JDA's Creative Moments: New Year Travel

New Year Travel:

January 1, 2022

The new year started with our drive to LA. around 11 am Lall on the wheel three of us (Shobha and myself). Arriving at Valencia, Southern California we stopped by Hiru and Anju’s house to collect Mala’s things. We were served with food like paratha and fried rice by Anju Mala’s mom. We enjoyed seeing them after few months and also Komal their eldest daughter drove to her parents house just to meet us. It was sweet gesture of her. We drove towards North Hollywood but on the way we had to stop by Gul’s place to have dinner as Priya and Sandeep with Samir were also coming. Gul’s decoration of his house is superb and classy. Their swimming pool with Buddha’s statue nearby really energized us spiritually. Their dog Lily was quite big compared to last time I saw her, She was very welcoming and friendly. After dinner we went to spend the night at our (Lall’s) apartment in North Hollywood. Morning by 8 am we were out and did some shopping for use during the trip and then later reached Hari’s place around 9am. They had a friend with his dog as guest.They have their own two dogs. Rhea went to airport to drop her boy friend and she came back while we were there. She showed us their three horses. Her professional hobby is horse riding. She herself is specialized in animal care in her college..

Rhea and her horses

Night view of Las Vegas

night view of Las Vegas

We drove to Las Vegas and got rooms at Chealshi building of the Cosmopolitan hotel on 45th floor. It was an overwhelming view of Vegas specially at night from our floor. Luckily we got the room because of my son in law’s status at Marriott. Next morning I wanted to try at the slot machine and surprisingly I won some money at a slot machine for cents. Out of 20 dollars I won 47 dollars after many ups and downs and then I stopped playing, After cashing out from the cashier I headed toward my room. When Shobha finished her facial at the spa, she called me and I was impatient to tell her about my win.

gambling at casino at Vegas

Shobha hiking

sunset

after watching sunset

After one night .at Vegas. on 3rd January we left for Death Valley national park where we stayed at the Ranch of the tourism department. De ath Valley has three distinct features

1) hottest on earth 134 degree F 57 centigrade on July 10, 1913.

2),Driest US national park

3)Bad Water Basin 282 ft below sea level. It has the lowest elevation in North America.

Local inhabitants/tribes are Timbisha Shoshone people.

Maximum visitation time is usually from February to mid April. October and January are lowest number of visitors

Evening time we went to see sunset, and next day to another place for sun rise reflecting lights on the rocks of different colors. On 4th morning I stayed at my room while Lall and Shobha went for hiking. By 10.30 they called me to come out and as they plan to see the sand dunes. I got down and joined them and after seeing the sand dunes we went to have lunch at Toll Road restaurant. There we had a very delicious lunch/sandwich. Evening we went to see sunset at another location but by the time we reached there sun just set and we missed it by five minutes

Another interesting program was the talk given by one of the staffs at night 7 pm about the stars .and milky way. After the car park we had to walk in the dark along the way lighted with dim red light. As Shobha saw me wandering she had to hold my hand till we reached the destination. We were supposed to get used to the dark so that we could watch the stars on the clear sky. It was vast open sky with a view of the stars in all the directions. She explained about the names of the stars as a part of the Greek legendary.

1/5/22

We were supposed to leave Ranch by 8 am and hence I woke up by 6 and took shower after having tea. Shobha and Lall had gone for a walk while I was taking shower and hence could not hear their call. I responded afterwards and they were coming to the room to have bread and butter with tea before we got ready to leave. By 8 am we left the Ranch and drove toward Baker’s Field. Wanted to have food at Punjabi Dhaba but it was closed for one week as they had been too busy all those years. So we looked for another place for lunch and got food from a Japanese restaurant. Ordering take out mine was chicken with rice and I enjoyed my food specially rica as we had not been having rice for the last two three days. We reached home around 4.30 pm. Shobha had made khichri for dinner and really enjoyed it. I did my laundry as I had time.