V i r g i n i a

'Almost heaven, West Virginia. Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River...' As John Denver yearn the country roads and mountains that he belonged, we treasured our remaining days in USA with a visit to Virginia. We rented a car from Washington DC to see the Shenandoah National Park, before we fly back to Tampa through Richmond.

 Vintage car owners gathered to share their passions.

 Inside Luray Caverns

 I am not particularly a fan of anything underground but that does not mean I am not adventurous.

 Stalactites & stalagmites

 Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is a protected area.

 The best way to see the valley is to take the Skyline Drive.

 Midway through the drive, we reached the Dark Hollow.

 We took a less intense hike to see the famous Dark Hollow Falls.

 Without my trusting camera, I could only make do with this shot on slow shutter with the spare one.

 We hit route 11 and arrived at Natural Bridge. 

 Natural Bridge is an amazing limestone monument through years of nature formation.

 The bridge is higher than Niagara Falls but the photo did not do justice to show exactly how tall it is. 

Clear Creek flowing through the valley, where we saw bears and deers in the wild. Unfortunately, I could not capture any on photos.

This is the last post of my nearly 3 weeks trip to America. It felt like only yesterday when we arrived, and every moment is still vividly clear to me. Thanks to my sister and brother in-law, we were able to travel to many places. I truly had a wonderful and enjoyable holiday with the family. The money is well-spent, and I leave with fond memories that would last a long time.

And another travel trip awaiting....


    

W a s h i n g t o n D C

We left New York for Washington DC by Amtrak train. With minimun luggage, we boarded the train with ease at Penn Station and arrived at Union Station, DC, 3 hours later. The ride was very comfortable, and we rested well to prepare for our tour of the capital.

Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool.

Excerpts of the Declaration of Independence inside Jefferson Memorial.

6m tall bronze statue of President Thomas Jefferson.

Taking a moment to reflect her misdoings? 

Mother taking in the sight of peace & quiet.

The Reflecting Pool is over 600m long. Do you know the pool freezes over in harsh winter and people can skate on it?

Lincoln Memorial was constructed in the form of a Greek temple with Doric columns.

Steps where many had gathered when Martin Luther King delivered his 'I Have A Dream' speech.

Statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting in contemplation inside the central hall of the memorial.

The white marble sculpture took 4 years to complete.

Einstein wannabes. Nah, a long shot away.

Korean War Veterans Memorial to honour those who served or perished in the Korean war.

Larger than life size solders in full combat gear.

Sandblasted images of air, sea and land soldiers on the granite wall.

We visited Arlington National Cemetery next.

The resting place of war and military casualties in this vast but well maintained cemetery.

Arriving at the United States Capitol.

The Capitol Dome is made of cast iron with the Statue of Freedom on top of it.

U.S Capitol is the meeting place of Congress and where legislature is passed.

Probably the only spot where The White House could be photographed.

The beautifully constructed arch entrances of the Old Post Office Pavilion.

Smithsonian Institution Building is the heart of the many museums and galleries on the National Mall.

Apollo Lunar Module inside the National Air and Space Museum.

Flights of fantasy, developed through the years.

Space shutter Challenger & Columbia.

Father & daughter sharing a history moment.

Giant mammal inside the National Museum of Natural History.

Mommy, where is his other foot?

Mr Officer Sir, may I get a ride on your horsey?

Spotted a squirrel scurrying near us. As always, we have food to offer.

I liked Washington DC a lot. The place is marked with celebrated monuments and memorials with fantastic statues and structures. The visit to Arlington memorial was a moving experience for me. The tomb of the unknown soldier and the eternal flame are lasting impressions. I have never been a big fan of history, but the museums on National Mall have definitely opened up my eyes. The museums tell fascinating stories through their history and design, and a visit to the Mall is definitely a must-do for any first-time visitor.

And another travel trip awaiting....

N e w Y o r k

"Start spreading the news, I am leaving today. I want to be a part of it, New York New York.......I want to wake up in that city that doesn't sleep"....Yup, we were in the Big Apple and it truly never sleeps. What a beautiful city it is, and we got to visit the Statue of Liberty, view Manhattan from The Empire State Building, stroll in Central Park, and take in the vibrance of Broadway. 

On board the ferry with Battery Park & Manhattan skyline view.

Ellis Island.

Approaching Statue of Liberty with Ellis Island next to it.

Closer...

...and closer with full frontal Liberty view.

All 46m tall of the majestic lady Libertas.

A dramatic mood as the rain cloud appeared suddenly.

Weather turned bad on our return trip to Manhattan.

National Museum of The American Indian.

The iconic Charging Bull of New York Financial District.

Wall Street, and show me the money!

Sightseeing bus to bring you around the city.

After much negotiation, we decided to save the money and walk.

President Roosevelt in front of the Museum of National History.

Dinosaurs and ancient fossils on display.

This life size Velociraptor would be a frightening predator if it was still alive today.

We took a stroll at Central Park, which is the venue for many movies made. 'When Harry Met Sally' & 'Home Alone 2' are examples.

Lake view of Central Park West with Dakota, San Remo & The Majestic buildings in the background.

Relaxing with Central Park South view and the office buildings of midtown.

ASPCA patrol on the lookout. Kudos to their commitments & dedication to fight animal abuse and cruelty.

School students enjoying their day out at the park.

Summer brings plenty of sunshine and day bathers

USS Maine Monument at Columbus Circle.

Kiosk selling musical posters.

Making our way to the theatre street of...

...Broadway, known as the heart of American theatre industry.

 

 Broadway runs 24km through Manhattan Island.

Times Square, iconified by its spectacularly large and colourful displays of billboards and advertisements.

Look at his height! David vs Goliath.

ToysRus at Broadway. What a huge toys store!

Woody & friends.

A motorised T-Rex with movements and sound.

What are you looking at, kid?

Beside the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building is a must-go place in New York.

The exhilaration start upon reaching the observatory deck.

The Empire State Building stands at 443m tall, with the observatory deck at 373m.

As far as the eyes could see.

Bird's eye view, but not for the vertigo me.

View of Midtown, Central Park and beyond.

B&H is like the LV or Gucci store to me, a truly photographer's haven.

 

Mr & Mrs Smith were hot items.

Just as I was happily capturing the images of New York city, my Nikon D70 decided to die on me. The camera just could not start, and the LCD appeared 'the screen of death', like the blue screen when the PC died. Nothing I do could revive the camera, and we were only into the 1st week of our holidays. Arhhhhhhh! Thank goodness I have the spare Olympus that was being used by my sister, and have to make do with the not-so-good features and IQ.

And another travel trip awaiting....