Texas Renaissance Festival

23rd Oct 2011

It was one of the rare beautiful weekends that we had in houston in long time and as they say here in houston you should enjoy the good weather while it lasts as you blink your eyes and it might be gone! So we decided it was perfect timing for us to visit the "Texas Renaissance Festival", one of the most coveted event in houston, almost as much as Rodeo if not more. And what more it was a Pirates Theme weekend which is supposed to be one of the best one. People dressed in cute and sexy pirate dresses can't go wrong, can they?

Texas Renaissance festival is the European style festival where people from all around the world gather at the place near Plantsville TX, around 50 miles from houston creating the atmosphere of ancient European countries. There are lots and lots of shows for the audience to enjoy. Some of which includes puppet, dance, music, free style, ballet and lots more. It runs from second weekend of October till the Thanks giving weekend and It only runs on the weekend. I wonder what they do during the weekdays. Thousands of performers around the wold come here and create a small town for almost two months. There are lots and lots of things to do besides the shows, like face painting, henna, tattoo parlor, unique hands in wax, rock climbing, paint ball, shooting, darts and children activities also like pony rides, elephant and camel rides, petting zoo and lots of games for the kids. You have to pay each of these activities of course, but its surely a day full of fun and enjoyment. We had a very nice time together as a family.

There is of course food, yumm. I always wanted to try that turkey leg from the day I saw it on Rodeo, though I didn't get a chance to eat there, I made sure my desire gets satisfied here. Its a full leg of turkey barbecued on charcoal grill with some spices and its delicious for a meal. We also tried Greek Gyros that was pretty good too. There are hundreds of eateries all around with different kind of food and one can eat whatever he wants.

Important thing here is though to reach there early. It opens at 9:00 am but if you really want to avoid traffic try to reach there much before that! We had a really hard time on one stretch as it is just a single lane, as you would expect in a small town of mangolia and it was one of the worst slow moving traffic I have ever seen. Also  while coming back, one can not leave early without missing excellent night fire and laser show which ofcourse happens after the dusk. So one will anyways have to get stuck while coming back.

Tickets are not that cheap 25$ if you buy at the gate. Though it makes sense to buy it at your local HEB grocery store for 20$. Food is not that expensive inside the village, and most rides and games are 4-5$ each. So we should make sure to have some cash. Though there are enough ATMs inside the village, if one doesn't mind paying those "extra" fees. We are surely the ones who mind it !

Overall a great way to spend a day on a weekend, if possible one can even do the camping at night and spend a full weekend . I'll surely go back next year!

In a war ridden country

In the spring of 2011, we were on our once in a two year trip to India. This time we had decided that we'll travel via Dubai and Iraq. In Iraq specifically for the pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Karbala and Najaf. Karbala is the resting place of Shia Imam Hussain (AS) and his 72 martyrs. And Najaf is the resting place of Ali (AS), the most important figure for Shia muslims after the Prophet(SA) and  Father of Imam Hasan and Hussain.

Shrines

For the breif history of Ali (AS) and Hussain (AS), and to know their importance in the Shia muslim's life, please visit  Ali and Hussain.

But I am writing this post specifically of my impressions of the war ridden country for a small one week that I stayed, most of the time was spent in pilgrimage but I had got good enough time to observe the lives of Iraqi people. What I understood though was that Baghdad is the most affected place and you can't really compare Karbala and Najaf, the places I visited, to see the real effects, and I humbly agree. And that's exactly my point here that watching CNN and those discussion, you can't really generalize that whole country is in the highest trauma.

While traveling around different places, first thing you notice is people, they are as calm and collected as in most places in the world. All the routine business is as usual, businesses look like thriving. Country is surely coming back on its feet. I see the rail tracks being laid everywhere, there are quite a few broken buildings, of course because of wars and missiles, but much more construction work in progress. The country is very much like sub-continent, dusty, and full of people and energy. People are truthful and trustful. Though they don't like Indian tourist much, as they do lots of bargaining. 

work in progress, shoppers and road side assistance

Some places directly accept the US$. So I didn't try to get the exchange much. But while shopping at the local vendor for Tasbeeh, (after doing some bargaining!) when I gave the $, he didn't accept it and he wanted IQD, so I asked him that I will put the my items back, which he had already packed and will get the exchange and come back, he instantly told me to take the things with me and get the money. All this communication happened, via sign language of course, as I don't know Arabic or Persian and he doesn't know English. Just thinking about this, I don't think I will see this kind of trust in the most places, I was one of the thousands tourist and he might never see me in his life. Though I agree that what I purchased was not much but then also it was touching.

Oh btw, foreign exchange is pretty different, as Iraqi deenars are quite low in value and you will pay around 1200 IQD for a bottle of water, which is less than a Dollar.


Look at those school bags, surely the pictures there reminds of their version of Dora and Cindrella!

One night, while waiting for my wife, outside the shrine of Abbas Ali (AS), with my daughter who was sleeping, one boy, may be around 17, came and started talking in broken english. He introduced himself and his younger sister, I sadly forgot their names. He was wearing Barcelona FC shirt, and I asked him, is he fan of  Messi, and he replies he is Real Madrid's fan. He told me he was from Iraq and I just thought he spoke Iran. He immediately aggressively replied no IRAN, Iraq. Still these neighbors have bitter emotions. But boy was really sweet, he welcomed me in his country, gave compliments on my daughter and  he told me he's coming from some 10 hours away, in the south of Iraq and he and his family visit this shrine regularly.

Another thing I noticed is, dresses for women. Though you can't see anything as women are wearing "Burkhas", I noticed that the shops, which were selling these clothes, were very much western. Jeans, T-shirts, short, tight and mini(!) dresses and lots of  different types of stockings . So inside their burkhas, these women wear all the modern dresses. Iraqi and Irani women were insanely beautiful btw, oh you can see faces as they wear burkhas but don't cover faces!

Though don't think that I didn't see anything unusual. There are thousands of check posts everywhere, the distance between Najaf and Karbala is hardly 15-20 miles, but it takes more than 2 hours if you are lucky because of lots of check posts. They don't normally ask you to get down of your vehicles and drivers just shows them the Iraqi Visa. K-9s will be moved around your vehicles to check that things are fine.  There are few posts near both the shrines, you are not allowed to take cameras, phone or any electronic devices inside the shrines and they properly frisk you before allowing to enter the shrine.And you see armed military personnel everywhere. In some sensitive area near shrines they have even high tech guns, kind of which comes as a part of tank. I even noticed some quarrel in the market.

On the streets there are hundreds of street vendors selling the Chinese made consumer items like we see in India, Chandni chawk at Delhi or Churchgate at Mumbai. They just sit on the roads and sell the things during the day and till late nights.

One thing I missed though was eating the local street food, as my body was still getting used to the new environment, I had an upset stomach. Though I made sure buying some sweets at the local sweet shop and took it with me to India to enjoy later. They were quite awesome. But no worries I am sure, God willing, I will visit these places again.

West Coast - Travelogue

After quite a bit of planning since long time, we decided it was a time for us to get out of hot and humid Houston and visit some of the very famous tourist attractions on west coast of America. With the labour day weekend passed and the kids back to school, we thought this should be the best and possibly cheapest time to travel. With our Ramadan fasting also just getting over, it would be nice little break for us too. So luckily we found that continental was running some promotion to fly to beaches in California if you take the weekday flights. We booked our flight, booked the hotels and started our journey.

September 2011:
Started the journey on 7th - Wed

We left home around 3:45 pm, parked car at the eco zone @IAH and reached the airport at around 4:45 pm CST, Flight was at 6:00 pm, Continental Airlines.
Reached LA around 7:30 pm  PST, took a shuttle to Enterprise Car rental, rented the Chevy Avio and  Reached hotel, Howard Johnson, Fullerton at around 9:30 PM

8th Sept - Thursday ( Universal Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles)

Day started around 7:30 am, had a breakfast in the hotel, went to Walmart which was nearby to purchase some fruits and other things. Left for Universal studios around 8:30 am, hoping to reach Hollywood by 9:30-9:45 max for 30 miles drive.. First mistake of under estimating LA traffic, reached hollywood and universal studios at around 10:30 am !

Nice day at Universal, enjoyed most of rides and shows, Lulua also seemed to have a good time. Enjoyed Shrek 4D and Simpsons rides most. Also the tour of studio for 45 mins was just great. King kong 360 4D and scene creation for earth quake and flooding was mind blowing. Got some ideas on how the movies are made! Over all a good day.

Left  the Universal at around 6:00, to go to very famous Hollywood Blvd, visited all the famous land marks like Chinese theater, Kodak theater, Madam Tussuad (didn't visit the studio), Hollywood sign!.  Had dinner at California Pizza.

Reached hotel at around 10:00 pm, retired to sleep.

9th Sept - Friday ( San Diego):

Left for San Diego, early at around 8:00am after having a breakfast at hotel. Traffic relatively OK proably because took car pool lane, Took a I-5 South. What a beautiful drive, with mountains at one side and sea coast at other, just amazing. Reached San Diego, Balboa park at around 10:00 am. Weather was really pleasant, much needed relief from Houston's 105 degrees weather. Visited couple of free museums, botanical garden. Wanted to visit very famous San Diego Zoo, but didn't have enough time! On the local's suggestions, went to Old town, San Diego. Nice little laid back historical place with lots of Mexican food joints. Had a lunch, nice Tex Mex at state park and visited couple of beautiful shops selling souvenirs.

Took a late decision to check out the very famous San Diego Downtown skyline. After some research, realized the best place to see it is, from Coronado Island and the bridge that connects the Island and the city is really cool. Took a nice drive at the Coronado Island. Took some photographs. Traveled back to LA

San Diego from Coronado Island

10th Sept - Saturday (Las Vegas):

Took a 3 days 2 nights, tour bus to Vegas and Grand Canyon South rim. Left at around 6:30 am from hotel after having breakfast, parked rental car at holiday Inn La Miranda, and bus journey started from around 7:30 am. Reached first to factory outlet malls, stop for 45 mins, and then had a lunch at In and Out burger. Reached Vegas, Tropicana hotel at around 2:30, for Sight seeing the strip and taking photographs. Reached hotel Stratosphere at around 3:30, checked-in to the hotel, relaxed and took a short tour of hotel and casino. Took a night tour via travel bus. Went to see, Mirage, Venentia, Ballagio and Old town, oldest hotel golden gate casino. Watched free shows of foutains near Ballagio and Men made volcano at Mirage and the Fremont street show on the Ceiling. Reached hotel at around 11:00 pm

Eiffel Tower, Paris hotel

Newyork Newyork

11th Sept - Sunday ( Grand Canyon -SouthRim and Vegas):

Left early at around 5:30 to Grand Canyon, South Rim. Checked the Hoover Dam in between. Real nice work of man made architecture and continued to Grand Canyon, heard news on the way that its raining in south rim and if its cloudy and rainy, it will spoil our plans as you don't get the best view and you can't enjoy much. Reached South rim around 11:30 am. Rain has just stopped and its bright and sunny, watched the brilliantly made IMAX movie for Grand Canyon. Had lunch here. And as soon as we came out, well its raining cats and dogs!. Though everything got cleared up in 15-20 mins thankfully, Its pretty common there I suppose as Grand Canyon being at the very high altitude.Then entered the Grand Canyon National Park and the view of Grand Canyon is just breath taking, literally, no words to describe. Just beautiful. Spent around one and half hour and journey back to Vegas.

This says it all!

Reached Vegas around 6:00,  Left for the Strip again. Checked out some of the hotels like Eiffiel Tower at Paris and checked some shows. Reached to hotel back, went to the top of the Stratosphere hotel, spectacular view of vegas.

12th Sept - Monday ( Back to LA):

Checked M&M and Ethel M Chocolate factory and Cactus Botanical garden, very close to Vegas. Time was given 1 hour which was quite less for the things to do there. Had a chinese unlimited buffet brunch on the way. Again 2 hours stop at the factory outlet.. Mostly because of their commitments with the shops owners.

Reached LA at around 6:00 pm. Went to Disney land and Disney down town. Nice but nothing compared to the one in Orlando.

Reached Chirag's sister's place at around 9:30 pm. Had a nice time with the family and proper gujarati delicious dinner after a long long time.

13th Sept - Tuesday (LA - Back to Houston):

After spending some time with Chirag, left for Santa Monica Pier. Around 50 miles drive from Irvine. Very beautiful beach and Pier. Had a good time on white sand beach after spending lots of time on galveston's dirty, black sand beaches with weeds. Left back for houston, retuned the car and flew to houston. Reached houston at around 10:30 pm CST, and home at around 11:30 PM.


So overall a good vacation, went as per the plan, could've clubbed couple of more things may be, could've seen the San Diego zoo, if planned little properly. But took it little light because of 3 year old and BOW :)

In the future, would like to go to Vegas with friends and would love to do a camping, hiking boating trip in the Grand canyon.

The Poster

When you sit idle, your mind wanders, it wanders to the distant old memories and most of the times those memories make you smile. So around 10 years back, I was in college (TEN years!!!). We used to stay in the hostel. One morning when I got down from my room, the security guard, who knew us, caught me and gave me a package. I asked who gave you, he mentions a girl on the scooter came and gave him and asked him to give it to me. I asked A GIRL!!! Well that was a surprise if not a shock for sure. Well packaged looked like a poster or calendar of some kind. I went to my room and opened it and found it to be a poster of:

This is not the same poster. I couldn't find originial on google! 

None other than Aishwarya. Now I had a big crush on the ex miss world Aishwarya (I still like her but I guess I have moved on!), and most of my friends were aware of that fully, so that could have been one of them (though I would be really surprised then too!). But who was this mystery girl, I asked all my girl- friends, around in college and some of them even ridiculed me that a GIFT for YOU! why would I do that! So here is the mystery that I am still not able to solve. That poster is still with me though in my cupboard at my home in India, but I am still waiting for that mystery girl to come out one day and tell me it was me!

PS: In a hindsight I think there is a high chance that some of my friends have pulled a trick on me by may be just bribing that security guard and tell him that a girl gave it to him.. Though I would still like to think otherwise :)

Amne hatu ke kai pan kehvay tamne,
Nahoti khabar nahi sehvay tamne

Tame to jivi lesho amara vagar,
Tamara vagar nahi rehvay amne

-by myself (somewhere around 2003)

Translation:
I thought I can say anything to you
Din't know it will be unbearable to you

You will be able to live without me,
How will I live without you