Sun Valley Diary 6

Shoshone Falls

Shoshone Falls is one of most spectacular natural beauties along the Snake River. The Falls is also known as “Niagara of the West”. 

Sun Valley 5

Crater of the moon National monument

Driving on an uneventful straight highway, suddenly we arrived at a region with very different rock formation. The expansive plain green land surrounded with distant mountain suddenly changed to gorgeous black rocks.As we started in the mid morning, we reached in the afternoon there. However, the burning July afternoon couldn't resist us exploring the gorgeous landscape.   

Sun Valley Diary 4

Sawtooth National Forest

After visiting Stanley Lake we drove through the enchanting jungle of Sawtooth National Forest. The sun was blazing from the top on that summer afternoon, and we were driving on the almost desolated valley road with towering granite peaks which were still snow-capped. Though we couldn’t see any wildlife, but this forest is home of many exotic wildlife . Every year chinook and sockeye salmons travel 900 miles to spawn in the roaring rivers of the valley. 

Sun Valley Diary 3

Towards Stanley 

After visiting the historic district of  Idaho City, we headed towards Stanley, through Boise Nation forest. I planned to visit few lakes near Stanley before heading to Ketchum. The coniferous forest is very much similar to Yosemite national forest. The elevation is from 2000 to 7000 feet. The forest includes ponderosa pine, many types of fir, other coniferous trees. 

Sun Valley Diary 2

Driving from Boise to Sun Valley

To most of us Idaho is just another state. Another few think it is state which grows potato. Idaho has much more things to offer from ragged terrain to stunning lake to spectacular falls. As the state is big you need to consider which part you want to visit, as all the parts has something to offer.

Sun Valley Dairy 1

Planning:

After buying air tickets, booking hotels Mr. Man gave me the responsibility to plan our much waited Sun Valley tour. 

You may ask, why we chose lesser known Sun Valley. While searching a place to visit in summer suddenly Mr. Man saw an advertisement on Sun Valley. Then I searched about the place on Internet , and found that a place worth to visit. 

It was a four day tour. My target was to utilize most of the time. 

Packing for a road trip

If you ask me what kind of travel you like? I’ll tell you road trip. First I can see beautiful roads. The second reason is I don’t need worry about luggage. Whatever I feel I can dump in trunk of the car. Although I’m saying that, but in reality I need some planning for any trip. 

One of my very good friend requested me to write about packing for a road trip. So, I’ve come up with these ideas.

Acadia National Park

Sikkim Diary 4

Visit to Namchi

The little state Sikkim of India has much things to offer from pilgrimage, trekking, adventure sports to just relaxing. 

Namchi and Chardham was included in our visit. So, on second day, after visiting Temi tea factory we started for Namchi with the assigned driver. The trip Namchi was arranged totally by Temi Tea. We just sat in the car, and headed  there. 

Sikkim Diary 3

Tea tasting experience

We were scheduled to taste tea with them on our third day at Temi Tea Estate. I didn’t have any experience on tasting tea. When Mr. Man started his business (www.freshcarton.com)a year ago, he did many times, and shared his experience with me. This was the first I accompanied him. Tea itself is a vast subject, it needs time and study to learn.  While talking with them there, we came to know many things about tea. It was a great learning time for both us. It’ll take time for me at least to know more about tea.

Sikkim Diary 2

A visit to Temi Tea Estate Factory

After a long strenuous drive the night before we woke up with the sound of cock-a-doodle-doo, beautiful natural alarm is scarce in urban area next morning. When I gazed through the glass window, I saw nothing but a dense white layer. I went out on the balcony, and looked down. The vast tea estate came into my view. The meandering deserted road at the bottom, the morning aubade of unknown birds beaconed me to take a walk early in the morning all alone. Upon the calling of room service ,I came back to reality, and asked him to serve the flavorful Temi tea in the morning, which was perfect to start the day.

Sikkim Diary 1

From Bagdogra Airport to Temi Tea Estate

During our last India Tour, we visited the little mountain state, Sikkim. We reached the nearest airport in Bagdogra, Darjeeling. From there we went by rented car. Here I'm sharing my experience. 

Landscaping time 4

We are now done with our front yard. Hopefully, now we need to do the routine care, and let the plants grow. I carefully chose all the draught tolerant plants. I've little skeptical with one plant, calandrinia. The succulent , native from Africa no doubt draught tolerant.  Rather, the plant doesn't like much water. So, it will be happy through out the summer. I'm little bit scared for the frost in winter. I've seen that plant in many front yards in my neighborhood. So, hopefully it will survive.

Landscaping time 3

Beside planting some little annuals, I didn’t work much in the garden. I had few of the plants left to be planted. For that I needed to dig hole. As I told you, California native soil is very heavy and tight. I don’t have that much strength to dig big holes. So, I waited for the weekend. We planted all the rest of the plant. As it is already getting hotter, it was not wise to keep them in the small pots. The disadvantage of keeping the plants in small pots is that watering requires every day. Even we need to water the pots twice on hot days. 

Landscaping time 2

First of all thanks to all my lovely blogger friends for their beautiful encouraging comments. You have encouraged me so much that I get much enthusiasm to post the next step of our landscaping journey. 

Landscaping time 1

Since long we have been thinking to making our front yard as well as backyard something different. We created many blueprint by ourselves in last couple of years. However, we couldn’t materialized our plan. The last blueprint was lying idly on the bottom of table for long time until I threw it away. Actually, I thought we had more copies of the plan. On the top of that we had been doing noting. 

A beautiful Spring day

We all look forward to the weekends to catch some extra sleeps. However, all weekends cannot be the same. Some weekends we need to wake up very early in the morning, and drag ourselves out of the bed. Waking up early in the morning is not a problem, but getting out of the bed on a chilly morning is impossible.  

Holi-Festival of Colors

The word Holi originated from the name of one mythological demon named Holika. According ancient Hindu mythology King of the Demons obtained a boon which made him deathless. With the boon he became arrogant and wanted to be worshipped. His son Prahlada didn’t want to listen to him, and continued to worship Lord Vishnu. Out of rage the king wanted to destroy his own son. In order to help the king in his mission, king’s sister Holika lit up a pyre, and sit on it. She took Prahlada on the pyre. She was sitting on the pyre wrapping herself with a cloak which was going to protect her from fire. However, Prahlada had nothing. Lord Vishnu came to help Prahlada. The cloak suddenly flew away from Holika, and landed on Prahlada. By this way Lord Vishnu saved Prahlada, and Holika burned to death. 

Green peas curry

Last few days I don’t now what I’m doing I have no idea. Only thing I know that I’m not getting time to think about what should I write in my blog. I had been a while. I know my blogger friends are waiting to hear something for me. 

In the morning while cooking I had been thinking to post a recipe. The funny part is that I tried few recipes a while ago, I took the pictures, but I didn’t write down the recipes. Now I forget all the recipes. So, no ways to post the recipes in my recipe section. I usually cook for the whole weekend. I really don’t feel cooking in any weekends. So, if I don’t cook for the weekend on Friday, then I’ve to scratch my head on weekend what to put on the table. I had few green peas left in my refrigerator. The packet gave the instruction to just microwave the peas before eating. I don’t like that recipe. I just gave a little Indian form. I made green peas stir fry without any spices except few nigella seeds. That turned out very tasty. Actually, nigella seeds always add fine aroma to the curry, specially to any stir fry. 

Eating out at Locanda Ravello

Sometimes in the busy life we forget to enjoy little moments. Sometimes I feel just suppress in day to day life. However, it is really difficult to squeeze out few moments to go out. So, one day while kiddo was in school, we both snuck out to eat lunch together. It was a total surprise to me. It was a Friday. The Fridays are always busy. I usually  try to finish all kind chores including cooking, so that I can spend the weekend without worrying about food and cleaning.

Bread was serve with olive oil. However, what the other ingredient was used I don't know, which made the dip delicious.

Mark Twain's Hartford Home

Quarter Twain, Half Twain, Mark Twain! They those are steam boat terms of old age, when steam boats were a popular way of transportation on Mississippi Rivers. Mark Twain means safe water. Though we are not familiar with the terms quarter twine and half twain, but we know the word Mark Twain. Yes, one of the greatest writer in American literature  of all time made those two very word famous.