It has been well over 7 weeks since landing on the East Coast of USA. We saw a good number of places, Events, Temples, Waterfalls, Cities, Monuments, Sky scrapers, Memorials and Historic Buildings,
in these 7 weeks, and in another 4 weeks, we will be moving to the Central part of the US, Omaha in Nebraska State.
Time is nearing to say Adieu to these parts, people, friends and my son Avinash, daughter-in-law Neetha and grand daughter Ananya, who have been splendid hosts.
People have been mostly, very friendly, genuinely friendly, cheerful and very helping wherever we went. That's perhaps the Nature of these Americans. In my morning walks, in railway stations, in trains, in restaurants, in Theatres, in any Public Place, the Average American is very courteous, law abiding, friendly and never waits for the other person to wish first. Ever smiling, they invariably wish you first and show utmost courtesy, in the typical " Pahle Aap " manner.
Only two things I did not like here. One, the very hostile cold climate ( mind you they call this time of the year their Summer ).
And two, the number of cars on roads.
Hundreds of thousands of cars are always on the roads, ( of course none of them puff or smoke, as pollution control is in the top most gear everywhere) ,that one thought that came to my mind spontaneously
was "This Nation lives and works for the survival of the Automoble Industry !" Cars and cars and cars, every where, for every one, as this Nation has a very poor Public Transport System. They expect every one to own or hire a car.
The woods in New Jersey are really dark and deep as Robert Frost wrote in one of his poems. Thick forest cover everywhere and a green carpet on all plain cleared land spaces. So very cool on the eye. Lots of Deer can be spotted when you drive along the lovely roads, and plenty of beautiful birds chirping away musically on the trees and bushes at all times. ( during day time, of course )
The US Open 2013 at Flushing Meadows, was a dream come true. The Arthur Ashe Stadium was a great experience to sit in and view one of the Grand Slam Tournaments.
The Broadway Experience is another milestone Memory. Went to the Majestic Theatre and saw The Phantom of the Opera, a Musical which was worth seeing. A real theatre experience !
Among the Monuments that really stand out in your Memory are : The Statue Of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial Ground Zero, and the renowned New York Public Library.
The 9/11 Memorial is very Solemn, and is steeped in an Emtional Tribute to those 2977 persons who were brutally killed by the Terrorists, in those unbelievable horror strikes on that fateful day in 2001. One cannot but shed a tear or two as you go round the South Pool and the North Pool, huge square shaped pools created at the spots where the fallen Twin Towers stood. Inscriptions of names, of all those who perished on that day in this catastrophe, in bronze parapets around the pools, with a request to touch the inscriptions and pray for the departed Souls really moves you. A very touching tribute to the victims by the shocked Nation.
The Statue of Liberty, is just awesome in its size and Majesty of its sculputure, and the Ideals for which it stands. A Gift by the French people to the people of the Land which still upholds Liberty, and Equality in a large measure. And is definitely more than in any other Democracy on Earth.
The New York Public Library leaves you just speechless, for its size, its contents, its methodology of preservation of books and the facilities it provides to the Readers / Users of this gigantic Library. Its an experience, to be experienced. It cannot be described !
And for a devout person from India, the Temples at Bridgewater and Straudsburg, are a soothing balm for any tense mind. Very serene and thoughtfully planned temples, where you go and the Soul in you simply rejoices !
Like all good things in Life, even this Odessey through New York / New Jersey is nearin its End. And its time to say, Adieu !
