Sunday, May 22, 2011

Slightly desi boston tour guide

With almost 3.5 years here, I have become a tour guide to many of my friends and relatives in Boston. I have tour packages ready for 1/2 day to one week vacation plans ready for anyone who wants to come to visit my place.

The "have to be there" places I have taken to people are very obvious: Harvard, MIT, Quincy Market, Long Wharf, Holocaust memorial, Boston Commons, Prudential Tower, duck tour etc. However, here are a few of my personal favorites, some which may take a slightly more time:

1) Here is an easy one to fit in the schedule, right next to Boston Commons, there is Boston Public gardens and in there in the public garden is the "Make way for the Ducklings" statues in the north east corner. Nothing extraordinary, but just the idea that a statue of a duck and it's kids finding a permanent place gives me hope, that the world is still a simple place to live.

2) Another easy one: The sky walk at Prudential. It is $11 well spent. You bring someone, who wants to see Boston but has only 1 day? Take them to skywalk and show them the whole of Boston in just 45 minutes. It is totally worth it and crowd free too.

3) This one is not really my real favorite but saves you from lot of hassle from the friends who come to visit Boston and want to see some cool things. It is the Sam Adam's brewery. And of course you get to sample free beer. If you had a history overdose along the freedom trail a day before, and friends are complaining that the city is so old, this might be a good idea.

4) Whale watch: You watch it once or twice but it is a must watch for any guest. I thing to do is, if they are in a group of greater than or equal to two, just leave them for the whale watch. It is surely exciting for the first time and oh yes, the nap on the way back. It is simply amazing. Believe me, you have seen the whale, seen the wonderful Boston Harbor islands, there is nothing to look forward to, in the next 1.5 hours. You cannot even unnecessarily refresh that facebook app on your smart phone as there's no network here, so, sit back, relax and let the breeze blow onto your face and before you know, you are in the dreamland. Once you land, you are as fresh as ever, for the next activity.


5) The beaver tail statepark: Most of the desi kids take their mom and dad to the "Newport Mansions". Next time you go there, call me, I can do a better job than those automated tour guide radios they give you. But please don't go back after seeing the mansion and the ocean drive. The beavertail state park is just 15-20 minutes away across the bridge. An awesome lighthouse at the end of the land with water splashing on rocks from all 3 sides. Go at twilight hours and you will love it. Round off the day with some nightlife in Providence if you wish.

6) Moving closer to home, Natick, m office is a good watch too. Ofcourse, I need to get permissions from the security and once granted, welcome to my office buildings and the construction that is happening while I tell you interesting stories about what the huge mound of excavated soil looks like and what we did in Feb 09, while you gaze at the huge monitors the friendly kitchen area.

7) For all the desi's, I highly recommend the Ashland Hindu Temple, the biggest temple in new England. Much smaller than the famous ones in Pittsburgh, Houston or Chicago, this is still a pleasant watch and believe me, you will see more south Indians here than even in Bangalore.

8) One of my personal favorites, the Hopkinton State Park, the most accessible state park by car, so that your walk distance is minimized. Good for boating and Kayaking in summer but even in Winter, you can have the fun of walking on a frozen lake and a stroll on the dam with white expanse on both sides enough to blind you.

9) Your visit to Natick is unfinished if you haven't had the Sushi buffet at Miandos. Experimental veggies can have a good time as there are atleast 5 different veggie sushies (more than anywhere else) but you will still feel neglected because 5 consist of 5% of the available items. It is here that you understand what Sushi really is. There are more stylish Sushi places around Boston area but this place is UNLIMITED and definitely 10000000000000 times better than mall Sushi.

Raju guide signing off. Shabakhair