[sforsarang]

Have I made it large?

Hi Friends, yes that would be the first question that's going to pop up in my mind once I come back to my beloved motherland after spending few more days in the USA. Looking at my itinerary, I guess it is but obvious!

Traveling to uncle sam's nation was my long cherished dream (as a tourist), and recently got an opportunity to realize that, as I was nominated to attend a technology conference in Seattle. I do not have any plans to move to the US to work there for a long term so decided to make the most of this opportunity by taking my dear wife with me and have an extended stay in the US alongside my business visit, roam around nearby cities, and come back. Seattle and Redmond were the locations I had to visit, for my business purpose and the conference. We decided to add San Francisco considering its proximity to West Coast, climate at present, and beauty. Gradually, the sin city Las Vegas got added to it (I was a bit reluctant to go for it as I am not at all interested in night life, pub kinda things.. (before you ask, I am 28 only ), but the Grand Canyon changed my decision and eventually Vegas got included in the itinerary. East coast was never there in the plan but thought probably it will be a chance to meet our best friends there, relatives and then we would also cover one of the USA's best cities nevertheless on the east coast. So NYC got added.

I believe words shouldn't interfere MUCH between a travelogue reader's eyes and the beautiful pictures, so will stop here only and let the pictures do the talking (with captions).

P.S. If anyone is interested instead in our trip details, writing on initial impressions of USA, and text travelogue, please visit sforsarang for boring posts..
I will update this photologue along with captions here itself !!!

Our trusted carrier...anyway at 36000 feet above land, you have no option but to rely on your karma and the jet to take you to your destination and not the final destination !!


Bye Bye Dubai...


I would like to build a property on this island, group dealings anyone !!!


Is this Afghanistan or Russia or Iran? Not clear


This sure looks like nearing North Pole as we were..Nature carved its own language here for us to interpret...Awestruck


And finally the North Pole...


Seattle Harbor from <Top Secret>


Seattle Financial district as seen from <Top Secret>


Seattle downtown as seen from <Top Secret>


Seattle NE as seen from <Top Secret>


And that top secret is the Space Needle ! provides literally 360 degree view of the city

[sforsarang]

Pictures from Seattle Aquarium and Woodland Zoo Park

Whosoever this angry creature is, for sure needs an immediate visit to a dentist..got an insurance buddy?? you are in the US !!


Seahorse...nice curves !


Few from the pacific science center butterfly park





This dude welcomed and escorted us inside the woodland zoo park, Seattle


This big cat although..was not much appreciative of his new admirers


Puzzle..name the different colors I have on me !


Perceived King...as it is clearly seen who's the boss


Pretty relaxed now that she's gone elsewhere


Exit interview !!


Space Needle from the cruise ship


Seattle skyline from the cruise ship

[sforsarang]

Few pictures for Mount Rainier. We were lucky enough to have experienced Rainier in a bright sunlight which is a rarity in Seattle and around... as people say... These pictures dont even need a caption !

[sforsarang]

And some snow in Seattle..yeah it is snowing heavily since past two days...after a span of bright sun... Enjoy the beauty of the nature..

Before


After


Before


After




Before


After


Cutie pie....here pets are given much significance and they are taken good care of.. I was just wondering why there's no windshield for this little buddy


Snow snow everywhere




San Francisco next to come...

[narayans80]

Flying from Dubai->Seattle takes the polar route ? Which airline does that ?

[sforsarang]

Strange as it may seem, we were also surprised inside the flight observing the route on the display... as it takes a long long route (semi circular over the pacific..) around the north pole.. I do not know the details but search on internet gave me this..Answers.com - What is the flight path from Los Angeles to dubai
It was emirates boeing 777-200 LR.. I guess this fleet goes via south of north pole...

[amitwlele]

@sforsarang - So you mixed pleasure with business. Good

Loved the captions that you have put against the snaps.

[ravib]

Fantastic Pics.

I've traveled from LA to Dubai - non stop 16 hrs travel in 2009. Just recollecting all those memories.

-Ravi

[MohsinRoadster]

Nice Pics there!! Any specific pics from Redmond??

[Reisender]

Very nice pictures and nice angles as well.
It brings back memories of 2005-2006. I lived and worked for Microsoft corporation in Redmond/Bellevue area of Washington.
Few points to share:

• Truly amazing cities to drive. Splendid roads with curves and greenery all around.
• If you drive around redmond area, you may notice 100's of buildings with Microsoft office board.
• One of the better states for public transportation. (West coast is better than east coast)
• There is one fish market (pike place market), any one visiting Seattle should go here and spend few minutes. (google for pike place market)
• This state also known as Evergreen state due that it rains almost round the calendar
• If you travel eastern, NE from Seattle, you can do White water rafting up to Grade 5
• If you travel eastern, NE from Seattle, you can witness few of the best Tulip gardens in the world. Of course the best ones are in Europe.

Sorry for hijacking your thread.... Its pure nostalgic to talk about WA and i always cherish the memories.
Try and post some nic pics too

Thanks,
R

[sforsarang]

Thank you Amit, Ravi and Mohsin.. glad that you liked the pictures. Mohsin, the last set of pictures so far are from Redmond only..the snow ones !!!

Thanks much Reisender, have you left MS? I work in MS only. Yeah I couldnt agree more. Truly amazing towns...found Seattle a nice calm city, probably luckier that we could experience almost all the tourist attractions in bright sunny days which people say here a rarity..also luckier in the sense we experienced bright sunny days, showers and snow as well in the span of two weeks only..with all attractions in sunny days !!! Tulip gardens ... I guess this period of the year, there were no tulips... Pike place we visited, I visited almost 10 MS bldgs from inside being on a business visit.. and 40 from outside as a tourist )

Hey did you mean 'try and post some nic pics too' or NYC pics? as you already said the pics are very nice ..hehehe just kiddin.. I guess it is NYC what you meant (from my subject title).

I am currently in San Francisco, covered most of the city today including Fishermen's wharf area, aquarium, cruise, downtown, union square, and golden gate bridge / park. Tomorrow, muir woods and sausalito....please bear with the delay for pics.. will post them sooner..Thanks guys..

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Flying from Dubai->Seattle takes the polar route ? Which airline does that ?

Even Mumbai->JFK direct flights take that route. Was on flight couple on weeks back.

[selfdrive]

If you have the time/ inclination, you may want to do the 17 mile drive (Pebble Beach/ Carmel/ Monterey). It must be getting warmer there now, have fun!

[Reisender]

Originally Posted by sforsarang

Thank you Amit, Ravi and Mohsin.. glad that you liked the pictures. Mohsin, the last set of pictures so far are from Redmond only..the snow ones !!!

Thanks much Reisender, have you left MS? I work in MS only. Yeah I couldnt agree more. Truly amazing towns...found Seattle a nice calm city, probably luckier that we could experience almost all the tourist attractions in bright sunny days which people say here a rarity..also luckier in the sense we experienced bright sunny days, showers and snow as well in the span of two weeks only..with all attractions in sunny days !!! Tulip gardens ... I guess this period of the year, there were no tulips... Pike place we visited, I visited almost 10 MS bldgs from inside being on a business visit.. and 40 from outside as a tourist )

Hey did you mean 'try and post some nic pics too' or NYC pics? as you already said the pics are very nice ..hehehe just kiddin.. I guess it is NYC what you meant (from my subject title).

I am currently in San Francisco, covered most of the city today including Fishermen's wharf area, aquarium, cruise, downtown, union square, and golden gate bridge / park. Tomorrow, muir woods and sausalito....please bear with the delay for pics.. will post them sooner..Thanks guys..

I should have been clearer than that. I tried to say that i will try (search in laptop) and post nice pictures i took.
btw, as i said.. your posted pictures are really nice and good angle as well.

I worked as a consultant (thru Indian MNC) in MS for 1 yr at Redmond (actually, its sammamish) and worked in few buildings and visited few for meetings and training. Always there will be chill/fresh feeling outside, friendly people, very good places to visit.
oh yeah... tulips are only around late march to late april.


ahhh... those were the days!!! (imagine tortoise coil circles before you)

[sforsarang]

Hey Selfdrive, We couldn't get enough time to tour the monterey bay area and the 17 mile scenic drive although we covered the Muir woods and Sausalito.

Thanks Reisender, yeah Redmond is a nice little town and Seattle is one of the best cities in the US, especially in summer, although nothing can beat SFO !!

Anyway, my apologies for a long break in the middle posting new snaps from SFO, Vegas, Canyon and Newyork, I shall make up for it by frequent posts now onwards.

Next destination was San Francisco, it is one of the most beautiful and scenic cities in the US. We stayed there for 3 days and purposely so near the downtown area. I made it a point to cover each and everything by walk and not in a taxi or any public transport means. Walking the lanes and bylanes gives you actual feel of the city and you know many more things that would otherwise not be possible in a bus or a train or an arranged tour.

Time for some pictures from SFO

San Francisco Beach area with 'The Rock' Alcatraz in the background. BTW is this the one used by Columbus?


These wonderful creatures are found aplenty near the beach area. They are quite tamed ones and have no fear of human beings around. They walk and fly casually and 'politely' approach the tourists for food !!!


SFO beach at fishermen's wharf with the golden gate bridge in the background


The cable car or Muni as it is popularly known


SFO's famous sour doughs in various shapes and sizes !!


Grayline SFO. These second world war buses are now being used as sightseeing vehicles and guarantee you a pleasing ride


Forbes Island at Pier 39, SFO with Alcatraz in the background


SFO is situated and planned along the mountain regions as-is so there are loads of steep to very steep roads and lanes. Check it out yourself


The golden gate bridge from the cruise ship. Actually, a camera cannot do justice to this piece of sheer engineering brilliancy


I am lucky to have been able to get a panoramic view of the golden gate with parasailing going on in the backdrop


The Rock, Alcatraz was an infamous prison where the high profile prisoners were kept. Nowadays it is handed over to the US Army


Other side of the Alcatraz


These old aged seals are actually being transported from the west coast Seattle harbor to California.


Nature at its best, at SFO aquarium


Another example