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Saturday, April 25, 2015
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Vancouver in November 2013
Last November, we visited Vancouver BC for a short break because I had some work in downtown. We left on a Tuesday afternoon and reached the city by evening. We picked up our vacation rental keys from their office (EMR Vacations and they were superb) and got a detailed description on how to reach our accommodation. We stayed at a beautiful, luxury condo on the 19th floor with wonderful views of downtown. It also included a parking spot and was close to many attractions.
We were going back to Vancouver after a span of 2.5 years. On Wednesday afternoon, we set off to the aquarium in Stanley Park. We loved this place in our previous trip and enjoyed ourselves even this time around. The jellyfish display was fantastic. The dolphin show was superb. All the other displays were very interesting. We also enjoyed the 4D movie. All of us really enjoyed the park and we stayed till they closed for the day.
We then decided to go one of V's favorite restaurants - Rangoli, owned by the owner of Vij's. We placed our order and were surprised that there were no high chairs for children. We had a very good meal and the kids began to get restless after a long day. I wanted to change 'baby I's' diaper and was shocked to learn that the restroom was not equipped with a changing station ! The staff din't even seem to care to apologize for it. I like their food but was not happy with their indifference; I will not be visiting this restaurant next time.
On Thursday, we went to the Science Center and the kids had a lot of fun. There were many displays and many age appropriate activities. Their food section seemed to have expanded compared to our last visit. V and R had a lot of fun with the keva blocks. 'Baby I' had a lot of fun running around in the toddler area. We returned to our rental place in the evening and after some rest, decided to go to a Thai place for dinner. This restaurant called Banana Leaf was superb and we loved the food. I had a dish called assam curry and it was very delicious. Another odd thing was this restaurant had no high chair either. However, the staff were very friendly and won us over.
On Friday, we packed up and checked out at 11am. We decided to stop in Surrey for lunch. We picked a place called Tasty Indian Bistro and reached there a little after noon. The food is by far the best Indian food I have ever eaten outside of India. Need I say more? The decor was very good, and I was happy that they had high chairs. The staff were very friendly. It seems they are a new restaurant and I hope they maintain their quality.
I was surprised to see so many Indian stores and bussiness in that area. They even had a Indian style open sabzi mandi with fresh vegetables. Unfortunately they are not allowed at border crossing and so I had to skip them.
This was a nice break and we all had a good time. Vancouver is such a melting pot of different cultures and has so many options for authentic and delicious food. The weather on most days was gray with slight drizzle. We had occasional sun breaks and it was just like Seattle.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Fort Worden State Park
After our wonderful experience at the earlier state park, we were very
excited about our trip to Fort Worden in Aug 2013. My cousin, Su was
staying with us for a short visit also joined us. Fort Worden is also in
the Olympic Peninsula and we decided to go in the same ferry as last
time. Alas, there was a long line for the ferry and we had to wait for
more than 2 hours at the ferry terminal. We finally reached the park
close to 8pm.
The park was very big and had many buildings. We were staying at a duplex and was not what we were expecting. It was a 3 bedroom apartment on the 2nd floor. We entered to find a huge kitchen with a big dining area. There was a living room with sofa and 3 big bedrooms and a small extra room. There was 1 bath. The beds were very comfortable. The view from the balcony was of the parade ground. Althought the house was furnished, it felt like a typical barrack or army style accomodation. It was modest and not cosy. Because it was so big, it felt very drafty. A TV and a warm fireplace would have been a nice touch.
After a good nights sleep, we rose to find a very peaceful and quiet morning. We had breakfast included in our stay at one of the common areas and set off to find it. The Park was very nice with lots of things to see and do. We found the mess and had a simple breakfast. There were many museums to see, they all only accept cash. We found many students and they were there for a "camp" from the IAWW. It was nice to see all their activities and it sure seemed like a fun camp.
We enjoyed the park and its views. Then we visited the beach, which was very nice. We also stopped at their Marine Science Center which was the highlight of the trip. R loves marine life and he was very excited to see all the creatures he had read about or seen on TV. The museum was small but packed with many interesting creatures, including the fantastic Giant Pacific octopus. We were mesmerized by its display. There was also a big touch pond and the staff patiently explained all the critters on display - star fish, barnacles and so many others. Kudos to the wonderful staff (a family - we saw grandmom, mom and a child) who explained everything and made our visit memorable.
We then visited the Orca Museum across the street, which had many interesting facts and a display of a giant orca skeleton. There was a lot of information about how the oceans are getting polluted.
We spent a lot of time by the beach near the Marine Center and it was very relaxing. The kids had a lot of fun.
The next morning, we woke up to find the park full and buzzing with people. There were so many Indians everywhere, that we thought we were in India. Turns out it was the last day of camp and the parents were there to pick up their children. I even bumped into some friends while crossing the street. We decided to leave early and beat the crowd for the ferry to Seattle.
Overall, it was a very different experience from Fort Flagler. This park had a lot more to offer in terms of activities.We skipped exploring the bunkers as the ones in Fort Flagler seemed a lot more interesting and we also ran out of time. Overall, Fort Worden is a fantastic place to visit. I will visit again just for the Marine Center.
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| View of Seattle from the Bainbridge island ferry |
The park was very big and had many buildings. We were staying at a duplex and was not what we were expecting. It was a 3 bedroom apartment on the 2nd floor. We entered to find a huge kitchen with a big dining area. There was a living room with sofa and 3 big bedrooms and a small extra room. There was 1 bath. The beds were very comfortable. The view from the balcony was of the parade ground. Althought the house was furnished, it felt like a typical barrack or army style accomodation. It was modest and not cosy. Because it was so big, it felt very drafty. A TV and a warm fireplace would have been a nice touch.
After a good nights sleep, we rose to find a very peaceful and quiet morning. We had breakfast included in our stay at one of the common areas and set off to find it. The Park was very nice with lots of things to see and do. We found the mess and had a simple breakfast. There were many museums to see, they all only accept cash. We found many students and they were there for a "camp" from the IAWW. It was nice to see all their activities and it sure seemed like a fun camp.
We enjoyed the park and its views. Then we visited the beach, which was very nice. We also stopped at their Marine Science Center which was the highlight of the trip. R loves marine life and he was very excited to see all the creatures he had read about or seen on TV. The museum was small but packed with many interesting creatures, including the fantastic Giant Pacific octopus. We were mesmerized by its display. There was also a big touch pond and the staff patiently explained all the critters on display - star fish, barnacles and so many others. Kudos to the wonderful staff (a family - we saw grandmom, mom and a child) who explained everything and made our visit memorable.
We then visited the Orca Museum across the street, which had many interesting facts and a display of a giant orca skeleton. There was a lot of information about how the oceans are getting polluted.
We spent a lot of time by the beach near the Marine Center and it was very relaxing. The kids had a lot of fun.
The next morning, we woke up to find the park full and buzzing with people. There were so many Indians everywhere, that we thought we were in India. Turns out it was the last day of camp and the parents were there to pick up their children. I even bumped into some friends while crossing the street. We decided to leave early and beat the crowd for the ferry to Seattle.
Overall, it was a very different experience from Fort Flagler. This park had a lot more to offer in terms of activities.We skipped exploring the bunkers as the ones in Fort Flagler seemed a lot more interesting and we also ran out of time. Overall, Fort Worden is a fantastic place to visit. I will visit again just for the Marine Center.
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Toronto with Kids
My uncle and his family live in Toronto and I had visited them in 2006. I loved the city and always wanted to go back. V had not seen Niagara Falls and so everything came together this summer and we decided to visit my uncle for a week in late July. This was 'baby I's' first plane ride and we were nervous. We picked an afternoon flight and so that helped. The flight was almost 4.5 hours but that seemed much longer; partly because this flight was a 2x2 seat system, and because Air Canada had some different system, V was allotted a different seat on a different row and I was left with the kids. Bah ! The passengers next to me did not want to swap; long story short, I was with the kids. The flight arrived on time but was delayed on the tarmac, thankfully immigration was super quick and we were on our way to Mississauga in no time.
It was great to spend one week with my uncle's family and the kids had a lot of fun. My uncle's pet dog, Happy, was everyone's favorite. We enjoyed some great home food and wonderful hospitality. Toronto has very good restaurants and we thoroughly enjoyed Indian food at its best. The city and suburbs are very family friendly with nice neighborhood parks and walking paths. The city is huge ! Getting from one place to another takes a lot of time and traffic is terrible. So, plan accordingly. The weather was also quite hot although there were rains on some days. I also found that the skin became excessively dry for all of us.
Our first stop was to the Ontario Science Center. We felt it was a bit dated (compared to the one in Vancouver). It could do with some more elevators; we had to wait forever (we had no choice because of stroller). There were a lot of nice exhibits and the museum is spread over many floors. There is a lot to see.
We went to a planetarium show and the kids did great because they sat through it, but the show was very boring. I may be a bit biased because I have seen some pretty awesome shows elsewhere. We finally left when the museum closed and had to wait for my uncle outside the building, where there were many vendors selling candy/ice cream etc; beware they are very expensive.
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| Toronto Skyline from the Restaurant |
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| Roller Coaster |
We took it easy next couple of days and went to the neighborhood parks.
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| Niagara ! |
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| View from our Hotel Room |
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| View from where we ate lunch |
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| Lights over Niagara from the room |
Our last place to see, was Lego land. R loves legos and so we decided to visit that place. We found it to be very pricey and not worth visiting. The food at the cafe was terrible and the staff were very disinterested.
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| Lego models |
Then 2 days before leaving, we went to the local Guruvayoor temple for a ceremony; where baby is given the first rice in the presence of Guruvayoorappan.
Overall, this was a great trip and we had a lot of fun. Toronto is a very kid friendly city. But with 2 kids, there is a lot of planning to do to see any place. We skipped CN Towers because my experience last time was terrible (long wait). And after a point, all towers seem the same. We have our very own space needle here and also been to a nice tower in Macau. So, we skipped CN Tower.Till next time, Toronto.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Weekend at Fort Flagler State Park
We had not done any traveling after 'baby I' was born. Managing a toddler and a baby kept us very busy and vacation was not on the list. But a weekend getaway seemed like a good start. I had made a reservation at one of the vacation houses at Fort Flagler many months in advance during the July 4th weekend.
All of us were really looking forward to the trip. We took a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge island around noon and we drove on via scenic Washington state. We stopped at a quaint little store just a few miles before the park to pick up some milk and fruits. I even found yummy naan and fresh baked bread ! We reached the park around 3pm. The park is on marrowstone island and at a strategic position. Upon entering the park, we were greeted by fantastic views of Puget Sound. Our Vacation house was called 'Engineers House' and was towards the end of the row of vacation houses and retreat centers.
The Engineer's House was very quaint and charming. It was built during WW1 and was maintained in very good condition. There was a fully equipped kitchen, a large living room overlooking the bluff, 2 bedrooms - 1 with a queen bed (with a TV) and a smaller one with a bunk bed, a large bathroom and a nice porch overlooking the Bluff. There was also a small fenced backyard. Linen was provided. Perfect ! The only thing missing was a BBQ grill.
We unwound and then strolled at the park, it was very scenic. A different ship or boat made its appearance every few minutes and kept R completely thrilled. It seems all ships to Seattle need to pass through this tiny inlet (6 miles wide) and was hence a strategic point for the army.
We spent the next day exploring some of the bunkers and also took one of the guided tours provided by volunteers. Then we went to the beach and the kids had a lot of fun. The sand was soft and the views were great. I took a small stroll along the beach and reached the tip where a light house was situated. Some people were 'fly fishing' and many dogs were on a stroll.
Next day morning, we left to Seattle after breakfast. The trip was wonderful ! The highlights for me were the superb house ( I already booked to stay for next year); the views of the water and ships, wildlife, scenic views and lots of open space.
Fort Flager is considered to be a part of the 'triangle of fire'. Three forts were built in strategic points to guard anybody entering the water of puget sound. Next stop, Fort Worden.
P.S. I started to write this post many months ago but never published it. Over the next few weeks, I will write about all our travels this year.
All of us were really looking forward to the trip. We took a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge island around noon and we drove on via scenic Washington state. We stopped at a quaint little store just a few miles before the park to pick up some milk and fruits. I even found yummy naan and fresh baked bread ! We reached the park around 3pm. The park is on marrowstone island and at a strategic position. Upon entering the park, we were greeted by fantastic views of Puget Sound. Our Vacation house was called 'Engineers House' and was towards the end of the row of vacation houses and retreat centers.
The Engineer's House was very quaint and charming. It was built during WW1 and was maintained in very good condition. There was a fully equipped kitchen, a large living room overlooking the bluff, 2 bedrooms - 1 with a queen bed (with a TV) and a smaller one with a bunk bed, a large bathroom and a nice porch overlooking the Bluff. There was also a small fenced backyard. Linen was provided. Perfect ! The only thing missing was a BBQ grill.
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| The Kitchen |
We unwound and then strolled at the park, it was very scenic. A different ship or boat made its appearance every few minutes and kept R completely thrilled. It seems all ships to Seattle need to pass through this tiny inlet (6 miles wide) and was hence a strategic point for the army. |
| The Large Bathroom |
Next day morning, we left to Seattle after breakfast. The trip was wonderful ! The highlights for me were the superb house ( I already booked to stay for next year); the views of the water and ships, wildlife, scenic views and lots of open space.
Fort Flager is considered to be a part of the 'triangle of fire'. Three forts were built in strategic points to guard anybody entering the water of puget sound. Next stop, Fort Worden.
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| One of the bunkers |
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| The Lighthouse |
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| View from the Ferry |
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Macau with Toddler
This had been sitting as a draft for almost 5 months.
The next day, we had a quick breakfast and packed our bags to check out of the hotel in HK. We left a couple of suitcases at my aunts house, as we did not want to lug it around to Macau. We took a double decker bus, which stopped conveniently just outside the hotel. R loved the bus ride and we reached the Macau ferry ride in a few minutes. The octopus card for the transportation was very convenient ! We purchased the ferry tickets and tried to find an elevator for the stroller and gave up as there were no signs for it. After we reached the gate and were assigned seats, one of the officers there, helped us by taking us to a service elevator. The staff were very helpful and helped us board the ferry. The seats were very comfortable and quite different from the ferry in Seattle. The ferry ride was very bumpy and the sea outside was very choppy. I was very nervous and pretty sure I would throw up any minute. Even V and R looked a little uncomfortable. Thankfully, the ride became smooth after about 10 minutes. We reached Macau in an hour and immigration was super easy. We exchanged some currency to the local MOP and boarded the free shuttle bus to the venetian hotel.
We saw many casinos on the way and some of them looked very impressive. We finally reached the hotel and the friendly staff immediately assisted us with the baggage. When you are traveling with a toddler, this is so helpful ! We checked-in and were given a suite in the 27th floor. Our room was identical to the suite at the venetian in Vegas, except that the shower was not as good as the one on Vegas. Even the hotel was quite similar, all the murals were a poor imitation and did not match the real splendor of Vegas. We grabbed something to eat in the food court and took a stroll along the canal. The Zee TV awards were being held on the next day at the Cotai arena and we went to the arena in hopes of seeing some Bollywood stars. We saw some TV celebrities and many enthusiastic fans. R had lots of fun running around everywhere in the huge, empty lobbies of the hotel. Finally we were tired of running behind him and decided to have dinner. While we walked towards our suite, I spotted a group of bodyguards and 2 people inside. On closer notice, lo and behold, it was Shahid Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor !! OMG !! I could not believe it. V and R had already gone past them,and I quickly went upto them and asked for a photograph. One of the bodyguards sternly replied that they were running late for practice. Immediately, Shahid told me that it was ok and I could take a picture with them. Then I gave the camera to the bodyguard and went near them. Ranbir then told me to come and stand between the 2 of them. Wow ! Both of them were so sweet and humble, I was completely star struck ! V and R managed to come back and sneak into the picture frame just in time. We thanked them for the photo and they went away. I stood stunned for sometime and could not believe that I met them.
We had a nice dinner at a Portuguese restaurant and celebrated our wedding anniversary. After dinner, we walked back to the shops for a stroll and met the legendary, Jeetendra. After that, R played a lot and we had a good time chasing after him. Finally, all of us were exhausted and decided to call it a day. Thankfully starbucks was on the way to the suite and we picked up some chocolate milk for R. They had some difference flavors of tea and coffee that I had not seen in Seattle.
Next day, we woke up early, as we had a sightseeing tour booked from the hotel which was leaving at 9am. We ordered room service breakfast and it was delicious. We set off on the tour and saw many sights of Macau and its portuguese history. We went to A-Ma temple, ruins of St Pauls, Senado Square, Macau tower, St Dominic's church and the Taipa Houses Museum. All the places were very interesting and we stopped to eat some famous 'egg tarts' from a bakery in Senado Sqaure. As it was the Chinese new year 2 days later, every place had a special decoration for the celebration. Not to forget the many dragons everywhere to commemorate the year of the dragon. We enjoyed the city and tour immensely.
We came back to the hotel by 1pm and went to a Japanese restaurant along the canal and had an excellent meal. We went back to the room and decided to take a dip in the swimming pool. There was a very nice Jacuzzi, which was an excellent way to relax after the busy morning. Refreshed, we all went back to the room and R feel asleep after all the excitement. The Zee TV show was starting in a couple of hours and I went down to see the red carpet event. There were many stars and finally SRK showed up, causing a lot of excitement. Then I went back to the room to help R get dressed and told them about the red carpet.
The show did not start on time and in fact even the entry was not ready. I was quite annoyed by this and complained to the staff. The staff told me they were helpless as the main stars had not yet arrived. Finally an hour later, we could enter the theater and waited for some more time before SRK finally started the show. He was entertaining but looked older in real life. There was a lot of teasing of Vidya Balan and her weight, which I thought was in very bad taste. Shahid's dance was superb and Ranbir's was very entertaining. R had woken up and was a little restless. Since the show started late, it went on way past 11pm and R was very cranky by now. Finally we had to leave and missed the last two awards.
The next day, we got ready and checked out of the hotel. We boarded a different ferry and left to HK. This ride was worse the earlier one and was choppy throughout. I was so happy when my feet touched the ground. We went to my aunt's house for a late lunch and then left to the airport. They had a very convenient check in system at the train station, where we could check in the bags and then board the train to the airport. We flew EVA for the first time and had a very roomy seat on the upper deck. They even had storage bins in the side by the seat. The toys they gave were very interesting and even I wanted to play with them. I was pleasantly surprised at the excellent service, food etc.
Our 3 day halt was very memorable indeed.
The next day, we had a quick breakfast and packed our bags to check out of the hotel in HK. We left a couple of suitcases at my aunts house, as we did not want to lug it around to Macau. We took a double decker bus, which stopped conveniently just outside the hotel. R loved the bus ride and we reached the Macau ferry ride in a few minutes. The octopus card for the transportation was very convenient ! We purchased the ferry tickets and tried to find an elevator for the stroller and gave up as there were no signs for it. After we reached the gate and were assigned seats, one of the officers there, helped us by taking us to a service elevator. The staff were very helpful and helped us board the ferry. The seats were very comfortable and quite different from the ferry in Seattle. The ferry ride was very bumpy and the sea outside was very choppy. I was very nervous and pretty sure I would throw up any minute. Even V and R looked a little uncomfortable. Thankfully, the ride became smooth after about 10 minutes. We reached Macau in an hour and immigration was super easy. We exchanged some currency to the local MOP and boarded the free shuttle bus to the venetian hotel.
We saw many casinos on the way and some of them looked very impressive. We finally reached the hotel and the friendly staff immediately assisted us with the baggage. When you are traveling with a toddler, this is so helpful ! We checked-in and were given a suite in the 27th floor. Our room was identical to the suite at the venetian in Vegas, except that the shower was not as good as the one on Vegas. Even the hotel was quite similar, all the murals were a poor imitation and did not match the real splendor of Vegas. We grabbed something to eat in the food court and took a stroll along the canal. The Zee TV awards were being held on the next day at the Cotai arena and we went to the arena in hopes of seeing some Bollywood stars. We saw some TV celebrities and many enthusiastic fans. R had lots of fun running around everywhere in the huge, empty lobbies of the hotel. Finally we were tired of running behind him and decided to have dinner. While we walked towards our suite, I spotted a group of bodyguards and 2 people inside. On closer notice, lo and behold, it was Shahid Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor !! OMG !! I could not believe it. V and R had already gone past them,and I quickly went upto them and asked for a photograph. One of the bodyguards sternly replied that they were running late for practice. Immediately, Shahid told me that it was ok and I could take a picture with them. Then I gave the camera to the bodyguard and went near them. Ranbir then told me to come and stand between the 2 of them. Wow ! Both of them were so sweet and humble, I was completely star struck ! V and R managed to come back and sneak into the picture frame just in time. We thanked them for the photo and they went away. I stood stunned for sometime and could not believe that I met them.
We had a nice dinner at a Portuguese restaurant and celebrated our wedding anniversary. After dinner, we walked back to the shops for a stroll and met the legendary, Jeetendra. After that, R played a lot and we had a good time chasing after him. Finally, all of us were exhausted and decided to call it a day. Thankfully starbucks was on the way to the suite and we picked up some chocolate milk for R. They had some difference flavors of tea and coffee that I had not seen in Seattle.
Next day, we woke up early, as we had a sightseeing tour booked from the hotel which was leaving at 9am. We ordered room service breakfast and it was delicious. We set off on the tour and saw many sights of Macau and its portuguese history. We went to A-Ma temple, ruins of St Pauls, Senado Square, Macau tower, St Dominic's church and the Taipa Houses Museum. All the places were very interesting and we stopped to eat some famous 'egg tarts' from a bakery in Senado Sqaure. As it was the Chinese new year 2 days later, every place had a special decoration for the celebration. Not to forget the many dragons everywhere to commemorate the year of the dragon. We enjoyed the city and tour immensely.
We came back to the hotel by 1pm and went to a Japanese restaurant along the canal and had an excellent meal. We went back to the room and decided to take a dip in the swimming pool. There was a very nice Jacuzzi, which was an excellent way to relax after the busy morning. Refreshed, we all went back to the room and R feel asleep after all the excitement. The Zee TV show was starting in a couple of hours and I went down to see the red carpet event. There were many stars and finally SRK showed up, causing a lot of excitement. Then I went back to the room to help R get dressed and told them about the red carpet.
The show did not start on time and in fact even the entry was not ready. I was quite annoyed by this and complained to the staff. The staff told me they were helpless as the main stars had not yet arrived. Finally an hour later, we could enter the theater and waited for some more time before SRK finally started the show. He was entertaining but looked older in real life. There was a lot of teasing of Vidya Balan and her weight, which I thought was in very bad taste. Shahid's dance was superb and Ranbir's was very entertaining. R had woken up and was a little restless. Since the show started late, it went on way past 11pm and R was very cranky by now. Finally we had to leave and missed the last two awards.
The next day, we got ready and checked out of the hotel. We boarded a different ferry and left to HK. This ride was worse the earlier one and was choppy throughout. I was so happy when my feet touched the ground. We went to my aunt's house for a late lunch and then left to the airport. They had a very convenient check in system at the train station, where we could check in the bags and then board the train to the airport. We flew EVA for the first time and had a very roomy seat on the upper deck. They even had storage bins in the side by the seat. The toys they gave were very interesting and even I wanted to play with them. I was pleasantly surprised at the excellent service, food etc.
Our 3 day halt was very memorable indeed.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Hong Kong with toddler
We decided to take a short vacation in HKG as our flight had a layover there. We took a flight from Blr to Mumbai via Jet airways. The travel to Mumbai was uneventful as R was fast asleep. We landed in the domestic airport which I was seeing after 6 years and it seemed to have become a little more organized. We boarded the shuttle bus with little delay and R was thrilled to ride in a bus. The ride was a little over 25 minutes and the we were dropped off at the crowded international terminal entrance. There were so many people standing outside the airport, it seemed like atleast a dozen people were coming to see off 1-2 people. It was a bit of a struggle to navigate the stroller through the crowd, I am considering getting a horn or a whistle for the stroller next time around, a slight adaptation for Indian roads. We reached our gate and got some milk for R while he went to sleep, it was almost midnight. When the boarding began, we were shocked to see that we had to take a big flight of stairs. How could we do that with a sleeping toddler in a stroller? When I complained to the flight staff, all I got was a sheepish grin. Argh ! Anyway, we managed to go get to our seats and luckily, R was in deep sleep. I noticed several people wearing jackets with 'Shaimak' and could not see any famous faces. Then suddenly out of the blue, Shaimak came from the business class to talk to his troupe members. Wow !
He passed us a couple of times and I could not get up because I was holding a sleeping baby. I pleaded V to take a picture with Shaimak and he refused. Finally by the time he was ready, Shaimak was nowhere to be seen. Sigh !
We reached HKG and completed the immigration in a jiffy. It was so nice to get a visa on arrival with so few countries doing it for an Indian passport holder. We picked up a octopus card for us and took a taxi to our hotel in Taikoo. The city looked so nice and well planned. We checked into EAST hotel and got a fabulous room with a harbor view. The hotel was very nicely located near the MTR (metro) and the city plaza. After a quick shower, we went to the city plaza to grab lunch. We could not find an elevator to take the stroller and had to make do with the escalator. Then began the hunt for vegetarian food and the food court had nothing. Many of the staff there did not know english also making it more challenging. We found McDonalds for R and we finally found Pizza Hut. We had big plans for that evening but finally just took a nap. Later that night, we visited my aunt who lived down the road and got some pointers on food and travel. V found a supermarket in the city plaza basement where he got fresh fruits and drinking water.
Next day, we were still jetlagged and woke up late. By now, we found the elevator and could navigate the stroller more conveniently. We found an Indian place in the basement food court of city plaza, called ' curry in a hurry' which had awesome food. We had a good brunch and set off in the MTR towards the giant buddha called Ngong Ping 360. The attraction was easy to find and the although there was long line, it moved very fast.We took the crystal cabin cable car at around 3:00pm and had fantastic views. All of us enjoyed the ride and it got chilly on top. After a quick walk in the village, we went towards the big buddha. We parked the stroller in the bottom of the steps, and walked the 200 some steps. We were impressed when R also walked the flight of stairs by himself. After taking blessings, we came down to the Po Lin monestery and had a veggie snack. The snack was simple and delicious. The monestery was very beautiful and we felt at peace. This was a toddler friendly attraction and R loved to run around in the open spaces everywhere. He was also very happy to see many friendly dogs roaming freely everywhere. We picked up some souvenirs and passed by the Bodhi tree, it seemed to be made from plastic ! We boarded the cable car and when we reached the base it was almost 6:30pm. R fell asleep in the MTR train and we decided to go and see the star ferry as it was too foggy to go the 'peak'.
From the central station on the MTR, we found an exit towards the ferry. It was a bit of a walk and was thankfully stroller friendly. We found the ferry towards kowloon and boarded it. The ferry crosses the south china sea from Hong Kong to Kowloon and is about 15 minutes long. We got a wonderful view of HK skyline. After reaching Kowloon, we walked for an hour and saw all the famous designer stores. There were lines to get into stores like Chanel. I wonder if there was a sale going on. After sometime, we walked into a mall for dinner and there was no elevator to the basement, where the food court was situated. As usual I did not find anything vegetarian and had to make do with some sweet soup. V had some nice dumplings while R continued to sleep. We took the ferry back to HK and I spotted a subway. I was happy to see it and had a sandwich. We then headed back to hotel via the MTR on the island line.
It was a good day and we were happy to have managed to see two attractions. I will be happy to see more elevators in the malls and signs for them. Next time, I better learn some Cantonese to at least ask for veggie options in food. Next stop, Macau.
He passed us a couple of times and I could not get up because I was holding a sleeping baby. I pleaded V to take a picture with Shaimak and he refused. Finally by the time he was ready, Shaimak was nowhere to be seen. Sigh !
We reached HKG and completed the immigration in a jiffy. It was so nice to get a visa on arrival with so few countries doing it for an Indian passport holder. We picked up a octopus card for us and took a taxi to our hotel in Taikoo. The city looked so nice and well planned. We checked into EAST hotel and got a fabulous room with a harbor view. The hotel was very nicely located near the MTR (metro) and the city plaza. After a quick shower, we went to the city plaza to grab lunch. We could not find an elevator to take the stroller and had to make do with the escalator. Then began the hunt for vegetarian food and the food court had nothing. Many of the staff there did not know english also making it more challenging. We found McDonalds for R and we finally found Pizza Hut. We had big plans for that evening but finally just took a nap. Later that night, we visited my aunt who lived down the road and got some pointers on food and travel. V found a supermarket in the city plaza basement where he got fresh fruits and drinking water.
Next day, we were still jetlagged and woke up late. By now, we found the elevator and could navigate the stroller more conveniently. We found an Indian place in the basement food court of city plaza, called ' curry in a hurry' which had awesome food. We had a good brunch and set off in the MTR towards the giant buddha called Ngong Ping 360. The attraction was easy to find and the although there was long line, it moved very fast.We took the crystal cabin cable car at around 3:00pm and had fantastic views. All of us enjoyed the ride and it got chilly on top. After a quick walk in the village, we went towards the big buddha. We parked the stroller in the bottom of the steps, and walked the 200 some steps. We were impressed when R also walked the flight of stairs by himself. After taking blessings, we came down to the Po Lin monestery and had a veggie snack. The snack was simple and delicious. The monestery was very beautiful and we felt at peace. This was a toddler friendly attraction and R loved to run around in the open spaces everywhere. He was also very happy to see many friendly dogs roaming freely everywhere. We picked up some souvenirs and passed by the Bodhi tree, it seemed to be made from plastic ! We boarded the cable car and when we reached the base it was almost 6:30pm. R fell asleep in the MTR train and we decided to go and see the star ferry as it was too foggy to go the 'peak'.
From the central station on the MTR, we found an exit towards the ferry. It was a bit of a walk and was thankfully stroller friendly. We found the ferry towards kowloon and boarded it. The ferry crosses the south china sea from Hong Kong to Kowloon and is about 15 minutes long. We got a wonderful view of HK skyline. After reaching Kowloon, we walked for an hour and saw all the famous designer stores. There were lines to get into stores like Chanel. I wonder if there was a sale going on. After sometime, we walked into a mall for dinner and there was no elevator to the basement, where the food court was situated. As usual I did not find anything vegetarian and had to make do with some sweet soup. V had some nice dumplings while R continued to sleep. We took the ferry back to HK and I spotted a subway. I was happy to see it and had a sandwich. We then headed back to hotel via the MTR on the island line.
It was a good day and we were happy to have managed to see two attractions. I will be happy to see more elevators in the malls and signs for them. Next time, I better learn some Cantonese to at least ask for veggie options in food. Next stop, Macau.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunny Days
A few weekends ago (Aug 6), Saturday began being cloudy and dull.
After R's soccer class, we decided to skip the blue angels show
as it was cloudy. That afternoon, suddenly the sun broke through
and it was beautiful ! Yipee !
I quickly decided that we should go out and enjoy the sun.
DH picked one of our favorite spots, Gas works Park in Seattle. I packed a dinner for R and some sandwiches for us to enjoy. Beach towel - check. Sunscreen - check. Camera - check. Stoller - check. Ball and Frisbee - check. Gas works Park is on Lake union and it was an old Gas
manufacturing plant. Remnants of the factory still remains
in the park. Some of them have been seem to be refurbished.
It is a very unique park. We reached the park around 6pm and it was a gorgeous day,
glorious sunshine with blue skies. We went to the lookout
and sat there enjoying the view of Seattle downtown.
There were sea planes taking off and landing every 5 minutes. There were so many boats that I lose track of them.
There were so many pretty sail boats, the regular seattle
ride-the-duck tours, kayaks and other tour boats. R was
happy to see the birds, dogs, boats, planes and people. We were
happy to just bask under the sun and look at the beautiful view.
There were people playing with frisbee and amused R a lot. The
grassy lawn was nice to play soccer and R played with DH for
a few minutes. R also decided to walk more than usual and we
were very happy. MIL who is visiting us also loved the park.
We finally moved to another spot as the sun started setting.
We then had our sandwiches while R had his dinner. Adding
to all this was some music being played by some college kids.
They were dancing and having a good time.Perfect weekend
activity. Loved every second of this outing. Finally the sun began to set and it started to get a little chilly.
We packed up and headed back home. Yet another reason why I love Seattle.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The music must go on
It was my 6th violin lesson today and it has been an interesting learning experience so far. My teacher is very patient and more enthusiastic about my playing skills than yours truly. I love to playing the violin and feel so refreshed after every class. I am having a hard time co-ordinating the notes I see and finding the corresponding note on the string. But hey...I am trying. My order for a metronome was delivered today and it was different playing with that ticking sound. I have still not mastered 'holding' the bow and keep getting corrected every class.
I met student A in my first class. She has her class after mine and would usually come in a few minutes early with her mom. She must be a teenager and I've never heard her play although I've entertained her with my 'open note' skills. I met student B for the first time a few weeks ago and got a shock. He cannot be more than 6 years old ! He was so tiny and cute and my jaw hit the floor when I heard him play Bach. How could anyone so tiny play something so advanced?!! I was so amazed and felt so strange to be learning to play at my age. So every time I go for my class, I listen to B play and enjoy it so much.
I missed a class last week and rescheduled it for today evening. I met student C who was playing before my class. I met an 'adult' student for the first time and he was playing superb songs. C must be in his 40's and I was really happy to see an adult learning to play. My day got even better, when my class ended and I met student D. She must be around my age and she was the first person I met who was also learning to play from Wohlfart. He wrote these learning books for violin more than 100 years ago ! Anyway, coming back to D, I told her I was so happy to see an adult learning from the same book as me (beginners). She expressed similar feelings and commented about only meeting kids playing so well and giving her a complex ! We laughed and encouraged each other. Our teacher told us to just keep practising and not give up :-) .
I met student A in my first class. She has her class after mine and would usually come in a few minutes early with her mom. She must be a teenager and I've never heard her play although I've entertained her with my 'open note' skills. I met student B for the first time a few weeks ago and got a shock. He cannot be more than 6 years old ! He was so tiny and cute and my jaw hit the floor when I heard him play Bach. How could anyone so tiny play something so advanced?!! I was so amazed and felt so strange to be learning to play at my age. So every time I go for my class, I listen to B play and enjoy it so much.
I missed a class last week and rescheduled it for today evening. I met student C who was playing before my class. I met an 'adult' student for the first time and he was playing superb songs. C must be in his 40's and I was really happy to see an adult learning to play. My day got even better, when my class ended and I met student D. She must be around my age and she was the first person I met who was also learning to play from Wohlfart. He wrote these learning books for violin more than 100 years ago ! Anyway, coming back to D, I told her I was so happy to see an adult learning from the same book as me (beginners). She expressed similar feelings and commented about only meeting kids playing so well and giving her a complex ! We laughed and encouraged each other. Our teacher told us to just keep practising and not give up :-) .
Saturday, June 07, 2008
The Crater Lake Weekend
V and I sent off early on Saturday morning and headed towards Oregon on I-5 in the wee hours of the morning. We're spending the long weekend in Fort Klamath near Crater Lake with 2 other friends. After driving for a couple of hours, we finally took an exit to highway 58. The scenery changed dramatically as we drove past beautiful lakes, sometimes on either side of the road. One of them was simply called Lookout Point Lake and it was beautiful, the right side of the lake looked blue while the left looked green. We're finally getting closer to the destination and decided to check on our friends, R and VA. Sadly, neither V not I had a cell phone signal at this point. How frustrating ! Ofcourse, we seem to be surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and green pastures and not a soul was in sight for miles. There were no other cars on the road, very few houses were seen. There were many cows, horses and even a few animals that looked like an alpaca in the pastures. My phone rang suddenly and it was VA, he asked us to turnaround as we had just passed him at the intersection. We got lucky to have been in a small section where all of us had signal and no other cars were in sight.
It was already past noon and so the first agenda of the day was lunch. None of us recalled having passed any restaurants nearby and so we just kept driving on highway 97. We suddenly spotted a restaurant called Melita's and it seemed decent. We went pleasantly surprised that it was very cosy inside and the menu actually looked very appealing. There were quite a few veggie options, bearing in mind that we seemed to be literally in the middle of nowhere. VA and I ordered some jalapeño melts while V and R tried some chicken. The food was fantastic and the prices were cheaper that most restaurants. We quickly decided that we would come for dinner and even decided what to eat.
We proceeded to check-in into our inn, and were happy with the accommodation. The Aspen Inn was very comfortable and incredibly cute cottage. There was a queen size bed downstairs and 2 twin beds on the loft. The bathroom was very clean, and they had the oldest microwave and TV model that I had ever seen. The owners were also very friendly and amiable. We took all the local maps that we needed and asked for recommendations on things to do and finally headed towards the lake.
Crater Lake was incredibly beautiful. The snow added to its beauty as all of us stood mesmerized for sometime. The R unpacked his camera gear and started talking pictures with his SLR. I did not expect so much snow and just wore sneakers to the lake, as a result found it very slippery. We then decided to get some warm coffee in the lodge. The challenge seemed to be that it was completely covered in snow and we did not where the entrance was. We went off the beaten path and did a hike through the snow, and I slipped and fell, to the great amusement of all. We got our warmth back inside and we also bought some souvenir's. The lady at the counter gave us some ideas on where we could go the next day. As the rim was covered with snow, there was not much we could see at the lake. We left the lodge when we noticed a nice entry to it from the street. The trek through the snow was unnecessary after all !
We then set off towards Diamond lake when it started raining. We finally reached the lake and found a look out point. We were not very happy with the sight, perhaps, the rain and cold weather had a role in it. It was a pretty lake but not worth driving 1.5 hours in the rain. We then drove back and reached Melita's at dinner time. The pasta I ordered was heavy but tasty. We had one of the best salad's there. Satisfied, all of us went back to get some rest.
Day 2 - to be continued.
It was already past noon and so the first agenda of the day was lunch. None of us recalled having passed any restaurants nearby and so we just kept driving on highway 97. We suddenly spotted a restaurant called Melita's and it seemed decent. We went pleasantly surprised that it was very cosy inside and the menu actually looked very appealing. There were quite a few veggie options, bearing in mind that we seemed to be literally in the middle of nowhere. VA and I ordered some jalapeño melts while V and R tried some chicken. The food was fantastic and the prices were cheaper that most restaurants. We quickly decided that we would come for dinner and even decided what to eat.
We proceeded to check-in into our inn, and were happy with the accommodation. The Aspen Inn was very comfortable and incredibly cute cottage. There was a queen size bed downstairs and 2 twin beds on the loft. The bathroom was very clean, and they had the oldest microwave and TV model that I had ever seen. The owners were also very friendly and amiable. We took all the local maps that we needed and asked for recommendations on things to do and finally headed towards the lake.
Crater Lake was incredibly beautiful. The snow added to its beauty as all of us stood mesmerized for sometime. The R unpacked his camera gear and started talking pictures with his SLR. I did not expect so much snow and just wore sneakers to the lake, as a result found it very slippery. We then decided to get some warm coffee in the lodge. The challenge seemed to be that it was completely covered in snow and we did not where the entrance was. We went off the beaten path and did a hike through the snow, and I slipped and fell, to the great amusement of all. We got our warmth back inside and we also bought some souvenir's. The lady at the counter gave us some ideas on where we could go the next day. As the rim was covered with snow, there was not much we could see at the lake. We left the lodge when we noticed a nice entry to it from the street. The trek through the snow was unnecessary after all !
We then set off towards Diamond lake when it started raining. We finally reached the lake and found a look out point. We were not very happy with the sight, perhaps, the rain and cold weather had a role in it. It was a pretty lake but not worth driving 1.5 hours in the rain. We then drove back and reached Melita's at dinner time. The pasta I ordered was heavy but tasty. We had one of the best salad's there. Satisfied, all of us went back to get some rest.
Day 2 - to be continued.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
What to do in the next 10 years
Archana tagged me to write about my plans for the next 10 years. So, here is a list of 10 things I would like to do in the next 10 years, in no particular order.
1. Buy a house.
Hopefully I will have money saved up for it soon :-)
I would like to have a room where I can play my violin (so that no one complains).
2. Travel to Europe.
This is something I always wanted to do. I happened to watch a lot of Rick Steves travel shows recently and am inspired to travel to Europe more than ever. While on the topic, I would say I love his travel shows the best followed by samantha brown on travel channel.
3. Learn to Swim.
This has been on my list of things to learn for a long time, hopefully I learn it this summer. I love being in the water, sadly, never learned to swim.
4. Play in an orchestra.
As a child, whenever I heard violin concerts on the radio, I would aspire to play in a western orchestra. I still feel the same, hopefully with my baby steps, in learning western classical, I will achieve this goal.
5. Be fit.
Last year, has been very erratic and I've neglected the gym. I am making amends now and trying to get back to something I really enjoy. I hope to lose weight and be fit soon and continue being 'fit as a fiddle' over the years to come.
6. Career and Personal Growth.
Well, I just started working and hope to grow in my career. I've a few certification exams I am planning to take soon. Hopefully I will pass them hehehe. I also want to learn a foreign language and take some formal dancing classes with my hubby. I also want to learn to paint, don't know if I have the skills for it, but want to definitely give it a try.
7. Be a better person.
I've so much to improve and change in myself. I hope to be a better daughter, a better wife, a better friend and a better person each year. I hope to make new friends, keep in touch with my old friends, and share new experiences with the ones I love.
8. Spiritual Growth.
I've so many plans in this area, and I hope to achieve them. Someday, I would be able to dedicate atleast 10 minutes of my time to just meditate.
9. Enjoy Life.
In today's busy lifestyle, we sometimes, forget the simple pleasures in life. I hope to balance all the elements in life and enjoy the ride ! I would like to continue enjoying all outdoor activities, travel, hike, dance, enjoy good food and take life as it comes. I want to have a beautiful garden and a dog :-)
10. Be more organized.
I like being organized and am not happy over many of my current habits. I hope I improve and find time for all the things I want to do !
1. Buy a house.
Hopefully I will have money saved up for it soon :-)
I would like to have a room where I can play my violin (so that no one complains).
2. Travel to Europe.
This is something I always wanted to do. I happened to watch a lot of Rick Steves travel shows recently and am inspired to travel to Europe more than ever. While on the topic, I would say I love his travel shows the best followed by samantha brown on travel channel.
3. Learn to Swim.
This has been on my list of things to learn for a long time, hopefully I learn it this summer. I love being in the water, sadly, never learned to swim.
4. Play in an orchestra.
As a child, whenever I heard violin concerts on the radio, I would aspire to play in a western orchestra. I still feel the same, hopefully with my baby steps, in learning western classical, I will achieve this goal.
5. Be fit.
Last year, has been very erratic and I've neglected the gym. I am making amends now and trying to get back to something I really enjoy. I hope to lose weight and be fit soon and continue being 'fit as a fiddle' over the years to come.
6. Career and Personal Growth.
Well, I just started working and hope to grow in my career. I've a few certification exams I am planning to take soon. Hopefully I will pass them hehehe. I also want to learn a foreign language and take some formal dancing classes with my hubby. I also want to learn to paint, don't know if I have the skills for it, but want to definitely give it a try.
7. Be a better person.
I've so much to improve and change in myself. I hope to be a better daughter, a better wife, a better friend and a better person each year. I hope to make new friends, keep in touch with my old friends, and share new experiences with the ones I love.
8. Spiritual Growth.
I've so many plans in this area, and I hope to achieve them. Someday, I would be able to dedicate atleast 10 minutes of my time to just meditate.
9. Enjoy Life.
In today's busy lifestyle, we sometimes, forget the simple pleasures in life. I hope to balance all the elements in life and enjoy the ride ! I would like to continue enjoying all outdoor activities, travel, hike, dance, enjoy good food and take life as it comes. I want to have a beautiful garden and a dog :-)
10. Be more organized.
I like being organized and am not happy over many of my current habits. I hope I improve and find time for all the things I want to do !
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Violin Blues
I was 10 years old when I had my first violin lesson in carnatic music. I don't really remember much about it, except that my teacher was a very patient lady. I had classes every weekend and I used to find them very boring. I stopped after a year due to reasons I don't remember now. Then, I began to learn again after when I was a teenager; this stint was longer for about 3 years. I was one of those students who was quick to learn but practiced very little. My parents always encouraged me to practice and get better at it. By now, I enjoyed playing the instrument but was still lethargic about practicing.
After a gap of a couple of years, I decided to give it my shot again. It was back to sarali varisai and the usual path; this time I reached varanams (songs). It was a good achievement for me; just because of my sheer laziness. My mother always used to say that I would miss it later and I used to be amused. I quit playing when I was in my engineering and hardly touched the instrument after that.
Fast forward a few years, I am in the US and I begin to miss playing my violin; especially when I hear any song with a violin in it. My mother was right (aren't they always?). I did think about enrolling in a class but never got around to it.
All that changed today. I went to the violin store and picked out an instrument to rent. I figured that I would start playing and then buy my own instrument later. I also found an instructor and would start my first western classical lesson in a couple of weeks. Till then, I am going to try to play all the carnatic music lessons that I can pull of the web. I am very excited about playing a violin again. It would be interesting to learn a different style of playing.
I only hope my neighbors don't complain :-)
After a gap of a couple of years, I decided to give it my shot again. It was back to sarali varisai and the usual path; this time I reached varanams (songs). It was a good achievement for me; just because of my sheer laziness. My mother always used to say that I would miss it later and I used to be amused. I quit playing when I was in my engineering and hardly touched the instrument after that.
Fast forward a few years, I am in the US and I begin to miss playing my violin; especially when I hear any song with a violin in it. My mother was right (aren't they always?). I did think about enrolling in a class but never got around to it.
All that changed today. I went to the violin store and picked out an instrument to rent. I figured that I would start playing and then buy my own instrument later. I also found an instructor and would start my first western classical lesson in a couple of weeks. Till then, I am going to try to play all the carnatic music lessons that I can pull of the web. I am very excited about playing a violin again. It would be interesting to learn a different style of playing.
I only hope my neighbors don't complain :-)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Ash hears a Boo
Over the last couple of days, I watched two interesting period movies, both approximately in the 16th century.
The first one as this title suggests, stars, the actress I love to hate, Ash. Frankly, I did not want to watch the movie, Jodhaa Akbar; but V wanted to and his friends were waiting for us in the theater. Surprisingly, the movie was not bad at all. This is one of those few where I could bear, Ash's acting. She looked beautiful and sleep-walked through the role. Hritik looked good too. The movie was shot well, the palaces were just beautiful. There is a scene, when Jodhaa comes to her new palace, and she is shown to her room. It was so grand ! She had a room just for changing clothes that was bigger than my whole apartment! The jewelery was gorgeous, in fact, I was surprised at some of the styles, as they resembled the popular costume jewelery of today. I have seen very Bollywood movies with huge war scenes, this was one of the few. It was not fantastic but good for desi style. Watching one of the war scenes, reminded me of a game of chess, complete with soldiers, horsemen and powerful people of elephants. The songs were also good. The only thing bad about the movie was the length, it was too long and tended to just drag. But, looks like it is not very popular at the box office; especially for Ash. Interesting fact I learned during the movie, did you know that Akbar the great was an illiterate? That did not stop him from being one of the greatest rulers though.
The second movie, the other boleyn girl, was also very interesting (spoilers below). The story is based on the rivalry between 2 sisters, Anne and Mary, over King Henry VIII. Mary becomes the King's mistress first and gives birth to a son. Then, her sister has an affair with the King; she drives the King to divorce his wife, Catherine. His marriage is on the rocks because the Queen cannot give birth to a son, so in order to divorce her, he even makes up his own law and goes against the church ! Tut, tut ! Men ! The King then marries Anne Boleyn, she gives birth to a girl. She then succumbs to pressure for giving birth to a son, gets desperate and almost cheats with her brother !! This is seen by the brother's wife, and she reports to the King. Needless to say, the King, who is already unhappy by now and overcome with regret, charges the Queen and her brother. They are both sentenced to death. Phew ! Quite a story, eh? Now, comes the most interesting part, Anne Boleyn's daughter, becomes the greatest Monarch of England, Queen Elizabeth I !! Yes, folks, all this is a part of history.
It was interesting to see both these movies, and the role of women in those days. It seemed to revolve around, giving birth to a male heir; combined with politics, manipulation, power, lies, etc....somethings never change eh?
The first one as this title suggests, stars, the actress I love to hate, Ash. Frankly, I did not want to watch the movie, Jodhaa Akbar; but V wanted to and his friends were waiting for us in the theater. Surprisingly, the movie was not bad at all. This is one of those few where I could bear, Ash's acting. She looked beautiful and sleep-walked through the role. Hritik looked good too. The movie was shot well, the palaces were just beautiful. There is a scene, when Jodhaa comes to her new palace, and she is shown to her room. It was so grand ! She had a room just for changing clothes that was bigger than my whole apartment! The jewelery was gorgeous, in fact, I was surprised at some of the styles, as they resembled the popular costume jewelery of today. I have seen very Bollywood movies with huge war scenes, this was one of the few. It was not fantastic but good for desi style. Watching one of the war scenes, reminded me of a game of chess, complete with soldiers, horsemen and powerful people of elephants. The songs were also good. The only thing bad about the movie was the length, it was too long and tended to just drag. But, looks like it is not very popular at the box office; especially for Ash. Interesting fact I learned during the movie, did you know that Akbar the great was an illiterate? That did not stop him from being one of the greatest rulers though.
The second movie, the other boleyn girl, was also very interesting (spoilers below). The story is based on the rivalry between 2 sisters, Anne and Mary, over King Henry VIII. Mary becomes the King's mistress first and gives birth to a son. Then, her sister has an affair with the King; she drives the King to divorce his wife, Catherine. His marriage is on the rocks because the Queen cannot give birth to a son, so in order to divorce her, he even makes up his own law and goes against the church ! Tut, tut ! Men ! The King then marries Anne Boleyn, she gives birth to a girl. She then succumbs to pressure for giving birth to a son, gets desperate and almost cheats with her brother !! This is seen by the brother's wife, and she reports to the King. Needless to say, the King, who is already unhappy by now and overcome with regret, charges the Queen and her brother. They are both sentenced to death. Phew ! Quite a story, eh? Now, comes the most interesting part, Anne Boleyn's daughter, becomes the greatest Monarch of England, Queen Elizabeth I !! Yes, folks, all this is a part of history.
It was interesting to see both these movies, and the role of women in those days. It seemed to revolve around, giving birth to a male heir; combined with politics, manipulation, power, lies, etc....somethings never change eh?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Lets eat Wasabi !
My friends visited us from the Bay area and Dallas for New Year and we were out in downtown Seattle one night. I had heard a lot about a Moroccan restaurant called Marakesh and so decided to eat dinner there. So, 6 souls braved the cold weather and walked to 2nd street from Seattle Center. We finally found the place and were really hungry. The restaurant was so popular, that we did not get a table. Dejected, we decided to find something else. P suggested Wasabi Bistro less than a block away on the same street. Some of us had never tried a sushi place and this one seemed really nice from outside. The staff was very friendly and we got a table soon. The restaurant looked really nice and they had some really nice options for vegetarians too. So, we're all settled in, had miso soup, some delectable tofu starters (the best tofu I've ever eaten) and waited for the main course.
The waitress was really friendly and suggested some dishes that were not on the menu. We happily ate everything she brought to our table. I had a sushi roll called green decadence roll which looked like a caterpillar. It was very tasty and so were the other dishes. It was a totally enjoyable dinner where everything was just right. I tasted the pungent wasabi for the first time. Then, suddenly the guys started talking about who would finish their wasabi; and before we knew it, there was a wasabi competition. This was pure fun for me and A, who kept laughing at everybody's reaction to wasabi. At the end of the night, all the 4 guys with us had finished their wasabi. S was crowned Wasabi King for having finished the fastest. Then, it was time to head back into the cold night. We had a good time with good friends. I would definitely go back and enjoy the sushi rolls.
The next night, we went back for dinner to marrakesh and were disappointed. The food was average and pricey and it was not worth it.
I prefer going to wasabi bistro anyday.
The waitress was really friendly and suggested some dishes that were not on the menu. We happily ate everything she brought to our table. I had a sushi roll called green decadence roll which looked like a caterpillar. It was very tasty and so were the other dishes. It was a totally enjoyable dinner where everything was just right. I tasted the pungent wasabi for the first time. Then, suddenly the guys started talking about who would finish their wasabi; and before we knew it, there was a wasabi competition. This was pure fun for me and A, who kept laughing at everybody's reaction to wasabi. At the end of the night, all the 4 guys with us had finished their wasabi. S was crowned Wasabi King for having finished the fastest. Then, it was time to head back into the cold night. We had a good time with good friends. I would definitely go back and enjoy the sushi rolls.
The next night, we went back for dinner to marrakesh and were disappointed. The food was average and pricey and it was not worth it.
I prefer going to wasabi bistro anyday.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Let's Ski
Yesterday was a fun day at work, because we went for skiing the whole day, as a part of a team building event. I carpooled with some other colleagues' and we set off to the Summit at Snoqualmie Pass early Friday morning. The agenda was to be there by 8:15am. When we reached, there was hot Starbucks Coffee and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Some of us were skiing while the others decided to snowboard. Most of us were beginners and were taking lessons.
The first step was to get the ski rentals. I found my shoe size finally and it took me ages to get it buckled. I felt so uncomfortable walking in them and was clumsy. We got our skis and proceeded with the lesson. The instructor was an old man named Jim and he was making it sound very easy. The first lesson was to learn to get the shoe into the ski and out. It was so difficult to do it. I used a ski pole most of the times to get out of the ski. Otherwise I convinced somebody else to help me. After a few more exercises, we were off with both skis. I could not even walk with them, let alone ski. I seemed to be skiing backwards most of the times and it was funny.
Skiing is so tiring ! After a lesson that lasted 1.5 hours, all of us were ready for lunch. The shoes were really tight by now and I just wanted to kick them off. Alas, all I could do was loosen it. After lunch and rest, we headed back to the 'magic carpet' area. This was basically an escalator which took beginners to a small slope, a prelude to the ski lift. I was struggling with the carpet and decided that ski lift was best avoided at my skill level.
I kept falling and it was so hard getting up with the skis and shoes. Sometimes I fell in such funny postures, that I was reminded of the comics I used to read. The snow was soft and powdery; a couple of times, I just lay in it and enjoyed the beauty around me. I was well prepared in terms of clothes; many people who came in jeans were in for a shock. It is not the best thing to wear for skiing !
Finally, it was time to head back. Getting the ski shoe off was harder than getting into them. I finally got them off and felt so free. I was so happy to back in my regular shoes. I had a fun day and so did most of my other colleagues. We headed back to the city and I was home by 5pm. This resort is very close to where I live and V and I have decided to take skiing lessons to make the most of it.
Today, all that remains of yesterday are aches and pains. As they say, no pain, no gain.
The first step was to get the ski rentals. I found my shoe size finally and it took me ages to get it buckled. I felt so uncomfortable walking in them and was clumsy. We got our skis and proceeded with the lesson. The instructor was an old man named Jim and he was making it sound very easy. The first lesson was to learn to get the shoe into the ski and out. It was so difficult to do it. I used a ski pole most of the times to get out of the ski. Otherwise I convinced somebody else to help me. After a few more exercises, we were off with both skis. I could not even walk with them, let alone ski. I seemed to be skiing backwards most of the times and it was funny.
Skiing is so tiring ! After a lesson that lasted 1.5 hours, all of us were ready for lunch. The shoes were really tight by now and I just wanted to kick them off. Alas, all I could do was loosen it. After lunch and rest, we headed back to the 'magic carpet' area. This was basically an escalator which took beginners to a small slope, a prelude to the ski lift. I was struggling with the carpet and decided that ski lift was best avoided at my skill level.
I kept falling and it was so hard getting up with the skis and shoes. Sometimes I fell in such funny postures, that I was reminded of the comics I used to read. The snow was soft and powdery; a couple of times, I just lay in it and enjoyed the beauty around me. I was well prepared in terms of clothes; many people who came in jeans were in for a shock. It is not the best thing to wear for skiing !
Finally, it was time to head back. Getting the ski shoe off was harder than getting into them. I finally got them off and felt so free. I was so happy to back in my regular shoes. I had a fun day and so did most of my other colleagues. We headed back to the city and I was home by 5pm. This resort is very close to where I live and V and I have decided to take skiing lessons to make the most of it.
Today, all that remains of yesterday are aches and pains. As they say, no pain, no gain.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Resurrection
We decided to watch a movie last Friday, I was hoping to watch beowulf in 3D and was disappointed to learn that it was not available. So, we decided to watch ' the golden compass'. I din't like the movie, it was long and boring. As I had not read the books, there were many unanswered questions. Poor V almost dozed off.
Then, on Sunday, I found out that it was the last day of Beowulf in IMAX. The show was at 5:30pm and we reached just in time. It was fun watching the special effects in 3D. The movie was a tad too long for me.
After hearing a lot of raves about, Sleepless in Seattle, I was curious to watch it. So, when I saw it listed for free on cable TV, I decided to watch it. I dozed off after 10 minutes. It was incredibly boring. As long as that movie is available, nobody will be sleepless in seattle :-)
Today, I happened to watch the song, akele hain from QSQT. Aamir and Juhi looked very young in it. I was really surprised to see the 'spidey kiss' in this song. I wonder if the makers of Spider Man copied it from here or did QSQT copy from some other older Hollywood movie.
Thanks to my friend, A, for suggesting a new title for my blog.
Then, on Sunday, I found out that it was the last day of Beowulf in IMAX. The show was at 5:30pm and we reached just in time. It was fun watching the special effects in 3D. The movie was a tad too long for me.
After hearing a lot of raves about, Sleepless in Seattle, I was curious to watch it. So, when I saw it listed for free on cable TV, I decided to watch it. I dozed off after 10 minutes. It was incredibly boring. As long as that movie is available, nobody will be sleepless in seattle :-)
Today, I happened to watch the song, akele hain from QSQT. Aamir and Juhi looked very young in it. I was really surprised to see the 'spidey kiss' in this song. I wonder if the makers of Spider Man copied it from here or did QSQT copy from some other older Hollywood movie.
Thanks to my friend, A, for suggesting a new title for my blog.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Settling in....
After a lot of travelling this summer, I finally got back to my Grad life this month. As luck would have it, caught a bad cold which just refuses to leave ! I tried self-medication before things got out of hand. I never knew ears could get blocked because of cold ! My cold has improved but my ears are still blocked because of which many of my plans had to be cancelled :-(
Now that I am graduating this semester, there is a ton of research work yet to be done, long reports to be written and presentations as well. So I am basically too busy to blog regularly. On the bright side, I would be finally out of Grad school !
Watched Lage Raho Munna Bhai this week and really liked it ! Arshad Warsi as circuit is simply hilarious. Now I am waiting for Kabul Express to release.
My friend told me about a book sale today in the public library and I decided to tag along...just to see...not to buy. Ha ! The instant I saw the books stacked up in the basement, I went berserk and picked books till I could not carry them because of the weight. I knew it was time to head back. So much for resolutions not to buy ! The books were real cheap and that was my justification !
Now that I am graduating this semester, there is a ton of research work yet to be done, long reports to be written and presentations as well. So I am basically too busy to blog regularly. On the bright side, I would be finally out of Grad school !
Watched Lage Raho Munna Bhai this week and really liked it ! Arshad Warsi as circuit is simply hilarious. Now I am waiting for Kabul Express to release.
My friend told me about a book sale today in the public library and I decided to tag along...just to see...not to buy. Ha ! The instant I saw the books stacked up in the basement, I went berserk and picked books till I could not carry them because of the weight. I knew it was time to head back. So much for resolutions not to buy ! The books were real cheap and that was my justification !
Monday, August 07, 2006
Day 5 - The Cocktail Party and Dinner
The final event during our wedding was the cocktail party and dinner hosted by Vikram's Grandparents. I wore my favourite saree for this occasion - a deep pink saree with Kundan work. It was so simple and yet so pretty.
Vikram's Grandpa ( a retd coln ) gave a small speech and then we cut a cake. The dinner was yummy too. Everyone was finally relaxed and enjoyed the party.
A lot of planning and hard work went into the planning the wedding. I wanted a lot of things differently. Luckily for me, both my mother and mother-in-law were very supportive and let me have my way. Thanks to them, I had my dream wedding. Our clothes had co-ordinated colours. We bought all our clothes in Bangalore. I bought my jewellery after a lot of window shopping.
I realised that my mother had been planning my wedding since I was born ! I have to thank my parents for giving me such a beautiful wedding. My cousins, Shilpa and Anu helped me a lot throughout. My cousin, Andy, helped me with great ideas and suggestions. My friend, Pushpa, gave me the names of many stores for shopping. My friends, Archana and Prasanna helped me a lot during the wedding days. And ofcourse I had the wishes and support of friends and family. Thank you all !!
The 5 day wedding was finally over and my posts on the wedding series is finally complete :)
Vikram's Grandpa ( a retd coln ) gave a small speech and then we cut a cake. The dinner was yummy too. Everyone was finally relaxed and enjoyed the party.
A lot of planning and hard work went into the planning the wedding. I wanted a lot of things differently. Luckily for me, both my mother and mother-in-law were very supportive and let me have my way. Thanks to them, I had my dream wedding. Our clothes had co-ordinated colours. We bought all our clothes in Bangalore. I bought my jewellery after a lot of window shopping.
I realised that my mother had been planning my wedding since I was born ! I have to thank my parents for giving me such a beautiful wedding. My cousins, Shilpa and Anu helped me a lot throughout. My cousin, Andy, helped me with great ideas and suggestions. My friend, Pushpa, gave me the names of many stores for shopping. My friends, Archana and Prasanna helped me a lot during the wedding days. And ofcourse I had the wishes and support of friends and family. Thank you all !!
The 5 day wedding was finally over and my posts on the wedding series is finally complete :)
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Sauna Belt
I was flipping channels when I came across TVC and saw some very funny products. One of them was ' Sauna Belt' ...
LOL !
"Want to lose weight or inches quickly that to without any pills, Lotions & creams ! Seems like a dream! Not anymore. TVC presents Sauna Belt a convenient, comfortable and personalized way of losing that unwanted fat & flab in the confines of your home. An absolutely easy and effective way of reducing body measurement, not in months weeks or days but in one hour. "
The ad was very funny....according to which you can have a flat stomach ( even a six pack) by just using the sauna belt ! The claims were ridiculous. There was free offer with the belt - something called DAANT PARI - what a tacky name ! ROFL !
Then V told me that he actually knew someone who bought this product to lose weight ! I din't know people could be so guillible !!!
Click on the TVC for some really silly products ( some are endorsed by stars of bygone eras).
LOL !
"Want to lose weight or inches quickly that to without any pills, Lotions & creams ! Seems like a dream! Not anymore. TVC presents Sauna Belt a convenient, comfortable and personalized way of losing that unwanted fat & flab in the confines of your home. An absolutely easy and effective way of reducing body measurement, not in months weeks or days but in one hour. "
The ad was very funny....according to which you can have a flat stomach ( even a six pack) by just using the sauna belt ! The claims were ridiculous. There was free offer with the belt - something called DAANT PARI - what a tacky name ! ROFL !
Then V told me that he actually knew someone who bought this product to lose weight ! I din't know people could be so guillible !!!
Click on the TVC for some really silly products ( some are endorsed by stars of bygone eras).
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
That is familiar !
On my first day in Dubai, V took me to the desi grocery store in the evening. There were stores everywhere ! The city has stunning buildings and lighting. And it is undoubtedly the Shopping Capital of the World. I will write about the malls and stores in another post.
So, anyway coming b
ack to my story. We came out of Choitram, the grocery store, and my eyes fell on a coffee shop on the opposite side of the road. It was 'Second Cup' ! Imagine my surprise. I had seen this coffee shop chain Canada just a few months ago. I had not even seen it in US and here it was ! I was very curious to see if it was the same chain. So, the next evening, V and I went to have coffee. It was the same ! But they did not have the maple latte. Instead they had more cold beverages ( made sense as it was in Dubai).
Then on subsequent trips to the grocery store, I even found many brands that I use in the US. For example, my breakfast is still Quaker oats ! Ragu pasta sauce is available here. So, are Milano choco
late cookies ! There is so much more variety here for food products. But food products are a lot more expensive compared to US.
Starbucks is a familiar sight everywhere. Here are some more stores that were familiar
( NOT including those that are european and common in India)
* Cold Stone creamery
* McDonalds
* Burger King
* Chilies
* Tony Roma's
* Cinnabon
* Haagen Daz
* Subway
* Gap
* Old Navy
* Banana Republic
* Claires
* Forever 21
* Columbia
* Timberland
* Liz Clairborne
Famous stores like Guess, Nike, DKNY, Levis, Hugo Boss, Polo, MAC, Dockers, Espirit, Diesel, Calvin Klein, Benetton, Elle, etc are there in most of the malls !
Needless to say, I was quite surprised !
So, anyway coming b
ack to my story. We came out of Choitram, the grocery store, and my eyes fell on a coffee shop on the opposite side of the road. It was 'Second Cup' ! Imagine my surprise. I had seen this coffee shop chain Canada just a few months ago. I had not even seen it in US and here it was ! I was very curious to see if it was the same chain. So, the next evening, V and I went to have coffee. It was the same ! But they did not have the maple latte. Instead they had more cold beverages ( made sense as it was in Dubai).Then on subsequent trips to the grocery store, I even found many brands that I use in the US. For example, my breakfast is still Quaker oats ! Ragu pasta sauce is available here. So, are Milano choco
late cookies ! There is so much more variety here for food products. But food products are a lot more expensive compared to US.Starbucks is a familiar sight everywhere. Here are some more stores that were familiar
( NOT including those that are european and common in India)
* Cold Stone creamery
* McDonalds
* Burger King
* Chilies
* Tony Roma's
* Cinnabon
* Haagen Daz
* Subway
* Gap
* Old Navy
* Banana Republic
* Claires
* Forever 21
* Columbia
* Timberland
* Liz Clairborne
Famous stores like Guess, Nike, DKNY, Levis, Hugo Boss, Polo, MAC, Dockers, Espirit, Diesel, Calvin Klein, Benetton, Elle, etc are there in most of the malls !
Needless to say, I was quite surprised !
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