Tag Archive | tourism

in CA, Photography, San Diego, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel, Vacation
8 Comments

What To Do On A Lovely Day In San Diego

There’s so much to do in San Diego, that I often have to really think about what I want to do on my days off – we are spoilt for choice. Should I visit Seaport Village, Coronado, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, La Jolla Beach, Del Mar Beach or Carlsbad? Well, this weekend on Saturday, I decided to take little Chandi to Legoland which is in Carlsbad, just 40 minutes north of downtown San Diego. The weather has been beautiful this weekend, it certainly feels like summer already.

I just bought annual passes for myself, Chandi and her brother and sister. Big brother and sister have had annual passes before when they were young, and now complain that they don’t remember. So, they won and got their way….I indulged them and they now have no excuses for not remembering as they are both quite a bit older than Chandi.

Here’s some pictures taken this weekend (yesterday):

Legoland, California

Of course, children come here to play

Legoland, California

They also like to dance up and down near the water fountains which are interactive, and either play music when jumped upon or squirt out water

Legoland, California

Don’t forget to visit the miniature cities made out of lego bricks

You can surely guess these cities in the USA?

Washington, DC in Legoland, Carlsbad, California

Legoland in Carlsbad, California

The Venetian in Legoland, Carlsbad, California

Legoland, Carlsbad, California

Here’s the Luxor in Las Vegas at Legoland

Luxor at Legoland, Carlsbad, California

Here’s another two miniature cities, aren’t they amazing – made from lego bricks – unbelievable!

Legoland, Carlsbad, California

Don’t forget to take a boat ride on the Fairy Tale Brook, it’s great for kids of any age, and you’ll see characters from all your favorite fairy tales, including Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs, and so much more.

Fairytale Brook Ride, Legoland, Carlsbad

Here’s me with Chandi on the day when we got our annual passes

Legoland, California

I just love this picture of my three babies all at Legoland

Legoland, Carlsbad, California

There’s so much to do in Legoland, especially for your kids!

Legoland, Carlsbad, California

It’s one big playground!

Legoland, Carlsbad, California

If you want to stay really close by to the Legoland Park, you could stay at the newly opened Legoland Hotel, which is right there in the grounds, less than a twenty second walk away.

Legoland Hotel, Legoland, Carlsbad, California

Your kids will want to make friends with the Lego characters

Legoland in Carlsbad, California

Legoland, California And they won’t want to go when it’s time to leave. Annual passes for Legoland are $129 each for adults and kids over the age of 13 + Annual passes for kids from the age of 3-12 are $99 each. Click here for more information on Legoland. If you live in California, you might as well buy the annual passes because the day pass is $79, so just by visiting twice – you’ll get your money’s worth! Did I mention that Legoland is just across the street from the beautiful Grand Pacific Palisades, which overlooks the gorgeous Flower Fields? You could start your day out with a walk by the Flower Fields, followed by the rest of the day at Legoland…….. it makes for a really nice day out.

March 27, 2013

in CA, Photography, San Diego, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel, Vacation
5 Comments

The Flower Fields Are Ablaze With The Beauty of Color – Carlsbad, CA (San Diego)

Spring is in the air, flowers are everywhere! Or should I say the hills are alive with the beauty of flowers? These flowers are like music to my soul, and they bring joy. They also bring much joy to my little angel, Chandi.

Here is the Princess of The Flower Fields (I nominate her for that):

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Here’s Chandi dreaming of more flowers.

Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA (San Diego)

Here she is, ever so content with all the flowers around her.

Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA (San Diego)

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA (San Diego)

Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA (San Diego)

I should tell you a little more about the Flower Fields – they mainly grow ranunculus flowers here – and the early ranunculus blossoms resembled Poppy blossoms. Here’s a little more history on this:

Ranunculus Flowers, Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Here’s some close-up pictures of the ranunculus flowers

Little kids love to come to the Flower Fields – they get to meet others their age, see fish in the little lily pond basins

They can play in the playground

Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA – Playground

They will see see hens and will even see some fresh laid eggs on the ground!

They will love taking a ride on the wagon that goes around the fields full of flowers, and have a narrated tour. Most of all, if they are just like Chandi, they will like to be out in the fresh open air, smelling the sweet smell of Spring, and seeing flowers everywhere!

Here are the fields ablaze with color

Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Here are some people picking the flowers (most likely employees) – these flowers could surely brighten anyone’s home, and will likely find their way into the stores.

Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Here’s me and my baby enjoying some Mummy and me time!

Who wouldn’t like to bring their little baby here, and see their face light up with joy? Chandi’s face lit up with joy, is all the happiness I need. Here she is once again, Princess of the Flower Fields.

Also, let me tell you where Carlsbad is in relation to San Diego…..it is a 40 minute drive up north from downtown San Diego. Take the Highway 5 North and exit Palomar Airport Road, then make a right onto Palomar Airport Road, make a left onto Paseo Del Norte, and make a right into the Carlsbad Outlet Mall Shopping Area, and then make another right and head into the parking lot close to the Flower Fields entrance.

Prices: $11 for adults, free for kids under 3 years of age, and kids from 4 to 11 – $6

Also, don’t forget – locally grown strawberries are for sale right here at the Flower Fields, and don’t forget to try a yummy Strawberry Milkshake or one of the other scrumptious desserts made from strawberries.

Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Also, don’t forget to visit sometime soon, as the flowers will only be in bloom up to a certain point in April, so hurry fast and visit Carlsbad, CA – part of greater San Diego.

**This is an addition to the post. Went back to visit again on March 30, 2013 (last week I visited on March 23rd) – there’s a big difference in just a week as far as how much the flowers have bloomed. Here’s what they looked like today, however, these pictures were taken from a distance – we did not get right into the fields like we did last week.

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA – on March 30, 2013

The Flower Fields as of April 20, 2013

The Flower Fields from a previous years:

April 16, 2011

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA – San Diego

April 19, 2009

Flower Fields, Carlsbad – San Diego

March 21, 2013

in CA, England, Italy, London, Photography, San Diego, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel, Turkey, Vacation, Venice
2 Comments

Social Media and My New Pinterest

I just had to add a new interest, or should I say Pinterest? Pardon the pun………if my kids knew that I just said that, they would get mad at me. I am always having fun with word play, much to their consternation. Well, to go back to Pinterest – I don’t know what took me so long to get into it. All, I can say is it’s a lot of fun. All the pictures don’t have to be your own, you can like other people’s pictures and pin them on your board, and others will hopefully like what you pin, and re-pin. It’s a bit like retweeting on Twitter, and you can like pins too – now you’ll be reminded of Facebook. You can also pin videos, so hence YouTube can be brought in……now you have all your social media played out just in Pinterest.

I like to divide up my travel or my interests (such as on empowerment, or the British Royal Family, especially Princess Diana) into boards, it’s a little like having photo albums all sorted out, and not lumped together. I have one album, more appropriately called “board” on Pinterest for London, one for Izmir, one for Istanbul, one for Italy, one for San Diego, and one that I named Travel Repins when I didn’t really know what I was doing, and still don’t quite know what to call it. This board is where I just put pictures that I like taken by other people into one big collection, and this one isn’t at all organized – it has pictures from all over the world in it.

I still have to do more on Pinterest, I can’t just leave only mostly my pictures on my boards for instance – like the ones on Izmir or Istanbul. My board on London has many pictures from others who have taken pictures of that amazing city. Just like with all social media, it’s about sharing. After all, there are so many other pictures to discover out there in the world, we have to go beyond ourselves, and share the work of others.

I have to find more time, and have been lacking time lately…..life has caught up with me. Now just living day to day leaves hardly any spare moments to even dabble in social media, unfortunately. However, my emails from Pinterest even when I’m not active myself, have shown me what people are interested in, and I’ve noted with much curiousity, that people are really into London, and why not? London is one of the best cities in the world, if not the very best. However, I would like to add some interest for San Diego, especially since I now live here. So, I will work on my board on San Diego, and on some of the other boards, where I might only have my pictures.

Lastly, you know I like to have pictures in my posts…..so here are three pictures taken by me in three of my favorite cities and of course on Pinterest.

First, one of my favorite destinations….beautiful Venice in tantalizing Italy.

Venice, Italy

Then, lovely London in enchanting England.

Tower Bridge, London

Lastly, Paradise on Earth in Coronado, San Diego, in sunny California, USA.

Coronado, San Diego

I think you ought to give Pinterest a try, you just might find it Pinteresting!

Follow me on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/luchanik/

February 25, 2013

in Holiday, Holidays, Italy, Photography, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel, Vacation, Venice
5 Comments

Very Picturesque Venice

I didn’t know what to call my post on Venice, so just came up with “Very Picturesque Venice” – I guess that will work. I have been to Venice at least three times now, and it is a very beautiful place. I love Venice, in fact I love Italy! Here are some pictures.

Gondola – Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy

Got to have myself photographed in Venice!

Venice, Italy

Just a street scene in Venice

Venice, Italy

There are so many bridges in Venice, and of course so much water – it wouldn’t be Venice without either one of these.

Venice, Italy

Don’t come back from Venice without one of these Venetian masks – they are so beautiful!

Venetian Masks, Venice, Italy

Some more pictures:

Venice, Italy

St. Marks Square, Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy

I guess you can say I couldn’t help myself….I just could not stop taking photos in Venice, and have so many more. However, if I share any more now, I think that would be an overload. I hope you enjoyed seeing my pictures of beautiful Venice.

February 25, 2013

in Beaches, CA, Holiday, Holidays, Hotels, Photography, San Diego, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel, Vacation
2 Comments

San Diego Sunset Picture (Of Coronado) Will Be In Get Away San Diego’s Next Issue

This is a first for me – to have my picture be selected in a contest – I am so excited! Granted, mine was not the best picture, but my picture made it as one of the top ten!

Coronado, San Diego

I entered a competition that Get Away San Diego posted on their Facebook page, just out of curiousity. My picture shown above of the sunset near the Hotel Del in Coronado is the reason I just had to write today! My photo will be published in the next edition of Get Away San Diego . I don’t think my picture is as good as the other nine that made it into the top ten, but all ten will be shown in the next issue. However, since this is the first time for me that I have won such a contest, I am ecstatic! If it’s good enough to be chosen, it’s good enough to be happy about.

If you want to see the other pictures in Get Away San Diego’s Album, you can take a look right here Get Away San Diego’s Photo Contest Winners.

My whole family loves the Hotel Del, and Coronado. Here is my little Chandi on the beach at Hotel Del.

Hotel Del – Coronado

Hotel Del, Coronado

So for anyone who wants to wine a bit, I have a picture for you – it’s also taken in Coronado.

Wine Styles, Coronado

And for all those who would love to see what’s so great about the Hotel Del, here’s some more pictures.

Hotel Del, Coronado

Marilyn Monroe shot one of her movies here “Some Like It Hot”, and this tree is famous partly because of that movie, and Marilyn Monroe.

Hotel Del, Coronado

People love to visit the Hotel Del, and many weddings and parties take place here.

Hotel Del, Coronado

The grounds of this hotel are absolutely stunning! Do you know you can spend an entire day here, and not be bored? There’s the beach, restaurants galore, tennis, a swimming pool and of course shops, and the hotel lobby to look at.

Hotel Del, Coronado

Hotel Del’s Lobby Chandelier, Coronado

Of course, my little Princess belongs here, that’s why I like to bring her time and time again!

Hotel Del, Coronado

Don’t forget that Coronado is just a 15 to 20 minute drive from downtown San Diego, or just a boat ride across – here are some useful tips on how to get around.

I may have said this before, but the Hotel Del is swell! I am so glad that one of my pictures is going to be published, and I’m glad that it was taken in beautiful Coronado.

On another note:

Lately, I have also been toying with another idea….to enter one of my videos into a competition or to make a new one – perhaps of San Diego. I decided to not enter the competition or attempt making a new video for it, because I can’t go away for 6 months and leave my kids, neither can I take them with me (two of them can’t take six months away from school, and it wouldn’t be fair to take just the youngest one) – so this kind of competition is not meant for me. Want to know which competition I am referring to? It’s this one: http://www.mydestination.com/bbb/competition#faq1 and if you want to know who has my full support in this particular competition, it’s Lesley Carter from Bucket List Publications: http://lesleycarter.wordpress.com/2013/02/23/if-you-could-make-someones-bucket-list-dreams-a-reality-would-you/

February 18, 2013

in Cruise Ports, Cruises, Holiday, Holidays, Indian Cruises, MSC Musica, Photography, Port Visits, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel, Vacation
4 Comments

The Magic of MSC Musica

Our cruise on the MSC Musica was magical. Perhaps it was because we traveled in a big group. I will always remember that cruise. Here are more pictures of the MSC Musica. Let’s just say this cruise line is definitely worth your consideration.

MSC Musica

In the evening, there’s spectacular entertainment, here are the performers after one show

MSC Musica

Did you know MSC Cruise Lines have cruises out of Florida now? One of their new ships is the MSC Divina and the reason I am mentioning this is that I have a picture shown below with that very name on it. I don’t know why I took it at the time (during the MSC Musica cruise, and I believe in Turkey) – perhaps because it has a little resemblance to my own name? Anyway, here’s the picture.

Here’s me on the MSC Musica

Davinder on the MSC Musica

Here’s my son (looking out to the swimming pool) and daughter all dressed up for an Indian function on the ship – we were part of a big Indian group on the cruise – we enjoyed Bollywood, Bhangra and more – danced to it, and ate Indian food.

MSC Musica

Here’s a picture taken of one of their lounges.

MSC Musica

Of course MSC Cruise Lines also depart from many other places throughout the world, including Europe, where we took our cruise from lovely Venice, Italy. I think my next post might have to be on Venice. I hope you all have a fantastic week!

February 18, 2013

in Cruise Ports, Cruises, Holiday, Holidays, MSC Musica, Photography, Port Visits, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel, Turkey, Vacation
5 Comments

Just Some More Turkish Delight

Our visit to Istanbul during the MSC Cruise (on the MSC Musica) was packed with shopping, and savoring Turkish flavors – whether it was Turkish coffee or kebabs. Turkey is delightful, and so colorful.

Istanbul, Turkey

The first few pictures (below) were actually taken in Izmir, I could only tell since I looked back at my pictures, and saw some pictures of the cruise in the evening. I will include those here, so that you can see the sequence of events. The cruise stopped in Izmir first, and then we had our evening onboard, and the next day we got off at Istanbul.

Izmir, Turkey

Here are a few pictures taken back on the cruise ship that night.

MSC Musica

Now let’s venture into Istanbul, and to the Grand Bazaar! Many people come to the bazaars of Turkey to get great bargains – you can find tea-sets, glassware, ornaments, clothes, handbags, and many other items. These bazaars also tantalize you with their aromas and Turkish treats. Don’t forget to try the Turkish coffee!

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

Time for some Turkish Coffee at Red Cafe

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

We left the Grand Bazaar, and ventured into the streets…..I must have asked this man if I could have a picture taken with him.

Istanbul, Turkey

I think this is also called the Blue Mosque, but this is of course in Istanbul

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Here’s the Mosque from a different angle

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Here are the last pictures of Istanbul:

Istanbul, Turkey

Well, I hope you think Turkey is as delightful as I do. I have only showed you some pictures of Izmir, the Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and some of the surrounding streets. I’m sure Turkey has many other hidden delights.

February 7, 2013

in Cruise Ports, Cruises, MSC Musica, Photography, Sightseeing, Travel, Turkey, Vacation
6 Comments

Just A Little Bit Of Turkish Delight

Turkey delighted me when I visited that mysterious country in 2006. We were on a cruise with MSC Musica from Venice, Italy, and visited several ports in Europe. One of our stops was in Izmir and another one in Istanbul. I had to get out of our taxi which we took from the cruise port to the Mosque to actually venture closer and even go in the Mosque. Nobody else in the car wanted to go into the Mosque, but I could not let such beauty and magnificence pass me by.

Here are some pictures of the Blue Mosque in Izmir, Turkey:

Blue Mosque, Izmir, Turkey

Izmir, Turkey – near the Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque, Izmir, Turkey

This was taken inside the Mosque

Blue Mosque, Izmir, Turkey

Last look at the Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque, Izmir, Turkey

Then it was time to get back to the MSC Musica

MSC Musica

Turkey is an incredibly beautiful country that I have to explore much more on a future visit. The amount of time that you get while on a cruise port of visit is not adequate enough when visiting a land that is full of cultural mystique and glory as Turkey is. My next post will include more pictures taken in Istanbul.

February 1, 2013

in CA, San Diego, Sightseeing, Travel, Vacation
2 Comments

A Room With A View

A room with a view is the desire of anyone who travels whether on business or on pleasure. The title of this post was inspired by British pop group Duran Duran’s song “A View To A Kill”. I know that title is a little questionable, and different to mine, but if you listen to their song, and look at my pictures, it’s easy to replace the words, and highly encouraged.

You can see their video right here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp4CR2HcHLQ , and perhaps every time you think of a room with a view, you might think of Duran Duran. Perhaps, the truth also is that I like Duran Duran, and used to be one of their biggest fans, and still like their songs. If you listen to one of their songs, it kind of just sticks with you for days. I keep hearing the tune of their song (of which I enclosed the link to their video) in the back of my head and of course, I have replaced it with the words “Watching you with a View To A Room” – that probably doesn’t make sense, but that’s how my song goes.

Well, here’s the view: