Merry Christmas

Wish You All Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year

A national Christmas Tree in Washington DC. Each year this natural spruce tree is lit up, decorated for three weeks to mark christmas celebration.

This photograph was taken back in Dec 2006.

Happy Holidays; and see you all in Jan 2009.

Balboa Island

Balboa Island is just a ferry ride away from the mainland Newport Beach city, Southern California, in the Pacific Ocean. On a sunny afternoon, we drove down about ten miles from home and reached the ferry.I have earlier experienced drive-thru restaurant, drive-thru car wash, but here was a DRIVE-THRU FERRY. It can ferry three cars at a time covering a short distance of about a mile. A bridge can be easily built across, but it’s just another American way of adventure, fun and frolic.

The island has a beautiful Beach with a Fishing Pier. Most of the adventurous young were enjoying swimming, surfing, challenging the gusty sea waves. Few people were strolling along the beach and still many more seated far away from the lashing waves on a beach chair gazing at the wild sea, lost in their own world. One can find little ones busy making sand castles with their own play way tools.

At a short distance was a Fishing Pier. Fishing is legal in Ocean fronts all across United States. People who cannot afford a boat to venture into the sea for sailing and some fishing as well, pier is a good alternative. It is basically a long wooden platform jutting into the sea and one can catch a lot many fish from the pier too.

The sea was boisterous, huge waves were hitting the shore, may be because of high tide. All of a sudden a SEAL appeared along with the waves. It remained on the shore, for a short while, too perplexed to watch so many human beings, none resembling creatures of its own sea world. It gave a picturesque pose to any photographer’s delight and vanished in the sea along with the receding waves.For me it was once in a lifetime, memorable experience, watching a SEAL in its natural habitat.

The pursuit of Happyness

I chanced upon an interview of Christopher Gardener with Glen Beck on CNN Headlines news channel. Remained glued to the television till the end; though having very little inclination for watching television.

Christopher’s life is that of, rags to riches story. A working single parent, homeless in San Francisco. The interview just gave the crux of his entire life story.
After watching the interview, few weeks later I read his autobiography, The pursuit of Happyness, indeed an inspiring true story. Despite all odds; poverty, lack of education, African American lineage and broken family(knew not who his father was); he succeeds in life.

I always keep on hearing and reading everywhere, American phrases like believe in yourself, follow your dreams, your past cannot define your future. All holds true for Christopher Gardener.

The turning point in his life influenced me too and for sure I will always remember it for the rest of my life. Chris observes a man in red ferrari looking for a parking space. He walks up to the man, offers his space as he was moving out. Chris asks him two questions before leaving.

What do you do for a living and how do you do?
“I am a stock broker”, the stranger replied and invited Chris to his office, in response to the second question.

Till date there is no looking back for Chris, today Gardener runs a successful brokerage firm and owns a red ferrari.

A blockbuster Hollywood movie was also released with the same title, starring Will Smith in the lead role.Most of the Hollywood movies are based on best selling books, having record breaking sales, millions cannot have a wrong opinion. No wonder these movies are so meaningful and leave behind a lasting impression.

Nifty Coke

The water was draining somewhat slowly. I had been observing it for quite a few days. Now the time had come to be proactive before the basin got totally choked.

I tried hands on it but the drain cap was reluctant to come off.

Second option was to log a call at rental office. The maintenance staff is rather prompt in service. They knock your door once and getting no response, after sufficient time, barge in; using a duplicate key. This is one of the things I detest being here; one key of the apartment is always with the owner as a federal law and remaining two with the tenant. It is always good to specify while lodging complaint, whether you want the work done in your absence or presence.

If not specified, Murphy’s Law just works fine. When the concern person knocks at your door, you will be either in the restroom or somewhere in between cooking or engross in a task which requires more due attention than responding to the door knock.

As my head was spinning with brilliant ideas my eye caught the solution, a pack of coke cans adorning a quiet corner of the dining space. Of late my hubby has become a huge soda addict. It is on top of the routine grocery list, lest we forget to purchase.

I took one full can and emptied the 355ml coke into the wash basin. The coke vanished in seconds as if the drain was never choked, unlike sluggish water which was taking its own sweet time to drain off.

Later turned on the faucet, of gushing hot water, for five minutes and soon everything was back to normal. Classic coke can do wonders.

At this juncture, I remembered Baba Ramdev’s saying, thanda matlab toilet cleaner; a twisted version of the famous ad line - thanda matlab coca cola. Doctors only might be knowing, what all the cola cleans or rather corrodes inside our body.

On the lighter note I would like to recollect the award winning coke ad – thanda matlab coca cola, created by advertising guru Mr. Prasoon Joshi.The tune to which Aamir Khan and the nepalese kancha dance in the ad, is that of a very popular Uttranchal folk song – “Bedu Paku Baaro maasa”.

Elf Yourself

Elfyourself.com is an interesting site.Upload your photo, create elf and dance to different tunes. Share and download your dance video.Purchase gifts, elves on mugs, mousepad etc.The site powered by OfficeMax is active during christmas season only.

Drinking Fountain

Winners don’t do different things, but do things differently. The quote is perfectly applicable to Americans.

We all know westerners eat food with spoons and forks.But what about water; yes they don’t cup hands as we do for drinking from a tap or faucet as they call it.

At all public places like parks, market place, airports or even at rest areas along the freeway, there is a drinking fountain, another fancy name for tap. But it is not just another ordinary faucet we have in our homes. On pushing the button, the water slowly squirts out like a fountain stream. One has to make a slight angle and the water directly dispenses inside the mouth.

Then down below, there is another push button accessible by foot. It is for adorable dogs and cats. The owner pushes the button and the pet quenches his thirst.

The old technology of, turning on and off taps is replaced by the new more convenient push button technology. There is no more wear and tear of washers which result in leaking taps. There are no dry fountains either. If there is a facility, water will be there.

It is hygienic too, once outdoors our hands touch so many different unclean things around. In aquariums, you will find a sanitizer near certain exhibits, where visitors are allowed to touch few species. A sanitizer is neither soap nor water but is some sort of germ killing gel, which vanishes after solving its purpose.

Living here, I have observed, the whole American research, focuses on, making lifestyle more and more comfortable.The inventions and discoveries I read in books are actually being implemented and extensively used here by one and all.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is the ultimate destination for honeymooners. Millions of tourist throng Niagara Falls each year. It is at the international border of America and Canada; enhancing tourism in both countries, besides a rich source of fresh water.Niagara falls comprise of American Fall and Bridal Veil Fall on the American front.The more spectacular, the Horse Shoe Fall is on the Canadian side. Approximately six lakhs gallons of water flowing per sec.No doubt this country is God gifted, it has wealth of natural resources.

American Falls do not have great height but are wide in nature. A boat ride called ‘maid of the mist’ ferries you close to all the three falls. One can feel the misty water drizzling on face, as rest of the body is covered with signature blue Niagara raincoats. It is such an awe inspiring view, water-water everywhere, the huge amount of water eyes will not meet again.

A closer look!!
A short trek route, approaching to almost top of falls

A balloon ride, for hovering over the falls, to catch an aerial glimpse

The gushing rapids transform into falls ahead. Falls are not only majestic but a good source of hydroelectric power too.