Last Day in Chicago

The traveling monks spent their last day in Chicago with a bang, seeing the Museum of Science and Industry and having lunch with the group. Come along for the ride.

This is the front lobby of the museum. One can literally spend hours in this place. This is a world renowned museum for all ages, but mostly teens to adults.

The amount of cool stuff is so...cool. Big trains, cars, planes, ships and the history of it all.

Paramacharya gets a chance to push the new Malhotra baby around

The group gathers slowly on the upper level of the lobby before the tour begins. We spotted a man that looked exactly like Natyam Rajanatha and had to stop for a selfie. Maurice Chikiar and his loving wife Cosette were able to spend the morning\/afternoon with the group and see their son.

Deepan and his friend Sanjay had a wonderful time at the satsang the day before and were able to fit the morning outing into their schedule.

The group is taking a tour of the U-505 exhibit and I just happen to surprise a few people before stepping on to the submarine ship.

Here is one of the newest exhibits, the U-505 submarine. This World War 2 German sub was holding the enigma that helped us figure out how to decode German code and end the war.

We are about to step inside the sub and get a guided tour from one of the best, most enthusiastic guides we had ever saw

The halls were cramped but we all fit and made it through. This is a walk through the sailor\

s cabins, kitchen and one of the missile rooms. '

Paramacharya is loving this space! Maybe he is collecting ideas for the monastery...probably not.

One of the small beds on the ship. There were half the amount of beds to sailors, so they had to take turns sleeping. One sailor would wake up and leave, another would come and sleep.

Here is Gaurav holding his new baby Divyana. This is her first outing ever!

A closer shot of the bunk and cup cabinet

A quick shot as we walk through the tight quarters. I think this may be the close to the engine hall. We were told the engine could heat up the hallways to 120F.

Our tour guide was so passionate about the tour that we were all engulfed in the ships history and we all felt a little like the sailors who were on that ship.

Here is a room where navigation took place. Keep in mind there was audio playing and lights flashing to give us all an in-depth experience of being a sailor on that ship.

Here is a rough pano with a little blur towards the right side. There was little light in the ship but we managed to get some photos for perspective.

Passing through the dark hallways. A sailor would be expected to work with all of the complicated, small tools in almost total darkness.

Another hall, possibly more engines

The group comes out alive and well

Next we went to an Omnimax film about he mainlands national parks. It was really a beautiful film. Swami turns around and snaps a photo of Ripla and Jigisha.

The group is out to lunch and enjoying each other\

s company. You don\'t see Deepan in the photo but he showed up a little after we all arrived and talked in-depth about his current studies regarding physical therapy and myofascial release points in the body. Fascinating. '

A rare coming together of father and son in Chicago where Maurice lives.

Maurice, Cosette, Natyam and Swami walk for a while down the Chicago streets and talk about life for the monks

The entire group at the end of a grand morning! Thank you Chicago Mission.

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