South Street Seaport, Manhattan- a pleasant surprise!

In picture-Pier 17

The South Street Seaport in Manhattan, is considered a historical district, featuring some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan, and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city.

In picture: Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge views from Pier-17

Pier 17 offers amazing views of Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. I found out recently that the Brooklyn Bridge is in fact one of the oldest suspension bridges in US and upon completion in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world!!

For me it was more of actully visiting someplace I had heard referred to so many times, and I was not disappointed.

Flower pots on the road side in the farmer’s market- adding more of the rustic charm.





Fulton Stall Farmer’s market – in case you are wondering strwberries were $6 a pound!




Performers on the Pier- they were pretty talented!




The waterfront on the Pier has places to relax, eat, socialize; gorgeous views of the waterfront and the New York cityscape from the top floor.

Pier 17, New York

I would love to share some more pictures/memories from my last trip to New York in the next few posts.

To all my friends in the blog-sphere I terribly missed connecting with you all……

Basant Bahar- Spring blooms

The desert has come alive with the blooming wildflowers and trees. Some years the blooms are more abundant than others, and I think this year was one such year. The weather has also been beautiful lately, with really nice-long-cool evenings, just the right weather to enjoy outdoors.

In pictures is Palo Verde (pal-oh ver-dee) which is Arizona's official state tree

Foothills - Pushkar

Truly rang rangeela Rajasthan….

I wish I was there again, sitting on the lake shore, listening to folk music, indulging in my favorite pastime-people watching, sipping endless cups of tea with maybe …some somosas….yumm!

Well, I am in another desert as far away as possibly can be!

PHENOMENAL WOMAN- that's me.....

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when

I start to tell them

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing of my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.




Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

from-- And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou.


Pictures of some phenomenal women from my last trip to India -September 2008.

The Great Blue Heron

Town lake

Inspired- moon beam

Rising over the purple hills of Arizona

Recently read....

I go through phases…reading in spurts.

So these are some of the books I recently read…"Sister of My Heart" nourished some part of me which was seeking connection with my Indian self…And nourished it did. After, I finished reading it I moved on to "The Namesake"…very well written, could see glimpses of me…..

"Lucifer Effect" had a very interesting viewpoint on the terrorism and how youth dedicate their lives to it…choose death over life, by psychologist Philips Zimbardo and lastly "Year of Magical Thinking"…on loss and grieving by Joan Didion…again a great read.

waiting patiently

The Great Blue Heron .....waiting patiently

My attempts at catching him from a distance...

Spring is here!

Oranges, great taste and refreshing fragrance….

When I first saw orange trees lining the streets in Arizona, I was impressed, and than I learned that these were ornamental orange trees. The fruit is very bitter to taste and the tree itself is not very hardy. And you can imagine by disappointment and bewilderment.

So, why would one plant bitter tasting fruit trees, and not the edible kind? Beats me…any guesses?

Desert Bloom!

Desert blooms….spring is here!

Few of my favorite things

I am thinking of starting a series of posts with pictures and maybe some thoughts on few of things that I really enjoy.

I start with -SHOES!!

Never seem to have enough of them....

Yes, I know how very materialistic of me…. I enjoy them and offer no apologies…..

Chalo kahin door nikal jaye....

One of our favorite things is to go for drive during a rain or a snow storm. The snow storm on Christmas day was no exception… since the freeways were all jammed we took the back roads and were rewarded with breath taking beauty of the day.

Chalo kahin door nikal jaye....

Our trip made possible in part by the snow ploughs!! :)

Picture perfect…hard for me to imagine that someone lives in these beautiful surroundings all year round!

For miles on end there was no one but us to take it all in….

The purity of snow made even the most mundane of the things look magical…

Beautiful end to a wonderful day…

Raindrops falling on my head...well on my sunscreen...:)

Directions anyone?

Hmm........

I am back……

Wish you all a very happy and healthy new year.

Last year was a very eventful year for me on many levels- both personally and professionally-a year filled with joy, success, tears and loss.

Hopefully this year will bring courage, hope, peace and joy to us all.

Tranquil Florida – room with a view

View from our room in Clearwater beach, Florida. . I can easily say that it was really an breathtaking view to wake up to.

What more can a girl want? Company of loved ones, breakfast of scrambled eggs, hash browns and English muffins, with hot tea and to top it all -the view!!

Pool on the beach…seamless- where one ended the other began.

One can tell by the number on chairs on the deck, that it was quite a popular place to rest and relax.


Tranquil - beautiful day

Peek-a-boo…I can see you! Glimmer of the bay from back of the room!

A gypsy’s paradise- strokes in self expression

Recently -few months ago :) - was at a going away party at a friends home. I was charmed by the eclectic style of décor. It was a fusion of cultures, textures and taste….

Welcoming at the entrance

Powder room

A little bit of green inside

Fusion

Striking Arizona Sunset- one of many….

So peaceful…

Subtly reminding us that every thing -good or bad - must come to an end

Layalena- an Mediterranean Experience

Recently went to a party hosted by some of our Middle Eastern friends at “Layalena- Mediterranean Experience” in the city. It was a night filled with laughter, friends, good food and drinks and singing and dancing…… ahem…yes dancing ……
Star of the show- Roxana- had many-a-men drooling! :)

My attempts at creative touch…

Got to experience live band playing Lebanese, Jordanian, Iranian, and Iraqi and so forth Middle Eastern songs….. very melodious and powerful music…

Fun…friends…and laughter…..

Eating experience started with “The Sample Mezza” with Hummus, baba ganouj, falafel, labneh, m’hammara, and grape leaves............served with a side of stuffed olives and pickled cucumber and carrots

Some Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs …. I am a-veggi!

And last but not least- the most popular drink of the night – Lebanese beer- Almaza!!