Tuesday, May 12, 2009

My Longest Drive....to Mackinac

May 12, 2009
Four of us including myself started by saturday (May 9) morning in a rental car. I joined them in the last minute. I never thought would join them for my code was in QA and had been getting lots of tickets. But since my offshore team showed a great performance the day before, i planned to join the trip banking on offshore. So, dint have any insight of their trip plan. Started from home by around 8 AM, we reached pizza hut after 2 hrs. i decided to take a chicken pizza. No sooner one friend asked me for Buffalo Wings, i replied "No Buffalu, No Steak, no Ham". they were shocked and bursted to laugh. Then i came to know that Buffalo is actually the name of a place and Buffalo wing is actually a chicken dish. he he hehe....After grazing the pizza and chicken we reached the tulips garden. $8 entrance fee. It had 5.5 million flowers. You have to pay a fine of $100 if you happen to damage a flower. Flowers were so beautiful and we did take lots of pics. We started to a near by beach after that. It was the beach of Lake Michigan, largest source of fresh water. It did really look like a sea....amazing waves....i dare not to touch the water....
It was very windy and cold, so packed ourselves shortly with a few snaps.
And then it was a very long drive. I was sleeping most of the time and the 3 others drove alternatively. Stopped twice for gas stations. i picked up delicious coffee on every stop and we reached the Mackinac city by around 10.30 pm. We booked a room for the night for $60.
Good spacious room for 4 of us with two double cots. After a lots of argument and discussion, we planned for a dance club. it was less than a mile away from the room. i was a lil reluctant in the beginning and wanted only food and sleep. but, i joined them finally to give them company and also to see whats there. Dixie's Saloon. It was so beautiful there, it was all made of wood and reminded me of the hotels that i had seen in the chinese movies....great ambience and deafening music...it was all americans inside except we 4 desis. Was nervous too for its my first time in such a place...i was watching guys just going around and starting to hook up with girls around for dance.
I expected two of my friends to start dancing immediately for they were the ones waiting for it so much. I had what i wanted, a plate with lots of delicios chicken pieces, i had atleast 3/4ths. Was so much hungry. There was one song, which shocked me to scream for it had our rahman's bombay tune mixed up. "dhubusubu dhubusubu dhuppu chup..."After an hour, finally the two went for dancing. one of them got a girl, she infact came to him herself and took him for dance. I was also forced to dance finally with her for a short while and she infact commented that i did look cute. Ok ok, I know, she was drunk. Am just telling...He he he....i could have danced better but you know, neither she was that good to impress me nor was i so confident in my first attempt :D
it all ended by around 2 AM and we departed after hugs with that girl....:(
it was all a new and interesting experience for me.
Sunday:
We woke up late and after a short breakfast, vacated the room and went to book tickets to the ferry. it was just over $90 for 4 of us to and fro. Infact till then i dint know that we were about to go to an island, the Mackinac Island. As we had 1 hr for the 12.30 Pm ferry, went for a ride to the Mackinac Bridge. It must have been atleast 4 - 5 miles over the Michigan lake.... for those who wonder how again michigan lake? Please look into the map of US and see how big is Michigan Lake near chicago :)

After the bridge drive. we got back to the ferry. it took us to the island in 20 mins. We all enjoyed the sail sitting in the deck capturing every possible second in the cameras.
I was all amazed at the beauty and freshness of the island. it was very small but so amazingly beautiful. Had a lovely downtown and had a very famous fort. One other interesting thing is, it did not have any cars or any other smoking vehicle but only horse cart and bi-cycles all over for transportation. Bi-cycles were available for free all over and for rent as well. We had a pizza lunch again and gave a long walk climbing over the small mount which had the fort as well. that was too good. we took lots of snaps again on the way amidst the woods and after reaching the peak.

it was time for us to return to catch the 5 Pm ferry back to mackinac city.
On returning, we started our long drive. stopped at mc donalds. chicken was good again :D but the coffee was bad. cant even stand before the gas station coffee which i had again after a while.
we all reached home by around 12.30. i actually felt the difference in the atmosphere between us when we neared our city for every one started to think about their offshore calls :D
Finally it was indeed one of the best trips i had ever and i did improve 200% in my hindi

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