View from the Passenger Window

Downtown Gainesville Public Art

2016-06-06T14:56:00.001-05:00

A beautiful work of art on display in downtown Gainesville.

Blue Ridge GA

2016-06-02T13:13:00.001-05:00

Nestled amidst Mountains of Appalachian Range, this town is a quaint Mountain escape for every kind of traveler. The city is small but offers a large outdoor playground for the adventurous traveler.

From white water rafting to helicopter tours and hiking to Zip lines, Blue Ridge, GA offers it all.

Sculpture - DNA

2014-05-15T04:01:00.001-05:00

This is a sculpture installation in front of the cancer research center in Dallas, TX. Gleams in the sultry heat of summer days. Looks like the two sides of a DNA helix, wonder if the sculpture represents how the medical research center in TX.

Dart - art

2014-05-14T03:00:00.000-05:00

Artistic (sic) concrete sculpture in the north Carrollton station..

Bridges

2014-04-09T11:31:00.001-05:00

Bridges link two places and make it easy for people to move from one end to another. This bridge built across a river/ creek close to downtown Dallas makes a statement that it is possible to have a little green space between an urban metropolis also.

Message from an artist

2014-03-31T12:31:00.001-05:00

Sunset in traffic

2014-02-15T09:24:00.001-06:00

Meditation garden

2014-02-12T09:45:00.001-06:00

A space to spend in quiet contemplation whether you are a family member visiting an ailing relative or a healthcare provider wondering about the best interventions for the patient. This place in the middle of the hospital is bound to help you relax and make the best decision.

Rains county courthouse

2014-02-11T10:52:00.001-06:00

Rains County Courthouse located in Emory, TX. A small town in rural Texas but has all the swank buildings.

Snow flurry in DFW area

2014-02-06T10:50:00.001-06:00

Dallas cowboys

2014-01-26T17:10:00.001-06:00

In downtown Dallas adjacent to the pioneer cemetery is this beautiful cattle drive sculpture... One of the first places I visited when I was new in America.

Happy New Year 2014

2014-01-01T00:48:00.001-06:00

Puerto Rico - Enticing Paradise for discerning travelers

2013-12-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puerto Rico, The All-Star Island for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

While planning a vacation I tend to look for places that offer a variety of attractions and recreation options. Some features that I always look for while considering a destination include: comfort and luxury, great food, adventure sports, outdoor activities, beaches, golfing greens, and of course shopping and entertainment.

While reading up about different destinations for my next holiday I came across Puerto Rico and was fascinated by the different holiday options that the island nation offers. A great advantage for US residents is that one doesn't need a visa or entry permit of any sort, just get into a plane and land up in this tourist paradise. In short you can Live your own 5-star vacation story in Puerto Rico.

The biggest draw of Puerto Rico for me is the 270 plus miles of coastline with several thousand feet of relaxing beaches that offer sun, sand and unlimited fun. For instance I would love to spend a day in one of the Travel Channel's top 10 beaches - the Flamenco Beach in Culebra. Another must do item on my agenda for Puerto Rico is a visit to the El Yanque rainforests and climb the cloud-kissed mountain tops.

Being an adventure sports enthusiast I would make time for a session of caving in the Camuy Caverns that run through the 3rd largest underground river in the world. It would be thrilling to achieve this feat. Not many in the world would do that. Puerto Rico tourism website is a great source of information on visiting you can Like SeePuertoRico.com on Facebook

I would cap all my activities with varied gastronomic delights that only Peurto Rico has to offers to wash them down with the famous Rums that are only made here.

I would say that Puerto Rico is a holiday destination that offers 5-star comfort and makes your holiday,. memorable for a long time to come. This is the place to create memories for life. Learn more, Follow @PRTourismCo on Twitter.

I have given my reasons to visit Puerto Rico for my next holiday. What are yours? I would be happy to know..

Bob Woodruff Park, Plano

2013-12-02T12:59:00.000-06:00

Fall in Plano is quite brown and grey but nature is beautiful nevertheless. The trails are covered with leaves. Even in the cold it is quite invigorating to take a stroll through the park.

Texas Summer Sunsets

2013-12-01T13:12:00.000-06:00

Texas Sunsets are amazingly beautiful. These are recent pictures of a summer sunset at Lake Ray Roberts, Pilot Point, TX

Aruba - An Island of Many Possibilities

2013-10-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aruba Tourism Authority for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am a travel junky, I love to visit exotic locations, enjoy great food, participate in adventures, soak in new cultures, and of course relax during a holiday. My most favorite destination is invariably is a place that offers outdoor activities, good food, and of course shopping. I am not a big shopper but I do love to buy antiques, local artifacts, and other odds and ends as memories of my visit.

Ever since I heard about the offerings that Aruba travel has I have been sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to get there and enjoy the new destination. First off let me tell you about the amazing shopping options that this exotic island offers. Prices are 10-35 percent lower than in continental America. There are upscale malls selling international brands, jewelry stores, and of course the downtown shopping experience that only Aruba can offer.

You can buy anything at Aruba from gold and silver jewelry to watches, to cosmetics, to handicrafts and souvenirs to clothing. You don't have to worry about carrying all the stuff you buy, the public bus service is convenient, cheap and frequent. You can rent a car too, driving is similar to America i.e. right side of the road and the best thing is you don't have to get a new license to drive, US driving license is accepted. That takes a huge hassle out of the way. Shop keepers in Aruba welcome US currency, credit cards and travelers checks.

Eating out is a great in Aruba, there is a great deal of diversity of cuisines and flavors. The ambiances are mostly elegant, creative and casual. Service is great and echoes the typical Caribbean hospitality. For those who enjoy gastronomic adventures, on offer is classical delicacies such as frogs' legs, duck, venison, foie gras and chateaubriand. Fresh Caribbean catch including mahi-mahi and wahoo are also on offer.

Those like me who are into outdoors there are the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sun-kissed beaches. There are amazingly beautiful hiking trails in the Arikok National Park, the Casibari and Ayo Rock Formations. Culture and history aficionados can enjoy the new state-of-the-art Archaeology Museum and the fascinating Numismatic Museum.

I can go on and on about Aruba, but the best thing for you to do is to plan your next holiday. Only personal experience can make you aware of how amazing a holiday in Aruba can be.

See you in Aruba.

Bridge and Water

2013-10-13T15:28:00.000-05:00

A foot bridge across a creek in a residential area in Texas.

View of the Pacific Ocean in California

Lake Ray Roberts Views along the Johnson Branch

2013-08-04T13:54:00.000-05:00

Dead Wood on banks of Lake Ray Roberts

Lake Ray Roberts shoreline - great walking locale

Ray Roberts Lake - Johnson Branch

2013-07-31T17:00:00.001-05:00

Ray Roberts Lake in North Texas region is one of my favorite locations to visit. The vast expanse of fresh, clear water surrounded by wilderness and trees makes it an ideal place to spend a quiet evening at. To facilitate recreation the state government's arm Parks and Wildlife department has created many state parks around the lake and I recently discovered the Johnson Branch on the far side of the lake from my perspective. I visited this park last week and walked along the shoreline for a few miles enjoying the sounds and sights of water as it created ripples and occasional waves in the wind.

Finding India in America

2013-06-06T13:13:00.000-05:00

Most Americans don't have a great opinion about India, but then wherever I travel in the United States I see evidence of India. For example in Texas deer hunting is very popular, the animals that are so fondly hunted were introduced here from India. The cattle that Americans like to eat so much are also products of India, which have been hybridized and bred to produce more meat.

I recently found another Indian influence on American soil. At the Lake Ray Roberts one of the predominant species of grass is the "Indian Grass". Here are some pictures of the signage that I saw:

Measuring Distances and Showing the way!

2013-06-05T13:54:00.000-05:00

While I was in downtown Denton recently I chanced upon this nice signage in front of the first United Methodist Church. Interesting subject to discuss about I thought... the distance from earth to heaven... billions of people across the world are in the quest of reaching heaven and they would all benefit from knowing the distance they have to travel to reach there.

After seeing the signage I wonder if there is a short cut to heaven. The distance may be greately shortened if you are a believer and you work towards getting other lost souls to convert and become believers themselves. Anyway going by the size and majesty of the church building I can imagine that there are many people out there trying to go to heaven. This lecture is sure to help them know the distance to heaven and the tools they need to get there asap.

The Majestic church building just off of Courthouse square in Denton, TX.

Wildlife in Ray Roberts State Park

2013-05-25T09:31:00.000-05:00

Last week when I went to Ray Roberts Lake for a hike and swim I chanced upon some wildlife like Deer, Possum, and Weasels. I could only capture pictures of the Deer, the other creatures were too fast for my reflexes. It appears that the deer are quite used to seeing humans so they don't scamper into the bushes but just keep a safe distance from hikers/ walkers. One of the bigger deer actually walked a short distance away and stood as if posing for pictures even as I clicked away. Here are a few pictures I was able to capture...

Sunset at Ray Roberts Lake, TX

2013-05-21T13:04:00.000-05:00

On a recent visit to Lake Ray Roberts I stayed late into the evening and was bedazzled by the glorious sunset I got to witness. I spent only about 3 hours at the State Park but the experiences are worth much more. I hiked the 2.7 mile Randy Bell Scenic Trail when it was still light and was lucky to get the glimpse of few deer grazing by the trail. Then after finishing up my hike I went back to the swimming area and waded across the icy cold water for a few minutes as the day gave way to dusk and to night. As I stood there beholding the beautiful azure waters of the lake, I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen the past few years. Overwhelmed by the beauty of the sun which changed from golden yellow to a blazing red to a soothing orange and then into a dull brownish yellow, I almost forgot to click pictures.

The moment was tranquil, it was just me and the vast aqua forte, for a moment I was transported back to India where I would travel all alone to remote lakes, mountains and forests to enjoy the outdoors. Here I was in a pretty popular location but all alone because it was a weekday and it is still too early for people to visit state parks. Anyway for me personally it was a great moment of union with nature and as I soaked in the beauty I felt months of fatigue flowing out of my soul and new energy from the elixir of life getting imbibed. Looking forward to more such moments in the future.

Denton's Courthouse Museum Square

2013-05-16T01:36:00.000-05:00

I have been working in Denton, TX since two years and now since the past nearly six months I have been living close to the city also. Couple of weeks ago I got the opportunity to visit the square and walk around the old courthouse, now a museum and take some pictures of the grand building. Walking through the court house square, watching the groups of picnicking youth, families and couples was interesting. How these open spaces are available for general public to enjoy and spend time at. Here are few pictures of the stately courthouse in Denton, TX.

Facade of the Courthouse

The Courthouse Another View

Section enlarged - the stately pillars around the windows add grace to the architecture

The Courthouse's crowning glory

One of the entrances to the Courthouse - arched and flanked by pillars, impressive indeed

Another view of the courthouse from the corner

Downtown Fort Worth

2013-05-07T03:49:00.000-05:00