[ranjith.rajaram]

Originally Posted by chevelle

I have similar showpieces for Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, Statue of Liberty, Empire State building, Eiffel Tower, Gondola among others.

That's nice to know Chevelle, Can you post individual pics of the same. Would love to see them.

Is this made up of marble or some kind of plastic ? But looks too

[Sudipto-S-Team]

I would have preferred to see some more of real DC with its real people, rather than these touristy shots that have been done to death on tourist websites. DC has the maximum population of African Americans and Hispanics among American cities. Walking on the streets of DC (away from these touristy places) you wonder if you are really in an English speaking country or some Latin American country. DC also has some of the worst ghettos of America. Show us those real shots, if you can. We have seen enough of White House and Capitol and Freedom Square.

[chevelle]

Originally Posted by ranjith.rajaram

That's nice to know Chevelle, Can you post individual pics of the same. Would love to see them.

Is this made up of marble or some kind of plastic ? But looks too

These are made of Plastic and are made in China. All these models are in India. But in my last pic, you can see White House, Eiffel Tower, Gondola. I will try and post some others too.

I dug up pic of Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. Will post Capitol Building's showpiece by 2nd June.

There are plenty of such show pieces available everywhere, just the quality varies. So the more you spend, the better detailing you get.

It is advisable to buy show pieces for each monument from the particular place itself, where they have their own stores. Those are some real VFM vis-a-vis quality.

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

I would have preferred to see some more of real DC with its real people, rather than these touristy shots that have been done to death on tourist websites. DC has the maximum population of African Americans and Hispanics among American cities. Walking on the streets of DC (away from these touristy places) you wonder if you are really in an English speaking country or some Latin American country. DC also has some of the worst ghettos of America. Show us those real shots, if you can. We have seen enough of White House and Capitol and Freedom Square.

Hey Sudip, I didn't went to DC to click photos of real people or walk down the streets of outside of DC. I went to see these landmarks only (my main purpose was to meet my cousin).

Even though these landmarks are available in photos, the feeling, the joy, the marvel of engineering, the sense of occasion, the grandeur having seen such awesome landmarks with naked eye is something which is fascinating and pleasurable and can't be compared with seeing real DC. Also it raises plenty of thoughts and questions about culture (through museums), ancient living in USA (museums), President's way of living (white house, capitol building), History of US (War memorials among other things) .

I just had half a day in DC and I would be a fool to go hunting for ghettos or places where Latin people stay. I could see them on road at these landmarks and apart from those people i also interacted with people from other continents too. Which in itself was quite a learning experience.

When you make a trip to DC i would love to see ghettos and real people from your POV. Meanwhile, please spare me the thought as I don't see myself blowing $2000 just for seeing ghettos and Latin people while traveling cross country. I can see enough of those at my place.

[MX6]

Originally Posted by chevelle

I don't see myself blowing $2000 just for seeing ghettos and Latin people while traveling cross country. I can see enough of those at my place.

Lol. Good one there. Actually, I relived a lot of moments looking at your photos. I wouldn't like to blow 2000 bucks too for seeing ghettos.
Your photos really rocked!

[chevelle]

Originally Posted by MX6

Lol. Good one there. Actually, I relived a lot of moments looking at your photos. I wouldn't like to blow 2000 bucks too for seeing ghettos.
Your photos really rocked!

Thank You MX6, much appreciated.

Stay tuned for more. Have been caught up with work since a week, so very less updates.

[Sudipto-S-Team]

I have been to DC and I have spent more than one day there :-), including at the freedom square. My pics are rather personal and not for sharing on a public forum. My travelogues are basically self drive travelogues.
Please don't be offended. That was not the intention.
What you are showing is the PR face of America that travel agents love to sell to unsuspecting third world tourists. I have seen enough of that. Once you reach my age and have seen as much PR as I have I am sure you will realise what I am talking about. Till then have a blast.
Cheers.

[chevelle]

My replies in bold

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

I have been to DC and I have spent more than one day there :-), including at the freedom square. My pics are rather personal and not for sharing on a public forum. My travelogues are basically self drive travelogues.

Its entirely your choice to post photos and travelogues. And I respect your decision.

Please don't be offended. That was not the intention.

I wasn't offended.

What you are showing is the PR face of America that travel agents love to sell to unsuspecting third world tourists.

The agents are there to do business, and they can get clients/customer by showing good things only. So i would be hardly surprised if they showed this landmarks/monuments to tourists. After all, main purpose of tourist is to see such exotic locations. The tourist can't be at two places at one time so they try to live the life of that tourist place as and when they can. And its pretty obvious.

When tourists are spending their major savings of life on a tour, would they want to see local people and slums and ghettos? i doubt that, they would always want something remarkable, something which they can cherish for their lifetime.
And that's what i am trying to do. Cherish these great trip and share with you guys so that i can relive the experience.

I have seen enough of that. Once you reach my age and have seen as much PR as I have I am sure you will realise what I am talking about. Till then have a blast.

I am quite sure that even if i am your age my interest won't change. Like say after 3 yrs when i will go to D.C, I am sure i won't go to the place i already visited but would be around it to see museums and some other landmarks that i missed. Still i won't go to see those latin people or ghettos you mentioned. Nope, never, such agenda would never be a part of my tour.


Cheers.

To cheer you all up, here is what i found in parking lot of Tyson's Corner.

Also i am sorry for not bringing in more updates. I have been occupied with work as well as moving house. So please bear with me.

[ranjith.rajaram]

Originally Posted by chevelle

To cheer you all up, here is what i found in parking lot of Tyson's Corner.

In guess this is the 1974 Porsche, they introduced the first production turbocharged 911. Although called simply Porsche 911 Turbo (300 hp)

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by ranjith.rajaram

WOW I didn't know that.... Browsed thru google and found couple of bachelor's party pics.

slightly OT, it's not the occasion that makes it special. People here just need an excuse to party, just like we in India can dance in anybody's wedding or ganapati or govinda processions.

Only difference is here money is in abudance, and when its not, you can always load on credit paying thru your nose rest of your life. The second difference is you see women having as much fun as men, and mostly both having fun together. But that's a different topic altogether.

[chevelle]

Since we were coming to end of our tour, we reached Union Station.

Spend some time there. Here are the pics

[chevelle]

Some car pics. Couldn't recognize the Bentley. Please help.

[chevelle]

Our next visit was to Luray Caverns. Its located in Virginia.

Its a pretty neat place. It was a 2 hour drive for us, since we stay in Maryland.

Here are some pics enroute to Caverns









This guy was following the van ahead.

One of my fav coupe. The Hyundai Genesis

[chevelle]

Luray Caverns is basically formation of stalactite and stalagmite. Its around 130 years old. A must visit. It has its own museum, a vintage car museum and a great shop for collecting memories.

The price for visit is $22 for adults and $11 for children. This price includes visit to the Caverns, audio tour, museum of car and caverns.

You have to go through some 15 stairs to get down. You arrive at starting area and the view here is mind boggling for those visiting first time. There are personnel who tells us how to go about the tour. Every major location has a number, you have to punch it in the given audio equipment and commentary starts.

So here i give you, the Luray Caverns.

[chevelle]

Some more pics of caverns

There is a history at certain points. How the Caverns was discovered and stuff.

[chevelle]

Then we came to my favorite part of Caverns. THE DREAM LAKE.

Yes there is a spring water lake which has mirror like reflection. Stalactites are reflected in the water and on first look it appears very real till there is a ripple in lake. The real bottom is just 20 inches deep, but due to higher stalactites, it appears even more deep.

Enjoy!!!