jason194
male - 59 years, MUMBAI, India
Blog 117
God's presence is unquestionable
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Shops in America.
Shops in USA.--------------------
Some three years back I had been to San Francisco and Fairfax in Virginia. The first shop that I visited was Costco. A gigantic shop it was with virtually everything under one roof. They sell from pin to aero plane. There was an expansive hall and in that hall goods very thrown like. Here were big refrigerators, Lcd Tvs, clothes and woolen clothes, toiletries, soaps and liquid soaps, meats, fishes and crabs, milk and milk products, wines, beers and liquors, food products of all kinds and you name it, and it was there. And I soon found out that Costco is there in every city of America. There is no show business here, just plane shop with every kind of goods for sale. Their principle is simple, buy goods on large scale and sell them to individuals. Since they buy on large scale, they get the benefit so that they sell profitably. On highways we met many giant Costco trucks and this shows what a gigantic organization it is! And everything systematic in Costco, people come, take carts and purchase what want, stand in queue for paying their bills, carry their loads in carts to their vehicles and drive away. If toddlers are brought then they are also placed in the carts. This phenomena is observed through out America in any big store, may it be Smart & Final, Macys or Walmart. Another big business I found was Ikea. Ikea has big stores through out the nation. It specializes in furniture, childrens toys, built in kitchens. Ikea is famous for design development. Its simple designs of household materials are astonishing. The store does tremendous expenditure on catalogs and the attractively printed catalogs are popular. The catalogs are placed at the entrance so that any one who visits Ikea has access to them. Every departmental store has its own restaurant, sometimes with tie-up with other food chain such as Pizza Hut.
Borders is such a big store for books, periodicals and childrens play things. We used to sit in Borders for hours on end and read plenty of books, it not at all binding on you to buy something. There is a most modern coffee shop where you can enjoy a muffin and coffee. Books are kept on the tables or racks and you can handle them as you please, of course not damaging any book. After your perusal you return to same rack from which you found it. Near the coffee shop many tables and chairs are placed called reading area where lot of students are comfortably reading or using their laptops, munching on the muffins or drinking coffee, how romantic gentlemen! Like her daddy, Kashmira is also very fond of Borders albeit for a different reason. At places, Borders has elevators and it is multi storied departmental store. Walgreens is a chemist’s store and a popular place to get medicines over the counter. Walmart is general store where anything from the glasses to pins are available. Similarly Smart & Final and many others are doing business efficiently. Though the recession has affected them to a large extent but looking at the pomp and posh of them it is very difficult to believe that there is recession in USA. -
Viva America
San Francisco-------------------------------
I recently visited a very beautiful city where everything is comely including its population. The city can be described as paradise on Earth. So disciplined and orderly are its people that they are model in themselves. But I should not limit to one city, the whole country, United Of America is well disciplined and orderly. Of course, I traveled to a handful places in USA but what I saw was impressive, no doubt. Clean and wide roads are specialty of America. The highways are five lanes and the raods in the city are three lanes very clean precisely because mechanized garbage collection. With less man power it is a daunting task to clear garbage. What they do of the garbage is a secret I can not fathom. Or where the dumping grounds are situated is also not known. But city is spic and spin. The buildings in the city are well spaced and every building has a backyard. The entrance to every building is a glass door, securely locked so that one needs to have a key to enter. There is electronic device for all who do not have key. They press a button and establish contact with the household, they want to go. The members have a card which they flash to open the lock if they do not have the necessary key. It system in whole of America to have a large mirror as soon as you enter a building. There is a patio and the flight of stairs which one takes to reach the desired apartment. If the building is residential, in the patio there are some strollers. On the side board of the mirror, daily mail is kept by the postman or newspapers. In the whole of America in cities same system prevails. But in small towns people have independent houses with large gardens and garages.
In every city on the pavement there are small flowering trees and plants to be taken care by inmates of the building. In every city good public transport is available at nominal cost, if not buses at least metro. So people can commute to different areas of the city. Since America is vast country, the distances are frightening. Our people easily exhausted by long distances they have to cover. The vehicular discipline indeed laudable and constraint of drivers needs to applauded at all times. All vehicles come to a halt instantly when the signal is turned red. You will say this happens in our country also. But in America every vehicle stops at cross section, signal or no signal. Not only that they stop well before the pedestrian crossing. If they find a person crossing they immediately come to a halt, irrespective of the signal. How laudable! It is also decided by general consensus not to blow horn so in spite of tremendous traffic the streets of cities or towns are dead silent. If you observe the rules, you are safe in USA. I traveled by bus frequently in San Francisco and delightful experiences of the MUNI. MUNI is the name of San Francisco municipal bus and tram system. In addition there was BART i. e. bay area metro which is feather in cap of San Francisco. That is why I say I recently visited a very beautiful country, United States of America. -
STAY AT fAIRFAX
The reception done by my daughter Madhura and my son in law, Mahen has few equals. For the first time I was staying with son in law for so long period. For the first time we stayed at Circle towers for one month. But the social circle Madhura and Mahen is so large that we enjoyed the young company. Circle towers are the only towers in Fairfax and in the large Fairfax county these towers are visible from every corner. And in that too our home is on 11th floor. The four sides of circle towers are roads or highways. Continuous traffic is flowing on them. In the complex there are some shops and restaurants. Jaipur is a first class restaurant which is frequented by outsiders. So sometimes I used to go around circle towers just for a walk. Under the entire expanse of circle towers there is a large parking lot.
Our stay was made memorable by Madhura by visiting various places in Washington and Fairfax such as malls and restaurants. When we had no outside engagements, these people organized some functions at home. The birthdays of Mahen and Sandhya were celebrated on large scale. For all this I should say, “ Thank you Mahen, thank you Madhura.”
The wonderful period passed and we entered again THE MAGICAL WORLD OF SAN FRANCISCO. -
FROM DC TO SFO.
DC to SFO---------------------
On Dulles airport we were standing ready to back to San Francisco. On Dulles airport it is very strange arrangement to hand over luggage and do the security check in one building and then rush to main building for catching plane to our destination. Then again we have depend on the bus service to reach main building. In this process there is possibility to be late for the desired plane. Same thing happened in our case. We were in line for surrender of our luggage at 3.15 pm, that means well in time for our 5.20 pm plane to SFO. That line wound slowly but we were well in advance as we headed for security check. We waved a hasty farewell to Madhura & Mahendra. The line for security check moved with snail’s pace. Several people in the line had become impatient as time for plane was drawing near. After the check we had to catch the bus taking us to our destined gate no. the bus statrted 15 mins late and reached a spot. When we began our search for our gate no D26, we found it was still 15 mins walk. By this time it was almost 5.30 pm. We ran to the gate only to find the gate had all ready closed. Not only we but some 5/6 people had gathered there who found that the gate was closed. Some argument with the official proved futile. A lady to opened the gate to find plane still still standing at the curb. In this way we were about to miss the plane. -
Madhura & Mahendra
Dear Mahendra & Madhura,
Our stay over herein your house will remain in our memory for ever. We are very much overwhelmed by your very humane, kind and supportive nature. Well being of each and everybody and ultimate well being of mankind depends upon interdependent relationship. Nature’s law works everywhere. It is the most powerful law in the universe. You sow a single seed and in return get a thousand seeds. The nature never fails. Ask the nature what type of life you want. ( to make it much more clear write down it on paper.) believe that your demands are fulfilled and begin to feel comfortable and wonderful that you have received it. Do not think negative. Remember a single negative thought – even thought—kills, 60,000 good thoughts. Have unwavering faith in good. Don’t be doubtful. Law of nature( give it any name—Ram, Rahim or Jesus) will prevail in all the circumstances and realize your dreams. But at the same time you must have feeling of gratitude, forfiveness and compassion for mankind. For all this to happen you will have to meditate for at least hald an hour everyday. I am writing all this because it is applicable to both of you. Meditation will help you cure almost all the disease and even psycho-somatic diseases. Now that you have great good news, God will bless with all the happiness, health and complete mental peace. Amen! -
The Chikaras
Sunita & Gaurav----------------------------------------
Of all the couple we met at Fairfax, perhaps Sunita and Gaurav were the most balanced couple. They owned a perfect villa in Fairfax but with nonchalant as if that was their birth right. Their independent villa in ------- of Fairfax is house par excellence. So beautiful is the house and so exquisitely maintained by the couple that one falls in love. If somebody had told us that Really times will change in future then we would beg to God please give birth to us in this times. Many people would get envious and I told Sunita to ward off evil by invoking some Mantra.
First of all it is very big house and very lovely house at that. When the house was shown to us we were awed by its sheer size. On the first floor are three rooms, in fact a large area divided into three rooms. Kitchen is quite spacious with dining area attached to it. Drawing room with spacious sofa sets is decorated artistically by the couple themselves. Any person enters to receiving room where another sofa sets are placed for the comfort of outsiders. The drawing room opens on a wooden structure known as deck. The stairs from the deck lead to open lawn for playing and holding parties etc. Everywhere the optimum lighting arrangement is made. Really I was impressed by Sunita and Gaurav’s home. On the second floor two spacious bed rooms with attached baths are located. One master bed room was worth million dollars indeed. It was well furnished and decorated with paintings some of which were made by Sunita herself ZAKUSI. In the basement there is a large hall with an open bar and small larder for liquor bottles. They told me most of parties or gatherings to see movies are organized there, as there is also a projector and a wall to project films etc.
When we entered in the drawing hall a large portrait of some Jaipur maharaja and maharani in their wedding finery was hung on the side wall. I casually asked about them and Gaurav gave shock of my life when he mentioned it was their not painting but photograph. Such a big house is asset to them. God bless Sunita and Gaurav with their new mansion. -
So long Fairfax
A month in Fairfax---------------------------------
Fairfax is big town near Wahington DC, nealy half hour drive away but in Virginia state. There are three states near to each other, Virginia,
Meriland and DC. so folks who find it difficult to stay in DC get an apartment in VA or MD and stay there. People working in Government organizations
have to stay near thier offices either in Washington or Meriland. my son in law Mahen works in Rockwell city in Meriland. his office in that city is nearly
one hour's drive frpm his home in Circle Towers in Fairfax. Circle Towers is group of three towers like buidings and several row houses. Like San Francosco
Fairfax is wooded town or perhaps more so. In fact there is so much thick forests of tall trees in Fairfax that standing in the tower, we see only large forest
of trees. A Metro rail goes through Fairfax and there is station called Vienna but we only hear the train rattling by because it is hidden by the wood. But
public transport that is bus service is not so punctual as in San Francisco. The Victorian and Tudor houses give Fairfax a royal look and big shopping areas
like--- give commercial look. Proximity to Washhington makes Fairfax a bustling city.
Our one month stay in this city of learned people was entertaining and enlighting and busy meeting people and places. We met
quite educated and erudite people like Trupti who is P. hd. and her husband Harsh, highly educated guy. Then we met Gaurav and Sunita, another highly
educated couple, and Kapila and Keshav and thier small daughters. Then we enountered some unmarried guys and girls but highly eligible like Pradnya,
Ananya and Vishali, as also our old friends Jayesh and Parag. We heard that Parag has taken admiision for MBA and Jayesh is getting married next month
in India. So our time in this beautiful and young company flew like butterflys. For all these company Madhura and Mahen arranged a grand party on the
occasion of my wife Sandhya's and Mahen's birthday. It was a grand and beautiful party that senior people like us enjoyed very much.
Now our departure time is fast approaching and we have a sense of full fillment and satisfaction meeting our daughter and son-in-law. I wish them
all the best in life. in fact all the young people best of luck. I will carry the sweet memories of Fairfax and to tell to my friends in India about the learned
company i met here. So long Fairfax! -
Trip to Washington
It was sunny day and llabor day holiday so we decided to for long drive to DC. i learned for first time that US 50 & US 66 which brush past cicle towers, converge on and ultimately merge in Washington in Constitution street. it was holiay therefore huge crowds in DC and very slow traffic. Mahen searced for parking spot for nearly one and half hour. Thousands of people were loitering on the streets. The Myrtyrs memorial was standing tall and many people were going in that direction. we passed even White House but the President was nowhere seen. at last Mahen got parking space and we got literally relieved. the parking space was just neaar to Smithsonian Institute, so we decided to see the institute. Washington is a city of museums and exhibitions as Ashish, my nephew says. Smithsonian is very gigantic institute indeed. we enjoyed the film Collision in Cosmos there. Edison thetre is very big thetre and there the show was orgnized. Big bang theory and many celestial collisions were depicted. it is said that collisions have broght change in Univrse. after the show sumptous repast in cafteria and we traced our foot steps back to our car.
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Birthday party
Ganapathy Bappa Morya!--------------------------------
As luck would have it, we had opportunity to visit Shreyasi’s home for Ganesh festival. They have recently purchasd house in Fairlake area. In that there are two natural ponds. That is why that area known as Fairlakes. The house is condominium and slightly old fashioned house but impeccable. It’s a small single storied house with a large balcony. We had darshan of Ganapathy bappa and arati with prasad etc. unfortunately she could not come to our birthday party. Madhura arranged in grand manner Mommy’s birthday complete with sixty one wax lamps. There was chips and salsa as evening snacks. There were also black forest cake for Mommy’s birthday and strawberry cake for Mahen’s birthday which everybody enjoyed. To married girls, special gifts were given by Madhura neatly packed in boxes. The evening went down in everyones memory as most jovial evening in recent times. -
Birthday Party at Fairfax
Mahen’s Group of Friends------------------------------
On 29th August a big party was organized at Mahen’s residence and it was hilarious event indeed. Every party needs some pretext so this party had two reasons. One was Mahen’s in laws had come and the mother in law SANDHYA was celebrating 61st b birthday. Another was that it was Mahen’s birthday party. So the occasion was double edged so to say. As usual party was started late but first couple to arrive was The Guptas—Kapila and Keshav with their cute little angels, Ananya and Avishi. Soon after them the polished couple, Trupti and Harsh along with his sister Ruuchi came followed by Laurel and Hardy of the party not in the looks but in nature. It is because of the two of them our party got the charm.—Parag and Jayesh. The Chikaras the most popular of the lot, Sunita and Gaurav presented themselves and along with came Snehal and her friends, two girls whose names we forgot in the blah, blah blah-----------
Trupti who is Ph. D. brought color to party, she enlivened the conversation by opening various topics. Trupti and Harsh, is made for each other couple exactly WILLS style. Ramanna and Chandana, not talkative but participating in every activity, were the inseparable part of the party. Snehal and her friends came last, oh I am sorry, actually Pradnya came last, nodding her neck to show her pony tale. The drinks were served and pizza ordered by Madhura had been extremely delicious. During the course of conversation it was learned that it was Parag’s first day at college. He is doing MBA and his experiences of new professors were interesting. Jayesh had played cricket all day long so he was in no mood to talk and very tired. Trupti talked about legal profession and from that we learned that she is working in law firm. Her debating skills were proved in the ensuing arguments while playing Mafia. Yes, the two games we played were Mafia and Taboo, out of which lot of arguments occured at the time of Mafia. Parag Desai’s organizing & managing skills were tested and Trupti’s debating skills were confirmed. Pragyna was engaged recently so there was a lot of teasing by the ladies and men too to her.
At the end of the day everybody was tired but happy. It was short but sweet party. Everybody heartily enjoyed the drinks and food. The only senior citizens were we, for us it was grand experience, a marvelous experience in the young company. It was so to say, we lived our youthful life once again. I wish everyone best of luck for their lives and God bless each one. I thank my son in law for giving this opportunity. Thank you Mahen and Madhura.
Jason Monks
