Travel Talk- Why eat Street Food?

It is a common question to most of us travelers/tourists ... what makes us travel? And one of the most common reasons is to 'experience local culture and cuisine'. But, how many of us really experience the local authentic culture and cuisine? The package tours, expensive hotels and similar usually arrange some events which are 'tailor made' for the tourists, so where is the authenticity? And these are sometimes not affordable to the budget travelers. When you want the real experience go for street food or semi-street food! If you ask me why? here are my reasons ...

Waterfalls- Jog Falls, The pride of Karnataka, India

Recently I received an email from one of the readers and he addressed me as a Non-American blogging on America. Well, it reminded me to write on India too! So here is one post on India- a destination from my own Karnataka. Jog Falls (830ft), one of the tallest plunge waterfall in India is located in the state of Karnataka. This is one of the major tourist attractions that comes to life during the monsoons. River Sharavathi plunges down 830ft in four segments to create this magnificent beauty.

Colorful Skies- Blue sky over Three Patriarchs of Zion

Zion National Park is home for high sandstone cliffs and peaks. One could see as many but still there will some more left to see. And each of these cliffs are named with interesting names.

India celebrates 67th Independence Day!

15th August! Happy 67th Independence day!

Well, this video was produced for 50 years of independence. But, I like it so ...

Tips- Sand Flea facts and treatment for bites

In my previous posts I had narrated with photographs that how much fun I had in Southern Florida. I had also posted about J N Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge where I had terrible Sand Flea attack! I had a very bad time because I was unaware of such things on the beach or marshy lands. And I couldn't do much other than applying moisturizer to the bites which didn't help at all! And so I thought of putting some information together for the benefit of others.

National Parks- Joshua Tree, A desert park

One of the lesser known and less visited national parks of the west, Joshua Tree national park is one seemingly barren desert yet beautiful place with its own desert vegetation and wildlife! When people tour west coast the priority goes to Yosemite, Tahoe or Disneyland. Even some of my friends who were born and brought up in California had not heard of this place! I was surprised when they asked me 'Where is it?'. Well, it is a scenic showpiece at the confluence of Mohave and Sonoran deserts. 

Colorful Skies- Fake lighthouse at Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay

The boat ride to Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park is a great experience. The fake lighthouse adds to the beauty of the key. 9-miles from Convoy Point, Boca Chita was once privately owned by Mark Honeywell (info:NPS). When developing the island  the owner had this fake lighthouse built as an ornament!

Wildlife- Ladybug, A Bug Photogenic!

Ever since I bought a Macbook Pro I wanted to shoot a Ladybug! Now, what a Ladybug has to do with a Mac!? Well, my Macbook Pro has a default background image of a ladybug. It is so very beautiful that it made me go searching for ladybugs in every damp forest!

Amusement Parks- Disneyland Resort, Cartoons do exist!

I don't think I need to elaborately write anything about Disneyland Resort, Anaheim! But, it is difficult not to talk about it! Last October I visited Disneyland with my family. It was a second trip for me! With family it was so fun though I went on very few rides, I did more of talking and laughing! When I visited Disneyland for the first time I was all alone! It felt so funny to wander around alone in an amusement park! But, I could go for most of the rides because there was no distraction! The experience is so fresh in my mind though noticeably I didn't have so much fun as I did with family!

Colorful Skies- Glorious sunset at Pfeiffer Beach, California

Pfeiffer Beach on southern California Coast is one place where the golden light from heavens descends down to the Earth through a sea arch! Well, in this picture there is no arch but you see that golden light reflected on the wet sand! I had taken this picture couple of years ago and noticed it only today!

Travel Talk- Have you considered Sleeping in Airports?

Me at Charlotte airport waiting for my delayed flight

Recently I came across an interesting website A Guide to Sleeping in Airports which provides information on 'how to' spend nights in airports to save some money when you are traveling on a budget. Sleeping in airports to save money sounds like a cheap idea at first. But, when you think like a backpacker who is on a shoestring budget, or a little better, it makes sense.

Bird Sanctuary- J N 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Refuge at Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is a shrimp shaped barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. The island popular for migrtory bird populations is home for J N 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Refuge which was established in 1976 to protect the largest mangrove ecosystem and named for cartoonist and environmentalist Jay Norwood Darling. 

Colorful Skies- Sky over Hawaii's devastated land

The tropical paradise and everyone's dream destination- Hawaii!! Beautiful beaches, live volcanoes , rain forests and heavy rain. Also acres of devastated land of ash and rocks! One afternoon when it was not raining I drove on this Chain-of-craters road only to see the bald, black land with no shade and lots of sulphur dioxide emission.

Travel Talk- Sometimes I dislike traveling!

Surprised huh? Well, I love traveling more than anything in my life and I cannot imagine my life without traveling. Still, sometimes I dislike traveling when it comes to ...

National Parks- Biscayne, The Underwater National Park!

Biscayne Bay underwater National Park, is another gem in southern Florida. One of the popular scuba diving locations in USA, it preserves the barrier reefs and some of the unique marine wildlife. 95% of the park is underwater! Like other national parks of USA there is an entry fee of $10.

Colorful Skies- Moonset at Suthro Baths, San Francisco

One more from Suthro Baths, San Francisco. I had posted a picture of moonset earlier. This one is also from the same night few hours earlier to moonset from a different location. What interests me is the reflection! Looks like a mummy!

Travel Talk- Most stupid packing mistakes!

Last weekend I went on a day hike around Bangalore. Bangalore rain was on-and-off all the time. During lunch break we had extra time for fun chat which ended up in pulling each other's leg. This is what happened ... One of the guys was carrying a large daypack which was full. One gracious lady- fellow trekker, asked him what was inside. He first laughed out loudly and then said softly ...

National Parks- Dry Tortugas, In the middle of nowhere!

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida is a small archipelago which is a remarkable place in the middle of Gulf of Mexico. 70 miles from Key West, comprised of 7 small islands and 100 square miles of ocean is accessible only by boat or seaplanes. These tiny islands are farthest, westernmost and most isolated of Florida Keys. It seems these are closer to Cuba than American mainland! One tiny and remote place rich in history and marine wildlife.

Colorful Skies- Blue at Loggerhead Key Lighthouse

Southern Florida is where you see white sand, blue skies and BLUE ocean! The boat rides over the ocean water are fabulous and the patches of land rising above the ocean make the scene outer-worldly. And when you find a man-made structure on these remote islands you wonder ... I was not the first one to reach here! Well, I was on the way to Dry Tortugas National Park passing Loggerhead Key. The Lighthouse looked alluring.

Birds- Lone Great Blue Heron in mangroves of Everglades

My earlier post talks so much about Everglades National Park, Florida. There is so much of wildlife in this park, I don't think I will ever run out of pictures! I have seen these herons and egrets in many poses and this one was on single leg watching sunset :)