Victoria and Vancouver through the eyes of a child

               My Vancouver trip     

                    By: Akash Roy

   This spring break, my family and 2 of my cousins with their families took a trip to Victoria and Vancouver, Canada. My aunt from the east coast planned an extremely fun vacation. I was not really that excited because I had to leave my pet tortoise Flash with our friends in San Diego, CA, but I was really looking forward to seeing my cousins. Also this time I got a new phone to take pictures with on our trip.

   

We first went to Victoria. We had to drive our car onto the ferry. It was a huge ferry. Nearly 200 cars could be parked on it. The ferry had lots of entertainment. You could go outside on the deck or the top deck, you could go shopping, or you could play in the miny playground. What I liked the most and I recommend that you see in Victoria is Butchart gardens. It is beautiful and magical, especially with a light drizzle.

We went to Fisherman’s Wharf  where we saw floating houses. We then took a long walk on the sea wall where we saw an awesome Otter and lots of giant kelp. We also took a water taxi to our hotel. A water taxi is a boat painted black and yellow that takes you to different ports. Another thing I really enjoyed was hiking to a waterfall. The hike was very green. When we got to the waterfall there was a viewpoint of the waterfall. There were stairs leading to the bank of the stream. There was also a mini waterfall next to the bank of the stream. It was all together quite a spectacular sight.

We also visited a castle called the Craigdarroch castle and learned that my sister and my cousin sister are so suckey at races!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There we learned about the artifacts and how people lived in the castle over 100 years ago.

    Vancouver is a fun and popular place to go to for summer break because the weather is warm and sunny. We went in spring because it is not as crowded. It was raining half the trip but it was a blast. What I enjoyed the most was Grouse Mountain and the aviary at Queen Elizabeth park. At Grouse Mountain we played in the snow, we saw bears that had just come out of hibernation, l also enjoyed sledding the amazing slopes they had. At the aviary we saw lots of birds. I also liked the bird hunt at the aviary. We saw all sorts of tropical birds. I really liked matching parrots along with the Australian King Parrot.

On a rainy morning there was nothing to do. So we went to Granville Island and saw a lot of shops which was my least favorite part of the trip. When we went to the kids market there was a game arcade which was awesome. That same day we went to capilano suspension bridge. It is a 435 feet long hanging bridge that is 230 feet above the ground !!!!!!!!! The bridge was shaky but I was not scared even though my dad was shaking with fear and I could sort of feel it.

There was a very lucky accident that occured. One of our friends from Seattle the home of the Seahawks spent their vacation in Hawaii. Except when they were coming back we were able to meet in Vancouver on our last day in Canada. I was very happy to see them.

    The weather in Vancouver and Victoria was very wet. What I mean is that it rained every day but only in the mornings and nights. Luckily, we had packed all the jackets and stuff we needed. Although, we should have brought more socks. Also luckily all the hotels we stayed at had umbrellas we could borrow. We ate a lot of cuisines like a new version of sushi, indian food, Jamaican food, vegan food. Vegan food was fine with me because I hate cheese.

What I loved that we had on our trip was something called a butter chicken samosa. I wish I could get it here. Guess what? We got gelato 3 nights in a row at 10 pm!!!!!!!!! My favorite gelato flavor was lemon sorbet. My mouth is still watering from that first taste.

In total I had a superb vacation with my entire American family. I can’t wait for the next one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prague – Paisa Vasool for Everyone

My second trip to Prague was in August 2018. This started off as a work trip with four other colleagues from UK, followed by my family joining me on the Thursday for an extended weekend. Being our second trip, my colleague and me decided to play tourist guides to the rest and walked them to Charles Bridge to give them a glimpse of the river front and Prague Castle.

By August I had done 3 work trips with the lads and my stomach was more conditioned to accepting a bit more alcohol, in short, I graduated to the large pint. I won’t bore you with every place we had dinner, but it won’t be complete without mentioning U-Fleku.  The Brewery and Restaurant U Fleků in Prague is one of the most famous and most visited Czech cultural sites, such as the Prague Castle, Old Town Square, Vyšehrad, the Jewish Town or the National Museum.This place had a number of halls with a large beer garden / courtyard in the middle. The seating was very Oktoberfest’ish with long rows of benches and tables. The place was heaving with tourists and locals with traditional live music running in the background that helped create an atmosphere. Beer was continuously refilled until you ask them to stop, quite dangerous for light weights like me! I ordered the only vegetarian option which felt like a Czech version of a ‘bhajiya‘ platter with salad. The waiter asked us to try ‘medovina’, a classic sweet honey infused alcoholic beverage. A small shot glass was enough to make us appreciate the ambiance. Don’t miss this place if you visit Prague.

Pic courtesy- ufleku website. It looked a lot like this

Let’s get to the family part of the trip. Up until now, I’d only seen the ‘dark’ side of Prague, as we only had time in the evenings and the agenda was heavily inclined to places that served alcohol!

After a bit of research, I found a hotel quite close to Wenceslas square. The family had a bit of airport drama with flight cancellations etc which meant that by the time they arrived Prague it was mid- day and the girls were knackered.  After a much-needed nap, we got ready to explore the place on foot. Did I mention that last summer Europe was blessed with some never-ending sunshine and heat wave? It was early thirties and I was determined to try on that pink vest which I wouldn’t dare to wear in England. Besides that, was the only thing that coordinated with the pink themed evening.

We had the most enjoyable walk from new town to old. Prague has managed to maintain its heritage with its multi-colour facades along the street. The cafes along the street are pretty and unpretentious. Food and drink are not expensive in Prague when you compare them to other European cities. After a long walk to the town centre in the heat, we took a pit stop to grab a quick gelato for the little one. It was simply awesome. I wanted to show the family the Old Town square. As you walk along these lovely cobbled streets, you cannot ignore the Baroque architecture. Prague was once the cultural capital of Europe and it truly lives up to that title.

The walk, in day light observing the rich heritage of Prague is simply spectacular. The little one was still sprightly, so we decided to head to the famous Charles bridge. The sun was about to set, and we managed to get clicked along the riverside. The riverfront promenade is bustling with more cafes and restaurants.

The missus was a bit apprehensive to experiment the local cuisine besides her motherly instincts were flowing full throttle, so we had to find a dal-chawal place for the little one. On the way back towards the hotel, we bumped into Bombay Express. This was a life savior. If you are craving for Indian food in Prague, don’t miss Bombay Express (I think it is a chain in Prague as I saw it in more than one place!). We ordered a dal makhni, naan and paneer masala and may I say that it was quite simply delicious. I thanked the wife as by day five of staying away from home-food, I was craving for some desi food. On that tasty note, we called it a day.

The following day we decided to get a tram to Prague Castle. Remember I told you that Uber is good in Prague, trams are also good and cheap!  We arrived early and got a day pass to cover a few monuments within the castle. It gave us access to the Rose gardens, Cathedral, Gold lane among a few other historic buildings. The castle is on a hill top offering a breathtaking view of the city.

After getting lots of photos, we entered the St. Vitus Cathedral. The intricate designs on the walls, the rose painted glass, high ceiling walls and the ornate decor was simply mind blowing. This is a must visit place and completely worth it.

The Cathedral was definitely the highlight of the visit. It was a visual treat from inside and outside. There is a lot to cover in the Castle. Our little one cooperated as we walked to tick everything we wanted to see. She was quite excited to see the castle exteriors, the rooms where the soldiers guarded the city and their outfits. The place has managed to preserve its history beautifully and highly recommended if you visit Prague.

Day 3 with the family was meant to be any place of fun for the little one. We were toying with the idea of going to Karlstein which was also a palace type of place but instead chose to go to the zoo. Prague zoo is huge with a lot of area to cover. I would definitely recommend if you are travelling with kids and would probably start early in the day and get a cable car to the top. The zoo expanses on a sloping terrain and they’ve managed to get all the wild animals at the top end. We chose to walk up as the missus was petrified with the incline of the cable car (bad decision). Once up, we hired a mini train to take us around the park and we got to see a lot of the wild animals. Prague zoo is not a Loro Parque or San Diego Zoo in terms of different shows but nonetheless it has all wild animals one would want to see and recognize. If you are travelling with kids and want to do something locally, then it is worth a visit.

I told you 2018 was a year of firsts and seconds. Two trips to Prague with completely different agendas but equally worthwhile and fun! Whether you decide to go solo, with a bunch of friends or with family, Prague has something to offer for one and all.  At the end of the trip, the little one said to me “Papa, Prague was the best because it was nice and hot!”. Paisa vasool! *

 

* Paisa vasool!  – got my money’s worth

-Nitin Kumsi – I’m not a born traveller, accountant, dancer, chaat-lover,reader or writer. l’ve just picked some of these habits along the way and stuck with some of them as I seemed to enjoy them more than others.

 

Anantya

Anantya Resorts is an unusual choice for travelers. It’s not your regular beach vacation. It’s not the iconic backwaters of Kerala either. It is a tranquil spot hidden in the heart of the Kanyakumari district. Someone drew a line and decided that God’s this creation was not to be part of God’s own country, geographically speaking. So here it lies, on the Tamil Nadu side, among lush landscapes and in an idyllic setting. Getting here is a comfortable 2 hour car ride from Trivandrum airport. One cannot help but let the crowd of thoughts in the mind fade away with the city as the landscape gets greener and lusher with every passing Km.

The resort is cozily nestled on the banks of Lake Chittar, amidst rubber plantations. The cottages and rooms emerge from the greenery, like they belong there. From the open doors, outdoor seating, hammocks, lily ponds and even the outdoor badminton court- it all has been beautifully laid out to blend seamlessly into its surroundings. The outdoor showers at the Siddhi Villa we stayed at were reminiscent of an age we have left behind. The ever smiling staff, always greet you when you pass by and are happy to assist with anything you might need.

With an infinity pool that backs into the lake, cycles to explore the vast grounds, board games for the family, amazing Ayurvedic experiences to avail of, the resort has ample to accommodate tastes of a variety of people. We were a party of adults, grandparents, and children and there was not a person who was not at peace, doing something that they enjoyed. That harmony is the essence of Anantya.

There is much to be enjoyed outside of Anantya as well. The plantation walk with knowledgeable staff who regaled us with stories and patiently answered questions was fantastic. The untouched forests surrounding the area have several walking/hiking trails which the staff are always happy to arrange upon request. There are cultural sites of interest that make very do able day trips with Anantya as your base. We were most content to enjoy all the resort had to offer- use the bicycles on the premises to cycle over to the Chittar Dam, walks through the plantations, nearby forest, unlimited pool play time and simply unwind for the 4 night, 3 days we were there. We made an exception and ventured out to visit the 6^th century AD built Jain temple late one evening. The 800 step climb to the cave with views and music carried by the wind from afar alone was breathtaking.

As nourished as our souls were, so were our stomachs. The chefs are top notch and able to whip up a whole variety of food. The buffet spreads and live tables were visual and culinary delights. The Kerala dishes, especially the fish were stand out winners with the adults, while the kids could never get enough of fresh hot south Indian fare like dosas, puttu and aapam. It would be an incomplete description if I did not mention the fantastic “Hot toddy” drink mixed by the bartender – a perfect companion to sultry south Indian winters.

The term eco-lodge carries with it a responsibility towards nature and a promise of an experience that is immersive but not disruptive.  If you are looking to get away, find India outside what you know of India and the hashtags on pictures, to switch off and rejuvenate, this hidden gem of place is your spot.

For bookings and other information: http://anantyaresorts.com/

 – Ragini Murugan – My dearest and very talented sister. Daydreamer, full time engineer, sometimes writer @www.ragzzmatazz.com.

Favorite hobby includes reading and being a mother.

 

Prague – Part I

2018 has been a year of many firsts and coincidentally many seconds. After having spent 11.5 years as an accountant in the UK, where the most interesting work place I’d been was Malta (that too for just one meeting),I got the opportunity to travel to Prague for work. Not once, but twice last year.

My first visit to Prague was a short 2 day trip in April 2018 with two of my british work colleagues who drank beer quicker than water. We had two evenings for ourselves after work and whilst I thought we wouldn’t be able to do much, I was pleasantly surprised. We stayed at a random boutique hotel slightly away from the town centre, but hailed an Uber after work to get to the centre of town. Whilst in Prague, you must Uber. It’s cheap, reliable and there’s never ever any traffic! Quite unlike any other European city I’ve been too. We headed straight to Old Town Square –

Old town square is exactly as it says on the tin. It’s a big square in the middle of the city centre surrounded by architecturally beautiful buildings on all sides.

“The most significant square of historical Prague, it was founded in the 12th century and has been witness to many historical events. In addition to the Old Town Hall and the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the square is dominated by the Baroque Church of St Nicholas, the Rococo Kinský Palace, the Gothic House at the Stone Bell and the monument to Jan Hus.” – Prague tourism website 

 

It was evident that the square would be a popular for all sorts of gatherings and possibly public executions in past.The areas around old town square are mainly pedestrianised. It was hard to not notice lots of groups of young boys dominating the city centre. It felt like the stag-do capital of Europe and why wouldn’t it be? Beer in Prague is cheap. My colleagues and I had meal at Staroměstská Restaurace. This place was recommended to us by the hotel as one of the most traditional Czech cuisines. I wasn’t expecting much for myself being a vegetarian. As long as it looks appetising and is moderately tasty, I have conditioned myself to eat just about anything vegetarian.  Needless to say it was all about the beer there! My colleagues were on their second helping of a large pint whilst I was sipping my first (half pint!).

 

Dinner was quickly followed by a long walk along the cobbled streets of Prague. It was lively and buzzing with youngsters who all seemed to enjoying the light breeze and chill in the town. We were determined to find the Beer Museum. This place came up as the top most visited places at Trip Advisor. With over 30 different types of Czech beers, this place didn’t disappoint. As we walked outside the beer museum, we got a night view of the beautiful Prague Castle on the other side of Charles bridge.

Prague is pretty my night. Its got lovely looking restaurants /cafes along these pedestrianised walkways that serve food and drinks with a warm blanket. Another thing the city is famous for is the Trdlo – it’s like a sweet come shaped pretzel with ice cream. In all honesty, it’s perfectly missable. We did it just because it seemed to be selling  in just about ever Street we walked. That pretty much concluded the first evening in Prague!

The second evening after work we decided to head over to New Town. New town is on the other side of the town centre and possibly only about 20 minutes walk from

Old Town. Wenceslas square is at the top end of New town. We managed to grab a couple of quick cheeky pints at one of the street cafes. It was still evening and we were able to appreciate a bit more of Prague’s architecture. The street that joins old and new town boasts of a number of multicoloured buildings in pastel shades. A bit like Manish Malhotra’esque. It’s gorgeous. New town is upmarket Prague with all designer shops

This time we had dinner a place I have completely forgotten the name off. It was a quaint looking place, almost felt like we entered a cave. They had nothing vegetarian on their menu however the chef tossed up some couscous with red kidney beans curry! It was the tastiest rajma I’ve ever had. He seasoned it well and garnished it with coriander!

This dinner pretty much concluded our second evening in Prague. The city by night surprised me with its beauty, culture, food and atmosphere. I wanted to come back… and I did, only this time with my family. A sneak peak pic attached with the family. If you thought Prague is all about it’s booze wait for part 2 of this series! Thanks for reading.

-Nitin Kumsi – I’m not a born traveller, accountant, dancer, chaat-lover,reader or writer. l’ve just picked some of these habits along the way and stuck with some of them as I seemed to enjoy them more than others.

The Olympic Adventure

We visited the Olympic Peninsula in our trip to Pacific Northwest this past fall (Fall 2018). The Peninsula is huge, and has lovely lakes, waterfalls, mountains and beaches that can take up to a whole week to explore. We only had four days here, but we made the most of it. We visited the Quinault Area, the coastline (Ruby Beach and Rialto Beach), Hoh Rainforest region, Sol Duc Valley and Lake Crescent Area. The Olympic National Park is definitely one of the prettiest national parks I”ve been to (the other ones being Smokey Mountain National Park and Denali National Park) and would highly recommend making trip to this Peninsula if visiting the Northwest! Here I’m describing the first two stops on our visit there.

We entered the Olympic Peninsula at night from its southern end- from the Quinault Reservation, closer to the Washington-Oregon Border. Lake Quinault is the very first lake we saw the next morning and it was simply mesmerizing. Peaceful and pristine. Since we were in the Peninsula (and the Olympic Park) in the weekday, there were no crowds and we had the lake to ourselves. There are no motorized boating activities allowed in the lake, only kayaks and canoes were allowed in some areas of the lake. Bordering the lake is the Quinault Rainforest trail, a mile-long trail that takes you through the temperate rainforest and gives you a glimpse of how lush green the scenery can be. And of course, since it’s a temperate rainforest, there are waterfalls pretty much everywhere. It was fairly enjoyable hike. Behlul carried Abir in his hiker backpack, and of course Abir enjoyed the trees too, wanting to touch all of them! Near the Quinault Area, there are maybe 3-4 restaurants and cafes to choose from for breakfast/lunch/dinner, so not much of a choice here. We were aware of this and had carried plenty of snacks/quick foods/munchables when we left Portland and started driving northward. Of course, my almost 1- year old son Abir had his food bag at his disposal- his fruit and vegetable purees, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, baby cookies, teething wafers, water, etc. We weren’t sure where all we would find grocery stores, and a hungry baby is the last thing you want on a trip!

Our next destination in the Peninsula was on the Washington Coast-Ruby Beach. Ruby beach is one of the most visited beaches in the Peninsula, due to its rock structures, tidal pools and a lovely hike to get to the beach. Here we saw the mystical Northwest fog that everyone talks about- the entire beach was pretty much covered in fog! We could hardly see more than 5 feet ahead. We had to pull out our jackets, beanies, scarves, and mittens to get down to the beach. Being ex-Californians and now Texans, any temperature below 60F is cold for us and it was about 50F at the beach at the peak of summer! There were quite a few tidal pools that we saw, and due to it being low tide, the rock structures were accessible by foot. We spent about 2 hours on this beach. The first one hour was fun, it mainly consisted of taking pictures, exploring, being amazed at nature’s abundant beauty. The second hour- not so much. We ended up wetting our shoes in one of the streams/pools, Abir also lost his pair of shoes on this beach (he loved wiggling his legs and toes, and letting go of his shoes back then!) so we spent a good chunk of time walking around looking for his lost shoes. Luckily, we found them (soaking wet though), and then hiked back up to the car. By the time we got back, all of us were cold and hungry, so we headed to the town of Forks for a warm meal and our stop for the night.

 

– Amruta Garud

An Averted Greek Tragedy

May 2018

We had the greatest scare of our lives a couple of days back. We were nicely holidaying in one of the islands in greece – Naxos..spent the afternoon at the beach and then swam in the hotel pool and then while we were relaxing in the evening, Reyansh (age 4) inadvertently swallowed a 10 cent coin. As a pro coin-swallower in my own childhood, I promptly fed him bananas. But when he threw up, I panicked. We rushed to a local hospital where after taking some 4 xrays they located the coin in this throat, dangerously perched at the oesophagus’ entrance. They flew us down (reya and me) to Athens and got us admitted at one of the children’s hospital here. Sam (his mother) had to come the following day by boat. Reya had the most troubled sleep that night. He had to sit upright the entire night. I, on the other hand was trying to converse with the nurses who didnt understsnd a word of English.. but they were all very kind. The doctors were great and they removed the coin yesterday and have now discharged us. We have resumed our holiday now and getting ferried to Mykonos (another island). Reyansh as usual his naughty self and behaving as if nothing happened.

– Rahul Chaudhary