Omaha - Ganesha Temple

The first Friday after we reached Omaha was a Good Friday holiday weekend, so we took the opportunity to go to the temple, which is about 15 mins away from our home.

We were happy to discover the beautiful temple which welcomed with a nice Om Rangoli in the front, It has a nice Gopuram with traditional Kalasam on top. When we entered, the inside was was very serene and calm with the big Ganesha in the middle. Felt very nice as we went around to pray to the other Gods around. Ganesha, Muruga, Shiva, Perumal which are more of South Indian idols were in the traditional form like in South, and the other gods like Rama, Krishna, Durga and all were in marble more with a North Indian look and feel. Overall felt very nice visiting the temple and to begin our exploration of the city from here.

Address: 13010 Arbor Street Omaha, NE 68144
Website: http://www.hindutemplenebraska.org/welcome.aspx

East Brunswick (NJ) to Omaha (NE)

We started on a very interesting and adventurous trip on Mar 30th 2012 Friday, from East Brunswick, New Jersey to Omaha, Nebraska in our Mazda MPV. By the time we finished doing the last cleaning before we handed over the keys it was already evening at around 4 pm, It was a nice sunny evening and we then went and handed over the Comcast Modem in their office and headed towards Omaha, NE which was about 22 hours and over 1300 miles away from the starting point in NJ. We planned to stop at Pittsburgh after visiting the temple there, but we realized we cannot do it since we have started late. So we thought of driving as much as we can and halt at a comfortable place in Pennsylvania. We filled up the gas and kept driving, the initial stretch of 1 hour was a busy traffic on the Friday evening, after we reached PA it was lesser traffic. It was a bright day and quite pleasant with a chill wind, so the drive was beautiful with the first few leaves and flowers looking beautiful on the trees around.

The roads were getting narrow in PA, and we reached a little mountainous area with a lot of winding roads and clock reached 8pm, so we thought of halting around after we crossed the two long tunnels in the mountains of BlueMountain and the Tuscarora Mountain . We halted at a nice Quality Inn Hotel, took some rest for the night. The little one Akilangandhi with us were also excited and having fun with us. He liked the Dora, Elmo, Mickey...Videos played in the newly set DVD player in the car, which his father specially got it ready for the drive so he is comfortable.

We then began our day with a nice continental breakfast at the hotel and then headed our way, we crossed yet another tunnel, the Tuscarora tunnel all these tunnels on the Pennsylvania highway. The road after that was a very winding way for more than an hour, we were happy that we did halt at the right place, because this was looking quite a tough drive in the day light and would have been even tougher in the night. After about 2 hours drive we reached the Pittsburgh Sri Venkateshwara Temple. This was the first Hindu temple built before about 35 years and the wet and beautiful morning made it look beautiful. It was in a small hilly area and this again looked a tough way in daylight reminding us that all happens for good and that we are making this route in the daylight, though it was a cloudy morning. We had the nice VenPongal prasadam there and the nice Darisanam after the Ashtothara archana. Akilan also enjoyed the temple atmosphere and the Prasadam. We picked up some lunch from the temple itself, since the Puliyogre and the BisibeleBath was really inviting to our noses and headed our way again. The morning had become even foggy and the visibility was very less on the way. There was quite less traffic but now the roads were slowly getting more of a straight one. Thus allowing to see more of what is ahead... We reached a rest area where we hogged our lunch and the yummy BisibeleBath gave us more enthu after which we continued our journey.

Akilan dozed off after some time and we now switched to hear some melody Ilayaraja songs and just kept our senses busy by having some or other interesting conversation and heading our way. We hardly took about 2 other halts in the rest areas and my husband Chidam (Chidambaranathan) kept driving while we enjoyed the various snack items we had picked up from Indian store in NJ. We wanted to cover as much distance as possible since the day was becoming brighter and sunny and giving us more enthu, It looked more beautiful and very very less traffic and those straight and wide roads, with just the trucks here and there made the journey more peaceful. We crossed PA, and reached Indiana, Illinois(Chicago) and reached Iowa, and by now it got darker as we hit the 8 pm mark and also there were some drizzles. Now we were also very exhausted and decided to halt at whichever good Choice Hotel we would find. We saw a nice Comfort Inn hotel on the way and took the exit for that, but then we took a turn to enter that and realized it again took us to the highway and we were back heading further, so we thought of taking the next one, again the same thing happened, where we thought we were entering the Quality Inn Hotel but this time again we hit the highway. It had also started pouring, and we were now feeling very tired and just wanted to halt and take rest at wherever we stay, now there seemed to be no inns around and the road was just going on and on leading us just miles after miles. We were traveling more towards the destination but now we were both worried about the darkness, rain and also the tiredness felt more because of these reasons. Akilan was fast asleep , and we felt at least he was not going through what was worrying us. We even thought we may just keep driving and reach Omaha, NE this way. Then suddenly we saw some exit which would take us to a Motel 6 Hotel, and we thought we would just somehow make our way there, This time we figured out that we should take the way ahead in the exit, but should take a left or a right after we enter the exit, only then it will lead to its entrance. But oh my this one was not so exciting, place, but ya were so tired and went ahead to enquirer if it was available, and wow there was just one last one, and we just quickly did the formalities, entered it, got freshened hogged the Puliyogre, some fruits and stuff and feel asleep.

The next day morning felt so fresh and good, and we came out to see a beautiful bright morning at 7am, in Iowa Atkinson.

When GPS showed us that we were just 4 hours away from our destination, of wow again we felt so good, that we would reach well before noon at Omaha. That gave us the extra feel that again all happens for good, and now we can reach well on time to head into our new place. We filled ourselves with some good coffee and breakfast at a McDe, and also filled car with gas, and headed our journey, we just kept going the broad roads just crossing the few trucks and the travel felt quite easy with the least traffic on the way. When we were about and hour away that is where we started seeing few cars, and the name boards to Omaha made us feel good that we were nearing our destination. On our way we called our parents to find our the good timing to enter the new place and realized we should reach there after 1.30 pm, so we decided to go to Wal-Mart or some shopping center there and pick up the required grocery stuff to enter into our new place..
We then reached on time to meet our Rental office, did the paper work, got the keys and yes on time entered our new apartment which is really a nice place, and felt good about the selection online, and ya now we were home again. First became fresh and then yes did our Pooja and had our home made food, The next important thing we needed was internet which we had earlier had made arrangements to have it when we reach, but there were some configuration to be made to get online. We had the hour long calls with the customer care and got that set up so we could call our parents and inform that yes we reached Omaha, NE and by now we were so exhausted that all we wanted was a lot of sleep, but yes we felt just great to be all safe and good by the blessings of our elders and wishes of all our loved ones.

Flushing Ganesha Temple

Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapathi Devasthanam is in the Queens borough of New York, and is more than 40 years old, started in 1970. So it one of the older temples in US.

We were blessed to visit the place on 2010 Vinayakachathurthi day, on 11Sep.... After doing pooja at home we drove in our Corolla towards NY, starting our drive on NJ turnpike, then crossing the Goethals bridge, following the Verrazona bridge, and then on the Queens Brooklyn expressway, and crossing the busy roads on Queens in Flushing we went towards Kissena boulevard and parked our car after the 1.5 hours drive on the side streets along the independent houses after we reached 45-57 Bowne Street, Flushing NY 11355.

Ganesha was looking very nice with the Pushpa Alankaram specially done for the day, Shanmukha with Valli and Deviynai on his beautiful peacock with Vibuthi alankaram, Siva and Parvathi, and all the gods around all made the place so serene and beautiful.

We felt nice doing the pooja there and then went to see the praharam, Dhwaja stambam, and the different ganeshas in the praharam. Took photos there, and had the nice food served on the auspicious day.

There are Raghavendra temple right opposite to the ganesha temple, and LakshmiNarayan temple on the nearby road, and Saibaba Mandir on the adjacent street, all are very near by and walkable, and can visit all to have nice darshan.

We left from there and headed back home and reached back around 5 in the evening, the whole day was a nice day, little tiring with walking around, but felt good.

Philadelphia - Liberty Bell

Visiting The Liberty Bell in PA is of equivalent importance as that of the Statue of Liberty in NY. Historically both of equal fame. The bell symbolizes the liberation of slavery and forming the constitution.

The Bell is in display , which has a crack. Ideally first we should go to the Visitor center and collect the pass for the Independence Hall tour. Note that none of these have a cost for the ticket. After that can go around first to the bell, then the Constitution Center, this has a cost to the ticket ($12), so can go by choice. Then can visit the Independence hall and the George Washington first Presidential Office. The carpenter's hall is also of importance where the first papers where signed where US was born, where 10 states were united first. The first Supreme Court, and the other Presidential offices are all one after the other. The nice clocks on the buildings are worth noting. The stretch to walk from the hall to the Constitution Center is also nice an can take some snaps.

There is a model of a Lord like person sitting in the Carpenter's hall with whom we can take a photograph.

Corning Glass Museum and Niagara Falls

We chose to visit the Niagara falls on the US Independence day long weekend, which falls on the July 4th. In 2010 this was on a Sunday so the observed holiday on Monday, gave the long weekend a good 3day for itself.

We made the preparations in advance by making hotel reservations in Quality Inn, which was about 6 miles from the falls, which is about 10 mins apart.

Corning Glass Museum
Corning Glass Museum which is on the way to the falls, was over first destination en-route. We started our travel at about 8am, though we had targetted for 6:). We reached the museum in the noon, about 5 hour journey with a stopover(4.35 actual). We learnt that the factory is now closed down and cannot visit that, and that a shuttle would take us to the museum from the parking spot. So we first had our lunch :) and headed to wards the museum entrance. Glass works invited us, and we were all excited to explore more. The ticket issuer told us that there is a show just about to start.... wondering what it is we headed in that direction. We saw a live demonstration of a glass bowl being made, that was truly interesting , where from the basic raw material glass is blown like a bulb, the spreads itself and when he shakes it takes form. Also he was saying they break and put back into the 1000 degree heat again to repeat the demo the next day :)
We saw few other demos of glass breaking and Optical Fiber , where light flows through the thin cable allowing for instruments like cell phones to operate.
The main part was still there.... the glass museum collection.... wow so many many glass wonders.... from about 1000B.C to today's latest prism beauties.... we saw all the tiffany works and also were lured to buy some Glass beauties home. We wanted to see more, but the thought that we should reach Niagara falls before dark made us move on.

Niagara Falls
Time to Niagara Falls is about 2.40 hours, but it took us about 3.30 hours with some stop overs to fill gas, get battery for ipod accessory etc. We checked in to the hotel, quickly freshened up, and drove to the falls. Nature is always beautiful, and Niagara is a real beauty of nature. We were surprised to see the fireworks this day already, since we expected to see it only the next day which was the Independence day, we could not find spots to park, so we just stopped our car in a junction and watched the whole show, the whole city was busy watching any way. Wow, it was too good, it was almost for an hour, though we missed the part from 9 to 9.20, we did see the best part.... My parents and Akilan! also saw the whole show in awe, while we were busy capturing the show in camera and handy cam and also enjoying watching it all.
We then went and parked in a good spot, right next to the red coach inn.... near the falls entrance. It was easy to walk down to have a night view of the falls. It was about 11 and we headed to our vehicle to get back to get some rest, but the heavy traffic, delayed an hour and we reached late. The pizza buy took longer again and we had a real late dinner, and then caught up with our sleep.

Early the morning, we got up a little late, and got ready and reached the falls at about 11 !, got the tickets for the Discovery Pass which covers all the interesting places there, Maide of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Aquariym, IMax Show and Discovery Center, and we went for the Maid of the Mist first. The wait was long again in the queue, but the beauty of Niagara int he American falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe falls made us forget the time we took to see, and by the time we finished the tour we were half wet, so were our camera and handy cam, We then went to the prospect point, while Chidam and my parents took turns with Akilan since it was not advisable to take him in the slippery steps.... Wow what was a superb experience to go up to the Prospect Point to have the falls shower on us.

We then had our Pizza snack :) resting on the grass and seeing the beautiful birds, and went to the Cave of the winds in the Trolley. The wait there was 2 hours!, but again wow, what a experience to literally stand below the Bridal Veil falls and also see the falls right above us. The way back to come out took about an hour, which was something we did not get excited about. The trolley drive on the way back, made us realize that there was more of the beauty of the falls to be visited from the Terrapin point, the three sisters falls, etc, which are more nature interesting, and our time can be really spent well if we plan for those as well.

This already took the major part of the day, so we thought we can get our parents to the IMax show, but again the shows are every hour, 3,4,5,6, and we were late again for the 7 o clock show, so we went to get our things to get ready for the fireworks view and had our parents settle down to view the falls, We were waiting for the fireworks to start but it all started at about 10, and was for a very short time. We were a little disappointed, since we could have actually visited the show or the Aquarium in the meanwhile.

We were very tired by then and we headed back to hotel. The next day we knew is going to be all travel, so we got ready relaxed, and Chidam wanted to get as much sleep so that he can be comfortable with his driving. He took us back safely home squeezing some stop overs to get himself fresh. Cayuga lake route, with the Seneca Falls etc, were ones which we missed, but had a stopover at the Butter Milk falls, the water was very scarce there so not much for us to see, also there were people crowded to get their swimming plans. We reached home at 9.15 :) just about when darkness was spreading that summer night.

My Son AkilanGandhi's First Birthday - Photo Album

Click the below link to view my son, AkilanGandhi's First Birthday photo Album.

AkilanGandhi's First Birthday - Photo Album

Note: Internet Explorer recommended. Click the right bottom edge to flip the Album pages.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is about a two hour drive from home. We had actually been to this place few weeks after coming down to NJ. So, we had taken the bus from Twin Towers Bus Station, East Brunswick which goes to Atlantic City. We were staying in Studio 6, East Brunswick at that time, and it was the last week of February 2008, so it was one of the cooool days.... Still we decided to explore this place.

To get to the Twin Towers was itself a long process, we got ready and thought why not walk our way to the bus station, and then had to come after walking half way, since we could not find a pathway to walk. Actually this happened a week before, and after being very tired, we dropped the idea to go that day. The next Saturday we decided to take the cab and were all ready, when suddenly an alarm, oh ! that was the smoke alarm which went on loud for a long time about half an hour, so we had to wait for it to settle down, then called the cab and headed to the Tower Center Bus Station. After this interesting start, we boarded the bus, the ticket was a round trip, which had fixed return timings as well. One thing which made us laugh to ourselves was , we felt we were the youngest, and all others were old, guessed that they are making use of the pocket money they get to play / spend in the Casinos.

We reached Atlantic City, and started walking the streets looking for Casinos, we ended up more in empty streets with smaller buildings, looks like we went in the wrong direction, then we walking back and came to track, and there were so many casinos out there.

We started exploring one by one, and actually we realized we should carry our passport there so that the bus money gets returned back almost which we can even use for playing there :)

The Atlantic sea / beach has a nice bay walk, which is also a fun thing to do there.

We collected some toys from Jumbo Jungle there....