Holiday in Rockies and Alaska, Seattle and Atlanta Jun / Jul 2015 

12 June Calgary

Landed at Calgary around 9.30pm. Long flight from London as 4 hr stopover in Minneapolis. Went to rental car where joined up with Mina and Rahul
Car was really nice, all fully automatic so no need to put key in. Doors closing by themselves.and also built in gps.Hotel was only 2mins away Hotel very nice . Hampton Inn Hotel

13 June Calgary
Next day went to airport again to query about the car drop off charges. Problems developed as the boys had managed to lock themselves out. Tried everything but could not get it to open. Long and short of it they had to call a locksmith and he had to prise it open. So had to change cars. Not too happy about the new car after having got such a brand new car before but it is fine. Went driving to spruce meadows but nothing there but racecourse, all very scenic. After this went to heritage cultural centre. Wonderful. Could have easily spent a whole day here. Lots of period shops staff in period costumes and old utensils cookware etc.went on a steam train and a boat and also some rides .Lots of vintage cars.
After this went to Calgary town and went on a walk along the bow river. Very scenic and went up some steps. For a better view, after this walked around for ages for some stick men sculptures but could not find these .Found other good art. Walked to Stephen street and then came back to hotel for short rest. Weather was not great pretty cold and rained as well. Luckily we missed the shower.
After resting went for dinner at the Coup. A veg restaurant.very nice service and food
Very tired by end of day. Hitesh been coughing badly so gave him massage in the night

Sunday 14 June Banff
Checked out of Hampton inn hotel and drove to Canmore
Room not ready yet so drove to Banff via tunnel mountain. Spectacular scenery lakes and mountains. After this drove to Banff and did a hike to tunnel mountain. Lovely hike up again with spectacular views
Had lunch at a picnic spot with views over the river
After lunch went to the bow trail falls. Lovely walk again with a wonderful views of the river.
After this went to the hot springs. Who should we bump into but lots of friends from London. They are doing the same route and are on the same cruise ship
What are the chances?
Hot springs were hot. After this went to see historic Fairmont  Springs Hotel. lovely hotel.
After this dinner at another veg restaurant called Nourish. Very nice food

Monday 15 June Banff
Had breakfast in chalet. After this went to Johnston Canyon. Lower falls and upper falls. Beautiful falls with mountains in the background. Also pathway to upper falls was amazing. The walkways or catwalks were bolted on to the mountains like a canopy walkway. All this was free with the day pass for the nature park. The hike up to the waterfalls was around 7km in total and a good challenge. After this drove to lake Louise. What a sight. The lake is emerald green with a backdrop of mountains some with glacier at the top and pine trees on either sides. The scenery is breathtaking. Had lunch by this lake and then Rahul and Hitesh decided to do longer hike to mirror lake which was ascending steeply.  Mina and I walked around the lake. So beautiful. On way back bumped into Varsha and their friends and then later bumped into others when going to Chateau Louise hotel in search of toilets.
After the guys returned we drove to Lake Moraine. Another stunning lake this time turquoise blue with lots of mountains in the background walked around the lake and paused for some breathtaking scenery. Also Hitesh climbed up some stones to get view from top but coming down fell and got wet. The day today was gorgeous and the mountains were shining. In the morning they are half covered with cloud.
After lake Moraine we drove to lake Minnewanke the largest lake but actually man made. The others are natural glacial lakes.
Today we cooked at home pasta potatoes and salad. Delicious nothing like home cooked food. Rahul and Hitesh went in the hot tub. Hitesh has had a very bad cough. Just not shifting
Hopefully gets better tomorrow

Tuesday 16 June Jasper
Got up early and had early breakfast before leaving 8am. First stop to get passes for park as Columbia ice field parkway is part of the parks. Spectacular stops all along the way. First stop was Bow lake and glacier summit. Just viewpoint but our first view of glacier. Next stop Peyto lake. A 10min hike up to lake. Absolutely breathtaking. It was snowing up in the glacier
Then went to Mystiya  canyon. Again just great views. After this stopped at Parker Ridge trailhead for a 3km hike. This was just amazing.it was a steep hike up but we were rewarded with spectacular views of the valley and Sasketchwan glacier
The pinnacle was the Athabaskan glacier where we took the ice field explorer to the glacier where we could get out and walk about. Met Girish and co here again and after this a couple more stops for the Sunwapta falls and Athabaskan falls. After this dinner at Jasper and then long drive to Hinton. A very long day but also got to see bears along the way a spectacular rainbow and some elks
Wednesday  17 June Jasper
Drive to Maligne canyon. Was a wet gloomy day but cleared as we got there and we hiked to the 5 bridges. A 2 hour hike with spectacular falls and canyons. Actually it is a gorge
Then went to medicine lake. Huge lake which drains out by October
Then went to maligne lake. Short hike to viewpoint after which started raining so drove to Jasper. On way saw a few bears
Went to Patricia lake and Pyramid lake
Then went for dinner in Jasper at the Raven

Thursday 18 June Kamloops
Left early around 9am long drive to
Kamloops. Stopped at Clearwater for a few hours to see waterfalls first spa that falls very long thin waterfall rushing to the canyon
Then Dawson falls where had lunch. Dawson falls is wide thundering falls, then Helmsken falls again rushing into the canyon so fast that the spray was coming up as tall
Then drive to kamloops. Driving through saw Girish etc in town  – (they had taken train) and then ended up in the same Mexican restaurant

Friday 19 June Whistler
Drive to Whistler. En route stopped in a little town called Lillowet. Was very busy during the gold rush. Now not so much. Was nice museum there. Afterwards at Whistler. Nice place. Tough muddier event this weekend. Went for a walk to Lost park and Lost lake and Green lake. Dinner at a quick Mexican place

Saturday 20 June Vancouver
In whistler. Saw the other villages. Upper village. Beautiful hotels and art works.
Drove to Porteau  cove lovely bay. Diving there and marine centre
Then tried to drive to Victoria but too long so back to Vancouver. Came back to hotel then Capiliano bridge park. Jazz festival and Fifa women’s World Cup in Vancouver. Dinner at Malaysian restaurant Banana leaf.

Sunday 21 June Cruise to Alaska
Went to Van Duden botanical garden then dropped car at airport and took sky train back. Shuttle bus to cruise ship. Huge cruise ship. Exciting but dinner disappointing

Monday 22 June
All day sailing. Familiarised with boat. Hitesh bad headache in morning so wandering alone. Also trying to sort out beverages package and onboard credits. Did a line dancing class. Good fun. Lunch lovely and dinner also nice
Went to jacuzzi and relaxed. Also had a 10dollars sale so bought some clutch purses and watches. In evening show . Very spectacular especially the trapeze artists. Raffle in casino. I won 2nd prize. A black diamond dolphins pendant

Tuesday 23 June
Went to a stretch class in morning. Really good. After this breakfast then wandering around. Went to lecture on night sky by milos. Very good. Docked at icy strait. Went on shore but not much to see. Airport style security to get on and off. Also have to sanitise hands when we come back on board. Also every time go to the restaurant. One person specially employed for this job.
Music and entertainment very good on ship.

Wednesday 24 June
Hubbard glacier. Absolutely magnificent. Beautiful sunny day
Lots to eat and drink good entertainment . In evening very bumpy sailing. Turns out Alaska had an earthquake of 5.8

Thursday 25 June
Arrival in Juneau. Little town but population doubled as 4 cruise ships in town. Morning went to town and then up a tramway. Little walk there. Afternoon went whale watching best tri ever. Lots of whales nearby and all bubble feeding. So they all blow bubbles together and then dive up.
They came right next to the boat . Whales were humpback .weather very cold and rainy.

Friday 26 June
Arrival in Ketchikan at about 3pm. Normally always raining here but today beautiful weather. Went to Saxons to see totem poles. Local bus for 1 dollar takes you there. Not much to see though and 5 dollars entrance. After a few mins took bus back .best thing was the scenic bus ride.did a little walk called married mans walk. Quit scenic.salmon fishery. Went shopping. And bought a jacket
Back on ship for dinner and show. Pianist and singer very good also band from Philippines excellent

Saturday 27 June
Last day on board. All day sailing. Not too much going on. Had a galley tour which was very interesting. So many dishes to wash, cook for etc amazing.
Hitesh sleeping now. In evening last meal and then show. Again very good.

Sunday 28 June Vancouver
Checked out of ship after breakfast. Very sad. Left Mina and Rahul and walked to hotel from cruise terminal, as short walk. Room not ready yet so left bags and then walked to Stanley park and hired bikes. Cycled around park for a couple of hours then went to Granville Island by ferry
Lots of market stalls there. Back from there and came back to hotel. After freshening up left to go to gas town and china town. Took bus but no change so we got to ride for free. Indian bus driver who was happy to talk with Hitesh
Gas town historical but Chinatown disappointing. Lots of junkies and homeless people there.
Came back near hotel and had dinner at Malaysian restaurant. We are staying on 32 nd floor in hotel so wonderful views of Vancouver. In fact saw the celebrity infinity sail out towards lion gate bridge

Monday 29 June Seattle
No breakfast provided so had it outside, then took taxi to train station and boarded bus to Seattle. Really good bus and free internet. Had to clear U.S. customs again . Took train from Seattle to airport then airport shuttle to hotel. After checking in went back to Seattle and went to Pike place market. Very interesting. And downtown. Dinner in Indian nepalese restaurant. Food ok.

Tuesday 30 June Seattle
Breakfast at hotel. Hotel was near airport so went to airport after checking out to get boarding passes. After this went to Seattle centre via link train then monorail. Space needle chihully glass and garden centre and children’s adventure playground all there. Did not go up space needle but went to chi hully glass and garden centre. Was beautiful. All exhibits made of multi coloured glass. Persian ceiling sea theme chandeliers and then some in the garden with natural plants. After this had lunch nearby at armoury. Nice pizzas like jiko pizzas. Then walked to Olympic sculpture park and sat by the beach for a while. After this went to Pioneer square. Was supposed to have nice parks but not much there and lots of homeless so came back to downtown. On way back saw a man and young girl lying still in an alleyway. Young girl not moving. The man shifted when he was prodded by a passer by. Not sure if the girl was dead or not. Probably drug addicts. Bit of seedy area. Downtown was really lively nice pedestrianised square with lots of outdoor games. Table tennis chess and some other new games. Nice vegan restaurant there so decided would come back to eat there. Went back to chi hully glass and garden place and admired all the pieces once again.
Lots of outdoor music and free aerobics classes outside as well as lovely children’s playground.
Went back to downtown to veggie grill and ate there. Nice food and busy place. After this went back to hotel to get bags and then to airport. Very busy airport. Bags were heavy so had to take out stuff. Unfortunately multi purpose knife Nikhil’s  was in there and got confiscated. Then on flight to Atlanta

1july Atlanta
Arr
 Atlanta airport in morning. Very busy. Apparently the world’s busiest airport. Long walk to baggage claim. Beautiful sculptures from Zimbabwean artist.. Met Harshad near baggage claim. So happy to see us. Then freshened up and had breakfast. After this washing and then slept. Hitesh didn’t. Then woke up and had lunch and then decided to dye hair. Hitesh and Harshad off to play golf. Sandhya at work . Dyed hair then went for walk with Sandhya . Then dinner and bed.

2 July Atlanta
Registered for Jain convention and Peach tree race and then had lunch at conventions. Came back home then got ready for evening program.
Some cultural programmes dances singing and skit from PK Returns.
Technical difficulties re sound so hour late in starting. Rasa garba afterwards. Late night snack

3 July Atlanta

Went to Jain convention from early morning. Procession in morning got rained on.
Then opening ceremony. Too many thank you speeches.
Key note speeches very good. Nipun mehta on the power of one power of many and the power of zero and humility.
2 other black leaders one who had marched with Martin Luther King ( John ? )and another who was at his side when MLK shot (Andrew Young)
Afternoon workshops sessions. Inner bliss. How to improve memory
Evening more entertainment with Jains got talent and Jains rocks all very good but too much delay due to speeches and more thank you

4 July Atlanta
Peach tree race. Was pouring and then thunderstorms. Start delayed due to lightning fear. Raining all the time we were running but fine. Finished in 1.40
Felt fine. others all ok too
Got home had lunch then headed off for convention. Had missed Nipun Mehta session! Shame!
Went to lecture on business values  and then on how to use Navakar mantra
Life is a series of events. We are travellers through time. Mantra is a mental instrument. Science of divine living.
In evening Kumar Sanu . But very delayed. Came straight from the airport but very good performer and singer. Back home around 1.30

5 July Atlanta
Got up very late. Then breakfast and a walk. Then prepared for lunch and dinner Niru Manu Raju Monica and kids over here for dinner and stay. Raju and Monica for one night rest for 2 nights

6 July Atlanta
Got up late. Niru Manu and kids went to stone mountain. Raju and Monica left for DC .
We stayed at home. Watched tennis. Spoke to Nikhil and Arjun. Sandhya Harshad came home early and made Mexican for dinners watched movie in evening called hector and search for happiness

7 July Atlanta
Niru Manu and kids left today to go to Alabama
We stayed at home. Watched tennis and then talked to Arjun re possible job offer

8 July Home
Packed then met up with Sandhya to go to antico pizza. Converted warehouse pizza joint simple but number 1 in U.S. Then went to airport end of holiday