spring break

this is my first ever break for the spring in the U.S and i am glad i could make it to washington d.c. its not that i haven't been to d.c before, but this time i had a chance to carry with me my very own camera....my second purchase after my laptop of course....
washington d.c has always been one of my favorites and the reason i like it, is that you have everything lined up in the same area "the mall"....starting from the museums, famous landmarks to the memorials.....and what more can a visitor wish for.
as i had visited d.c before, my friend insisted that i be her guide this time....i am sure i did my best on that....;-)) it is not as rosy as i am sounding right now...'coz the first day we went up 500ft to click some pics of the city from washington monument and gosh........the charge for my camera's battery was out....i am sure my friend would never ever think of taking me along again 'coz i was cribbing about it the whole day...so much so that the very next day, we again went up and this time, the charge taken care of....
i am posting some of the pics that were taken.....
this time we painted the city red....







this is an aerial view of the white house taken from the washington monument














the lincoln memorial














jefferson memorial














the capitol building







and before i cut it off at this...here's the famous washington monument at whose mercy i was able to get the aerial view of the president's city

the ski trip

whew.....how do i start....hmm....skiing is something which requires a lot of stability and patience...and gosh...i am definitely not that....
i was thinking of skiing sometime but never thought it would be so soon....thanks to my friend for inviting me over on his departmental ski trip....the preparations for the trip started a week before....and i was desparately waiting for the 4th of march. there were a couple of things which shook me though:
1. never thought the ski boots to be so heavy...man.....i can feel the pain even now....
2. and gosh it is not as easy as you think
3. the ski poles help you balance....the reality is that i gave myself too much push...so much so that i couldn'd control my speed and landed on the snow twice....
4. the 4 and 5 year old's definitely give you complex....you are trying so hard not to fall while these kids zoom in front of you like nobody's business
5. it is exhausting and for a day or two you would for sure feel yourself skiing though you are out of it all

guys...if you really enjoy ice skating, skiing is for you...but one thing, it is easier than ice skating...that is what i have been told

a fact before i end this post, cross country skiing is the best way to burn your cals.....;-)