were able to get their last available room that day.

Next morning we rented a Jeep from Farabee's Rentals opposite Furnace Creek Inn at Death Valley. First time ever in our life, we were going off road and it was quite exciting. We rented a silver Jeep, Wrangler which was equipped to do off roads in Death Valley. Our destination was "Racetrack Playa" where they have the moving rocks. Due to road constructions, our trip took little longer than expected. We had full tank of gas, our trusty GPS, and food in the car.

The true fun began at the start of Racetrack Valley Road and it was just 28 miles of true adventure. The road was long and bumpy but I would not go back in time to change anything about the trip. Our 28 miles was just a narrow dirt road with loose gravel, washboard and rocks. We were able to go 20 -30 mph most of the time. We took videos, laughed, and took pictures. At the same time, we kept ourselves hydrated. "Gatorade never tasted so good", Ajo said. I totally agree. At Tea Kettle Junction (6 miles from playa), we met Bill from CT, who rented a similar vehicle from Farabee's and was on his way as well to explore the racetrack playa  all by himself. That is truly adventurous.

Racetrack playa did not captivate me from a distant but as I got closer and closer, I realized that it was truly a gem in the desert. We were actually standing on the floor of an ancient lake and it was vast and endless before our eyes. Then we moved on further down the road to see the moving rocks. The tracks which the rocks traveled are obviously apparent but how the rocks move is the unsolved mystery. It was a really windy day at racetrack playa and Bill humorously said, "It's obviously the wind". My hat blew off and as a good husband Ajo ran across the playa chasing my hat around and finally got a hold of it.

Our return was equally fun and exciting. We enjoying pink, purple, and yellow wild flowers in the desert on our way back. I remember the "shirtless" man on the road back who brushed against our Jeep's side view mirror and Ajo did a hand gesture saying "Thank you" or "That's OK" . Fun times!. We returned to stovepipe wells to pump gas and to take a small bathroom break.

We continued to see the pup fish at the salt creek. This pup fish is found only in the salt water creek at Death Valley and nowhere else on earth. What a gem in the desert!. On our way back Furnace Creek, we took a quick stop at Zabriski Point just after sunset. We dropped off the rental Jeep and returned back to the hotel. The sky was clear and stars furnished the skies that night. I parked off pavement to have Ajo  watch the stars from outside while I gazed at them from the car.

We were exhausted and slept that night peacefully. More to follow.

Desert in its fullness Part 1

Last weekend, we were truly blessed to visit Death Valley National Park, a park shared by Nevada and California. True beauty in the dirt is what this park is about. When we started our journey on April 9th, 7:30am from Reno, NV, never in my wildest dream did I think that this would be one of the best trips we have made so far. Sometimes, big surprises come to us  in the most unexpected places. Incredible experiences, memorable times, and unique adventures - that was Death Valley for me and I can say it was the same for Ajo as well.

Waking up April 9th, Friday morning was truly a challenge like it has been for all our trips in the past. It was harder to get going that particular Friday morning since I had work the previous two days, I went to bed about 1am or so and had absolutely no packing started. Ajo did not sleep that night since he had a homework assignment due the following day and after finishing his assignment, he lingered on till the morning researching about the trip and doing random things.

I woke up at 5am and we managed to leave by 7:30am. We carried ample amount of water, drinks, and snacks for the road since we weren't quite sure what the desert had to offer us. We started our trip on US 395 North and continued. After taking a short nap in the car while Ajo was driving, I took the wheels from him to let him rest and catch some sleep. After sleeping for 45 minutes or so, Ajo woke up energized. We drove through Bishop, Lone Pine and then made a quick stop at Mt Whitney area to revisit the stature of the highest mountain peak in the US outside of Alaska. It was incredible to see the snow capped rugged mountain peak from the start of Whitney Portal Rd and it brought back memories from our trip on August of 2009.

Since we were going to stop by Vegas for a night, we reserved our hotel room prior to entering Highway 90 to Death Valley. Highway 90 to Death Valley has no cell phone reception, no gas stations and no sign of life except for the rare oncoming traffic every 10 miles. We stopped on Highway 90 to find a popular U2 album iconic tree, "The Joshua Tree". As a kid, Ajo loved the songs in the album and years later he was truly excited to remember his childhood memories. The iconic tree had fallen over and died years ago but fans had retrieved the spot and placed tributes in the very exact spot. It was truly an adventure to find this place in the middle of nowhere.

We started our hike into the desert abyss with our trusty rental GPS, a backpack with water, and above all with our trust in God.  After about 1/2 a mile, we found it, there it was lying flat on the ground proudly with a dead bark and dry roots. Around the tree lie memories and monuments created by fans all over the world which makes the tree alive even today. We had accomplished something at that moment and it was too surreal for me at least. We had taken up an adventure and followed though and it was our first time and perhaps it would be our last. Regardless, it felt great to be out in the desert on a late afternoon with our faith in God. At a distance I was able to spot the roof rack of our Toyota and I have to say that it did give me a sense of comfort. We walked back to the car and resumed our journey into more new discoveries. More to follow on my next post.

My other blogs.

Few weeks ago, Ajo and I started two new blogs. Perhaps that could justify my lack of blog post here in my personal notebook.  Our two new blogs are through word press.

1) My personal Blog
"My Notebook" will stay on blogger and I will be penning my thoughts here from time to time. My husband influenced me to start this blog last year in September and I am glad he did. Here my thoughts come alive and my words are never obsolete. A blog which I started for myself  with no great expectation of audience or readers. If you stumble upon my blog, I invite you to read, comment and offer suggestions.

2) Our Shutter Sounds
A blog to express our love for photography, travel, and much more. My husband and I will be sharing our favorite photos and travel experiences. This will be a lifetime treasure of memories and adventures.
www.ourshuttersounds.wordpress.com

3) Fruitfulness
A blog dedicated to write about our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my favorite and the most valuable one. Ajo and I will share a bit of our life and about the Lord we came to know individually and hand in hand. It is a challenge to write here and I pray for God's guidance to keep us going.
www.fruitfulness.wordpress.com

The Cross, the symbol of GRACE

Today "Good Friday" is celebrated around the world. Services are monotonous, people are unchanged, and life remains stagnant. This is "Good Friday" for most of us. Separated from His love but yet close to all the religious rituals. Year after year, the same vicious cycle continues where spirituality for a day or two or even three is satiating for people who claim to be Christians.

If cross is truly a symbol of grace, you and I should be celebrating the importance of the cross not just once a year on a Friday, instead every day and every minute. A cross becomes meaningful when we fully understand "Who" and "For whom".  You already know the answer, its "Christ" for "me". The meaning of cross in three words, "Christ for me".

March Miracle

March 16, 2009 was a very crucial day in my life and Ajo's life. Monday morning, we started a road trip to visit Arizona. It was still the winter season but the first day of spring was just round the corner. Weather was pleasant and we were quite excited to travel. We had to drive about 800 miles to get to Phoenix from Reno. I sill remember the day fresh in my mind and how we both sang a lot of Malayalam and English christian songs on the road nearing Vegas. After getting lunch from Vegas we continued our trip. The road from Vegas to Phoenix through California was deserted and empty. Apart from the occasional gas stations, few fast food places and sporadic ranch type homes visible at a distance, there was just desert, emptiness, and dirt on the ground. The oncoming traffic was sparse and there were hardly any vehicles in front or behind us. To add to all that, highway exists were at least 50 miles apart. That was US 95. 

We were about 202 miles away from Phoenix, our hotel, our destination. The time was probably around 4pm. I felt a sudden pain in my lower abdomen. The pain was so excruciating and started to worsen. I took two Tylenol capsules which did not touch me but rather I started retching and  puking. Meanwhile, Ajo who was driving was helpless but tried to comfort me. However his comforting words had no effect in me and by now I am feeling clammy and cold due to the intense pain. I tried to sit and position myself in ways so to get some relieve from the pain. Everything was in vain. I was screaming in pain in the midst of nowhere and I started cry out to the Lord. In fact, we both cried out to the Lord.With no where to turn in the world, we turned to God. I was desperate, God had to come down from heaven and touch me. I remember telling this to Ajo, "If you pray, God will hear." There was no human solution and no man made answer and with 202 miles left to the next major city, it was not just a plea, it was our cry. The pain continued and our prayer continued and our faith was that of a mustard seed. It was huge. Neither one of has ever prayed in our entire life with so much faith and belief.

I started speculating for a medical reason - possibly a kidney stone and that was my conclusion. I did not care what it was as long as my pain was gone. We decided to stop at the next rest area/exist. There was one gas station at "Vidal Junction" somewhere out in California. I went to use the bathroom not wanting to go to the bathroom. I got out of the bathroom having the same excruciating pain and there we were at a junction of our life not knowing what to do. We had our faith and faith alone. We had to decide whether to continue to Phoenix or take a detour to the nearest hospital which would be at least an hour away. I watched Ajo's face and saw love, fear, and faith all at the same time.

We cried out to the Lord and He heard our prayers. What does that mean? HE HEARD! That's right. I threw up again and took a walk to and fro and I was starting to get some relief. It was truly a miracle. I believe that God came down and He came down for a sinner like me. This was not just another event, another miracle and another grace in my life. This was "the vital junction" in my life. We drove the rest of the way and reached Phoenix safe. My pain, by this time had subsidized significantly and I had a calm and restful night in our hotel room.

We vacationed every single day as planned. We laughed, we talked, and we lived.  We returned home back to Reno with overwhelming joy, and  boundless gratitude. The psalmist says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." and indeed  I did. We did. My faith is stronger today than ever, yet I feel like a new Christ follower on my knees and try harder each day to draw near to Him.

PS: The same pain recurred in October 2009. This time it was in our home in Reno. A later post will explain in detail how once again it revealed the mysterious ways of God.

Yet another one.

Another breaking news alarmed the world today when the broadcast of the earthquake in Chile reached millions through the media. It hasn't been 2 months since the Haiti earthquake disaster which took the lives of about 200,000 and left millions homeless, hopeless, and in despair. In the midst of these another one strikes.

Chile was hit with a massive earthquake today which had a magnitude of 8.8 and the aftermath was a prediction of Tsunami in the Pacific Ocean threatening shorelines of Hawaii, Alaska, and California.  The aftershocks have caused numerous smaller magnitude earthquakes in and around Chile and one among them was in Argentina. Japan and Philippines among others have tsunami warnings and evacuations in progress. In the midst of all these, we can only do one thing, PRAY.

Remember the hundreds who will never see another daylight. Pray for the millions affected by the disaster and the aftershocks. Petition for the thousands living in fear each second.

Aloha...Aloha...Aloha...

After taking more than a month of separation from "My Notebook", I am back to write more. I am not sure why I stopped. I had lots to write about, and I had the time to do it. Yet, I did not. I visited my blog many times over the past one and a half month wishing that a post would magically appear on the blog page.

My previous post was from Hawaii. I have been back since the 12th of January, hence I am going to start with our trip itself. Hawaii was beautiful and absolutely the perfect vacation spot in the winter.

As every other tourists we tried to do the most touristy things in Oahu.

• 1/8/2010 - Visited the Pearl Harbor site. History becomes vibrant during times like these. It reminded me of 9/11, a day our generation will never forget.

• 1/9/2010- We went on a city tour of Oahu- Waikiki area. I am a huge fan of city tours. We visited major city attractions, major beaches, and the popular north shore where waves get as high as 40 feet during winter months. We did see some big waves but no where close to 40 feet.

• 1/10/2010 - We picked Calvary Chapel to worship on Sunday. After church, we stayed indoors most of the day due to light rain and random showers.

• 1/11/2010 - Woke up early and hiked up to Diamond Head, a world famous volcanic crater. The hike up is definitely worthwhile for the great scenic view of Waikiki area from the top. We drove to the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) after the hike. It was a busy Monday. We had a guided tour of PCC, attended a luau, had an authentic Hawaiian buffet at the luau, and watched a stage show enacted on stage.

It was already Tuesday within no time, our day of departure, back to snow/cold and back to our routine of life. The flight back was smooth and comfy. Ajo was absolutely "fearless" he said. Praise God!. Ajo's cousin picked us up from Sac airport and we stayed over that night at Sacramento and drove back to Reno on Wednesday morning.

We were doubtful, fearful, and  indecisive about our trip. God works in great ways. A step forward with prayer is a step into paradise where doubt and fear  is replaced by faith.

Aloha, a word is Hawaii which means hello, goodbye, and love.
Aloha to all!

Safe and Secure

After about 18 hours of delay, our flight landed safely at Honolulu airport at 6am in the morning. Our flight was comfy and smooth. Almost every one of the passengers had a tinge of frustration mixed with anxiety and relief.  Ajo did well throughout the flight. God answered the prayers of numerous people.

About an hour or so after take off, the captain announced about some turbulence situation that could last for 15 minutes. To our surprise and perhaps even to the surprise of the captain, there was no turbulence. The power of prayer is beyond words.

After picking up the rental car + GPS (we left ours at home), we drove to the hotel. After checking in, we enjoyed our free breakfast buffet and took a really good nap for about 4 hours or so. We woke up and took a walk, I mean a really long walk around the Waikiki beach area and returned back few hours ago.  Weather is perfect and it is quite the paradise here. 70 -80 degrees is far from awesome in the winter.

We had dinner at "The Cheeseburger". It was not worth the price and the quality was mediocre. We are currently sitting at the lobby of our hotel enjoying free wi-fi since we do not have internet access in our room.  It is really past our bedtime in Reno time. That's it for today.

Dear Voucher!

Today, America's most on time airline took a dip. It was not a good day for Hawaiian Airlines due to the unexpected delays caused by a bird strike in the Sacramento airport. (See previous post)

After spending about 4 hours in a Quality Inn near the airport, we are back at the airport to board the 1am flight to Honolulu. We are excited and slightly anxious. Prayer has been our anchor in this trip and will continue to be.

Inconveniences almost always earn perks and compensations.  Customer satisfaction is big in every avenue of business, hence today we received the most vouchers ever in our entire life. Meal vouchers, hotel vouchers, and future flight discount voucher. The future flight discount voucher is perhaps the most useless for a tourist visiting Hawaii but obviously has the most value. $300 of flight voucher is no joke but I am not sure how the voucher is going to be a perk for us. Ajo has decided to write a letter to the "customer advocate" when we return. We are not sure if such a title or a person exist and what his duty entails. Perhaps our letter should be addressed: Dear Voucher.

Today has been a day of the "most" "first" and the "least"

1) The most vouchers we have ever received
2) The most wait time at a terminal
3) The most number of meals we have consumed at the airport ever
4) The least time we have spent at a hotel room
5) The first time we have seen an aircraft being worked on infront of us

It is nearly the boarding time. So aloha/adios/goodbye.

The Terminal!

This post is not about the Steven Spielberg comedy-drama film, however, it is about "The Terminal" we are currently stranded on.  Life is quite interesting here at the terminal. Kids are fun to watch and I think part of our boredom and frustration was alleviated by them. We watched sibling dynamics between a 4 year old and a 2 year old. The 4 year old had a leash attached to him by his parents so as to avoid getting lost, running around, and all the impulsive things kids do these days.

Ajo & I decided to take a trip to Hawaii last week since Ajo is on his winter break from school. A perfect getaway turns not so perfect when our 8:50 am departure flight was delayed due to a "bird strike" which damaged one of the engines. We were informed at the airport that the flight had to undergo some repair, hence our flight was scheduled tentatively to leave at 4pm. The flight failed to take off at the promised time obviously since its past 4pm here at Sac airport and we are still waiting. Apparently a new part needed to replaced for the engine and the repairs will take longer than expected. Over 10 hours at an airport is insane. We were given food vouchers for $10. I do not want sound like a nitpicker but airport food is expensive and $10 is barely enough to buy a meal and a drink.

We are offered two choices, either to fly at 1am or 8:50am in the morning. The decision making process was quite a tough one and after going back and forth, we have come to a consensus to take the 1am flight. At present, we are going to check in to a hotel and freshen up only to come back here in a few hours or so. See you later.

The Human Tripod

Since coming to the west coast, Ajo & I have made a fair number of trips in and around the NV and CA area. Along the way, we developed an interest in photography and hence decided to upgrade our point and shoot camera to a DSLR. We have only a handful of photos with both of us in it and the reason is quite the obvious. We have to rely on others who usually accept our request to take  a shot or two of both of us together. Prior to the SLR, this was not a big concern since point and shoots are fairly simple to use and not bothersome for a passerby.

The numerous human tripods we relied on until then, caused a good amount of anxiety when we switched over to the SLR. A lack of confidence and security in our human tripods developed and hence we decided that we will never hand over the SLR to a stranger but continue to use the point and shoot camera in order to take a picture with both of us. What this meant was that we had to carry two camera at all times and that we would never have a picture together in the out SLR camera.

Gradually, we had to be compromise our decision and hence we started using other tourist who owned SLR's or people preferably young who seemed fearless to handle a complex camera. I have to say that there are times when our hearts are  pounding when some one is handling our camera. Regardless, the fear and the uneasiness we feel every time we rely on a human tripod, we continue to use them to get a shot together.

Reno: layout and more...

Reno, I have lots and lots to say about this small city in Nevada where we currently reside but this post is meant to highlight a few characteristics of this city which I have observed over the past 18 months.

Two major freeways run through Reno, I-80 from East to West and I- 395 from North to South. Traffic on these freeways are very tolerable during rush hours and at other times a breeze. Though I do not want to sound like a critic, drivers always have trouble merging and over the few months alone, most of the accidents we drive by are on merges. Bike lanes are common in most of the main roads but I am not sure how popular bikers are. U-turns are allowed at about 99% of intersections which is totally a prize for someone from the east coast. Only arrow lanes can range from 1 lane to 3 lanes which can absolutely confuse drivers who are not familiar with it. Main roads like Virginia st or McCarran extends from one corner of Reno to another. One road (McCarran) goes around the whole Reno perimeter and it takes 20- 25 minutes at most to ride around the city.

The actual city lies interior in a valley with mountainous areas in the circumference. This means a lot of different things:
1)  The night time view of the city is spectacular.
2) One side of the city can be easily viewed from the other side.
3) There is often a contrast in the weather from one area to another (It could be pouring or snowing in one region while we watch sunshine at a distance). Truly it's a beauty.
4) Our snow accumulations are quite different in the valley to the foothills.
5) Almost any time of the day, you can watch airplanes at a distance for a good duration of time.
6) The high-risers in the city has an elegance to them though sparse in number when compared to big cities.

The land is open and somewhat scattered but Renonians (a name I created) loves it and that is perhaps the highlight to many who absolutely abhor cities crammed and crowded. "Claustrophobic" is a popular feeling expressed by residents here who visit big cities like NY.

Houses are generally two stories with only a handful of homes with basements. Are homes cheap? Absolutely not! The influx of Californian residents and their investments in second homes inflated the real estate prices. Gated communities are becoming more common and preferred by buyers, perhaps an influence from California.

Mountains and that also on all four sides is a blessing and quite the view. Perhaps, a  new comer most often dislike the mountains but like people say, it is like an "acquired taste". As time passes, you find the serenity and grandiosity in the mountains. All of a sudden, it's not boring or redundant anymore but inspiring and mood changing.

Welcome 2010! A New Year! A New Decade!

Last night when I went to bed, it was the year 2009 and this morning my eyes opened to welcome a new year. Thank God for this new year, a year of new discoveries and challenges. 2010 came too soon. What does this new year bring for me?. Not sure but one thing I know is that, whether it be anything, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

What can I give to the new year 2010?. We live in a world where all our thoughts and actions are geared towards getting something or other. What can I get instead of what can I give? It's a simple thought but very hard to put in practice.

What can I give? What can you give? God Bless!