Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Michigan is an absolutely beautiful state. Surrounded on three sides by great lakes (Huron, Superior and Michigan), outside of Detroit and few other cities, it is heavily forested. It has two peninsulas, lower and upper. We made a trip for the fist time to the upper peninsula or UP as it is locally called. There used to be mining up there, but now the mines are closed and tourism is the main business. There are no big towns. We stayed at a place called Munising and from there ventured to the shores of Lake Superior (largest freshwater lake in the world). There are beautiful rock formations on the shore, called Pictured Rocks. You can take a three hour boat tour to see the rocks from Lake Superior. Its just amazingly gorgeous. Several ships sunk off the shore and you can also take a tour on a boat with a glass bottom, to see a shipwreck. In winter, the place gets several hundred feet of snow !!! Snowmobiling is very popular in that season.

To go from the lower to upper peninsular you go over the famous Mackinaw bridge. At this point Lakes Huron and Michigan meet. There is a very popular destination called "Mackinac ISland" there. You can take a ferry to the island. The island has no motor vehicles and you go around in a horse wagon or bicycles.

We went canoeing on Autrain river on day one. It is a quiet river winding down to Lake Superior. We had tough time navigating it though, since we are novices...we got stuck at many corners and in fallen trees across the river. It was a great day and fun trip though. We then took the boat trip across the Pictured Rocks shore. The rocks are very colorful owing to the mineral deposits on them. We were lucky enough to spot a bald eagle and I took a picture of it.

With this trip I completed my tour of the five great lakes: Lake Superior from Michigan, Lake Michigan from Michigan and Chicago, Lake Huron from Michigan, Lake Erie from Cleveland and Lake Ontario from Toronto.

Here are pictures from our trip:

Mackinaw Bridge connecting the two peninsulas
















Ducks on Autrain river where we were canoeing
















Turtle enjoying a lazy summer day
















Jyoti taking a break from rowing
















Lighthouse on Lake Superior




Me by side of Lake Superior (notice what Jyoti did to my hair)




Pictured Rocks (different colors are
different minerals)















































Rock Formation Looks Like Flower Vase















American Bald Eagle Perched on a Tree

















Sea Gull Flying Over the Boat














Sunset Over Lake Superior















Rock Looking Like Head of Indian Chief

My new aquarium

I recently got a new fish tank. Since keeping a dog or a cat is not feasible right now, fish sounded like and ideal pet. Well, the fish stores sell you a tank gladly,but they don't tell you that it is lot of work initially. For one month you should not put any fish in your new tank because it goes through a "cycling" process. Basically, fish produces waste which produces ammonia, this ammonia gets converted to nitrite and then to nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite are very harmful to the fish and they die if the concentration of these increase to a toxic level. In a self sustaining eco-system, bacterias consume ammonia and nitrite, so until your tank develops these bacteria, you should not put any fish in your tank.

Obviously, we wanted to put fish right away in the tank. Thankfully, I read somewhere that I should put a "scouting" fish initially to make sure fish would survive in my tank. We bought two "tetras".. beautiful orange fish. Now I have to remove water everyday to make sure my fish survive. It will take a month before my tank "cycles".

Once my tank is ready I'll add 5-6 small fish. I have joined an online forum where the members are very knowledgeable and provide input on all relevant topics.

It is a wonderful hobby though. I would recommend it to all people who don't have time or space for other pets. The sound of water cycling in the tank and the fish just swimming.... existing without thought... its a very zen like experience. And the hobby has just enough fundas to keep you busy without tiring you out. You can keep adding to your tank or switch to a bigger one. It can be a lifelong hobby and you can exercise it anywhere.

Gouging in America

What is it with price gouging in public places in America. Why do Americans who worship market economics, cry foul over market set gas prices, but willingly pay top dollars at public places where there is obvious price gouging ?

Case in point, a visit to Niagara falls (my 15th visit btw... its a tirth yatra for us desis).... every freakin' stall sells water for $2.25. A sandwich costs you $7 etc... What the f$%&$ ? Isn't there enough water around to fill like a trillion bottles, why are they charging so much, and on a hot day you need lotsa water, so you end up paying a fortune just for water.

What about stadiums in US ? $ 8 beers, $ 3.50 water, $ 3 hotdogs. And people who are outraged at gas companies pay for this gladly !!!

What about these idiotic side shows in famous places. While you stand in line at Empire State bulding, you have all these guys pimping sky ride and this and that. $20 extra for an express line !!! Its such crass commercialization its embarassing. I wouldn't be suprised if a visit to the white house has presidential staff selling hotdogs and water for $20.