Grand Circle, September 2009

Labor day weekend (rather week I have to say considering the trip was from sep 2nd to sep 8th, 2009). Left on wed afternoon, came back on Tuesday, late at night.
Trip members: ma, baba, dada, tutul, me.
Tuesday – went to amit’s place at 11 pm to get his tripod
Wednesday, sep 2nd, 2009 :-
Flight from SFO-Las Vegas. Plan was to spend the night at Vegas and gorge on the buffet. Initially we had decided that we’ll take some home food for ma-baba because the buffet won’t be to their liking, but later on all of us decided to join in as the soaring temperatures forced a change in plans and we decided to carry some ‘ghar ka khana’ with us. So tutul was supposed to pick up alu parathas from Namaste plaza on the way back home from office. Unfortunately no alu parathas were available and we had to make do with plain parathas (ok) and methi parathas (which btw, was a big hit). So dinner in Vegas consisted of two types of parathas, ma’s bhaja amer anchar, and some alu-capsicum bhaja.
Our flight was around 6.30 pm. While leaving for office in the morning, tutul said “I’ll be back by 2, max 3.” As usual, he didn’t turn up until after 4. Somehow his two bosses, Prasad and pradeep always manage to hand him some work on the day he’s leaving for a trip. We were all ready by the time he came. Dada arrived a few minutes later. He had a press meet that day and was all decked up in formal attire. Rushed inside the house and into the bathroom and came out a completely different man. Like the people in the ads where they show a person undergoing change through a whirlwind in seconds. We loaded up the Subaru and started after 4.30 pm. Luckily there was no traffic and we made it to the parking lot in Burlingame in time. except for the fact that we were quite a distance from the airport and the shuttle service was every 20 minutes we had nothing to much worry about. Dada called up the shuttle service and found out that the it was the approximate time for the shuttle to be in the parking lot. Either we had missed it or it will be arriving very soon, the man on the phone wasn’t sure which one. Thankfully the shuttle showed up and we were relieved at not having to go through another Houston episode (another story) this time. Reached the airport and breezed through security. Absolutely no crowd whatsoever. God knows what happened on that thursday afternoon when we were leaving for Houston.
Landed in Vegas after 8 pm, went straight to the rental car centre where we had a reservation for a jeep. I tried to add my name in the driver’s list but my learner’s permit was not enough. So tutul was the only designated driver. Dada was not added because an extra driver other than spouse would cost 10$/day which meant an additional cost of 70$. Dada would be driving anyways…
Las vegas was warm and awake in all its glory. After a while we had to roll up the windows and switch on the ac. After meandering through much traffic on the strip finally reached Bally’s, our hotel in Vegas. Tutul and baba went to check-in so that we could get two queen beds. Five people were not allowed in a room in any of the places we stayed and depending on the cost we had registered for two or four people. bechara dada had to sleep on the floor most of the days except for one.
After our dinner of parathas we ventured into sin city, not for any sinful activity though. Dada gave my parents a tour of the strip, the Vegas veteran that he is amongst us (his company holds an annual meet in Vegas). Saw the dancing fountain in front of Bellagio twice, went inside the Venetian, had dessert @ Bellagio including a chocolate dipped strawberry and just roamed around and came back after midnight. All of us went to sleep excepting tutul who had some office work to complete handed by Pradeep.
Thursday, 3rd Sep, 2009:-
We were supposed to leave Vegas as early as possible, so that we could reach Grand Canyon by 2/3 pm. But tutul went to sleep at 5 am, and then the flush in the toilet stopped working. So I called up the management, and me and dad went out so that they won’t find five people in the room. Dada moved from the floor to the bed. Me and dad roamed about in the corridors for half an hour during which the repairs were done and we finally were ready around 10 am. Now for breakfast. We went to panda express and dada went to subway. Tutul had always told me about panda express but never taken me to any. So I made full use of the opportunity. The food was really good and it was very much like our Indian Chinese. After breakfast, rather brunch we started for Grand Canyon around 11/11.30.
It was a very hot day. Our first stop was Hoover Dam and Lake Powell. Parked the car and ventured out into the hot sun, but it was worthwhile. The water level of the lake had receded by a considerable amount and the difference was clearly seen by a white boundary left by the earlier water level. We saw some construction work going on in the area, most probably a bridge being built. It was pretty scary to see workers standing on an arch so high up from the ground. This was the first time I saw the arch of a bridge being built. From here we moved on straight to Grand Canyon. Reached around 4.30/5.00 pm.
Went to see sunset. Rain. Came back, had dinner.
Went for moonlight view of grand canyon. One distant light in the north rim and two flashes of light near the bright angel trail.
Friday
Elk fight near lodge. Went down bright angel trail. Not all the way. Just a bit.Took shuttle to end of west rim – hermit’s rest. Stopped at few view points. Bought a t-shirt there. The sun was up in all its glory, which washed out the colour. Not good for photography. Then went for the east rim drive and onto monument valley.
Reached MV around evening. We were hoping to catch the golden rays of the setting sun but unfortunately it became cloudy again. Did the 17 mile loop. It was a dirt road and it was one hell of a ride in the jeep. Reminded me of potholed streets in Kolkata. Only this time they seemed so much better. Waited at a viewpoint for quite a while in order to capture a photo of a lightning. It had started raining ever so slightly. My handycam’s battery ran out or else I’d have captured that thunder strike. Tutul waited but was unable to capture. Dada’s battery also ran out.
Started for arches. Had dinner at a place in bluff/blanding. We went for miles and miles without any township in site. Our main concern at that time was food. Stopped for gas at bluff. Bought a chicken salad sandwich at the gas station for mom and dad in case nothing else is found. On the opposite side saw a diner kinda thing. went in to check out the menu. It was only steak and the only other option was a veg burger which didn’t appeal to me. Saw a amusing thing. there was a huge swing near the entrance and on that swing pounds of beef were being roasted by a fire underneath. The very sight of those bulky red loads of meat was so nauseating. Started driving and spotted another diner. This seemed ok. Menu had fish and chicken which was good for us. Seating was open air, under a tree. Served water in plastic glasses shaped like cowboy boots. Dada and baba had catfish which didn’t taste good. had a weird smell. Me and ma shared a barbecued chicken. Seeing barbecue chicken on the menu, mom said she wanted that thinking that it would be like the one that kaka made in Canada. What kaka made was tandoori and this was an entirely different thing which she found out to her dismay. Tutul’s salmon dish was good. bandanas were wrapped like napkins which we got to keep. Reached our hotel in Moab (day’s inn) around 12.
Saturday
Woke up, dressed, took mom and dad down to breakfast in the lobby. We had asked for a late checkout but the man didn’t allow. So we called up our hotel for that day and they allowed us an early check in. this was the river canyon lodge, a nice hotel and it even had a chaise sort of thing by the window. For the first and last time in the trip dada got to sleep on the bed. I slept on the chaise because nobody else would fit in there. Good for me. We dumped our bags and went off to arches.
First stop – moab fault.
Second stop – park avenue, we took a one mile hike and then dada hiked back to the starting point and brought the car back.
Next stop – balanced rock. Before that stopped briefly to see the petrified dunes. Could see the la sal mountains in the background. Still had some snow on the top.
Garden of eden. Had a wonderful view.
After balanced rock it was time for lunch and some rest. Just caught a glimpse of the windows section and double arch and then headed for lunch. Had lunch at a greek diner. The food was really good. tutul had some lamb souvlaki. I had a curry rice wrap. Ma and baba had Indonesian chicken satay. And dada had some soup. Bechara. the tomato soup was finished and he had to make do with the pear and squas soup. But the rice was awesome. Tasted very much like our polao. After lunch went back to the hotel for some rest and sleep. It was very hot outside so it was better to stay indoors. Tutul sat down to work and the rest of us slept. Woke up around 3.15/3.30 and headed straight to the windows section. The weather looked fine and we were hoping that today would be a good day for sunset photography. But as we reached there it became cloudy. The glow wasn’t there. As we moved from the north to the south window the sun came out suddenly in all its glory and dada and tutul scrambled for photographs. In their quest they just climbed up wherever they could find a footholding and tutul with his tripod.
From there went to delicate arch. it was 1.5 mile hike and we dragged along ma and baba too. After a while it got steep. There was an elevation gain of 500 ft and my mom was extremely angry. She was panting like anything and at one point she refused to budge anymore. But she made it almost. The last part entailed going through a narrow ledge with sheer drop on one side and it drizzled at times. So I left my mom and dad before the narrow road and made for the delicate arch. the two brothers were already there. No sunset, no glowing light even today. Waited after 7 but no hope. So we started down. Suddenly on the way down we see the area covered in a fiery orange glow. This is what we wanted on delicate arch. but alas. On the way down went to see the petroglyphs. We thought they would be some 2-3000 years old. No. they were only 250-300 years old.
Came back and had dinner at a Chinese place. Went to bed
Sunday
Went early in the morning for photography. Windows section, double arch. came back, dressed up and left for delicate arch. this time for the viewpoint. So my parents could see the arch after all the trouble they took the day before. Skipped breakfast. Ma and baba had that chicken salad sandwich. Bought some biscuits and cookies and that was breakfast. Went to the visitor centre. Bought magnets. Started for Bryce.
Started driving through a dirt road and for almost an hour or so we drove through a barren, bleak landscape. It was extremely hot outside and we saw only one other car ahead of us.
On the way passed through canyon reef national park. Drove for a while through the scenic route. At one point we were driving over a ridge.
Had lunch at a taco bell drive thru around 2. Drove straight to Bryce. Reached around 7.15 and just missed the sunset. Barely by 5 mins. But still managed to get a few photos. Stayed inside the park in Bryce. Log cabin house with fireplace and everything. had dinner at the lodge restaurant. Selected a veg strudel for parents which was just awful. They couldn’t eat it. my mom liked the quesadillas which we took. Dada took gnocchi but the quantity was too much and it was too creamy. I took polenta for the first time after having seen it countless times on the food network. Didn’t go down very well with me. Tutul had a trout which was really good. and then we got one lemon sorbet which we shared, mostly me and tutul because no one else could digest that tangy taste. Tutul has been accustomed to it after staying with me. Went for a walk at night. Lay down on the bench and saw a couple shooting stars. Came back because it was getting cold. Temp were around 3-4C. dad not feeling well.
Monday
Woke up at 6 and left for sunrise photography. Me and tutul went to inspiration point and dada some place else. from there hiked to Bryce point. Waited for shuttle and got late. Finally took the shuttle and came back. Dada had gone for some hike. We checked out and left him a note at the lodge door. went to the visitor centre, where there was a museum and stayed there till 12 until tutul picked up dada and came back. Had lunch. And then drove to rainbow point and came back to Bryce point stopping at the viewpoints. At rainbow point took a short hike. From Bryce point took the shuttle to sunset point where me and tutul took the Navajo loop trail to go down into the canyon. Saw the two bridges, wall street, and thor’s hammer.
Came back in time for sunset. I grabbed a spot at sunset point for tutul to place his camera. The hodoos had already started glowing but for the whole amphitheater to glow we’d have to wait a little longer. But we had to start for zion that day which was almost 80 miles away.
Reached our hotel @ springdale around 9. Springdale was the town right after zion national park. We crossed 2 looong tunnels and could make out the checkerboard mesa in the dark. Had pizza for dinner.
Tuesday
Last day of the trip. Had breakfast in the hotel. This was quality inn and they had a sumptuous breakfast starting from eggs, sausage, bread, cake, yogurt, fruit, waffle, cereal. You name it, they had it. and it was all free. We stuffed ourselves and then set out for the park. Inside the park we had to use the shuttle since cars were not allowed.
First stop – court of the patriarchs.
Then went to emerald pool where the three of us hiked to the lower emerald pool and saw some tree frogs. Then went to the end of the park where there was a riverwalk, a 2 mile walk by the side of the virgin river. It was wonderful in the shade. The walk ended where the river went inside the canyon. People were going canyoneering and dada and tutul went. I couldn’t go because the skin at the bottom of my left foot had come off and I was short on band aid. They came back around 2 and we went straight to lunch at the zion canyon lodge. After lunch we sat down in the shade in lawn in front because it was too hot to do anything. Plus zion was a place to be hiked and explored. Nothing to see much if you are just driving. Me and tutul had ice cream. After that we took the shuttle and went to the museum, watched part of the movie on the canyon formation and then went back to the visitor centre. Packed up properly for the flight and headed straight to vegas. In vegas tutul went to give back the car and then came to the airport. Bought some tacos for dinner at the airport and reached SFO around 11pm. Reached home around 12. End of a grand trip.