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From the category archives:

Travels

I needed a break from

…planning my menu > cooking my planned menu > cleaning after cooking my planned menu > vacuuming > scrubbing > dusting > planning another menu.. not again! Le sigh.. the endless list of household chores!

So, last weekend was a blast {literally} with a trip to Kennedy Space Center – NASA. Some might quote me as geeky, but I heart NASA 🙂 If only, whilst growing up, my parents had coaxed me more towards space engineering. Anyone out there, dream of being an astronaut? You have my blessings for sure 🙂

This is a lengthy post, filled with photos. Don’t steal, ask for permission before using any photos. Considered warned 🙂

If you are a Floridian, I would suggest getting the yearly pass to NASA, or for that matter, any Disney theme parks! Total tour takes a whole lot of time. With unlimited returns to NASA via a yearly pass, you can plan your trip and cover every nook and cranny. You have 1 year to do that anyways 😉 There’s a whole lot of exhibits, tours and gadgets to see, test-drive and familiarize with. We arrived around noon and was greeted by some gracious security personnel at the check point. It was a fast and easy-peasy process. They were absolutely friendly. I heart friendliness. After a click of the above photo, me and Tarun were famished and begin our tour by visiting the Orbit Cafe for a scrumptious meal of chicken fingers and fries. It’s fast food for us whenever we are on the road.

With a happy tummy, we proceeded for our first bus tour. This is not our first trip to NASA. We skipped visiting a couple of exhibition sites that we’ve visited before and instead, choose to enjoy the informational bus tours and clicked away endlessly with our Nikon 🙂 These photo’s below are some of scenery’s taken from the bus:

Awaiting to board the tourist bus

This is where the orbiter is fitted & engineered with the Solid Rocket Boosters 😉

The Crawler is used to transport the orbiter to the launchpad for the countdown 😉

Pebbled pathway for the enormous Crawler!

We returned to the Visitor’s Centre Rocket Garden and enjoyed a full blown view of orbiters, shuttle rocket booster and experienced a whooping simulation of a shuttle launch. Goodness! It was so thrilling! No photos allowed in the simulation as it was a very shaky ride. Wouldn’t want to hurt yourself or any one else! I could never understand how these astronauts are able to handle such working conditions, riskiness and pressures. Kudos to them, I can never do it because of my vertigo. And the fact that I am very well under-qualified 😉 Sigh… this is the little astronaut in me, spewing words from the beyond 😀 Enough of me, let’s get back to more photos:

A model of a solid rocket booster!

A model of an Orbiter, where astronaut's are housed during shuttle missions.

The Launch Simulation Hall.. Exhilirating!!!

That’s it for now! Stay tuned for Part 2 – our visit to the Astronaut’s Hall of Fame. Yes, this tour was a long and enjoyable one!

On a separate note, we want to take this opportunity to thank our readers and well-wishers for your continued support, love and participation during the 2009 Orbbies: Orlando’s Rockin’ Blogs competition. We are eternally grateful 🙂

So, what are your plans for the weekend? Anything in the lines of … 3…2…1… Lift Off?

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Travelogue Part 5 – The return

…from India.

My first ever trip, filled with many joy, laughter, meeting new and exciting family’s and friends. The bustling city of New Delhi has so much to offer. I had my fair of joy riding on a rickshaw and auto. It was chock-filled with thrilling experiences. From dinner parties, to endless shopping and indulgence in food heaven. Let’s allow the photos to speak for itself, shall we?

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The last 2 photos are actually Handi Biryani – long grained Basmati rice cooked in earthen pot. It was deliciously yum!

For shopping, we raided placed like Shipra Mall, Janpath, Karol Bagh and Lajpat Nagar. A visit to Bangla Sahib brought a lot of peace and discovery of architectural beauty. We managed to sneak some time and visit Gurgaon, one of Delhi’s satellite city. The skyscrapers truly was an amazing sight to watch. Such a vast difference in contrast to Delhi. For photo viewing pleasures, I hope my blogging friend AD would’nt mind me sharing this link of his thorough post about Gurgaon. I am one of the luckiest to call India my home. Our home. As a backpacker once, I would love to enjoy the serenity of this country perhaps by joining a Yoga group or center in my next adventure! Majority of tourists flock to India for soul-searching.

We got around to celebrate a couple of birthdays, lunches, dinners and it was so much of fun. We truly miss every one in India. A country bountiful of rich culture, diversity and heritage.

Now we are back to US, wishing for our next adventurous trip. I hope it’s soon! That said, this is the end of my travelogue posts. Click here to read my previous Travelogue’s.

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Travelogue Part 4 – India

Duration: 8th March – 21st April

After the car wrecking incident in Malaysia, I was forced to travel around for my visa appointments using the same car. The damage was not a big deal for dad and he insisted that I drove around for my chore using the same car. If you are planning a long trip to Kuala Lumpur, I would definitely suggest getting a car on rental instead of hopping around with cabbies that can cost a fortune. If I’d avoid cabbies, why can’t you? I drove a wrecked car for Pete’s sake!!! Sorry Dad.

Anyways, me and mom were scheduled for the trip to India. After collecting our Indian visa’s, packing, arrival at the airport, security check-in.. blah.. blah.. blah.. – we excitedly boarded the plane. The duration of flight was for 4 hours and 45 minutes. It was like forever! Half an hour before landing, I started popping pain killers* etc to avoid nasty Vertigo symptoms. Believe me, it’s nasty. My ear drums would ache so badly that it feels as though as it would burst anytime. Seriously. Flying is something I never enjoy. It came with a hefty price of pain.

Homecoming rituals

Touched down with an OUCH! I could barely hear anything. These awful Vertigo symptoms lasts a few days. It’s sickening. Immigration and luggage clearance was a breeze. Met my hubby and mom in law at the airport awaiting for us. Hubby flew from US to India just a day before our arrival. We were whisked away into the car for the journey back to my sasural. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Papa, Bhaiya and Bhabhi. Not to forget our cute and adorable nephew, Shanu 🙂 It was a homecoming for me. Mummyji (mom in law) performed a small rite/prayer to welcome me into the family.

Smothered with colors!!!

We had loads of fun. It was our first holi at my in laws after marriage. It was my first holi ever in my life. Holi is not recognized or celebrated at a large scale in Malaysia. We had to first look for worn-out clothing. This is not the day to be adorned with jewelry’s and fine sari’s. Before you know it, me and the gang was smothered with variety of colors. Boy oh boy.. It took loads of scrubbing afterwards!

On a separate topic, the 2009 Photoblog Awards is up for voting till December 15, 2009. If you think my photoblogging skills are worth your votes, I would appreciate it if you can vote for me by clicking the badge below. For more details, you can visit the Photoblog Awards 2009 website at http://vote.photoblogawards.com/about.php. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Vote for my Photo-Blog

Part 5 coming up, stay tuned!

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Click here to read my previous Travelogue’s.

* I was prescribed with Vertigo medications/pain killers by my personal physician. In no way this suggests that I am addicted to pain killers 😀

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Travelogue Part 3 – Malaysia

Duration: 20th February – 7th March & 22nd Apr – 7th May 2009.

My ♥ fluttered as the plane touched down on the tarmac of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Sigh, I truly missed the airport. Seriously. Before marriage, a major part of my life involves chauffeuring family and friends to and fro the KLIA airport – lame isn’t it? Anyways, no flights for me during that period. Reality struck huge when it was my turn to board the plane for US, more than 3 years ago. Time flies.

I almost raced to the baggage claim and immigration. And then I saw them, at the arrival gate. Mom and dad.

Awaiting impatiently, I could tell 🙂 A tear rolled down my cheek. I wept. It’s been 3 years guys! We reunited, got to the car park and head for home. Mom asked, “what do you feel like eating?” Gosh! I truly missed Malaysian cuisine. We went ahead for local breakfast, and duh.. it had to be our staple nasi lemak and teh tarik! Yummylicious 😀

Mom enjoying nasi lemak 😉

Arrived home with a full tummy, jet-lag and tiredness! Phew! It was a long journey back home. I snoozed and awoke a couple of hours later to the most delicious scent of aloo pakora’s 🙂 Mom, you are the best! What more can I ask for?

The next few days were packed with embassy appointment to renew my US visa, shopping, food sampling, dinner and lunch appointments with family’s and friends’. Fun was short-lived when I met with an accident. Nothing serious, no bodily harm or injury. Bumper dangling from each side of the car, with serious dents, bumps and bruises. Not to forget the fine of Ringgit Malaysia (RM) 300 that was slapped to me by the Police for allegedly not keeping a safe distance with a vehicle that was ahead of us. It’s a law in Malaysia, if you hit a vehicle at rear, you are automatically issued a ticket. It’s a very good law, only if I am immune to it 🙂 Sigh. The repair itself costs an additional RM600. What a luck? I am sorry for damaging the car Dad 🙁

Innocent victim 🙁

Lesson learned. The hard way.

Part 4 coming up, stay tuned!

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Click here to read my previous Travelogue’s.

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Travelogue Part 2 – Insomnia

Love life, engage in it, give it all you’ve got. Love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it – Maya Angelou.

I can’t recall when was the last time I actually slept for 6 hours or so. The max was 3 hours. For months. It was grueling. And was about to be even more nightmarish The flight from Orlando to Amsterdam, though pleasant, I could not sleep a wink!

Clear blue sky!

Gazing into Netherlands

Arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on 17th Feb 2009, at 11:30am. It’s freaking chilly! As I make my way towards the baggage carousel, I realized that I did not know which carousel would have my luggage. So, the panicky girl I am – I panicked! Calm down Kiran, there is nothing to worry about. So what if these people spoke more Dutch than English? I approached an officer on duty, and with a sigh of relief, he explained to me where I would get my carousel information. In English! Yay! Hail O’ Netherlanders!

I claimed my luggage and walk towards customs and security, with a breeze. It was a “touch and go” security. At God’s speed. Har*, Jessy* & Tas** was constantly on sms with me, awaiting for my arrival. Very sweet of them 🙂 Meeting them – with teary eyes, laughter & smiles – after a very long time. Bitter sweet reunion. Thank god Jessy brought a jacket and scarf for me. It’s freakishly cold! What’s wrong with the EU weather? It was chilly, dark and gloomy.

Jessy & Tas's apartment 🙂

We headed towards Jessy & Tas’s apartment, where I was greeted with warmth from the heater and amazing scent of home made food. Pure bliss. We ate, laughed, shared stories and exchanged gifts for one another. Though extremely exhausted – not sleepy – the feeling of content, being surrounded by family are beyond words.

18th February 2009 – We decided to stay put at home due to my lack of sleep, exhaustion and jet lag. The next day was my next direct flight, and this time, the destination would be Malaysia – Truly Asia. I barely slept at all Perhaps due to excitement?

Part 3 coming up, stay tuned!

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Click here to read my previous Travelogue’s.

* my sister’s

** my brother in-law

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