Happy Diwali from San Diego
We had one of our big Diwali celebrations in San Diego on October 15, 2016. It was the Festival of Lights held at Balboa Park. It was a fantastic event, yet again. This year it was special, because as well as dancing, we had singing, and there was a world-class singer who entertained us, so it was truly magnificent. His name is Aditya Rao, and apparently he has won several awards, and has appeared in several videos like the one below:
Here he is performing at Balboa Park, and he’s also seen in this video that I made
Here is a video that shows the lighting of the lamps display, and the women carrying the lamps during the lamp parade.
Here is a video showing Punjabi music and specifically, Bhangra at the Festival Of Lights….spectacular!
Here are more photos showing Aditya Rao, and the performances that he was part of.
Here are some other pictures taken at Festival Of Lights
These are the lamps on display. I have never taken pictures of the lamps before as I always get a seat, and never venture towards the lamps, but this year I did, and I’m glad!
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Here are some of the other performances
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
One of Aditya Rao again, with the main presenter
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Here’s little Chandra having fun!
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
This is Aditya Rao standing with the main organizers and this is just prior to the Indian Anthem being sung
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
President Barack Obama graced Diwali at Balboa Park with his presence, even though it was just on screen. He wished us a Happy Diwali! This was ever so nice, just to see President Obama in Balboa Park!
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
Festival Of Lights, Balboa Park, San Diego – October 15, 2016
I really love going to the Festival Of Lights, as I enjoy seeing the performances, seeing Balboa Park again, seeing the stage graced by beautiful dances in clothes that sparkle, and then of course the lights tinkle! I also enjoy eating the Indian food that is available from many of the vendors who participate in Festival Of Lights. This year I got samosas, chicken saag and rice, and gulab jamun – that was two trays of food for me and Chandra, which included passion fruit juice for her and a nice cup of Pumpkin Spice Chai that cost just $9. You can’t beat that price!
I hope you enjoyed my pictures of the Festival Of Lights, and I hope you all have a truly beautiful Diwali. May light conquer over darkness, may good prevail over evil, and may we all experience peace, joy and prosperity on Diwali, and in the year ahead. Happy Diwali!
Venetian Magic
Venetian Magic, Venetian splendor! Oh, how I love the Venetian grandeur. This hotel/resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, is my absolute favorite out of all of them there. I have stayed at the Venetian many years ago, and absolutely loved it! I wish I could always stay there when ever I visit Las Vegas. Even when I stay elsewhere, I make it a point to go visit the Venetian. If you can’t go to Venice, at least go to the Venetian – it’s a bit of the real thing. Here are some pictures:
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
My kids outside the Venetian, last Christmas
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
Isn’t this place pretty? Isn’t it magical? Wish I could have a permanent suite there! These were all pictures taken outside of the Venetian, next time I will show you some pictures taken inside.
Lovely La Jolla
Lovely La Jolla, what more is there to say. This place which is just a 12 minute drive for me going south, or a 20 minute drive from downtown San Diego is spectacular. The scenery is amazing, and the wildlife is abundant.
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Wildlife at La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Most of the time, the seals like to laze on the beach, and don’t move much at all, but all of a sudden, a few of them got up to take a dip in the ocean!
Sea lion at La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Look at this one! Doesn’t it look like a cross between a sea lion, and a tortoise?
Half sea lion/half tortoise at La Jolla Cove, San Diego
The Seals at La Jolla Cove, San Diego
La Jolla, San Diego
We walked away from the ocean onto Prospect Street, and Chandra got to play with a massive globe that was a water-fountain feature. Oh, she rolled and rolled the globe around. She was enchanted!
La Jolla, San Diego
Afterwards, we went for a treat to the Living Room, a really wonderful coffee house, that has wonderful pastries, and sandwiches. I got Chandra two macaroons, which she devoured before I got to take photos of them, and I also did the same with my pistachio baklava. Chandra then eyed my coconut mocha, and oh my gosh, it was delicious – it was made with low fat milk, and extra hot. I left a tiny bit of it for Chandi to try, as she really should not be drinking coffee at her tender age of 7! She loved it, well….it was delicious!
Then she got some gelato from a place called Gelateria, across from the Living Room, and again, I didn’t take pictures – but this was Chandi’s treat as mine was the coconut mocha. Then, it was time for a few more pictures.
La Jolla, San Diego
La Jolla, San Diego
La Jolla, San Diego
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
This last picture was from a previous visit to La Jolla
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
I hope you liked my pictures of La Jolla. It really is a nice place to visit. I really enjoy it there, and I think I would like to say it is one of my favorites in San Diego.
Dreaming of London
Oh, I’m homesick for England, and I’m dreaming of London
So, I’ll look at these pictures, and imagine myself there
Oh, I’m dreaming of London
And wanting to move there
A New Year makes me ponder
Ponder of yonder, and whether I should just dream
Or make that dream a goal, and put it into action.
I think you can read between these lines, that my heart aches for London
And I may have to act upon it real soon. Hope to see you soon, London!
Real question is…..do I go back after so long away? Will it be the right step, the right move, or will I regret it? It’s not easy to move when you have kids to think of. When I moved here a long time ago, it was just me, and so much easier then. This will be the question of the year for me, shall I do it? Time will tell!
Balboa Park As Seen From San Diego Zoo
I went to the San Diego Zoo in December, and saw the beautiful Museum Of Man from the Sky Ride. You may have seen some of the pictures I have posted before of this particular amazing building, but I haven’t posted pictures taken at the Zoo of it. So here you are…..
You may wonder what the Sky Ride is, it’s a wonderful lift with seats for about 4 people that will take you from one part of the Zoo to another, and you go up, up, up in the air! Best of all, it’s a free ride with you annual pass, otherwise I think you have to purchase tickets. We love the Sky Ride!
The Sky Ride At The San Diego Zoo
Pictures may be taken near or afar, but San Diego Zoo, and Balboa Park are two treasures that you have to see up close. Did I tell you we love the Sky Ride? Well, we also love the San Diego Zoo, and Balboa Park!
2015 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 9,300 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
The San Diego Zoo – How Fun!
I love the zoo! How about you? This is going to be a simple and short post, but just want to say it’s one of the best places in San Diego, and makes for a great day out.
This is Chandi at the Zoo when she was about 18 months old.
Orangutans – San Diego Zoo
This was Chandi just yesterday celebrating her 7th birthday at the Zoo. She seems less afraid of the orangutans now!
The San Diego Zoo
Here are some more pictures of the Zoo taken yesterday, November 21st, 2015
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
My favorite part of the Zoo yesterday, hard to say between the monkeys, orangutans, elephants and koalas, I loved all those best, but really enjoyed seeing the elephants.
The San Diego Zoo
How could I not put a picture of a cuddly koala in this post? I so much would have loved to hold it!
San Diego Zoo
So glad to have an annual pass again. See you again soon, Zoo!
Magical Bathroom at Sloan’s Ice Cream in San Diego
Did you know there’s a place with a magical bathroom? You may have to come all the way to San Diego to visit it though! Just kidding! I think there’s more of these – at least there are in Florida.
The place is called Sloan’s Luxury Ice Cream, and the ice cream is delicious! I’ve switched my tastes lately to frozen yogurt, and resist ice-cream, but who can resist the decor, it beckons you, tantalizes your every bit of sense, and plunges you into temptation – the temptation to indulge in ice-cream or fudge. Of course, there is candy, and I believe all kinds of toffee apples covered with scrumptious coatings of the most exquisite imaginings, such as white chocolate, caramel, and…..well you get it! Then there are toys that entice the kids.
But, then…….there is the magic bathroom. Just be careful that you lock the door, or else everyone will be able to see you while you are in there. See my video below. I actually made this video several months ago in August, before my oldest went off to college in September, but didn’t get to upload it until yesterday. When my kids saw there was a bathroom which was visible from a part of the store where all the stuffed animals are, they were curious because you could see into the bathroom, so off they went to explore. I could not get my son to be part of the video, but he enjoys Sloan’s just as much as all of us.
We went just again this Friday to celebrate my youngest daughter’s birthday. Did I tell you it’s a great place for a celebration?
Here’s my video
Sloan’s Luxury And Magical Bathroom
Star of India And Some Star Sunsets in San Diego
Who said there could not be star sunsets? I’m sure this was a star sunset. To me a star, is something that shines bright. Yes, a star and the sun both shine bright, so let’s just for once call it a star sunset.
Sunset in San Diego at the Embarcadero
I wish the little reflection thing in the water (round green light) hadn’t shown up on my picture, but let it be part of it as I don’t do any retouching of my pictures.
Sunset in San Diego at the Embarcadero
On this same night of the star sunset, just a little earlier, I took a picture of the Star of India. I like to think this could be the Star of San Diego too.
Star of India in San Diego
Even more compelling for the argument of calling it Star of India, and Star of San Diego is when my little girl enters the picture – she is the star of India to me, even though she has not been there yet (India, of course is birthplace of my parents), she is the star of San Diego (her birthplace). She is the star of the UK (my birthplace) and also the star of Italy (her dad’s birthplace). My little star is associated with four different countries. Of course, she’s not really a star in these 4 places, just in my eyes.
Star of India in San Diego
This picture below was not taken this summer like all the other ones, it was taken last year (even time-stamped). I’m not sure if I like the time-stamp feature, I stopped using it. I did some posts previously on the Star of India, you can read it by clicking on this link.
Star of India in San Diego
So, I’m not sharing many pictures today, in fact, I have been quite stingy with pictures compared to usual. Sorry for not writing too much lately. I have been caught up in so many other life events, you wouldn’t believe it. I hope you are all having a wonderful October.
Sand Sculpting Challenge Exhibition in San Diego
What a lovely day! Especially, when you get a day off on Labor Day! Then, why not enjoy San Diego – after all, it’s spectacular! So, we went to downtown San Diego, where it sure is lovely, and saw that they had a Sand Sculpting Exhibition. What a fabulous exhibition, and all the artists are so very talented! Amazing work!
This first picture is my favorite, so appropriate as it sure is a Rat Race, and I’m sure happy that the worker is honored this Labor Day – as I got the day off! I appreciate it.
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge – Rat Race – We Honor The Worker This Labor Day
Here are more, I won’t describe each one
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
Bruce Jenner – U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
I hope you had a fantastic Labor Day, and Happy September!
luchanik 