Dallas Farmers Market Walk

This place was great to spent time

It was another weekend and while planing for the place to visit, Dallas Farmers Market popped out from one of the travel catalog. Decided to visit the place for one another reason - cooking.

Wanted to cook chicken curry that needed some fresh vegetable. Can see the place and get some veggies too. That was the real intention :)

That was a fantastic place to spent time. Clean and vibrant place. Spent almost three hours, visiting the stalls at the market, trying out the food and clicking the pictures around. 

The market consist of 4 huge sheds.

Shed 1

Local Farmers: sell their own produce grown within a 150-mile radius of Dallas. Farmers display a "Verified Local Farmer" designation.

Produce Dealers: resell refrigerated produce, including food shipped from out of state

Shed 2

Eateries, specialty foods, and food related products

Shed 3

Produce Dealers: resell refrigerated produce, including food shipped from out of state

Shed 4

Wholesale Produce Dealers: sell large quantities of fresh vegetables and fruit

Just got out of the farm - fresh :)

Home made vinegar

Tempting and yummy veggies called me to pick them up. However I controlled myself because of the limited travel budget :)

Those were so cute to watch. They shied in the afteroon sun light

Veggie varieties...

Deal of the day

Creative minded vendor with her stall

Yummy juicy Caribbean honey covered grilled chicken...Heavenly...

After almost 3 hours, got out from the market and took a stroll around the place.

The neighborhood 

The signature gate 

Tractor prototype

A nursery next to the market. Well maintained, clean and extremely beautiful

More details: http://dallasfarmersmarket.org/visit/plan-a-visit/

Meeting Paul and Nancy

Houston wasn't in my travel list, until I met Paul . 

Paul got transferred from Seattle to Texas, based on his location preference, as he was staying out of Houston.

We used to go pick lunch for the team together from Chipotle and I loved that ride always. When I speak about the facts of India, it will be closely correlated from Paul's experience from Hongkong.

It was during one of those journey, Paul asked about visiting him and Nancy at Houston. Houston got added to the weekend trip list as I was excited to meet them over a weekend. And it happened. 

This trip will be one of those moments that I will cherish for sure. There was no ice breaking needed, no formalities. They were so easy to get along. 

We went out for dinner at a Thai place together followed by a Houston city ride. In between the ride, we hopped in for a dessert from their favorite store. Coconut milk & bamboo based desserts, DrinkBamboo, but it was so tastey and yummy.

Paul and Nancy became the best Houston guides, showing around the places and explaining about the city and the culture.

After spending time with them for a day, I headed towards the Lake Wood church the next day for the Sunday service.

If I am visiting Houston again, they will be in my visiting list for sure...Thanks a ton for the wonderful moments!

I Can't Ignore The BBQ Boards

If it is written BBQ somewhere along the way I drive, I could never resist stopping by. Frankly speaking, I never liked the BBQ food till I joined the team for lunch at a wonderful BBQ restaurant. 

Since then that became my favorite cuisine. Specially the smoked baby ribs :) If I miss a cuisine in US, it will be the slow smoked baby BBQ ribs. It's yummy.

On the way back from the Oasis restaurant, the above hoarding caught my attention. No second thought, parked in the premise and headed towards the counter. 

A small outlet, then menu was outstanding. Quickly ordered the brisket and waited impatiently for my call.

Waiting can be sweet when it is for something worth and there it was my favorites in front. Still my mouth waters at this yummy pack.

The Oasis On Lake Travis

One of the largest restaurant in the world with a seating capacity of 2800 people. The biggest restaurant in Texas situated in 500 acres of land. 

When Paul mentioned about this place, I didn't have the doubt of visiting this place. That was the first destination I visited in Houston. 

But this restaurant had a bad fate in 2005 when it was devastated by fire. The OASIS remained open during the two years that followed, using only the remaining outdoor entertainment venue and served food out of a trailer. 

When I reached the restaurant it was already crowded by the people. Everyone was requesting for a seat facing the Lake Travis. I too requested the same :)

It was almost the lunch time. Thought of having the lunch from this fantastic place. 

This was the view from my seat while flipping through the menu. I am a big fan of budget travel and it took sometime to find an item which matched my budget :)

Finally after 15 minutes or so, finalized Chipotle Baby Back Ribs. Slow smoked ribs and sweet potato fries - that was a yummy treat.

Lunch wasn't the only thing which I enjoyed at that moment. The clean fresh breeze and the water race that was happening in the lake. What a view that was.

This is not the picture that I clicked. But I wanted to show how the restaurant looked from a birds eye view.

Must recommended place to visit in Houston. Leave your senses and indulge in the beauty of the nature.

Everything Is Big In Texas

And the storms too :) I faced couple of storm warnings while in Texas and to be frank, I was happy to meet the below ones younger brother.

How To Wear An Indian Saree In American Way

It was when the travel back to US confirmed, Karen, one of my project colleague, requested for a Saree from India. I bought one and gave to her on the first day in office. 

Few minutes later, I saw that the Saree was being tried out by three curious people in the room. I didn't want to miss that opportunity, took the camera and started recording the moment. I knew that something fun is going to happen, but never expected this experience though :)

What was that? The American style of wearing an Indian Saree? That was fun, loads of fun.

Bluebonnets - The State Flower of Texas

6 degree. That was the temperature when I woke up through the first night in Texas. Got out in Bangalore style and immediately my body alarmed on the unusual climatic conditions. Got back into the hotel and grabbed my Jacket. Went for a walk down the street on a wonderful morning.

Was looking out for things around and one flower caught my attention. I could see those in groups. Intense blue and looked fresh.

On Sunday, on the way to church, I noticed this flower in a larger group on the freeway sides. It was raining and the whole place was so bluish and beautiful. Took my camera out and started clicking this. Taxi driver noticed my curiosity and told me that it is okay to take the pictures, but it is illegal to pluck the flower. I was thinking in my mind - "Really. That's weird. How will they know that I plucked it?".And the next info, "That's Bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas". That's something of my interest.

Following days I could take some very close pictures of this flower, but I didn't dare to touch them :) Rules are Rules. Am not breaking it.

Took this picture while on a stroll through the Oliver Nature Park on a Friday evening. They had a section dedicated for bluebonnets to spring out from the earth. 

I spent sometime on the wooden chair nearby, sometimes watching these flowers and reviewing the picture I have taken on that day.

I didn't have a wide angle lense. It would have been a fantastic click with bluebonnets covering the entire area of the park

Found one interesting read on web related to bluebonnets.

• How bluebonnets became state flower of Texas

Birthday & The Barbecue Evening

Fresh charcoal is ready

Thanks to Jesner and Ancy for presenting me yet another beautiful evening. I am soo late to create this post. Got caught up in some critical works. But I decided to air this today itself.

And yes, it was a grilling evening, and Ancy's birthday celebration.

Jesner was ready with the grill when I reached at their place yesterday. The grilling a was kind of tutorial for me. Learned the aerodynamics of grilling (Didn't get the aerodynamics part? It is all about utilizing the air around to make the coal burn better & the chicken to taste awesome. Never mind, I know, the topic is complicated as it spells.)

He instructed while I performed the grill setup. Yipee, I learned to setup a barbecue kitchen now.

A wonderful evening. A cute patio with couple of chairs, chips, creamy cashews and soda.  Ancy was busy preparing dinner inside, and came occasionally to the patio, in-order to make sure we aren't burning the chicken and delivered professional suggestions :)

Jesner and I was discussing various topics, while the chicken was getting grilled. 

After an hour and a half of grilling, we ate that chicken mercilessly with pulav and ancy's signature green salad. Finger licking good.

Let's go through some of the main clicks of that day.

Filled the fresh black charcoal in the holder and burned it from the bottom to get started.

After few minutes, the smoke started emerging from the charcoal holder.

Then the smoke began to gush out like thick clouds escaping up into the sky. Means that the charcoal and the fire is having some serious conversation now.

After few minutes the smoke started settling down. Means, the coal is on fire and no more smoking :)

The charcoal on fire. To start the grilling, the color of the charcoal should turn to ash.

Charcoal is ready to cook.

Jesner placed the chicken on the grill. Well marinated from the morning, the chicken smelled good!

Half way through the grilling. Few more minutes for the chicken to get cooked properly.

Tada, let's eat it. Proud for the first personal grilling. Thanks Jesner for your tutorial and walk through :)

Isn't the chicken looking yummy!

The tools which helped us to prepare our dinner.

That was yummy and yummy to the heart.

Followed by Ancy's birthday celebration. The shot through the leaves on the flower vase. 

A different evening with a different experience with a wonderful family...

Fairchild Type K20 Hand Held Aerial Camera

I stared at this camera for some time. Then I compared the size of camera in my hand with this and wondered how this was handled by people, that too in the middle of the World War 2. 

Then I found some interesting pictures on Google. Wow, these cameras were really handy :) 

These were the light weight hand held camera used for a variety of aerial photo uses until the end of WWII.
As far as modern cameras go they are definitely not a "Lightweight" unit. Uses a 5 inch wide roll film - and takes 5 inch x 4 inch negatives.

The lens assembly is set at infinity focus - so no focusing is possible - and they have a variety of speeds to select. Lens will be designed for B&W film - often using red or orange filters to cut the haze.

A valuable piece of history...

And there are some out there for sale.

A Joyful Chirping

No matter who we are, a beautiful day is what we all need.  

It is a blessing, if your mind is enjoying things around on a wonderful morning. Because there is a heart which looks out for simple things to enjoy.

It rained in Texas on Saturday night. Sunday morning was cold and freezing. Wanted to sleep under the warm blanket, but then I cannot compromise on my Jesus. Had to wake up and go to Potters House for the service. 

I took this video once I reached Mansfield to pick up Jesner and Ancy. When I was about to get out from the car, this beautiful chirping caught my attention. There was nobody out on the street and people weren't awake.But this bird was singing the song. 

Might be that he's so happy for another beautiful morning...

Six Flags over Texas

This is one place which is very close to where I stay and never visited. 

+Six Flags over Texas is one of the biggest amusement park in the world. I would have gone to this on the first day of my stay, but there is no fun without a company. I wish at least Ani would have been with me. 

Took this video on a weekend evening, when I was taking a stroll through the neighborhood. You can hear the excitement of the people on the roller-coaster. 

One BIG recommended place to visit in group...

About Globe Life Park in Arlington

Spent some around the Ball Park. As usual, no cameras allowed. 

• Home to the American League's Texas Rangers
• It was known as The Ballpark in Arlington until May 7, 2004, when Ameriquest bought the naming rights to the ballpark and renamed it Ameriquest Field in Arlington
• On March 19, 2007, the Texas Rangers severed their relationship with Ameriquest and announced that the stadium would be named Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
• The stadium contains 5,704 club seats and 126 luxury suites.

The stadium entrance has some baseballs out there. Heavy ones :)

How to enjoy a walk through the country side?

The place where I stay is populated with the top hotels in the world. Well built concrete structures. And I wanted a change. Something simple and peaceful which I can enjoy in my heart.

While I was waiting for the trolley, thought of just going into the alley and discover the life there. And what I found was what I was looking for. And enjoyed the walk.

What I noticed from day 1 in US is that, everyone smiles at you, greets you, like they know you for a long time. And I also started doing the same now :) It is great and a positive attitude.