While flying over CALIFORNIA and shooting video film of some unique scenes of Colorado river wading through rugged terrains and the zero shaped agricultural fields, I was surprised to see another plane flying below us, followed later by many planes crossing the sky line under our aircraft. Quite a strange spectacle. While flying over the GRAND CANYON, I was able to gauge how the wild Colorado river had eroded and carved the rugged rocky area, into a great natural wonder, over billion years of geological history.
The coastline of of Pacific ocean and the landing at SANTA BARBARA was picturesque. ABA was waiting there to receive us and later in the evening we went to downtown for shopping. The long stretch of beach was nearby for our frequent evening stroll. We saw someone holding a baby shark and had a close look at it. Palm and orange trees are abound and the town is full of cyclists. We visited the Court and from the top floor had a full view of the sprawling town. Every house had exotic flower plants growing in their gardens.
We enjoyed a Bharat natyam dance programe held in University Hall, also watched by Americans. There was a weekly market of organic farm products, attracting quite a crowd of patrons. We visited a nearby marshy lake, a sanctuary of common and exotic birds. We also saw the bird SNOWY PLOVER in the beach, marked as its habitat. [ I recall seeing the same bird in our Konkan beaches.] Many swimmers were surfing in the waves and the sun set in Pacific ocean was colorful.
We went to GOLETA AMTRAK rail station to receive MANOJ and later drove to LOS ANGELS, one of the most crowded city famous for its traffic jams. We had a full day to spend in the UNIVERSAL STUDIOS enjoying all their entertainment shows. Some of the make-believe shows were thrilling and unforgettable. The boat ride passed through artificial floods, shark eating man [JAWS], dinosaurs, and the studio tour showed disaster scenes, cow-boy fights. The show of dog, pig, bird, rat was entertaining and the BIRDs SHOW of parrot and falcon drew a big crowd. All the Silver screen characters performed in front of us, what with stunt shows, trapeze, speed boat chasing. Studio tour of -Mummy-Jurassic park- Dinosaurs-Fortress Dracula-shrek 4D-water world-- ghost world etc., No doubt, we call them Dream Merchants. Unforgettable day in my life.
We visited Hollywood, the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, in Los Angels and moved around the historic sites. I saw the Kodak Theatre, the home of the Oscars ceremony. I walked around the Hollywood Walk of Fame signifying tribute to the great artists of the entertainment industry... Charles Heston, Steven Spielberg, Greta Garbo, James Mason, Gene Kelly, Bob Hope, Rita Hayworth, Doris Day with their names,hand and foot prints on the floor of the Walk.The world-famous Hollywood Sign was also visible from there.
We stayed overnight in HYATT REGENCY Orange country nearby DISNEYLAND. Next day we enjoyed another unforgettable day of our lives in this wonder land, strolling through animal shaped plants in garden, castles, Lost world-Jurassic Park, tram and mono rail ride, mixing with Disney Characters -virtually cut off from the real world. I went through the frightening experience of the roller coaster ride [against medical advise] subsiding only after the calm and cool Boat ride inside a tunnel into a territory of music and children's world, followed by sailing inside the wide mouth of a gigantic shark. After moving inside the famous tea-cups and witnessing the "SNOW WHITE-SHOW' we left Disneyland half-hearted.
We started the AMERICA'S MOST SCENIC COASTAL DRIVE all the way to SAN FRANCISCO through plains, fields and hills. We rested in scenic spots
every 3 hours surveying the beauty of the Great Pacific ocean. We drove up hill over majestic cliffs rising above an endless, churning sea, waves splashing rugged rocks in the ocean below. This coastal strip is one of the most prized highway, where urban bustle gives way to natural splendor. The rounded hills, gray-sand beaches, and soaring seaside cliffs that characterize the North Coast, is certainly as spectacular as a highway to heaven.
The popular 17 MILE DRIVE a scenic road through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach on the Montery Peninsula in California, started and in PEBBLE BEACH we saw black crows for the first time and a colony of sea-gulls or sea-lions in a far away island. On the way, we came across grazing wild stags. We rested near the famous LONE CYPRESS TREE a prominent landmark along the road. We reached old fisherman's Wharf in MONTERY HARBOR and enjoyed the view of numerous boats,
ferries, ships anchored there. It is the largest Marine Sanctuary in the world and an unbelievable spectacle of a colony of hundreds of sea-lions, resting in abandon, was a great stress reliever.
We reached home at St DAVIS near SACRAMENTO, capital of CALIFORNIA. A peaceful picturesque locality full of trees, gardens and enough greenery to soothe our eyes. We strolled through Fruit Gardens keeping close up view with apples, oranges, apricots,figs, peaches, strawberries, grapes etc., No wonder all the fruits of America are grown here. There is no shortage of exotic flowers either. I saw a warning board "No loitering within 60 feet of school grounds"
On our return toSANTA BARBARA we drove through the famous GOLDEN GATE bridge, framed by the bridge’s twin towers [ frequently seen by me in Hollywood films] to SAN FRANSISCO. We saw the nearby island, notorious as a jail for prisoners. We waded through the famous CROOKED STREET, going up and down in the hilly terrain of the beautiful city. We parked the car and reached PIER
39 and found another colony of SEA LIONS below. It was a crowded market and entertainment area of shows of world famous street performers [skeleton man/magic show,dancer, guitarist] aquarium, wax museum, chocolate factory, crab cakes etc., It was a pleasure strolling around the streets. We boarded the yellow/blue TRAM and moved up and down all the streets of SAN FRANCISCO, got down at China town, looked at the house where BRUCE LEE was born and walked back to our car .
We left in the afternoon and reached SAN JOSE and refreshed ourselves at SARAVANA BHAVAN [ chilli bajji] visited Bharat Bazaar. Their notice board displayed concert dates of P.Susheela and Amrutmayee discourses.
Few more days at SANTA BARBARA, we visited Railroad Museum at Goleta, post office, orange garden with countless fruits fallen on the ground, county park, natural lake Los Carneros , visited Pet shop of parrots, dogs, and enjoyed a bus ride through the town. It was quite scaring to read the local News paper breaking news of California fires spread over 16 miles, several houses and buildings already burned, with more than 1000 firefighters struggling to control the devastation. We visited
golf courses and aristocratic farm houses around the town. We went to beach, expecting to see the dolphins in the ocean [which turn up on rare occasions] and my GOD, we spotted them. I zoomed my video camera and pictured them. As the sea gulls were flying above the dolphins, it was easy for me to locate their movements and shoot the film.
10-11-12
The coastline of of Pacific ocean and the landing at SANTA BARBARA was picturesque. ABA was waiting there to receive us and later in the evening we went to downtown for shopping. The long stretch of beach was nearby for our frequent evening stroll. We saw someone holding a baby shark and had a close look at it. Palm and orange trees are abound and the town is full of cyclists. We visited the Court and from the top floor had a full view of the sprawling town. Every house had exotic flower plants growing in their gardens.
We enjoyed a Bharat natyam dance programe held in University Hall, also watched by Americans. There was a weekly market of organic farm products, attracting quite a crowd of patrons. We visited a nearby marshy lake, a sanctuary of common and exotic birds. We also saw the bird SNOWY PLOVER in the beach, marked as its habitat. [ I recall seeing the same bird in our Konkan beaches.] Many swimmers were surfing in the waves and the sun set in Pacific ocean was colorful.
The 150 miles long drive to Sri Venkateshwaraswamy temple at MALIBU was quite scenic. The typical South Indian Gopuram, studded with many idols of Ram,Krishna,elephants etc., and the stupa in front made us feel quite native.
We went to GOLETA AMTRAK rail station to receive MANOJ and later drove to LOS ANGELS, one of the most crowded city famous for its traffic jams. We had a full day to spend in the UNIVERSAL STUDIOS enjoying all their entertainment shows. Some of the make-believe shows were thrilling and unforgettable. The boat ride passed through artificial floods, shark eating man [JAWS], dinosaurs, and the studio tour showed disaster scenes, cow-boy fights. The show of dog, pig, bird, rat was entertaining and the BIRDs SHOW of parrot and falcon drew a big crowd. All the Silver screen characters performed in front of us, what with stunt shows, trapeze, speed boat chasing. Studio tour of -Mummy-Jurassic park- Dinosaurs-Fortress Dracula-shrek 4D-water world-- ghost world etc., No doubt, we call them Dream Merchants. Unforgettable day in my life.
We visited Hollywood, the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, in Los Angels and moved around the historic sites. I saw the Kodak Theatre, the home of the Oscars ceremony. I walked around the Hollywood Walk of Fame signifying tribute to the great artists of the entertainment industry... Charles Heston, Steven Spielberg, Greta Garbo, James Mason, Gene Kelly, Bob Hope, Rita Hayworth, Doris Day with their names,hand and foot prints on the floor of the Walk.The world-famous Hollywood Sign was also visible from there.
We stayed overnight in HYATT REGENCY Orange country nearby DISNEYLAND. Next day we enjoyed another unforgettable day of our lives in this wonder land, strolling through animal shaped plants in garden, castles, Lost world-Jurassic Park, tram and mono rail ride, mixing with Disney Characters -virtually cut off from the real world. I went through the frightening experience of the roller coaster ride [against medical advise] subsiding only after the calm and cool Boat ride inside a tunnel into a territory of music and children's world, followed by sailing inside the wide mouth of a gigantic shark. After moving inside the famous tea-cups and witnessing the "SNOW WHITE-SHOW' we left Disneyland half-hearted.
We started the AMERICA'S MOST SCENIC COASTAL DRIVE all the way to SAN FRANCISCO through plains, fields and hills. We rested in scenic spots
every 3 hours surveying the beauty of the Great Pacific ocean. We drove up hill over majestic cliffs rising above an endless, churning sea, waves splashing rugged rocks in the ocean below. This coastal strip is one of the most prized highway, where urban bustle gives way to natural splendor. The rounded hills, gray-sand beaches, and soaring seaside cliffs that characterize the North Coast, is certainly as spectacular as a highway to heaven. 
The popular 17 MILE DRIVE a scenic road through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach on the Montery Peninsula in California, started and in PEBBLE BEACH we saw black crows for the first time and a colony of sea-gulls or sea-lions in a far away island. On the way, we came across grazing wild stags. We rested near the famous LONE CYPRESS TREE a prominent landmark along the road. We reached old fisherman's Wharf in MONTERY HARBOR and enjoyed the view of numerous boats,
ferries, ships anchored there. It is the largest Marine Sanctuary in the world and an unbelievable spectacle of a colony of hundreds of sea-lions, resting in abandon, was a great stress reliever.We reached home at St DAVIS near SACRAMENTO, capital of CALIFORNIA. A peaceful picturesque locality full of trees, gardens and enough greenery to soothe our eyes. We strolled through Fruit Gardens keeping close up view with apples, oranges, apricots,figs, peaches, strawberries, grapes etc., No wonder all the fruits of America are grown here. There is no shortage of exotic flowers either. I saw a warning board "No loitering within 60 feet of school grounds"
On our return toSANTA BARBARA we drove through the famous GOLDEN GATE bridge, framed by the bridge’s twin towers [ frequently seen by me in Hollywood films] to SAN FRANSISCO. We saw the nearby island, notorious as a jail for prisoners. We waded through the famous CROOKED STREET, going up and down in the hilly terrain of the beautiful city. We parked the car and reached PIER
39 and found another colony of SEA LIONS below. It was a crowded market and entertainment area of shows of world famous street performers [skeleton man/magic show,dancer, guitarist] aquarium, wax museum, chocolate factory, crab cakes etc., It was a pleasure strolling around the streets. We boarded the yellow/blue TRAM and moved up and down all the streets of SAN FRANCISCO, got down at China town, looked at the house where BRUCE LEE was born and walked back to our car .We left in the afternoon and reached SAN JOSE and refreshed ourselves at SARAVANA BHAVAN [ chilli bajji] visited Bharat Bazaar. Their notice board displayed concert dates of P.Susheela and Amrutmayee discourses.
Few more days at SANTA BARBARA, we visited Railroad Museum at Goleta, post office, orange garden with countless fruits fallen on the ground, county park, natural lake Los Carneros , visited Pet shop of parrots, dogs, and enjoyed a bus ride through the town. It was quite scaring to read the local News paper breaking news of California fires spread over 16 miles, several houses and buildings already burned, with more than 1000 firefighters struggling to control the devastation. We visited
golf courses and aristocratic farm houses around the town. We went to beach, expecting to see the dolphins in the ocean [which turn up on rare occasions] and my GOD, we spotted them. I zoomed my video camera and pictured them. As the sea gulls were flying above the dolphins, it was easy for me to locate their movements and shoot the film.10-11-12
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