The Washington Episode
Place & Year: Washington DC ,USA / 2008
I still remember, a month back, I was running around the websites to find the cheapest airfare to fly to DC. After confirming myself to the plan, I booked the tickets to Washington Reagan Airport from DTW (Detroit Wayne County Airport) for July 3rd.
It was July the third. Two days before that was my trip to Chicago. I was recovering from the tiredness that had crept upon me. I was kinda happy that this time its not sight seeing that I had in my intention ,but meeting my friends ,whom I hadn’t met for years and that’s what made my trip.
Washington DC, USA
The trip started with me driving my car to the airport which was around an hour from my apartment.I decided to park my vehicle not in the airport lot , but in the private lot near by, as I smelled the airport lot full on that long weekend eve.It took me sometime to park it in the lot ;to find a place;I did it; The parking lot shuttle picked me up; Dropped in the airport – Mcnamara Terminal from where my flight departs. The time was around 7 PM when I got my boarding pas printed. I had to walk a long way to my gate 72. My luggage was quite heavy too; Had to keep it in all the auto scrollers past all the gates to reach 72.It was 7:30 PM . My flight was at 9:10PM. Had to pass around one and half hours. Grabbed a coffee from the Caribou coffee and was thinking of a gift to give to Ghanesh and Reshma, the couple I’m visiting. Ghanesh and Reshma, for those who don’t know them , are my college mates , who married almost a year and half back. I couldn’t reach out on their wedding even. First I thought I would get something to them , when I was in Washington to them. But then I felt it wouldn’t be easy or good.So walked along the gates, again carrying my heavy baggage. After passing thru’ a lot of gates, I couldn’t find anything. Then atlast I thought I could get them a good candy gift box and got them one.But I thought I could’ve done it better, if I had planned it earlier. There is always next time!
The term “Delayed” in the Boarding Pass vending machine was still in my mind and it kept bothering me and the nightmare was true. My flight got delayed by 3 hours. My flight that comes from San Diego will depart only at 11:45 PM. I knew the wait would kill me and I would have to kill time before it does. I went on calling my room mate, My brother and kept informing Ghanesh about my arrival timings. I was even offered a free voucher for food since the flight was delayed. I grabbed a Strawberry Smoothie and Lays chips. Walked twice to the restroom. Time flew ,but slowly. The flight arrived as said and I boarded the plane.
The travel wasn’t very long.Just closed my eyes and opened to find myself in Washington DC airport. Still in the plane, called up Ghanesh about my landing.I was feeling kinda bad for Ghanesh and Reshma who were waiting for me to pick me up and to make them awake till this time.I could deliver this message only with a small sorry.
But then , I came out of the airport ;I saw Ghanesh and Reshma waving hands at me ,after a few minutes ,from their car. Huh! So satisfied to see them after such a gap.Had very good ride from airport to their place, talking about what had happened in the few years and about out old friends and where they are now. There were also some useless talks, which are unavoidable when I’m involved in a discussion.It was fun.Ghanesh’s Honda dragged us till the apartment; He parked the vehicle and we went up to the second floor. To my surprise the house was very clean and arranged. That feeling arose because, it has been a very long time since I saw a neat house. After all the wash up, they had got Biryani from their favourite Indian restaurant .It was 1:45 or 2 when we had that.Alas! they din;t have the dinner till that time.I was kinda boring them with my work and all that craps during the dinner.Ghanesh and I had a small snooker game, which I had played only once before. Ghanesh knowing that he would win after my first stroke ,tried to help me with the game (Only after he won the game : ). Switching of the lights and in bed, we were still discussing and having “vetti’ talks after those hostel days and Canteen days. It was good.
The next morning was turning to afternoon , when we got up.Reshma had prepared tea ,which we had and had our turns to take bath. Ghanesh , who has a craze on his hair growth like me and my brother , was showing his old photographs with his head only full of hair.FUN!
After all the preparations, we had the breakfast, biryani and then drove to TARGET to make a few purchase for the Rafting that we are going for. Ghanesh had already booked for this rafting over the river where Virginia, west Virginia and Maryland meet. That was my first rafting. Ghanesh drove an hour from our place to the river banks.It was getting cloudy as we drove. It was a scenic drive and I enjoyed it.
After parking and the preliminary procedures , we had to take a shuttle to the rafting place, along with those life jackets and helmets stinking badly. We were joined by a Korean couple in the raft led by Greg, the guide.As we landed on the raft, it started to drizzle. The weather was awesome. The first mile was smooth without rocks and all that, where I learned to front paddle and back paddle. The river was surrounded by greenery and mountains.It was serene and in the rains it looked like heaven.
With frequent discussions about the place, the banks and the adulterated river water, the rafting was pure fun.There were a few level 2 ridges that we came across and the Korean lady kept falling inside the raft.It wasn’t very dangerous though. There was a period of time where our raft was waiting for the other coming behind. Ghanesh got out of the raft and I followed him to find the water warm with the chill rain over us. It was heaven and I mean it. Again when we started the raft, it was something like a set for “The Lord of the Rings’ or “Indiana Jones” which even the Korean acknolwdged to. During the travel , there were variety of talks including the Koreans comparing Tamil (which they called Indian language) and Korean. It had a few similar words like “Amma”, “Appa’ and “Anni”. After a 3 hour rafting , our hands were full of muscles, which we felt like clogged tissues after a 3 hour work out. We landed ashore and Climbed up a small mound to reach the destination where the shuttle picked us up. It was raining pretty heavily and we were as wet as water itself. We had a changing room ,where we dried ourselves (Inspite of it being public) and slipped into the car after Ghanesh tipping the Lead Rafter.
Again the drive was fun , but we were hungry. By that time we had planned to go for a movie that night (A decision taken when we were in the raft). I wanted to have the dinner at Chipotle , which even Ghanesh Preferred. As we drove Ghanesh ,Reshma and I had fun listening to the songs and shooting (Filming) deers on the sides of the freeways. Hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. Now, Chipotle was closed for July 4th and Ghanesh suggested Baja Fresh and we dined over there. Reshma insisted Ghanesh on watching fireworks , which Ghanesh felt wasn’t a good idea. I know he was kinda bored with that! May be!
After a small discussion/debate on which movie to watch out of “Kung Fu Panda”, ‘Wanted” and “the Incredible Hulk”, we decided on “Kung Fu Panda”. And our decision paid us.The movie was hilarious and entertaining.; Reached home after the movie; I saw the photographs of Ghanesh and Reshma and all the trips in the US. They thought I might get bored with those and to their surprise I wasn’t. Infact I was bored only showing my photographs to them. Then was my turn to show them my movies. I could only show them “You’re still Alive” and I know , it wouldn’t impress anyone and it didn’t. The night was done.
The sun rose for us the next morning only at 11 AM.Again tea, but with Medhu vada with a small vetti. I FELT HOME after a long time. I felt I was talking with Kanda and Sriram . It was good. We then , after our baths , started to an Indian restaurant ; Had lunch while discussing Crazy Mohan’s Jokes in movies; especially Kamal’s.
We drove to Downtown for “Sight” Seeing. It was hot and humid. As we parked and walked towards the Sky and Space Museum, Botanical Gardens where we shared a few snaps and videos. Then was the Capitol Building and the history museum with all the fossilage. That was really good to see; Snaps there; We, then sat down for a few minutes. Again Reshma accompanied me to the monument as Ghanesh went to pick up the parked car. I was tired ,but the very thought of me disturbing Ghanesh and Reshma during their long weekend ,when they don’t live together,but travel to meet, made me pensive at times.Also I know it would be hard for them to show the same places to different people would be as boring as hell.
But then, it was The white house , the Lincoln memorial ; Again snaps; Snaps, Snaps and Snaps; After all that hectic walk , Ghanesh led us to the car and we drove to the place near the airport where the flights just touch your heads before lifting or landing. It was awesome and fun. The climax of the whole day was the greatest.
Now the car was running out of fuel;But then after a short search, we refueled it; grabbed donuts and coffee; Drove back home. And Reshma wanted me to watch Pokkiri – the problem now is Tamil or telugu? After a small debate, it was tamil, which we watched along with the nice pongal by Resh. We had all the sounds in the world with the woofer burning the place. It was fun, until someone knocked the door, pretty hard; COPS; Virginia COP; Someone in the first floor had complained about the sounds of the movie and we had a cop in our house attending Ghanesh’s License number and name.
Then it was sound that couldn’t even enter our ears to watch the movie and we came closer to the Tv to watch it, after the cop went. The thought of the Cop kept Resh bothering thoughout.But then we were tired after the movie and went to sleep.
Got up at 7 the next morning ,Reshma was the first and that was also bad of me to wake them up so early on a Sunday morning. But I had to catch the flight at 11:00AM. After a sweet chat and tea , started to drive to the airport; then the boarding procedure and an hour of travel to Detroit. In Detroit, was my room mate waiting for me after his fly from California. We then took my parked car and drove across the I 75 to Canterbury, our apartment.
Had lunch and slept for almost a couple of hours. When I got up, my mind was still with nothing happening around me; Vivid Stillness and blank mind.It was empty after the beautiful trip to my friends home. They are memories to cherish forever. With out egos, without pathos – Pure fun and was the first time , I felt in US that I’m alone which I had never felt in any of the other trips. I felt home for a few days – At least.