I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ~Henry David Thoreau
Nature is ever changing, so every trip out is an opportunity to see something new and explore something different! Say "San Juan Islands" and images of ferry boats slipping between emerald isles beneath a deep blue sky, one of the best places in the world to see orca (killer) whales will likely form in one's mind. Once here you feel there’s no place more beautiful for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation. I feel so lucky and amazed to be living in such a wonderful corner of the world!
We started off on a Saturday morning on over an hour drive to Anacortes for the Washington State Ferries.The San Juan Islands exist not only as gems in Washington’s state "Top 5 islands in the continental U.S. and Canada", but also as a state of mind. An island culture borne of geographic seclusion and resilient spirit. The San Juan Islands are emerald gems that contain magical forests, breathtaking and exciting wildlife, long swept rugged beaches, mountain peaks with incredible vistas, towering cedar trees, and quiet bays. The sea within the Islands is known as the Salish Sea which is named after the original first peoples of the region, the coast Salish. They were seafaring people who fished, carved totem poles which told of family histories, whose history is steeped in legends. There was a thick fog as we reached the Friday Harbor in the San Juan Island which eventually disappeared into a beautiful deep blue sky as we reached Orcas Island on an interisland ferry.
That was the first time in my life I was ever Island Hopping and I absolutely loved the experience. The first destination island was the Orcas Island. Lovely Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juans. The horseshoe-shaped island is a magical mix of lush forest, farm valleys, tranquil lakes and stunning mountains, all wrapped around a beautiful fjord. Orcas Island is made up of several hamlets and villages. Eastsound offers casual to fine dining, boutiques, galleries, a performing arts center, a first-run movie theater, and a history museum. We rambled around that area a bit and then bumped into the Community Labyrinth at Emmanuel Episcopal Church which I walked in and out of it. Generally synonymous with maze, the labyrinth is an archetypal design - a universal divine imprint - an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness, combining the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path.The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.
The biological clock struck and we knew we were hungry. We browsed around a couple of places and then settled with a restaurant called 'Allium' which treated us on the bounty of simple, fresh Pacific Northwest flavors and for a sumptuous lunch. The restaurant itself was adorably cozy, set on the second floor of a waterfront former home with great views of waters. I can say the food was very refreshing, fresh and very gourmet. Off then we drove to the Moran State Park looking for camping sites. The ranger at the Park offered us a very private and secluded patch atop a real woodsy area uphill reachable by a short trek.
The panoramic view of islands, water and mountains from atop 2,409-foot Mount Constitution is a must-see...
Beautiful reflections of this verdant area on our drive to Eastsound Village on Orcas Island
We took around twenty minutes to set up the tent on that hot afternoon and then after a pleasant siesta drove to see Cascade Falls, a small but impressive 75-foot-high waterfall in Moran State Park. We then drove to the top of Moran State Park to see panoramic views of the islands and surrounding mountains. Atop the 2,409-foot-high Mt. Constitution, the highest point on the San Juan Islands, there stands a stone observation tower. The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding islands, the Cascade Mountains and a variety of Canadian and American cities. We then drove all the way out of the Park towards the Eastsound for an early dinner as we wanted to spend some time by the Cascade Lake at night inside the Moran State Park where we had camped. We captured some lovely reflections of a beautiful verdant area on our drive to Eastsound Village on Orcas Island. We then headed towards a fine dining restaurant called 'New Leaf Cafe' which served simple, fresh cuisine highlighting the finest ingredients the island had to offer in an intimate water view dining room. I had Mediterranean mussels with cream, pesto, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes and quite honestly it was one of the finest mussel preparations I have eaten. I was told that the mussels were straight from the Buck Bay on the Orcas Island and they were as fresh as they could be! Local fresh seafood served with whole grains and seasonal veggies. It was a beautiful and relaxing experience on the Island. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, Orcas Island restaurants offer an amazing range of delicious eating experience. Like I said we returned back early to our hide out after spending a little while by the Lake and then called it a night.
Baby whale named "Se Yi Chn"
Next morning we drove to the ferry dock for our interisland ferry to Friday Harbor. Friday Harbor is a town located on San Juan Island and it is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago. The Doctor's Office Café 'A Treatment Cafe' is one of the first places that you see when you get off the Ferry. Great veggie sandwiches, coffee, pastries and service! Done with breakfast we looked around to see lots of interesting boats out in the Strait- sailboats, ferries, tugs and power boats in every direction on Friday Harbor. We drove into the American Camp of San Juan Island National Historical Park for a quick glimpse of the San Juan Island before getting onto "Odyssey" for our Orca Whale watching trip at 2:00pm. The experience on San Juan Excursions' "Odyssey" was more than overwhelming on 12th of July 2010. What a perfect day to be out on a boat, exploring the protected inland Salish Sea. The two naturalists on the vessel were erudite and provided a sea of information on marine life. They spoke at length on the Orca (Killer) Whales - history, types, description, life cycle, range and habitat, food habits, behavior, giving us a very holistic whale watching experience. The crew was tracking three pods of whales that afternoon. First sightings of the orca (killer) whales, If you look you can see the dorsal fins of the whales and also "blowing" caused by a cloud vapor produced by whale's exhalation and mixing with sea water. Among the many Orca Whales we saw the "Granny "and also a year old baby whale named "Se Yi Chn" on our trip. And what more the baby whale was breaching on his mother and the sight was pristine, full of emotion and wonderful to watch! We also saw harbor seals and bald eagles.
Getting out of the boat we trotted towards a gourmet handmade icecream and coffee parlor. Licking the creamummy icecreams after that long boat ride left us with a wow feeling. We then drove directly towards the southern tip of San Juan Island known as Cattle Point. It was like driving into the picture and we loved this marvelous drive to the lighthouse. The larger American Camp’s 1,200 acres of prairie and forest also boasts five miles of beach and views of whales, porpoises, seals and sea lions. American Camp’s prairie was an unexpected delight, what with the cloud-sunshine color play on the blue waters and wild summer flowers. Into and beyond - the scenery was awesome. We drove the entire place drinking in this scenery and beauty. We then drove to Pelindaba Lavender Farm and saw diverse range of lavender plants spread in lovely lavender. Delicate, exquisite, therapeutic and just beautiful!!
Then we headed towards Lime Kiln Point State Park - the place on San Juan Island to watch sunsets and hopefully spot some of the 80-plus Orcas who make the waters of Haro Strait their summer home. We spent good amount of time there and got some beautiful shots of the lighthouse against the breathtaking skies at sunset.
And then the worst part at the end of the trip was to bid adieu to all the beauty and serenity. The scenery around was breathtaking and the holiday very rejuvenating - simple pleasures... holding hands, stealing a kiss, beach combing, watching birds, skipping rocks and sharing the joy! All this was coming to an end! It was a fun trip and we had a wonderful time. I must say this was by far one of the most memorable trips in our life time and very dear! Beautiful moments to cherish for a long long time to come.
I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. ~George Washington Carver
Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. Friendly, peaceful and progressive, "the Rich Coast" is one of the world's top eco and adventure tourism destinations. Costa Rica is located in the Central American isthmus, between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Although the country is small and it covers only 0.03 % of the surface of the globe, it proudly shelters a 6% of the existing biodiversity in the entire world. 25.58 % of the country is composed of conservation and natural protected territory.
Abound with the most stunning array of wild, tropical and exotic flora & fauna, beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, national parks, waterfalls make this tiny Latin American country the place to be especially if you are an avid nature lover. The country’s Disneylike cast of creatures – ranging from howler monkeys to toucans – are populous and relatively easy to spot.
Typical Costa Rican Cuisine consists of - Gallo Pinto (combination of black beans and white rice and is spiced with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt), Arroz con Pollo (bite size chicken chunks mixed with rice ), lots of salad, side of squash, Fried plantains and Refrescos Naturales (fruit drink of some kind made from endless variety cantaloupe, strawberry, tamarind, mango, papaya, lemon, blackberry).
Costa Rica possesses a rich and abundant flora. The exquisite "Guaria Morada" a Purple Orchid, the National Flower of Costa Rica is basically common on house patios all over Costa Rica. In fact, Costa Rica has over thirteen hundred species of orchids. Then there are Heliconias and Wild Ginger. A vast range of flower forms, coupled with a mind-boggling array of vibrant colours, are the main reason why Heliconia form the centerpiece of so many tropical landscapes all around the world.
The road to Poás Volcano National Park is very beautiful, as we start ascending the mountain we pass many coffee plantations that are varying colors of green. Just after the coffee plantaions the landscape changes into a cloud forest that is truly amazing. Poás Volcano in the Poás Volcano National Park, an active volcano with some of the most beautiful scenery in Costa Rica. At the bottom of this prehistoric-looking hole, there is a medium sized lagoon, that spews boiling sulphurous gases. Due to cloud cover, humidity and sulphur fumes, the crater of Poas Volcano is visible only 30% of the time. We were definitely lucky!
On our Rain Forest Aerial Tram Tour - we stepped aboard the green open-air gondola that would whisk us through the rain forest treetops. It takes an hour and 20 minutes, during which we glided pleasantly through the treetops.This is an extraordinary opportunity to see a primary forest and its natural splendor at first hand. The open-air gondolas with canvas awnings seat 6 passengers and a naturalist guide. An incredible therapeutic experience. We were enraptured by the serenity of the nature at the top. The moist air created a fresh, vibrant feeling that energized our senses and brought a chorus of shrill chirps from birds hidden in the canopy.
Amongst the many national parks visited in Costa Rica the one that rings the bells is the Tortuguero National Park. While on our way to Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast, we passed two large banana plantations, one owned and operated by Chiquita and the other by Del Monte.We were very excited, geared up and ready to leave to cruise through rivers and canals to the 47,000 acre Tortuguero National Park in a fast motor boat. Tortuguero National Park is a National Park within the Tortuguero Conservation Area. Tortuguero village is surrounded by the humid rainforest of Tortuguero National Park and a palm-fringed coastline, the village is located on a narrow strip of land between the Tortuguero River and the Caribbean Sea. Clusters of “broccoli” trees so named because of their spreading crowns stood tall in the lush, verdant jungles of Tortuguero. Often called, "Costa Rica's Amazon", Tortuguero is a navigable network of lakes and channels that crosses this National Park and allows a great diversity of fauna and flora to be observed. Traveling through the canals is a fascinating experience rich in wildlife that includes Howler Monkeys, Iguanas, Spectacled Caimans, Sloths, Turtles, Bats, Blue-jeans Frogs, Butterflies and colorful birds like Toucans, Collared Aracaris, Snowy Egrets, Cormorants, Anhingas, Woodpeckers, Kingfishers, Black-necked Stilts, Trogons, Ibises et al. Tortuguero is home to more than 300 species of birds. Knowledgeable naturalist guides are available to point out and explain the various species of plant and animal life - truly bringing the forest to life. Chirps and squeaks fill the air of the lush green jungle all around me on this scenic boat ride. Known for its meandering rivers and lovely lagoons, this area demands to keep an eye out for wildlife in jungle exploration.
Then visited a Pineapple Planation where we sampled Costa Rica’s famous sweet organic pineapples and pineapple tarts after an informative talk on the Pineapples.
We reach Arenal Volcano Springs Resort and we find lots of Hummingbirds -tiny, lively colored birds as they amaze you with their spectacularly acrobatic aerial maneuvers. Like the Hummingbird sipping nectar from every flower, I fly joyfully through my days, seeing beauty in everything. The hummingbird - “A flash of harmless lightning, A mist of rainbow dyes, The burnished sunbeams brightening from flower to flower it flies”. The Arenal Volcano was always shrouded in clouds. After a day cruise on the Río Frio through canyons of green towards the everglade like Lago Caño Negro to watch wildlife, in the evening we bask in the Baldi Hot Springs surrounded by tropical gardens and with cascading waterfalls. Complete with over 30 hot and cold pools of different temperatures it is the most expansive hot spring facilities in the Arenal Volcano area. Visiting the Baldi Hot Springs provides a nice combination of relaxation and festive energy. The Arenal Hanging Bridges - one of the greatest eco touristic projects of Costa Rica, with the exuberant primary rain forest where you find a great biological diversity with an incomparable scenic splendor. Costa Rica's forests have bridges strung across the valley from where you can walk above the canopy of trees and get a panoramic aerial view of the forest below.We hike on six suspension bridges, through lush tropical rainforest canopy. There are beautiful nature trails interspersed with the bridges where we looked for some tropical birds.
In Manuel Antonio National Park a walk through a tropical forest reveals a lush green garden of mosses, ferns, flowers, and epiphytes growing thickly on every tree. Along one of the long trails we reach an observation tower on the very top with this incredible view of the Pacific Ocean. The Manuel Antonio National Park also has some of the best beaches in the entire country. It was too hot and scorching sun above us scalded the juice out of us. In the evening watched a magnificient sunset over the Gulf of Nicoya at the Doubletree Resort by Hilton, Puntarenas. The hotel's pier at twilight looked awesome.
We visited a key artisan town in Costa Rica, Sarchi - best known for the vibrant and pretty oxcarts 'carretas' that are handcrafted and sold all over the country. Saw the large painted oxcart a favorite for tourists who visit Sarchi. A National Symbol of Labor in Costa Rica, the oxcart plays a key role in the country’s history, as they were used to transport coffee beans to nearby and faraway markets. Indulged in souvenir shopping - of handmade artifacts including oxcarts, elaborately painted bowls and trays, natural wood carvings, wind chimes, paintings, hand crafted tables, mask carvings.We then visited the quaint town of Grecia noted for its unique church, Iglesia de la Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, that is made entirely of pre-fabricated steel plates painted red. This church is as beautiful from the inside as it is impressive from the outside. The stained glass windows were exquisite.
Our Pacuare River White Water Rafting Adventure -The Pacuare River is a spectacular treasure among Costa Rica's rivers. It is a popular location for white water rafting and has been recognized as one of the top five most beautiful raftable rivers of the world by the National Geographic. It is 18 mile, class IV section that has an excellent mixture of invigorating rapids and calm, scenic stretches. The opulently lush rainforests that surround the river are breathtaking and are home to exotic species of plants and incredible variety of wildlife such as jaguars, monkeys & number of birds like parrots, toucans, cormorants and egrets. You'll experience the intimate nature of the rainforest via the river. which makes this trip exquisite for the senses. We pass through the densely vegetated rainforest gorges, view cascading waterfalls, relax in serene pools and experience pounding rapids. Exciting adrenaline-packed afternoon running the Pacuare’s biggest Class III-IV whitewater rapids - a tropical adventure packed with rich experiences that last long after we’ve returned home.
Our Canopy Tour Adventure - With spectacular views of both Braulio Carrillo National Park and the Central Valley, Monte Zurqui offers the opportunity of sliding through the trees and get up close with nature. Montezurqui has beautiful landscapes, lush vegetation, zip lines, platforms, rappel, superman style zip lines, suspension bridges, walking trails and other exhilarating games.Rambled the local shopping market to sample the color and culture that downtown San Jose, Costa Rica had to offer. The waves are prime, the beauty is overwhelming and the sluggish pace seductive. A peaceful oasis in a tumultuous region. No doubt Costa Rica is the greenest and happiest country on planet earth. “Costa Rica has something for everyone and everything for someone.” Their motto Pura Vida or ‘pure life’ is the easiest way to sum up all that a Costa Rica vacation has to offer.
We had to rush through long queues of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to make it to our flight to Houston with Continental Airlines.
After being seated comfortably in the middle seat I noticed that the person sitting beside me was working heads down on his lap top with his side of the window shut. I grew restless in no moment as I wanted to see Fort Lauderdale from the air. It was an uncommon scenario for someone like me, as I always found myself occupying the window seat and for once it wasn’t mine this time. Oh! How I longed to be seated there. I was wondering as to why people occupy window seats and not have their windows open. There was a pressing urge in me to request him to exchange his seat with mine. He would have done that for a lady I’m sure. But then I just contained myself and requested him to open up the window for a while so that I could view the city from the top. Just then a hostess appeared, called him a Scientist and addressed him to shut his laptop and pull his seat forward. The plane took off and after a brief exchange of pleasantries I came to know that he was a Scientist at Stanford and did a lot of bird watching. He was an ornithologist which was not that common a field to encounter.
I asked him simple questions about birds, his likes and dislikes about them, the way they migrate, about his studies, surveys and contribution to human life, role of environmental pollution and diseases, extinction of birds, scope and limitations of bird watching, wild life photography, his frequent travels to various countries, his life as a gypsy as he had traveled more than 60 countries - to which he went copiously answering each and every aspect related to my query with utmost interest and earnestness. It was nice to hear him talk. He showed some of his pictures of the different birds shot in the wild looking at which I was completely awestruck! I guess he talked for more than an hour on the same lines. He was radiant and open, open and flowing, filled with light that he generously shared through his words, smiles and gestures. Completely authentic and too young to be a scientist.
I walked out of the flight feeling like a million bucks - not only because he was highly competent at making me develop interest in his talks, but because he naturally knew how to make a layman understand the importance of his subject too, he knew how to add value to the moment, to our encounter – genuinely, just by wholly and truly being who he was. We talked and connected - it was easy - a simple being to being sharing, enriching.
I had a nice flight. God bless him and all the birds on the planet.
-Manasi
"if you're not willing to be changed by a place, there's no point in going."
Lovely beaches of Miami and Key West have inspired me to write this. Everything about these beaches was rejuvenating and refreshing - almost like a therapy - I call it 'Beach Therapy'.
My memories of the ocean will linger on, long after my footprints in the sand are gone.
Walk along the seashore and play in the sand
Smell the salty waters and sense the wind on the face
Splash in the water and bathe in the sea
Bounce with the waves and ride with the tide
Watch the infinite sky motionless overhead
Feel the sands slide underneath the soles
Listen to the voices of the wind and the sea
On a mile of warm sea-scented beach
Boats, schooners and catamarans sail you see
Giant whistling ships cruise on the sea
Fishermen eager to fish and cast their nets
Enthusiasts ready to surf and ride the waves
Girls make merry in the crystal blue waters
Then lay on beach and get some sun
Children play with empty shells and pebbles
Gaze up at slender coconut trees for fun
On the wet sands in the morning the seagulls flock
Sight the dunes, the grasses and the coral rock
Marvel at the hidden treasures from the sea unfold
Waves lapping the shoreline with stories untold
Everything about the ocean is at reviving spree
Where no worries no troubles of any sort reach
Lying empty, open, choice less as a beach
Awaiting a gift from the bottomless sea.
Kudos to a police officer from Miami Police Department who found us our missing keys to the rental car hired to drive during our trip to Miami and Key West. It was almost after nine o' clock at night when we were coming back from the Bayside Marketplace that we realised that we had dropped the keys somewhere along the Bayside Miami and could not figure out where. After a frantic search in the moon lit night on the twenty minute walk back to the market place again we lost hope of finding them. We then called up the car rentals for their help, but in vain. They said the insurance doesn't cover the lost keys. They in turn asked us to call up the lock smith by furnishing some numbers. Tried calling them for help. Nothing turned out. Nothing happened. Nothing helped. It was getting very chilly as the night progressed and the tension was obvious. We had our belongings in the car and were figuring out the worst possible case that could befall that night in a new place like Miami. Hovered near the car for a long time making phone calls to people from the parking lot where the car was parked at the Intercontinental Miami right in the downtown. And just then we saw a Police Officer beeping the car keys and trying to figure out a stranded car. I ran towards him - who finally found the keys to our car. God! we were so relieved to see them. He said it was a gentleman who found the keys lying at the park and got them to him and he then was going through each and every parking lot in the downtown area looking for the car before he finally found us. We thanked him a ton for being an angel - blessed the guy who found them and responsibly handed them over to the police. All this happened at the bayside - an area prone to crooks, looking for such opportunities - who might have misused and played with them if they had found them. Anyways...All's Well That Ends Well. We had a peaceful sleep that night.
I am just back from Florida which was very pleasant, warm and nice and its snowing like crazy here... Kirkland looks all white now with several inches of snow piled up. The temperatures are subzero and the cold is unbearable - what a dramatic change in the weather condition from where I had been, to where I am right now. And I must say I'm already going through some kinda missing syndrome. I have an emormous hangover of the great vacation we just had in Miami and Key West and I loved everything about my trip. There were so many things that happened to be the 'first time in life' for me on this trip to Key West.
- tandem parasailing trip - twice
- snorkeling adventure
- jumped into the middle of the ocean to swim to the waverunner/jet ski and ride it
- went on the banana boat - fell in the the middle of the ocean - an adventure by itself
- went on a sunset cruise for a spectacular sunset celebration
- playing in the waters of the ocean to my heart's content
Could this be more pleasurable...I'm urged to unlock my heart's lock with Florida Keys... I loved the Keys... I loved Key West. I miss them dearly.
Ever absent, ever near;
Still I see thee, still I hear;
Yet I cannot reach thee, dear!
A word or two on my trip to Vancouver, BC, Canada - where the mountains meet the sea -future host of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. A cosmopolitan mix of culture, culinary delights, fashion, fresh air, and walks along the sea wall that go on and on and on…
On a Friday morning right after the thanksgiving day, mounted on a high stool in front of a clean and glossy glass wall of the Moonpennies Café in downtown Vancouver’s West Pender street, munching on a crunchy vegetable baguette sandwich and spooning the creamiest of the lentil soups, watching people walk across the busy streets holding up their colorful umbrellas against a steady rainfall was one of the most refreshing vignettes of life and its shades in rains, making me feel as drenched in my memory at present as it did in that particular moment. The rain was kinda cozy. It was surprisingly rejuvenating. Vancouver has a vibrant independent cafe culture which fascinated me. Contrary to my visit in summer, this time Vancouver appeared to be a rain-saturated city, where umbrellas were a part of everyday life and the sun seldom peaked out. All wet and rain soaked everywhere with thin coffee infused air …I say, into every life, a little rain must fall.
The Cascade Loop is a thrilling ride through the heart of Washington State through some of most beautiful countryside and interesting areas encompassing magical cityscapes and spectacular landscapes, chilly alpine lakes and rushing rivers, islands and towering peaks. The byway travels through areas as diverse as they are magnificent: This 400 mile self-guided driving tour circles through the heart of Washington from the salty waters of the Puget Sound, across the verdant foothills of Cascade Mountains' western slope, the peaks of the North Cascades National Park enclosed in glaciers, and into the sun-drenched high desert expanse of the Columbia River Valley.
Part I:
State Route 20 is the northernmost route across the Cascade Mountain range in Washington and is commonly referred to as the North Cascades Highway. This scenic byway also called most scenic mountain drive in Washington offers travelers a wide array of beautiful landscapes, and is part of the Cascade Loop, the 400-mile driving tour through the Cascades. We pass Mount Vernon where the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April brings thousands of visitors who come to see and photograph the blooms. Then we drive down to Skagit Valley towns like Sedro-Woolley. Lovely vistas of Skagit river all along the scenic byway. Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Three park units in this mountainous region are managed as one and include North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas.
The first town with services is Marblemount where you can find food and supplies. So after having our veggie burger breakfast we headed towards Newhalem. At Newhalem, the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center provides exhibits, maps, information about the park. Beyond Newhalem you enter the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Preserve, a vast 1.7-million-acres. We spend some time at the Gorge Creek Falls.
The overlooks above Ross and Diablo Lakes make excellent vantage points. The distinctive color of each lake (Ross is teal, Diablo is jade) is caused by finely ground rock dust suspended in the water and reflecting the green of the forest and the blue of the sky. Driving forward we enter the Okanogan National Forest resplendent with fall colors of the foliage.
The highway also crosses Washington Pass and Rainy Pass. Other trails, including the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, lead from roadside into the North Cascades National Park. Met two determined hardcore hikers who started the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail in April this year from Mexico and still have their last stretch of 62 miles to cover to reach Canada. They have been walking past six months and have enjoyed every bit of their achievement.
Washington Pass on the North Cascade Highway is magnificent! As the highway swings south, great walls of granite sweep upward. Dead ahead, the massive bulk of 7,600’ Liberty Bell Mountain seems to block any passage through the mountain fortress. Just when it seems impossible, the highway makes a great horseshoe bend and clambers up the face of Liberty Bell. The off-road viewpoint at the top of the pass provides splendid views of the mountain-ringed valley. We drive across Mazama and then to Winthrop which looks like the set from a Western movie. False-fronted wooden buildings, hitching rails and board sidewalks all create the illusion of a frontier town. We in search of a place to halt for the night in one of the towns. Finding no place to stay over at Twisp and Carlton due to enormous crowds filling in all the hotels and camping sites we finally found our destination of slumber in our car by a RV park which had some restroom facility and retired in our sleeping bags for that cold night.
Next morning after the breakfast we took off to Methow River Valley. The Methow River is a popular rafting destination. The Methow and the adjacent Okanogan country is famous for its superb stream and lake trout fishing. Dozens of small lakes dot the region. The Methow Valley is Washington’s equivalent of the Old West. As you drive up the valley, you’ll pass fields of baled hay, big old weathered barns, corrals full of horses and the jagged Cascades for a backdrop. We chanced upon some lovely reflections of the Methow valley.
The Cascade Loop highway follows the Columbia River to Pateros and then we reach the Lake Chelan which is one of the top freshwater recreation areas in the Pacific Northwest. The warm, dry weather is particularly appealing and we spend little time by the lake watching people engaged with various water activities.
The Entiat River road detours northwest here into the heart of the Wenatchee National Forest. We then drive to Wenatchee which is located at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers and is crowned the "Apple Capital of the World".
The Wenatchee River brings you to the Old American City of Cashmere. Smallwood's harvest at Pehastin had halloween pumpkins all over the place and it was great so see so many at the same time at the pumpkin fest. It's vite-vity-vitie-vidi-pumpkin!!
The gateway to the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth is spectacular. The Tumwater Canyon highway hugs sheer canyon walls on one side, winding and twisting through the rocky gorge, as the Wenatchee River rushes past on the other side. Suddenly, you round a corner and there is Leavenworth, nestled tight up against the mountains that rise to more than 8,000’. Leavenworth is an authentic Bavarian Village. Almost every building in town is decorated with ornate woodwork and Bavarian motifs. Leavenworth features German cuisine, its own brewery, and coffee roaster along with pastry and chocolate shops. Leavenworth is home to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum - Nussknacker Haus carries one of the largest selections of unique German nutcrackers. I treat myself with a huge yummilicious fried ice cream and come along getting a cute nussknacker for a souvenir. We later drive in the Wenatchee National Forest and enjoy the fall foliage on the way. Excellent colors passing the hillsides of red huckleberry bushes, yellow aspens and brilliant and parti colored douglas maples. The fall in the forest was spectacular.
The highway follows the rushing Skykomish river as it ascends the west slope of the Cascades to Stevens Pass. Several small towns along the route have logging heritages with nature still at their doorsteps. Throughout this region there are plenty of hiking trails, campgrounds and fishing spots. Sultan and Gold Bar are both noted for their river rafting, hiking and fishing. The little town of Index nestles at the foot of spectacular Mount Index and is a favorite of rock climbers. Skykomish for outdoor activity in the surrounding mountains.
Part II:
Washington's islands are among the most attractive destinations in the West. Placid bays, forested shorelines, rural inland landscapes give the islands the atmosphere of private, secluded retreats. Two of the most easy to explore islands are Fidalgo and Whidbey. We drive north towards Mount Vernon and via State Route 20 towards Anacortes.
Deception Pass Bridge soars high above the water to reach Whidbey Island. Views from the bridge are spectacular, especially at tide change when the water below boils through the narrow passage at a furious rate. Deception Pass Bridge connects Whidbey Island to the tiny Pass Island, and Pass Island to Fidalgo Island. The Deception Pass State Park is outstanding for breath-taking views, old-growth forests and abundant wildlife. Views of Deception Pass, Deception island, some other small islands and Mount Baker from the Deception Pass Bridge are spectacular at sunset.
We reach historic Coupeville the heart of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island. I ate their favorite local delicacy, Penn Cove mussels in plentiful at a fine restaurant. Enjoyed great views of Penn Cove between the shops.
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is a new kind of national park. It was created by Congress in 1978 "to preserve and protect a rural community which provides an unbroken historic record from...19th century exploration and settlement in Puget Sound to the present time."
Enduring patterns of community life in such a setting have created a unique cultural landscape - described as a 'blend of people and place'. The vistas, woodlands, and fertile prairies of the Reserve are much the same today as they were 100 years ago when New England sea captains were drawn to Penn Cove and farmers to Ebey's Prairie. Time has touched only lightly upon Central Whidbey. Still, the landscape of the Reserve continues to grow and change, shaped as always by the community of people who live and work here. Farms are still farmed, forests are logged and historic buildings are still actively used today as homes or places of business.
Verdant Whidbey Island lies at the extreme north end of Washington's island-strewn Puget Sound, forming the eastern boundary of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. To the east rise the glacier-clad peaks of the North Cascades, to the north and south stretch miles of deep water, islands, and coves. Silhouetted against the southwestern sky, the Olympic Mountains form a dramatic backdrop for the island's rural setting. In the central portion of Whidbey Island is Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. Its boundaries encompass broad fertile prairies, high seaside bluffs, rolling woodlands, shallow brackish lakes, and a deep protected cove.
Views from the bluff are spectacular, looking out across the Strait of Juan De Fuca to the Olympic Mountains. On the beach, massive logs lie like thistle sticks from a world of giants. The green and tan of the grass and sand stand against the aluminum blue of the sea unfurling on the shore. On the western side of the island, Fort Ebey and Fort Casey State Parks preserve military installations that once protected the entrance to Puget Sound. We spotted lots of deer in the parks as well as on Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. We drove to Fort Casey State Park and Fort Ebey State Park which offered breathtaking marine views and visited the Admiralty Head Lighthouse.
With this we circle one of America's grandest and most spectacular scenic drives.
National Geographic Traveler describes the Cascade Loop as "one of America's grandest, most spectacular drives." Circling the heart of Washington through thick forests and open desert, this 400-mile byway includes a little bit of everything. From downhill skiing in the Cascade Mountains to county fairs in the Columbia River Valley, it's one of the best ways to get a Cliff Note version to Washington. Nine separate regions of the state make up this massive byway, each with its unique flavor and personality.
A car decked with good music, a portable GPS navigator, a reasonable road map, camping material and crazy us, is all set to hit the road. There was definitely no scope for working out differences or creating a balance of preferences with this kinda journey as none of us really knew as to whats gonna be next. It was as erratic as one could think of and we were glad that we found an order in that chaos.
Day 1 Saturday, August 30, 2008 : Started driving from Seattle around 8.00 AM in the morning towards Oregon's Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Drove the Historic Columbia River Highway. This highway runs roughly parallel to the Columbia river.The greenery around and five different waterfalls cascading over the walls of the Gorge is beauty worth the drive. We loved the Wahkeena, Multnomah (being the second highest year-round waterfall in the nation) and the Horsetail Falls (a personal favourite, reminded me one of Mani Ratnam's movies). Drove later in the Mount Hood National Forest passing by vast vineyards and orchards, lovely vistas to reach the Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood where we ended the Mt Hood Scenic Loop. Mount Hood's snow-covered peak rises 11,249 feet and it definitely seemed to look stately and tall. Drove to a city called Bend, OR, had dinner first as we were really hungry after around 400 mile drive, checked into a good motel and called it a night! Day 2 Sunday, August 31, 2008 : After a nice American breakfast of oatmeal, buns and oranges we hit the road to Winston's Wild Life Safari for animal encounters. The drive was beautiful as we drove from one national forest to another. We passed through the Diamond Lake and stopped at Mt. Thielsen viewpoint for a while. Drove through the Deschutes, Winema and Umpqua National Forests to reach Winston stopping in between for lunch at Glide, OR. It was a good first time experience of a Safari as driving amongst the animals offered enthralling sights of Giraffes running to your car from far off, different kinds of Deer, some just sitting and gazing at you, some seriously engrossed in road crossing, Rheas and Emus pecking at your car windows, nestling Zebras, ravenous Bears feasting on some flesh, Hippos cooling themselves off in the pond, Swans continually pruning themselves, Rhinos happily engaged in a play with the cattle, some lazy bactrian camels, naughty Gibbons jumping from one branch of a tree to another, a spectacular march of the Tibetan Yaks, some American Bisons here and there were eye marveling. Later drove through the Rogue River National Forest to Edgewater Inn - Shady Cove, OR to retire for the night.
Day 3 Monday, September 1, 2008 : After a good night's sleep woke up a little early had a healthy breakfast and hit the road towards the Crater Lake National Park, OR. It was a good drive into the Rogue River and Fremont-Winema National Forests to reach the Rim Village of Crater Lake National Park. The park protects the deepest lake in the United states. Fed by rain and snow but no rivers and streams the lake is considered to be the cleanest large body of water in the world. The water is exceptional for its clarity and intense blue color. A product of Nature's grand design. I wonder, could there be a Blue bluer than the whats really known to be Blue. You are face to face with something called INFINITE BLUE. The shades of Blue what one encounters in the lake are immeasurable, indescribable ( as words like sapphirine, copper sulphate blue, cobalt blue, teal, turquoise, ultramarine and azure are just not enough to describe its color) and cosmic. The Blue is soul piercing! You got to see it to believe it! And for me it was - BLUE redefined! Drove the Rim Drive covering the Watchman Overlook ( A 2.6 km hike to reach to the top for unmatched and breathtaking views of the Crater lake and Wizard Island), took the Cleetwood Cove Trail( A 3.5 Km trail and the only legal access to the shore of Crater Lake), reached Cloudcap Overlook ( highest point on the Rim Drive), stopped ahead to see the Pumice Castle Overlook ( a layer of orange pumice rock that has been eroded into the shape of a medieval castle), then stopped at the Phantom Ship Overlook which offered a great view of the Phantom Ship framed through the trees, drove to Pinnacles Overlook ( A 1.6 Km trail to view the volcanic spires - 'fossil fumaroles', each marking a spot where volcanic gas rose up through hot ash deposits cementing the ash into solid rock, then drove towards the Sun Notch Trail ( A 0.8 Km trail - short uphill walk through a meadow to the rim of Crater Lake for views of Phantom Ship). End of the day a little tired with all the hikes and trails, literally dry with fuel in the car and in our tummies drove all the way to the Mazama Village for refuge. After enquiring about vacant tent sites for camping chose and booked one to camp for the night. Later drove to the Rim Cafe for a quick bite of Mediterranean sandwiches and then were right in time for the sunset at the Watchman Overlook. I can tell this was the most wonderful and picturesque sunset I had ever seen - truly magical and enchanting. Got back, set up the tent and retired for the day.... it took a long while before we fell asleep as the night was real cold and chilly. Even while asleep I found myself mystified by Crater Lake - overwhelming yet a sublime beauty.
Day 4 Tuesday, September 2, 2008 : Woke up a little late, got fresh, drove to Rim cafe for morning breakfast, and then bid adieu to the Lake from the Rim village and hit I -5 after passing through couple of National Forests like Winema and Willamette stopping at a place for nice veggie wraps. Reached Seattle before dinner time. Had a nice dinner and were back home having covered almost the length of Oregon. A will to face the odds and a craze to hit the road is what one needs - And yes...We made it! Miles covered in the trip : 1275 miles Color of the trip : Green and Blue Theme of the trip : Exploring the beauty of nature in chaos Song of the trip : Yun hi chala chal Color of the day: CRATER BLUE -Manasi I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. ~Robert Louis Stevenson
After the sultry beaches, lush greenery, the cityscapes it was definitely an informed escape into the great mountain ranges of our country. Yes and this time it was Manali and Shimla of Himachal Pradesh.
The road trip from Delhi to Manali though a little longer than expected was indeed beautiful with the Beas River accompanying us till Manali and thereafter too.
Manali, in the Beas River valley, a hill station in the Himalayan mountains of Himachal Pradesh was mesmerizing with its amazing snow capped mountain ranges so huge and vast to have captured by a pair of our petty eyes.
Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of 13,050 feet above sea level, is another adventure tourist site. It is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above clouds, which is truly breath taking. The clouds are at their playful best encircling, tangling, shooting, raising, hiding and seeking in these mountains. The route to the Rohtang Top was an absolute adventure on its own passing through Gulaba Camp, Rahala Falls, Marrhi…et al. The view from the top …what to say....needless to say...it must be experienced and breathed moment by moment ....It was ravishingly and boisterously fantafabulous!
Solang Valley, popularly known as Snow Point, was a picturesque spot and offered splendid views of glaciers and the snow-capped mountains. We trekked to the top of this valley to visit the ice Shivling there which again was a naturally magnificent creation of the water falls falling from the top of a rock above on to the Shivling which had all turned into ice.
One dare devil act of mine on this trip here was to get into something like paragliding… Wow!! I can’t just imagine I did it. Now I clearly understand why people get high on risking their lives for these kinda thrills … the only reason being …the thrills just give you moments of thoughtlessness where you only dwell in the absolute present and nothing at all matters except all your six senses coordinating with each other to their maximum extent in being one with the nature and here I was gliding amidst of these incredibly stunning, colossal structures all adorned in white and enjoying the bliss which to me was totally divine.
As humans we can only attempt to express our feelings on what we feel about such pristine panorama. The amazement what one experiences on such instances cannot be expressed in words as one falls short of words and superlatives here and only little one could possibly do is stop feeling but just flow in this experience. Nature cannot be questioned…cannot be described …and cannot be explained…..It would be a futile attempt to breach in and unfold the mystery it offers each time. The three days spent in Manali with clusters of these gigantic snow laden mountains seen everywhere has been recurring in the dreams every night to date….truly euphoric to say. That’s the beauty and brilliance of these overpowering structures on me that I haven’t still got enough of them!
Every time I think of their measureless majesty it only makes me realize where I stand and how inconsequential I feel about myself. I have grown to regard and adore these awe-inspiring creations. Whatever you might have achieved in your life, standing tall and spreading out vast, they still make you feel that you have a long way to go and achieve. Every time you climb a peak and say you have done it, you still have a point higher to climb. As they say…“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” The strength and grandeur that they exude is matchless and inimitable. I do have this sense of pride as I consider myself amongst the fortunate ones to have experienced such flawless beauty of my nation.
Shimla, the queen of hill stations offered a different landscape altogether as opposed to what I anticipated it to be as - lush green. It is beautiful and surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests. Seasons contribute so much to the beauty of nature that it really makes the place wear a different dress and give a distinctive outlook each time. Winter in Shimla is amazing! Shimla was adorned in white snow and looked bewitching. It becomes a frost glistening silent city in no time as a gathering of dark clouds and fog sets off the approach of snow, generally a slight fall first, followed by a heavier one when the snowflakes sweep down bending long branches of the trees to the ground and then we see the town as a fantastic fairyland of white beauty. We experienced the season’s first snowfall in Shimla. Jakhu Hill is the highest peak and supposedly offers a beautiful view of the town and of the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the Hill, is an old temple of Hanuman. We could hardly get the glimpse of the Himalayan ranges from the top as there was immense fog and snowfall all over.
Alls well that ends well….. To sum it up it was an amazing treat on my seventh wedding anniversary!
-Manasi
From the highest mountains in the world, Men seek for higher places to climb, When in their heart, It is where the climb always continues. - Jason Berg
We started off on a Saturday morning on over an hour drive to Anacortes for the Washington State Ferries.The San Juan Islands exist not only as gems in Washington’s state "Top 5 islands in the continental U.S. and Canada", but also as a state of mind. An island culture borne of geographic seclusion and resilient spirit. The San Juan Islands are emerald gems that contain magical forests, breathtaking and exciting wildlife, long swept rugged beaches, mountain peaks with incredible vistas, towering cedar trees, and quiet bays. The sea within the Islands is known as the Salish Sea which is named after the original first peoples of the region, the coast Salish. They were seafaring people who fished, carved totem poles which told of family histories, whose history is steeped in legends. There was a thick fog as we reached the Friday Harbor in the San Juan Island which eventually disappeared into a beautiful deep blue sky as we reached Orcas Island on an interisland ferry.
That was the first time in my life I was ever Island Hopping and I absolutely loved the experience. The first destination island was the Orcas Island. Lovely Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juans. The horseshoe-shaped island is a magical mix of lush forest, farm valleys, tranquil lakes and stunning mountains, all wrapped around a beautiful fjord. Orcas Island is made up of several hamlets and villages. Eastsound offers casual to fine dining, boutiques, galleries, a performing arts center, a first-run movie theater, and a history museum. We rambled around that area a bit and then bumped into the Community Labyrinth at Emmanuel Episcopal Church which I walked in and out of it. Generally synonymous with maze, the labyrinth is an archetypal design - a universal divine imprint - an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness, combining the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path.The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.
The biological clock struck and we knew we were hungry. We browsed around a couple of places and then settled with a restaurant called 'Allium' which treated us on the bounty of simple, fresh Pacific Northwest flavors and for a sumptuous lunch. The restaurant itself was adorably cozy, set on the second floor of a waterfront former home with great views of waters. I can say the food was very refreshing, fresh and very gourmet. Off then we drove to the Moran State Park looking for camping sites. The ranger at the Park offered us a very private and secluded patch atop a real woodsy area uphill reachable by a short trek. 
We took around twenty minutes to set up the tent on that hot afternoon and then after a pleasant siesta drove to see Cascade Falls, a small but impressive 75-foot-high waterfall in Moran State Park. We then drove to the top of Moran State Park to see panoramic views of the islands and surrounding mountains. Atop the 2,409-foot-high Mt. Constitution, the highest point on the San Juan Islands, there stands a stone observation tower. The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding islands, the Cascade Mountains and a variety of Canadian and American cities. We then drove all the way out of the Park towards the Eastsound for an early dinner as we wanted to spend some time by the Cascade Lake at night inside the Moran State Park where we had camped. We captured some lovely reflections of a beautiful verdant area on our drive to Eastsound Village on Orcas Island. We then headed towards a fine dining restaurant called 'New Leaf Cafe' which served simple, fresh cuisine highlighting the finest ingredients the island had to offer in an intimate water view dining room. I had Mediterranean mussels with cream, pesto, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes and quite honestly it was one of the finest mussel preparations I have eaten. I was told that the mussels were straight from the Buck Bay on the Orcas Island and they were as fresh as they could be! Local fresh seafood served with whole grains and seasonal veggies. It was a beautiful and relaxing experience on the Island. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, Orcas Island restaurants offer an amazing range of delicious eating experience. Like I said we returned back early to our hide out after spending a little while by the Lake and then called it a night. 
