Sunday, January 26, 2020

Tamarind is a tropical fruit, Bangalore,India


Ripe tamarind on the neighbour's tree Am a total sucker for tamarind. From the time I was a child I have enjoyed any form of tamarind and when the airlines started giving out tamarind sweets that was the ultimate. No trip to the Far East was without searching for a bag of tamarind sweets or a bag of the deliciously sweet tamarind, found in the Bangkok especially. It has and always will be a big weak spot with me. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is indigenous to tropical Africa and obviously was brought here by some intrepid explorer. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. The tamarind tree produces pod-like fruit that contains a brown, edible pulp used in cuisines around the world
A baby seedling of the tamarind The Tamarind is a type of tropical fruit and is used in many dishes around the world. It also has medicinal properties which are being explored.The Tamarind is a hardwood tree known scientifically as Tamarindus indica. It's native to Africa but also grows in India, Pakistan and many other tropical regions. The tree produces brown bean-like pods filled with seeds surrounded by a fibrous pulp. The pulp of the young fruit is green and sour. As it ripens, the juicy pulp becomes paste-like and more sweet-sour. Interestingly, tamarind is sometimes referred to as the "Date of India."
Tons of fruit on one branch Tamarind pulp is widely used for cooking in South and Southeast Asia, Mexico, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The seeds and leaves are also edible. It is used in sauces, marinades, chutneys, drinks and desserts. It's also one of the ingredients of Worcestershire sauce. Tamarind has played an important role in traditional medicine. In beverage form, it was commonly used to treat diarrhea, constipation, fever and peptic ulcers. The bark and leaves were also used to promote wound healing. Modern researchers are now studying this plant for potential medicinal uses. The polyphenols in tamarind have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These can protect against diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Young leaves of the tree The seed extract may also help lower blood sugar, while the pulp extract may help you lose body weight and reverse fatty liver disease. Tamarind pulp can also be used as a metal polish. It contains tartaric acid, which helps remove tarnish from copper and bronze. Tamarind is high in many nutrients. A single cup (120 grams) of the pulp contains: Magnesium: 28% of the RDI. Potassium: 22% of the RDI. Iron: 19% of the RDI. Calcium: 9% of the RDI. Phosphorus: 14% of the RDI. Vitamin B1 (thiamin): 34% of the RDI. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 11% of the RDI. Vitamin B3 (niacin): 12% of the RDI. Trace amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), folate, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), copper and selenium. It also contains 6 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein and 1 gram of fat. This comes with a total of 287 calories, almost all of which are from sugar.
The fruit can grow quite large. In fact, a single cup of tamarind contains 69 grams of carbs in the form of sugar, which is equivalent to 17.5 teaspoons of sugar. Despite its sugar content, tamarind pulp is considered a fruit, not an added sugar — the kind that's linked to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes However, tamarind is pretty high in calories compared to many other fruit, which may be a problem for people who are trying to control calorie intake. You can also find the pure fruit in many forms: Pressed block: To make these, the shell and seeds are removed and the pulp is compressed into a block. These blocks are one step away from raw tamarind. The concentrate: Tamarind concentrate is pulp that has been boiled down. Preservatives may also be added. This fruit may boost heart health in several ways. It contains polyphenols like flavonoids, some of which can help regulate cholesterol levels. One study in hamsters with high cholesterol found that tamarind fruit extract lowered total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides. The antioxidants in this fruit can help reduce oxidative damage to LDL cholesterol, which is a key driver of heart disease. Tamarind pulp contains plant compounds that may help lower blood pressure and has anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Sea turtles and a lot more in Florida!


Almost real looking turtles for the kids to play with When on holiday with the kids and gkids, naturally a lot of the places we visit are kid friendly and educative for the little ones. While on a week long holiday in West Palm Beach, Florida, we went to visit the Loggerhead Marine Center one balmy morning. It might be winter but surprisingly the weather was warm and very like the Bangalore I had left behind. We were in shorts and tees which was pretty unusual in the winter months in most of the USA. So we drove up first to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center which is on Juno Beach. It was crowded with parents, kids and grand- parents all out on a sunny day, enjoying the experience. Interestingly it was a free entrance and is run by a non-profit organization for the last 30 plus years.
Different species of turtles So what does this marine center do? It promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems through education, research and rehabilitation with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. We walked around the large tanks in the facility and oohed and aahed at the most wonderful gem coloured fish in them. But what caught all the visitors attention was the skulking Moray Eel under a rock in a large aquarium. The moray eel is a large species of eel found in warm and temperate waters all around the world. Despite their snake-like appearance, moray eels are in fact fish and not reptiles. Moray eels are found in both deep and shallow waters in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Although moray eels can be found in cooler waters occasionally, they tend to remain in the crevices deep in the ocean rather than venturing into shore. The largest populations of moray eels are found around tropical coral reefs where they are numerous different marine species found in large numbers.
Play area for the kids The moray eel is a relatively secretive animal, spending much of its time hiding in holes and crevices amongst the rocks and coral on the ocean floor. By spending the majority of their time hiding, moray eels are able to remain out of sight from predators and are also able to ambush any unsuspecting prey that passes. There were also the spectacular looking Lionfish in the same tank. The lionfish, a longstanding showstopper in home aquariums, is a flourishing invasive species in the U.S. Southeast and Caribbean coastal waters. This invasive species has the potential to harm reef ecosystems because it is a top predator that competes for food and space with overfished native stocks such as snapper and grouper. Scientists fear that lionfish will also kill off helpful species such as algae-eating parrotfish, allowing seaweed to overtake the reefs. In the U.S., the lionfish population is continuing to grow and increase its range. This is largely because lionfish have no known predators and reproduce all year long; a mature female releases roughly two million eggs a year.
Invasive Lionfish which only look beautiful The most interesting for us and the kids were the salt water aquariums with marine life and the exciting feeding sessions. The interactive exhibit hall with hands on displays had the kids all excited. All the sea turtles in the tanks were named and were sick or injured. Volunteers at each tank answered questions and it was so heart- warming to see the wonderful work being carried out. Many turtles had been hurt by straws carelessly thrown in the ocean and ofcourse discarded plastic fishermen’s nets. So many turtles had their flippers slit by the plastic and they had also eaten a lot of plastic thinking it was food and got ill. We need to realise what we are doing to our oceans and our sea life by our human carelessness. The faster we realise it the cleaner our oceans will get. The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is doing wonderful work, educating the kids about saving their own planet. On the way out Alaina was able to get round her Dad to buy her a beautiful soft toy turtle which she immediately called Olive!

Friday, January 17, 2020

Ears being pierced, Tennessee, US


Exciting time for Lil Alaina For over four years I kept buying the cutest gold earrings for both my grand- daughters. One in the UK and one in the US. Both just cursorily looked at them when I handed them over and never gave them a second thought, much to my chagrin. The mothers of course being Indian loved their separate gifts and displayed them in their ears while I visited. That however did not stop the little ones looking at the jewellery I wore and saying, quite artlessly -- “can you keep them for me when you die!” Both mothers reacted with shock and reprimanded them, while my sons laughed and said, they are shameless hussies, quite indulgently. One DIL even said,” Gnama will give away her jewelry to the poor in India, if you worry her again!” to shocked whines and tears! They are only six years old. Babies in my mind and I don’t have the heart to correct them. I am glad they are open about their likes and wants, unlike us at that age, who had to be seen and not heard. We could only look from afar with mouths zipped. Then fight over the stuff once our parents passed! I am giving away all my jewelry before I die and all my possessions will be divided so there is no fighting afterwards.
Delightful Unicorn earrings for a little girl. The last visit which I recently made, I had ordered the cutest Unicorn earrings for one of the girls and Lady bird earrings for the other. However there was a tearful response on Face -Time when I showed it to one of them, before I left India. “ Noooooooo! I want pendants, I will never pierce my ears. Maybe when I turn 18.” She said dramatically. To my equally dramatic response -- “ But by then Gnama will be dead!”
Cheerful before the shot! To cover for my misdeeds of buying yet another pair of earrings, I bought the little one a pendant and gave them all to her. That invited a drubbing down by her mother, but I covered for her saying it was unimportant and to let her be. She will decide on her own if she wants to pierce her ears or not. Can you imagine my utter shock, when she suddenly pronounces, the day before my leaving the US last week --” Gnama, lets go to Claire’s in the mall and get my ears pierced.” I was flabergasted but wasted no time incase she changed her mind. What excitement throbbed through me, as I flew to dress and grab my coat, slip on my shoes and we were off with my DIL driving, straight after her school was out.
Underway with her ear lobes deadened with solution But, when we reached Claire’s and she got onto the high chair,it felt like I was getting my ears pierced. I was really tense when we reached Claire’s and it grew worse when the shop assistant started getting her ready to get the job done. First mother, daughter and gnama had to choose what earrings she wanted put in. One had to buy the first pair from the store which was inserted with the piercing. She chose a butterfly, but sadly they were out of them. Then my DIL chose simple tiny fake solitaires and they matched my very first solitaires I had put into my ears.
All done and time to bravely admire her ears. “You do know that you have to pierce both ears, and not just one,” said her Mum sternly. The worry was if she felt the pain too intense she might just refuse to get the second one done. Getting her que from that, the shop assistant cleverly corralled another assistant, even though she was on lunch break and they did the most amazing feat ever, in my eyes. They both stood on either side of her after marking the correct spots on each ear lobe. Then simultaneously they pricked her ears and made the piercings together.
Little diamonds sparkle out of her ears The little one did cry with the sharpness of the pain but it was just for a few seconds. I think it shocked her more than anything else. Then her kind hearted Mum told her to choose whatever she wanted in the store and Claire’s is expensive. Finally she walked out with, yet another, probably the hundreth, rainbow UNICORN! Do little girls ever tire of them? On their clothes, on their shoes, on their pencils, their markers, their socks and undies and dresses and night wear. It’s just mind-boggling how they love those dratted rainbow unicorns!

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

The reluctant Tuscan, Dallas to London


The cover image of the Reluctant Tuscan On the flight home to Bangalore from Dallas to London, I made a friend over a book. An American girl next to me was reading ‘The Reluctant Tuscan’. The book made me strike up a conversation and she said she was reading it because her boyfriend was Italian and she was wondering how she would fit into his culture and family back in Tuscany! She was from California and her drop dead handsome Italian boyfriend had asked her to marry him. She had been to Tuscany twice and found it hard in a small village. But was concerned about her parents who were Caholic but not religious and never went to church. How would they blend with this rigid Catholic family and extended Italian family!
Phil Doran and his wife who bought the house Her copy of the book was amazingly a first edition, signed by the author Phil Doran himself! Apparently after years of working on a string of sitcoms, Phil Doran found himself on the outside looking in. Just as he and his peers had replaced the older guys when he was coming up the ranks, it was now happening to him. And it was freaking him out. He came home every night angry, burned- out, and exhausted. After twenty-five years of losing her husband to Hollywood, Doran’s wife decided it was finally time for a change—so on one of her many solo trips to Italy she surprised her husband by purchasing a broken-down 300-year-old farmhouse for them to restore. The Reluctant Tuscan is about the author’s transition from being a successful but overworked writer-producer in Hollywood to rediscovering himself and his wife while in Italy, and finding happiness in the last place he expected.
A meal in Tuscany which is hearty and fun In the witty tone that made him a success as a writer in Hollywood, The Reluctant Tuscan captivates those who simply love a good travel narrative as well as anyone who loves the quirky humor of stars -- Bill Bryson, Dave Barry and Jerry Seinfeld.
The beautiful cover of Under the Tuscan Sun with the actress in the movie adaptation. I had read “ Under the Tuscan Sun” years ago with my book club which I began in the Catholic Club named iBrowse, and so was curious. Another book lover Sheila Kumar and a member of my old book club had suggested it. Boy was I glad she did, because we all read the book sharing the five copies which were bought by the club and I finally took my copy for my DIL who is an avid book reader too in the US. “Under the Tuscan Sun” is a 1996 memoir by American author Frances Mayes. It was adapted by director Audrey Wells for the 2003 film Under the Tuscan Sun. The New York Times elevated the novel to the title of Notable Book of 1997. The book, published by Random House, was a New York Times bestseller for more than two and a half years, and was a New York Times Notable Book of 1997. It includes several chapters of recipes, and describes how she bought and restored an abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside.
The beautiful house which was slowly restored. The story details the trials that Frances and her husband Ed had to go through to renovate their Tuscan villa. As university professors, they did not have to work during the summer; instead of teaching, they spent their summers renovating. While going through an extensive amount of paperwork to begin construction, they meet and befriend many people, including a group of Polish men and a local man who fixes their stone wall. They encounter many problems along the way; their Italian is poor and their contractors are lazy. Throughout the story, Frances imagines the villa's previous owner, possibly a kind old nonna ( grandmother). She pictures how the nonna would react to the renovations that Frances was doing to her home. The couple's main interest is to be able to return to their villa during Christmas break to celebrate the holidays. This is denied to them at first; the first Christmas that they return to Tuscany, they find their villa in shambles. This is resolved later in the book, when Frances and Ed get to spend their winter in their villa. Amazing how friendships happen over books! And we chatted for a while from Dallas to London about her plans and how it would work. Half way through I exchanged seats with her boyfriend so they could sit together!

Monday, January 13, 2020

Masala & Elaichi Chai, London, UK


The 100 sachet box of masala chai which was delicious “ Please bring me a pack of masala chai,” asked my son Andrew as I was getting ready to leave London for Tennessee. So off the two of us, my older son David and I went to Athifs, a well known store that stocked Indian and Pakistani goodies besides other Asian foods. We got a box of 100 sachets for him, but I spied the Cardamom chai and had to have a box. I was hooked in the cold of London and finished the box of elaichi tea while I was still there and carried another with me. Masala chai is a flavoured tea beverage made by brewing black tea with a mixture of aromatic Indian spices and herbs. Originating in the Indian subcontinent, the beverage has gained worldwide popularity, becoming a feature in many coffee and tea houses.
The BA Boeing which took me was brand new. A 'masala chai' is a chai tea with milk and a hint of spices – cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon mostly. ... The main difference between chai and masala tea is the addition of spices. Chai is black tea and hot milk, while Masala tea will combine black tea, milk and a few spices The spices we use in the Masala Chai are known in Ayurveda to have many health benefits, especially relating to the digestive system, like stimulating the appetite, reducing gas, and counteracting stomach acidity. Cardamom is known to enhance appetite, improve digestion and provide relief from acidity in the stomach.
My absolute favourite, especially since it could be bought sugar free Although the ingredients may vary from region to region, "tea masala" typically consists of Crushed Ginger, Crushed Cardamom, Pepper balls, Cloves, Cinnamom. The mixture is brought to a boil and 1 teaspoon of loose black tea is added. The Masala Chai tea blend we bought combined premium Ceylon black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger.. So, Masala Chai is literally 'spiced tea'. The tea has a warm and inviting fragrance, zesty flavor, and invigorating, aromatic finish. Each chai has a different flavour to it. India Chai blends Ginger, Cardamom, and Masala which are usually 2.3g servings and contain 67 to 78 milligrams of caffeine. Tea India which is loose Leaf teas @ 2.8 grams per serving contains 118 milligrams of caffeine. To compare -- A strong cup of black coffee has about 120 milligrams of caffeine. The black tea form of masala chai can help in preventing weight gain of belly fat. Also, masala chai alone cannot help in weight loss. It is only when combined with regular exercising and clean and healthy eating that masala chai will be beneficial for your health High amounts of black tea can cause side effects due to the caffeine in black tea. These side effects can range from mild to serious and include headache, nervousness, sleep problems, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, irregular heartbeat, tremor, heartburn, dizziness, ringing in the ears, convulsions, and confusion. With my heavy cough and cold my only solace was Masala chai, the whole day. It was soothing in the winter cold of Tennessee and London.

Friday, January 10, 2020

The Flagler Mansion in Miami, USA


The outstandingly elegant Flagler Mansion in Miami. Knowing that I love History ( my first Masters was in History) my doc son in Tennessee took me to see the Flagler Estate in West Palm Beach. It was a jaw dropping moment for both of us when we saw the building at first with its prime waterfront position. When it was completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Whitehall, Henry Flagler's Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach, was "more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world." Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, featuring guided tours. What never ceases to amaze me is the brilliant minds of these pioneers who made modern day America what it is. On my last visit I saw the Vanderbuilt mansion and there too the man’s genius built an empire which his family finally has lost. Future generations don’t have the foresight of the original founder, so common across the world. They faced hardship and came up the tough way. Their progeny are used to wealth and turn lazy and fritter away the billions they are left, sadly.
The stylish entrance hall Henry Morrison Flagler was born on January 2, 1830 in Hopewell, New York, to Reverend and Mrs. Isaac Flagler. At the age of 14, after completing the eighth grade, Flagler moved to Bellevue, Ohio where he found work with his cousins in the grain store of L.G. Harkness and Company, at a salary of $5 per month plus room and board. In 1852 Henry Flagler became a partner in the newly organized D. M. Harkness and Company with his half-brother, Dan Harkness. The following year, on November 9, he married Mary Harkness. They had three children, Jennie Louise, Carrie, Henry Harkness. Unfortunately, only Henry Harkness would survive to have children, one of which would later establish the Flagler Museum. In 1862, Henry Flagler and his brother-in-law, Barney York, founded the Flagler and York Salt Company, a salt mining business in Saginaw, Michigan. When the Civil War ended however, salt, which had been in heavy use as preservative by the Union Army, was no longer in high demand and Flagler and York Salt Company collapsed. Heavily in debt, Flagler returned to Bellevue, Ohio - his initial investment of $50,000 and an additional $50,000 he had borrowed from his father-in-law and Dan Harkness were lost.
One of the tastefully decorated rooms One of the The next year Flagler re-entered the grain business as a commission merchant and paid back the money he had borrowed for the salt business. During this time, Flagler became acquainted with John D. Rockefeller, who worked as a commission agent. During the mid 1860s, Cleveland was quickly developing as the center of the oil refining industry in America and Rockefeller decided to leave the grain business to start his own oil refinery. In need of capital for his new venture, Rockefeller approached Henry Flagler, with whom he had business dealings for many years. Flagler secured $100,000 from a relative on the condition that he be made a partner owning 25% of the shares in the new company of Rockefeller, Andrews and Flagler. On January 10, 1870, the Rockefeller, Andrews and Flagler partnership was organized as a joint-stock corporation named Standard Oil. In just two years Standard Oil became the leader in the American oil refining industry, producing 10,000 barrels per day. Five years later Standard Oil moved its headquarters to New York City, and the Flaglers moved to their new home to 509 Fifth Avenue in New York City.
The graceful central courtyard where the tinkling sound of the fountain was entrancing. In 1878, Flagler's wife, Mary, who had always struggled with health problems, became very ill. On the advice from Mary's physician, she and Flagler visited Jacksonville, Florida for the winter. Unfortunately, Mary did not recover. She died on May 18, 1881 at age 47, leaving Henry Flagler with a young son to raise alone. Two years after Mary's death, Flagler married Ida Alice Shourds. Soon after their wedding, the couple traveled to St. Augustine, Florida, which they found charming but lacking in adequate hotel facilities and transportation systems. Flagler believed that Florida had the potential to attract large numbers of tourists. Though Flagler remained on the Board of Directors of Standard Oil, he gave up his day-to-day involvement in the corporation in order to pursue his interests in Florida. He returned to St. Augustine in 1885 and began construction of the 540-room Hotel Ponce de Leon. Realizing the importance of a transportation system to support his hotel ventures, Flagler purchased the Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax Railroad, the first railroad in what would eventually become the Florida East Coast Railway system. The Hotel Ponce de Leon opened January 10, 1888 and was an instant success. Two years later, Flagler expanded his Florida holdings, building a railroad bridge across the St. Johns River to gain access to the southern half of the state. Flagler began building a hotel empire by purchasing the Hotel Ormond, just north of Daytona.
The carriage room where the original classic railway carriage is housed In 1894 Flagler built the Hotel Royal Poinciana on the shores of Lake Worth in Palm Beach and extended his railroad further south to West Palm Beach. The Hotel Royal Poinciana soon became the largest resort in the world. In 1896 Flagler built the Palm Beach Inn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach. Flagler's railroad, renamed the Florida East Coast Railway in 1895, reached Biscayne Bay by 1896. Flagler dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and power systems, and financed the town's first newspaper, the Metropolis. When the town incorporated in 1896, its citizens wanted to honour the man responsible for its growth by naming it "Flagler." He declined the honor, persuading them instead to use an old Indian name for the river the settlement was built around, Miama or Miami. A year later, Flagler opened the exclusive Hotel Royal Palm in Miami.
The crockery sets on display were mind boggling Flagler lost his second wife, Ida Alice, to mental illness, which she suffered from for many years. Ida Alice finally had to be institutionalized in 1895. On August 24, 1901, Flagler married for the third time, to Mary Lily Kenan. Built as a wedding present to Mary Lily in 1902 and designed by architects John Carrère and Thomas Hastings, Whitehall became the Flagler's winter home. With more than 100,000 square feet and 75-plus rooms, Whitehall was described in 1902 by the New York Herald as, "... more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world." A little more than a year later, Flagler fell down a flight of stairs at Whitehall. He never recovered from the fall, and died of his injuries on May 20, 1913, at 83 years of age. He was laid to rest in St. Augustine alongside his daughters, Jennie Louise and Carrie, and his first wife, Mary Harkness. When Henry Flagler began his work in Florida, it was perhaps the poorest state in the Union. Today, thanks in large part to Henry Flagler, Florida is the third largest state in the Union with an economy larger than 90% of the world's nations. Indeed, no individual had a greater or more lasting impact on a state than Henry Flagler had on Florida.
Luxurious inside of carriage Perfect for visitors looking for a dose of culture, Whitehall is the home of the Flagler Museum, a beautiful oasis that is worthy of a day trip. Built for his third wife as a wedding present, Henry Flagler constructed this over-the-top 55-room Beaux Arts style complex in 1902. A National Historic Landmark, visitors can stroll through the grounds of this Palm Beach attraction to take in a variety of historic European styles, and are welcome to browse the interior and see the building’s many original furnishings in addition to interesting exhibits, fabulous paintings,clocks and antique furniture. Carrere and Hastings designed the exterior of Whitehall, the interior layout and completely controlled the design of the marble entrance hall and its grand double staircase. The façade of Whitehall is marked by massive marble columns and topped with a red barrel tiled roof. Built around the central courtyard, the house consists of two floors, an attic and a basement. Besides the grand public rooms on the first floor there are twelve guestrooms, house servants rooms on the west side of the second floor and guests servants rooms in the attic along the east side.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

West Palm Beach, USA


The blue skies and pristine white beaches of West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, Florida, has sunny palm-lined streets, breathtaking waterfront views, quaint shopping districts, historic and scenic neighbourhoods, and exciting year-round outdoor festivals. We were spending a week in the beach fronted city and it was another off my bucket list places to visit. My doctor son and daughter-in-law always plan these holidays, so I can go along with them and enjoy them too. Kind and generous to a fault, they are so warm and welcoming especially when I had just been a very stressful time back in India. It was cold in Tennessee and so Florida’s sunny skies, nearly perfect year-round weather and a range of outdoor and cultural attractions, West Palm Beach was the ideal setting for a week long escape for us. Separated from southern Florida by the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Beach is West Palm Beach's sister city, and is known for being irresistibly serene and really a pensioners paradise.
The ferry that took us across to Peanut Island We decided to spend an entire day on Peanut Island on our first day -- a popular tourist attraction that houses a bunker built for President John F. Kennedy during the Cold War. It was fun parking and walking across to take the ferry. Quite different from our smelly and crowded Goa ferries, we all got place to sit before it took off. Peanut island had plenty of picnic areas, plus biking and walking paths. The ferry ride to the island cruises past the opulent mansions of the city's wealthy residents, but knowing about sea-level rise, I was not really envious. I would never want a beach- front mansion. After that I loved going to the beach almost everyday, with the family, even though it was cold.We sat out in the sun, while the kids played building sand castles and paddling in the shallows. The beaches had heaps of sea shells, something our Indian beaches are devoid of. It was amazing to see how many vacationers were out on the beach, sunning themselves. The water was definitely too cold to swim in though we saw lots of surfers cresting the tall waves.
The board walk which took us along the sheltering mangroves. For those who prefer indoor endeavours, the Norton Museum boasts an exceptional collection of American, Chinese and European art. Famous performers appear at "The Harriet" and at the Kravis Center. Of course there's always shopping, the city's other favorite pastime. From designer boutiques to big name department stores, West Palm Beach has it all. Known for its upscale boutiques and irresistible beaches, Palm Beach has long been a favorite Florida getaway for vacationers from all over the world. We drove down the A1a which is Florida's State Road. A1A is one of the most scenic road trip routes in the nation. It runs along the most eastern border of the state. I love oggling the beautiful mansions of the rich and famous and can’t imagine how difficult it is to maintain it along with their pristinely sculpted gardens.
Beautiful blue skies and broad palm lined roads The only hiccup was when we came towards the Trump Mar-a-Lago Club, there was high security which kept outsiders at bay. The 126-room, 62,500-square-foot mansion contains the Mar-a-Lago Club, a members-only club with guest rooms, a spa, and other hotel-style amenities. It is located in Palm Beach County on the Palm Beach barrier island, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Florida's Intracoastal Waterway to the west. The different cuisines had us eating out at different places everyday. Ofcourse the family had to try an Indian place one evening, but I got my Hardees mushroom and cheese burger well before they sat down to their meal. Who wants to eat Indian, while in the US? Just them!