Rest of Family Visit II: 19 Jun- 21 Jun

19 Jun: Thursday and it's time to visit more of the city. Dad had a meeting with a colleague for work so while he was at that, Sachi, Mom and I headed to the Sears Tower. Originally built by Sears Roebuck and Co. in 1973, the Sears Tower is one of the tallest buildings in the world (110 stories for 1450 feet, 1725 if you count the antennas) and home to the offices of dozens of companies (no longer Sears though, they moved to the suburbs). It offers one of the finest views of Chicago from the top although some areas, like my Hyde Park, are nothing more than a blur even on good days. It is possible to see Indiana nearly everyday and even Michigan on the clearest days. We spent some time taking lots of pictures, then headed down to meet up with Dad at lunch. We ate at a Potbelly's in the Loop and then caught a bus south to the Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park (maybe a dozen blocks from my university). The MSI complex was constructed as a temporary structure for the 1893 World's Fair, part of Chicago's famous "White City." Rain and the elements threatened to disintegrate the city until locals decided the buildings were worth maintaining and thus refurbished the structure into the museum it houses today. The classical Greek style of the columns and facade make the MSI a valued addition to Chicago's long history of architectural treasures.

The Museum was quite crowded since it was celebrating its 25th anniversary and thus decided not to charge an admission price. We spent a couple hours admiring the chicks, checking out some DNA exhibits, meandering through some naval and space history, and leaving rather abruptly given the fact that we were a little fatigued and Dad was getting a headache from the crowd and noise. It took quite a bit of time to catch a bus that would take us downtown but finally caught one back to the hotel. After resting and freshening up, it was time for dinner. We visited the "Star of Siam" just off State Street and it proved to be a delightful little Thai restaurant. I was especially impressed with the cushions in the middle of the room. It looked as though the diners were seated with legs crossed on level with the table (as though on the floor), but in fact they were sitting as normal; it was just that the cushions had table-shaped square holes cut through them to the floor, creating a hollow space for legs. I guess it would help to see the place, so come visit me sometime and I'll show you.

After dinner we stopped at Kevin's favorite used bookstore that happened to be right next door, and then caught a cab for Buckingham Fountain (it's more fun to see this fountain at night). A light and music show is put on so of course we stayed for that and I took many pictures. After a pleasant evening by the fountain, we caught a cab back to the hotel for some rest.

20 Jun: It's Friday and we're going skydiving! It's also Dad's birthday! What a day for adventure! We headed out early due west for Hinckley, IL, a tiny town with a big love of flying. Our destination was the Chicagoland Skydiving Center where Sachi, Dad, and I had booked a day with destiny. The weather started nice but as we waited for our class to begin and our instructors to arrive (at my insistence we had arrived ludicrously early, but to good effect as you'll see later), the sky turned gray and before we knew it rain was falling. Uh oh! Finally, our team arrived and just in time too the sky cleared. We watched a video with the other divers and were shown briefly how to properly deploy the chute and jump (Sachi got to demonstrate some moves for us). Operating the chute was optional; if we didn't our tandem instructor would do so.

In what seemed like no time, we were suiting up for our jump. All three of us elected to have a videographer/cameraman accompany our jump to record our freefall for posterity. As a result, we were quite a crowd bundling into the little airplane (3 of us, our 3 instructors, 3 videographers, 2 pilots, and 2 other divers from CSC). The ride up didn't take too long, and we chatted with our fellow divers as best we could over the roar of the engine and wind. Although I appeared calm and excited on the outside, I was secretly fighting nerves within. I trusted my instructor and the equipment, but you just never know...

All of a sudden, we were at about 14,000 fight. Since I was first to board, I was last to jump and got to watch as Sachi first and then Dad were escorted out of the plane and into thin air. Shuffling awkwardly with Eddie, my instructor, I found myself poised on the brink of the aircraft. My videographer (I only remember his first name started with a J, so I'll call him J) was already hanging off the plane, and before I could think to have second thoughts, Eddie was counting down and rock forward, rock back, and OUT!!

The next minute is largely a blur, but I remember the sudden rush of cold air, the roar of the wind, my mouth turning dry in an instant, and sheer exhiliration. As J expertly manuvered around us, I smiled and posed the best I could. He distracted me from any fears that may have arisen and as a result I mostly looked ahead and around instead of down. Eddie was fun too and he pulled some delightful poses. The fall was both fast and slow and in my last moments of freefall, I remember J spinning around like a top and my downward velocity reversed in an instant as the chute opened above us. The air became calmer immediately, and after the second chute opened and we glided a bit, Eddie said I could remove my goggles and just relax. I still had my contacts in, of course, so taking off goggles at 6,000 feet made me a little nervous, but the air was still so it was fine. We drifted for a few minutes admiring the view of the Illinois countryside (Chicago alas was too far away). I landed in a bit of a heap and after freeing myself from Eddie, triumphantly walked back to the hangar. Although I was last out, I managed to barely beat Dad and Sachi. No fair!

After getting our DVDs and paying, we headed back to the city. The whole adventure took about 6 hours (driving to and from, waiting, and diving) so we were hungry by the time we got back into town. The rain that had passed us had passed into Chicago so navigating the streets was a little harrowing, but we managed to find India House, a fabulous Indian restaurant that Bonnie and I had gone to with her friends to celebrate her birthday last October. The food was wonderful and after we said it was Dad's birthday, our waiter brought out a delicious dessert of kulfi (Indian ice cream), light cake, and orange slices.

After dinner we drove back to my apartment where we chatted with B&J a bit before I packed up things to send home and we got ready for bed.

21 Jun: This morning we ate brunch at the Mellow Mushroom (not the pizza place in Raleigh) along 53rd street. It's an old-timey breakfast place that serves omelets, waffles, pancakes, etc. After the hearty meal, it was straight back to the apartment for some final packing, directions, and then goodbye. Such a delightful visit filled with memories I shall treasure for years to come. I didn't do much the rest of day except check in with the family occasionally to make sure they were doing fine. Next trip...December!

Rest of Family Visit: 16 Jun- 18 Jun

To keep things brief and reasonably current, I'm going to sum up the rest of my family's visit to Chicago.

16 Jun: It's Monday and we're greeted by the first bout of rain in days. Fortunately, we had planned a trip to Devon today and since we didn't leave the hotel until almost 11, we managed to miss all the showers. Devon Avenue is essentially Little India (and I guess Little Pakistan...how 'bout Little South Asia?) located south of Evanston and north of Lakeview/Lincoln Park. The street is lined with shops selling everything Indian from sarees to sweets, aliments to accoutrement, and Bollywood CDs to chapatis. The sights and smells assault the senses and for a brief moment one can imagine being on the streets of Mumbai or Bangalore. We strolled around for some time, eating lunch in a couple of different small restaurants and checking out some music and cooking utensils in various shops.

After lunch we decided to head out to the western suburbs to visit the IKEA store in Schaumburg. This adventure took up most of the remaining day and concluded at an Olive Garden in the mall complex near the IKEA. I managed to stock up on some new clothing and found some things for the apartment (some sweet glasses and an organizer). It was back to the hotel after dinner.

17 Jun: Tuesday and we're off to Wisconsin for a couple of days. The Wisconsin Dells are much heralded for their beauty and affinity for water parks, so thanks to some research by my mom and sister, we headed there for a spell. Given the recent flooding in the area, accomodations were easy to secure so we focused on lunch and entertaining ourselves first. Lunch was at a festive Mexican restaurant overlooking a lake. I had a strawberry-mango margarita that was about the size of my head and quite delicious. After lunch we booked ourselves a Duck tour and river boat ride. The "ducks" are amphibious vehicles that were employed during WWII to ferry soldiers to shore from the warships that could not approach the coast thanks to various obstacles such as mines and artificial barrier reefs. Many of these vehicles have since been co-opted into entertainment vehicles that allow civilians, like ourselves, to ride around in them on land and on the water. The river boat ride, although longer and more scenic, did not have the same novelty as an amphibious boat. Alas.

After our boating adventures, it was time for dinner. Thanks to our GPS, we selected a pizza place near the hotel. It quickly became apparent that this place was popular with the locals, though we were seated astonishingly quickly upon arrival, despite the crowd waiting in the foyer. Maybe it was my Indiana Jones hat. Dinner was delicious and a satisfying end to a long day.

18 Jun: Wednesday and it's time to head back to the city. On our way, we did what every real visitor to Wisconsin must do. Visit a cheese factory! (Green Bay Packers fans are not called "cheeseheads" for nothin'). The one we chose was both open to visitors, offered a tour, and was not too far out of our way back south. Perfect. The manager generously gave us about 40 minutes of his time to explain the cheesemaking process and though we didn't get a walk-around tour, he pointed out through the window step-by-step what was transpiring on the floor. Naturally, we bought about five pounds of the cheese including a few bags of "cheese curds", a favorite treat with locals (if it's not squeaky, it's not really fresh!).

Our Wisconsin experience was not complete without a stop at a Culver's restaurant. For those on the West Coast, Culver's is much like an In N' Out burger. I don't know the equivalent on the East Coast. Perhaps a Cook Out for you NC folks. In any case, it's a popular chain that serves comfort food from burgers to fries to various ice cream treats (ice cream is another thing you simply must try in Wisconsin. A state that has that many cows must have good cheese and ice cream. Beer factors in as well, but that's because there's so much leftover grain from feeding all those cows :) ). We ordered conservatively at first, but after some prodding from our cashier, our order rapidly expanded until she was convinced we'd order half the menu. It was delicious.

Finally, back to the city. We stopped in Evanston to pick up Kevin since it's a tradition that we always have to take him out for food when the family's in town. Works out well for him, eh? We moved from our hotel out in the burbs to one right smack in downtown that we got at a deep discount thanks to it's grand opening. After settling down, we walked out to catch a trolley to Navy Pier. Navy Pier, as the name implies, was originally established as a commerical enterprise that also served military purposes during the Second World War. Since it's on a great lake (and not the ocean like naval bases in Maryland and Virginia), the utility was necessarily limited and Navy Pier is long past it's naval days and now the most popular destination in all of Chicago. Taking about 40 minutes to walk up and down, the Pier is a treat for the senses. Lined with food stalls and entertainment options, it's a great place for kids and adults alike on a sunny summer afternoon. There's a Ferris Wheel for those who want a nice view of the Chicago skyline and an IMAX theater for those who prefer to soar to new heights more passively.

After a stroll along the pier, it was time to think dinner. Kevin recommended Khyber Pass, an Indian restaurant he and his Northwestern friends had visited some time earlier. The food was decent, but the service rather deplorable considering we were some of the only guestst that night. Oh well. The real treat came after dinner as we caught the fireworks display from the Pier. The show is put on every Wednesday and Saturday and is beautiful if rather (understandably) brief. We bid Kevin farewell by the river and then headed back to the hotel.

Sunday, 15 Jun cont

So now we're at Second City. Before we left the field, Sachi made an important discovery. She realized that she had only purchased 3 tickets for the show instead of 4 after being used to counting in terms of three for so long. Oops! While she was on the phone, my folks and I discussed who would get left behind while the others watched the show. Turns out, we didn't have to resort to drawing straws since Sachi was able to acquire one more ticket. Disaster averted!

On to the show. The troupe was hilarious as expected, regaling us with funny takes on what it's like to live in Chicago (from the Lakeshore Drive "rollercoaster" to the different attributes of Chicago neighborhoods) as well as some digs at politicians and entertainment celebrities (most notably R. Kelly). At one point, in a song discussing how our stereotypes tend to be confirmed whether we like them to or not, the singers reached their "Indians always smell like curry" line. The four of us were seated rather conspicuously near the front and naturally the singers looked at us significantly during that line. It was hilarious (and you know we do, that stereotype is totally true. Along with Indians being super smart and able to break into song and dance on a whim).

After the show, we caught a belated dinner at a little Mexican place in Lincoln Park that was fortunately still open. From there it was back to the hotel for some rest.

Congratulations Michael Phelps!

I will return to my story (related belatedly) shortly. First, a quick Olympic update and tribute to a man many are calling "the greatest Olympian of all time".

Citius, Altius, Fortius.

During this past week, I have been fortunate to watch Olympic history being made in Beijing, China. Ever since the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, I have been a huge fan of the Olympic Games (hence referred to as OG for simplicity's sake). I have diligently watched every OG: Atlanta, Nagano, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Torino, and now Beijing, whether I've been in Round Rock (TX), Cary (NC), London (England), or Chicago (IL). Not being very athletic myself, excellence in sport is something I have long admired in my friends, countrymen, and fellow human beings. The OG offers a chance every two years to witness arguably the highest form of such excellence in sport in the world and I don't want to miss a minute of it if I can help it. I love how the Olympics brings the world together and asks all of those participating and watching to seek the best in themselves. For these all-too-brief fortnights, conflicts can (mostly) be put on hold, disputes delayed, and patriotism rekindled.

Faster, higher, stronger. These adjectives, the motto of the OG, also embody the goal of each Olympic athlete to achieve the superlative of each: fastest, highest, and strongest. This week in Beijing the world has witnessed what may be considered the greatest single performance at an OG:

American swimmer Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals in eight events (5 individual and 3 team), 7 of those in world-record time and the last in Olympic record time.

Yes, he is perhaps the most overexposed athlete so far of these Games. We know what he eats, when he sleeps, what he wears, and how he trains. But we still don't know how he did it. How he made history for the most number of gold medals won at a single Games, winter or summer. How they were all in record time. How they all took place over the course of just nine days. And most of all, how he made many of them look so easy. Was it the new LAZR suit from Speedo? Was it the "faster" pool in Beijing? Was he sent from the future to compete with mere mortals today? Whatever it was, however he did it, we know one thing for sure: Michael Phelps is an incredible athlete and has set a new benchmark many will admire and others will aspire to surpass. Congratulations Mr. Phelps. I hope to see you shine again four years from now in London.

On the Olympics in general:

The modern games, begun in 1896 in Athens, Greece, involve the traditional Olympian events such as the marathon, wrestling, and running, and also include various point-based sports such as soccer, basketball, handball, water polo, etc, as well as more subjective events such as gymnastics and figure skating.

The latter two, as much as I (and millions of others) enjoy watching them, should not be Olympic sports in their current form. Although these athletes are superb at what they do, from leaping into the air and performing dizzying spins to pulling an "iron cross," the ultimate gymnastics feat-of-strength, the judging and subjectivity involved in determining the best performance is just too much to be called a "sport." Real sports are by and large objective; the most (or least) points, the fastest time, the highest height, the heaviest weight, etc. The only subjectivity permissible should come from judging penalties. (For that matter, cheerleading is an athletic activity too, but not a sport).

If I had it my way, the IOC would determine fixed routines of different levels, say "easy," "medium," and "hard." For example, of the four apparatus on which the women gymnasts compete (floor, balance beam, uneven bars, and vault), only the floor would be open to "free expression" or a routine entirely of the athlete's choosing (this would encourage and reward creativity). Athletes can pick any combination of difficulties, from all easy to all hard and everything in between. By having everyone compete from the same pool of routines, each performance can be compared more objectively with the others. For some people, such a competition would be more boring (most likely current gymnasts and former gymnasts who are commentators for gymnastics events). Frankly, most spectators cannot tell the difference between the skills of one routine and the next, but can usually tell the difference between a well or poorly executed routine. Given this observation, people viewing these events will still be entertained and the athletes will be judged more fairly. This system could also be implemented for the men's gymnastics and both men and women's figure skating for the winter Games.

But after all, who am I to judge how Olympic events should be run? I am no gymnast, figure skater, swimmer, skier, hurdler, luger, wrestler, bobsledder, pole vaulter, or athlete period. I do love the Olympic Games, however, and believe that such displays of amazing athleticism should be rewarded with as little bias as possible.