Some amazing waterfalls

Are you fond of waterfalls? Then state of Washigton in USA is a place for you to be. Eventhough we dont have niagra falls here in our state. Here we have many many beautiful waterfalls in untampered and noncommercialized wild settings where you can forget everything in your life and just get immersed in the beauty and power of the waterfall. Some of the great waterfalls in WA state or nearby states include
1. Palouse falls, WA: In the middle of desert where you wouldnt normally expect a huge waterfall, there is this magnificent waterfall. Its pretty large and the water falls for almost 198 feet from its mouth to the basin. Best times to visit are in the beginning of spring when the ferocity of the falls is highest with all the snowmelts or when the entire basin is frozen and snowed over in winter. I have not yet gone in winter so thats still to explore. There is also a natural trail around the waterfall leading from the observation point all the way to the lip of the falls. The trail passes through some of the smaller beautiful rapid falls at the backside of the upper level of the falls. If you love long shutter speed photographs of falls this is a great place to be. 

The rapids above the palouse falls are seen best from the cliff right in front of them while walking on the trail.

The morning view of the waterfall from a look out point on the rim of the palouse river

 If you are really brave like me, you can walk down all the way to the base of the fall basin through some really thrilling half feet wide trail through the side of the cliff and a slide down through about 45 degree gravel slope. What you get for the adventure is the amazing view of the fall from the fall basin.

Then if you cant get enough of the falls on a single day there is a moderately equiped camp ground on the side of the rim. In the picture right behind the parking lot.
2. Clear Creek Fall, Naches District WA: On the way to White pass you will see this amazing waterfall and the look out place for the waterfall is fenced off since the best view is right from the mouth of the cliff. I saw this for the first time during a trip to seattle and since then i have visited this place many times. 

3. Countless waterfalls in Mount Rainier National park: I camped near soda springs camp ground which is not inside the National park but just outside. near my camp ground i saw this amazing waterfall.

Narada falls is one of the points in the Mt Rainier national Park trail. this is the view of the falls from the end of the trail directly facing the falls. Its a huge fall and you really get wet standing here. 

 Another beautiful fall and a good background within the Mt rainier national park. There is a nice sitting point from where you can take some good portrait pictures.

4. Waterfalls along columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway: Some of the waterfalls known as worlds best waterfalls are along this rout. about an hour away from a neighbouring city Portland, in oregon state we have about 20-30 miles of road that pass through almost 6 waterfalls. Including the world famous Multanoma falls.

A beautiful isolate fall that doesnt have too much crowd. This fall comes in the beginning of the scenic highway. 

A hidden waterfall for which you have to walk through a trail.

 A long waterfall that gradually flows down rather than an actual vertical fall. Great place for long shutter speed photos like this one i took.

Multanoma falls is usually very crowded but its a beautiful waterfall. Its known as one of the best waterfall in the entire world. You can walk all the way to the top of the waterfall but actually cant reach the mouth of the waterfall even if you trek the whole way to the top.

This is another not so crowded waterfall on the side of the road itself.

I know there are many many more waterfalls near my place and i will be updating this list as years pass by and i explore more and more of these falls. Hope you get a chance to see these magnificent waterfalls in person and get lost in their beauty.

The Endeavour space shuttle some final moments on its final trip

I was lucky enough to fly in to Los Angeles International Airport the day when Endeavour was on its final trip and in order to reflect on the true glory of this space shuttle NASA conducted a fly around all around LA to San Francisco. My flight was going to land and pilot announced that we have delay in getting landing clearance for our flight since Endeavour space shuttle is flying by LAX. As we heard the news we looked out of the window in search of the Endeavour space shuttle mounted on a modified 747 and there it was flying in accompaniment of two NASA jets flying in air in the backdrop of the hills. It was far so took my 200mm lens and put it on my Nikon camera and snapped a few shots of the scene. After repeated tries also i couldn't get a clear shot of the shuttle and eventually our flight got clearance to land. Slightly disappointed i got out of the flight and while i was walking out i noticed a gathering of people near the window at the terminal. I went there and inquired and came to know that Endeavour is going to make a fly by in 10 minutes. With refound enthusiasm i stood there waiting for the shuttle to pass and there it came. The majestic endeavour space shuttle mounted on a modified NASA 747, with two NASA jets in front. I got some amazing shots of the shuttle as it flew by just 200meters in front of me.  

A lot of airport personal were gathered on the decks and roofs of LAX to snap pictures of the shuttle. A manmade structure that have spend countless hours in space. Truly a megaengineering wonder.

Then to my surprise the shuttle and the 747 did not land. It was only a low altitude flyby. Then again the shuttle took off into the sky following which we waited for another 10 minutes since everybody mentioned that the shuttle is going to land in 10 more minutes. While we were waiting some people who came late or missed the opportunity to click were taking picture of this picture from my camera LCD!. The pride and exhilaration of seeing the shuttle was evident through claps and amusement of all spectators.Then finally the shuttle landed in LAX airport and i was lucky to get some shots of the lading as well. There after while i went to the car rental office i was seeing live telecast of the welcoming reception of Endeavour in LAX and in my heart i was really really happy to be able to witness this rare event and click some good pictures with my camera.

Smog over Los Angeles

I was flying over Los Angeles in mid September 2012 and my flight was about to land in 15 minutes. I had a clear view of Los Angeles downtown straight through the window of my flight and i saw a thick brownish haze covering the entire downtown of Los Angeles. I was surprised since i had never seen a scene like that before and i exclaimed to my co-passenger, what the heck is that! and he said that's the effect of pollution, the crazy smog of Los Angeles. At that moment i realized where all the smoke we blow out through the countless cars we drive finally end up. I was lucky to have my Nikon D5000 and the 200mm lens with me. So i clicked a few picks of the smog looming over LA downtown. It is appalling what we have done to this planet!