Category Archives: Travel Logs & Excursions

Visit to Kenya. A Jewel in East Africa

After a six-year hiatus, we made a trip back to Kenya this past August for a two-week holiday to visit Hitesh’s family in Mombasa, Kenya. In previous years they visited us here in California, and now it was our turn to go see them.

Many times when I tell friends and family I am going to Kenya, the first question I am asked is, “Is it safe to go to Kenya?”  The other questions I get asked are “Where is Kenya vis-à-vis the rest of Africa?”  “What is the weather like?”  “When is the best time to go?” “What is the political climate like?”  So I thought I would take this opportunity to answer a few of these questions before telling you about my trip this past summer to Kenya and all the wonderful places we visited. Continue reading Visit to Kenya. A Jewel in East Africa

Visit to Taza Chocolate in Sommerville, Massachusetts

Love dark chocolate? Ever wonder how that delicious dark chocolate goes from bean to bar? When we visited Boston, Massachusetts back in July, one of the excursions was to the Taza Chocolate Factory in Sommerville, Massachusetts.

Continue reading Visit to Taza Chocolate in Sommerville, Massachusetts

A Day Trip to Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

While visiting our friends Jo and Oliver in Cape Cod, Massachusetts this past summer, we made a day trip to the quaint island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Under the guidance of Jo and Oliver, who were our tour guides for the day, we spent the entire day on Nantucket Island.

Continue reading A Day Trip to Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

Visit to Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Our friend Jo, who lives here in the Bay Area, has a summer home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and has been telling me for years to bring the kids and visit her. I finally decided to do it and made it out to Cape Cod this past July. What an amazing time we had.  Beaches, boats, hydrangeas, and cedar cottages. This is the best way to describe this charming area of Cape Cod.

Continue reading Visit to Cape Cod, Massachusetts

“I want all my senses engaged. Let me absorb the world’s variety …”

“I want all my senses engaged. Let me absorb the world’s variety and uniqueness.” by Maya Angelou.  What better way to describe my recent trips this past summer.

I made a new year’s resolution early this year, to travel more and to get out of my comfort zone i.e. California. Continue reading “I want all my senses engaged. Let me absorb the world’s variety …”

Visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania

I heard this past week of the sad news that veteran actor Gene Wilder passed away at the age of 83.  I’ve seen a few of his movies such as Stir Crazy, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein, all of which were great comedies, family friendly movies. But what Gene Wilder is most famous for is his role as Mr. Willie Wonka in the movie Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  What a classic this movie is. Based on the popular children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, this movie is a must see for kids of all ages. A great story about greed and selfishnes and how in the end love, generosity, and kindness towards others triumphs all misfortunes is a story that resonates even in today’s fast-paced world.

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Antique Shopping in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania & Lambertville, New Jersey

Antique shopping in Philadelphia and the surrounding neighborhoods is truly a unique East Coast experience.  In fact, in the Philadelphia area, antique shopping is like going wine tasting in the Bay Area. There are countless numbers of antique shops in the Philadelphia area. There are even towns whose claim to fame is that their entire town is dedicated to just antique shopping.  There are also antique flea markets where vendors from far and wide come and set up tents to sell their wares. Continue reading Antique Shopping in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania & Lambertville, New Jersey

Visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Off the Beaten Path.

I visited my sister Banu in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania over the July 4th holiday.  When you are a family of 4 siblings, organizing a family get together is next to impossible.  Coordinating a timeframe that works for my siblings and I, along with our spouses and all our kids is a major feat. Which means we are lucky if we can all meet together every 2 years.  This year all of us got together over the July 4th holiday! Continue reading Visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Off the Beaten Path.