http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/swati-sanjit/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from swati sanjit en-us Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:09:23 +0000 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:09:23 +0000 Living from one weekend to another while trying to surpass other rats in the race we began to think it was time for some introspection and deep meditation. Of course in our context it just translates to a lot of wine a lot of fun and basically a good old holiday. So we had about 5 days and we just decided to see the place wersquove wanted to for a while nowhellipCaliforniaThunderstorm Ev http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-309568.html After weeks and weeks of uncharacteristic behavior namely getting up before 6 a.m. everyday and 2 hr commutes I decided it was time to take a break. So the idea of sunning myself in Florida seemed tantalizing. Add to it the prospect of a girlsrsquo only weekend and you have a deal.So Ria Cousin or niece actually and I met up in Miami flying in from Toronto and Boston respectively. The 3.5 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Miami-Beach/blog-278424.html Isla del Encanto Island of the charm indeed Turquoise oceans white sand balmy weather lush green rainforests charming 16th century architecture tucked away islands funloving people exquisite cuisine cultural cocktail salsa and jazz incredible as it sounds Puerto Rico is a heady mix of all this and more. Hard as it is to conjure in the subfreezing climes of Boston the thought http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/San-Juan/blog-235718.html For sometime now we had been dreaming of a driving holiday The Thanksgiving weekend seemed a perfect time to revv up. So we decided to take a road trip heading south from Boston along the coast. A storm brewing up along the entire eastern coast however laid that idea to rest.Thatrsquos when we decided to stop trying to avoid the cold and to head north for the snowy slopes of Vermont. And wh http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-222907.html For most US citizens going to Canada is no big deal. When it comes to people like us it assumes slightly less ordinary proportions. We have to obtain a visa for starters. As Sanjit left for a businesstrip to India I decided to go on a little vacation of my own. Canada seemed an inviting prospect not too far and I have family there.So finally I found myself on a tiny aircraft yeah whatrsqu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Ontario/Toronto/blog-212102.html Wersquove been in Boston for 3 months now and after exploring a lot of places near Boston and Rhode Island we were itching to head further north. The Labor Day weekend was just the opportunity we were waiting for. So we decided to drive up to the White Mountains Region in New Hampshire. Its a little over 2 hrs away from Boston and for a firsttimer we highly recommend spending at least 2 days http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Hampshire/White-Mountains/blog-198856.html As holidays go this was a fabulous one. As extended weekends go this was absolutely topnotch. 9th July being our wedding anniversary we decided to take our muchawaited holiday this weekend. The celebrations started on Friday night itself with the Cambridge Dance Party which is a free dance party in Central Square for all Cambridge residents. The music was good and it was a lot of fun. Day 1 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Cape-Cod/blog-179434.html ldquoWhat evil spirits have you familiarity with None. Have you made no contract with the devil No. Why do you hurt these children I do not hurt them. I scorn it. Who do you employ then to do it I employ no body. What creature do you employ then No creature. I am falsely accused ldquo Her defense was useless. She was hanged anyway. Along with 19 others. Her crime she was accused of be http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Salem/blog-172731.html Harvard Sq at night The weekend saw us moving from our hotel in Waltham to our new home in Cambridge. I think wersquove set a new record of sorts in shifting residences. Consider this In the last 3 yrs Irsquove lived in 11 different apartments So I guess Irsquom a veteran now. Living in Cambridge though is entirely different from any other place. Let me backup and tell you somethin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Cambridge/blog-168620.html Its done.We've finally relocated from Bangalore to Boston. The sense of finality which these words impart has only now begun to sink... nay trickle in. Also relocated has a sense of completion in it which well isnt quite the whole truth. The truth of the matter is that we're still in transition. The last few weeks flew past us in a flurry. Selling our furniture financial paperworkgetting ou http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-165760.html Soon after landing in India we took a much awaited trip to meet our families in Kolkata Allahabad Lucknow and Delhi well Gurgaon to be preciseIts difficult to objectively describe places one has grown up in. So we shall not attempt it. suffice to say that we came back completely refreshed and rejuvenated. Enjoy some glimpses http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jodhpur/blog-135367.html The countdown has begun. Just four days now and we will head back to India. It saddens me to say that this is probably the last blog of this trip. The last three months have been a smorgasbord of experiences. A flurry of colours. A veritable feast of the senses. A few great places many memorable experiences and wonderful people. Now that the three months are over it seems difficult to recapture http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Westchester/blog-121178.html Wish you all a very very happy 2007 Hope everyone had a blast at New Yearrsquos eve. As for us we decided to join the million plus party at Times Square. We knew that it was smart to get there early but how early is early Well 530 in the evening should be good right...and so we started walking towards 42nd streetwhich is where Time square is.. when we reached there we were told by the co http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/blog-116888.html Getting up at 430 on a chilly winter morning isnrsquot exactly our idea of fun. If it is however a question of catching a flight to meet some of our famous oops favorite relatives well thatrsquos a whole other ballgame . Newark Pittsburgh OrsquoHare we land in Chicago around 2 p.m. fretting that our tickets said 115 and Bubul Di cousin with whom wersquore staying yes I kn http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-114602.html Friday 230 p.m. As I step out of my hotel well I reel back immediately itrsquos a mindnumbing 8 C. yes a minus eight degree Celsius and those who have experienced it will know what Irsquom talking about . We reach New York and our strategy for going to Washington D.C. is pretty much the same as Boston. Head to China town and get on to a Chinese bus with cheap Chinese fare. We http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/District-of-Columbia/Washington/blog-110739.html Itrsquos beginning to get cold here. Today the temp was about 1 C or so. And in the morning I woke up to see snow flakes drifting down my window. Before I could get excited about it the sun was out and the snow flakes had beaten a hasty retreat. This last week Irsquove been to NYC like 3 times just donrsquot have that many pictures to show for it. On Saturday after tossing the coin a hund http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/blog-108457.html We are having a really rocking weekend so far. Last night we went to watch the movie ldquoBabelrdquo. We loved it. Its hardhitting very realistic very esoteric and rather bizarre at parts. But its gripping and gives you goosebumps.the cinematography is stunning and captures the rugged terrain of Morocco very well. they've also collected a superb cast. Brad Pitt looks smashing with the sal http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-105936.html We are in Boston for the Thanksgiving weekend. Left White Plains at 530 in the morning reached NYC and caught the Fung Wah bus incredibly cheap Chinese fare. Its pouring throughout the journey and for the rest of the day as well. Land up at Sanjitrsquos best buddyrsquos place have an awesome thanksgiving lunch eating chicken masquerading as turkey and then go for dinner. Of course we http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-105703.html ldquoThe idol of today pushes the hero of yesterday out of our recollection and will in turn be supplanted by his successor of tomorrow.rdquo Washington IrvingFamous words by a famous man. Yet Washington Irving himself lives on in the psyche of America and his cottage is one of the Historic sites in the Hudson valley. Its called Sunnyside and is on the banks of the Hudson in a village cal http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Hudson-Valley/blog-104228.html What do you do on a Saturday morning Head to the Atlantic ocean of course From White Plains took a train to Grand Central walked from GC to Penn station caught a train on the LIRR Long Island Rail Road got off at LynBrook and caught another train which finally took us to Long Beach. Phew took us 3 hrs in all hellip.but traveling in U.S. is rather stress free hellipnot much crowds http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Long-Island/blog-102396.html