HarPiyTravel

When Travel Is Life !

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Harmit, Piyush, and Aayansh chase, The golden light where highways bend. A shutter captures nature’s smile, On wild trails that never end.
  • Lauritzen Gardens – 2021 All You Need To Know

    Lauritzen Gardens – 2021 All You Need To Know

    It’s been a long time since I visited Lauritzen Gardens. Harmit has never been there, so we planned for a visit to the place at the start of this month. It’s a blooming season, so we were expecting to see some colors in the garden.

    It consists of many botanic gardens along with arboretum. Few popular gardens are Rose garden, Japanese garden, Victorian garden, Herb garden, Children’s garden and Model railroad garden. Timed tickets need to be purchased online for the visit, they are allowing only certain number of visitors at a time, so while booking you need to choose arrival time – 1/2 hour time slot.

    We booked our tickets for 11-11:30 AM slot for Saturday. We reached there at 11:25, tickets were checked outside the building and once inside, they were scanned at the counter. We took the map and followed the directions.

    Path is routed from the greenhouse which is adjacent to main building. It contains a lot of plants in a 2 story building. It was little hot and crowded there. We avoided the crowed and explored other crowed-free sections. I particularly loved Cactus family section. There were many tropical plants from various parts of the world. There was also a banana tree with its big flower. It was very well maintained with mist flowing in the air all over the place.

    Lauritzen Garden

    We came outside of Greenhouse in the open area. There was a trail going towards the gardens. Trail is surrounded by various kind of gardens where you can spend some time, take photographs or just rest. It was amazing to see bunches of flowers covering the branches of tress. It was like that they were in a hurry to swallow the branches. how beautiful !

    After visiting few gardens, we came across beautiful Woodland Waterfall, a perfect place to enjoy the silence of nature. Reading a book there under the shade of trees would be a treat.

    We followed the directions of map and covered most of the gardens at the front side of the property. Not all, but most of the people were wearing masks. I took many pictures and then we rested a bit under the perfect shade of tree branches.

    It was getting hot and Harmit was feeling bit tired. So we decided to take a tram. We went again to the reception and booked the next available tram which was supposed to leave in 15 mins. It’s typically a 50 mins guided tour where you listen about each garden while crossing them. You can hop on and off at the designated stops too.

    It was good to be in tram in the heat and to know about the gardens. There were some really beautiful gardens out there. Victorian garden was very beautiful and so were the others. Although roses in Rose garden were not yet bloomed, there were colors and beauty everywhere.

    There was this cute Model Railroad Garden which was absolute delight to watch. Model trains pass through landscapes, landmarks and famous buildings of Omaha. Everything is made up of natural resources like leaves, twigs, bark, berries, pinecones, gourds and cinnamon sticks. Below is a short video :-

    After completion of tour, we were dropped at the entrance. There were beautiful pink flowers at the opposite end of entrance in full bloom. I captured them through my camera.

    We entered the building again and went for Bonsai exhibition. Exhibition was from the bonsai group of Omaha. We inquired about bonsais, their maintenance and purchased a maple-bonsai tree. Transactions were cash only, so we asked them to keep our bonsai till we come back with cash. We went back to our apartment for cash and came back to collect bonsai.

    List of gardens :-

    • Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary
    • Arrival and Parking Gardens
    • Children’s Garden
    • Conservation Discovery Garden
    • English Perennial Border
    • Festival Garden
    • Founders’ Garden
    • Garden in the Glen
    • Garden of Memories
    • Herb Garden
    • Japanese Garden 
    • Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory
    • Model Railroad Garden
    • Peony Garden
    • Rose Garden
    • Song of the Lark Meadow
    • Spring Flowering Walk
    • Victorian Garden
    • Woodland Trail
    • Woodland Waterfall

    You need plenty of time to cover all these gardens. Whether you walk or take tram, its always fun to explore the gardens. They are superbly managed and maintained by staff.

    Cost :-

    • Entry Fee -> 10$ for Adult, 5$ for Children [age 3-12] excluding taxes
    • Tram Fee -> 5$ per person

    It was nearly 4 PM and we were hungry. We signed up for Bonsai club and left for the day. It was an amazing trip, we would love to visit soon, especially to see those roses.

    Points to Consider :-

    • Masks are required in the building and tram
    • Tickets must be booked in advance (Timed ticket)
    • There is small café inside the building, outside food not allowed
    • Bring plenty of water with you
    • Bring some cash, you might need it
    • There is a nice gift shop inside, they accept cards too

    Happy Reading ! Keep Traveling !!!

  • Pfizer Vaccine – 2nd Dose

    Pfizer Vaccine – 2nd Dose

    Friday, 7th this month we took our 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccine. Experience was similar to one we shared for 1st dose , only difference was in the aftereffects of the vaccine 🙂

    Appointment was scheduled at 5:00 PM in Hy-Vee pharmacy. We reached there at 4:45 PM. Everything was same except the additional check of our Covid Record Cards at reception. We waited for our turn and rest of the procedure was exactly same. Same pharmacist lady(1st dose) gave us the vaccine.

    We went for groceries from there just to have everything needed. Our plan was to prepare some food in advance for the weekend considering the possibilities of side effects. Once home, we prepared some food and had dinner. I was doing fine till evening, it got bad in night. I was getting chills and body aches. Harmit was doing perfect except some pain in her vaccinated arm. I went to bed early and slept. Night was not very comfortable.

    Saturday was worse. I didn’t feel like getting up, left the bed at around 11 AM. I was having no interest in breakfast, just wanted to have tea. My appetite was lost. For the sake of recovery, I had a little breakfast with tea. I wanted to sleep again. So I turned on room heater (still chills) and slept on the couch in living room. Harmit prepared food and she also went to bed due to sudden tiredness. We both slept till 6 PM.

    I was feeling bit better now, just a bit, so we had our dinner. Both of us were having very less appetite, especially me. After food, we went to bed and started watching TV. We watched The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Psycho movies on Peacock TV. Till now I was having chills, fever, headache and body aches. I slept somehow, at least my arm was not hurting.

    Sunday was no-good too. Did the little breakfast with tea, talked with parents and then just rested whole day. We finished next 2 movies in the Hobbit series – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. I was still having fever and restlessness. Mind you, I am not a medicine guy, I believe in self healing, but in the night, I had to take the medicine-ibuprofen to get some rest.

    Monday was way better, medicine worked, I regained 90% of strength and till Tuesday I was perfectly well. Harmit took good care of me and thankfully she was not that badly affected by vaccine.

    Now since I am feeling well, thought of writing about this for you. Hopefully this will help you in some way.

    Advice :-

    1. Take the vaccine on Friday so that you have enough time to rest
    2. Get some quick grab food or cook something in advance
    3. Keep your Covid record card safe, it’s required for 2nd dose
    4. Drink lots of water post vaccination (suggested by pharmacist)
    5. Just rest after vaccination

    Happy Reading ! Keep Traveling !!!

  • Goodreads of April 2021

    Goodreads of April 2021

    As said in the previous post, April was not so productive in terms of physical activities. But that gave ample time to invest in reading. I completed Python 3.5 course from Gale Courses through Omaha Public Library and read a total of 10 books.

    Thus I have completed 62% of the goal (of 60 books) by reading 37 books so far. Below is the list of books I read in April along with my ratings.

    S. No.TitleAuthorFormatGenreRating
    1Pet SemataryKing, Stephen BookHorror4/5
    2Everything Is Here to Help You: A Loving Guide to Your Soul’s EvolutionKahn, MattBookSpirituality2/5
    3Big Mushy Happy Lump (Sarah’s Scribbles, #2)Andersen, Sarah Book Graphic/Humor3/5
    4Treasure
    Braithwaite, Oyinkan         		KindleDark/ Short story3/5
    5Indian HorseWagamese, RichardBookFiction4/5
    6The GiftGaylin, AlisonKindle Suspense 2/5
    7
    Herding Cats (Sarah’s Scribbles, #3)    		 Andersen, Sarah  BookGraphic/Humor 3/5
    8Pride: A Pride and Prejudice RemixZoboi, Ibi  Book Fiction 3/5
    9Let Her BeUnger, Lisa Kindle Dark/ Short story 3/5
    10How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the PlanetEgan, Sophie Book Health5/5
    April Reads

    My top 3 picks:-

    1. How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet – Great book for health enthusiasts which talks almost about everything related to food whether it is plant-based, animal-based, factory-produced, or restaurant made.

    2. Pet Sematary – Story is about a family who settles near the infamous Pet Semetary and then horrible things start unwrapping. The story is so interesting and engaging that you can’t get over it. King at his best!

    3. Indian Horse – A hidden gem that talks about the journey of a Native Indian who tries to get away from the harsh reality of life by embracing the game of Ice Hockey. Did he succeed?

    Have you read any of the above-listed books? Would you like to read any of them? Leave your comments.

    Happy Reading! Keep Traveling !!!

  • April 2021 Through My Lenses

    April 2021 Through My Lenses

    April was all about greenery, beautiful colors and arrival of birds in neighborhood. Activity wise, it was the most inactive month for us in 2021. We spent time mostly indoors with zero physical activity (she was at least doing Yoga in morning, I was passing time like a bug), just reading and watching TV. We took our first dose of Pfizer vaccine too, second is scheduled for this week. This month was actually dedicated to gardening as we went to nursery twice, bought soil and new pots and planted 8 new plants.

    Highlights from March :-

    • Finished Vikings on Peacock TV
    • Read 10 books
    • Took Pfizer first dose
    • Completed Python language course (through Public Library)
    • No Cycling/daily step goal or any other activity
    • Return of birds in our balcony for feeding
    • Planted 8 plants (7 outdoor, 1 indoor – including a bonsai)

    Though didn’t get enough chance to photograph this month, still managed to capture some for my wonderful readers. Below are some of my favorites showing beautiful colors of the season :-

    As always, which one is your favorite and why ?

    Happy Reading ! Keep Traveling !!!

  • Red Bloom

  • National Park Week – 2021

    National Park Week – 2021

    Today is the last day of National Park week and being a nature lover, I can’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the week by revisiting some memories. We also had Earth day on 22nd April, even though this time we couldn’t celebrate or participate in any event, we bought some indoor/outdoor plants from local nursery.

    Below are some pictures from the National Parks we visited in recent years :-

    1. Rocky Mountain National Park :- First national park we visited in Colorado state. Beauty of park is unmatchable. Surrounded by two beautiful towns – Grand lake and Estes park and having visitor center at an elevation of 11,796′ which is highest among all parks, makes it unique in every term.

    2. Badlands National Park :- True to its name, this park is scattered in a dry bad land with very less vegetation in South Dakota state. Patterns on the hills along with various hiking trails makes it very unique . Proximity to Mount Rushmore and Wall drug is a plus for those interested in long trips.

    3. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park :- Second national park of Colorado, justifies its name. Canyon is very dark due to poor sunlight it receives, but views are just breathtaking. Steep valleys make it heaven for expert rock climbers. To know more, check out :- Black Canyon

    4. Great Sand Dunes National Park :- We were not aware of such nature’s wonder before visiting this national park. This national park of Colorado has the tallest dunes in North America. Great place for hiking, sandboarding or just enjoying the rough and dry nature of the place. To find out more :- Sand Dunes

    5. Yellowstone National Park :- One of the most popular and oldest national park of USA is famous for its active volcanos, geysers, rich wildlife and eternal beauty. This park has so many thing to offer that you need to plan properly to make most out of your trip. Without any doubt, it’s the most popular place of Wyoming state.

    6. Grand Teton National Park :- We visited this beautiful park this year only. Park is very small in comparison to Yellowstone, but equal in beauty. Summer and Winter both offer different views each unique in its own way. Teton mountain range is so beautiful that you can’t take your eyes off from it. In the state of Wyoming, close to Jackson Hole it’s a perfect destination for nature lovers. To know more :- Jackson Hole

    We wish to cover more national parks and would urge our readers to explore these beautiful places as well.

    How many parks have you visited so far ? Which one is your favorite and Why ?

    Happy Reading ! Keep Traveling !!!

  • Pfizer Vaccine – 1st Dose

    Pfizer Vaccine – 1st Dose

    After days of hesitation, we finally took first dose of COVID vaccine. Initially we were opposed to the idea of taking vaccination as we didn’t want to put something in our body without feeling confident about it. Also we are feeling good and following all safety measures, so were waiting for the right time for it.

    Things changed when our family members and friends started taking the vaccine that kind of built our confidence in it. Also we didn’t want to be the only ones in our friends group without vaccine, that would make us more prone to virus. Isn’t it ?

    Let’s cut to the chase, we checked online for drug availability and booked appointment for J&J (Johnson and Johnson) for last Friday. Just 1 day before, J&J vaccines were paused nationwide due to blood clotting issues. Thankfully, it stopped before our turn 🙂

    We rescheduled our appointment for Pfizer vaccine which is with good reputation. Main reason for choosing J&J was its single dose as against Pfizer’s two doses. Anyways we booked the appointment for yesterday, keeping weekend in mind for resting period.

    Hy-Vee pharmacy was the the place of our vaccination. We reached there just 2 mins before the appointment time. There were 7-8 people sitting in front of pharmacy while 2-3 in the line. We waited for our turn to come and then talked to the lady at the counter. She asked our names and DOBs for verifications and took our insurance cards. She came back with 2 bundle of papers containing information related to vaccine and asked us to wait.

    Vaccine Info Document

    After waiting for nearly 15 mins, we were asked to accompany a pharmacist. We followed her in a room where she provided some basic information of the vaccine, its possible side effects and then asked us to choose left or right hand for vaccination. Initially I asked for right hand, but soon I realized that would put right hand in risk, so I took the vaccine on left hand shoulder and then Harmit followed.

    It’s Time

    Once doses were done, we were asked to sit outside for 15 mins just to ensure we were not getting any severe side effects. We waited for 15 minutes and then pharmacist gave us our record cards and asked to come back for second dose.

    Covid Vaccine Record Card

    After coming home, I felt sleepy. Thing is, I wasn’t sure, if it was due to vaccine or just out of my nature 🙂 . These days I am sleepy most of the time due to cold/rainy/cloudy weather. So I just took a nap and then for the rest of day I was too lethargic to do anything.

    Injection Site

    Real effects began today, there was a sharp pain in my vaccinated arm and later on full body pain with mild fever. Harmit was doing good, but till evening she also started showing these symptoms. So now we are just taking rest and watching Vikings on Peacock TV 🙂

    Common side effects of vaccine :-

    • Injection site pain (Y)
    • Tiredness (Y)
    • Headache
    • Muscle Pain (Y)
    • Chills
    • Joint Pain
    • Fever (Y)
    • Injection Site Swelling
    • Injection Site Redness
    • Nausea
    • Feeling Unwell

    Severe side effects :-

    • Difficulty breathing
    • Swelling of your face and throat
    • Fast heartbeat
    • Bad rash all over your body
    • Dizziness and weakness

    So Let’s hope we recover soon. Will share our experience after second dose soon !

    Happy Reading ! Keep Traveling !!!

  • March 2021 Through My Lenses

    March 2021 Through My Lenses

    Those who follow my blog must be aware of my monthly post dedicated to photography. Winter has passed already and leaves on trees are sprouting. I can track the progress through a tree adjacent to my apartment’s balcony, it’s growing fast. Since weather is good, we started doing some outdoors activities. We went to Mahoney state park twice in the month for hiking and mountain climbing. We did a road trip to Kearney to see the annual migration of Sandhill cranes which I will cover in another post. Overall it was a busy month due to office work, but I got plenty of chances to shoot in outdoors.

    Highlights from March :-

    • Visited Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Nebraska
    • Went to Kearney to witness Sandhill Crane migration
    • Read 7 books
    • Rock climbing in state park
    • Cycling and hiking on Keystone trail

    Here are some of the pictures from March :-

    Which one of the above is your favorite and why ? Leave your comments and feedback.

    Happy Reading ! Keep Traveling !!!

  • Goodreads Of March 2021

    Goodreads Of March 2021

    March was a busy month. We spent most of the time enhancing our professional skills which included lots of reading and completion of online courses. The weather was really good so we started some outdoor activities like Hiking, Biking, and Rock Climbing.

    In parallel, I tried to be on track with my reading goal. This month, I read fewer books as compared to previous months due to my busy schedule. I read a total of 7 books, out of which 2 were on Kindle and the rest were paperbacks borrowed from Omaha Public Library. My new score is now – 27/60, which means 45% goal completed, not bad right? 🙂

    S. No.TitleAuthorFormatGenreRating
    1SulaMorrison, ToniBookFiction3/5
    2The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos: The Best Techniques for Showcasing Your Handmade CreationsAdnum, HeidiBookEducational/Photography4/5
    3Notes from the UndergroundDostoyevsky, FyodorKindle Classic3/5
    4Slow BurnerLippman, LauraKindleSuspense3/5
    5Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)Rowling, J.K.BookFantasy4/5
    6The Lost WordsMacfarlane, Robert *BookGraphic 3/5
    7The NeedPhillips, Helen *BookFiction3/5
    March Reads

    Best among all of them was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 6th book in the Harry Potter series. It kept the story as interesting as it was from the beginning. I even wrote 2 blogs on it – blog1, blog2

    My top 3 picks:-

    1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Great fantasy book)
    2. The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos (Good for photography with tips and many DIY projects )
    3. The Need (Fiction that revolves around the necessity and sufferings of motherhood)

    Have you read any of the above listed? If yes, which one is your favorite?

    Happy Reading! Keep Traveling !!!

  • 10 Points To Consider Before Your Trip To Maldives

    10 Points To Consider Before Your Trip To Maldives

    In March, last year when COVID was not a threat like it is now, we visited Maldives. We spent 5 days in luxury and comfort in one of the most beautiful, exotic place in the world. We had booked this trip in advance for our marriage anniversary celebration, so when the time came, our relatives and friends advised us to cancel it due to potential increase in COVID cases. But we took our chance and as I said, that time COVID impact was quiet minimal, there were few cases in India and none in Maldives.

    We took basic precautions (masks & sanitizers) and left for Maldives. That time there were no temperature checks at airports, masks were not mandatory and of course no travel restrictions. Trip went well and it actually proved to be one of our best trip. On our last day of vacation, first case in Maldives was reported. We came back safely without having any idea that this is going to be our last trip of 2020 through Air Travel.

    Now since COVID has become a part of life and we are kind of comfortable with it, I see many couples are planning their vacations to Maldives. Here are some facts & tips that would be useful for your vacations to the beautiful country :-

    1. Visa :- Many people (mostly Indians) assume Maldives as part of India (its territory), as its name sounds very familiar. But Maldives is an independent Islamic country for which you will need a valid visa. But don’t worry, visa is issued on arrival at Male airport. Traveler just need to have a valid passport. Visa is issued for 90 days.

    2. Currency :- Maldivians accept payments only in USD, Euro or Maldivian rufiyaa (their local currency). We used our USD credit cards for the payments. Even though all resorts are surrounded by water, we never found any issue with card payments. If you prefer cash, exchange your money at the airport in Maldivian rufiyaa, Euro or USD.

    Photo by John Guccione http://www.advergroup.com on Pexels.com

    3. Stay :- Maldives is an Islamic country consisting of 1,192 coral islands, each unique in its own way. It’s not a place where you roam around the streets or try local restaurants. Idea of Maldives vacations is just for one thing – Relaxation. It’s the best place to recharge and refuel. So choose your stay wisely, look for all the facilities your resort is providing. These are few factors you should keep in mind during the booking :-

    • Distance of your resort from the airport (Ferry charge from airport to resorts are additional to the booking)
    • Available food options (Especially if you are Vegetarian like us, check the menu before booking)
    • Water sports (If interested in sports, check their website. It’s not necessary that every resort will provide Scuba or Snorkel)
    • Activities (Check activities and facilities available like spa, gym, yoga classes, play area etc.)
    • Villa preferences (water villa, sunrise or sunset facing, across the beach etc.)

    4. Culture :- Maldivians are very nice and great in hospitality. They treat their customers very well. In resorts you will find local people as well as people from different countries working in hospitality industry. Maldivians follow Muslim rules strictly, you will notice the females wearing scarfs with full body covered with clothes.

    5. Atmosphere :- Lol, atmosphere is just out of the world. Crystal clear blue water, luxurious stay and top services along with great hospitality, but that comes with humidity and heat. It’s really a good place for those who like sun tanning. Be sure to bring sunscreen with you, it will prove to be very useful.

    6. Food & Drinks :- While selecting your stay, you can also choose your food plan which usually comes as Half board and Full board. Generally Half board includes Breakfast and Dinner while Full board includes Lunch as well, but make sure to check what is included in the plan. They also provide All-inclusive meal which has drinks too. We had selected Half board which came with breakfast buffet, rest of the meals we bought during our stay. Alcohol is banned in Maldives, but don’t worry, it is allowed in resorts, they just have to have valid license for it. Just make sure not to drink in the main city or to bring it with you.

    7. Clothing :- Similar to alcohol, clothing also has some restrictions. In public places like Airport, city or even ferries, you need to be appropriately dressed. Swimwear, shorts or sleeveless are highly discouraged. Although you are free to wear anything in resort, there is no restriction there. 🙂

    8. Transportation :- Best mode of transportation between island is through Ferries. Make sure to consider ferry charges during your booking. Charges are actually very high, we paid 180 USD per adult for our trip from airport to resort (round trip included). That’s why it is advisable to remain on your island and enjoy the activities there only. You can also go to other islands for activities, but that would increase the budget of your trip. So book your resort wisely, it should have everything you need.

    9. Things to do :- Resorts in Maldives are of International standard and very luxurious. They are costly as well. They provide lot many activities to do which are inclusive in your package except premium services like Spa. Below are some common activities :-

    • Snorkel
    • Scuba
    • Spa
    • Fly board
    • Kayaking
    • Sailing
    • Gym
    • Yoga classes
    • PlayStation
    • Indoor games (Chess, Foosball, Carom, Dominoes, Checkers, Pool etc)
    • Outdoor games (Volleyball, Ping pong etc. )
    • Shopping

    10. Cost :- This is the most important part. So basically cost depends on your planning and choice of stay. Although Maldives is costly, but it’s still affordable. We have booked our trip from Expedia as a bundled deal that included Resort, Air travel and Food. Rest of the expenses were on top of that. Our approximate cost for the trip was 4000 USD which included 3300 USD for Resort & Air travel and 360 USD for ferry transportation. Spa, food, drinks, non-inclusive water sports will cost you more, even villa prices vary depending on the view and type. So plan according to your budget.

    Few Tips :-

    • Invest in a good underwater camera. You wouldn’t want to miss the chance of capturing beautiful underwater life.
    • Keep sunscreen with you, that would be really helpful.
    • Avoid un-necessary travel, enjoy the activities at your resort only.
    • Check the variety of food items in menu and number of restaurants in your resort during booking.
    • Wake up early and take a walk across the beach, watch sun rise and sun set. You will just love it.

    So these were some important points to know before planning your next vacation. Hope you enjoyed reading.

    Happy Reading ! Keep Traveling !!!