October is always special to me. I share this month with my father for our birthdays. We celebrated the event in the best possible manner, thanks to Harmit and my sisters. Apart from this, we spent the whole month hiking, traveling, and reading.
This time we went for a road trip from Omaha to New Jersey to meet my sister. We covered Cuyahoga valley national park in Ohio and Pine creek gorge, Ricketts Glen state park, Colton point state park, and Leonard Harrison state park in Pennsylvania. It was a perfect fall road trip with the beauty of nature everywhere. My elder sister bought a Sheprador puppy from a rescue center and she surprised us with that cute puppy on our arrival. We spent 5 days in New Jersey with her and helped her name the dog – Eve.
We invited our sister to Omaha to spend some time with us again. We went to our favorite park – Lake Zorinsky for a nice hike on a sunny day. We completed its East loop which was like 4.4 miles. We are planning to complete its West loop soon. My sister arrived just 2 days before Halloween. This time we didn’t do pumpkin carving, instead, we booked a haunted house. I haven’t been to a haunted house for a long time, so I was excited. We went there(Bloodrush) on Halloween night and OMG it was way better and far scarier than we thought. We were literally running in the 40 min. course.
Coming back to our regular post, below are some of my favorite pictures taken during our trips:-
Which one of these reminds you of the Fall season? What do you love about this season?
Diwali word is a modified form of the Sanskrit word Deepavali made up from two separate words “Deep” and “Avali” which means row of lights.
Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights, celebration, and happiness. When Lord Ram (Hindu deity) returned to Ayodhya, India from Sri Lanka after killing Demon Ravan who abducted his wife, the people of Ayodhya celebrated this occasion by lighting the oil lamps in the city. It’s a day of celebration of the victory of right over wrong, light over darkness, and good over evil.
Every year this festival reminds us to be on the right path and to stay away from evil things. We remove the darkness by lighting candles and oil lamps on this day.
This year my elder sister graced our house with her presence and we celebrated the festival together. Harmit prepared a variety of food and snack items, while we decorated the house.
After Diwali puja(worship), we placed the candles and oil lamps in the balcony and other parts of the apartment. Later we enjoyed the snack items and met our friends in the society.
We wish you a very happy Diwali. May this Diwali bring a lot of happiness and prosperity to your life.
October is special, at least for me. My dad and I share this month for our birthdays and today is his big day. I wish him good health and a happy long life. I wish we could have been with him for the celebration, but due to the COVID situation and some visa issues, we couldn’t pay a visit. This would be our first year without India’s visit in the last 5 years.
I was in India for close to 5 months last year due to a sudden lockdown to avoid COVID spread. I came to the U.S. in August and later Harmit joined me in October. We celebrated my birthday together inside our apartment. At that time most of the places were closed and the lockdown restrictions were in full play.
This year, the situation has improved a lot, but still, we decided to celebrate my birthday just like last year. My birthday was on October 2nd and just one day before which was Friday, I got stuck in a complex technical issue in my office work. Generally, Fridays are pretty easy workwise, but that was not the case that day. The issue was very challenging and I was totally absorbed in it, so much that I didn’t get a chance to eat or take shower. As usual, Harmit was preparing some kind of surprise for me and mind you she is very creative.
She asked me to work inside (my office setup is in my bedroom window corner) and not to even step out of the room. She was doing something in the Living room. Since I was so much busy with that issue, I didn’t actually bother to come out to curb my curiosity. I knew she was cooking something and decorations must be there as usual.
From morning 9AM to 10PM I was working on that issue without much success. I was tired but still hopeful to resolve it. Harmit was also working since the morning for my surprise party. Finally, at 10 o’clock she came inside and asked me to call it a day and be ready for the surprise. I asked her for some more minutes, but she insisted. Anyways I wasn’t doing much progress so I logged off and got ready.
Harmit asked me to close my eyes and guided me to the living room. When I opened my eyes, my god! I was awestruck. It was so beautifully decorated that I can’t take off my eyes from it. The room was dark and the only light coming was from the setup Harmit did for our candlelight dinner. It was way better than any typical romantic restaurant setting.
She prepared healthy puffed pastries and cupcakes for the occasion. Cupcakes were prepared from whey protein, peanut butter, oats, and chocolate chips while puffed pastries were prepared from peas, corn, cottage cheese, and vegetables. She was going to prepare pasta for me which is actually my specialty. She was working since morning, so I decided to make pasta for both of us. She did the chopping and I prepared the dish.
Then we had candlelight dinner in the most romantic way. We chatted and enjoyed our meals. That problem I was struggling with since morning was out of my mind. Much needed rest to my precious brain. The food was super delicious, more than I could ask for.
At 12 o’clock we celebrated the birthday by having homemade cupcakes which were mouthwatering. Soon family wishes start coming through Whatsapp and phone calls. I spent the rest of the time talking to my family and opening the gifts 🙂 .
We went to bed at around 2AM and both were dead tired. It was one of the most beautiful birthday celebrations. Harmit always surprises me, but this time it was truly special mainly because of my crappy busy day. Decorations were also fantastic and I kept it that way for close to 3 weeks.
Dad’s birthday reminded me of my big day. So I thought of sharing my experience with you. Thanks, Harmit, and my lovely family. Btw I got iPhone13, a Breville Espresso machine, Air Frier, an instant camera, a Mario party video game, reading neck-lamp and a bluetooth speaker.
Coming back to my dad, Happy Birthday, Dad! Love you from bottom of my heart.
I won’t say, September was a busy month, but I could manage to read just 2 books. Quantity is not important, quality matters.
This month my read list included Mexican Gothic – a Goodreads choice award winner for the Horror genre and I Am a Man – a non-fiction novel about the struggles of Native Indians with the U.S. government.
Mexican Gothic is a mystery novel about the secrets of a family whose daughter-in-law feels haunted and trapped in their house after just a few months of marriage. She contacts her family and to access the situation, the protagonist of the story, her cousin visits her and decides to stay in the house for some time. What she finds about the family who is very peculiar and would she be able to save her sister is all about this story. The story is written in a way that you remain glued to it, always curious to know what will happen next. I really liked the climax and blend of science and logic with it. Still, I found the story a bit average, somehow it couldn’t match my expectation. Definitely, a one-time read though.
I Am a Man”: Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice is a painful non-fiction novel about the plight and struggles of native Indians especially the Ponca tribe during their resettlement and unfair treatment by the U.S. government. Being a traveler and living in Omaha, I have visited many places in Nebraska and South Dakota like Kearney, Ponca State Park, Standing Bear Lake, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial to name a few. I heard various stories about Indians in all those places but never felt as connected as I am now after reading this awesome novel.
It’s the story about Standing Bear, leader of the Ponca tribe, who despite all the hardship fights against the U.S. government in District court and becomes the first Native American to win the case for civil rights. The story covers each and every point of the journey from Lewis and Clark famous expedition to the legendary Louisiana purchase in president Jefferson period and then forced mass movement of native Indians from their lands, government’s neglect for them, not fulfilling the promises given during various treaties, poor condition of tribes, local public and media sympathy towards the original occupants of the lands and at last famous court case in which some great sympathetic white people from media, army, and law help Standing bear to win the case.
It’s the typical story of how people in their own country can become worthless and lose their identity easily if bureaucracy is in play. It’s like a person spending his whole life just to prove his identity and seeking respect and equal treatment from society. The story is so sad that it’s hard to control your emotions. Highly recommended especially if you like non-fiction or historical books. Without a doubt, this would be my First pick for the month.
Have you read any of these two? Are they in your to-read list or will be?
September was a cool month. We visited South Dakota after a gap of 2 years. Last time we were there to visit Badlands National Park and other famous landmarks like Mount Rushmore and Crazy horse memorial. This time we covered Custer state park, Wind cave national park and did various hikes. This was in early September.
Other than this we had a great time with the Tree rush adventure at Fontenelle Forest. There were 6 trails of varying difficulty levels during the 2-hour activity session. Good physical strength and flexibility were required for this rope and zipline course. We enjoyed each and every moment there.
All of the photographs for the month were taken in our South Dakota trip, that too from Custer state park. Park is so beautiful and rich in wildlife that we wonder why it’s not a national park despite its immense beauty.
Now is the time for you to time travel with me in those beautiful moments:-
What did you do in September? Have you even been to Custer State Park?
Less than 5 miles from Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park is the most beautiful national park among the top 5 most visited national parks of 2021. Do you know it is the only national park that has a commercial airport inside its boundaries? Isn’t it amazing to land directly in the park, take a rental, and catch sight of the breathtaking views of the Tetons? 🙂
We have already been there twice this year in both the winter and summer seasons. Each season presented different views, equally beautiful and mesmerizing. A large portion of the park was closed during winter, while summer gave us ample opportunity to explore the park.
During our summer visit in June, we were there for 3 days and covered almost every part of the national park. Here is the list of the top 10 points in the park that must not be missed.
1. Mormon Row Historic District:- The barn displayed in the below picture is the most photographed in the world. Just a few minutes from Moose Junction is Mormon Row Historic District. It was established by Mormon settlers back in the 1890s; few barns still can be seen in the area, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places list. This place is very popular among photographers. The right time to visit the site is during sunrise or sunset, when you can see beautiful colors in the sky, giving fantastic background to the picture. The two most photographed barns in Mormon Row are the John Moulton Barn and T. A. Moulton Barn. We went there in the afternoon, roads of the area are gravel and a little bumpy, which is a bit annoying, but that can be manageable.
John Moulton Barn
2. Schwabacher Landing:- This is probably the most beautiful area of the park. You might have seen reflection pictures of Grand Teton. This is where you can see the most perfect and beautiful reflection of Teton’s mountain range in the snake river. It’s 5 miles north of the park’s main headquarters at Moose. Again, go there during sunset or sunrise for beautiful pictures. The point is a little out of the way, so make sure not to miss it.
3. Snake River Overlook:- Snake River overlook can easily be missed if you don’t know about it. Whether you visit this place in winter or summer, you won’t be disappointed by the fantastic views. Ansel Adams, a famous landscape photographer, captured the beauty of this place back in 1942 in black and white form. Still, many photographers come and try their hands to re-create Ansel’s magic. Ansel’s photograph is still on display on a banner near the overlook. During our winter trip, our tour guide told us about this place. The Snake River is clearly visible from the viewpoint flowing quietly in the backdrop of the Tetons.
Snake River Overlook
4. Oxbow bend:- Like Schwabacher landing, it’s a famous place among photographers. Mountain reflection can be seen on still water. We passed this point nearly 3 times during our trip, and the water was turbulent most of the time, so we couldn’t see the proper reflection. But it’s stunning with or without reflection. There is not much parking space at the point, and also due to its views, you will find this point mostly overcrowded.
Partial Reflection
5. Jackson Lake:- It’s one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the United States, which offers boating, sailing, swimming, fishing, and lodging. There are multiple lookout points across the lake where you can spend quality time, and Jackson lake dam is an excellent point to visit. We crossed this lake number of times while completing the park loop and going back and forth from Yellowstone National Park. During sunset, it is damn awesome.
An evening at Jackson LakeTeton Map – Points highlighted in red circles
6. Signal Mountain:- The next point after Jenny lake we covered was Signal Mountain. You need to drive nearly 5-miles taking close to 20 mins. The drive is not so easy as the road is very narrow in some places, so you need to be very careful while driving. Trailers and RVs are prohibited on the drive. There is not much to do at the top, and the parking area is also limited. There were too many yellow flowers in the valley visible from the point. There is also a small trail that will lead you to the most beautiful view of this point showing the Grand Tetons mountain range. But beware of the mosquitos, which will not let you enjoy the scenery for a second. It is super annoying when they keep chasing you wherever you go. We just took pictures and left as soon as we could.
Scenic view from Signal Mountain
7. Jenny Lake:- Jenny lake is the park’s heart. You would regret it if you missed this place (highly doubtful 🙂 considering its popularity). There are many things to do there, be it kayaking, boating, hiking, trekking, photography, or just being in nature. If you are into hiking, some great trails start from the lake. Jenny lake’s loop of 7.6 miles covers most of the points around the area. To explore these, there are 2 options, either you hike or take a ferry from Jenny lake to the opposite side, which takes around 10-15 minutes. One-way and round-trip tickets are available at the booking window. We tried both options(hike and ferry) on two different days.
Beautiful Jenny Lake
8. Hidden Falls:- Once you reach the other side of Jenny lake, there is a decent roundtrip hike trail of nearly 1 mile to Hidden falls. You will be mesmerized by its beauty. We went there twice. The first day was in the evening, late hours. We avoided hiking and took the ferry for a roundtrip due to time shortage. It was the last ferry, so they asked us to come back on time and gave us nearly 1 hour to explore the area. We were in a rush, so we couldn’t actually relax there. We quickly covered Hidden Falls, took some pictures, and tried to cover another famous point- Inspiration point, next on our list. Due to the time rush, we didn’t go up to Inspiration point and returned early. If you miss the last boat, you have to hike back to jenny lake, which we were not looking for :).
Majestic Fall
9. Inspiration Point:- The next point after Hidden falls is the Inspiration point. This point has a beautiful scenic view of Jenny Lake and is about 2 miles of roundtrip hike with 500ft elevation gain. Trek is steep at some places with several sections of rock stairs, but it is definitely a must-do trek considering the beauty and trek challenges. We returned from so close to the point last evening that we laughed after reaching there. We would have been at the point if we could have hiked for only 10 minutes more than the earlier day. Anyways we completed it the next day, and it was entertaining.
View from Inspiration Point
10. Cascade Canyon:- After reaching Inspiration point, you can go further up to Cascade Canyon, a moderate trek with beautiful breathtaking views. The total hike from Jenny lake is nearly 13.6 miles round trip with about 1300 ft. elevation. Post inspiration point, the trail passes through mainly from the wood area. We didn’t complete it due to lack of time, but it was terrific as much we hiked. Bring plenty of water for the trail and have extra batteries for your camera :). The course is challenging but enjoyable.
Hiking trail for Cascade Canyon
We feel that this national park somehow gets overshadowed by Yellowstone national park, the most famous park in the USA. In fact, it’s equally beautiful and mind-blowing as Yellowstone. In terms of landscapes, I would say it’s even better than Yellowstone, and it also has rich wildlife like that of Yellowstone. While Yellowstone is unique due to its geysers, mud pots, hot springs, and wildlife, Teton’s uniqueness lies in its unmatchable beauty.
Have you visited the park yet? If yes, have you covered all these points? Share your experience and let us know if any other point deserves a place on the list.
Standup Paddle boarding, sounds cool right? I experienced it first, 3 years back when my sisters visited me in Omaha. Recently those pictures popped up in the photo widget of my iPhone. I showed them to Harmit and asked her if she want to try it. The answer was obvious.
The last time we did it with Driftwood Paddle Adventures and experience was amazing. So we decided to go for them only. I purchased 2 tickets online from their sites for the 6:00-8:00 PM slot at Zorinsky lake. There was an option to select either Zorinsky lake or Standing bear lake. Last time we went to Standing bear lake, so this time I chose other. We were asked to arrive 15 min before with email confirmation. Just to give an idea to Harmit, I showed her a YouTube video about how it looks like. She was a little nervous, but I assured her it will be an easy game for her.
The next day we reached there before time. Our instructor named Abby greeted us and asked us to wait for a while till she gets everything ready. We were the only ones present for the activity. After few minutes, she briefed us about the sport that included balance, standup, navigation, turns, and safety precautions. Both of us were given a water bottle and waterproof wearable pouch to keep our mobile phones. She kept our car keys secure with her.
We went to the lake shore and Abby hold the boards for us to climb. Harmit went first and I followed. Once we sat up on the board, Abby suggested the areas where we can go. There was also an old couple boarding their boat from the bank. We practiced a bit there and once confident, stood up slowly on the board.
Happy Harmit
Standup Paddle Boarding
It was windy and though initially a bit scary, soon I started enjoying it. Just to be together, I circled around and came near to Harmit. She was still in a squat position and was trying to stand up. To my bad, there was a stupid log in the water pretty close to the bank in whose direction I was heading to. Even after putting all my efforts to avoid the collision, I failed. Suddenly everything before me got muddy and I was floating in the water, thanks to my life jacket.
Ready To Standup
Abby had instructed us how to climb on board in such cases, so I tried my best to climb over. But whenever I tried to climb, the board tilted and almost overturned. After struggling for 5-10 minutes, I asked Harmit to come close and hold one side of the board for me. I stayed in the water, half immersed and holding the board and paddle with both hands from one side. It took her another 5-10 minutes to come near as ripples due to her motion were pushing me away from her.
After The Struggle
To be honest, I was a bit nervous being in that state, and thank god my glasses were intact even after my holy dip in the water. Harmit hold one side of the board and with little effort I finally made it. Abby also came near us after watching our struggle. Later she took some pictures for us and then left us to enjoy our time.
Paddle Hold Position
From there we started paddling towards the other end of the lake. I preferred to be in a standing position only, that was more fun. We covered a big loop in an anticlockwise direction and stopped at different points for some pictures or to just relax by floating for some time. We were the only ones with paddles in the lake. Harmit also tried planks and push-ups on the board.
That’s How You Do ItPlank Girl
It was almost sunset and we started paddling towards the bank. Once reached, Abby helped us to get down. We carried boards to their tour van and thanked Abby for the wonderful experience.
In Sitting PositionColors of Sunset
As per our habit, we didn’t bring any cash and we wanted to tip her. She didn’t have any credit/debit card machine, so we took her Venmo’s account details. She shared the pictures with Harmit and bade farewell.
It was a beautiful evening and we really enjoyed the sport. It’s a good workout as it requires both upper and lower body strength. They also have Yoga sessions, which sounds exciting. Probably one day we will try that too.
A life jacket is optional, but I would suggest wearing it unless you want to swim.
If the standup position is going difficult, you can always sit, lie or squat on the board.
To stand up, you need to first come in a squat position with the paddle placed horizontally in front of you. Once confident, pick and hold the paddle in a vertical position and with its help stand up slowly.
Knees should be slightly bent for efficient posture
The paddle should be held with one hand on top and the other on the middle part.
To turn the board, paddle opposite side creating an arc. That means the right side turn will require you to paddle on the left side creating an arc across the board.
Don’t be afraid, it’s easier than it looks. Just enjoy!
We really loved it and I am sure you will also. Try and share your experience with us and in case of any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
Despite all of the busyness as I mentioned in the previous post, I still managed to read 5 books in August. I checked out 3 books from Omaha Public Library and downloaded 2 books in the Kindle app through my Prime account.
Go the Fuck to Sleep is a graphic humorous short book focused on the funny situations when your kid refuses to sleep and you literally beg him to Go the fuck to sleep. Even though I am not a parent, I could still feel the pain of the writer. Those sleepless nights are presented in the most humorous way by him.
The Girls in the Attic is a historical fiction about two Jewish girls in Germany, who try hard for their survival in the Hitler frenzy world. If you have read The Book Thief by Zusak, Markus, and liked it, you would probably love this one too. Though not as great as the former one, still it portrays the atrocities, madness, and human degradation in the best way possible. It would be my second pick for the month.
Cause of Death is a suspense drama where a husband investigates the accidental death of his wife, who he is certain was a murder. He follows every possible step to reveal the mystery with or without the help of the law. The climax is with a nice twist.
Fight Club would be my first pick for the month. The popularity and nice fan following of this book also resulted in a Hollywood film adaptation with the same name. The story is about a man suffering from Insomnia who joins multiple support groups in the hope that listening to their problem might provide him some relief. Things change when he meets a highly talented and sharp guy who forms a fight club with the protagonist which soon becomes kind of a cult. It’s a brilliantly written psychological book, in which you will have very little clue where the story is going. The climax is just beyond expectations and imagination. Highly recommended.
So let me know, have you come across any of these ? If not, Which one of these would you like to read? Leave your comments.
August was an exciting month with lots of activities and loads of fun for us. This month was mostly about hiking and festivities that means a lot of physical activity.
Highlights from August:-
Hike in Neale Woods Nature Center, Omaha
Visit of Ponka State Park, Nebraska
Hike in Heron Haven Nature Center, Omaha
Hike in Zorinsky Lake Park, Omaha
Stand up Paddleboarding at Zorinsky
Participation in Fall Festival at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard, Gretna
Participation in Hippie Fest 2021, Omaha
Read 5 books
After our hike in Fontanelle forest last month, we decided to give a shot to Neale Woods- another popular nature center in Omaha. We hiked with our hike partners and had a small picnic after that. The trails were beautiful and well maintained.
Ponca state park was on our list for a long time. We planned for the place 2-3 times, but every time something came up. This month we finally went to the place which is approx. 2-hour drive from Omaha. Trails were pretty easy to hike, we covered most of them. It was a sweet day trip.
To satisfy our hike-hunger, we googled for some natural never-seen-before places and were directed by Google to Heron Haven center. It was a wonderful place, though a little dirty, but an ideal place for photography. We spotted 2 herons, a rabbit, and many ducks out there.
Zorinsky is like a hike-home to us. Whenever we don’t have any specific place in mind, we go to the lake to spend some time and hike through those beautiful trails across the lake. We also did standing paddle boarding there on a different day. It was complete fun.
As I mentioned in the earlier post about my job change. My employer organized an employee-only Fall festival at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard. The place is quite popular during the fall season. It’s suitable for all age groups, they have so many activities that you can’t get enough of them in a day. We really enjoyed our time there.
Earlier in Winter, I had booked tickets for Hippie fest through Eventbrite. I actually didn’t know what to expect from the fest. Since its description and pictures were appealing, I booked those tickets. The festival lasted for 2 days, though we were there only for the first day. It was a mix of colors, culture, food, shopping, and music. There were shops everywhere with Hippie clothes, ornaments, and other unique stuff. It was total fun.
I also read 5 books this month about which we will discuss in a different post.
Below are some of my favorite pictures from 100s of pictures captured throughout August.
Feel free to give your feedback. Your comments inspire me to get better 🙂
It was hot! A long drought in our rain forest led to roaring forest fires, devastation and the destruction of whole towns and some deaths.
Extreme weather, floods, mudslides, tornadoes and hurricanes took more lives. People became homeless all over the world.
Islands of plastic formed in our oceans. Millions of creatures in local waters perished in the extreme heat. The coyotes could smell it, it was unbearable.
‘We’ve got to do something,’ declared Tara, their old leader, ’Call everyone. We must have a meeting. Those stupid humans have gone too far. They need to be taught a lesson. ’
Tara, elderly leader of the coyotes
Word travels fast throughout the park. All the coyotes gathered to hear what Tara had to say. Even the skunks and raccoons, hearing about the meeting, gathered on the fringes of the large group.
HarPiyTravel 