Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 01:39 AM

After nearly 20 years, I had set foot once again on the United States of America soil!

In this thread, I would present some pics. taken (still taking) in that connection.

To start with, here are a couple from SNOQUALMIE WATER FALLS, Seattle Area!

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 01:45 AM

Incidentally, this is your Venkat! Next to him is his wife. More pics. later.

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 02:00 AM

Tulip Festival at Mount Vernon, Seattle Area!

Posted by: lakshmi May 30 2009, 02:05 AM

Venkat,

What a pleasant surprise. Love those tulips. How long are you planning to stay in US? How did you like Hawaii? Please post more pictures. .Nice to see your wife and you.

Lakshmi

Posted by: Exon May 30 2009, 02:12 AM

Venkat,

It is nice to see the real person behind 'Rare Diamonds'. You have a very happy family. May god bless you a long life ahead.

Recently, a friend also sent me photos of the tulip farm.; they are so pretty. I had visited Seattle area a few times.

Exon

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 02:26 AM

Lakshmi,

We have just got back from our 6 day trip to Hawaii (Honolulu-Oahu & Mauwi). By any standards, that is a very short trip to Hawaiian islands. No question, however, that Hawaii is a beautiful place! Shall post pics of Hawaaii as we continue this thread.

My heart-felt thanks for your post.

Venkat

PS. We are here based out of Bellevue, Seattle Area, and will be around until end-June.

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 02:32 AM

Hi Exon,

Many thanks for your kind words.

My daughter, there in one of the photos, has all the 15 CDs of my "Some Rare Diamonds Of Rafi Saab" and also "Some Rare Diamondsa of Other Legends"!

What a pleasure it was to travel while listening to those!!!

Venkat

Posted by: mmuk2004 May 30 2009, 02:58 AM

Hi Venkatji,

What lovely pics. and it is so nice so see you and your family in them. Beautiful tulips. I visited the Washington area about 8 years ago. My husband was working on a project and we stayed in Bellingham for about two months. I fell in love with that place. Be sure to visit some of those San Juan islands...they are absolutely gorgeous. I will dig out some of my old pics.

p.s. If you could make the pics smaller, they would be easier to see.

Posted by: hildebrand May 30 2009, 04:14 AM

Venkat ji
Lovely pics. Specially loved the waterfall one. Looking forward to the others.
Hope you have a great time with family there.

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 06:04 AM

Many sincere thanks, Madhavi and Hildebrand, for your posts.

This Seattle is a commercial, bustling City and a sleepy, premium hill-station, both thrown into one!! I think that makes it very special.

Venkat

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 06:08 AM

On May 8, 2009, we went for a Jagjit Singh ghazal concert at Benaroya Hall, in downtown Seattle.

Though I was disappointed with the show, as he did not cover any of his greater songs, here is a pic.

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 06:24 AM

Here is the famous Seattle Space Needle!

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 07:10 AM

A trip to Bainbridge Island, an hour of ferrying from Seattle port!


Pic 1: On the boat, in the company of a glass of Budlight!!


Pic 2: Inside the Bainbridge Island

Posted by: lakshmi May 30 2009, 07:55 AM

Really fantastic Venkat. The pics would look even more beautiful if you resize them. Love the color of the water. Did you already visit California? Any idea of coming to Midwest? You are welcome to stay with us. Let me know.

Lakshmi

Posted by: simplefable May 30 2009, 07:59 AM

Venkat..It is great seeing you and your family.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday out there.. I just resized a pic and added a frame and posting here...hope you wont mind.
And...yes, nothing like listening to our fantsatic melodies out there.. best of Audio and Visuals.

Posted by: lakshmi May 30 2009, 08:14 AM

Very nicely done Venkat(simplefable). You are very artistic.

Lakshmi

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 08:16 AM

Hi SF, many thanks for the artistic framing of that pic! You have made my wife blush, with appreciation of your gesture!

Venkat

Posted by: HumTum May 30 2009, 08:39 AM

Venkat bhai! Off on a vacation. Fantastic and I really envy you!

Great pictures!

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 08:42 AM

On the way to Mt. Rainier, two hours drive from Bellevue!

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 08:50 AM

Still, on the way to Mt. Rainier!

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 08:54 AM

Yes, Lakshmi. I have just learnt to resize them.

No, Lakshmi. Our itinerary is fully set! I appreciate your kind invitation, however.

We are headed for CA on June 11, for 4 days.

Venkat

Posted by: simplefable May 30 2009, 08:57 AM

Venkat..my pleasure. Lakshmi..thanks for the appreciation.. i just dabble with what i have.
Here is one more picture..

Posted by: venkat May 30 2009, 09:01 AM

Two pics on Mount Rainier itself!!

Posted by: Marcilo May 30 2009, 09:29 PM

Neat... nice place... Thanks for sharing

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:15 PM

Now, on to some HAWAII Pictures!

Firstly, in Oahu Island and Honolulu!

There is a famous DIAMOND HEAD CRATER in Oahu, formed as a result of a big volacanic eruption! Here it is!

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:19 PM

Now, some Oahu Beaches!

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:22 PM

The Pacific waters in all their splendor at Hanauma Bay in Oahu Island!

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:28 PM

Waimanlao Bay Beach

In the second pic, taking a plunge into the ocean!!

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:32 PM

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:38 PM

Some Hawaiian dances at Waikiki Beach in Oahu!

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:39 PM

More Hawaii Pics later!!

Venkat

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:56 PM

Pearl Harbor in Honolulu!

Posted by: venkat Jun 1 2009, 09:57 PM

USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor!

Posted by: venkat Jun 2 2009, 09:57 PM

Some more Hawaii-Oahu pictures!

Oahu island in Hawaii is famous for Pineapple production, especially of a brand called 'Dole'. I am told these Dole Pineapples are popular in the Mainland US also!

Posted by: venkat Jun 2 2009, 09:59 PM

Some food in Hawaii!

Alas, the food in US doesn't taste even half as good as it looks!!!

Posted by: venkat Jun 2 2009, 10:04 PM

Two more Beach/Ocean pics!

Posted by: lakshmi Jun 3 2009, 12:25 AM

Nice pictures of Hawaii , Venkat. Are you planning to see Utah? Some beatiful canyons are there.

Lakshmi

Posted by: hildebrand Jun 3 2009, 10:44 AM

Lovely ocean pics Venkat ji!

Posted by: venkat Jun 3 2009, 10:14 PM

Many thanks, HB and Marcillo!

Posted by: venkat Jun 3 2009, 10:18 PM

Lakshmi,

Much as I would like to see all the tourist spots in US, the available time and money won't make that possible! Maybe, other places some other time!

Our next program is a four day visit to Vancouver, Victoria and surrounding places, in British Columbia, Canada, commencing 5th June.

Venkat

Posted by: venkat Jun 3 2009, 10:26 PM

In this trip of ours to Hawaii, we had just covered two islands, namely OAHU (where Honolulu is located) and MAUI (another beautiful island, a half hour flight from Honolulu)! Hawaii has 4 or 5 other islands too.

Here are some pics of Maui!

1.Windmills overlooking Maui sugar cane fields

2. Ioa Needle

3. Maui Prince Hotel

Posted by: venkat Jun 3 2009, 10:32 PM

Some ocean/beach pics of Maui island

Posted by: Exon Jun 3 2009, 10:52 PM

Venkat,

Thanks for sharing all these photos of beautiful places. In a short period, you have covered lots of tourist spots.

If you haven't been to Yellowstone Natl Park, I would highly recommend it. It will be within driving distance (<800M) from you. It is one of a kind park with geysers, cannyons and wildlife. One geyser shoots to some 700ft high. The park can be covered in two days.

Exon

Posted by: venkat Jun 10 2009, 09:25 PM

Downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada, by night!

Posted by: venkat Jun 10 2009, 09:26 PM

Lion's Gate Bridge, Vancouver!

Posted by: venkat Jun 10 2009, 09:29 PM

The highlight of Vancouver visit has got to be the Capillano Suspension Bridge! It is so thrilling (and scary? ) to walk on it!

Posted by: venkat Jun 10 2009, 09:31 PM

Another view of the Capillano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver!

Posted by: venkat Jun 11 2009, 01:33 AM

In Vancouver, there is a Grouse Mountain to which one goes by overhead cable car.

Three pics:

1. Aerial view from Cable Car

2. Another aerial view from Cable Car

3. Grizzly Bear on Grouse Mountain

Posted by: ketaki shukla Jun 11 2009, 01:49 AM

Very nice pictures Venkat.

While you are in Vancouver Canada do visit Jaspar & Banff.You will see all the way Rocky Mountains.

I am in Peace River Alberta I would be more then happy to welcome you to my place.

Ketaki.

Posted by: venkat Jun 11 2009, 01:58 AM

Many many sincere thanks, Ketaki, for your appreciation and the kind gesture of invitation!

Well, yesterday we were back at Seattle, after finishing our 4-day visit to Vancouver and Victoria. Lovely places both!

My daughter, with whom we stay at Seattle, has recently attended a business conference at BANFF, taking along her husband too! She was talking highly of BANFF. Maybe, some other time for me and my wife!

Thanks once again.

Venkat

Posted by: venkat Jun 12 2009, 12:20 AM

Some pics from Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC, Canada.

Posted by: simplefable Jun 12 2009, 07:43 AM

Venkat ...great pictures.
Glad that you got the respite from sultry summers back home !

Posted by: hildebrand Jun 14 2009, 03:36 PM

Great pictures. Its lovely to see you were able to squeeze in so much in the trip.

Posted by: lakshmi Jun 16 2009, 07:39 AM

Nice photos Venkat. waiting to see photos of California

Lakshmi

Posted by: venkat Jun 17 2009, 12:39 AM

Lakshmi,

Here we go with some pics from California!


1. Bay Bridge between Oakland and Frisco!

2.Golden Gate Bridge captured from a ferry boat!

3. Again, San Fransisco downtown from that same boat!

Posted by: venkat Jun 17 2009, 12:46 AM

Stanford University campus at Palo Alto!

(Felt like an illiterate walking in there!!! )

Posted by: venkat Jun 17 2009, 12:50 AM

'Janata Indian Restaurant', Palo Alto!

Posted by: lakshmi Jun 17 2009, 12:51 AM

Nice Venkat. Did you go to Lombard street, the crookedest street? Japan center is nice. Ofcourse, napa valley and Muir woods are worth seeing.

Lakshmi

Posted by: venkat Jun 17 2009, 12:53 AM

Yes, we did, Lakshmi! But went without carrying the camera!

Venkat

(Some more CA pics later!)

Posted by: venkat Jun 17 2009, 01:00 AM

Some pics at Pigeon Point Light House, on our way to Half Moon Bay!

Posted by: venkat Jun 23 2009, 01:31 AM

On June 20, we visited the Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, over three hours drive/ferry from Seattle.

Here are some pics.


1. On the way to Olympic National Park

Posted by: venkat Jun 23 2009, 01:33 AM

A deer on the snow at Hurricane Ridge

Posted by: venkat Jun 23 2009, 01:35 AM

View of the great, snow-capped, Cascades mountain range from the Hurricane Ridge

Posted by: Anupama Jun 28 2009, 10:42 PM

Wow Venkatji! How did I miss this thread?
It looks like you are enjoying your stay. Very nice pictures. I especially liked the pic of the tulip garden. You've covered a lot in a short span of time. Keep updating us! It was nice seeing you and your family. As Exon said, it was wonderful to finally get to see the person behind "Rare Diamonds".
Have fun!
Regards to you and your family!

Posted by: venkat Jul 1 2009, 01:39 PM

Many sincere thanks, Anupama, for your kind words.

Well, I am now back at my good (or bad) old place and back to my routine including Vividhbharati, etc.

Venkat