Amsterdam

My first solo international trip. Traveling to a strange place with no company was almost a rush of adrenaline with undercurrents of discomfort. This trip was a serious attempt to get out of my comfort zone, to test waters unaccompanied, to prove to myself that I am as independent as I want to be and that I can do anything I want; if I put my mind to it.

3rd Dec 2011

Nordermarkt

Houses lining the Canals

I reached amsterdam in the morning at about 8 am. I walk up to the shuttle service Schipol Hotel Shuttle to be dropped off to the B&B I was to stay at in the Jordaan district. The shuttle service usually drops people off only to the major hotels in the city I feigned ignorance and the driver was nice enough to drop me off to my destination... all I had to do was smile at him :) My hosts at the "All inn the family" B&B were a Jewish Couple named Marion &Anne Frankenhuis. They welcomed me with smiles. At first glance they came across as a couple who loved having people over to stay and share their experiences. I knew I had made a good decision picking this place :)

After talking to my hosts for a bit and a rest break in my quaint room up in the attic I set out for my first day in Amsterdam! I set out following directions in my big map for the nordermarkt- a local market selling things from olives to shampoo to rugs and clothes. Reminded me of the open markets back home. I had lunch at a brown cafe; exotic sounding names do not often taste as good is what I found. Nevertheless it was wonderful experience, I specially enjoyed the freshly squeezed Orange juice. After a brief period of wandering I head towards the Rijksmuseum. I was hopelessly lost that first afternoon ...the canals are oriented in circles around each other which made it hard for me to pick which way to go. Luckily the people there did speak some English! Try walking around with a map with crazy cyclists rushing by you! I made it to this museum which had a wonderful display of art n history. I have read and heard descriptions of paintings by superior artists and never did understand what the fuss was all about till I saw a painting for real!! A painting by Rembrandt was on display life size figures looked almost ready to pop out of the frame . I wouldn't have guessed someone actually painted it with a brush and paint!

Dutch Window.

I walked down towards home and then saw that the line outside anne Frank house was fairly short so thats where I went. This house is the very reason I even picked Amsterdam at all. Time after time we find that we humans are so cruel to each other. The house was unfurnished and the family's residene while in hiding were preserved well to the windows plastered with black paper to make it look unoccupied. After a nasty dinner of gyros I turned in early; my legs were about ready to fall off by then.

House Boats

4th Dec 2011
After a super heavy breakfast of cold cuts, cheese, freshly baked bread, fruits etc.. I set out again! I had straight to the centraal station. I get my self the Iamsterdam card and then take a river cruise through the canals. I then take the tram to the van Gogh museum yet again Im floored by the art on display.. then enjoyed a leisurely stroll by the the amsterdam sign..didn't feel cheerful enough to click a picture in front of the sign. I take the tram back to the station have some pea soup n a dutch hotdog for lunch. n headed out to the jewish museum..unfortunately the museum was closing before I had my fill. Tram again down to the downtown area I wandered a bit had dinner a stick to your bones kind of meal of meat potatoes and red cabbage and then headed back to my pad.

My view from the canal

Christmas Decorations

5th Dec 2011
Big breakfast again :) I tram it to the rembrandt house. I could very well see y that man went broke. The lavish house was one of a kind in his time. I then walk down to the old part of town through the red light area which seemed to be semi active even at 11:00 am with the women in the display  cases. i was headed to the oldest church which was located in the center of the red light area which was so ironic. The church did have some beautiful stained glass windows. once done here I head down to the downtown area spent a couple of hours people watching with  snack of potato fries which the serve with mayonnaise (Yuck!).

On the way to Rembrandt House

I took a side tour after with a tour operator to Volendam, Marken and the Windmills. The Dutch are known for their ingenius methods of reclaiming land using windmills. Just outside Amsterdam the landscape changes quickly. Our first stop was the windmills and the cheese factory. It was weird being alone on a tour bus full of people chattering in different languages. There after we headed to the clog factory. Traditionally a dutch man bought his woman a pair of clogs while he proposed to her :) After this breif stop we headed out to Volendam a fishing village that fished eels. I did eat an eel sandwich here but I cant really say I enjoyed it. After this I headed back home and within minutes I was out like a light. Next morning 6:30 am the cab was there , that ended my trip to Amsterdam.  

Old School Wind mills

Farewell to the Netherland

Taoism

"Respond intelligently to unintelligent behavior"

California 2

Amtrak

Day1-2

The journey started off with a delay, the Amtrak was delayed by 5 hours. We finally made it into the train it was pretty comfortable. The slow steady pace was kind of comforting but my companion was sure restless. The first leg of the journey was really scenic through the Rocky mountain national Park and Glenwood springs. Of notable mention was the rafting folks flashing their bottoms and some of them much more at the passing train. we had interesting company during meal times.They did have to move us as there was a technical glitch with the airconditioning. we reached sacramento that evening checkout our convertible for the weekend and drove down to the Santacruz area..it was so dark and late at night which meant we escaped the traffic.

On a platform 110m above ground in a Redwood tree.

Entering Yosemite

Day 3
The morning finds us at the Henry Cowell state Park. We zip-lined through the magnificent redwood trees giving us an awesome view of the little streams way down bellow. These trees are related to the giant sequoias but only taller and slender when compared. After the adrenaline rush, a quick bite at a local pizza shop we were on our way to the Yosemite national park.  With the convertible top down; we cut through the farms and orchards, it was a very pleasant drive. As we entered the park, the open top afforded wonderful views of the looming granite facades of El Capitan, Half Dome and the other cliffs as well as the numerous waterfalls and the Merced river. We brought with us storm so our plans of going star gazing fell apart, we explored the lodging area and retired early.

Glacier Point

Tunnel view

The Yosemite Falls in its entirety

Day 4
No improvements in the weather so far, so we take the tour up to the glacier point which was partly a bad idea as we were stuck with a whole bunch of Japanese tourists. The view on top the glacier point was almost magical; it gave us a different perspective of the landscape. On our way down we were able to click some great shots of the Tunnel view. In our rooms, we make adjustments to the itinerary which was painfully expensive and moved on. We watched the Yosemite falls up close and marveled at this wonder of nature and then walked through the lower loop of the valley  getting a glimpse of the mirror lake. Dinner and bed.

Vernal Falls

The view of the valley from the other end of the tunnel!

Nostalgic Wawona

Day 5
Early morning we start at the Happy Isles point hike up the vernal falls and then up the nevada falls then joined the panoramic trail with a brief halt at the glacier point we descend down he 4 mile trail which was hardest stretch. We walked a total of 11.9 miles that day and boy it felt good. With jelly legs we head to the other end of he park to Hotel Wawona, a National Historic Landmark.  We had a European style room with no bathroom attached to it. For some reason it almost felt magical. We were 
out like a light before we even realized.

Giant Sequoia

Off Sailing!

Sunset....ah!

Day 6
The sumptuous breakfast in the hotel's dining area had service and the ambience that made me feel like royalty for a bit..my imagination at its very best :)
We drive to the mariposa grove to check out the giant sequoias...I just felt inconspicuous besides this natural exception. It's always hard for the very small and very large in nature, by being on ends of the continuum you are unique but also need to work harder to survive or so it appears. we enjoyed some quite time among these magnificent mute trees and then headed on to out next destination Lake Tahoe...


On the way we see some magnificent views of such contrasting hues to a stretch of bare rocks. We drove through some hilly terrain to get to mono lake and further on to Lake Tahoe.


That evening we checked into a hotel and then went on on evening cruise on the Tahoe Queen. The dinner on board was disappointing even for me but hey ! we were on the boat!! IT took us to the south end of the lake to emerald bay and back to port. Then to bed.

South Tahoe

Bye!

Day 7
Breakfast followed by a walk to the beach to the jetty. The sand here is very peculiar, it's more like fine gravel versus the fine texture of the sand on an ocean beach. The lake is fed in to by number or streams and rivulets from the mountains it. We soaked up some sun.. and then checked out of the hotel. We rode the gondola for a better view of the lake and then took off to the Sacramento airport. We made it in time enough to squeeze in an Indian restaurant for lunch. Then we flew back home :) 

Yanni ( April 29th)

I never paid much attention to Yanni's music before but up there on the stage that man exuded raw charisma is all I can say! I never even thought an instrumental concert would be that much fun!

It was an interactive experience and the interplay of the different instruments was just hair raising...looking forward to more such concerts!!!