Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Starved Rock


In the last week of July, an outdoor adventure was planned to Starved Rock state park located in Utica, IL. This place is known for the boating, camping, hiking, picnicking, fishing activities. The park has around 15 canyons and many rock formations.
We planned this outing mainly for the hiking activity. A group of 12, nice weather and a nice 4 hours drive, what more can you expect for a wonderful day!! :)
Many didn't know each other in the group, but that didn't stop us from having a nice time. Its a nice unexplainable process which takes place during these kind of situations which really makes each one in the group to automatically tune up to the required frequency band :)
The park had many trails for hiking. I guess we had taken a 4 mile trail after the lunch at a very distinct wooden decorated restaurant. To make things better and interesting, we sometime took our own route to have a path for others to follow ;-) The trail was featured with many water streams, sunset/view points and small bridges. To be frank, the ready made trail with wooden planks stretching the whole trail makes things very easy and less-close-to-the nature experience. But the thick n dense park covers this up!
A very nice canyon attracted us which had a small water falls in the midst. We spent considerable time getting drenched and literally invited others to sing in the same tone of ours;-)
This was just the first outing for this group and we truly enjoyed every bit of it.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Fell in love...


August 3rd, I was all set for a nice weekend with many plans in mind. (Sitting in the airport waiting for the departure is a nice experience for different reasons). After an hour delay I was in the plane and ready to face the next days music. The Chicago city view from the place was great during night time. The city was fully lit up and it really looked like a jewelry.
After two hours I was in Newark International airport. Reached the hotel very late again due to some hassles, it was 3:30 AM. Early morning I was ready to explore one of the best cities in the world at 8 AM.
Started my journey in a ferry towards Ellis Island and the Liberty island to have a look at the copper statue, 'Statue of Liberty'. Got to know the history and few other facts and was really surprised by the immigration facts in the Ellis island. Spent some more time at the islands and was ready to head towards the busy Manhattan. Plan was to cover all the important places in the mid Manhattan and immediately was in a train towards Grand central.
I was able to visit United Nations building, Empire state building, time square, Rockefeller plaza, Broadway, Bryant park, Central park in the first day. It was indeed a hectic task to cover all these places. The best was the 250 acres central park, located middle of the city with sky scrapers surrounding it, with true spirit, lively and completely serene. I liked it very much coz I could see people coming over to the place and enjoying the time available in their hands. I could see music bands, live dances, Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides, sports ground, people resting, a peaceful place. It was great!!
Bryant park is located next to the NY public library and is one of the impressive places, not coz of the size or greenery but coz its in the midst of halla-gulla but could see people pulling over chairs with books, lappies, rolling over the green bed, resting. People literally had a calm time literally. We find wide variety of events happening at this park with 'Movies on Monday' scheduled during that month.
By the time I reached back to the hotel in New-Jersey, it was 1:30AM. My back and legs would shout at me, if given the powers to speak. But my heart was singing.. !!
The plan for the next day was to cover the lower Manhattan. In just two hours, I was at the Brooklyn bridge. This is the first bridge which I looked at, with this importance and size. Passing the China town, I was really taken aback. I really got confused whether I was in China or in US of A. There were shops, malls n everything with boards in Chinese and Chinese were the only people seen :)
After few mins I was at the NY stock exchange, wall street. Covered the ragging bull featured in many movies.
I visited WTC site. The site was very disturbing but should appreciate the spirit and the determination seen over the place.
In the next couple of hours, covered the Tussaud's Museum and Bryant park again. After a very satisfied weekend- satisfied coz of the planning involved, the execution and the selection of the places ;-), I headed towards the airport back to Chicago.
This was yet another good weekend in US. I fell in love with NY, truly a city to visit.