Archive | April 2014

Paradise at Del Mar

Have you ever envisioned paradise?  How would it look?

Swinging overlooking the ocean?

Children's Playground in Del Mar

Children’s Playground in Del Mar

Seeing the ocean through tropical landscaping?

Seagrove Park, Del Mar Beach

Seagrove Park, Del Mar Beach

Seeing two trees growing side by side in Paradise?

Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar

Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar

Seeing beautiful sights to behold

Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar

Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar

Seeing beautiful sights again and again

Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar

Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar

Seeing a playground for your kids to play in while you bask in paradise

Children's Playground, Del Mar Beach

Children’s Playground, Del Mar Beach

Somewhere to chat with your friends while your kids played close by?

Powerhouse Park, Del Mar

Powerhouse Park, Del Mar

Seeing ocean water that is nice and blue, and waves that call out for surfers to ride on them

Del Mar Beach

Del Mar Beach

Seeing a place where people want to picnic, that becomes so colorful that you can’t help but gaze at the scene in front of you

Powerhouse Park, Del Mar

Powerhouse Park, Del Mar

Seeing trains come by where people stop to stare and wave as the trains go by

 

Train track at Del Mar

Train track at Del Mar

Seeing the scenic Coast Highway 101 and pass such beautiful places like Del Mar on their journey through California

Coast Highway, Del Mar

Coast Highway, Del Mar

Seeing a place that looks so tropical and colorful, surely it must be Paradise?

Tropical Del Mar

Tropical Del Mar

Last picture, then you have to see it for yourself!

Seagrove Park, Del Mar

Seagrove Park, Del Mar

I hope you got a taste of Paradise!  Paradise is in Del Mar.

 

Craving South African or British Food in San Diego?

I miss British food.  I know many people think that British food is bland, but if you grew up with it – you wouldn’t think that. When someone told me to try a place called Capetown Pub/Restaurant on Miramar Road, and mentioned they have fish and chips and all kinds of savory pies, I was quite excited, but never did I imagine that this new discovery would be so good.

Here’s what I ordered -pie and chips!  Not just any pie, but chicken curry pie and quite delicious- I must say.

image

Pie and chips from Capetown Pub, Miramar Road

The chips actually were chips – the British kind – and not just thin tasteless fries.  I was in heaven!  Additionally, there was vinegar – Heinz Malt Vinegar – to drown the chips in- but since they were so good, I didn’t drown them! 

Here’s a look at their menu

image

The only problem is deciding what to get as I wanted the samoosas,  which must be like the Indian samosas, and my little girl wanted the chicken curry and rice.  I also wanted the fish and chips.  In the end, we opted to share the pie and chips.

You must be wondering what the restaurant looks like.  Here are a few pictures:

image

image

image

There’s a few pictures of Nelson Mandela on the walls and the music playing reminded me of UB40 – one of my favorite groups from the UK.  There are at least seven TV screens showing sports, including cricket of course.

image

Even though I was full, I could not resist dessert, especially when I found out that the one recommended had custard in it on top of a thin layer of sponge cake.  It’s called “Milktert” – basically a Milktart, but should have been called Custard Tart or something like that – it was heavenly, delicious, yummy…..I should stop there.  The other options were Brandy Tart with custard which I had wanted, and another one that was a sponge cake with coconut.  All the desserts sounded wonderful. 

Here’s the Milktert

image

Milktert at Capetown Pub, Miramar Road

Oh, I forgot to mention that all that delicious cold custard had cinnamon sprinkled on it.  I was very tempted to get a cup of tea to go with my pudding, but resisted – not sure why.  Anyway, if you crave South African food or British food, perhaps even Indian food….and you enjoy a modern, even trendy setting and tasty food – then give this place a try. 

Star Of India – Star of San Diego

I like to think that I have something in common with the Star Of India.  After all, I’m Indian, live in San Diego and was born and raised in England.  Well, the Star of India was put together on the Isle of Man in Great Britain, and now calls San Diego home (just like me).  As to why she has “India” in her name, you can read more about that here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_India_(ship)

Here are more pictures of the Star Of India:

Star of India, San Diego

Star Of India

Star Of India

Star Of India

IMG_5450 IMG_5484

Star of India, San Diego

Star of India, San Diego

Star of India, San Diego

Star of India, San Diego

By the way, these pictures were taken with my Canon G10.  I still can’t decide if I like pictures taken with my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 better or with the Canon G10.  If you have any comments on what you prefer – the pictures on this post (taken with the G10 or the other Star of India post taken with the Note 3), please let me know.

The Star of India can be found berthed on North Harbor Drive, near San Diego Lindbergh International Airport.  You should not visit San Diego without visiting the Star of India – after all she could easily be the Star of San Diego!

Star of India, Star Of San Diego

 

 

This beautiful ship is the Star Of India, and one of the stars of San Diego.  Did you know that it was put together in Great Britain?

Star Of India, San Diego

Star Of India, San Diego

Star Of India, San Diego

Star Of India, San Diego

Want to learn more?  See the picture of the sign below – I hope you can read the words.

image

Here’s two more pictures of the Star Of India.

image

image

This was a quick post – the first I’ve posted from my phone.  All these pictures were taken with my Samsung Galaxy Note 3.  Next time, I might post more from my computer of the ship taken with my Canon G10.

This is a lunch time post.  Until next time!

Just added to the post at 6:53 pm PST – somehow posting from the phone did not include the first picture that was supposed to be in it, and I also added another!

Imagine (the Flower Fields)

Imagine all the flowers, it’s easy if you try.

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Just close your eyes and smell them, above you only sky

Imagine all the people

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Going crazy for the flowers…..ooh, ooh!

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.  I hope some day you’ll join us….and the world will be a flowery one!

The words above were inspired of course, by John Lennon, and from his song “Imagine” which is a truly beautiful song with so much meaning…only his is about peace.  However, you can use the word “Imagine” and his music (and apply it to almost any theme) and it can still be a beautiful thing (hopefully).

Here are some more pictures of the spectacular Flower Fields in Carlsbad, CA  (just 40 minutes or so north of downtown San Diego).

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA – windmill, flowers and ocean!

IMG_5309 IMG_5320 IMG_5324 IMG_5337 IMG_5404 IMG_5408 IMG_5429 IMG_5302 IMG_5191 IMG_5225

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA – windmill, flowers and ocean!

If you’d like to see more of the pictures I’ve taken at the Flower Fields, I just made a new board – just for the Flower Fields!  You can find it here at: http://www.pinterest.com/Luchanik/flower-fields-carlsbad-san-diego/ – there are a few pictures on this board that I did not take, but the majority of them I did!

Well, Happy Spring to you all, and remember to imagine all the flowers, it’s really easy if you try!