TEMPLE VISITS IN U S A

A large number of Hindu Temples are in U S A, across the country. Indians with various faiths have their own worshiping centres in their cities. City with large concentration of Indians, have more temples.
Those temples we visited during our trip to USA are:

1. Hindu Temple of Peoria, Illinois

2. Shri Venkateshwara Balaji Temple, Arora, Chicago

3. Shri Krishna Vrindavan, Puttige Mutt, Edison, New Jersey.

4. Shringeri Sharadamba Temple, Strautsborg, Pennysylvania.

5. Shri Venkateshwara Temple, Bridgewater, NJ

6. Shri Guruvayoorappan Temple, Morgan Ville, NJ

7. Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapathi Temple, Flushing, Queens, NY

8. Lord Venkateshwara & Shiva Temple, Malibu, Los Angeles CA

9. Shri Krishna Vrindavan, Puttige Mutt, San Jose, CA

Written on Friday, 06 June 2014, Bengaluru

TRAVELLING BACK TO INDIA

WE CAME IN THAT

It's almost 2 months since we were staying in Peoria, Illinois, going round tour of East Coast and West Coast of United Stae of America, visiting temples, visiting friends and relations. The country is huge, distances are large and traveling takes lot of time and expensive. We could make best use of resources, car, bus, train, metro and airplane.
Visiting U S was possible because Raghu-Shubha were living there.
Number of weekend visits like City of St. Louis, Chicago, Iowa, Wisconsin and Springfield, went by car with daughter Shubha, Raghu and Lahari. The local visit to Peoria heights, Cater Pillar Visitor center, Peoria Waterfront  It was all memorable.
Other visits by taking tours, staying with friends and relations.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014...... Our return booking for travel to Delhi from Chicago by Air India. The flight was at 1.30pm in the afternoon, and we were mentally ready for looooooooooong flight to Delhi (14 hours)
We were booked to travel by PEORIA CHARTER bus to Chicago at 6.00am.
Raghu-Shubha, Lahari dropped us at Bradley University stop. Bus came on time and it was BYE BYE.... and the bus left them behind................
The bus reached Chicago O'Hare Airport terminal 5, at 10.30am. after stop at Joliet and Bloomington.
Strangely, Airport trolley rent at Chicago airport is $4.00 and that you pay to a machine to unlock the trolley.
We checked in at the AIR INDIA counter, no hassles. People were struggling with suitcase more than 23 Kg as there were not allowing to check.

ABOVE THE CLOUDS

After security check we were at the boarding gate and were in the aircraft half hour earlier. The flight left on time and it's lock in time of 14 hours. Food...... lunch, refreshment and breakfast next morning was served, as we were still in the aircraft. Reading, sleeping and watching movies were the main activities.
Eventually, we reached Delhi Airport next day (Wednesday, 28th May) afternoon 3.30pm.

IN FLIGHT

VIEW FROM ABOVE

After clearing immigration and customs, we checked in for Bangalore flight at 4.50pm and we were at Kempegowda International Airport at 7.30pm.
When we were out from the airport building, Ravi-Vidya were there, got into the car and reached
HOME SWEET HOME..... BIRTHI MANE......
Written Tuesday, 03 June 2014

SPRINGFIELD

ABRAHAM LINCOLN MUSEUM

'Flower City' Springfield, Illinois: Home of President Abraham Lincoln & Vachel Lindsay, capital of Illinois, and seat of Sangamon County.  Springfield is a world-class, All American city with a rich and vibrant history. Experience our sites and attractions and make Springfield your favorite city to live, work or visit.

CAPITOL BUILDING, ILLINOIS STATE

The most famous past resident is ABRAHAM LINCOLN who lived in Springfield from 1837 until 1861, when he went to the White House as President. Major tourist attractions include a multitude of historic sites connected with Lincoln.

BUILDINGD AND PARK

The city Springfield is about 100 miles from Peoria, a journey of 90 minutes. Sunday, 25th May 2014 we, with Raghu-Shubha and Lahari decided to make a trip to the place. Lunch packed, left by noon and reached place by 1.30pm.
First was visit to Lincoln Museum, with a movies, displays and exhibits seeing and listening and clicking photos. We had food (puliogare and mosaranna and fruits) around the place. Afterwards we went to see the Lincoln House and since there lot of visitors, they did not allow us.We went round the premises, walked along, what looked liked a deserted city, few cars plying on the road and hardly any people.

LINCOLN'S TOMB, MEMORIAL

We visited the Capital building of State of Illinois and also Abrham Lincoln's Tomb on the way.
Back to Peoria home by 8.30pm,
written Tuesday 03 June 2014, Bengaluru.

VISIT WIS DELLS: WISCONSIN

Saturday, May 24, 2014

VIEW ON THE WAY

It's about two days we were at home, resting and relaxing...... Raghu-Shubha had plans for the weekend, that is to visit WIS DELLS in Wisconsin, a distance of 260 miles and travel time of 4 hours.
Wisconsin Dells is a city in south-central Wisconsin with a population of 2,678 people as of the 2010 census. The city takes its name from the Dells of the Wisconsin river, a scenic, glacially formed gorge that features striking sandstone formations along the banks of the Wisconsin River. Together with the nearby village of Lake Delton, the city forms an area known as "the Dells", a popular MIDWESTERN TOURIST  destination. 

DUCK TOUR

^{Because of the scenery provided by the dells of the Wisconsin River, Kilbourn City quickly became a popular travel destination in the Midwest.
We started off by car from Peoria as early as 6 am, on the road not much of scenic attractions. Stopped over at rest area and had breakfast. 
Reached Wis Dells city by 10.30 am.}

^{The first attraction was DUCK TOUR..... as the name indicates a truck people to sit goes on the road and also goes into river and swims. the driver/tour guide (lady) was giving explanations and cracking jokes. It was about 90 minutes tour in the wisconsin river and we were at the starting point by 12 noon.}

UPPER DELLS BOAT TOUR

^{Then we went to Upper Dells and joined the BOAT TOUR at 12.30pm. The boat could accommodate  almost 100 people and boat pilot was the tour guide.
We could see the sandstone formations and glacially formed gorge along the banks of the river. At one point, we got out from the boat and walked along the cave like path in the gorge, at the end of which there was a gift shop and snack outlet.}

JET BOAT TOUR

GETTING DRENCHED

^{At another point we got out from the boat and walked along the path on the bank and could see the structure and rock formations. It was more than two and half hour tour and back at 2.45pm.
We were back to Lower dells to go for JET BOAT TOUR, thrilling experience in the water with sudden acceleration of the boat, sudden stop, turning, splashing water on the people. It was about 40 minutes tour and we were back by 5 pm}

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

WHITE HOUSE UPSIDE DOWN

^{Walked around the other attractions like Upside down WHITE HOUSE, deer park etc.
We had pizza meal at a hotel, left by 7pm and reached Peoria by 11pm
It was a pleasant and excellent one day trip.
Written 02 June 2014, Bengaluru}

RETURN TO PEORIA: DAY 28

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Extended Stay Hotel room

As we slept late in the hotel room of Extended Stay in Chicago, we got up late.... that is after 7am
Hotel said they had breakfast, and when we went down, it was only GRAB AND GO..... with tea/coffee, muffins, cereal sticks and apples..... We grabbed some and went around the hotel, to find out there was a huge TARGET shopping mall and other eating outlets.
We went round the supermarket, had some subway and came back to hotel.
The shuttle bus to take us to O'Hare airport area was 12.00 noon and the driver came on time and we were at the Terminal 5 of the Airport at 12.20pm

Bus to Peoria

Peoria charter bus to Peoria was booked, which leaves from O'Hare T5 at 1.20pm and we waited for the same in the airport lounge. The bus came on time and there were hardly few people. An elderly man was driver, conductor and everything.

In the bus.... pass time...

We reached peoria CITILINK at 5.30pm where Shubha-Raghu were waiting and we went with them to the house, thus completing 28 day tour of East Coast and West Coast.
We were happy that our plan worked very well and there were no hassles.
Written Monday 02 June 2014, at Bengaluru.

RETURN TO CHICAGO: DAY 27

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

As per our schedule, we have to leave for Chicago this evening by United flight at 7.00pm

THE GROVE

FOOD COURT

FARMERS MARKET

We spent quite sometime here in Los Angeles, saw so many new places, enjoyed the hospitality of Anu & Vishwanath..... In spite of their busy daily schedule, they took care of us very well.... Thanks Anu & Vishwa.
Morning after breakfast we went walking tour once again to nearby mall "THE GROVE".... spent about two hours, came back to the house.
Around 4.30pm, Anu took us to Los Angeles Airport, said BYE to Anu & Nikhil,and checked in at 6.00pm for United flight to Chicago. Soon we were in the aircraft, the flight took of at 7.00pm
After flying for 4 hours, the flight landed in Chicago O'Hare Airport, though it was 11.00pm in my watch, it was 1 A M in Chicago.

America Extended Stay hotel

As we were booked for stay at AMERICA'S EXTENDED STAY hotel, I called a taxi at the airport and he took us to the hotel in 20 minutes. Fare was $ 20.00
The room was nice, we soon went to sleep.
written Sunday, 01 June 2014