St Thomas and St John, US Virgin Islands

 

Our trip to the US Virgin Islands was enjoyable and relaxing with blue waters and beautiful scenery. Staying on Solberg road in St Thomas provided us with a picturesque view of the Caribbean Sea and Cyril King airport, where we watched planes land and take off. A day trip to St John allowed us to explore old sugar mills, relax on the beach, and catch a glimpse of the British Virgin Islands. The kayaking trip in St Thomas was fun. We spent a day on Water Island, exploring the area with a rented golf cart. We got to visit Fort Segarra, a World War II defense structure. The last day we got to see beautiful views from the Mountain top, Drake's seat and Charlotte Amalie overlook. We enjoyed meeting the locals who are very friendly, laid back and consider you as family.

St Thomas and St John pictures

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Page, Arizona

While driving from Albuquerque to Page, we enjoyed our packed lunch from Annapurna near El Malpais National Monument which has a diverse volcanic landscape. Our visits around Page, Arizona included Horseshoe Bend, Paria Townsite and Wahweap Overlook. Located 5 miles south of Page, Horseshoe Bend offers an overlook of the Colorado River, and the short hike to the top provided beautiful views of the river 1100 feet below. We visited Paria Townsite via a drive on a dirt road, where the vibrant rock colors included stripes of red and purple and looked like a painting. The area's beauty has attracted Hollywood, with many western movies filmed in this location. The sunset and views from Wahweap overlook were stunning. 

Page, Arizona pictures

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Kanab, Utah

 

We had a wonderful stay in Kanab, renting a nice townhouse with beautiful views and convenient access to nearby hiking trails. We enjoyed the motivational hangings and posters in the house. We hiked Tom's Canyon trail and enjoyed the views from the trail.

We visited the Coral Pink Sand Dunes state park and hiked around the area learning about the desert plants.

We got to see a beautiful sunset and a view of the Grand Staircase from the LeFevre Overlook. Grand Staircase comprises of the 5 cliffs - Pink, Grey, White, Vermilion and Chocolate Cliffs.

We also visited Best Friends animal sanctuary which is almost 3700 acres and is the largest sanctuary of its kind in the U.S. It is part of a no-kill movement and has 1600 animals and is a model for the future of animal welfare. We enjoyed lunch in their Angel Village vegan cafe and met one of the cofounders of the sanctuary.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fZUSbvF5bhYcJY8C8

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion is a national park famous for red rock cliffs and the Zion canyon. It has a lot of different activities to choose from. Zion means sanctuary or refuge in Hebrew. We entered through the east entrance and passed through Zion mount carmel tunnel. We decided to rent e-bikes and cycle the route from visitor center to the Temple of Sinawa instead of taking the shuttle bus. Since there are only park shuttles and lodge residents, it was enjoyable to ride with no other visitor cars passing us. At the Temple of Sinawa there were beautiful views of the Virgin river along the Riverside walk to the Narrows. We didn't hike in the Narrows but we stopped at a number of places on the way back like the Weeping rock, Big Bend and Court Of The Patriarchs. We saw some deer near the Emerald pools trail starting from the Zion Lodge. The views along the way were spectacular. They were like picture postcards. It was fun cycling on a number of bridges. Views at the Diversion dam on the Pa'rus Trail were very beautiful. We also got to see the sunset from the Canyon Junction bridge and the rock colors after sunset were amazing. 

Zion National Park Pictures

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Antelope Canyon, Arizona

 

The views at Lower Antelope canyon were amazing. It is an underground slot canyon spanning about 600 yards. Operated by the Navajo Indians through guided tours, the canyon is shaped like a “V” with a narrow pathway that opens up to the sky We descended via five flights of steep stairs to see formations like the Lion, Eagle head, Indian Chief, Rocky Mountain sunrise and Buffalo. The guide shared insights, including the precautionary measures taken during flash floods, with a one-hour evacuation notice for visitors. She explained how staff clear water after flash floods and how the metal stairs were once destroyed in such events.

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South Coyote Buttes and White Pocket

We had a wonderful experience exploring South Coyote Buttes and White Pocket.

South Coyote Buttes, requiring a permit with limited daily access to 20 people has intriguing formations such as trophies, a control tower, chess queen formation, a fault line, and dinosaur tracks.

White Pocket, on the other hand, offered a unique moonscape-like landscape without the need for a permit. Known for its captivating fractal formations, its popularity soared after being featured as an Apple wallpaper in 2020.

Navigating both areas is best done with a 4-wheel drive. On the way we passed a California condors view point and saw a propane powered well to get water for the cattle. Our guide, Steve from Coral Cliff tours was knowledgable and made our trip memorable. We were surprised to learn about his background, including attending an Ayurvedic course and being a vegan.

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The Wave

The Wave is spectacular and located in the Coyote Buttes North area of the Utah-Arizona border. The location gained popularity after being featured as a wallpaper on Microsoft's Windows 7. Securing a permit from the US Bureau of Land Management is essential, with a strict daily limit of 64 visitors. They have an advance online lottery and a daily geofenced lottery. Since we had not won the online lottery in prior years, we planned to stay in the area for sometime and apply for the daily lottery. But we were very lucky and won the online lottery on July 1st for visiting The Wave on Oct 24th. We were very excited and started training for the hike soon after. We had a few health issues on the way but we recovered and feel very fortunate that we could hike and see all the beautiful formations including The Wave, Dinosaur tracks, Boneyard, Sand Cove and The Second Wave. With no defined trail to The Wave and a preference for a four-wheel-drive to reach the Wirepass parking, we opted for a guide. Julie from Coral Cliffs was amazing and made our day memorable. Skycie was training to be a Wave guide and we had a great time with her too.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MiEsmpQA7c4UuTo98

Bryce Canyon National Park

 

We enjoyed our visit to Bryce Canyon National Park, celebrating its 100th year. The visitor center provided a nice movie explaining the dynamic landscape changes at Bryce, shaped by natural forces such as ice and wind. The park is renowned for its unique rock formations called hoodoos. Our hike began at Sunset Point, descending the Navajo Loop Trail and ascending the Queen's Garden Trail to Sunrise Point. Bryce Amphitheater and Queen Victoria hoodoo are some of the formations we saw on the way. We completed the loop via the Sunrise to Sunset section of Rim Trail. We also took the shuttle to view Bryce and Inspiration Points which were beautiful.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fzoRm89zqC3haFe56

Grand Canyon National Park

 

We have visited the Grand Canyon South rim a couple of times but this was our first visit to the North rim. There were very few people and we enjoyed the sight of the majestic canyons. We went to Point Imperial and Cape Royal on our drive. We saw Angels window, an interesting formation on the Cape Royal trail. We could also see Colorado river at a distance through this window. We were amazed to see one of the peaks named as Vishnu temple and the similarities to the Vishnu temple in India built 1500 years ago. We saw the sunset at Bright Angel point near the Grand Canyon lodge before driving back to Kanab. We didn't realize how dark it gets soon after sunset. It was a scary drive since there were a lot of wild deer in the area and they unexpectedly crossed the road a couple of times. On our way back we also saw prescribed burns in the area.

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Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

 

We were fortunate to experience the annual solar eclipse on October 14th, 2023, at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, renowned as the world's most photographed event. The hot air balloons launch only under favorable wind conditions, and we were able to witness the balloon launch on two out of the four days we were there.

Before sunrise, we enjoyed the Dawn Patrol Show, where a few balloons tested weather conditions, signaling the launch for others. Watching the special shape balloons, including designs like happy birthday, elephant, bees, sun, and stork was a delightful experience on one of the days. In the evening we enjoyed a Drone Light Show and fireworks. On the second day, we watched the Mass Ascension, a spectacle of over 500 balloons filling the sky. These balloons landed in various parts of the city throughout the day.

Surprisingly, the city of Albuquerque had a lot of vegetarian restaurants including an Ayurvedic restaurant Annapurna which also had an associated Ayurvedic cooking school.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Eju2a2QXECWnaDv5

KENYA

KENYA

Nairobi

Enjoyed visiting local places in Nairobi for 2 days before starting our Kenya safari tour.

Bomas of Kenya - we saw dances from different villages of Kenya mainly performed during harvest, marriages and other celebrations. Some had accompanying percussion instruments. The last acrobatic show was also amazing. After the show we walked around the area and saw traditional tribal huts from different regions of Kenya

Kobe Tough founded during Covid to help provide employment for women. They make ceramic beads and use them in making many different crafts.

BAPS Shayona where we enjoyed a nice vegetarian meal.

Our visit to Kiambethu tea farm the next morning was truly amazing. The serene atmosphere, beautiful gardens and tea farm along with a detailed narration from Fiona whose family has owned the farm for generations was lovely. Finally the lunch prepared from fresh produce grown in the farm was delicious.

We ended the day visiting the Swami Narayan temple. It is the largest Hindu temple in Africa and has a beautiful exhibition hall.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AT2XZgGLV6B5SrAk7

Karen Blixen camp

We began our journey from Nairobi after having breakfast. Along the way, we made a stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint. The drive to reach the Karen Blixen camp in Mara North Conservancy took nearly 5 hours, with the last leg of the journey being on an unpaved road. We traveled in a Land Cruiser and had the pleasure of the company of our guide and driver, Bonaya.

The view of the Mara River from the lodge was stunning, with numerous hippos submerged in the water. We also spotted impala, topi, and gazelle drinking from the river, while giraffes grazed in the distance. Lunch was a delightful experience, enjoyed at an outdoor table overlooking the river. After lunch, we spoke to the chef who kindly offered to prepare an Indian vegetarian meal for us that evening.

As there was no protective fence around, and animals could potentially visit at night, we were given keychain bells to request staff to accompany us if we needed to leave our tents after dark. The sound of hippos bellowing in the night was a unique experience.

The camp had 22 tents, each spacious and equipped with an outdoor veranda, a large bedroom, a bathroom, and an outdoor shower. The lights and hot water were powered by solar energy with a backup generator.

During our stay, we had the opportunity to participate in an Eco-walk with Benedict, the project coordinator at the camp. He showcased the camp's commitment to eco-friendliness, explaining their use of green technologies such as solar panels, a non-power cold room with charcoal lining for refrigeration, solar water heaters and a zero-waste sewage system.

Benedict also shared insights into various projects funded by the Karen Blixen Camp Trust, including the "Adopt a Tree" project, a Chef Residential School for local students that helps them secure good jobs, an IT School, a Masai Mara Craft Workshop run by local Masai women, an Auto Garage for servicing and repairing vehicles, and initiatives to provide clean water to locals, ensuring they don't have to rely on a river infested with crocodiles.

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Masai Mara

During our safari, we enjoyed game drives in both the Mara North conservancy and the Mara Triangle and Reserve. While the Mara Triangle and Reserve typically require returning to the lodge by 7 PM, the Mara North Conservancy allowed us to explore the evening and night with off-road driving permitted. We were accompanied by a knowledgeable spotter named Kennedy from the Karen Blixen lodge, who helped us spot a wide range of animals, including lions feeding on a buffalo, jackals patiently waiting for the lions to leave, hyenas, Thompson gazelle, topi, wildebeests, dik-dik, eland, spring African hare, white-tailed mongoose, and hyenas during the night.

During morning drives, we encountered elephants, maasai giraffes, zebras, impalas, warthogs, and African buffaloes. In the Mara Reserve, we were fortunate to observe a cheetah with cubs and another cheetah resting under a tree. A particularly rare and thrilling experience was witnessing a leopard perched atop a tree, seeking refuge from pursuing lions waiting below in the shade. We learned about the social behavior of lions, their tendency to form prides, and their territorial nature. On one occasion, a lion approached our vehicle, crossed the road, and walked ahead of us for some distance.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6GT886FaACpQF7XYA

Masai Mara Safari Lodge and Mara Birds

During our stay at Mara Serena Safari Lodge in the Mara Triangle, which is a part of the larger Maasai Mara National Reserve, we enjoyed views of the Mara River. The lodge offered unique beverages like hibiscus and tamarind juice.

We were fortunate to witness a herd of elephants from our room in the morning and were treated to a beautiful sunrise from our patio. During our game drives in the reserve, we encountered numerous termite mounds, which serve as a food source for animals like mongooses and anteaters. The reserve was characterized by vast grasslands with sparse trees, featuring delicate white tissue paper flowers and thorny Whistling Acacia trees with large black seeds. Controlled burning of dry grass was explained as a practice to promote new grass growth for the animals.

We also went close to the Tanzania-Kenya border, where the Tanzanian side is known as the Serengeti. Interestingly, while humans aren't allowed to cross the border in the reserve, animals move freely between the two regions. A cellphone tower camouflaged as a tree was spotted in the Mara Reserve.

Our adventures also included the joy of witnessing a beautiful rainbow during one of our drives and observing various bird species such as the greater blue-eared starling, African hoopoe, superb starlings, crowned plovers, wattled plovers, marabou storks, African fish eagle, ostrich, guinea fowls, and vultures.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GSs8vUiZaTkzHKFS6

Lake Nakuru

During our visit to Lake Nakuru, one of the Rift Valley Lakes, we learned that it used to be home to a large population of flamingos. However, in 2013, rising water levels led the flamingos to migrate to Lake Bogoria in search of food. We stayed at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge within Lake Nakuru National Park, where they fed birds in the mornings, providing us with the opportunity to observe a variety of bird species. The lodge's chef, Oscar, was accommodating and prepared Indian meals for us.

During our game drives, we encountered baboons and vervet monkeys, as well as the Rothschild's giraffe and Maasai giraffe. Other wildlife sightings included impalas, zebras, and Red-billed oxpeckers on the zebras. The picturesque view of the lake with its abundant birdlife, including pelicans and flamingos, was captivating. We also saw a lot of greenish yellow fever trees in the park. These trees are named for their tendency to grow in swampy areas, attracting mosquitoes.

Our guide and driver, Bonaya, demonstrated extensive knowledge of wildlife including birds, and his keen eyesight helped us spot a distant leopard perched in a tree. We were fortunate to observe a white rhinoceros, both a mother and her baby, during one of our game drives. Before leaving the park, we also had the opportunity to see the Makalia waterfalls, adding to our memorable experience at Lake Nakuru.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MzK3cPgqNyJfGU6G9

Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate

During our trip to Lake Naivasha, which is part of the Great Rift Valley, we observed Lake Elmenteita and many canola plants along the way. Our accommodation was at Sopa Lodge, surrounded by desert plants and home to black and white colobus monkeys. Initially, we had planned to visit Crescent Island in the evening, but due to our late arrival, we opted for a boat tour around the lake, catching a glimpse of Crescent Island and some animals on it from the water.

The following morning, we enjoyed cycling and walking in Hell's Gate National Park, also located in the Great Rift Valley. The park derives its name from a narrow break in the cliffs that resembles a gate leading to a gorge. We rented bicycles just before the park entrance, and an employee delivered them to us on his motorcycle. During our 8 km ride, most of which was downhill, our guide Joseph joined us and provided explanations along the way. We encountered various animals, including gazelles, elands, Coke's hartebeests, zebras, giraffes, and numerous buffalos. Some buffalos were so close to the road that Joseph had to chase them away before we could pass, as African buffalos can be dangerous. Along the route, Joseph pointed out Mount Longonop, formed by volcanic eruptions. Many white rocks were spotted, attributed to vultures' droppings that inhabit the area.Upon reaching the ranger station, we left our bicycles and walked down to explore the gorge. Joseph introduced us to a plant called leleshwa used by natives as a natural deodorant. Further into our journey, we climbed through challenging gaps to reach the hot springs' waters and eventually climbed higher to see the Pride Rock cliff, which served as inspiration for the movie "The Lion King." Instead of retracing our steps, our driver Bonaya picked us up near a local gift shop, and on the way, we passed by a geothermal plant responsible for generating over 30% of Kenya's power.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1LhfXP5Wh2ssRnXe8

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park, known for its elephant sightings against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, offers a unique experience. The name "Amboseli" originates from the Maasai term for "salty dust." During our visit, we encountered dust devils due to strong winds, but rain overnight settled the dust. Our accommodation at Oltukai Lodge within the park was comfortable, offering vegetarian food options and campfire evenings with local Maasai dances. We enjoyed the beautiful sunsets and full moon.

The park's highlight was observing herds of elephants grazing in the swamp, often hosting small white birds called cattle egrets on their backs. These elephants washed their grass in water before consumption when it was muddy and dusted it off when water was unavailable. Climbing Observation Hill, we enjoyed views of wildlife and glimpses of Mount Kilimanjaro's peak, despite occasional clouds. We also witnessed baboons digging in the soil for seeds and roots. Additionally, we spotted hyena dens during our drives around the park.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nv4c3MwNDDKHRY3J7

Amboseli Birds

During our visit to Amboseli National Park, we also enjoyed the diverse birdlife. Our knowledgeable guide, Bonaya, patiently stopped whenever we spotted a bird and shared valuable insights, consulting the "Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania" book when needed.

The park's ecosystem is nourished by Mount Kilimanjaro's meltwater, creating a year-round water source that attracts a wide variety of birds and animals. Some birds, like the Sand grouse, blended seamlessly with their sandy surroundings, making them challenging to spot. The Secretary bird, a bird of prey was particularly interesting. One theory is that it's name is because it resembles the 19th century secretary with a quill pen behind the ear while another theory is that it traces back to "saqr-et-tair" in Arabic, meaning 'hunter bird'.

Our bird-watching adventure also introduced us to two types of flamingos: the lesser and greater flamingos. The lesser flamingo, smaller in size with deep pink plumage, contrasted with the larger, paler greater flamingo with pinkish-white plumage. We enjoyed listening to numerous bird calls and were surprised to encounter vultures accompanied by a tawny eagle.

We encountered a variety of bird species, including the colorful African Jacana, White-faced whistling duck, Sacred and Glossy ibis, Hadada ibis, Sand grouse, Spur-winged geese, Blacksmith plovers, White-fronted plovers, Long-toed plovers, Spur-winged plovers, African pipits, Fischer's sparrow-larks, Pied kingfishers, Kori bustards, Pintail and Jack snipe, Tawny and African fish eagles, Squacco Heron, African spoonbill, Cattle egret, Grey crowned crane, Egyptian geese, Pied avocet, Goliath heron, Red-knobbed coot, Mosque swallow, Great white pelicans, and various vultures, including Ruppell's griffon vulture. We also saw both male and female ostriches and the greater and lesser flamingos.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8PqDFX2hZvMihe1Y7

Masaai Village

On our journey back from Amboseli to Nairobi, we had a memorable stop at a Maasai village. Welcomed by the chief's son, we were treated to a traditional dance where men showcased their incredible jumping skills. We also met the village's medicine man, who shared his knowledge of herbal remedies. Witnessing their daily rituals, including fire starting with local items, gave us insight into their way of life.

As we toured the village, we observed houses constructed from mud and cow dung, and learned that there was no access to water or electricity. We also visited a local school, where children under 8 years old learned to read and write before attending public schools. The Maasai practice polygamy, and we were amazed to hear that the chief had 8 wives and 48 children. Traditionally, men tended to cattle while women handled housework.

Reflecting on the simplicity and contentment of the people we met, we appreciated the Swahili phrases we learned, like "Jambo" for hello, "Asante" for thank you, and the delightful "Hakuna matata," which translates to "no trouble" or "no worries."

On our flight back, we watched "The Lion King" and found ourselves better able to relate to the Swahili phrases and the animals we had encountered during our safari. Our trip to Kenya was truly unforgettable, filled with remarkable experiences and cherished memories.

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New York trip - July 2023

 

Pictures of visit to New York in July 14th to July16th 2023

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Vedic Gardens - July 8th 2023

 

Our Pictures of visit to Vedic Gardens

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Kaplan visit - July 2023

 

Visit to Kaplan from July 2nd to July 4th 2023

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Minneapolis visit - May 2023

 

Our Pictures of trip to Minneapolis in May 28-29  2023

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Keukenhof Gardens at Holland - April/May 2023

 

Our Pictures

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Over an area of 79 acres, it has over 7 million flower bulbs during the Tulips festival.

Bike ride Keukenhof 2023

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Paris - April 2023

 

Our Pictures of visit to Eiffel Tower in Paris

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Helsinki - April 2023

 

Our Pictures in Helsinki - Finland

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India visit - April 2023

 

Cousin's meetup

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Bijoors visit

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HiTech memories

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Punjab visit April 24th to 25th

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Mumbai visit April 26th to 28th

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Japan trip in March 2023

 Our Japan Trip Photo Albums

Tokyo Day 1 Cherry Blossoms: https://photos.app.goo.gl/opHXVfpCpbH2j7ja7

Enjoyed the cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo

Tokyo Night lights: https://photos.app.goo.gl/aSBdyRZwWW8nmLDH8

Night illumination of cherry blossom trees at Chidorigafuchi park

Tokyo Teamlabs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Trtp7z7iNi9rW7r76

Enjoyed a unique experience at teamLab Planets in Tokyo

Tokyo Day 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lh3N2sDSEgyzvins7

Saw more cherry blossoms at Ueno park, enjoyed the tea ceremony at a Chado school, and visited Sensoji temple.

Japan Day 3 Hakone: https://photos.app.goo.gl/W5YWcWXkTN2N24G58

Day at Hakone - scenic train to Hakone-Yumoto, bus to MotoHokone to view the Hakone-Jinja shrine. Boat ride across lake Ashi to Togendai, ropeway to Sounzan, cable car to Gora. Saw views of Mount Fuji on the way from both the boat and the ropeway. Views of volcano valley with active sulphur vents at Owakudani. Participated in a glass blowing activity at Hakone crafthouse. Beautiful views of the gardens at Gora park.

Japan Day 4 Kyoto: https://photos.app.goo.gl/efr2FZVgA5agWGeF6

Went to Kyoto from Hakone on Shinkansen. Visited Heian shrine and gardens. Watched kids performing at the shrine. Had a vegan lunch at Hobodo cafe. Visited Ginkakuji temple. Enjoyed cherry blossoms along the philosopher’s path.

Japan Day 5: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nsdbbKGCnpffQ5RU6

Took the scenic train from Saga Arashiyama to Kameoka and saw wonderful scenery around the Hoza river. We visited few shrines at Kameoka. We had booked a boat ride back to Arashiyama but since boat rides have been cancelled due to a recent accident, we took the scenic train back and had a vegetarian lunch with a lot of Tofu dishes at Seizan Sodo, side temple of Tenryu-ji

Took the scenic train from Saga Arashiyama to Kameoka and saw wonderful scenery around the Hoza river. We visited few shrines at Kameoka. We had booked a boat ride back to Arashiyama but since boat rides have been cancelled due to a recent accident, we took the scenic train back and had a vegetarian lunch with a lot of Tofu dishes at Seizan Sodo, side temple of Tenryu-ji

Japan Day 6 Himeji Castle: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nduoF8LoVDB6qSXU6

We took the Shinkansen from Osaka to Himeji and visited the castle. Himeji castle has a beautiful garden with lots of cherry blossoms. The castle is huge and we had to remove shoes and carry in plastic bags to see the top 6 floors of the castle.

Japan Day 6 Hiroshima: https://photos.app.goo.gl/N1vCLCGnyZ55fCRW8

Spent half a day at Hiroshima. Visited the preserved remains of A-bomb Dome and walked through the Hiroshimo Peace Memorial park. It was very traumatic to view the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum exhibits and to read about their stories. Toured the Hall of Remembrance, Children's peace Monument, Pond of Peace, Flame of Peace and the Hypocenter

Japan Day 7 Koyasan: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VdvRwwnS3H8Y2H3M8

We had a unique experience spending a day at a Buddhist temple (Souji-in) at Koyasan. Koyasan is surrounded by 8 mountain peaks resembling a lotus flower. To reach here, we needed to take a train from Namba to base of Mount Koya, then a cable car and a bus in Koyasan town. We got a sumptuous Japanese vegetarian dinner and breakfast. We stayed in a traditional Japanese room with Tatami mats and low chairs. We got to see the regular morning Japanese worship by the 3 monks at the temple. We also got to visit the Kongobhuji temple, the head temple of Shingon Buddhism. We enjoyed visiting Konpon Daito pagoda, Daimon gate and a wonderful sunset.

Japan Day 8 Nara Park: https://photos.app.goo.gl/N2nXEqTmvsmDa8gj8

We visited Nara and enjoyed Todaiji Buddha temple. We also saw a lot of deer roaming in the park. Nara park is the oldest park in Japan and has a lot of wild sika deer. Vendors sell deer biscuit and it is amusing to see the deer bowing down to receive the biscuits.

Japan Day 9 Yoshino: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8BWSLBFKrMD1NFD59

We enjoyed the arduous climb and hike in Mt Yoshino to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. Yoshino is famous for its 30,000 Sakura trees. The first part of the hike is steep and can also be done using ropeway. There are a lot of shops and shrines along the way. We enjoyed a picnic lunch at one of the view points. A special treat was meeting my school friend Aadarsha. We all enjoyed a home cooked meal at the end of the day.

Japan Day 10 Fushimi inari and Osaka: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2gGXLGGzb2356Cxp7

We visited Fushimi Inari which is a shrine dedicated to the Shinto God of rice. It is famous for thousands of vermillion torii gates. We saw fox and other zodiac animal statues there. Since it was a rainy day we decided to walk around the Grand Front Osaka mall at the Osaka station. At the Knowledge capital section in the mall, we explored some latest multimedia innovations. We enjoyed dinner at Shama vegetarian restaurant.

Japan Day 11 Nezu shrine and Shibuya: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WLRSwfRUSZW6cR8w5

Our last day at Japan we visited Nezu shrine in Tokyo and enjoyed the beautiful Azalea garden there. We then had a very tasty lunch at Milan Nataraj, Japan's oldest Indian vegetarian restaurant where they grow their own organic vegetables. We were excited to see the number of people crossing at Shibuya crossing, world's busiest scramble crossing. It is comparable to Time Square and as many as 3000 people cross at a time.

In our 10 day trip in Japan we averaged over 20,000 steps most of the days. We learned to bow and say thank you in Japanese 'Arigato Gozaimasu'. It was interesting to see the conductor in the train bow every time he moves between cars. Even the cleaning crew waiting for the train bow when the train arrives. It is funny that even the deer at Nara park have learned to bow.

Another interesting observation was the seats in the train rotating at the station in the direction in which the train would travel. We also saw a family rotate 2 of the seats to face each other.

Most stations are equipped with IC card recharge booths, self pay luggage lockers. Luggage lockers are of different sizes and can hold backpacks to suitcases. They are very useful especially when traveling between cities and want to see the city in a day.

There is also a Fare adjustment station which you could use at a destination station if your IC card doesn't have sufficient balance.

Their bidet system was the fanciest that I have ever seen. In a hotel room equipped with a kitchen they had multiple pans and all of them shared a nice removable handle.

Google translate really helped us everywhere from operating the washing machine, rice cooker, grocery store and even a bathroom door that needed a switch to be pressed to lock/unlock.

All in all we had a wonderful trip and will cherish all the memories.