Tuesday, December 31, 2019

CHOOSING VACATION TIME

CHOOSING VACATION TIME

When one books a holiday to go on vacation, obviously there is an ideal season to travel in. We know this already, as does the tourist industry.

Most folks from temperate regions go on vacation  in summer to spots with sunshine.

I have visited my son and his wife in USA a few times. But this time, during Christmas season .

The negative factors my wife and me anticipated were the adverse weather conditions of cold weather and flight delays.




Air India had a non-stop flight to Chicago (other US destinations as well) which cut down the travel time. Despite the adverse reviews, we enjoyed the flight and would do it again.

We had a brilliant holiday!

No flight delays! Weather did not hold us down!

We witnessed the aspect of USA which we had not seen before.

Everyone in a slow mode!

Less traffic than normal due to the holiday season.

More festive look all around! More Christmas cheer!





For one thing, the hosts could spend all their time with us as they were on vacation.

More family time!

More food!

More music!

More movies!

More dinners with friends!





There were areas open to the public only in winter season such as the Botanical Gardens lit up with special festive lighting in this season!





The Christmas decorations in the houses were very pretty.

Surprisingly very limited number of Christmas stars, but millions of lights on houses, trees, walkways!

Some houses had lights dancing to the tunes in radio station frequencies which one could tune in while driving past!

This was something my wife and I have never seen before!





Folks dropped in for exchanging greetings and gifts, as everyone had the time to partake in social gatherings.

Not much different from Diwali as there was exchange of sweets - home made from friends and neighbours!

Weather contributed with snow too!







And of course tons and tons of shopping!

Every shop had heaps of festive material and later on after Christmas, enormous sales!

Even Alexa was in a holiday mood, getting the weather reports wrong .... saying, " No chance of snow", when there was abundant snow on the ground!

So next time you take a vacation, it is not just the spot you choose and the economics of travel, but also for a different experience too!

Let me take this opportunity to wish each of you and your families

 A HAPPY, BRIGHT NEW YEAR in 2020!