Back East USA – Page 2

New York State of Mind

March 12, 2013August 5, 2017Anne Nowell

My Dear Friends, Family, and Other Interested Parties!

It has been some months since I have updated this travel journal. Time slips by and without the luxury of dependable internet connectivity or an Iphone, staying connected is not as easy as the cellular phone ads would have you believe. I do admit to a certain level of lassitude as well!

Since my last post I have made a decision to come off the road and settle for a bit. I have chosen the city of Ithaca, NY as a stopping place in order that I may participate in classes at the Namgyal Monastery, Institute of Tibetan Buddhist Studies. This branch of Namgyal is the US seat of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The program is a two year course which I plan to begin in the fall of this year, 2013.

Thus I have been involved with the process of securing housing and employment, as well as becoming acquainted with the city of Ithaca and its residents. In these photos I share with you a few photos of winter scenes and the local terrain. I will look forward to continued sharing as I come to know the city and its personality.

I hope that the first quarter of 2013 has been rewarding to you all on many levels. Please feel free to contact me via post or email. I would love to hear from you!

Om Mani Padma Hum

View Out Back

My Backyard

Local Concerns

Mini Church at Cornell U

Clever Wreath!

Namgyal Institute, Ithaca

Niagara Falls, New York

December 22, 2012August 4, 2017Anne Nowell

Many persons traveling across the Northeast US will make a stop at Niagara Falls. The Falls are actually a combination of three different waterfalls, and mark the boundary between the US and Canada. Combined, the three falls make for the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world. They were also the sight of early developments in generating hydroelectric power, hence the acknowledgement of Nikola Tesla.

As you can see in the pictures here, it is possible to stand inches from the edge of the Falls. This is a truly awe inspiring experience! After a summer of white water rafting, my appreciation of the beauty of moving water is co-mingled with a humility for its power. The availability of authentic New York Italian cuisine in conjunction with the Falls makes this a noteworthy visit, even if slightly off the main route.

Next stop for me, the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in the New York Catskill Mountains.

Rainbow Bridge and American Falls

Tesla Monument

Mist rising over Horse Shoe Falls

View into Canada

At the Edge

November at the Falls

Mackinac Island, Michigan

October 19, 2012August 4, 2017Anne Nowell

The autumn season finds me in a beautiful State Park in upper Michigan; Mackinac Island. For those of you in southern California, envision Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles. One of the attractive points for tourism to Mackinac Island is the prohibition of motor vehicles. The only modes of transport are horse draw carriages and bicycles. The island is approximately only 8 miles in circumference, but as a State Park it is riddled with biking and hiking trails. I have been surprised at the volume of tourists. Apparently it is a must see adventure for the North Mid Eastern United States.

The autumn season has brought cool to cold weather, autumn colors for the foliage, and a very pleasant number of tourists. In the summer months the population can swell to 15,000. Year round it is 500! I have appreciated the cool weather after a summer in Georgia. The biking and hiking have been wonderful ! And the seasonal job income will allow me to spend the winter months at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

I hear of a heat wave from my friends in southern California. Sounds like October Santa Ana winds? Wherever October finds you, I wish that there is happiness and fulfillment in your life. Remember to count your blessings. They are ever present, but do need to be acknowledged.

This is a very scenic area. Do click back and forth on the back arrow to get the full viewing of the photos.

Blessings for an autumn season full of light!