High and Higher

Summer is here and just busy enjoying it after the dull winter. Two weeks back finally went again to Six Flags Great Adventure here in New Jersey with my cousins who were visiting me. Got a chance to ride this two year old ride Kingda Ka finally. It is currently the worlds fastest and tallest roller coaster ride.


This is a description of the ride from Wikipedia :
"Once the train is in position, the hydraulic launch mechanism rockets the train from 0 to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. At the end of the launch track, the train climbs the main tower, or top hat, twisting 90 degrees to the right before reaching a height of 456 feet (139.5 m). The train then descends 418 feet (127 m) straight down through a 270-degree spiral. Finally, the train climbs the second, 129 foot hill, producing a moment of weightlessness before being smoothly brought to a stop by the magnetic brakes. The ride lasts 28 seconds from the start of the launch to the end of the brake run."

Really dont know how to describe the experience in words...it was simply awesome. Shaken, hurled, pushed, thrown and exhilerated, it took sometime to get our bearings straight. There was a long wait, so had to sit on the second row. Will go back to ride it sitting in the first seat. That is the best way to experience any roller coaster with nothing in front of you.

That was a physical high and then yesterday evening was a kind of spiritual high.

Attended a live concert of Ustad Ghulam Ali and Munni Begum (both famous Pakistani ghazal singer) in New York. Again words fail to describe the moment in presence of such a legend.

Image courtesy - Wikipedia
Had never heard Munni Begum before. She started the show and had a very different voice from that of Indian singers that we are used to hearing. She ended her part of the concert with Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Sharabi - a Qawalli which I had only heard in the voice of Aziz Nazan before. (Here is the e-snips link of the Qawalli in his voice)

Then Ghulam Ali entralled the crown with his rendition of ghazals that included some of his most famous numbers namely - Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa, Chupke Chupke Raat Din and many others.

The crowning glory of the evening was the online booking goof up. Due multiple booking of the same seats from two websites, I had one of them and so got upgraded to 5th row from front right in front of the center stage.

I will retain this experience in my memory for ever.