Archive | November 2012

Scenic San Diego

I really could run out of words to describe San Diego – it surely is scenic, beautiful, fantastic, marvelous, paradise, heavenly and  ………. well, I could go on!

Here’s a scenic San Diego – at Seaport Village

Seaport Village, San Diego

Here’s a beautiful San Diego at  Seaport Village

Seaport Village

Here’s a fantastic San Diego with a downtown city view.

Downtown San Diego

Downtown San Diego

Here’s a marvelous San Diego with the twin towers of the Marriott Marquis & Marina on the right.

San Diego & the Marriott Marquis & Marina

Well, I won’t call the next two pictures paradise and heavenly as those descriptions actually fit the first two more, but those are taken up!

Now, you have a downtown tourist attraction  (Seaport Village),  you have a place to stay (Marriott Marquis), and now you have to go shopping!

Horton Plaza, San Diego

Horton Plaza is one of the best shopping malls in the world, and undoubtedly the most colorful and most absolutely gorgeous place to shop, dine and see a movie!

Horton Plaza, San Diego

All the pictures above were taken a number of years ago, and may not be as vivid as they could be.  Here are some newer pictures of Horton Plaza, however, I think they are all about the same quality.

Horton Plaza, San Diego

Horton Plaza, San Diego

Horton Plaza, San Diego

I actually saw an Indian movie here at Horton Plaza (sorry, I know this might not fit in with scenic San Diego, but I had to tie it in with Horton Plaza).

Indian Movies at UA Horton Plaza 14, San Diego

I took some more pictures of Seaport Village too recently, but I still like the older pictures that I took above.

Seaport Village, San Diego

And lastly, my favorite type of picture – the marina complete with boats, I don’t know why I like the marina so much, but I think it’s because I feel calm, peaceful and content when I see the more relaxing waters of the marina.

San Diego Marina At Seaport Village

Also, it is worthy to note that Seaport Village is within walking distance of such big hotels as the Marriott Marquis & Marina and the Hyatt Grand Manchester (both hotels overlook Seaport Village).  Horton Plaza is a nice five or ten minute walk from Seaport Village – it will probably be a good idea to walk there, however, if you are stuck for parking – Horton Plaza validates for three hours with a purchase.  You could visit the movies, and get your parking ticket validated too.

Want to know more about Seaport Village?  http://www.seaportvillage.com/visitors

Want to know more about the Marriott Marquis & Marina? http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sandt-san-diego-marriott-marquis-and-marina/

Want to know more about Horton Plaza?  http://www.westfield.com/hortonplaza/tourism/

You may also want to see my other posts: Some Places To Escape The Heat, Incredible San Diego – La Jolla, Sunsets In San Diego, and Beautiful San Diego

I hope you will visit beautiful, scenic San Diego one of these days, it is absolutely paradise!

Cyber Monday Sale

Onboard credits, reduced deposits, and so much more!  Visit this page at my website now to book with me at http://dkaur.cruiseone.com/travel/promotion/cruise-event.do and remember the best thing is book now……pay later!

Cruise Sale, Cyber Monday! CruiseOne

Davinder Kaur – San Diego Travel Agent

Also, you don’t have to live in San Diego to book with me, you can be in New York, Washington, San Francisco, Vermont, or just about anywhere in the USA.  Don’t forget….I work with all the cruise lines….Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Oceania, etc.  – you will get the deals they have, plus the specials we have for booking through us.

Call me now at 858-427-4972 or email me at dkaur@cruiseone.com and Happy Cyber Monday!  Don’t forget this sale doesn’t end today, but it will end soon!  http://dkaur.cruiseone.com/travel/promotion/cruise-event.do

Just A Few Reasons To Visit the Church Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta

I didn’t take too many pictures of Puerto Vallarta while I was in Mexico last year during the Carnival Splendor cruise.   I think it might have had something to do with it being a very hot day.

I did visit a beautiful church, and would recommend that if you are in Puerto Vallarta, you should visit the Church of Our Lady Of Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Several reasons to visit this church: it’s beautiful; it’s historical; incredible architecture; and it never hurts to go to any house of God.  Go for inner peace, contemplation and go in the hopes of being blessed.  Anyway, that’s what I like to think, and so I’m just sharing my reasons for visiting it.

Here are some pictures of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta

I enjoy seeing different churches and this one is a must-see.

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta

I tried to get pictures from many different angles

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta

You might find this information useful:

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Church Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta

 

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Church Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe

Nun at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Street scene just outside the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

And another picture of the street just outside the Church

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Now I will digress away from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe to bring you a few pictures of the surrounding area, this courtyard is very close to the Church

Courtyard Scene – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

I’m sure you will want to buy souvenirs, here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect in PV

Souvenir Shopping, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Souvenirs, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Souvenirs, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Close by to the cruise ship, my three kids just had to pose in front of the Puerto Vallarta sign – many others were doing exactly the same thing.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Now, back to the ship – oh, the Splendor!  As you can see, here in Puerto Vallarta, the ship pulled up right to dock – not like in Cabo San Lucas, where you have to go on a tender boat to the dock.

The Carnival Splendor in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Incase you haven’t seen my video of Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, here it is.

I hope you enjoyed my pictures of Puerto Vallarta, and especially those of the Church Of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I hope I gave you enough reasons to visit the Church, but if not, please read the following:

http://travel.usnews.com/Puerto_Vallarta_Mexico/Things_To_Do/The_Church_of_Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe_La_Iglesia_de_Nuestra_Senora_de_Guadalupe_14230/

http://www.homeandabroad.com/browse/details/sites.ha?mainInfoId=48153&rqs=vacationplanner

Thanks for visiting my post!

The Splendor of Cabo San Lucas

First some island music to get you into vacation spirit – this was my attempt at making a promo video!  Also, as you may be aware – my old website at http://www.bindicruises.com is not available anymore – this all had something to do with the discontinuation of Mobile Me, and my decision to not look for another website host.  Also, how many websites can one person maintain??!!

I will not write too much about the cruise itself as there are other posts that I have done on the Splendor, but this is all about Cabo San Lucas.  Now for some pictures:

We went into a gift shop, and this was the view from within the shop

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Another shot of the same scene but with a different camera (one was taken with the Iphone, and one with my regular camera – a Canon G10)

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

This is my son in the gift shop

Gift Shop, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

We were entertained by various groups of people

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

In case you are hungry, there’s plenty of options

Places to Eat – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Restaurants of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Did you see?  That “statue” moved!  It just might get you, here it is almost getting my daughter!

Restaurants in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Now for a look at the marina area of Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Family picture time, me with my kids Luca, Chandi and Niki, who inspired me to name my business Luchanik named just after them – Lu-Cha-Nik

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

I really like this picture taken near one of the hotels

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Must get in the palm trees of Cabo

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Now for a street scene

Downtown Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Restaurants of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Art of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Some useful information

Tourist Information, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

You may need to cool off and enjoy the sights

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Fancy a large cup of coffee?

Cafe Canelas, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Mexico definitely is colorful!

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

The Carnival Splendor awaits us!

Carnival Splendor, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Leaving Cabo San Lucas…..this picture was taken from the ship

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

On a previous trip to Cabo San Lucas, I took these pictures

The Arch, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

I hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures I took of Cabo San Lucas.  This was the first port we stopped at, and the second port – Puerto Vallarta will be in my next post.  Thank you for visiting my blog.

Happy Diwali from San Diego

Happy Diwali from San Diego again!  This time the festivities took place just outside the Shri Mandir at the annual Diwali Mela on Black Mountain Road in Mira Mesa (about 15 minutes north of downtown San Diego).  The 2012 Diwali Mela in San Diego was held on Saturday, October 27th.

First, some pictures:

Rajasthan Dance at Shri Mandir, San Diego – Diwali Mela

Diwali Mela 2012 at Shri Mandir, San Diego

Incase you didn’t see my pictures of Diwali at Balboa Park in San Diego, here are three more:

5th Annual Diwali Celebration – Balboa Park, San Diego

Diwali 2012 – Balboa Park – San Diego

Organ Pavilion Diwali Celebration, Balboa Park, San Diego

Now for a video where I put a few clips together, but there are many dances that I did not capture  unfortunately.  I also had to cut out a lot from the dances because of background noise.   In this video, first you will see a Punjabi dance – Bhangra (one of my favorites – especially since my family is from the Punjab), then you will see a dance from Rajasthan, and then another few clips.  At the end of this video, you will see some little kids dancing to Kolaveri Di, which is a cute song that turned out to be very popular, and even my little Chandi sings to it whenever she hears it.

I really wanted to add some more pictures in this post of Indian sweets from a local place on Black Mountain Road, which is a great alternative to going all the way up to Artesia (about one hour and 15 minutes away from where I live). Perhaps, I will add some pictures later on – maybe even on November 13th – the actual day of Diwali.  Just fyi – Black Mountain Road is San Diego’s Little India, and Artesia is Los Angeles’ Little India.  I really do enjoy going up to Artesia, as there are more stores and Indian restaurants, but I am beginning to get used to our own Little India in San Diego, and love one or two of the places there, such as Ashoka The Great Restaurant, and Surati Farsan Mart (the place where I will get my Indian sweets from this year).

Here’s the video of the performances at Balboa Park in San Diego at the 5th Annual Diwali Celebration on October 21st.  Here you will see dances from the many regions of India including Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.  You will also see the Diwali Lights display towards the end of the video, and then a finale where everyone dances to Bhangra on the stage.

A new addition to this post – it is now November 12th, and I just got my sweets from Surati Farsan Fart, and here’s some pictures of the fantastic selections:

Surati Farsan Mart, Black Mountain Road, Mira Mesa, San Diego

I just had to get some jalebis, these are yummy and so sweet (actually they have a lot of syrup, and have a great crunch to them)!

Jalebis from Surati Farsan Mart, San Diego

These two boxes have mango burfi in one box (second selection from the top left in the picture from the display selection – see above)

Diwali Sweets, Surati Farsan Mart

The second box has laddoo in them which can be seen more clearly in the picture below.  Laddoo are the yellowish round balls in the first big box  on the top shelf (on the left).  These laddoo are absolutely delicious, and have raisins in them – they almost melt in your mouth!

Indian Sweets, Surati Farsan Mart

I hope you like the videos, and pictures, and I hope you will celebrate in some way on November 13th – even if you light just one or two candles.  Happy Diwali!