There and Back

California-Glacier Point(Yosemite)

2012-01-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

Stunning, indescribable place.

It's all about the sunset. THREE.

TWO.

ONE.

PS Imagine my discipline and will-power -- only posting 3 sunset shots! :)

California-Yosemite Lower Falls

2012-01-14T06:57:00.000-08:00

Picnic break in grueling hike up the mountain. Pankaj nibbled while I enjoyed some dry heaves.

Back down to the bottom of the mountain for some more sensible amusement. A refreshing dip in the Lower Falls. Yes, L is in this pic.

Bathing, of course.

Model of Upper and Lower Falls. Someone poured water on the top and we watched it trickle. (TanGeoMS :)? )

Awaiting the shuttle. Nice log bench.

California-Camp Curry(Yosemite)

2012-01-14T06:55:00.000-08:00

Camp Curry is in the center of Yosemite. Good morning.

Home for a night.

Yay breakfast.

California-Tuolumne Grove(Yosemite)

2012-01-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

Man in a bear suit, paid to roam woods to captivate tourists. Just kidding. It's a bear.
We spotted they guy on our walk to the Tuolumne Grove, a stand of ancient sequoia trees.

Particles from a nearby forest fire created orange light.

Beloved trees. But difficult to hug!

Drive-through sequoia.

Hollow fallen sequoia. We went in one in can came out the other.

Postcard.

Found a pine cone 'this big'.

California-Olmstead Point (Yosemite)

2012-01-14T06:36:00.000-08:00

Clinging to the tree clinging to the rock. Look at those roots!

It's not snow; just smooth white rock.

Califonia-Tenaya Lake(Yosemite)

2012-01-14T06:19:00.000-08:00

A stroll around Tenaya Lake.

Yay water.

Details, details...

Good picnic spot.

Fortunately, we were prepared.

"Laura, get out of the way. I want a picture of the food."

H2O Axiom: Heat + clean water + LT = swimming

California-Mammoth Lakes

2012-01-14T06:05:00.000-08:00

near Mono Lake

Took a few in the Mammoth Lakes area before the sunset on the emergence of vicious hungry mosquitoes. Nice camp sites near these lakes. People were mostly fishing. There's skiing in the winter.

Did you spot the waterfall on the right?

Happy dog.

Woohoo! Approaching Tioga Pass/Yosemite Entrance!

California--Sierra Nevada

2012-01-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

Driving north through the Mohave Desert towards the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Pankaj went to take this shot at a rest stop and noticed...

this refreshing stream! Ice cold water on this hot day. Predictably, I couldn't resist.

This rest stop has everything. Conveniently, you can dial 12 to "Get God's Blessing"

California-Joshua Tree National Park

2012-01-14T05:36:00.000-08:00

Yo. You can't touch this. -- A stroll through the cholla garden. Looks cool, right? Except it was 5billion degrees. Okay, that's an exaggeration. More like 110F.

Leaping teddy bears! --Don't touch that. They'll break off and embed themselves in your skin.

5 minutes drive to the Sonora Desert and "ocotillo" plants pop up.

Back to the Mohave Desert. Yup, it's a Joshua Tree.

Sunset in the desert. Of course we had a picnic. Then lay down to watch the stars appear. Sorry--no pics of the splendid night sky. You'll have to use your imagination.

California - Torrey Pines

2011-10-02T07:41:00.001-07:00

Torrey Pines State Park: remnant of an ancient coastal forests!

Coastal sage scrub and chaparral plants.

Inland view.

Looking toward the sea below.

Torrey Pines on the left.

The Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana) is the most restricted and rarest pine in North America.

Tiny flowers everywhere.

Steps down to the beach.

People kept offering to take my picture. P was doing 'Knowledge Discovery' at his conference that day.

Miles of natural beach.

California-San Diego Zoo

2011-09-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

Taxi? No, I'll go by camel.

This way, everyone!

It's a wolf! N0, really -- I mean it.

Sore feet? Try the magic tiger ride. Best 25 cents we spent all day.

African giraffes.

East coast short-necked long-nosed giraffes.

Your mamma wears combat boots.

California-La Jolla

2011-09-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Pronounced 'Lahoya'

Speckled squirrels live by the sea.

Squirrel's eye view.

Harbor seal (left) eyeballing swimmers in the Children's Pool.

View from the sea wall. See Hawaii?

Barking

Large nosed east coast seals.

What's not to love?

Looking up

P says it's sexist.

Vessels run ashore atop the art museum

Dog gets a ride. This strip of beaches hosts a preponderance of pet-related facilities...Dog Salon, Doggy Day Car, veterinarian, Dog Supplies, there's even a dog beach.

Good night, La Jolla

View from Manchester Hyatt

Californa-Pacific Beach

2011-09-17T05:57:00.000-07:00

Can you spot the sharks?

Look Mom, we're at the beach. :P

Boardwalk from Mission Beach to Pacific Beach

Lunch!

Nice shorts!

Sea creature emerges from the deep.

Rooms with a view.

Next we road the bus to La Jolla (here's typical view out the window.)

In the evening we came back to Pacific Beach to eat delicious Mexican takeout and watch the sun set by the pier.

Delhi

2011-01-22T06:36:00.000-08:00

Monday market..

Knife sharpener guy

Uh-hoh....out come the banana peels...

Mum and Dad

Sarawana Bhawan - Kerala 'paranthas'! Raoully, I bet you'll really love these!

The food was delicious but I could barely eat. I was ill that day as you can tell by my grimace.

Lunch at Vijay's house..

Qutab Minar (1192 A.D?)

Parrots..

More on birds of India at NY Times..

Pushkar (Rajasthan)

2011-01-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

The town is around a small lake, which is lined with temples

Jimmy International! A very psychedelic clothing boutique.

Mr Kingfisher

Jaipur - Elephant ride

2011-01-17T12:42:00.001-08:00

We took an elephant (as you do) to the fort..

The Line Up..

The view..

An elephant jam on the way up!

The famous 'Jaipur Nose'...

Elephant ride, movie..

Jaipur - Amber and Nahargarh forts

2011-01-17T12:18:00.000-08:00

This section has the photos on the palaces and forts in Jaipur. They seem to have a disproportionate number of photos of Laura....was she giving me a hint that she feels quite comfortable in palaces?? Good job we didn't have enough time to go to the jewelry shops!!

Amber fort

Sheesh Mahal (Palace of mirrors)

View from the Royal restroom/loo..

Laura(nce) of India...??

If you whisper into the wall, the sound is carried across the arch to the other end..

Laura sees the donkey .. and out comes the banana peel (a recurrent theme this holiday!)..

Jaipur - City shops

2011-01-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

Someone buying sarees for a wedding..

The yogurt shop (only sells yogurt)

Sweet shop

Cheese shop

Sugarcane juice

We bought four sets of steel boxes(?) from this shop..

...and had them etched with names..

All the shops that sell metal utensils have somebody sitting right outside who is willing to give you money in exchange for your old utensils..

Jaipur - on the road!

2011-01-17T11:53:00.001-08:00

We traveled around Jaipur in an 'Auto', and Laura took these photos while we were peering out..

Whatever you do, don't run into the elephant!

Oot...

Khajuraho - I

2011-01-17T11:43:00.001-08:00

Khajuraho temples - these were built between 950 - 1050 A.D.
Note, this is the censored version (hello Raoully!! - my nephew who is 8 yrs old, and is the most frequent viewer of this blog!!)

Khajuraho train station

Khajuraho - II

2011-01-17T11:18:00.001-08:00

Nandi

Mongoose - there were about 5 or 6 of them foraging for something...didn't see any snakes though!

A flash of blue...we couldn't get a better photo :(

lots of parrots too...

2011-01-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

London

2011-01-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

The crew at work..

The boys made apple pie!

Bike ride with Remi

Fish and chips !!!!!!!

Tower of London, with Raoul

2011-01-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

The Beefeaters didn't approve of 'Chelsea' (football club) -they supported Arsenal

On the way to stealing the Crown Jewels (but we changed our minds..)

Our own beefeater...

Cambridge, with Mr Didi

2011-01-10T10:41:00.001-08:00

St. Johns college, Cambridge..

Kings College

Jesus college

Cornwall - 2010

2011-01-10T10:38:00.001-08:00

Exterminate! Exterminate!....Where is 'The Doctor'? (Life size Dalek in a shop in Cornwall)

The room in Cornwall..

Wedding day...

2010-09-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

It was a frenetic day, with everyone running around like headless chickens...

The Farmers Market..

The seafood restaurant..

Going to get the marriage license in downtown Raleigh..

2010-09-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Sarah found the perfect swivel chair..

Floral arrangements & The Master of Ceremonies....

2010-09-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Linda (and the girls) brought the flowers all the way from her house in York, Pennsylvania..

Jack..

The Ceremony..

2010-09-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

We were lucky to have Sarah perform the Ceremony, which was beautiful...

Lou and Sarah

Lily and Lou

Photo time..!!

2010-09-18T08:59:00.001-07:00

Our wedding cake(s)....!!

2010-09-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

Laura and Sarah (Stein) plotted a surprise Wedding cake - two of my favorites...Chocolate Raspberry and Almond Layer cake...!!

Our 'Green' version of wedding rice & confetti...

2010-09-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Dinner at the Japanese restaurant

2010-09-18T08:43:00.001-07:00

Kieran & Karl's visit to New York City

2010-07-31T13:27:00.000-07:00

The boys were on a mission. They wanted to find out the best pizzeria in New York City. They were tireless, and after a thorough investigation, they rated John's as #1, Grimaldi's as #2, and Lombardis's at #3.

(They also stopped at some museums.)

We definitely didn't have any hot-dogs. Nor any 'Godfather sandwiches'.

Little Italy...

Lombardi's pizzeria - waiting for a table..

In the end, it was rated as the #3 pizzeria.....but the 'Rice to Riches' shop was just opposite!

Kieran & Karl - Rice to Riches...

2010-07-31T13:14:00.000-07:00

A Rice pudding shop with an attitude! We blundered into it after having pizza at Lombardi's. Definitely, one of my new favo(u)rites...

"Eat all you want, you're already fat..."

"Sin Legally"

Men In Black ! Flushing was the location for the last scene in MiB. The tennis courts are behind the Unisphere..

Kieran & Karl - John's pizzeria

2010-07-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

Arguably, the best pizza in New York City...the boys must have come back here at least 7 times!

The #1 train went from the apartment to John's pizzeria...how convenient!

The Merrill Lynch bull near Wall St..

Mr Didi's Mecca....

Kieran & Karl - Museums

2010-07-31T09:59:00.000-07:00

Metropolitan Museum

The bamboo exhibit on the roof...

Picnic in Central Park..

Waiting in queue at the Guggenheim..

Kieran & Karl - Grimaldi's pizzeria

2010-07-31T09:47:00.001-07:00

Our journey for the best(!) pizza in New York started with the water taxi (bikes too) from Pier 17 to Grimaldi's pizzeria (under Brooklyn Bridge)..

I give it #1 in NYC, the boys give it #2 ranking...we had to wait in the queue for an hour before we could place our order..

We went over the bridge on the way back..

As you can see from this photo, one of our team members wasn't too happy about going back without getting another pizza at Grimaldi's..

Kieran & Karl - Chelsea

2010-07-31T09:35:00.000-07:00

Staten Island Ferry

Karl picked the ginger ice cream in Chinatown...I must say, it was really good!!

Korean food in St. Marks Place

Thai and Italian at the Chelsea market..

This is where we'll take Raoully and Remi when they come over.

Kieran & Karl - Biking and rollerblading along the Hudson river

2010-07-31T09:25:00.000-07:00

It was a really hot day, and all the kids were playing in the fountains...

U.S.S Intrepid..

The Highline Park. It used to be a dis-used rail line running through downtown Manhattan..

Our Dalek needed frequent cooling..

Kieran & Karl in New York City - Upper West Side (Wessstsiiide...booyakasha!)

2010-07-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

Paella dinner at Barbara's...

Karl, marinading the chicken for Biryani...

The three Chefs..

Things to do on a hot summer day...

2010-07-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

1. Swim -- but we didn't take any pics.

2. Berry picking!

Impossible to catch everyone smiling at once...

Blueberry Mom

Linda

3. Sit in air conditioning

Eric

Dad

Lore and Allen

4. Wear groovy flip-flops!

5. Sing rounds in the dark

Pie

2010-06-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

wildflowers from seed.

blueberry pie!!! Thanks to the Tharps for the fresh blueberries and the pie recipe!

baby pepper

Home grown cucumber

the other one

Batman and Robin? No job is too small for these brave action heroes. They can affix a bat house in a single 99 degree afternoon!
Thank you so much for your help - I could never have done it without you!

Atlanta - House

2010-06-16T16:08:00.001-07:00

Usually a little misty in the mornings...

Back garden

My walk to work..

Atlanta - Emory University

2010-06-16T16:01:00.001-07:00

Whitehead Biomedical Research Building

Research Lab - yes, I get to see mice...How can you tell if a mouse is Schizophrenic?

My desk - windows at last!!

New Zealand mussels with spinach ..

2010-05-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Sauce = white wine + stilton cheese

Best view in the house!!

Summer has begun

2010-05-26T19:43:00.001-07:00

Bean- just before I ate it.

Mom, remember the plant I was asking you about? It finally flowered. What is it?

Almost ripe!

Mom, here's a closeup.

2cm cucumber

Peas. Yes, I ate them too.

Star hydrangea

Same flowers a week ago. But photo composition is nicer.

Hudson river festival

2010-05-26T09:21:00.001-07:00

Along the hudson river....

2010-05-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

USS Intrepid

View of Jersey City from Manhattan

Chickadees Fledged

2010-05-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Can you find all 5?

Pankaj's visit to Raleigh

2010-04-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

Dinner with Sarah and Zippy.

Lunch with Dr. and Mrs. Tharp

Our first ripe strawberry.

Working on our 2nd blueberry garden. Perhaps the reason Pankaj doesn't come to Raleigh very often.

Party

Paolo, slow down on the wine...

Chocolate rasberry birthday cake. Yes, that's supposed to be DNA.

Pretty in pink

2010-04-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Early morning view out my window a few weeks ago.

Our fabulous weeping cherry tree.

On Western Blvd. WRAL property

Nearby view of Raleigh building glowing in the evening sun.

Our cherry tree again. YES these picture are all unique. :)

Jack likes the view too.

Rock, rock, rock, frog.

A day in the park

2010-04-04T19:21:00.001-07:00

Pankaj's windows.

Convenient rollerblade changing benches in the middle of Broadway.

Central Park

Picnic time!

Snow day

2010-02-01T07:38:00.000-08:00

So quiet.

Rearranged my room :)

This pic is for Dad. Another weekend project...see why the sink repair didn't work. See the liquid on the left one--where the brass meets the plastic?

Days 4&5: York visits New York

2010-01-03T17:52:00.000-08:00

Day 4 agenda: Admire the snow, Macy's, Penn Station to catch train to Lancaster.

During the night and morning it snowed and there were nice views out Pankaj's windows.

Macy's windows had moving displays with the theme 'Miracle on 34th Street"

Empire State Building sticking into the snow cloud.

After the long day traveling back, Mom and Laura went to First Night York for New Year's Eve.

Day 5: Back in York. Jog, get bitten by dog, lunch with the Berlins, get Laura to the Baltimore train station on time. Laura rides home to Raleigh.

Girl's day out for lunch at Wegman's.

Day 3: York visits New York

2010-01-02T15:47:00.002-08:00

Day 3 agenda: Brooklyn promenade, lunch at Grimaldi's, walk Brooklyn bridge to Manhattan, view Ground Zero, 5th Avenue shops and windows, Sapporo's for dinner, Time Square

On our way to Brooklyn.

Riverside Brooklyn promenade view of Manhattan.

A nice park is under construction just below this on the old piers.

Square dance to stay warm.

A long-awaited table at Grimaldi's. The brick oven pizza was worth the wait.

Grimaldi's chefs at work.

Hiking across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Beautiful views everywhere you turn.

Manhattan from the bridge.

Looking back towards Brooklyn.

City Hall Park, the Manhattan end of the Brooklyn Bridge.

When we reached the Manhattan side of the bridge, we made our way to Ground Zero. There's large window in the World Financial Center were visitors are invited to view the ongoing contruction work in the former World Trade Center buildings site. There's a huge pit in the ground a whole city block where the buildings used to stand. On our way to the viewing platform we saw these fantastic murals of world famous waterways (I particularly liked the ones of Venice and Istanbul):
McPherson Murals, World Financial Center

The lobby featured dozens of palm trees and an amphitheater-style staircase that made a nice resting spot for tired tourists:

Next we went to 5th Avenue. FAO Shwarz was a zoo. The kids really liked the Harry Potter department. There they got Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Jelly Beans, which include delicacies like Compost flavor, Caterpillar flavor, and Rotten Egg flavor! Dad made a new friend in the 'Ugly Doll' department. See if you can guess who's who:

Across the street we saw the fantastic holiday window dressings at Bergdorf Goodman. The theme was Alice in Wonderland (best seen in person but these pics give you some idea):
Bergdorf Goodman windows

Next we watched the iceskaters at Rockefeller Center:

Then dinner at Sapporo's on 51st St: Katsu-Don (like fried-chicken on rice), Ramen soup, dumplings, and fried vegetables. We had to sit 4 and 4 since the restaurant was busy. This shot is my view of Sarah from our table. She was just by the front window. Some tourists passing outside window stopped to take a picture of her too.

The glitter of Time Square.

They dropped the ball while we were there, so we got to celebrate early!

Day 2: York visits New York

2010-01-02T15:47:00.001-08:00

Day 2 agenda: Stay warm (it was really cold and windy), Staten Island Ferry, Highline Park a.k.a wind tunnel, Chelsea Market, Grand Central Station, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The main attraction.

Goofy-hatted ferry rider.

He says he was holding the torch, but I maintain pope wave.

Another goofy hat. Yes, that's Mom. She stayed outside in the wind and spraying mist the whole time. I think she even enjoyed it.

There are no pictures of the Highline because we were freezing.
There are no pictures of the Chelsea Market because we were eating.

Grand Central Station was having a laser show. There are constellations decorating the ceiling and the show interacted with these.

A huge group of people were laying on the floor to watch the show, so we joined them.

Megan's fav. at the Met.

Rodin's Burgher's of Calais were saved, but the children at their feet had much more to endure that day.

Virtuous, patient people.

Jet lag strikes again.

Days 0&1: York visits New York

2010-01-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

Days 0 agenda: Sleeping bag durability testing, a.k.a. the push-me-pull-me test. Conducted at home by experts, Sarah and Megan.

Day 1 agenda: train from Lancaster, PA. (2.5 hrs), walk through Central park, dinner at Whole Foods, Nutcracker ballet.

Lunch on the train.

Dad says, 'what are they eating?'

Laura and Pankaj pretending to have fun.

Walk through Central Park.

Pay attention, Dad!

Pay attention, Laura!
Eric says, 'You got a problem with that?'

Dinner at Whole Foods followed by the ballet.

Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center where we saw the Nutcracker.

Christmas Day

2009-12-25T15:15:00.000-08:00

Gumpa & Jackie's visit to New York

2009-12-22T06:12:00.000-08:00

Christopher Street, where the room/suite was located.

It was on the 4th Floor, of a walk up brownstone building..

Jackie on skype with the boys - "What's Remi's waist size? Roll him over..."

Whew! Some shopping done.....now to the Apple Store for the iMac..

Rockefeller Center and 5th Avenue

2009-12-22T06:05:00.000-08:00

Rockefeller plaza with Saks, Fifth Ave.

It was really snowing the first time we went there - lots of wind too!

Obe Wan Kenobi....?

The huge Christmas tree!

Grand Central Station

2009-12-22T06:03:00.000-08:00

There was a stunning laser display on the ceiling, combining the signs of the zodiac with train travel!

Northern Lights ??

2009-12-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

The Dynamic Duo.....one is made of Lego and is worth $ 27,000 !!

Mr Byrinson, the Armoured bear? Where is Serfina picala (??)

Central Park..

Central Park....the boys would have loved the snow!

Hannukah

2009-12-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

I get my first break on Broadway, playing the part of a goblin in "Hershel and the Hannukah Goblins"

I'm told that I made a terrifying Goblin (you can partially see the shadow of the goblin on the screen)....

The shadow theatre was created and performed by Karen (middle), a friend of Barbara's (right)

On the roof

2009-11-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning was the New York City Marathon.
This pic is 3 hours:15 min. , 24 miles into the marathon. We didn't run. But we clapped vigorously.

The rooftop sculpture on the Met reflected by the windows.

Same spot, wider view.

It's a very interactive sculpture. You duck under and step over parts of it. The guards kept having to tell the kids not to run. After all, with one false step they might launch themselves off the roof.

Yo, you like my hoody?

Downtown over Central Park

Camera-faced version.

Central Park Zoo looked inviting, though we didn't go in.

6 hours? 26 miles into the marathon, the Eiffel Tower ran by.

Korean restaurant dinner: Stir-fried vegetables, kaisou salad, kimche,...
Laura is leaning out of the picture.

Instead of after dinner mints, they give you powder for the 'make your own' cotton candy machine in front of the restaurant. It requires some skill to make it like it usually looks. Maybe we need a little more practice. The machine says 100 yen.

Halloween Parade in the Village

2009-11-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the parade to start. Clever costumes included umbrellas. It was drizzling at first, but it began to rain in earnest about an hour into the parade. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the marching bands and costumes. Some were truly frightening. We didn't get any pictures of the scary ones because we were too busy sidling away from them. There was a lot of climbing over and under these police barriers meant to keep the crowds organized, the crowd viewed these as a minor inconvenience. Personally, we did this only 4 or 5 times ourselves.

'We're just a couple of ladies!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxLBpa7g5fg

Packed float

Snow and her bloody husband in the subway

Rooms for rent

Rollerskating regency royals

Jester, before he got drenched.

Laura's costume was supposed to be the 'night sky'.

Umm someone forgot to remind Laura to smile. That's Jupiter on her arm and Saturn on her back.

Walk in the park

2009-10-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

black squirrel!

Trick or treat!

Fall colors

2009-10-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Edible Arrangement!!

2009-10-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

The Met

2009-10-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

Pankaj went to the opera 2 nights last week! He saw Tosca & Aida.

Country mouse goes to the opera.

2009-10-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

I was figuring out what to wear for Rigoletto ahead of time and Sarah said we should get a pic. I guess it's an improvement on my usual shapeless fleece and elephantine sweatpants or especially my gardening getup...

They say the neon lights are bright...

2009-09-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

...on broadway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voNjeUUcdSo

Room with a view (of Broadway, not the Arno)

Raw kale, spinach, celery, and much much more, all in one memorable breakfast shake:

Laura generously shared the last of it.

Rubin Museum of Art: Art of the Himalayas, but no pictures allowed inside.

Chelsea Market Bakery

Window shopping

High Line -originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan's streets. Now it's a park.

Amphitheater seating to watch traffic drive under.

This guy's picture is probably much better than mine. He's got a huge camera. In the bottom center of this picture you're looking at the amphitheater seating windows from the outside.

They left pieces of the tracks, planting gardens amongst them.

More pics by other people of the High Line here:
http://www.thehighline.org/galleries/images/high-line-flickr-pool?page=1

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Just by base of the statue, on the left, there's a guy you know in an orange shirt, looking like a man trapped in a basement bargain department store sale.

Perseus, a nice young fellow we met at the Met.

He's holding the head of Medusa.

Venus

Large

and small

Hehehe

Armenian Festival

at Columbia University

The party moved outside when the rain stopped. After the dance show there was a live band and the audience danced.

Sarah's old stoop! #8 St. Mark's

Korean noodles across from #8

He's thinking, 'take the picture so I can eat!'

Time to diet again.

2009-09-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

Just back from the Picasso exhibit, Joanne, Sarah, & Melissa

Photoshopped

York 2009

2009-09-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Baltimore-Washington Parkway (yes, it was slow enough to take a picture)

PA state modo 'Smile. You're in Pennsylvania'

A rest on the shady front porch after the long drive.

The Siamese waiting for Mom to get up.

Woopee! The last day of outdoor swimming for the summer.

Eric ready to finish mowing the lawn.

Linda making it a water slide (manually)

Peach upsidedown birthday cake!

Birthday party. It wasn't really that dark. Had my camera on the wrong setting.

Evening bike ride...

That last hill is a doozy.

home again.

Girl's night out in Baltimore for hardshell Maryland crabs!

This is Lory's mom. No pics of Lory because she was operating the Iphone :(

Lory's chair almost ate me.

Delhi eats

2009-09-14T05:19:00.001-07:00

The 'Tandoor' (Indian clay oven). The bread is almost done...! Tandoori roti and chicken..yummy!!

Saravana Bhawan....excellent dosa and pomegranate juice!

Thali meal, with chicken curry, at Andhara Bhawan. Definitely the best meal of the holiday. They excel in doing simple things extremely well! I couldn't go back for their Chicken Biryani though :(

Gulab Jamuns at Nathu's (Bengali Market)...

A sight you don't see too often! Mum did a lot of cooking this holiday....probably more than she's done in the last 5 years put together!

Where's Laura...??

My high school..

2009-09-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

My biology teacher is now the vice-pricipal. He said I was a 'good boy'....that's not how I remember it - I was the one responsible for all the chlorine fumes in the lab!

Everything looks exactly the same! Even the colours...

2009-09-14T05:03:00.000-07:00

Dad..

Drinking tea and playing rummy with mum...she never pays up!

Kojak (cousin Jack) - the wild cat who comes into the house looking for pigeons! Mum wants a mesh installed to keep him out, since he also goes through the trash cans in the house..

Cousin Nikki..we played a lot of 'dummy' (cards) which mum usually won.

Lunch at Vijay's

2009-09-14T04:51:00.001-07:00

My room-mate (from business school), Vijay (middle) his dad and Biren ...Vijay's mum makes killer idlis and dosas!!

Tea & Momos in Mcleodganj!

2009-08-21T03:11:00.001-07:00

Aaaaah.....darjeeling tea!!

Steamed momos (dumpling with a filling of spinach, potatoes or cabbage)..

My breakfast on way to Triund..

Dharamkot - "Little Israel"

2009-08-21T02:50:00.000-07:00

Dharamkot, a little village 2 kilometers from Mcleodganj is known as 'Little Israel'. All the restaurants have menus (hummus, falafel...) in Hebrew, and you're more likely to hear hebrew than hindi. As my fellow traveler Alon put it "Dharamkot is not part of India, it's part of Israel".

View from my room.

Trek to Triund

2009-08-21T01:52:00.001-07:00

I had some company..!

The Tibetan flags carry their prayers to the Gods..

Biggest slugs I've ever seen! The soles of my shoes gave way and I had to resort to elastic bands (a la Laura)..

Mcleodganj - Dalai Lama's home

2009-08-21T01:09:00.000-07:00

I met Joeng Ou, a Korean buddhist nun who was on a 6 month trip to India, visiting all the buddhist sites. She was going to spend one month in Mcleodganj learning some yoga and volunteering at the Tibetan Womens Institute. We bumped into each other very often and usually ended up having tea and momos together.

Himalayan wildflowers

2009-08-21T00:52:00.000-07:00

Butterflies

2009-08-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

We had a visitor to the wildflowers this morning.

Yes Pankaj's basil is growing well too.

Butterfly (moth?) in Kate's yard.

The mailbox was knocked off this week. With some help from Burke Brother's, all is well again.

Peace out

Soni

2009-08-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

2009-08-13T03:57:00.000-07:00

NYC Foodie club - Sunday morning Dim sum

2009-08-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

The story of the country mouse and the city mouse.

2009-07-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

The country mouse

Fixes her hair

The main attraction

Fabulous set!

Ga-Laura

The Seinfeld haunt

It's not Lake Johnson but...

Laura's transportation back to Raleigh

#1 Tomato and other shots from home

2009-07-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

From vine to table, the life of a tomato:

Tonight's sky!

Another visit...

to my home office:

Central Park

2009-07-12T12:00:00.001-07:00

Miss Havisham's garden

2009-07-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

The witch of the place

Ze Apartment...

2009-07-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

25 Indian Road... (They've already named the road after me!)

There is a park and river right in front.

Lobby

Bedroom

2009-07-05T07:26:00.001-07:00

Baby Octopiiiiiiiiii.........!!!!!

2009-07-05T07:23:00.001-07:00

Before...

After...(Happy 4th of July!)

Columbia University..

2009-07-05T07:19:00.001-07:00

My office is just behind this main library building.

Around town...

2009-07-05T07:12:00.001-07:00

"Hogs and Heifers"...I have to go in one day!

A Lovely Japanese eatery on St Marks Place...

I had octopus with edamame beans..

Paella Night (1511 Graduate Lane, Raleigh)

2009-06-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

Paella with the gang...there was sangria too!

Wildflowers

2009-06-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

Virginia Beach

2009-06-23T14:30:00.000-07:00