Orlando - not Bloom, but the Florida one

In the begining of March, while Minnesota was covered in snow, we went off to visit my friend M in Orlando, Florida. Thanks M, it was such a great holiday !

First thing to hit me was the weather ofcourse. I mean, away with the jackets. All the freedom to play in the backyard, walk in & out of the house without preparation, look around and actually see more colors than white & brown.

Florida vehicles don't have number plates in the front, only in the back. Thats the first time I have seen this.

Here are some of the Orlando downtown pictures. In general not too many highrises in Orlando. Thats due to the hurricane risks.



And being a coastal area, weather was all warm & toasty, this being winter. I am told summers are really really hot.



Florida and especially Orlando is major tourist destination. There are whole lot of places to visit and things to do. Beaches (Cocoa, Merritt), theme parks and more. I covered some usual suspects, which I could.

Update: So among the million things to do in Orlando, here are some which I covered:

1. A whole lot of theme parks. I visited 3 of them:
   
2. SeaWorld
   
3. Universal Studios &
   
4. Disneyland - The Magic Kingdom
   
5. Sea beaches - Cocoa, Meritt.
   
6. NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Also check ther website for any shuttle launch schedules. You can catch at actual launch too.
   

Missing snow

Weather is changing very very slowly here in Minnesota. Spring is around the corner. But not completely here. Its cold at 53F, but not enough to snow. So now I have begun to miss snow.



Watching snowfall is as soothing as gazing at rainfall on a quite weekday afternoon, at home. Only, this one is noiseless.



And opaque. Amazingly snow can cover a whole bush in a matter of minutes.



So far, snow has greeted me outside my window, every morning past 3 months. And now I need to prepare to see Minnesota in Spring.

My American Experience

There is immense source of inspiration for science-fiction here - Nature - so vast & mysterious , sights from airplanes, tech gadgets you can think of.

On a drive, it was a sight to see the changing vegetation from California to Nevada to Arizona.

I savored typical American vegetables, fruits and dishes, which I had only read about and never actually tasted. Veggies like avocado, broccoli, butternut-squash, raspberries, waffles, pancakes, mashed potatoes (the American one which is very different from chokha from UP) and much more.

I managed to collect all 50 state coins.

I have visited 10+ states. In some it was only touch and go. But I noticed how different and unique each state is in its own way. In terms of vegetation, soil, culture, people demographic and more. The 10 I visited so far are - California (LA), Nevada (Las Vegas), Arizona (Grand Canyon), Minnesota, Wisconsin (W Dells), Illinois (Chicago), Florida (Orlando), Maryland (Baltimore), Washington DC, New York (NYC, NF)

Environment consciousness is enormous now compared to 2002. There are 2 areas that can be improved  - reduce Packaging and reduce use of electricity. With the immense focus and work on Design in all areas of life, I am sure they will figure it out soon.

Bottled water is widely used. Though there is customary info discouraging it, bottled water is the thing. Thankfully, for daily use we can refill water by gallons. Otherwise those tiny plastic bottles piling everywhere would be a nightmare. East coast cities is where I found less use of bottles, and more tap water available. That was a relief indeed.

50 States Coin Collection

Completed the 50 state quarter coin collection in flat 2.5 months. Good one, I say. It helps that the last of the coins were released 5-6 months back. US mint had released a special quarter coin for each of the states in the country, and 5 each year since 1999.

Most of the store attendents in Minnesota can breath easy now. Cause I won't be pestering them for quarters in change. And the credit card companies too. Cause now I can switch over from cash to cards in my spending.

Big thanks to my hubby who contributed most here.

Dil Gira Kahan Pur Dafatan

My Current favorite song.  

Actually I loved all songs of Delhi 6. On second thoughts, I liked the movie too. 

When it was going on, I was all eyes-rolling "when will this end" type. And after it was over, I kinda missed it, liked it. But I think that’s more effect of the music. 

Absolutely lovely songs in a long time. All songs. 

 And about 'Dil Gira Kahan Pur Dafatan', the imagery is fantastic. I mean we must have seen this a lot in comics, animation, maybe even photography. But a full fledged film song? Not in Hindi atleast. 

Imagination is awesome. But the production is applaudable. (From past one and a half year, all I care about is logistics of anything. One of the newly acquired powers that come with motherhood). Unraveling Delhi Chandni Chowk on Times Square. That must have been one hell of a planning. I am all wrapped up in hows-and-whens ? And how much time did they get to shoot there ? And how do they clear out the crowd for this shooting ? Times Square must have featured in so many movies and songs. I am not sure, but I think it has had a deserted look in 'I Am Legend' and more disaster movies. Who gives permissions for this ? Doesn't the daily business/people get affected ? Or is it a fake ? A copy of Times Square in some studio ? (... This is not going to end after even an hour ...) 

Why don’t these film publicists give out production info in interviews rather than the lead actors discussing weird existential thoughts for publicity ? I totally want to know the details of how they filmed this song.

Driving in Minnesota

Everyone said that it would be difficult to drive on the right side of the road - after learning to do so on the left side. Now I realise that was the easiest part ! Just follow the other vehicles. Ofcourse at any turn, we might subconsiously move to the left side. But my rule is to keep chanting "right side" in the first few times.

Apart from driving on the right side, there are lot of other things to be learnt. Like the STOP sign for instance. Theoretically I thought, what a time waste ! I was used to the Bangalore habit of driving non-stop on a clear road, till we hit a jam.

But its not our fault. People density is more in Bangalore. With less elbow space, the traffic may look chaotic. But we do have some sanity in those chaos. And so everyone drives carefully. Atleast caring for the immediate neighbouring vehicles. (These explanations will be difficult impossible to absorb for the casulties that happen. But things happen everywhere)

But now I love the STOP sign. It is such a breather. No matter what, vehicle should come to zero at a STOP sign. And the first one to stop, goes ahead first.

And then the lane system. Stick to your lane. When the road curves, you curve. But do not move out of your lane, without giving indication. It is so smooth. Yet initially my jaws would literally drop on the floor, watching cars zip diagonally across the road, right in front of us. Inspite of the simplicity of this action, my heart is always in my mouth, while changing lanes on a busy road, if I need to take the next turn. And then add the "Left/Right lane must turn Left/Right" thing. I have missed turns, gone far ahead and come back so many times.

Every single time I go out, its an adventure. And I did have the baap of all adventures recently. I got lost. I took a road, which I knew by name. But I forgot that here roads can run for miles together. Forget road, 'Yonge street' (in Toronto) is nearly a 1000 mile long. Big mistake. Big lesson here.

Number one. Never go by name alone.

When you are lost, dont keep on driving non-stop in the hope of finding something familiar. Come to a stop in the emergency lane. And think.

Better still call & ASK. Asking for direction is always always helpful. Cliche I know, but I will tell you why.

Me ? I kept on driving on that never ending road. Then I took some turn and it went into the mountains. Then I switched over to some highway, which sounded familiar. Only when I saw the neighbouring city name board, I thought now I have to stop, or I might cross over to Iowa. Plus my toddler needed to be picked up from school and my friend from a govt office. Both were stuck there thanks to my promise of being there in 30 minutes. So I stopped at the next Caribou Coffee, called my hubby, said I was lost but pick those 2 up first. And then I proceeded to have a nice cup of coffee :)

After good 15-20 minutes, I asked the coffee shop attendent, which way to France Avenue ? He says, "Oh take this 62 East and France Avenue will be in another 5 miles." Twing, 5 miles ! Just 5 miles and I made my hubby come from so far ! Why didn't I ask before ! Bah. This is why - when in doubt, ask.

I thought it's embarrassing to admit that I got lost. But someone I know said, "It happens all the time. I have lived here for 30 years. But I dont step out without my GPS." So there, GPS is the best friend of drivers out here.

By the way, there is one good thing about getting lost. I finally stopped looking at the road, watching the lane lines & oncoming cars, and I could focus on each & every sign on the road. A major switch from Indian-driving-mode to the US one.

Let me explain. After all the years of driving from a right-side seat (the Indian right-hand drive), it became an instinct to watch out for the road dividing lines on the right; and being close to them. Same thing happened when I started driving here in USA. So here I was, seated on a left side seat, steering the car closer to the line on my right. Which means the car is right on the line, in two lanes. And that's a damn dangerous thing to do ! Aww.

Eventually I did get over it, after I realised it. But still, it had not seeped into my subconsious. I was still looking out for a car to come right on from the next turn. Or maybe for a dog to run across. When actually the most important thing to do is to look out for signs.

I think they must have a 'Department of Road Signs' here. They are so many, so up-to-date and so detailed. Speed limits. Construction activity. Each and every road, street, lane & area. Which lane to take for which place. Everything is out there. You just need to read them.



So there, a newbie Minnesota driver jotting her experiences in a long post.

Am here yes

From Green Sunny Bangalore





to White Sunny Minnesota





all in 24 hours. Oh wait, it's 36 hours. 10pm connecting flight from Chicago got cancelled and I spent the night in Terminal 3 of Chicago O Hare Airport. I could have gone to a hotel. But instead I stayed back.

It was not out of any sense of adventure or anything. It was more to do with the 5 handbags that I was carrying. Not to forget my tiny little toddler. Everytime I ritualisticly lifted my bags and offered my hand to start walking, she would wring her hands and threaten to start crying. That meant I had to lift her too ! I guess that is a typical toddler behaviour. She could have thought I might run away. But thats the reason I totally did not want to move an inch.

Stayed at my terminal. Chatted up with the cleaning staff. Played hide & seek with my toddler in between her naps. At 11pm got an ouster scare. Announcement system blared that "Orange security level ... no one allowed inside the airport after midnight". At 12 pm caught the remaining part of the announcement that " ... except ticketed passengers, cleaning staff, ...". At 3am, got interviewd by a cameramen. They featured that clip in next morning news. Something about bad-weather-cancelled-flights-affected-people. My luck I got to see it just when I stepped infront of a TV in Minneapolis St Paul Intl Airport.

But there is one major leason I learnt here. I totally honestly swear that I will never ever overpack. I did have underweight checkin bags and within limits handbags. But I did not take into account that, trolleys wont be available at many stretches. Throughout the journey, my left arm bicep kept wispering to me, "I O Dex ! I O Dex !". And second thing I swear is that I will buy luggage or bags with wheels. No matter how small one. Wheels are the only useful invention ever !

Not to forget Airline food. No matter how established the airline, no matter you buy a separate child ticket - they will never carry baby food or give the adult food tray for child. Children just dont count for them. That's one of the cost cutting they have done. Not just me I saw other mothers carry meals for their kids, apart from snacks. And a friend of mine was denied even milk for her infant. No point in being snotty and psuedo-elitist, like we did to Deccan. Atleast they sell food. Some of these premier airlines don't even do that.

It's almost a month since I am here. Internet connection came late. Then my laptop crashed. I'ts warmer now and snow has melted away. But I am definitely not forget my lessons in a hurry.

Cure for spendthriftry

Want to get over shopping addiction ? Want to get someone (husband/wife/son/daughter) to stop being a credit-card fiend ? Want to teach your teen the value of money ? (Oh wait that reminds me a I have a bank account to flood, to be ready in 15-18 years for this experiment).

Well make them shop like hell for a month. But only with CASH. Yes that's right. Oh wait they already made a movie on it - Malamaal.

But I am talking from personal experience. Real-life.
The effect is same as making someone gorge or eat continously. Absolute hate for food, or money. Puke-worthy. The person will stay away from money (atleast cash) for a long long time. That's what happens

• When you shell out 120-200 Rs every morning, and evening to Autowala. For a 4 km ride, each way.
• When you part with 4-5 crisp notes of 500 to fill up the petrol tank.
• When you hunt exact change for Rs 45 to give to vendor for a tini-wini pav-bhaji, which you know may not have cost 10 bucks to make, but only that you are too hungry to care. Again.
• When you carelessly strew 5-600 for a lycra t-shirt which you know wont last 5-6 washes.

Forget making anyone 'earn money' to realise the value of money. Just the exercise of doling out cash after cash, calculating the exact amount, handling those solied or crisp new notes, watching them all the time ... just go away and away ... can drive anyone crazy. I know it did to me.

I just wonder how parents do their kid marriage shopping. Or build house from scratch, supervising each and every component and its payment.

I think I have zoned out by now ....

Bangalore to Minneapolis

Well, as of now, we are enroute to Minneapolis.

Sideways

Sideways. I bought this book nearly 3 years back. And now found time to read it. Its ok type. I am a very discerning book buyer. But this time I got swayed by the Sideways the movie promos.

First few chapters are only about Wine and Women. Fortunately women bit eases out, replaced by some bit of adventures. I think adventure is too strong a word for what happens. It's that tame. But there are bits & pieces of humour around. I am not talking of level of subtlety. Only quantity. The book is my introduction to the world of wine snobbery.

The hero and his friend, they are more like a grownup version of Tom & Huckalberry Finn over a week. Or even a debaunched version of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. And closer home, like Lucky & Bangali (of Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye); only they are more real friends.

But one thing for sure. This book has made me curious about what the hell is "Pinot Noir" ? I think I want to check it out. Amazingly once I finished reading this, the first thing I buy is "Pocket Reference Book of WINE". At a good sale price too. Let's see how this is.