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.

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.

Reno in the snow

Over 25 states in the US had either a winter snow advisory or a thunder storm advisory this past weekend into Monday night.  Record breaking temperatures and snow were encountered in many parts of the West Coast.
Reno got it’s share of snow Sunday evening into Monday night. The elegance of snow is beyond words but the aftermath is a venture, especially for a small city like Reno quite unprepared for the snow.

Reno in the snow is venturesome for many reasons:
1) There is no precautionary measures taken like usage of  salt.
2) There is not enough equipment and man-power to plow the snow off the road.
3) The hilly landscape of Reno results in wide variations in snow accumulations.
4) The drivers in Reno are a bit  inexperienced driving in the snow.

Our area received approximately 10 inches of snow. We are thankful for our 4 wheel drive, and our handy shovel we purchased last summer.

Big Picture

I haven't blogged for awhile. Past month has brought its share of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and faith and doubt. Through it all I was not alone - burden seemed too heavy to bear but He carried it for me, tears poured down but He wiped every single drop of them, doubt overwhelmed my heart but He planted verses of faith in me.

Life is unpredictable and most often taken for granted by people who realize its fragility. Am I thankful for each and every moment in my life? No. I want to be thankful and therein lies the great challenge.The reason it is a challenge is because  I have to be equally thankful for the ups and downs, failures and successes, joys and sorrow etc. Tough!  Isn't it?.

This past July, we visited Yosemite National Park in California. I was stunned by the picturesque view. There is no words and one has to see it to fully grasp the reality of its depth, width and height. Pictures and videos do not do justice regardless of how professional it is. Pictures and videos grasp only a frame of what real eyes can perceive.

It is impossible for our human eyes to comprehend the big picture of what God is doing in our life. We are unaware even about our next moment but God has our entire life with its depth, width and height in front of Him. We are mere  mechanical cameras and camcorders which sees only one frame at a time. Though I do not see the big picture, my prayer is that I have little faith as a mustard seed to believe that God sees the big picture and it is more stunning than the "Tunnel View" at Yosemite.

Rainy Reno

It's raining in Reno after many days, weeks or may be months. Rain in the desert is uncommon and always welcome. Yet, I waited the whole day to see the sun or may even for the rain to stop just so that my personal plans may prosper. I could not do my planned laundry today, since I have to walk a few steps to get to the laundry room and needless to say, I didn't plan to get myself wet nor the dry clothes wet. Hence, I waited and waited. At this point, I have moved my chore to another day. I am not content yet I thank God, not just for the rain but for  small incidents like these teach me the frailness of man's plans.

October Ornaments

October welcomes me in Reno with snow capped mountains at a distance, cool nights, sunny afternoons, and scarce but vivid fall foliage. Two among the above mentioned are my favorite - the snow capped mountains and the fall foliage. Why? Let me explain.

The snow capped mountains remind me of unembellished beauty, too far to attain yet close enough to desire. Fall foliage is not just an autumn trademark in Reno. It brings life to the desert as Christmas ornaments adorn a simple tree.

I start to appreciate vivid colors more now than ever now. Snow capped mountains at a distance depicts more than just approaching winter but a hope for abundant water in the desert.

Why Reno? From New York!

Why Reno? From New York - a frequently asked question during first encounters with the people in this city. Every time I answered that question – a sigh preceded my equivocal explanation of the scenario which led us to Reno.

Psalm 121 Verse 1& 2 says “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” A verse which we embraced during our travel and a verse we still hold close to our hearts.

Reno is famous for the popular slogan “The Biggest Little City in the World”. However, a lot of people in NY hardly ever heard of this city in Nevada, a few have read about Reno or has vague acquaintances about the city.

The day after we got to Reno, while shopping at Best Buy, we noticed customers and even few employees rushing to the door. Curious about what was happening we followed them. As we gazed outside the glass entrance we witnessed a great downpour. I heard someone next to me say –"It hasn’t rained in Reno for 3 months" - and this was in mid-July. Perhaps, even in NY, a huge downpour is infrequent or perhaps rain is taken for granted and no one notices them anymore. I stared at the huge torrent of water and shared the joy with Reno residents that day. The heavy rain lasted 20-30 minutes and when we left the store, the sun was back out again.

I still sit and wonder what the huge downpour meant to “us”. It was our 1^st day in a strange city, uncertain about our future, with fear of the unknown. My heart was blazing and perhaps the downpour that day calmed our hearts and gave us hope and life. That is exactly what rain brings, hope for the desert and life for the dry.

Matthew 5:43 says “for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

The population of Reno is about the same as the suburban Yonkers we used to reside in. Reno is less diverse, quiet, and slow-paced compared to Yonkers. With mountains on all four sides, Reno looks really beautiful year around. People in Reno enjoy the weather though we find it unpredictable most days. Where is the fun in life if everything was predictable?

Finding spirituality and religion in one of the most unchurched cities in the US seemed a challenge in the beginning. Perhaps it was our culture we grew up in and our associations with home churches in NY, we were confronted with fear about religion and spirituality. We were most certain that Reno did not have enough malayalees or Indians to form a church. Honestly, we doubted the existence of even one malayalee family. Once again, we were wrong about our assumptions. We were thrilled to be wrong. It was like an answered prayer when we were able to join a local malayalee prayer fellowship in Reno.

It was July 22, 2008, one of my happiest days in Reno. Singing songs, reading the Bible and praying with a small community of believers who we met for the first time was truly an experience. Perhaps, that is how the initial church started and Gospel reached to others. I started appreciating our small blessings in life like being able to pray at a prayer meeting. What a blessing! and most often we take them for granted or even let an opportunity slide saying these popular words “next time”. I am guilty myself for the missed opportunities but this was different. My shyness or sitting next to someone who I met minutes ago did not stop me from praying aloud. The spirit led me and I was able to do it.

We church shopped like every other Christian to find a place we felt right. During those weeks, we heard repeatedly about “Grace” from our local churches and radio preachers. Grace! What a powerful word! We all have experienced it and continue to experience it day by day. Yet many times we forget what the word really means. Our search of a church somewhat ended when we found “Grace” Church.

Reno has taught us a lot in a relatively short time. I recollect a statement by one of my patients at my hospital about Reno, “Reno is a small city – You will either love it or hate it – There is no in-between.”After over a year in this place, I am thrilled to share that I am truly loving it.

Why Reno? From New York! still continues to be conversation starters during first encounters with the people in this city. Now, my answer has changed to simply this - “It was God’s doing.”