The Oasis on Lake Travis - Austin, Texas - Photo Post

 The Oasis Restaurant on Lake Travis in Austin, Texas.

A Photo Post

Until next time,

Chalk Ridge Falls, Belton - TX - A Travelogue

Chalk Ridge Falls Park in Belton is 1 hr away from Austin TX near Still House Lake Dam. This park is free to enter and hike. It has a waterfall, suspension bridge, wooden bridge, water access, and hiking trails. 

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Here is our first day trip in Texas.

Chalk Ridge Falls Park

We were looking for a simple, un-crowded place for weekend hiking with kids. Chalk Ridge falls is really a fun place to hike with kids. The parking area gets full mostly on weekend, but people park along side the road. Restrooms are available at the entrance.

Hiking

The park has around 2.5 miles of hiking trails. Not a well marked trail, but we walk alongside the creek and it is easy to find the waterfalls. We can reach the falls in 0.6 miles itself, but the trails continue further.

Chalk Ridge Falls

The hike is very easy. There is a swinging suspension bridge near the falls, which is cool to walk and experience it. Kids loved it. 

Iam not sure if the water is good to swim, but the water is warm in February. Good to wet our feet and relax. 

There are some viewing platforms on the trails to see the creek alongside. The blue and green colors of water are amazing.

The trail is mostly shaded and easy for kids. The place is serene and good to hike in Spring / Fall. 

The park is open daily from 8 am to Sunset. It is free to enter.

Still House Hollow Lake

The Park is just below the Dam.

We drove through the Dam after leaving Chalk Ridge Falls park. The views of Still House Hollow Lake from Dam are wonderful. We couldn't stop, but there might be a viewing area / park. Still House park is closed, but there is some lake access as we could see many motor boats on the lake.

We would love to visit the Lake some other day when the Still House park is open. I think, the park has some elevation and nice views of the lake. 

Still House Hollow Lake

If you are in Austin and looking for a quick hike which is not crowded, do check out this Park. Let me know how do you like it in the comments.

Until next time,

A Day in SanDiego , CA - A Perfect One day itinerary

 This post has been due for so long. Other priorities took over and here we are in a new year! 

We moved to Texas from Colorado. You will read more travelogues about Texas and surrounding states in the future, but here is about a quick trip we took to San Diego.

When I asked a friend, what is great about San Diego, she told me - 

• the all-year-around pleasant weather and
• Sunsets to die for 

I 100% agree. We loved the weather, beaches, and Sunsets, though we couldn't visit many tourist destinations.

Here are a few destinations we could visit in one day:

Trip map courtesy of Wanderlog, a road trip planner on iOS and Android

• Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve 
• Coronado Island and
• Balboa Park

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Sandiego 

Sandiego is a city on the Pacific coast of California. It is renowned for the beautiful mild weather and 78 miles of wonderful beaches. It is California's second-largest city discovered in 1542 by a European explorer. The city was originally named San Miguel. 

Coronado Island

Coronado Island with many gorgeous beaches, a scenic downtown, and a historic Victorian hotel is a beautiful place to spend a day. It only takes around 20 mins to reach the island from Sandiego.

View from San Diego - Coronado Bridge

San Diego - Coronado Bridge

The drive through Sandiego - Coronado bridge is very scenic. This bridge is around 2.2 miles, and  5 lanes wide.

Hotel Del Coronado

The island gives a fantastic view of the Sandiego skyline as well. Once reaching the island, we parked our car and walked through the Hotel Del Coronado. This 130-year old hotel is very interesting to visit with amazing architecture and spectacular beachside setting. 

Del Coronado

Shining Sand on the beach

Coronado island

This luxury hotel is also known as one of the haunted places in Sandiego. There are Cabana and lounge chair rentals available at the beach. The beach is clean and good to relax with family.

We enjoyed some time on the Coronado Central Beach, tasted the homemade ice cream, and walked through the hotel. But, someday it would be interesting to stay in this resort.

The long sandy beaches in Coronado are famous for sparkling sand. The sand shines due to the mineral mica. Loved the experience of playing in the shining black sand!

The other beaches which we couldn't visit due to time crunch are Glorietta bay, Silver strand beach, and Ferry land marketplace. 

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is very unique with so many beautiful places to see in a single place. This park is home to more than 16 museums, buildings with beautiful architecture, many performance art venues, trails, parks, Sandiego zoo, and lovely gardens. 

Spreckels Organ Pavillion

Euclid statue

Balboa Park

Any family can easily spend the whole day there. But, We had only one afternoon. 

House of Pacific relations cottages has constructed the models of houses of 33 different cultures. This is very interesting to visit.

The Spreckels Organ Pavillion is the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world. The architecture and details are amazing to see.

Timken museum of art is highly recommended by many, but it was closed when we visited.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park has 17 gardens, out of which, some are free. The botanical building and Lilypond are the most photographed scenes in Balboa Park. The garden inside has 2100 different exotic plants. 

Botanic Garden and Lily Pond

The Old Globe

Balboa Park

Balboa park

There are many places to see here which are wonderful like - The old globe, Japanese friendship garden, Euclid statue, California tower, outdoor sculptures, etc.,.

We didn't go to Sandiego Zoo and Spanish Village art center due to time crunch, but we would definitely visit again.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

This 2000-acre coastal state natural reserve is located in the La Jolla community. The drive to this beach itself is dramatic with a beautiful view of the reserve and the beach. 

Torrey Pines

Beach

We couldn't hike but we enjoyed the beautiful sunset on the beach and kids played in the water. 

These photos are the best Sunset photos that me / my husband ever captured. It's serene in the evenings during Sunset.

The Glorious Sunset

Did you see the Plane?

So, that's about our quick trip to San Diego and just around 1 day of sightseeing.

If we had more time, we would have visited Sunset Cliffs natural park, USS midway museum, Seaport Village, Lajolla caves, Gaslamp quarter, Pacific beach, Potato chip rock, Cabrillo National monument, and Queen Califia's magical circle. 

We even wanted to visit Legoland, Sea World, Los Angeles, and drive through the scenic Pacific coast. Maybe some other day!

Until next time,

 

Word of The Year 2022 - Change

 Following some fellow bloggers and friends, I started this tradition of setting a word every year to focus on it. I did a very bad job in focusing on that word last year. I even forgot the word that I have set. It doesn't mean that I cannot try again! So, a post to set a word for the year 2022. :-)

Hope you all celebrated the new year! This year, we just moved to a new place and so, it's a lot of work packing and unpacking during the new year. We are excited to arrange our new home, settle into the new place, adjust to new weather, and make new friends. So, we are in the process of many changes.

Of course, this is the word I need to focus on this year. This came to my mind without much thinking.

Change is inevitable and sometimes, challenging as well. But, I believe change is good. Actually, my sentence should be "adapting to the change". Since it's a single word, setting it to CHANGE makes sense.

Here is to the new beginnings. Cheers and Happy New Year 2022. Hope this new year brings you all Love, Happiness, and Good Health. 

Until next time,

Things to do in LEH, LADAKH (India) - A guest post by Banbanjara Travels

It's my pleasure to have Rishi Shivhare write a guest post on my blog about things to do in Leh Ladakh.

Hope you will like this article!

THINGS TO DO IN LEH, LADAKH 

There are many must-visit places in the Leh Ladakh region. From ancient architecture, markets, and traces of Tibetan heritage, you will experience rare beauty and bliss. 

Take a look at the list of places you will love to visit. 

1.LEH PALACE 

The palace was built in the 19th century by King Sengge Namgyal. It is a 9 story royal palace of Leh blessed with some breathtaking views. You will love and enjoy the sights of snow-capped peaks, Stok Kangri looming up to the sky, and the serene Indus river. The palace also has a beautiful collection of artifacts of the time. You will also get to see various costumes, jewelry, religious scriptures, and remnants of the royal family. 

2. PANGONG LAKE 

The lake is nestled at an altitude of 14,270 feet above sea level. The crystal clear lake is about 134 kilometers long. 60% of the lake falls under China's territory. The scenic beauty of the tranquil lake is simply mesmerizing. As the lake displays seven shades of blue, the water certainly ensnares the traveler's mind. The towering peaks and the tough road leading to the lake is an experience of a lifetime you shouldn't miss. 

PC: https://pixabay.com/photos/lake-mountains-coast-fog-snow-5832067/

3. TSO MORIRI LAKE 

The Tso Moriri lake is located at an elevation of 15,000 feet above sea level. It is a popular freshwater lake in the Ladakh region. The environs of the water body are a splendid landscape offering a change from rough to lush green. The lake is fed by streams and springs that run about 7 kilometers wide and 19 kilometers long. The lake is home to 34 species of rare flora and fauna. You will be awestruck by the splendid view. 

4. SHANTI STUPA 

The Shanti Stupa was inaugurated by the Holy Dalai Lama in 1991. This is a beautiful Japanese structure located close to the town of Leh. The place is set at a height of about 4,200 feet above sea level. The white beauty enjoys splendid and magnificent views of the panorama of the looming snow-clad mountain peaks. The view of the sunrise and sunset from this place is all worth it. 

5. HEMIS MONASTERY 

This monastery has put the town of Hemis on the world map and made it popular. It is one of the richest and largest monasteries in India. You will be mesmerized to see the Tibetan-style architecture in the midst of the rugged environs. The Hemis Festival is the most popularly celebrated festival in this region. The monastery is also a house to many rare and exquisite Buddha, gold and silver Stupas, and Thangkas. 

6. ZANSKAR VALLEY 

The Zanskar Valley is blessed with picturesque natural beauty all along the way. The valley is inhabited by monks and is one of the places that will complete your tour. The Zanskar river flows along the valley and has lent its name to the place. You will love visiting this place if you are an adventure enthusiast. You will have numerous options of adrenaline-gushing activities to choose from river rafting to a frozen trek. 

7. KHARDUNG LA PASS

The KhardungLa pass is the highest motorable road in the world located at an altitude of 18,739 feet above sea level. The pass is situated in the Karakoram Range at the north of Leh. The KhardungLa pass is a popular tourist attraction because of its pristine air, scenic vistas, and the feeling that you are on top of the world. Before you sojourn the region, make preparations as it is a challenging pass. 

PC: https://pixabay.com/images/id-232730/

8. DISKIT MONASTERY 

The Diskit Monastery is located in the Diskit village of Nubra Valley. This dates back to the 14th century. This ancient monastery is home to a 106 feet tall statue of Maitreya Buddha in the prayer hall. The monastery will bustle with activities every February as the popular Dosmoche festival is celebrated. 

9. DRASS VALLEY 

Drass Valley is located in the heart of the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley is famous for all its natural hot springs that are blessed with medical benefits. The Valley is renowned to be the second coldest inhabited region in the world. You will love to visit the place as it strikes a perfect balance between the lush greens, soothing blues, and bold browns. 

10. ZOJI LA PASS 

The Zoji La Pass is a popular mountain pass lying between Ladakh and Kashmir. The pass is situated at an altitude of 11,575 feet above sea level. The spectacular views are heartwarming. You will fall in love with the place and cherish these memories for a lifetime. 

Make sure you visit the above-mentioned places and make beautiful memories. 

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Author’s Biography

Rishi Shivhare, an MBA IT And MARKETING Graduate as well as pursuing Bachelors in  English Honours. is fond of reading books and magazines and writing articles, interacting with people, and is still learning every day. I am also interested in getting to know about new things, traveling and enjoying the scenic views, and cooking. I am presently involved in content writing work with Banbanjara Travels LLP and taking short-term courses on human resources. At times I also take interest in painting and drawing.

Until next time,

 

Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title: Touch and Go

Author: Lisa Gardner

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Headline

Print length: 432 pages

Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb :

The perfect family. The perfect crime?

'Lisa Gardner always delivers heart-stopping suspense' Harlan Coben
'An amazing writer' Karin Slaughter

The addictive thriller from Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller Lisa Gardner, featuring Detective D.D. Warren.

Justin and Libby Denbe have it all: a beautiful daughter; a gorgeous house; a great marriage, admired by all.

Arriving at the crime scene of their home, investigator Tessa Leoni finds no witnesses, no ransom demands or motive - just a perfect little family, gone.

But Tessa knows that flawless fronts can hide the darkest secrets. Now, she must race against the clock to uncover the truth. Who would want to kidnap such a family? And how far would they be willing to go?

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review :

The story is a perfect investigative thriller with many unexpected turns. This is a second book in the series of Tessa Leoni's investigations but can be read independently.

While the head of Denbe constructions - Justin Denbe and his family goes missing suddenly, Tessa is involved as a corporate investigator. Wyatt, a local Sheriff, and Nicole come together to solve this case. They interview all top-level employees from Denbe constructions and learn many corporate and personal secrets of the Denbe family.

The story takes many turns even after they get ransom notice from kidnappers.  Who are the kidnappers? What is their motive? to kill Denbe's family or something else? this forms the crux of the story.

What I liked is the mystery and unexpected turns and the sequence of events building up suspense. The characters are fine.

What I didn't like is the title of the book. It didn't feel very relevant and the book cover also doesn't feel apt. The suspense and turn of events are good, but the climax fell flat from my expectations. 

My Rating:

4/5

About the Author:

New York Times #1 bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of bestselling suspense novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk kids and homeless animals. Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read!

Readers are invited to enter the annual "Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy" Sweepstakes, where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa's latest novel. People have nominated themselves, spouses, bosses. It's cheaper than therapy and twice as much fun! For more details, visit Lisa's website.

Lisa's latest novel BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED, is available January 19, 2021. Meet Frankie Elkin, an everyday average woman who specializes in finding missing people. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge. Her latest mission has brought her to Mattapan, Boston to find a missing Haitian teen. Eleven months later, Angelique Badeau's disappearance remains a mystery. What happened to the quiet, studious teen? Frankie learns quickly the dangers of asking too many questions, but that won't stop her from discovering the truth behind what happened BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.

Until next time,

Dr. Marsha and the Case of the Missing Hot Dogs and Marshmallows by Rachel B. Wellner - [Book Review]

 

Join Us for this Tour:  November 15 to December 6

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Dr. Marsha and the Case of the Missing Hot Dogs and Marshmallows by
Rachel B. Wellner
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 42 pages
Genre: Educational Fiction
Publisher: Richter Publishing
Release Date: May 2021
Formats Available for Review: print- Softback (internationally), e-book (EPUB)
Tour dates: November 15 to December 6
Content Rating:  G - (No Profanity, no nudity, no sexual content, no adult themes)

 

Book Description:

Doctor Marsha is a series created to entertain children at the preschool through grade school level relying on educational content. The main character, Marsha, will introduce kids to exciting challenges in basic health education as the series explores the world, vanquishing health problems. It is my hope that the characters will stimulate young minds by introducing them to a positive, professional figure that embodies the spirit of cultural competence, creativity, and adventure.

Buy the Book
Amazon

My Review:

Dr.Marsha and the case of the missing Hot dogs.. is a humorous book with a message behind it.  This reminds me of Dr.Seuss's books for rhyming and musical words. 

There are many sentences with funny comparisons like Canada and Mexico are like the bread in a sandwich and the US is the filling. 

I enjoyed reading the book and the conversations between Dr.Marsha and Terence Toad.

Dr.Marsha, Terence, and Louie have to travel to Washington to find the mystery of missing Hot dogs and marshmallows. The mysterious log cabin seen from the window seems to have some clue. 

Atlast, they could solve the case and return to Australia while we learn more about the food pyramid and healthy snacks. 

The story and characters are entertaining for 4 to 11-year-olds as well as give them an introduction of healthy foods to consume.

My Rating: 4/5

PS: I have received this book from iread book tours in exchange for an honest review and this is my personal opinion on the book.

 

Meet the Author:

Dr. Rachel Wellner is a board-certified general surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, most recently the Assistant Professor of surgery at the Monteflore-Einstein Center for Care. She has also been Director of Breast Services at NYEE/Continuum Cancer Center, Pascal Valley Hospital, and Palisades General Hospital. Dr. Wellner graduated Magna Cum Lauda and Phi Betta Kappa from Dartmouth College, earned her medical degree from the University of Connecticut and her Master's degree in Public Health from Columbia University. She pursued her surgical training at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine and worked to establish a clinical rotation in an underserved region of The Dominican Republic. She completed Society of Surgical Oncology-accredited breast oncology fellowship at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. She has been featured as a guest expert on several local and national news networks, including WPLX 11, Fox and Friends, and CNN.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook 

 

Tour Schedule:

Nov 15 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 15 - Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post /giveaway
Nov 15 - Splashes of Joy – book review /guest post /giveaway
Nov 15 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Nov 16 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 17 – The Page Ladies – book review
Nov 18 – icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Nov 18 - Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Nov 19 – Kam's Place – book review
Nov 19 - Fantastic feathers – book review / giveaway
Nov 22 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 23 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Nov 24 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 – Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting – book review / giveaway
Nov 29 – The Phantom Paragrapher – book review
Nov 29 – @twilight_reader – book review
Nov 29 - Westveil Publishing – book review / giveaway
Nov 30 - Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
Dec 1 – A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 – I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 - I'd Rather Be At The Beach – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 2 – Bigreadersite – book review / giveaway
Dec 3 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 3 - Reading is My Passion – book review
Dec 6 - Books for Books – book review

Enter the Giveaway:

Dr. Marsha and the Case of the Missing Hot Dogs and Marshmallows Book Tour Giveaway

 

Until next time,