Shivpreet Singh starts with a bang as we land in California

After appearing for his tenth Board, Shiv and Dari left Delhi for good to settle down in San Jose, Ca permanently.

We went to the nearby Silver Creek High School for his admission to higher Secondary classes. The Counsellar tested him and She found that Shiv was good enough for 11th Class whose exams were scheduled in ensuing two months.

We were thrilled for his unexpected promotion in an American School. He worked hard and passed out with flying colors with a condition that he should take classes for American History as he was not exposed and was mendotary.

The school closed for summer vacations as is the tradition for three months. We were advised to register for History Class in another School at Independent High San Jose. He entered, studied and qualified.

The last year at Silver Creek was strenuous and I had to jump in to help him do time bound home work like Project on Earthquake etc 

We in the family were flabbergasted to learn that Shiv was declared Valedictorian of the class of 1992. Back in India, we came to know that Shiv had topped in Mathematics scoring highest position in the Tenth Board in the country. Naturally he topped in his DPS R K Puram a premium School in India.

A Road trip to Ensenada, Baja Mexico with Jaggi Pammy

Jaggi and Pammy drove us all the way to San Diego where we  stayed there for two days. It was our first opportunity ever to witness sea animals. We were really excited to Sea World see the Whales and other animals so closely with naked eyes. It was a terrific experience all the way. I missed my Mom who used to tell me the stories about the Whales as huge fishes having seen them in Karachi. It was like a dream to see virtual real fishes so huge, intelligent and communicative.

Shamu was the name used for several SeaWorldorca (killer whale) shows and was the stage name given to the "star" of those shows, beginning with the original Shamu in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The orca Shamu died in 1971, but the name Shamu was trademarked by SeaWorld (as well as the names "Namu" and "Ramu") and has been given to different orcas at different times when performing in Shamu shows.

Onward towards Mexico

After dinner, we slept early as we were to travel ahead towards Mexico. We started the journey after a nice  breakfast. There was a mild halt for immigration check at the border, it went smoothly while we remained sitting in our Red Van comfortably.

On teaching the Border town Tijuana, Jaggi got an additional Vehicle Insurance and headed towards downtown for lunch. 

Then we had a scenic drive of about 100 Km for reaching our destination Ensenada where we stayed in a motel. So far all the drive was undertaken single handedly by Jaggi only.

La Bufadora BlowHole

Ensenada at the tip of the Punta Banda peninsula, La Bufadora (The Blowhole) is an amazing natural marine geyser that is capable of shooting water well over 60 feet in the air. La Bufadora is considered to be the second largest marine geyser in the world (the largest is located at Makapuu Point in Oahu, Hawaii) This marine geyser phenomenon is caused by ocean waves being forced into a partially submerged sea cavern, causing great amounts of air and water pressure to build. The air and ocean water are expelled through the only exit, launching it several stories into the air.

Near the BlowHole 

Jaggi had to return urgently for an important assignment and so he took a flight back to San Jose. Now it was the turn of Pammy to drive us back. She decided to go through the most Scenic View on earth ie High Way 1 all along the shore. After hopping at Big Sur, we had a fantastic Round table Pizza at Monterey. 

Big Sur

Hats off to Pammy who must have been dead tired by now. As we reached home by afternoon and Mummy Ji advised Pammy to go to bed for a sound sleep. She did the driving job commendably. My manlyhood always cursed me, being young and healthy could not help as driving job was done only by aliens this time Americans holding their own driving specifications.

Two million people form a human chain

On August 23, 1989, about 2 million people from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania formed a human chain that united all 3 countries to show the world their desire to escape the Soviet Union and the communism that brought only suffering and poverty. This power stretched 600 km.

Our First Day of Landing in USA

We were too excited to head for USA. All my sisters families were at our Jangpura house to see us off. 

Tejpal my enthusiastic brother-in-law was in fore front to drop us at the Palam Airport ( Although the changed IGI in 1986 but still popular as Palam) on 18th March 1988 night. He engaged a Matadoor a van to carry us and our huge luggage of 6 big bags, 3 carry ons and hand packages which also included food to go. 

On the way to Airport, we incidentally met our A-18 neighbors fully loaded in their Ambassador car. We waved at each other as we passed their car. In fact we were shocked that they were leaving for USA permanently for settling as immigrant. None in our neighborhood knew about it.

Mammi ji received us on the morning of March 20, 1988. Her Joy knew no bounds and uttered buoyantly that now her whole family was together at one place.

While family lined up to receive us warmly.

While Traveling to USA en-route Tokyo

So we reached Narita International Airport,Tokyo on March 19 1988. 

The Japan Airlines arranged for picking up and arranging an overnight stay in a 5 Star Narita View Hotel near the Airport and about 60 miles from Tokyo City. This was a luxury we experienced first time. 

Narita View Hotel

Dinner was Airlines in the same hotel. None of us liked it. But we had a comfortable night sleep.

All three of us got up early in the morning and took a warm shower another first for us. After getting ready, we were the first to enter the Hotel Lounge for breakfast as there was not to take benefit of. Breakfast was good consisting of fruits, juices, flakes, nuts, bread, butter and pan cakes along with hot milk, coffee and tea.

Now we had still 12 hours for next flight to depart. We decided to have a walk around the track around the hotel. While walking we decided to go out to nearby city. The information center told us there wAs a beautiful town called Narita And is famous for a Buddhist temple. 

This town was at a distance of 30 minutes. We also found out that there was a beautiful rail connection. We walked to the station but it was difficult to get ticket. There were all machines and instructions written in Japanese. So we searched for some body who could converse with us in English. So finally we had decided to walk back to the Hotel, a gentleman who knew English a bit helped us to get tickets. He guided us towards a train and pressed us again to delight at the very first stop.

Coming from India, we found everything super stylish, neat and clean. The train doors will open and close on its own. With in 10-15 minutes, the train halted and we victoriously jumped out of it as if we had conquered a Moount Everest.

We asked some body for route to Narita-san Temple. It was a 15 minutes walk through a beautiful decorated shops and restaurants flooded with flowers and trees. At this one restaurant I saw a butcher cutting a big long snake into small 8-10 inches pieces and cleaning the garbage inside snake meat. He will then putting same pieces on the grill. I was told that this was a delicacy in that part of the world.

Grilled snake

Finally we reached the temple and found well dressed Japanese young women doing some sort of Tea Ceremony. 

As we returned, we felt hungry and bought a bag of peanuts, to us it looked as if they were more costlier than almonds in Delhi.

Narita-san Shinshoji Temple 

So we reached well ahead of checking time for the next departing flight to San Francisco. We were thrilled to have taken a journey on our own in a foreign land. As we reached at the hotel, we were joined by another co-passenger couple who was shocked to know that we had ventured ahead alone, as he was an old immigrant and never dared to do so in Japan where there was such a big communication problem.

What a Super Journey!

Trip to Srinagar 1982

Fall Lake Bld


Gulmarg