Panorama 85mm: Pristine Purlieu of OldeStone Guest House @ Chester County PA - May 31 2010 10 AM
Panorama: With Nish and Rish Next to the stable farm across Oldestone guesthouse, PA - May 31 2010 4PM
Panorama: Utopia: A Stone house overlooking lush lawns, flower gardens, vast landscape, ranches, stables, horses and silos - May 31 2010 4PM
Panorama: Rishma with Nim and Anju againts a backdrop of the stables and ranch behind the guest house - May 31 12010 10AM
Panorama: Pragnesh and family in front of the OldeStone Guest House pasture - May 31 2010 10AM
Panorama: Everybody in front of the stable farm reminiscent of the arcadian settings in Indian villages - May 31 2010 10AM
1st photo of the Amish Country trip. Amish buggy ride carriage Capsule on display at Aron & Jessica's Buggy Ride in the city of Bird-In-Hand overlooking the pictureque landscape of rural Pennsylvania - May 30 2010 1 PM
Soon after we reached Aron & Jessica's Buggy ride
Rishma appears to be eager to get on a buggy ride as Kush takes pictures with his phony camera
Nishka with Anju aunty - D40 Sigma
Nishka and Kush thrilled by the new place soon after reaching there
Nishka and Kush thrilled by the new place soon after reaching Aron and Jessica's Buggy ride area and ready to shoot pictures - May 30 2010 1 PM - D40 Sigma
Rishma with aunt Anju - May 31 1 PM
Proceeding to the visitor center before taking the buggy ride through Amish country
Nishka and Kush thrilled about the new place
Kush miming his dad and taking pictures with a dummy camera
Rishma doesnot mind staying with uncle Pragnesh at the Buggy Ride boarding area as Nim & Anju have gone to retrieve some stuff from the cars
Waiting for our roll call at the Buggy ride loading area - D40 Sigma
Rishma with uncle Pragnesh
For the past 2 days Nishka has been excited about riding on horses at Amish country and now she cannot wait for our names to be called at the boarding area at Aron and Jessica's - May 31 1:30 PM
Nishka and Rishma with uncle Pragnesh
It is funny how tourists at Amish Country are allured by Amish people passing by on the road the same way anyone would be fascinated by exotic wildlife at zoos. Just as this Amish family of 5 walked by on Old Philadelphia Pike (Highway 340) outside Aron and Jessica's Buggy ride as we waited for the horse ride, everybody watched them and took pictures
Amish family of 5 taking a stroll on the the highway outside Aron and Jessica's - May 31 1:30 PM
Nishka had a blast at the boarding area making several friends like this little girl with whom she played hide and seek
Nishka playing with other kids at the horse-ride starting point
One loaded horse carriage departs for the 45 minute journey
Rishma is sure enjoying the Buggy Ride - 2 PM
Coachman and other passengers in our Buggy Ride. Who needs the brochure more than Rishma ! After all she is everybody's guide for this trip.
Another horse cart on its return trip passes by our's
We pass by a couple of mules grazing in the arcadian Pennsylvania grasslands
Silos seen in the background are an integral part of every Amish house used to store corn and cow feed that eventually ferment.
This buggy ride circuit also forms a safe biking route
Another Buggy ride on its return journey May 30 2010 2 PM
Nishka with her dad and Anju's mom
Rishma appears to loving the rocking rythm of the ride as she sits with aunt Anju
Rishma with aunt Anju inside the buggy ride
Mules / Hinny's were quite common here in Lancaster county and used for farming by the Amish men.
Rishma loves the window view from inside the horse carriage
An Amish family tugging on their little ones in an ingenious stroller, pass by our horse cart.
Inside the buggy ride
A house seen enroute to our starting point
After the buggy ride in front of our buggy - D40 Sigma
After the buggy ride - D40 Sigma
Pragnesh and family next to our Buggy ride
The horses that tugged our chariot.
In front of Aron and Jessica's
Aron and Jessica's
Rishma sure loves the turf as she tries to touch her toes - D40 Sigma
Rishma sure loves the turf
After the ride, Rishma played with the grass a little bit before we took a lunch break
Another horse freight departing
Rishma relaxes on the blanket as we begin to refuel ourselves - May 30 2010 2:30 PM
Lunch time
Everybody enjoying lunch under a tree near the attractions parking lot
Everybody enjoying lunch under a tree near the attraction's parking lot
As we had lunch horse carts strolled back and forth - 2:30 PM
85MM: As we are having lunch an Amish family horse cart gallops towards Old Pennsylvania Pike highway.
85mm: Another Amish family horse zipping past us against picturesque meadows in the backdrop showing other grazing horse
85mm: Nim ready for a post lunch beverage as an Aron & Jessica tourist cart trots by
85mm: Who wouldnot want a mishmash of sipping a cold beverage in sweltering heat in the midst of primoridail horse carts that constitute the most common mode of transport around.
85mm: By 3 PM we were done with lunch and deciding on the next vista point for our trip
85mm: A fully loaded horse carriage advancing on its 45 minute journey through Amish countryside
Just before leaving, when others had gone to the visitor center, Rishma unwinds herself inside the car in the sweltering afternoon heat.
In the afternoon heat, just before heading out, all 4 doors are ajar to keep the circulation inside the car while awaiting others' return from the visitor center - May 30 2010 3 PM
"Can I touch the camera lens ?" says a fatigued but still bouyant Rishma, at the Amish Village - May 30 2010 4PM - D40 Sigma
At Amish village, the guide shows off a sewing machine inside a model Amish home - May 30 2010 4 PM
Tourists enraptured by the household items in a model Amish home
An Amish family's living room at Amish Village
What that Amish gas stove is to today's cooking ranges is, what Steam engines are to levitation trains
In the process of acquainting us with garments worn by Amish men and women of different ages, the guide showcases an Amish woman's dress here - May 30 4 PM
Nim, Pragnesh and Anju admire the finesse of Amish handwork in a hand-made quilt on display inside a model Amish bedroom
Basement of a model Amish house
Nishka and Kush enjoyed taking pictures of the farm animals at Amish village with their phony cameras May 30 2010 5 PM
Nishka and Kush playing with the phony cameras at the stable exhibit of the Amish Village - D40 Sigma
Nishka and Kush enjoyed taking pictures of the farm animals at Amish village with their phony cameras May 30 2010 5 PM
85mm: All of us at Amish Village May 30 5:45 PM
85mm: Nishka & Kush in one of the buggies on display at Amish Vilage
85mm: Nishka & Kush in one of the buggies on display at Amish Vilage
85mm: Nishka & Kush in one of the buggies on display at Amish Vilage apparently smiling at Pragnesh
85mm: Pragnesh and I at OldeStone Guest house after reaching there on the evening of May 30 2010 7 PM. Having stayed overnight usually in the congested confines of metropolitan hotels, we were stupefied by the solitude of this placid location.
85mm: 3 Stooges of this Utopian vista.
85mm 3.2: Colorful flora at OldeStone Guest House
85mm 1.8: Colorful flora at OldeStone Guest House
85mm: With flora and fauna mingling in this tranquil semi-wilderness, no guest would rescind from calling this their personal estate
With a play house in the backyard, kids would not feel left out either. After freshening up, we went out to experience the solitude and freshness of the farm - May 30 2010 7:30 PM.
There were horse ranches behind the guest house as well - May 30 2010 7:30 PM
Extravagance begets indulgence: Breakfast table at OldeStone guesthouse set for us an a couple of other guests by the Menonite widow - May 31 2010 8:30 AM - D40 Sigma
Oldestone guest house living room showing entrance to the inner room - morning of May 31 2010
Oldestone guest house living room - May 31 2010 10 AM
Guest House dining area with the stairs leading up to the rooms beside it
The hutch, book case, Piano and every piece of Victorian furnishigns at the OldeStone guest house were inspring and tasteful as seen here in a section of the formal living room - D40 Sigma
The hutch, book case, Piano and every piece of Victorian furnishigns at the OldeStone guest house were inspring and tasteful as seen here in a section of the living room - D40 Sigma
The hutch, book case, Piano and every piece of Victorian furnishigns at the OldeStone guest house were inspring and tasteful as seen here in a section of the living room - D40 Sigma
Enjoying the sumptuous breakfast at Oldestone guest house in Chester County Pennsylvania - D40 Sigma
Enjoying the sumptuous breakfast at Oldestone guest house in Chester County Pennsylvania - D40 Sigma
Nim, Nish, Pragnesh and family enjoying breadfast at Oldestone guest house - D40 Sigma
Relishing breakfast at guest house - D40 Sigma
Kitchen at the guest house - D40 Sigma
Towering stone walls of the farm house which has guest rooms in the basement as well
Rishma playing on a blanket outside the guest house on the morning of May 31 2010, as sprawling farmlands can be seen extending out for miles behind her
Rishma with aunt Anju - May 31 2010 10 AM
Even Rishma wouldnot mind this serenity
After a hearty breakfast made by the Menonite widow running the guest house, we went out to take some snaps. Nim, Anju and Rishma relaxing on the lawn
Pragnesh and Kush saunter around the resort May 31 10 AM
Whose that guy shooting kneeling in front of the tripod and shooting pictures. - D40 Sigma
Nim , Anju, Rish on the sprawling lawns outside the guest after our breakfast as Rishma gets her breakfast - D40 Sigma
Nim , Anju, Rish on the sprawling lawns outside OldeStone guest after - D40 Sigma
A photo enthusiast's paradise - D40 Sigma
Nim, Nish and Rish on the lawns outside the guest house
Family shot - May 31 2010 9:30 AM - D40 Sigma
Family Shot - D40 Sigma - 9:30 AM
Pragnesh and family May 31
85mm: Rishma cannot have enough of the grass while Nishka cannot have enough of annoying Rish with the grass
85mm : Family photo
85mm: With a bed like this, mattress companies like Sleepys or Sealey would go kaput. Nim in Wonderland.
85mm: Silos in the background add an Amish flair to the rural Pennsylvania setting
85mm: For Rishma too, this place is Shangri-La. On anyday she would love this grass over the vinyl floor back home
85mm: With blades of grass all over, there is no need of toys to captivate Rishma and Nishka
85mm: Nishka dumping grass on Rishma - May 31 2010 10:30 AM
Butterball and Fireball frolic in the lawn - D40 Sigma
Butterball and Fireball frolic on the lawns against a backdrop of Silos - D40 Sigma
85mm: After Nim headed back to the guest house to give Rishma a bath, I took this self potrait with the Nikor 85mm 1.4 lens
Rishma all fresh after her bath
As we were preparing to check out of the hotel, Rishma lazes with Anju's mom on the swing outside the guest house - May 31 2010
Shangri-La: Nim, Anju, Pragnesh, Rishma, Nishka, Kush, Anju's mom relaxing on the courtyard outside the guest house before heading out to Lapp Valley Farm.
Shangri-La: Nim, Anju, Pragnesh, Rishma, Nishka, Kush, Anju's mom relaxing on the courtyard outside the guest house before heading out to Lapp Valley Farm.
No age barrier for a swing
Nishka getting a spruce up from aunt Anju
As if the horses were on a timer as they suddenly emerged from their stables to graze a few minutes before we headed out of the ranch
Overlooking the kitchen patio
Hasta la Vista OldeStone Guest House ! Bonjour Lapp Valley Dairy Farm !
As Rish is in deep slumber, Nim enjoying icecream with Nishka at Lapp valley farm May 31 2010 12 noon
Me Nishka relishing icecream at Lapp valley farm as Rish dozes in stroller. Farms and grasslands dot the landscape even here.
Nish & I enjoying our icecream at Lapp valley farm.
How can farm be replete without farm animals. Peacocks were one of them. Peacock inside a covered deck at the farm
Peacock inside the deck at the farm.
Enjoying ice-cream
In her excitement Nishka might actually be scaring away the pet cat
Nishka caresses the feline 12:30 PM May 31 2010
Loitering peacock
Silhouette of a peacock inside the deck against a backdrop of AMISH countryside
85mm: Peacock
85mm: Peacock exploring bushes around the house of its Amish owners
85mm: Peacock exploring bushes around the house of its Amish owners
85mm: While I am holding the cat, the cat seems a little concerned about ever effervescent Nishka cornering it once again
85mm: Pragnesh, Anju and Kush at Lapp valley Dairy farm, Pennsylvania
85mm: The kitten seemed complacent when I snuggled it
85mm: The kitten felt cozy and offered no resistance
85mm 1.4:Nishka loved this white pony more than anything else
85mm: Lapp valley Dairy farm run by an Amish family in the heartland of rural PA
Pragnesh might be contemplating having the Honda Goldwing for his third vehicle
Enroute to Strasburg railroad May 31 3 PM
As I led the way for Pragnesh's car from Lapp Valley Farm to Strasburg Railroad with the help of GPS, Nim is busy in the back seat, ensuring Nishka and Rishma are stocked up prior to the train ride.
While driving to Strasburg railroad, we went past Amish Village we visited yesterday
Can we ride on that Steam Engine. Nishka and Kush at Strasburg railroad - May 31 2010 4PM - D40 Sigma
Our steam engine powered train arrives for boarding - 4 PM May 31
Since our coach was in the front of the train, we could see the mechanics of the primordial Steam engine. Nim, Anju, Anju's mom, Nish could easily see that Rishma was thrilled as well.
Even though it was sweltering hot, the open air Victorian style coach, was as outdoorsy and breezy as could be as the train chugged through the sprawling fields of Lancaster County. Rishma sure loved it.
Our open air coach was breezy and refreshing and more fun that if we had picked the AC coach.
Nim and Rish enjoying the train ride and so were the 3 kids of the Menonite family in the background.
Pragnesh & fly enjoying the Amish countryside, zipping past their train window.
The train ride sure invigorates Rishma - D40 Sigma
Inside the breezy Strasburg railroad open air coach - D40 Sigma
Nishka enjoys the train ride - D40 Sigma
The Strasburg Steam engine train ride revitalizes Rishma - D40 Sigma
Nim, Rish and myself on the train ride as Nishka is indulging in mischief elsewhere on the car - D40 Sigma
When 12 month young Rishma was enjoying the train ride so much, there is no doubt that for Nishka the party had just begun and she was about to have a blast in this coach - May 31 2010 4:30 PM
Anju, Kush, Anju's mom watch the Cherry crest Adventure farm of Lancaster county passing by on our train ride. That was one of the places we had planned to visit and then dropped.
Nishka with aunt Anju and Kush - D40 Sigma
A crafty shot of Nim and Rish taken from outside the train window by Pragnesh - D40 Sigma
Nishka intrigued by Rishma's vitality inside the train - D40 Sigma
Nim and and enthusiastic Rishma - D40 Sigma
I am busy with my D80 - D40 Sigma
Thirty minutes into the ride, the train stopped at Paradies, PA in preparation for delinking the engine and rolling it forward to the other end to tug the train in the opposite direction.
As the train stopped for engine delinking at Paradise, the entire arch of the train could be covered from our coach due to the rail curvature.
The conductor is supervising the elaborate antedeluvian procedure for powering the detached steam engine in the opposite direction to attach it at the other end for our journey back to the originating station.
After the engine has attached at the other end, the conductor makes some peripheral checks before heading back.
As the train begins moving, in place of the engine, we now see tracks and diminishing farms as passengers relish the gentle outdoor breeze hitting them on the observation platform at the rear of the train while Nim, Nish, Rish, Anju, Pragnesh, Kush enjoy the rustic greenery of Amish Farms.
One of the primary occupations of Amish men is farming as seen here. Since they refrain from machinery, Mules/Hinnys are their modes of plowing the fields -- May 31 2010 5 PM
As other kids congregated on the observation car at the read of our coach, Nishka had a ball and refused to come inside the coach from there on.
Nishka having fun with other kids on the observation car of the train on the return journey - 5 PM.
So busy was Nishka with her tomfoolery at the back of the train, that she even forgot that she had removed her shoes.
You donot have to be a grownup to enjoy the countryside breeze. Rishma is infatuated by it too.
Silos without which any Amish home is incomplete.
The Strasburg railroad ride has Rishma over-stimulated as seen here - May 31 2010 5:30 PM
As we near our starting point, we pass by one of the Victorian coaches like the one we were on.
Hasta La Vista Lancaster, time to head back to the cosmopolitan Tri-State. By the time we stopped over briefly at Kichen Kettle Village to do window shopping, when it started raining, had dinner at Pizza Hut and finally reached home it was 10 PM - May 31 2010 5:30 PM
