Summer Trip To Seattle - Prologue and the Hiking

I visited my brother and sister-in-law this summer to Seattle. It was a great fun filled 10 day trip.

I was looking forward to this trip for a long time. Excitement was running high. After 6 hr night flight from Baltimore, I reached Seattle without much trouble..... ya except the initial one hour flight delay and cancellation scare because of bad weather (I hate bad weathers :x ). Bhaiya and bhabhi came to receive me at the airport, got some "jadu ki jhappi" and we drove back home in brand new "The Ultimate Driving Machine".

Seattle is a techie hub and hikers paradise. With software giants like Microsoft and Amazon, you can see desis flocking around everywhere. It is also aptly called the Emerald city for its surrounding evergreen forest and beautiful lakes providing in-numerous options for outdoor activities. Summer is the best time to visit Seattle. On a fresh sunny morning going for outing is a refreshing experience.

On the very first day we went to the place called "Deception Pass". It was two and half hour drive from Redmond. It had a nice hiking trail and sandy beach. As it was a sunny weekend there were lots of visitors hiking, fishing, camping with there picnic table and grills. We sat near the beach listening the sound of the crashing waves creating a mesmerizing experience.

 We spent the wonderful afternoon there and drove back home to attend an evening barbecue at the neighbors place.  I love the smoky barbecue smell. We played garden football, had grilled corn and cheese paneer, and chit chats. We also went to farmers dairy to have ice cream which was good. Overall it was a great day.

Next day we had thought of going to Mt. Rainier to see the sunrise. Though the sunrise part didn't materialize because of the tiring day before, we did go to Mt Rainier.

Yay we are there !!

Mt Rainier has added beauty to Seattle more than anything else. Its magnificent milky white peak is visible from every part of Seattle. It is the highest mountain in Washington and the Cascade Range. 

It was three hour drive from Redmond. En-route we spent some time at Narada Falls.  It is said to be the most popular waterfall in Mt Rainier National Park, because the Mount Rainier Highway crosses the falls between its two tiers.

Cool couple and Narada Falls

We spend some "cool" time there before starting again. After an hour drive through the winding roads we reached the base camp of the Mt Rainier. We had a small breakfast and watched the small showcase movie on Mt Rainier about its rich flora and fauna and its effect on ecosystem of the surrounding region. After that, I do not remember exactly which trail we took, but it was beautiful anyway.

Hiking trail

Finally we reached the snow covered point.

Mt Rainier (I think so !)

Looking at Mt. Rainier from so close was an exhilarating experience.On the mountains you can feel the serene calmness interspread with songs of  birds which has a meditative effect on the senses. After spending an hour and half we trailed back to the base camp and drove back to home. It was an experience !

Reached home at night and had a nice supper. Thus the weekend ended in a majestic way.

My next blog will cover the culinary experience of  "Supriya's Kitchen" and "trip to Rattle Snake Ridge", so don't go away and stay tuned :).

Winter Nights at IIT Guwahati

The sun used to go down early in search of refuge. Days were shorter and nights were cold. By the time we finished our evening workshops and labs, it used to get dark. Amidst the chirping of returning birds and silent waves of lakes, we used to rush to the hostels to get a sip of tea and bites of hot bread stuffs. The surrounding hillocks swayed in breezing air and mighty Brahmaputra used to flow with less vigor. Canteen wallah had never got busier. People used to teem up to get slice of aloo parathas coming fresh from simmering tawas. Maggie and cardamom tea had never been so delicious.  

Rooms were made warm by constant efforts of room heaters. Calmness prevailed everywhere except the sports complex and the hostel grounds. Volley ball, lawn tennis and basket ball courts buzzed with activities under the flood lights. The chilly air was never a deterrence. Every one used to be charged up for the inter iit sports meet nearing by. I used to go for a jog on the race track, newly built for the inter iit. With mist in the air

Near my hostel there was a small crpf camp. During night they used to cook food in sigdi (clay oven). The smell of smoke with tinge of ghee coming from their oven always reminded me of the highway dhabas. 

Those were the winter nights of IIT Guwahati.