Recently I drove over a bridge built across the northern ending part of Lake Lavon. The bridge about a mile long provides scenic views of the lake when it is full. Unfortunately due to drought of the past two years the water levels have dropped significantly. Nevertheless the lake is still very beautiful and offers a soothing ambiance.
I have still not completed writing about my visit to Galveston during spring break. I know it is over a month and a half and I am still writing and posting pictures. Galveston is a small tourist town with a quaint downtown where shopping means buying lots of "Made in China" stuff at the trinket stores. There is tons of eating out and one unique store which is the military surplus store. Apart from that it is like every other downtown in America cobble stone streets, sidewalks, restaurants, and shopping.
Here are some pictures of downtown Galveston:
I visited California in 2008 soon after coming to the US. At that time I didn't know much about this country, society, culture or politics. I fancied myself to be a tourist and tried to enjoy my visit. Roads in the US are great marvels by themselves. I enjoy taking pictures of the road, specially when it is a scenic route linking mountains or runs along the sea shore. As we drove through the mountains towards the Bay Area or Silicon Valley, I captured some of the road views from the moving car. '
I love to travel by any means of transport to any kind of location. From scorching deserts to freezing mountains, burning volcanoes to the cool beaches, dangerous war zones to comfortable resort style holidays, every kind of destination appeals to me. While travel is a great benefit for the soul, it can prove to be a big set back for your savings. Travel costs money and comfortable travel costs more.
One of the biggest costs during a holiday is the stay. Hotel accommodations are usually expensive, irrespective of whichever part of the world you are traveling. The hotel managements know that you are not from the area and try to make a fast buck out of you. They did get away with this kind of practice till about recently when internet opened up a new bargaining platform for travelers and hoteliers.
New age entrepreneurs passionate about travel have promoted websites that offer Cheap Hotel Rates to ardent travel enthusiasts. This kind of websites enable holiday makers and vacationers to visit places and still not burn a hole in their wallets and pockets.
The rationale of this website is simple, combine a large number of hotel offerings and provide discounted options to travelers. This site is one online place where one can find great travel deals, book low rate rooms in comfortable hotels. The best thing is that you can also combine room, airfare and car rental to get wonderful deals. The net result is savings of hundreds of dollars for you so you can extend your stay or say travel to another destination. If something comes up in the last moment and you can't go, don't worry there is no cancellation charge.
The deal can't get any better.
I am of the opinion that for the most part we spend our life on the road. We go to work, run errands, visit friends, check on family, go to movies, etc and every time we step out of our home we can be certain of hitting the road. How many of us actually look at the sights around the road that we commute by? Most of us just drive past without bothering to look left or right. Well I simply can't do that and here I am with some of the vistas of the road in Plano, Texas. I captured these pictures as I drove, or walked in and around Plano, and surrounding areas of Dallas Metroplex.
Continuing my post of visiting Nanjangud I couldn't upload all the pictures. So here are some more pictures of the location... both indoor and outdoor shots. Some of the pictures may be a little blurred.
The first week of my holiday in Bengaluru I visited Mysore and Nanjangud with parents and extended family members. The trip was a pilgrimage for my father who had promised to visit the ancient Shiva temple here. The trip was quite eventful with several things happening including problems with the vehicle and a major stomach upset after I returned home. 
Mysore city Road
Street scene in downtown Mysore
View of the Entrance to Nanjangud temple
A view of the pillars that support the entrance to the Nanjangud temple
Attractive temple frescoes
Sculptures inside the temple
I am finally back in Namma Bengaluru... after a long break of over two and a half years. I had heard only of the new problems and issues that the city was facing during these two years. Boy were they totally biased... you bet.... I took a spin around the city today in an auto and was surprised at the numerous good things that have happened to the city. The first thing is the notorious Bangalore traffic... and my experience is that yes the bottlenecks and chaos continue to reign the city but overall there is about 30-40 percent improvement in the road quality and general traffic speed.
That is something better than nothing. People who complain will do so even if they are given roads like airport runways... but believe me guys don't complain about Bangalore traffic or roads. I am quite certain you will notice the change once you land up here.
The ride is not totally smooth... but not as chaotic as before either. There has been great improvements in some stretches of roads while other roads have gone worse due to development works.
My verdict is that Bangalore has changed for the better... better roads, faster traffic, less snarls...
Continuing my report on the short but eventful visit to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, India-homa, I would simply say that our hike turned into a mini adventure after I coaxed everyone into climbing down the rock face into the depths of the valley rather than follow the trail that snaked around the hills to form a natural slope. Once down at the water level we crossed the shallow stream via a trail of rocky outcrops and started retracing our steps around the lost lake.
Here are some pictures:
View of the waterfalls from the base of the hill
The world is full of insensitive people who will litter even the most pristine natural spots.....
Sweeping view of the valley and rock face we just descended
I had blogged earlier about the visitor center and nature museum at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, India-homa, Oklahoma. Here are some pictures of the innovative, informative, and interesting exhibits in the center. The folks here have tried to recreate natural scenarios that represent the park areas and the flora and fauna present within. I must say that they have done a wonderful job at that, the exhibits and soft lighting together provide a fantastic birds eye view of the park environs. We spent a few hours in the park including taking in the visitor center, I would suggest visitors to spend half a day at the visitor center and then proceed to explore the park for the next two days. Otherwise a visit to this wonderful wilderness area would be in vain.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
Over the weekend we had been driving around in Collin County to scout an ideal route for a bicycle ride/ rally. We passed through a small 2-4 road city known as "Weston", which apparently has the oldest city hall in Collin County. Here are pictures of the same. Though most roads of this village are in shambles, the main arterial road which links this with rest of the county is in excellent condition.
The beauty of these villages in the US is their sparse population, which results in clean settings. The road infrastructure is simply superb which makes travel to and from these remote places easy.
It is a pity not many people bicycle in these areas because the roads are so good and the vast open spaces that flank the road and the wonderful scenery are well worth taking in while on a visit here.
Weston City Hall, the oldest in Collin County
Excellent roads link every small city, even if it just a few hundred population
Like every other village, city or town, Weston too has a swank church. I wonder why they had to name this one "First Baptist Church". I haven't come across any second Baptist church. Most that I come across are First Baptist churches, I wonder what the secret is.
Some pictures shot while traveling recently. These are nothing great but general sights I see on the road. Hope you all like the views.
This is a shopping mall.. built in a different style with parking lots bigger than the buildings
Loaded pick up trucks are a common sight in Texas
Texas is a state full of multi-level highway intersections.
This is the latest poem I scribbled while taking a break from studies at the library... wonder if it is worth anything or just few words spun together without much consequence... I look forward to reading your comments...
Road Travel
Riding thru lanes, streets, crossroads, highways and boulevards
I see vistas of happiness, grief, hope and loss
Scenes of prosperous grandeur and sights of abject poverty
As I make my way through villages and cities, I wonder sometimes:
When the world is so beautiful And full of goodness and beauty
Why do people fight in the name of religion and polity?
And when I feel tired, lonely and hungry I wonder
Am I on the right path Or have I taken a wrong detour
Is this tour an adventurous reverie?
Or is it a grand plan gone badly wrong?
I am not alone meandering across nations
For there are others on the road
Searching for love, adventure and livelihood
My dear friend these roads are not only for us to enjoy
It is for all those who seek adventure.
And a break from their daily grind
So learn to share the road like families share homes
And you will reach your dream destination
Safe and sound within a reasonable span of time.
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