Monday, September 29, 2008

Rosh Hashanah



Devika in the kitchen



Gorgeous fruit!




A feast



Honey to ensure a sweet year


One of my friends from school had a Rosh Hashanah party. It was so much fun! I am going to miss Boston...So many nice people and fun things to do. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and based on this party, I think you are supposed to eat huge quantities of amazing, delicious food to celebrate, including honey with apples to ensure a sweet year. (I love that...maybe I will start the honey and apples thing with my own family as a New Year tradition.) The spread was AMAZING...and you know I love food.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Jamaica Plain Arboretum





I am trying to take more photos of Boston while we are here. We are leaving soon and I am going to miss it! Boston really is a great city...it has so much to offer. If only it the weather were nicer! We would probably stay a lot longer if the winter was a few months shorter.

These pictures are from the Jamaica Plain Arboretum. Is is very pretty and natural...and the best part is that it is accessable by the subway. It is aso important that cities have access to outdoor areas...we were so spoiled in Hong Kong and we didn't realize it! There are so many great, well maintained hiking spots in Hong Kong.

Monday, September 01, 2008

Bar Harbor, Maine



Matt and I went to Bar Harbor, Maine, for Labor Day weekend. I had just returned form India, and he was about to leave for Hong Kong, so it was our brief vacation in the middle of two long working trips. We spend FAR too much time away from each other...we seriously need to change that. We have always been pretty independent and we have spent time away from each other throughout our relationship so that we could pursue our individual goals...but I think we are getting to old for that now!

Anyway, we had heard about the spectacular, rugged coastline in Bar Harbor, so we were both really excited to go there. It was a 5 hour drive from Boston, and it was very scenic...you can't find towns much cuter than towns in coastal main!

Of course, as usual we didn't plan ahead, and arrived in Bar Harbor with no reservations for Labor Day weekend. Smart move! Luckily, we found a B&B that was reasonably priced, cute and conveniently located. It was called Moseley Cottage Inn, and I would definitely stay there again! We found another B&B that I loved too, called the Inn at Bay Ledge. It was right on the water and very elegant...not kitschy like a lot of the New England B&Bs.

When we first got there, Matt was like, "Is this what they are calling "rugged coastline"?" He wasn't saying it in a mean way, just a confused way. The coast was pretty, but frankly, it was not rugged at all compared to the coast in northern California. I would classify the coast in Maine as scenic, but in California it is rugged and spectacular. (Or maybe we just didn't see the right part of the coast? Not sure...) I explained to Matt that not everyone can be from California! Haha!! It is true though....it is really hard to top California. We have the best of everything. And yes, I have an excessive amount of pride about California...but I suppose everyone feels like that about their home state.

Another example of California's greatness: our B&B lady told us that there were great views from Gorham Mountain. So, we decided to climb it....then we realized that this peak of this mountain was 500 feet! We climbed the "mountain" in 20 minutes. It did have great views though, and we had a lot of fun....there were even wild blueberries growing at the top. I was in heaven!

Ok, my last example: There were signs all around and on the tourist map for a light house so we decided to go...we couldn't leave Maine without checking out one of the famous lighthouses. Here it is:



Hmmm.....Sometimes size DOES matter. Has anyone been to Cabrillo National Monument? I never truly appreciated that place until I saw this lighthouse! Ok, granted, I saw only one lighthouse in Maine. The others are probably much more spectacular.

One specialty that is unique to Bar Harbor is the famous popovers at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant. I was thinking of my mom and grandma...they would both love this place.



Matt's Half-Eaten Popover

All in all it was a WONDERFUL vacation. It is always exciting to see a new place. I really loved Bar Harbor; I have no idea why I am making all of these comparisons with California. I guess I just love my home!