........... Weekend Warrior

The Tabacon experience in Arenal

2008-02-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

Volcan Arenal in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica is considered as one of the most active volcanoes in the world and the most active in Costa Rica. This perfect cone structure spits out lava and hot boulders at regular intervals which makes for a spectacular display of natural pyrotechnics on cloudless days/nights. The surrounding regions are covered with dense primary and secondary rain forests interspersed with meandering rivers and streams. This natural paradise also treasures some of the best natural hot springs found anywhere in the world. These geo-thermal, volcano-heated waters are fed by fresh rainfall and are very rich in mineral content.

The healing properties of the warm waters and its de-toxification effects, combined with the enchanting surroundings of a lush tropical forest makes it for a surreal experience. Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort is one of the premier destinations for soaking in the waters of the hot-springs. The most amazing feature of Tabacon's hot springs is that the facility is built around several hot streams at varying temperatures forming tiny natural pools and several small waterfalls in an exotic tropical paradise. This setting is as natural as it can get, coupled with an impeccable service and well-kept grounds. Each pool or a waterfall gives a slightly different feel based of the depth, the temperature, the volume of water flow and the type of setting. The hot spring setting ranges anywhere from a swimming pool complete with a wet bar, to an intimate and a secluded pool well into the tropical gardens.

The Grand Spa facility is one of it kind in the world offering an array of world-class specialized services, the most notable being the Temazcal based on ancient rituals and the ever popular Tabacon massage. The Temazcal is intended to be a complete spiritual and a physical cleansing experience with the help of the forces of nature like the water, fire, air and the earth. The Tabacon massage for the couple is an enchanting experience that starts at a secluded bungalow that is set amidst gurgling streams and aromatic gardens. It's an hour long synchronized massage for the couple using warm Volcanic mud from Arenal, with a final soak in the comfort of a private thermal stream, only accessible for the Spa's guests. The Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and definitely the most luxurious in Arenal. The entry to Tabacon's Thermal Springs is free for Tabacon resort's guests while other visitors can access this facility with a day-pass.

The secrets of La Paz

2008-01-22T22:13:00.000-08:00

Lush and verdant, misty and rainy, greens of all shades imaginable, the resounding thunder of waterfalls, abundant flora and fauna; that's how one would describe the La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Vara Blanca (Costa Rica). This Waterfall Garden Park is a well-kept facility that was built to give easy access to 5 magical waterfalls in the dense rain forest areas. The easily marked trails run from the main visitor center to the last waterfall with an option of trekking back on a steep terrain or climbing aboard a shuttle for a quick hop back to the visitor center. The access to these areas are mostly self-guided with a detailed map from the visitor center and clearly-marked directions on the trails. For an additional fee, guided-tours are also available.

The trails run around a number of attractions before actually leading to the waterfalls. The trail, first leads to a bird cage that houses a number of tropical birds including the colorful Toucans that Central America is so famous for. Though it's a huge netted enclosure, the grounds are lush, the birds fly free all around the visitors and give a sense of being in the middle of a jungle. After passing the main bird cage, there is an option to continue walking on the trail to see butterflies, insects, monkeys and humming birds in their own separate enclosures. Fishing enthusiasts often seek an alternate trail that leads to a trout lake and a trout bar. The Butterfly observatory is a unique setup which allows the visitors to witness the complete life-cycle of a butterfly (from egg to caterpillar to butterfly). They have used it as a breeding ground for a large collection of colorful butterfly species. Another unique aspect of this observatory is that student internship programs are available to learn more about their growth and behavior.

The hungry visitors on the trail can relax and catch a quick bite in one of the restaurants in the path. Casita de la Paz is a mock-up of a traditional Central American house and living. A friendly Tico offers delicious warm sugar drink and freshly made tortillas to sample. A ride on the Ox-driven cart takes you to a trip down the past. There are more offerings in the form of Serpantarium, Orchid gardens and a frog exhibit along the way. Venomous and colorful snakes of Costa Rica can be found in Serpantarium exhibits. Many snakes camouflage really well in their surroundings. Often, help of an experience eye is needed to spot them. Like the Ranario frog pond of Monteverde, this frog exhibit has a huge collection of Central American frogs such as the poison dart frog, the red-eyed tree frog and the flying frogs.

After all the exploration of the fauna, its time to see the waterfalls. This portion of the trail inside the rain forests that lead to the different waterfalls (El Tempo, Magla Blanca, the twin falls of Encantada & Escondida and finally the La Paz) is the longest, the steepest and the most scenic too. The trail traverses through the dense jungles that give a real sense of being in an exotic rain forest as seen in popular Hollywood blockbusters. It's a real treat to the senses as the eyes feast on lushness beyond comprehension and the body soaks in freshness beyond conventional belief. The real beauty sets in when it's raining in the gardens. Numerous other small waterfalls suddenly come to life and all the plants and trees in the forest seem to sway to the wind in a rhythmic pattern. In short, mere words just cannot describe the magical experience.

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens is open every day of the year between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm. The last shuttle pick up is at 5 pm from the exit trail near the La Paz waterfalls. The entrance fee for an adult visitor is $32 (Child - $26) for the self-guided tour. Costa Rican influenced Lunch buffet is available at the Colibries restaurant near the visitor center.

Amphibian sightings in Monteverde

2008-01-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

The Puntaneras region of Costa Rica treasures an area of cool and misty cloud forests at high elevations of 4000+ feet above the sea level. Known as Monteverde, it is a region of lush forests teeming with numerous plant, mammal, bird and insect species. Among the various unique wildlife in Monteverde, the frogs deserve a special mention. Ranario's frog pond in Santa Elena - Monteverde houses some of the most interesting frogs from Monteverde and other regions of Costa Rica. There is an entry fee ($9 per adult entry) to visit the frog pond. The entry fee includes a 1 hour guided tour to the numerous terrariums and an additional second entry. The frogs are kept in various Terrariums, where the environment is simulated to be as close as possible to their natural habitat. This provides an opportunity to witness their true behavior and interactions.

The 25+ species of frogs here include the dart frogs, crowned frogs, leopard frogs, marine toads, the red-eyed tree frogs and the rare glass frogs. Certain frogs like the colorful dart frogs are quite poisonous to the predators. The crowned frogs get their name because of the characteristic crown like protrusions on their skull. The red-eyed tree frogs inhabit the high canopy ares of Costa Rica. They have bright-red colored eyes with orange feet and they are considered one of the most beautiful species of frogs.

The glass frogs have very thin transparent skin on their bellies and limbs which almost exposes the internal organs to the naked eye. These bright green tree frogs are mostly found in the rain forests of Central and South America. Most frogs are nocturnal and are very active in the night time. So, its highly recommended that one of the 2 allowed visits per ticket is in the night time. The gift store in the frog pond is a very interesting shop set in a kind of natural surrounding with pebbles and gravels on the ground instead of conventional flooring.

Holiday notes

2007-12-19T22:55:00.001-08:00

It's that time of the year when heartful wishes and thoughtful gifts are exchanged. Holiday vibes is evident in every corner; at the workplace, in the shopping arenas, around the travel hubs, at the food joints, the schools, the places of worship and many more. Family re-unions happen everywhere to celebrate Christmas festivities and the upcoming New Year; Houses are decorated with creative fixtures and innovative light-work. Theme parks and other public gathering areas are spruced up with Christmas trees, colorful lights, festive activities, musical bands and parades. Cinema halls feature several kid-friendly movies that are themed on the festivities. Cities, towns and villages sport an energetic and a lively atmosphere. With that, 'Urbancell' wishes its readers, a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with joy, energy, happy anticipations and fulfillment of many dreams. Please look forward to more exciting posts in this space in 2008. Till then, cheers and happy holidays !!

Red rocks and the holy connection

2007-12-05T21:38:00.000-08:00

Sedona in Northern Arizona is not just famous for its amazing red-rock formations; its even more popular for its Vortexes as they call in Sedona. These Vortexes are spots of high energy and are found in abundance in the red-rock town. The doses of high energy emanating from the several Vortexes, combined with breathtaking scenery, the sounds of oak creek and year-round mild climates sort of create a natural healing effect. It's no wonder that Sedona's residents are highly spiritual and religious. Most of the shops are filled with aroma of incense sticks, sounds of cosmic music and stocked with new-age religious material. Psychic readings, aural pictures, and healing massages are quite a common ritual. Visitors are intrigued by the mysticism in the air.

In a region that is teeming with such high energy levels and spirituality, its also natural to find several centers of worship. Two of the most enchanting ones are the 'Chapel of the Holy Cross' and 'Kunzang Palyul Chöling'. Chapel of the Holy Cross is an impressive architecture perched on the red rocks and among more red rocks. A small drive up the hill on the Chapel Road leads to this stunning building in a very serene setting. The panoramic views from the hill and the naturally-lit church rejuvenates the body and the soul while inducing a powerful sense of holy presence. There is also a small gift shop attached to the church that sells religious items.

The Stupas of Kunzang Palyul Chöling in Sedona is in a secluded residential area of Sedona; providing a perfect spot for meditation and prayer. Access to the actual Stupas are through a gate and a small hike up the hill. Tara Stupa is about 6-foot tall and was the first one to be built in Sedona. This is also the first stupa the visitors would come across in their walk. The second Stupa is a towering 36-foot one and is called the Amitabha Stupa. A Buddha statue on top of a small hill near Amitabha Stupa radiates a sense of calmness. These Stupas, rightly located in Sedona harmonize the energy of the environment similar to its famous Vortexes.

Visit to the rock arts

2007-11-29T22:06:00.000-08:00

If you are cruising on north I-17 from Phoenix in Arizona, a leisurely 2.8 mile drive east on exit 298 takes you to a charming little visitor center (with friendly staff and stocked with useful books, maps and information), a large un-paved open parking space, a mobile caravan with satellite dish and an old chimney on the ground. That's the gateway for one of the largest Petroglyph sites in a region called Verde Valley in Arizona. Called the V-Bar-V Heritage site, it depicts the rock art of the prehistoric Sinaguas who occupied regions of Arizona between the 6th and 15th centuries.

A short 0.4 mile stroll from the visitor center around the chimney and through the grasslands leads to the rock art site near the Beaver Creek area. The actual site with 1032 petroglyphs on 13 panels is in a nice shaded region. The style of rock art depicted on the red rocks is known as the Beaver style. It's a very distinctive art style noticed through various studies of rock art sites in the Beaver Creek area. This style is indicative of the Southern Sinagua between the ages of 1150 and 1400 AD. Some of the art work that can be seen here are that of animals, birds and reptiles. They are very clearly etched on the red rocks. A knowledgeable guide at the petroglyph spot takes time to educate and answer various queries of visitors. This historic site is open for visitors Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9:30 am to 3 pm (Closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas).

Anatomy unleashed

2007-11-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

Since the dawn of Homo Sapiens on the planet, they have always been fascinated with the human body. It is always thrilling to know what happens inside us, what we are made of and how the different parts of the body work in harmony to maintain the most complex organic life form on earth. That's why Biology and Medicine are such engrossing subjects as they expose our knowledge banks to some of the most complicated interactions even taking place. How would it feel if common people who have had no exposure to the study of human bodies get a chance to quickly learn and nurture their curiosity?

Bodies...The Exhibition is created exactly to address this inquisitiveness of human mind. This exhibition makes several globe-trotting trips; San Diego, Las Vegas, New York, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Buenos Aires and Framingham being the current stops. Real life bodies and organs are chemically treated to create permanent polymer preserves. The San Diego exhibit features 21 whole-body specimens and more than 260 organs meticulously displayed with pertinent text to educate. The exhibition consists of several partitions/rooms, with each room pertaining to a theme based on functional systems like digestive systems, circulatory system, nervous system, respiratory system, excretory system, skeletal system, reproductive system and so on. There is at least 1 whole-body specimen and several smaller dissected sections on display in each room providing an in-depth view and understanding of the different organs and their interactions. Enthusiastic kids and adults are fascinated as med-students and other physicians in-house de-mystify their perspective on the human body.

As much as the displays induce valuable knowledge about our human body, certain displays also encourage us to follow healthy living habits. Displays of diseased organs are showcased to discourage people from indulging in over-eating, smoking and the like. Fetus displays are though-provoking as several stages of pregnancy are taught in one of the most practical methods. The complete network of nerves spread on the display table mimics an intricate thread work and is awe-inspiring. The final exhibit hall displays several cross-sections of the complete human body laminated in a glass sheet. This MRI-eye view is mind-blowing to say the least. This hall also leads to a gift store stocked with numerous books, models and multimedia paraphernalia. It is a must-see for all the curious minds out there.

Bodies...The Exhibition in San Diego is in UTC Wesfield Mall.
(Displays from May 8, 2007 to January 13, 2008)
4425 La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
Ticketing over phone: 1-877-BODIES5
Sunday - Thursday (10 am - 7 pm)
Friday - Saturday (10 am - 10 pm)

* No photography and food allowed inside the exhibit halls
** AAA discounts offered

Decadent tastes in a luxe setting (in Chennai)

2007-11-12T20:13:00.000-08:00

When a renowned French chef dishes out his delectable concoctions in an ultra-chic pastry boutique in the heart of Chennai, you'd feel pure Ecstasy. That's exactly what Chef Mickael Besse brings to you in Ecstasy, the newest pastry shop in town. Located inside Sathyam Cinemas, the first thing you'd notice about Ecstasy is its trendy urban styling and a cool contemporary decor. Once inside, you are transported to a juxtaposition of international brands with cheerful Maitre D' welcoming you to sample some of the most delicious creations in this part of the world. Ecstasy is just a beginning to creating more such international experiences in Chennai. Chef Mickael Besse takes time to share some views about his creation.

1) When did Ecstasy open in Chennai? Is this concept the first-of-its-kind in Chennai/India?
Ecstasy opened to the public on the 7th of September 2007. Yes of course, it's the first in terms of an exclusive pastry shop outside the hotel. The concept of Ecstasy is to give the best international food experience to our guests.

2) Ecstasy's USP seems to be the convergence of the best in the world of food, lighting and furniture. That's an amazing concept. Could you elaborate a bit on the lighting and furnishing aspects?
Yes, we use the best ingredients in the world like Mascarpone cheese for Tiramisu, Philadelphia cream cheese for Cheese Cake, Valrhona chocolates for all chocolates bonbons, pastries, ice cream etc. Concerning the furniture, we have chairs imported from, Italy. All the crockery and cutlery are from the worlds' leading brands like Nambe, Guy Degrenne, Rosenthal, Spiegelau and Sambonet.

3) Looks like you procure the chocolate ingredients from Valrhona. Does that include cocoa beans and flavoring ingredients like vanilla, caramel etc.? Are the chocolates made in Ecstasy's kitchen though?
No. Unfortunately we cannot buy the cocoa beans as it is necessary to have some heavy machine for making it and it is a long process. The Valrhona factory has a very good selection of Grand Cru chocolates and I don't think it is absolutely necessary to customize the raw chocolate for getting better quality. We have selected the Grand Cru chocolates only from different beans that have origins in the likes of Forestaro from Amazonie, Criollo from Central America, Trinitario and others from the world over.

All chocolates and bonbons are made in house with the best of ingredients like pistachio, almond, Illy Arabica coffee, crushed roasted cocoa beans, Earl Grey tea, and many others only to be discovered at Ecstasy.

4) Ecstasy takes pride in using the freshest ingredients for its food. Are these imported on a very frequent basis from Europe and other countries? How about fruits like blueberry, strawberry etc.? Does Ecstasy use a lot of locally available ingredients as well?
The first idea when we create a new shop is to use on priority all best ingredients available locally (figs, vanilla pods, Alphonso mangoes and the like). If it isn't available, we try to customize them.

For the rest of the products (Valrhona chocolates, Mascarpone and Philadelphia cheese, blueberries etc), we import them via certain agencies in India according to our consumption.

5) Does Ecstasy plan on offering any daily specials? What are the most popular sweets in Ecstasy and is there a plan to also carry flower/herb-flavored or liquor infused chocolate truffles in the future?
We don't have any daily special dishes but we change the menu, display, drinking desserts, tea and coffee, beverages, chocolate bonbons and ice cream three times a year.

The most popular sweets are undoubtedly ''Tiramisu'' and ''Le Chocolatier'' for Display desserts, ''Fraises au Vin Epic é et Glace a l'Huile d'Olivee'' for plated dishes, ''Chocolat Liegeois'' for Drinking Dessert, ''Hawain Blue Mountain Kona'' for Coffee, ''Darjeling White'' for Tea, ''Les Trois Roses'' for the ice cream dessert, and ''Freezing'' and ''Palou'' for chocolates bonbons.

We have planned to bring some new ideas in the next menu, something with herbs, but I cannot tell you where and how as I want to keep it as a surprise for the customer.

6) Is there an Asian-style tea-tasting bar for sampling premium teas that Ecstasy offers?
No we don't have a tea tasting bar but you can enjoy some of the premium teas with or without a dessert. A chocolate bonbon can also be a very good compliment for tea.

7) Could you share a bit of your professional background? Did you specialize in baking and pastry making in a French pastry school?
I have learnt pastries and kitchen during 3 years in a French pastry school. I have worked as pastry chef in some of the biggest Michelin Star Hotels like Mister Régis Marcon at ''L'Auberge et Clos des Cimes'' in Saint Bonnet le Froid in France, Mister Henriroux at ''La Pyramide'' at Vienne in France, Mister Roger Souvereyns at ''Le Scholteshof'' in Hasselt in Belgium. I have also travelled to different countries for demonstrations including Saint-Petersburg in Russia, in Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan ....

8) Why did you decide to take up a culinary career in Chennai? What attracted you to a relatively traditional city like Chennai? How do you rate Chennai among the most popular culinary destinations in the world like France, Italy, Spain, Tokyo , London , New York and Las Vegas?
I have decided to come to Chennai because I got the opportunity to take care of the inter projects from A to Z in a multiplex for the first time. I have travelled to many countries but had never come to India. I heard a lot about this country and it presented me with a wonderful opportunity to give the best of my knowledge to every body. Mr. Kiran Reddy (owner of Sathyam Cinemas) was a big influence in my final decision to come since he wants the best for his customers. Sathyam Cinemas has a lot of projects in the pipeline and it is a privilege and honour to be associated with all of them.

9) Are there any plans to expand the food range in Ecstasy to include savory items like panini, quiche, soups, salads, savory crepes etc.?
Not presently. As I have mentioned above, we have many others projects coming up inside and outside the complex, and in some of the other south Indian cities.

10) What is your vision for the future, in terms of making Ecstasy a global brand?
We have just begun looking at some other options.

Ecstasy is open daily from 12 noon - 11 pm.
Photos copyright: Ecstasy

Grilling fine food in Sorrento Valley

2007-11-07T22:18:00.000-08:00

The Sorrento Valley hi-tech area gets a brand new eatery in the form of Skewers, the brain child of Ahmad Sakha. Having spent 10 years of professional life in corporate finance and global business development of a wireless semiconductor company in Sorrento Valley, and over 4 years in privately held companies, Ahmad always looked for fresh, healthy and tasty eating options. That motivated him to bring healthy and quality food to the market place and corporate clientele in the area.

He started working on a concept a couple of years ago while earning valuable experience in the food industry with a Quiznos outlet. His ideas finally formed shape on October 1st 2007 as he opened Skewers to the general public. With a strong focus on offering a healthy food with rich flavors, Ahmad and his wife Latifa have worked on an innovative menu with infusion of Greek, Persian and Afghan tastes. Ahmad's globe-trotting to land of exotic food and spices coupled with an Mediterranean connection further helped him perfect the tastes. He has also taken great care to hand-picked chefs well-versed in Greek and Persian cooking.

Ahmad and Latifa have a strong commitment to using only the freshest ingredients. The food at Skewers is cooked fresh at the time of order. The patrons who dine here can be rest assured that Skewers never uses frozen/caned produce or artificial coloring and flavors in their cooking. Even the meat is trimmed by the chefs everyday.

Skewers also caters to guests with varied food habits by offering a huge selection of vegetarian appetizers, entrees and sides. Skewers even alters spice levels to suit individual tastes. Early next year, patrons will also have an opportunity to taste some specialty dishes as part of Skewers' daily and weekly specials. There are plans to add wine and beer to the menu in the near future. Breakfast will soon be served between the hours of 6 am and 10 am .

In terms of the setting, Skewers is spacious and aims to provide a close-to-fine-dining experience in its ambiance and tastes, but at very reasonable prices. The decor is chic with HDTVs and soon-to-be added wifi hot spots. Apart from dine-ins, Skewers is also fully equipped to handle catering and hosting parties/events. With the patrons already appreciating the tastes and quality, Ahmad aims to expand Skewers into a popular restaurant chain to continue offering the same high-quality food at reasonable prices.

Skewers is located in
9254 Scranton Road, #106
San Diego, CA - 92121
Phone (858) 658-0109
Fax (858) 658-0107

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday - 10 am to 7 pm
(Breakfast coming shortly - 6 am to 10 am )
Saturday - 11 am to 4 pm
Sunday - Closed
Available "after hours" for private events

Food Photos copyright: Skewers
Decor Photos copyright: Bhadri

Presenting "Skewers coupon" for your savings !!

Leaning towers, dam and a lake

2007-11-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

It's not the leaning tower of Pisa. These are electric lines running on the side of the road that leads to Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is a gravity-arch dam built in Black canyon on the Colorado river in the border of Arizona and Nevada. Taking just 4 years to complete construction, it is considered as an engineering marvel. Also called as Boulder Dam, this monolithic structure is considered a National Historic Landmark and is maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation. The dam forms Lake Mead which is a reservoir as well as National recreation area.

Featured in such talkies like the James Bond action flick Golden Eye, Hoover Dam has been a major tourist attractor since its opening. Having Las Vegas in its proximity definitely helps in bringing local and international visitors throughout the year. A good portion of the drive from Las Vegas is scenic and the final stretch is prone to traffic as tourists try to locate vacant parking spaces in the Visitor center. Discovery Tour of Hoover Dam and the power generators are conducted to provide an enriching educational experience. The Hoover Dam Visitor center is open between 9 am and 6 pm everyday with the exception of holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Lake Mead being the largest man-made lake in the United States, offers a wealth of activities like boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking along the lakes and wildlife photography. It is believed that Lake Mead attracts about 8 to 10 million visitors every year. The Alan Bible visitor center in Lake Mead is opened 8:30 am to 4:30 pm everyday with the exception of few holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

Countdown to sparks and sparklers ...

2007-10-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

Fast approaching is a day that is bound to be filled with bundles of joy, lights galore, colorful sights, sounds of firecrackers, aroma of sweets and savories, lot of exuberance and excitement in the air and new bonds and friendships. This day is celebrated as Diwali aka. Deepavali (Also called the Festival of Lights) around the world every year by Hindus with great splendor and enthusiasm. This glittering festival that symbolizes the victory of good over evil falls on November 9th this year. Adults and children alike rejoice Diwali and greatly look forward to the festivities.

The preparation for Diwali starts many days ahead; The elders in the family work on their traditional recipes to dish out some delicious specialities and invites are sent out to family and friends to participate in the celebration. Shopping for the festival of lights is always a great experience as cheerful crowd throng the firework and sweet stalls. It is a carnival atmosphere on the streets as people look to buy new clothes to wear on the festival day. The consumer mood is upbeat and great seasonal deals are announced on house-hold appliances and consumer electronics. Temples around the area are spruced up to join the celebration of the devotees.

In most cases, the day of festival dawns very early in the morning as enthusiastic kids get ready to taste festive goodies and light their fire-crackers. Some communities start the celebrations at twilight. The whole town is lit with decorated earthen oil lamps and is definitely a sight to behold. Prayers are performed with various offerings to God. This festival provides a great opportunity for kids to showcase their creativity and mingle with other kids in a fun setting. Gifts are exchanged between family, friends and neighbors as new friendships are formed. People are more tolerant and polite on this day and are willing to help more than a bit to ones that cannot afford the celebrations. There is a sense of well-being, increased energy levels and a bit of adventure and thrill in the nerves. It is a very special day for the Hindus and rightly provides positive vibes and goodwill.

Art and architecture on a hill

2007-10-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Perched on top of a hill in the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles, The famous Getty Center houses an art and architecture research institute, research libraries and museum galleries. Visitors all over come to visit the popular J. Paul Getty Museum for its huge collection of European paintings, sculptures, artwork, manuscripts, drawings and photographs in neatly laid out gallery pavilions. Automated trams take the visitors from the street-level parking spots to the central arrival plaza on top of the hill.

At the top of the hill, the various buildings of the Getty center blend very well with the innovative landscaping consisting of water bodies, tress, fountains and a large central garden. The complete campus design focuses on elements of space and natural lighting with a contemporary feel to it. The natural lighting within the galleries are adjusted automatically based on computer-assisted systems. The buildings are intuitively placed and provide easy access from one hall to an other. The Los Angeles city views from the Getty center are to die for.

Numerous events round the year in the form of lectures, conferences, performances, demonstrations and gallery talks further enrich the visitor experience. For a more serious visitor, GettyGuide stations provide a way to explore the art collection in depth. The audio player available for $5 at the pick-up desk in the museum entrance hall is a valuable tool to take during the pavilion visits. A number of cafes/restaurants and picnic areas provide good dining options during the visit. Avid shoppers can be seen at the Museum Store or the many Satellite shops. Entry to the Getty center is free and no reservations are needed.

The Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA-90049
(310) 440-7300

Open ...
Tuesday-Thursday (10 am - 6 pm)
Friday-Saturday (10 am - 9 pm)
Closed on Mondays and certain holidays

Trip to the gardens

2007-10-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

A 30 minute drive from San Diego downtown takes you to Flinn Springs, the location of Summers Past Farms, an enchanting garden nestled in its foothills. Summers Past Farms is a owned by the Lozier family who have had a rich tradition in farming. This farm spreads over a decent sized area with specific portions marked for a herbal garden, a vegetable garden, a children's garden, Shakespeare garden, a secret garden, special event area, lavender fields and various shops.

The herbal garden is a delight as fragrances of basil, mint, dill, rosemary, thyme, sage and lavender fill the air. Kids have a great time playing in the children's garden or with the friendly cats, Yarrow being the friendliest. The natural lounge by the Gree n Bean Coffee Bar is a nice place to relax and enjoy the gardens while sipping hot coffee or savoring mango flavored iced tea with flower petals.

The farm has a couple of charming shops; The gift shop in the timber barn is a 3500 square foot garden and retail store stocked with gardening paraphernalia, cook books, aroma candles, fairy items, organic spices, jams and jellies, soaps and more. The herbal shoppe and factory is an instant hit among visitors as they are immersed in the aromatherapy of handmade herbal soaps, fragrance and massage oils and natural skin care products. Spa accessories and soap-making kits are some of the other items found in the store.

Summer and Fall days are filled with events ranging from antique and craft fairs to pumpkin patches. Visiting the farm's website or browsing the newsletters is a great way to keep informed about the numerous special events. The annual soap making week attracts large number of visitors who gather to learn the art of making herbal soaps; a nice holiday gift. Summers Past Farms is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm.

Summers Past Farms
15602 Old Highway 80
Flinn Springs, CA - 92021
(619)390-1523

Aerial route

2007-10-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

San Diego residents turned their eyes skyward on October 12th, 13th and 14th as military and civilian performers blazed the Miramar skies with some astounding maneuvers and complex formations in their aircrafts. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar plays host to supposedly the largest air show in the country every year.

This 3 day mega event boasts a number of exhibits, a consumer fair, marine air-ground task force demonstration, twilight demonstrations with pyrotechnics and fireworks, jet fueled trucks, Guinness recorded 'wall of fire' and various civilian and military demonstrations.

Flight enthusiasts are enthralled by some of the coolest flying machines like U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, F-117 Nighthawk Stealth fighters, USN F-18 Super Hornet, AV-8B Harrier, MiG 17-F and F-16 Falcon in action here. The list doesn't end without mention of special effects hang glider, radio-controlled aircrafts, aircraft carriers and sail planes as well. Miramar Air Show returns again in October 2008 for more action and excitement.

A historic landmark in the heart of San Diego

2007-10-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

San Diego considered as America's finest city is known for its beaches, golfing and abundant sunshine. However, it may come as a real surprise to imagine that a San Diego neighborhood could have actually been the birthplace of California. 'Old Town', a San Diego landmark is shrouded in rich history and culture and is believed to be the spot where it all began.

Today, 'Old Town' stands as one of the premier tourist destinations in San Diego with its 3 historic parks (Presidio Park, Heritage Park and Old Town San Diego Historic Park), numerous other historic sites, over 2 dozen ethnic restaurants, 100+ specialty shops, art galleries and boutique hotels. A walk in the Old Town transports you to charming Spanish ambiance with a cosmopolitan San Diego flavor; Aroma of fresh Tortillas fill the air as curious onlookers appreciate a local artist's masterpiece. Colorful old town trolleys criss-cross the lively streets even as the announcer educate and entertain the guests with interesting facts and Old Town folklore.

Old Town with a historic backdrop plays host to several weddings. Saturdays come alive as musicians dish out some exciting live numbers and artisans display jewelery, clothing, photographs, pottery, hand-painted glass and more in the popular 'Harney S treet Old Town Saturday Market'. Ghostly haunts welcome visitors to the world-renowned 'Whaley H ouse', a great example of mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival architecture. This historic museum is also an officially designated haunted house with a footfall of over 100,000 visitors every year.

The exciting Old Town trip doesn't end without sampling spicy Mexican food, wine tasting, creating candle art, visit to the candy shop and gawking at fossilized gems and road-side scrap-metal insects and robot creations.

Style and sophistication in a street

2007-10-06T22:25:00.000-07:00

Imagine a palm-tree lined avenue flanked by rows of stylish shops on either side and paraded by limousines and fancy cars. It's the high street of glitz, glamor and fashion in Beverly hills, California. "Rodeo Drive", about a 3-block stretch is often considered as one of the most expensive and exclusive shopping districts in the world.

The rich and the famous of Hollywood are often found shopping here on some of the foremost international designer labels like Armani, Christian Dior, Chanel, Cartier, Prada, Bang & Olufsen, Dolce and Gabbana, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Escada to name a few.

Rodeo Drive is not just visited by the celebrity shoppers; it also plays a good host to the tourists from all over the world who come here to experience the glitzy lifestyle. Visitors often park at 'Two Rodeo', a European style shopping enclave housing its own share of designer names such as Versace, Tiffany & Co and James Elliot and providing eclectic dining options.

Rodeo Drive wears a particularly chic and bright look in the evenings around Christmas time when festive lights and decorations adorn the street. It is recommended that Sundays be avoided because most stores are closed on that day.

Sinful indulgences in the city that never sleeps

2007-09-24T20:38:00.000-07:00

To say that New York city is one of the best culinary destinations in the world is an understatement. It is a voyage into the realms of gastronomical delights. Be it the glitzy neon-lit avenues or the dark narrow passageways; they are all teeming with endless eating joints, dishing out food ranging from a fast street-cooked finger food to a lifestyle 9-course gourmet meal in a five-star setting. A modest 3-day Gotham trip fit about a dozen culinary escapades, most notably;

Hampton Chutney - Quaint little SOHO shop with an international twist to traditional South Indian crispy sourdough rice flour crepes (Dosa). All Dosas have a filling of varied kind and served with a choice of chutney. Sealed towelettes in a corner, ensure clean hand before indulging into the exotic chutney flavors.

Rice To Riches - Rich and creamy rice puddings are served in a trendy, hip and ultra-modern shop. Some bold flavor combinations complement greatly with the stylish decor.

Pinkberry - When the sweet and sour tastes of the Yogurt are swirled in a precise proportion and presented in a perfect consistency, you'd get Pinkberry. Choice of about 18 toppings on the perfect white or green Yogurt canvas completes the work of art. The shop's decor is fully functional with the frozen creations.

Max Brenner Chocolate - This is the latest addition to the growing list of imported chocolate shops operating in the city. This Australian-based chocolatier takes delight in offering an extensive chocolate-based menu ranging from Chocolate fondues to Chocolate Pizzas.

Artisanal Fromagerie, Bistro and Wine Bar - Cheese lovers, especially flock to this sophisticated restaurant on Park Avenue. An in-house cheese shop and a great-tasting daily fondue selection is just a start to a number of exciting French specialties. About 160 wine selections pair up with the 250+ varieties of cheese. The Artisanal cheesecake makes a perfect ending to that important appointment.

Vatan - An Indian Vegetarian eatery that gets its marks more for the decor and the concept than for the food. Patrons are transported to an ancient Indian village where they get to savor some rich, spicy North Indian prix fixe fare served in a rustic traditional way. The only rule here is to land at Vatan with a hungry stomach for the eat-as-much-as-you-can offerings.

Pommes Frites - A 2nd avenue fried food paradise serving authentic double-layered Belgian fries made from premium fresh potatoes and numerous sauce dips. This charming shop with wooden paper cone holders is often voted to have the best fries in New York city.

John's Pizzeria - Established in 1929 and on Bleecker Street, the coal-fired and the brick oven Pizzas are some of the best found in this part of the world. John's thin-crust pizzas have the perfect mix of cheese and sauce and they literally melt in the mouth.

Race in the sky

2007-09-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

After leaving its footprint in about half a dozen international destinations like Abu Dhabi (UAE), Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), Monument Valley (USA), Istanbul (Turkey), Interlaken (Switzerland), London (UK), Budapest (Hungary) and Porto (Portugal), 'Red Bulls Air Race 2007' descended on America's finest city, San Diego. This thrilling air race with some of the best pilots in the world competing against each other in a display of speed, precision and skill was conceived by Red Bull sports in 2001. After planning for alamost 2 years, the first race of it kind was held at Airpower in Zeltweg, Austria in 2003. Since then, it has travelled around the world leaving its audience with a sense of awe.

The Red Bull air race debuts in San Diego for the first time. The San Diego leg had 2 rounds of racing; qualifying round on September 21, 2007 to shortlist the 12 fastest pilots for the actual race day on September 22, 3007 at the picturesque San Diego bay near the downtown. The race was attended by thousands of spectators at the 2 ticketed locations in Embarcadero and multiple other locations spread around the bay like Coronado.

These locations offered vantage view points to feel the planes swish by at 400 kmph close to the ground in pre-set race paths. The high-fly excitement with incredible maneuvers, naval display and parachute drops, all lasted about 6 hours. After a scintillating display in San Diego, this competition races to Perth (Australia) next.

Digital cities

2007-09-12T22:50:00.001-07:00

Presenting some urban captures transformed to digital works of art ...

California... Save water !!

2007-09-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

Often, the amount of importance that one places on lifestyle and entertainment is not shown on environmental and social awareness. Environmental preservation is one of the most important tasks in this century and going forward as well. Nature has gifted our world with a replenishing mechanism to recharge lost resources. As with lot of other things, there is a particular pace in which this happens. If these precious resources are drained faster than they are replenished, we will lose them faster than we would like to.

Long story put short; there have been recent announcements which suggest that California's main water resources have been severely impacted and that most of the water currently in use is from the reserves. It is a bit of a concern and so would like to spread the word as much as possible about the importance of water conservation before it is too late.

Metropolitan water district and the family of Southern California water agencies maintain a great website "Bewaterwise" with various tips and suggestions to save water. The first step is to take the easy 20-gallon challenge. Each person who follows the simple steps can conserve as much as 20 gallons of water per day. In addition, numerous rebates are offered to encourage residents of Southern California for purchasing water-saving appliances like the rotating sprinklers, high-efficiency clothes washers and water-saving toilets. Industries, Institutions and builders can also save on approved water-saving installations. Finally, a conscious and a collective effort from everyone will go a long way in preventing such crisis in the future.

Valley of wines and hot-air balloons - Temecula

2007-09-03T18:43:00.001-07:00

A short getaway from San Diego brings us to place of rolling hills, golf courses, hot-air balloons and vineyards. Temecula (popularly interpreted as 'Where the sun breaks through the mist') is the wine capital of Southwest California. The scenic wine country in the Temecula valley boasts of over 20 wineries like the Thornton, Falkner, Ponte, Mount Palomar, Miramonte, Hart, Churon, and Bally to name a few. Visitors get a taste of the wine country with the various wine tasting tours and wine-inspired fine-dining options. These wineries also play host to several music concerts and other special events throughout the year. The annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine festival also draws visitors in thousands to the wine country.

The historic old town in Temecula (Temecula was established in 1859) with its numerous art galleries, antique dealers, artisan food stores, museums and other shops provides a old world charm and a rich historic experience. Olive oil tasting and cheese tasting are an integral part of strolling old town's quaint streets. Temecula Olive Oil Company grows its own olives in California and they produce olive oils of the highest quality. This cozy little shop also carries pure sea salt from different parts of the world. Sample of salts are available for tasting. Freshly baked breads with a choice of olive oil for dipping makes a perfect end to the visit here. Temecula Valley Cheese Company with a large selection of artisan cheeses take pride in calling themselves the purveyors of the world's finest cheeses.

Temecula's old town is not just about antiques, museums, and collectibles. The certified farmer's market provides an opportunity for the local farmers to display and sell their fresh organic produce that they grow in their own farms. This popular market comes to the old town every Saturday and on Wednesday's at the Promenade mall. The visitors to the market can also browse different craft and jewel selections while savoring the tastes of Kettle corn and freshly squeezed lemonade.

Creamy indulgence in La Jolla - Gelateria Frizzante

2007-08-29T21:49:00.000-07:00

You cannot miss 2 things when visiting the charming village of La Jolla in San Diego. One is the Ocean and other is Gelatos. Gelato in Italian literally translates to 'Frozen' and can be thought of as an Italian equivalent of modern day ice creams. In fact, the traditional milk-based Gelato has its origins from the Northern Italian regions while the water-based Sorbettos owes its existence to Southern Italy. With its rich flavor and a creamy texture, Gelatos have been the way of Italian life for many years now. 'Gelateria Frizzante' brings that piece of Italy right into the heart of San Diego.

Gelataria Frizzante is the brain child of the husband-wife duo Eric and Christine who is passionate about serving fresh and authentic Gelatos to San Diegans. Eric, her husband, is a lively personality who is always keen on talking about Gelatos. He loves to share information about it and a conversation with Eric on a lovely Sunday morning revealed lots of interesting facts.

The shop
Gelateria Frizzante opened its first shop in La Jolla in October of 2005. This shop is managed by Eric. His wife, Christine runs the newest location in the Gaslamp Quarter. The La Jolla shop with its colorful array of Gelatos and a casual ambiance truly adds to the vibe and feel of the locality. The guests are often seen sampling the new flavors and browsing the various pictures of Italy and a number of interesting Gelato facts that decorate the wall.

Gelatos in Gelateria Frizzante
Gelatos here, is made from a base material that consists of fresh whole milk, sugar, dextrose, non-fat dried milk powder and a 'bag of magic' from Italy as Eric puts it. This bag of magic contains the natural emulsifiers and stabilizers, necessary to give Gelato that unique texture and flavor. Unlike ice creams that contain a lot of butter cream, the only cream present in Gelato is the cream found in whole milk, serving as a much healthier choice. Also when compared to ice creams, very little air is beaten and blown into the Gelato which is also served much warmer. However, Gelato is more dense and creamy in texture than the ice creams.

Gelatos from Gelateria Frizzante is made right at the shop here and most of them are consumed within 24 hours. No Gelato sits in the freezer for more than 96 hours. Care is taken to maintain the same consistency and smoothness, as in the original Gelatos made in Italy. Many Italian expatriates visit Gelateria Frizzante and give their thumb of approval for authenticity. In fact, a lady professor teaching Italian studies in UCSD (University of California, San Diego) feels right at home sampling the Gelatos.

Now to the favorite part; Flavors
Gelateria Frizzante prides itself in its ability to create 125 different flavor mixtures. The shop in La Jolla has room for about 40 offerings at a time. About 80% of the flavor choices are made on a regular basis and the rest are influenced by seasonal, staple foods and customer requests. Most of the flavoring ingredients are procured from Italy including certain nuts and chocolates. Christine has worked with executive chefs from Italy who visit the West Coast occasionally. Eric and Christine have also been a part of a few international gelato conferences. Many ideas are invented and brainstormed in the conference and Gelateria Frizzante tries to bring in such flavors as well; the most recent addition 'Lychee' being one among them.

Talking of flavors; Children love the Vanilla, Chocolate, Lemon and Strawberry gelatos. Other popular picks are Pistachio, Mocha nut, Bananas Foster, Chocolate Carmel and Yoghurt forest berries. There are certain flavors like Rice that take up a lot of work and are not made often. It is also interesting to find that there is a marked difference in the preference and tastes of La Jolla visitors versus the Gaslamp visitors.

All this must have set your taste buds racing. Without wasting another moment, rush to a Gelateria Frizzante nearest to you.

La Jolla shop
1025 Prospect Street #130
San Diego, CA 92037
(858) 454-5798
(Open - noon, till late evening)

Gaslamp Quarter shop
435 Island Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 876-4203
(Open - noon, till late evening)

Help yourself with some Gelateria coupons !!

Marshlands under threat

2007-08-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

A recent study published in THE HINDU suggests the effects of damage to the marshlands in Pallikaranai, Chennai due to garbage dumping and rapid real estate activity that violate Government building norms. The environmental effects range from devastating floods in the future to production of poisonous gases like methane.

To give a bit of background, Pallikaranai marsh is one of India's largest fresh water wetlands that helps in charging the aquifers of the region. It is also home to a large number of bird, fish, reptile and insect species. It is indeed very disturbing to see the sad plight of such great natural treasures in and around Chennai. Though blessed with such amazing environmental gems unlike any other city, these have always been under continuous stress due to rapid urbanization and industrialization.

There has to be some kind of a revolution in environmental awareness, to prevent the further damage of such pristine natural systems. Schools can be the best place to begin such a movement. They can involve the children to participate in environmental group activities that focus on protecting and preserving them.

To start with, maybe schools can offer a field trip every month to various places with a fragile eco-system and get them to submit project reports on that. Several teams can work on different locations and each team can concentrate on preservation effects of their assigned area. That way, children can learn the importance of conservation and also get exposure to dealing with real life issues. Such topics of social awareness can be included as a part of mainstream curriculum.

As an ending note, what if a fence was built around the marsh with a cobble-stoned walkway amidst lot of greenery and fountains... say wishful thinking !! This would be among the biggest natural parks in any city and would probably give New York City's Central Park a run for money.

Dreaming about jobs

2007-08-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

Three years back, a sudden thought struck that how, many people around the world struggle from unemployment. Every person dreams of a perfect job only to wake up in a jolt, to find that he still doesn't have a job. Human Beings however can repair themselves with self-motivation and hope of something working out to their benefit. Such thoughts in the mind translated to a poem, which later got submitted and published in poetry.com

The advent of quality cinema

2007-08-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

It was refreshing to watch a truly mesmerizing movie over the weekend in San Diego at the Edwards Cinemas. While 'Swades' touched us all with a soulful story and 'Rang De Basanti' lifted our spirits with a powerful theme, 'Chak De India' has chartered an all together new territory by breaking all conventional rules of Indian movie making.

In a land of colorful movies laded with family sentiments and romance, it is a bold attempt by the film maker to showcase a theme that does not provide scope for such formula. The film makers also have to lauded for venturing into women's hockey when newspapers, magazines and TV channels in India are all dominated with cricketing action. But the end result is the production of one of the finest movies in recent times.

Chak De India is not a movie just for entertainment, but offers lot of essential lessons for everyday life. The importance of team work, camaraderie, confidence, motivation, self-belief and spirits are all bundled in a intriguing package that does have its own comic moments. The performances are first rate and Shahrukh Khan excels in probably the best role of his career. The music is strictly situational and gels well with the proceedings. This is a definite add to any quality movie collection and is a must-watch at the big screen.

'Chak De India' songs at iTunes ---->

Sweets with an international flavor

2007-08-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

A trip to New York city in 2004 and a recent trip to Hollywood had a commonality between them. Both trips ended with a sweet encounter of delicious cream puffs from Beard Papa's sweet store. Popular baker Yuji Hirota, lovingly called as Beard Papa because of his characteristic white beard started his first store in Osaka (Japan). Since then, Beard Papa has spread its roots to other countries like Hong Kong, China, Korea, Taiwan, Australia and US.

Each Beard Papa cream puff creation is a pure work of art. Comprised of a two-layered patented shell (Outer pie crust and an inner choux pastry shell) and a whipped cream custard filling, cream puffs are baked fresh everyday. Cream puffs are stuffed with a custard made in a number of delicious flavors like vanilla, chocolate, green tea, strawberry and pumpkin. The cream puffs do not contain any preservatives and so they are meant for immediate consumption.

Beard Papa's also serve other sweets like Mochi Ice Cream, Cheesecake, Fondant Au Chocolate, Mango Ice shower and Boba drinks. So next time you are in New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut or in California, make sure you have a pit stop at one of the Beard Papa's sweet shops.

A village by the bay

2007-08-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

San Diego with its 365 days of sunshine, an ocean to die for and a resort-type ambiance provides the perfect setting for a waterfront paradise. One such spot is Seaport Village conveniently located in downtown San Diego, by the bay. Flanked by San Diego Convention center and a number of resort-type hotels, Seaport Village offers 14 acres of themed waterfront shopping, dining, galleries and entertainment.

Opening its doors to the general public in 1980, Seaport Village has been one of the premier tourist destinations in San Diego ever since. Sun, fun and water can be found in abundance here. Over 50 shops dotting the lush landscape attract the curious visitors with its various trinkets, unique gifts, collectibles, souvenirs, clothes and beach-themed items. Kites, wind Chimes, hats and figurines feature among the most sought-after list. Waterfront fine-dining restaurants and a number of fast-food styled eateries ensure that you'd never leave the place hungry. Finger foods like chilly cheese fries, nachos and cheese, popcorn, ice cream and cotton candy seem to be the largely popular picks.

Visitors craving for entertainment have plenty to look forward to, in Seaport Village. Kids have their field time in the large carousel that was hand-carved in 1895 and featuring 54 animals. A number of children-friendly activities like brush-art, face-painting, caricatures and balloon art keep them busy. Parents and children alike are thrilled by the live music and magic performances. Couples in love are often spotted in a horse-drawn carriage. With all this and more, a visit to San Diego doesn't go complete without a visit to Seaport Village.

Baby animals

2007-08-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Babies are always cute and cuddly; whether animals or humans. I had a chance to capture some shots of baby animals; a group of kittens cuddling and basking in the afternoon sun in Chennai, India and some ducklings in the grass of SeaPort Village in San Diego, California.

Bagful in a book - Kid's delight

2007-07-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

Having enjoyed reading 'Highlights' as a kid, a recent visit to the community library ended up with 3 recent issues following me back home. Well, 'Highlights' is a children's magazine in circulation since 1946 that has managed to sustain enough interest from children and adults alike. This magazine has a particular charm about it, that is hard to explain in words. The unique styling of the cover page not only makes it alive and speaks out its inner contents, but also draws instant attention.

The magazine is packed with informational facts on science, nature, arts, culture and what not; all presented in a very simple, children-friendly manner. Even the adults are intrigued by the nitty-gritty facts and are educated like a small child. 'Highlights' also features certain regulars in every issue that happen to be the most popular among its vivid readers.

For the young Sherlock Holmes, there is 'Find the Pictures' which gets them started on some spying as well as remembering things. 'Hidden pictures' is a Highlights classic in which a number of everyday objects are blended really well within a picture that speaks more than a 1000 words. The idea is to locate the objects, with the option of stealing a glance at the clues on how these would look like. There is a 'Thinking' section' with a historical twist that provides a sort of mock situation and challenges the young brains to come up with reasoning.

Other regulars like 'The Timbertoes', 'Brain Play' and 'What's Wrong?' provide some fun as well as activities to work on. 'Highlights' also encourages youngsters to display talent by asking them to submit their stories, poems and jokes among many other features. With lot of colors and variety in each page, no wonder that 'Highlights' is said to provide fun with a purpose. For subscription details in the US ----> Highlights for Children Magazine

More magazines for children...

So much to do

2007-07-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Spare time in a fast-paced urban lifestyle is really hard to come. Yet, the most common complaint is lack of interest and boredom. Boredom can be easily conquered with a little bit of planning. While watching the latest blockbusters or daily soaps on a big screen TV is a favorite past-time activity for many, there are lot more avenues to explore.

Learning music and creating a new tune soothes the soul.
Cooking is a great way to de-stress and explore the exciting world of culinary arts.
Photography provides a whole new insight to nature and a different perspective to shapes and colors.
Gardening helps in more than few ways; While the plants gift us with natural bounty, they cleanse the air and maintain Eco-balance.
Playing a traditional board game with a loved one is a nice way to bond and relax.
Chasing a rare phenomena and putting a good research on it gives great thrills.
Picking a new jogging spot everyday, lets you explore and exert at the same time.
Visiting a prayer hall and engaging in peaceful meditation boosts energy levels.
Books are the best friends for loneliness.
Jotting out thoughts on a piece of paper lets your steam out and generates new ideas.
Participating in a community activity promotes social networking and welfare.
Re-arranging the present home setup gives a fresh new decor and mood.
Organizing an event gives us new responsibilities and knowledge.
Lego toys lets out the childish innovator in you with glee.

With so many such options, boredom really shouldn't find a place in our lives.

A trip to America's Oldest Italian restaurant

2007-07-17T21:32:00.001-07:00

If your taste buds long for authentic and traditional Northern Italian fare in a classy setting, Ristorante Fior d' Italia offers that and lot more. Established in 1886, Fior d' Italia holds the distinction of being the oldest Italian restaurant in the US. It is housed within the historic San Remo hotel in the North Beach district of San Francisco.

Fior d' Italia provides a old world hospitality in its trattoria and well-stocked bar near the entrance, a large main dining hall around the corner and its many banquet rooms. While waiting for food, a roving look at the walls will reveal lot of interesting historical information.

Frequented by prominent personalities and tourists alike, Fior d' Italia takes pride in dishing out fresh pasta dishes and sauces; that are mostly made in-house. Many people consider their Caesar salad to be best in that part of the world. The chefs have made sure that their extensive menu creations satisfy the gastronomical needs of varied clientele. So, a trip to San Francisco is not complete without the culinary experiences of a 121 year old Italian tradition.

The joys of growing a home garden

2007-07-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

The early morning dew on the leaves, the new baby shoots, the spring blossoms and the onset of fresh produce all make an inviting call at the dawn of every new day. In the age of urban living and high rises, a great way to enjoy natural greenery is to nurture a home garden. The spacious patios in the swanky apartments provide that much needed open space.

With a bit of planning and insight, each inch of the space can be well utilized to provide a mini canopy of greenery. Not only does it offer upbeat aesthetic appeal, but also provides a lung space in our own dwelling. An unique eco-diversity of sorts is established with daily visits from insects and birds. A creative combination of flowering plants, fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits form an interesting mix. Just make sure that the plants are well pampered like humans and pets.

Our one bedroom apartment in sunny San Diego has a decent sized patio and houses a diverse variety of plants like red rose, dwarf lime, mint, tomato, curry leaves, cilantro, cactus and some shrubs.

Where do the Indians meet in San Diego?

2007-07-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

... Well, within 'San Diego Desi'. What exactly is it? In the contemporary world, when almost everything; from teaching to trading happens online, meeting people and communicating with each other is no exception. It started with an idea to create a forum to bring all the desis in San Diego together under one roof and 'San Diego Desi - an online portal' was created just for that purpose. It aims to establish connection between the different people of Indian origin scattered around the San Diego county.

The opening page invites the first time visitor to join the growing online community. This page also gives a good idea of what to expect from this portal. It has neatly laid out sections for the different categories. Though still under development, a number of 'recent' postings under the various sections suggest that the web-site is being utilized quite well.

'San Diego Desi' proudly displays being America's finest Indian community and also manages to sustain enough visitor interest because of the diverse nature of areas it covers. For the curious buyer and seller, there is the Classifieds section; rentals and accommodation taking the lion's share of posts. Google maps assisted Yellow-pages is an interesting concept that has a decent coverage of Indian business listings along with the pinpoint location in a Google map. It is a fair assumption that this section will be updated as new businesses mushroom.

Indian events in San Diego have always generated good public interest and having a specific section for that is a definite plus. A bit of work however to cover all the Indian events in San Diego will ensure this page being bookmarked by most people. For people who love to write columns and express their thoughts, there is a Soapbox section and for others, who are more of a discussing type, there is a Discussion section as well.

With few other miscellaneous sections, a current weather display, a search engine feature and links to other network sites, it aims at being literally a one-stop shop. For all the San Diego Desis out there, 'San Diego Desi' definitely warrants a visit !!

'Future Cup' extends Sachin's ODI future

2007-07-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

The men in blue came back strongly after the World Cup fiasco to beat Bangladesh earlier and more recently to beat South Africans in the just concluded 'Future Cup' in Belfast, Ireland. The encounter with the Proteans have been heartening in more than one way; First thing, Indians have played really well outside the sub-continent against a strong team and most importantly, Sachin Tendulkar has resorted back to match-winning knocks and attacking innings.

Not only did he become the first cricketer in the world to cross 15,000 ODI runs but was also generous enough to share his man-of-the-series award with Yuvraj Singh. When critics and cricketing fraternity alike wrote off Sachin, he proved that he is still among the best.

This is a case of another Tendulkar blitzkrieg and more motivation to write to Sportingo. This time around, the publishers have trimmed and edited my original writing and am personally not happy because it has changed the flavor and context a bit.

-------> Sachin's article in Sportingo

Sivaji... and more Sivaji in San Diego

2007-06-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

Like other centers around the world, San Diego doesn't seem to get bored of Sivaji. It is a known fact that Sivaji pulsated San Diego with 2 rocking shows in the opening week. Suprisingly the reality is, San Diego is a very dormant market when it comes to Tamil movies. Only the elite films even make the cut and most movies can hardly sustain a single show. Just a handful of Tamil movies over the last 9 years have even crossed more than 1 screening. The last tamil film that had 2 screenings was Vetaiyadu Vilayadu.

In the inimitable thalaivar style though, Sivaji's path was altogether different (In Tamil you could put this as 'Sivaji vazhi thani vazhi'). Sivaji not only rocked as a film, it also rocked the box office. The infectious phenomenon called Sivaji woke the San Diegan Tamil public, who flocked to the cinema halls in large numbers to greet their thalaivar.

With the recently concluded final screening of Sivaji, it had already walked its way into the record books with a number of firsts to its credit. Sivaji was the first Tamil movie to be premiered in San Diego on the day of world-wide premiere. Due to continuous demand, Sivaji was screened as many as 5 times in a reasonably bigger cinema hall, which is another first. This was also the first time that most number of people made repeated appearances for the different shows.

For statistical interests, here is a listing of the different shows

Premiere show (June 14th) 7:30 pm (Ultra Star - Del Mar) (200+ capacity).
June 17th @ 7:30 pm (Edwards - Mira Mesa) (270+ capacity).
June 17th @ 10:30 pm (Edwards - Mira Mesa) (270+ capacity).
June 18th @ 7:30 pm (Edwards - Mira Mesa) (270+ capacity).
June 25th @ 7:30 pm (Ultra Star - Del Mar) (200+ capacity).

Just when we think that Sivaji fever is about to fade, the boss returns back next week and this time to enthrall the telugu audience.

Taming Castle Rock

2007-06-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

The mountains and forests surrounding the Big Bear lake is believed to house some of the best hiking trails in Southern California. On a Sunday morning during a weekend outing, about 8 of us set out to explore the wilderness in Big Bear. We settled comfortably in 2 cars and cruised for about 10 minutes before we noticed a pull out on Highway 18 (About a mile east of the Big Bear Dam). This space doubled as a parking lot. A short walk on the road led to the trail head with a board that read aloud 'Castle Rock Trail 1W03 ... Castle Rock 1'. We started our ascent into the wooded area with a modest cargo that contained a few digital cameras and 1 bottle of fitness water. The trail ran parallel to a stream which had run completely dry.

After climbing for few minutes, we realized that this was going to be one strenuous hike. We gained quite a bit of elevation in the first few minutes of our hiking itself. This unfolded some great obstructed views of the Big bear lake as we ascended. After about 45 minutes of grinding our way through the pines at almost 550 feet higher than where we started, we got our first real view of the Castle Rock. Castle Rock is a giant Granite boulder sitting majestically on the hills about 1 mile from the trail head. We were a bit tired in the mid-morning sun and without proper hydration. We guessed that we were still about 0.2 miles away from the rock. The last 0.2 miles were quite steep and after a bit of struggle reached the base of Castle rock. This brought us to an obvious question 'Do we climb the rock? Or, do we satisfy ourselves with the climb on the trail?" It appeared a bit too risky to make it to the top considering the steep slopes that provided no proper footing, our inexperience in rock climbing and the lack of proper planning. We were all in a pair of shoes that had little or no grip. As we almost decided to turn back, an enthusiastic couple descending back from the rock tempted us with promises of unbelievable views of the lake.

This prompted one of our members to try to hit the first tough step in the form of a high, narrow, steep and slippery path. As he made through that with some help, 4 of us followed suit. Each step in the ascent was a nerve-wracking one and even one wrong step could lead us to oblivion. Extreme care and a great team effort finally led us to the peak of the rock. As promised, we were treated to some gorgeous panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding hills and forests. We decided to spend a good 15-20 minutes at the top allowing the serene scene to engulf us. The most difficult part was yet to come 'The descent from Castle rock to the base of the rock'. There were prayers performed at the top requesting almighty to safely guide us back to the base. With our heart in the mouth, we started our descent. It was definitely not for the faint of heart. After a number of trial and errors in our footing coupled with each other's guidance, we finally made it to the bottom much to the relief of everyone. We thanked God first thing, before starting our way down to the road 1 mile away. Near the Castle rock, the trail was not properly marked and this led to us straying from the proper path. However, we took the dry stream route which guided us back to the marked trail few minutes later. Still shaking from the experience and yet with a sense of achievement, we reached the road with a well-deserved self-applause.

Sivaji mania grips San Diego

2007-06-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

Last week, a wave of euphoria swept across the globe and San Diego was no exception. It was not a divine incarnation, not a festival, not a sporting event and definitely not a new invention. It was SIVAJI-THE BOSS. After weeks of anticipation, Superstar Rajini's blockbuster Sivaji finally stormed into San Diego. This was the first time, premiere of a tamil movie was screened in San Diego. Evening of June 14th was an eventful one as couple of hundred die-hard Rajini fans lined up outside the theatre almost 2 hours before the show began. As thalaivar with his immense screen presence and rocking style entertained the guests for 3 solid hours, the audience had their own celebration converting the quiet cinema hall into a carnival event. Hordes of emails followed the show with rave reviews of the movie and non-stop praises of the one and only Rajinikanth.

San Diego had to share the movie reel with Phoenix and so the next show in San Diego was scheduled only 3 days later. As the second show was to be screened in a much bigger theatre with stadium seating, a number of us had planned to watch the 2nd show. We had to go through a gruelling 3-day waiting session before we could get a glimpse of our thalaivar.

Slowly the big day arrived. We had already been to the premiere event just to experience the Rajini phenomenon without actually watching the movie that day. Having seen the celebration, we decided to have a bigger and a louder one. We went to the theatre almost 2 and 1/2 hours before the showtime and started transforming the movie hall into a Rajini paradise. The ticket counters and the hall were decorated with banners that shouted punch dialogues like "Vaada Vaada Vaangikoda.. Ticketa inga vaangikoda", "Pera keta odane chumma adhurudhu illa" etc. Everyone in our group dressed up in blue and we sprinted energetically to occupy a complete row at the hall#12 at Edwards Mira Mesa 18 in San Diego. We started distributing confetti shooters, saved a bagful for us and we were all set for the big moment.

As the trailers of Sultan (An animated movie of Rajinikanth set to release in 2008) hit the screen, the crowd was not able to control their emotions. By the time, the titles rolled with the inimitable fashion 'SUPERSTAR RAJINI', the theatre almost resonated with the noise the modest 250+ crowd generated. This was an experience like no other and only Superstar could generate such energy levels in the audience. For the next 3 hours, we were treated with pure Rajini magic and sheer high-quality entertainment. Director Shankar made sure that each frame looked like a scene out of a glossy high-resolution post card. The rich imagery, with a rocking A.R.Rahman score scorched the cinema hall. Staff at the Edwards cinema hall walked in to catch a quick glimpse, but never moved a muscle after that. Their eyes were glued to the screen and were amazed at our thalaivar's screen presence and the electrifying atmosphere we generated. It was a cracker of an experience and seemed like Diwali just got over looking at the number of papers strewn all over the place. At the end of the show, we felt many years younger and were gleaming with energy.

'The Feast' at Lakeside Estate

2007-06-11T17:45:00.001-07:00

The quiet lanes of Edgemoore at the Big Bear Lake in California got transformed into a culinary paradise on a gorgeous Saturday evening. The huge Lakeside Estate situated on the banks of the lake's Metcalf bay with million-dollar lake views and boasting an array of modern facilities in an old-world charm setting hosted an enthusiastic crowd of 16 San Diegans on a weekend retreat.

On a day packed with sporting and other fun activities (including a gruelling session of sand volleyball and a boat trip on the lake), the tired group longed for a perfect dinner. A talented make-shift head chef for the evening accompanied by 3 others decided to treat their friends with a culinary trip to Italy. For the next 1 hour, the huge well-stocked kitchen was filled with clanking of vessels and aroma of herbs and sauces.

The 4 cooks slowly started dishing out rather exciting Italian fare with a Californian twist. The menu of the evening rightfully termed as 'The Feast' consisted of an interesting mix of Antipasti, Insalate and Pasta dishes. The delicious spread immediately triggered the senses and brought the whole gathering to the dinner table in a jiffy.

The Feast

1) Focaccia bread topped with a spread of pesto, mascarpone cheese and garlic and baked to perfection.

2) Salad of the day - Iceberg lettuce mix dressed with Italian vinaigrette and hand-tossed with black olives, garlic croutons and shaved parmesan cheese.

3) Baked Penne pasta with a zesty Arrabiata sauce, Mozarella cheese and Sun-dried tomatoes.

4) Baked Penne pasta with Marinara sauce, Mozarella cheese and Sun-dried tomatoes.

5) Capelline Pomodoro topped with cut black olives, fresh basil and garlic.

An evening of enchanting rhythms, soul-stirring notes and high adrenaline beats

2007-06-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

It all started with one of the most anticipated events in 2007: A.R.Rahman's 3rd dimension tour in North America with over 70 artists consisting of renowned singers, a full-fledged orchestra and a number of dancers. The 3 week tour kicked off with a blazing concert at Oracle Arena in Oakland/San Francisco area.

The quiet Saturday evening witnessed progressive crowd trickling in to the arena and settling with Ethnic Indian finger foods and Garlic french fries. The excitement started to build up in the hall from 8 pm onwards with whistles and chants galore of 'Rahman.. Rahman'. At around half past 8 pm, the eagerness and anticipation of crowd was broken with an envelope of complete darkness and a short pause of silence. What followed that, was an experience of a lifetime that would linger in the minds forever.

Blazee (pronounced as Blah-Zae) stormed the evening with a rousing welcome rap for San Francisco that went like "Boys and Girls of San Francisco, Are you ready for the show ..." accompanied with roaring Sivamani beats. The crowd burst out at the mention of "The one and only A.R.Rahmaaaaaaaan ...". Playback singer Chitra started with Jaage Hain from Guru and as the tempo increased, the spotlight turned to the Maestro A.R.Rahman who joined with his high pitch sensational singing as he walked down the ramp. This eventually transformed into the energetic number KhalBali again by A.R.Rahman. An array of melodies filled the air in the form of Chanchan (Water), Ramta Jogi (Taal) and Roja Janeman (Roja). Once Hariharan sensed the anticipation in the crowd for Tamizh songs, he instantly started with Vaaji Vaaji Sivaji (... No guesses here, this song is from the most anticipated Tamizh movie ever SIVAJI) which was just mind-blowing to hear in the concert hall. Crowd wanted more of Sivaji and all our wishes were fulfilled with the soothing and haunting Sahana.

All these set the perfect platform for a cracker of a evening continuously bombarded with the energetic PAATSHAALAAs, ROOBAROOs, and the DIL SEs. However, the biggest biggie was yet to come. There were periods of gap between the songs and the troupe enchanted us with magical tunes of bass, percussion and flute (Naveen). A.R.Rahman also made use of these short periods to supply us with interesting tidbits and experiences. When the typical Rajini (aka. thalaivaa) 'chook-chook' tune began, the crowd went bonkers. Our prayers were finally answered. Blaaze and Naresh Iyer instantly hit the 'Sega Fightaa.. Sivaj Rightaaa.. ' energetically. The off-beat tunes with the funky lyrics of the Boss (Sivaji) and live orchestra just lit the arena on fire. The energy levels were a new high and was unlike anything witnessed before. As a perfect sequel, A.R.Rahman stepped down from his pedestal for rendering the most anticipated Athiradee (Sivaji). This song was in fact ATHIRADEE as half of the audience got off their seats and began dancing to the rocking tunes. The next 5 minutes witnessed the whole arena filled with chants of 'Sivaji Rightaa.. Sivaji Rightaaa'. If this was not enough, Sivamani's 5 minute solo on the 100-some drums around him accompanied with vocal percussion was earth-shattering. He perfectly blended western beats with dapanguthu and controlled the tempo of the beats at will.

After a number of high-intensity songs, Rahman settled calmly on the Grand Piano with a message for humankind. He started with "I know everyone here is on high spirits here, but we have to do our part for the human kind", played some soulful tunes before treating us with the enchanting anthem for UN 'Pray for me brother'. The crowd joined him in the support and serenity by swaying gracefully with cell phone lights creating a candle-light effect. The song and the moment was just magical and heavenly.

The concert was not over yet. A parade of songs rained from the movie Guru; the mystic and exotic Maya Maya, the playful Barso Re and the enchanting Ey Hairathey & Tere Bina. The list of songs for the evening just went endless and is not covered in entirety here. The crowd got to its feet again with the ever-green Chaya Chaya (Dil Se), a regular in all A.R.Rahman concerts. Playback singer, Sukhwinder Singh would not let go of the song so easily. He continued to play and experiment with it as the crowd got into an increased state of frenzy. The euphoria and the ecstasy hit unprecented levels with SaReGaMe (Boys) and Humma Humma (Bombay) as both songs were accompanied with high pitch vocals, pulsating beats, groovy tunes and energetic singing. The patriotic and the powerful Vande Mataram from A.R.Rahman himself was a fitting finale to one of the best events ever. The crowd wanted more music in this already 3+ hour concert. Rightfully, June 2nd was named as A.R.Rahman day.

At the end of the day, it was pure bliss .. served in plenty by the genius of A.R.Rahman. One only hopes that such magic happens more regularly. The music, the moments, the atmosphere, the crowd and finally the man A.R.Rahman.. still lingers in the mind.

When Cliffs dive into the Ocean

2007-05-31T20:54:00.000-07:00

Na Pali (means 'The Cliff' in a literal sense) is one of the wonders of Hawaii. Jaw-dropping cliffs fall 1000s of feet into the Pacific in the north western part of Kauai (Part of the Hawaiian islands). These lush green rugged cliffs are often razor thin with deep and narrow valleys. The walls of these cliffs weep with numerous waterfalls and the valleys flow with pristine rivers.

Most of the Na Pali coastline is inaccessible because of its sheer cliffs. The best way to experience this mystic beauty is by air. This aerial experience of Na Pali is a must see activity in Kauai. A number of operators in Kauai offer helicopter tours to explore this Garden isle by air. 16 miles of ocean rafting, sailing and kayaking or 11 miles of one-way switchback hiking on the Kalalau trial are the other ways to experience the splendor of Na Pali.

Ke'e beach (home of nesting turtles) in the lush North coast of Kauai is the last accessible portion before the towering cliffs of Na Pali begin to appear. The ocean consuming the sun with the Na Pali coast on the side is a sensational sight.

Stylish showpiece

2007-05-29T23:07:00.001-07:00

Towering over the Nungambakkam High Road in Chennai (India), Ispahani center makes a style statement in this posh neighborhood filled with designer boutiques and chic eating joints.

Hip college crowd make a beeline to this shopping paradise dotted with shops offering some of the best labels in Fashion (clothing, accessories, home decor) and fast food.

This stylish mall usually gets a massive facelift for festivals and special occasions. An experienced film buff can instantly recognize this landmark mall being featured in a number of talkies rolled out of the vibrant tamizh film industry.

Falling into the valleys of Yosemite

2007-05-28T21:21:00.000-07:00

Yosemite National Park in Northern California is a natural wonderland of deep valleys, massive granite mountains, lush meadows, giant sequoias and of course the numerous waterfalls.

Yosemite falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world (The largest in US) plunging over 2400 feet in 3 separate sections; the upper Yosemite falls, the middle cascades and the lower Yosemite falls. Yosemite falls is mostly fed by snowmelt and so the peak flow is in the Spring season.

The lower falls is easily accessible by a short hike to its base where a fresh sprinkle is almost always guaranteed. The upper falls however needs a strenous full-day hike.

Of historic downtown districts and harbors

2007-05-25T23:21:00.000-07:00

The mere mention of San Diego arouses interest and curiosity. Why not? With its almost perfect weather throughout the year, beautiful beaches & parks, a booming wireless and biotech industry, world class hotels and dining, jazz festivals, great cosmopolitan culture... words that make every San Diegan proud, San Diego offers post card settings in every corner.

The experience starts at the relatively small but neatly laid out air terminals with a catchy view of the San Diego skyline at the waterfront. You can't help but catch a glimpse of the hip downtown buildings as you drive towards the freeways from the airport.

The downtown itself is small compared to other big cities in US but has its own charm. Most of the action takes place in a historic downtown district called the Gaslamp quarter which is dotted with numerous fine-dining establishments and ultra-chic night clubs. The Petco park (home of the Padres, San Diego's baseball team), a waterfront convention center, a stylish shopping mall and a number of boutique hotels are all either in or within walking distances from the Gaslamp.

Walking along the San Diego harbor is a great experience. The walkways are dotted with contemporary sculptures themed on the ships, sailing and sea. For anyone with a passion for vessels, there is a fine display of a number of historic ships including the world's oldest active ship 'Star of India' by the San Diego's Maritime Museum. Of course, there is waterfront dining serving fresh seafood and sunset dinner cruises. A bonus sight for winter visitors is spotting whales.

Flora and Fauna of the Asa Wright Nature Center

2007-05-23T21:37:00.001-07:00

Asa Wright nature center in Trinidad is the oldest nature center in the West Indies. It is a premier ecological destination and is located 1200 feet above sea level on the Northern mountain ranges. It is also a research and conservation center. The innumerable species of birds, flowers, amphibians, reptiles and butterflies attracts hundreds of tourists every year; in particular from UK.

The observation deck in the center is the most popular hangout spot where nature lovers can relax in a cozy setup offering them sprawling views of the rain forests. It is also a perfect spot for watching colorful birds and reptiles. A small food center serves tasty sandwiches and refreshing drinks.

The center offers a number of guided hikes in the rain forest; the most notable being the night hike to see the world's most accessible colony of oil birds. These hikes provide a means to experience the unique bio-diversity in the area and a way to see how the different species of plants, birds and animals co-exist.

Queen summoned us to Trinidad

2007-05-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

Queen's Park Oval in the heart of Port-of-Spain (Trinidad ) was completely renovated for hosting the Group B WC2007 matches. With a capacity of more than 25000 spectators, it boasts a brand new 60,000 sq. ft. pavilion with world-class facilities including a library, a museum, top class health, spa, gymnasium and a restaurant.

India played against Bermuda on March 19, 2007 and the picture shown here was taken during the toss.

When Sachin Tendulkar made me an author

2007-05-17T23:42:00.000-07:00

My wife and I had been to Trinidad to watch the World cup cricket matches. We were lucky to get a glimpse of some of our favourite players up close. While we relished the interactions with most of the players in the Indian team, Sachin was always missing. We did not want to return back to US without getting to meet him atleast once.

We chased the team to their practice grounds and found him in the training sessions at a suburb Port-of-Spain nets and were instantly impressed by Sachin's simple and soft-natured persona. Already being a die-hard Sachin fan, this encounter further motivated me to write a letter to Sachin. I found a nice sports portal 'Sportingo' and they were happy to publish my thoughts.

My letter to Sachin Tendulkar