Our Multi-Generational Niagara & New York Adventure

From Seattle to the Falls: A Multi-Generational Adventure

Planning a cross-country trip for a multi-generational family, including a toddler and aged parents, requires balancing cost and comfort. Our journey began on a Wednesday night flying out of Seattle. While we opted for Frontier Airways for budget-friendly pricing and flexible add-ons, the red-eye flight schedule and layovers in Las Vegas and Cleveland were exhausting. A direct flight would have been much smoother for this group.

Upon landing in Cleveland, we picked up a spacious six-seater Honda odyssey

Cleveland is an excellent starting point, as the drive to Buffalo is only about three and a half to four hours. Only thing ensure you are well rested before the drive. Our drive toward the falls was highlighted by a wonderful stop at Lake Erie. We highly recommend exploring the Presque Isle State Park loop and visiting the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. Climbing to the top of the lighthouse offers an incredible overlook, though it involves a steep staircase.

In the Niagara area, we stayed in a comfortable Airbnb just a few miles from the state park, which made accessing the sights very convenient. For meals, we found fantastic South Indian, Mediterranean, and Mexican options, which kept our vegetarian family members well-fed throughout the trip. On Friday, we experienced both the Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds. While the Cave of the Winds involves significant walking and stair climbing but if you can do it nothing like it - falls up close drenched is beautiful exp. The Maid of the Mist boat tour is a highly recommended, refreshing experience for everyone. Night time visit to falls seeing Led lights up is spectacular.

On Sunday, we visited the American Museum of Natural History, which offers an expansive, multi-floor experience perfect for families. ypu can spend 2 days here. We then traveled to New Jersey, where we stayed with family. For local Nj transit, we utilized the Via app, an incredibly economical ride-share service.

Monday and Tuesday were spent exploring New York City. We visited Grand Central Terminal, the Harry Potter shop, and the Top of the Rock observation deck, which we highly recommend over the Empire State Building for its flexibility and views. We also spent a beautiful afternoon exploring Central Park, including Bethesda Terrace, and highly recommend a quick rickshaw tour of the park for convenience.Throw in visit to overrated wall st , times square just to complete checklist. But the battery park in manhattan has nice statue of liberty lookout and carousal for kids must visit stop. one of the days we went to wtc memorial highly worth it for half a day and the adjoining hudson eats is must see too. Another highlight is dumbo food court that has roof top views of Brooklyn and manhattan bridges and a nice food court. spares you hot and overrated Brooklynbridge walk.

On Wednesday, we took the boat tour to the Statue of Liberty, followed by a spectacular view of the New York skyline at night from the Exchange Place in New Jersey. On Thursday, we dedicated half a day to the Central Park Zoo, while the grandparents enjoyed the New York Transit Museum. In the evening, we attended a Broadway performance of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," a production that is absolutely worth seeing. Be prepared for plenty of walking and staircases in public transit as some subways dont have elevators or broken down which is disappointing for a big metro

We concluded the trip on Friday, flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport, which proved to be a much more convenient transit hub than JFK given our stay in New Jersey. Booking an afternoon flight rather than a late-night departure is highly recommended to avoid spending an entire day waiting at the airport. overall a fantastic trip

A 22 yr wait

I was back in high school when Henry, Bergkamp, Wenger, Vieira, and the famed Invincibles delivered that unforgettable win. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would take 22 years to see this happen again—a true lesson never to take anything for granted.

Arteta symbolizes excellence and persistence of the highest order. The last four years have been a massive grind, and it really felt like we finally pushed Sisyphus's boulder over the top.

To me, the feeling this win generated is akin to India winning the Cricket World Cup in 2011 after a 28-year wait. I see so many similarities between Arteta and Sachin Tendulkar; both were inspired by prior legends (Kapil Dev and Thierry Henry), and both embody sheer persistence and excellence while withstanding massive pressure from the fanbase—and in Arteta's case, extreme social media trolls.

Ranjani gayatri concert

Concert Playback: Ranjani & Gayatri

Composition	Raga	Tala	Composer
Saranu Siddhi Vinayaka	Saurashtra	Misra Chapu	Purandaradasa
Ranga Pura Vihara	Brindavana Saranga	Rupaka	Muthuswami Dikshitar
Raju Vedale Chootamu Rare	Thodi	Rupaka	Tyagaraja
Kaalai Thooki	Yadukulakambhoji	Adi	Marimutha Pillai
Marugelara	Jayanthasree	Adi	Tyagaraja

Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP)

Pallavi Line: Mohana Kannanai

• Ragas: Mohanam & Ranjani
• Tala: Chatushra Jaathi Triputa Tala

Grahabhedam Details

• Abhogi to Valachi
• Sarasangi to Ahir Bhairav

Post-RTP Pieces	Raga	Composer
Aadum Chidambaramo	Behag	Gopalakrishna Bharathi
Kangalil Yathum	Sindhubhairavi	Sripadaraya
Sanamanthira Abhang	Abhang Raga	Sant Namdev
Mangalam	Madhyamavati / Traditional	Traditional Closing

Racing the Queen City: My Flying Pig Marathon Experience

My recent trip to Cincinnati for the Flying Pig Marathon was a whirlwind of great conversations, unexpected logistical hurdles, and a deep dive into the history of the "Queen City." Here’s a look back at the weekend.

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The Journey and the People

The trip started on a high note with a flight featuring two fascinating co-passengers. I met Karl, a technically adept tech lead at Zillow from Ohio, and Karla, a Portland resident working in the hydroelectric energy sector. Discussing tech and infrastructure at 30,000 feet was a refreshing way to kick off the weekend.

Fun Fact: The Cincinnati airport is actually in Kentucky! The Ohio River serves as the majestic dividing line between the two states.

Pre-Race Exploration

I stayed at the Radisson on the riverfront, which was perfectly situated close to the start line at Rosa Parks St. On Saturday, I headed to the expo to pick up my bib. While the architecture is beautiful, I opted for a short cab ride rather than walking across the bridge due to the high winds and a pedestrian path that didn't feel extensive enough for a pre-race taper.

Saturday was a sports fan's dream as both CSK and Arsenal registered emphatic wins. Post-game, I visited the Cincinnati Art Museum. The lush park and views outside were breathtaking, but the artifacts inside stole the show—from the incredible Damascus Room and a rare dancing Gnanasambandar to modern greats like Van Gogh and Monet. I also spent time learning about the city's history; it was largely formed by German and Irish immigrants, which explains the prevalence of various "Haus" names throughout the city.

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Race Day: Highs, Lows, and 26.2 Miles

The Morning Scramble: Despite the pre-race jitters and little sleep, I made the "cardinal error" of not booking an Uber overnight. Luckily, a group of ladies at the Radisson graciously offered me a lift. Due to road closures, I still had to walk the bridge mid-way to reach the Section E start line.

• The Start: I began at a breakneck speed, averaging 8:50 to 9:20 until the half marathon mark by following pacers and tailing fast individuals.
• The Middle: I settled into a decent rhythm, chatting away with a fellow racer named Makenna, a dentist from Kentucky.
• The Wall: Everything was fine until Mile 23. Mild cramps forced me to walk for a bit—a mistake that killed my pace and rhythm. I eventually huffed and puffed across the finish line with a time of over 5 hours.

Why the "Pig" Flies High

The organization was top-notch—major props to local giants like Kroger, P&G, and GE. This was the first time I saw volunteers offering wet towels, tissues, mints, and even cookies along the course. The local support was so loud and encouraging that I didn't even listen to my AirPods; I was fully immersed in the vibes.

The weather was perfect: cool and windy early on, turning into beautiful sunshine for a finish along the stunning riverfront with views of the riverboats and bridges.

Final Verdict: I highly recommend this marathon! Staying close to the course was a great decision for a cheap and quick Uber, and the food options—Mexican, Thai, and Mediterranean—were all fantastic. Check out my photos on Strava!

Thank you, Cincinnati, for the hospitality.

This was a satisfying 5th marathon for me - https://strava.app.link/OxNu1giIQ2b