Whale watching

Last weekend, I took my in-laws on a whale watching trip in Monterey. I knew they would find it interesting and fun. I personally wasn't too excited about it as I knew there is no guarantee of seeing the whales. Since I found a decent groupon deal, I decided to give it a shot.

I booked the trip through Seagoddess whale watching. A quick google search told me that morning tours have the best probability of seeing whales so I picked the 10am slot. It being the Gilroy garlic festival weekend, we started earlier at 7.45am to avoid traffic. To our surprise we didn't face any traffic and reached at 9am. There is plenty of parking although it costs $8!

We checked in and received our tickets. They offered us donuts and coffee. As I had heard that the waters can be choppy, we decided to take some sea sickness tablets. It was an overcast day with a heavy layer of smog about us (there was a very big forest fire in the Big Sur area that week). We wore several layers as we were told that it gets really windy and cold on the boat.

 

The cruise started on time and we kept our eyes peeled for whales only to be told by the marine biologist on board that we are quite a distance away until we actually locate them. On the way we saw otters, sealions, cormorants, seagulls and various migratory birds. The playful sealions could be easily mistaken for dolphins.

After about an hour, we reached the whale territory. Within minutes we spotted a humpback whale followed by a blue whale. We could see the splash caused by the whales coming out and then the huge grey/black body before it dived back in. It was an amazing site and hard to believe how large in size they were. There were a few babies too. It was so quick that it was hard to click any pictures. Anytime there was an announcement of a whale sighting in a particular direction, everyone ran to that side and crowded. That made it a little hard to actually see them unless I stood on my tip toes or elbowed my way to the front.

We then made our way back and reached back by noon. No sickness but a terrible drowsiness took over us which kind of ruined the rest of the day. We grabbed some lunch at a nearby restaurant and made our way to San Juan Bautista.

What: Whale watching
Where: Seagoddess whale watching 7881 Sandholt Rd, Moss Landing CA 95039
When: Multiple trips during the day
Cost: $45, cheaper if you get a Groupon

Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sonoma

As mentioned in my post on our recent trip to Sonoma, we checked off one more item on our bucket list-Hot Air Balloon Ride. I was super excited about the ride and the thought of flying and floating in the air with views of the wine country made me jump with joy. 

When ever I can, I look for deals so I don't have to pay full price. Luckily, I found a good one for Sonoma Valley Balloon on Groupon. On the day of our flight, we were asked to meet at a Starbucks parking lot on Airport Boulevard at 6.30am. Yes, that early! The reason is that the hot air balloons can only fly when the winds are calm and cool which happens only during the mornings. Depending on the wind direction and other conditions for flight, the pilot will choose the launch site. From the parking lot, a shuttle took us to the launch site for the day. 

It was interesting to watch the crew attach the balloon to the basket (also known as the gondola) and inflate it. The baskets vary in size and can hold anywhere from 4-20 passengers. Our basket was one of the larger ones and could hold around 16 people. The crew lay the basket on its side, spread out the balloon and attached it. A fan was turned on that inflated the balloon. Once there was enough air inside the balloon, the crew blasted a burner flame inside it. This heated the air, building pressure until the balloon inflated completely and started to lift. The basket was attached to the ground vehicle, at the same time crew members held the basket down until the pilot was ready to fly. 

When it was time to fly, the pilot released a steady stream of hot flame which heated up the balloon and lifted it off the ground. It was beautiful to watch the entire process. 

Depending on the wind direction and current, the balloon floats in the air and moves while the ground crew follow the balloon in their vehicle to assist with the landing. The experience of flying was incredible. It wasn't a scary one at all. In fact, I did not feel the wind or any movement at all as we were moving at the speed of the currents. The lush green valley was a beautiful sight to look at. The only trouble was the hot sun. So make sure you have your hat and sunscreen to protect you. The flight lasted for an hour and then the pilot found a good place to land. 

Post the landing, we were taken to a restaurant for a champagne toast and socializing. The whole experience was a lot of fun. I must admit that since there was no adrenaline rush but a rather passive activity, I would not do this again. Nevertheless, I recommend everyone have this experience at least once in their life.

Chocolate Tasting Tour: Part 2

My last chocolate tasting tour was as part of Bay Area OlderAdults and I had thoroughly enjoyed it. Around the same time, I bought a groupon for a chocolate tasting at Alegio Chocolates in Palo Alto.

Our awesome guide

Alegio chocolates is small chocolate store located in downtown Palo Alto. They conduct these chocolate tasting tours throughout the week except on Tuesdays. The tour was conducted by one of the owners whose name I forget.

There were 8 of us doing the tasting. We were made to sit on stools around a table and the 45 minute tour began. Starting from bean to bar, we were given samples of the cocoa bean, 100% pure chocolate bar and a variety of different flavored bars. The guide promised us that once we finished the tour, our idea and expectation from chocolate would be completely changed. And it was true. What we have come to know as chocolate has so many other additives like vanilla and soy lecithin which alter the taste of the real thing. The bars we tasted did not have these and I could experience chocolate in its true form.

Roasted Cacao Bean

Different chocolate bars we tasted

We were also given a brief history of the islands of Principe and Sao Tome where the chocolate we tasted came from. Short video clips from youtube helped us visualize the chocolate making process. It is fascinating how much effort goes into making chocolate. No wonder authentic chocolate is such an expensive affair.

Alegio Chocolates Store

Some of my favorites from the ones we tasted had sugar crystals, coffee beans and raisins. Each one had a distinct flavor and one can actually taste the ingredient without it interfering with the chocolate.

It is hard to put into words the actual experience. I can confidently say that this tour will change your life. Ordinary chocolate will no longer satisfy your craving. You will appreciate chocolate better, I certainly do.

What: Chocolate Tasting

Where: 522 Bryant Street Palo Alto, CA

When: Wed-Mon

Cost: $15/person. Buy a groupon if available

Bioluminescence Kayaking At Tomales Bay

In continuation to my resolve to try my hand at different adventure sports after my last white water rafting trip, I decided to explore kayaking. I have kayaked once in the past so the activity itself was nothing new. However, this was bioluminescence kayaking. I had never heard about it and would have missed out on this had a friend not told me about it. It was a marvelous experience, one that is hard to describe and leaves you at a loss of words. I was completely awestruck by this amazing natural occurrence. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of this as both my hands were busy paddling.

Scene for the movie 'Life of Pi'

Bioluminescence is the phenomenon of organisms producing chemicals that emit light. In Tomales Bay, single celled organisms called dino-flagellates are present in the water. When we paddle through the water, the disturbance causes them to produce chemicals resulting in the water to glow. The effect is magical and it felt like a scene out of 'Life of Pi.' One can see this only when it is pitch-dark. Moonlight, vehicular light and any other strong lights prevent bioluminescence from being viewed.

 

I booked my trip through Clavey Paddlesports a month in advance as September-October is the peak season for it and tickets get sold out pretty quickly. We kayaked in the Tomales Bay (north of San Francisco) which is about two hours from Sunnyvale. On the way, we stopped at Point Reyes to visit the lighthouse which I'll cover in a separate post. We reached the designated place at 5pm. The guides gave us the gear namely personal floatation devices, a waterproof jacket and a skirt to wear around the waist and the kayak to keep the water from entering inside. A quick demonstration of how to paddle and operate the kayak was given and we were in the water at 6pm.

All the kayaking gear

 Luck was on our side as the weather turned out to be extremely pleasant. No chilly breeze or biting cold to take away from the fun. Fearing a cold and windy night, we had packed multiple layers of clothing but it was not needed. Until the sun set completely, we kayaked around the bay for an hour. We then stopped on an island for a short break. Hot cocoa was served which was very refreshing after the physical activity. The guide took a few minutes to explain what bioluminescence is and what we can expect.

Once we started paddling, there was a glow on the water along the paddles and the kayak. I dipped my hand into the water, and as the water trickled down my palm, it was glowing like silver-white pearls. It was a lovely sight. Occasionally, when big fishes passed by, they emitted a much stronger and bigger light which disappeared in a flash. One hour of this spectacular show was truly enjoyable.

You do not need to know swimming to enjoy this activity. All you need is to be in reasonable good health to paddle for two hour. Make sure you plan ahead and book tickets in advance. Camp sites are available if you wish to stay overnight.

This trip has made my love for water even stronger. I hope to someday enjoy scuba diving to explore more of nature's delights.

White Water Rafting Adventure

We recently went white water rafting on the South fork of the American River in Coloma. Needless to say, it was an exhilarating experience. The day-long, 21-mile rafting trip gave us a tremendous adrenaline rush and wonderful memories to cherish.

White Water Rafting on South Fork American River

Thanks to a groupon deal, I discovered ActionWhiteWaterRafting.com. They have an option of 10 mile and 21 mile trip. Since we were driving up all the way from the South Bay, I thought of getting the most out of our trip and ventured to do the 21 mile trip. Obviously, it wasn't the brightest of plans given that it was only my second rafting trip. Even the guide thought we were crazy to undertake this. But we all survived!

We started from Sunnyvale on Friday evening and stayed overnight at Best Western hotel (totally awesome and reasonably priced) in Sacramento. The traffic was terrible on the way and we got delayed by an hour. Reporting time at Camp Lotus was 8.30am so we started from our hotel at 7.30am and reached on time. Once we presented our liability waivers, we were asked to assemble at the counter at 9.10am. They allow only sunscreen and water bottles on the boat. Rest of your stuff stays in your car. We were handed out life jackets and a 25 minute bus ride took us to the rafting site. While on the shuttle, the guide gave us a 'safety-talk' which was basic things about holding the rafting tee, dos and don'ts to ensure safety of oneself and others. 

Us At Camp Lotus

Since we were four of us in our group, we were assigned a separate raft with our guide Alyssa. At around 10.30am we got into the river. It was a hot day and the water was freezing. After teaching us the basic commands, we started our trip. The first 10 miles had two major rapids namely 'meat-grinder' and 'troublemaker.' It was a thrilling experience and one that made me feel so alive. There were several smaller rapids too which were fun. The worst part of the trip was paddling through the still sections of the water. That took a lot of effort and got boring as well as tiring pretty soon. Once the 10 miles was up, we stopped for a much needed lunch break. There was a barbeque organized which to our tired bodies and growling bellies was a feast. After downing a handful of cookies, a few glasses of lemonades and a veggie burger, we continued to the second section of the trip. 

The heavy lunch and physical activity made it difficult for us to pick up pace. However, Alyssa was very encouraging and kept us entertained with stories about rafting, her life and Coloma. The second section had 3 main rapids-Bouncing rocks, Satan's cesspool and Hospital Bar. At the Hospital Bar our raft hit the rock and instead of bouncing off it, it caused the raft to tilt sideways and everyone except Alyssa and I were thrown into the river. But they all had their life jackets on so there was nothing to worry despite the fact that all of us were non-swimmers. After a few minutes, everyone made it safely back to the boat and we kept paddling. 

By the end of the trip, all of us were wiped out. We waited for a while to check out our pictures that were taken by the photographers perched on the rocks near the three main rapids. The prices for the photographs were ridiculous though. $100 for the full set so we settled for just one picture and headed back to the hotel.

It was intense activity but one that was thrilling and so much fun. I know I will be back next summer but I guess I will go with the shorter trip instead of the full trip so I can enjoy the feeling instead of being exhausted at the end of the day. 

I was very happy with Action White Water as they were professional, friendly, reasonably priced and the food was good. For those of you who love water and adventure, this is one activity you must not miss!

What: White Water Rafting

Where: 5461 Bassi Rd, Lotus CA 95651

When: Summer months (June-Aug)

Fee: Check for groupon deals

Anniversary Fun at the Comedy Club

We recently celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary, although honestly, it feels like we got married just yesterday! Instead of doing the usual dinner and movie routine, I decided to do something different this time around. Since we both enjoy watching stand-up comedy shows, I thought of surprising Vishnu by planning to watch a live stand-up comedy as a perfect to celebrate the special occasion. Needless to say, he enjoyed the surprise!

Us :)

Rooster T Feathers is a small, no-frills comedy club located in Sunnyvale. From the outside, it looks like a regular bar and is easy to miss. Ticket prices are reasonable ($13) and they have a buy 1 get 1 free offer on their website. I bought a groupon deal for $12 admission for two.

Roosters T Feathers Comedy Club

Due to its small setting, almost every seat has a good view of the main stage. We were guided to our seats and we ordered food and drinks. 2 order minimum per person policy is enforced. Food is mainly appetizers so don't expect to have your dinner at this place. Everything on the menu is decently priced so the cost of the entire event does not burn a hole in your pocket. We ordered a few drinks, a plate of hummus with pita chips and a cheesecake.

The show began at 8pm. The host for the evening was Ronn Vigh who was hilarious. His jokes were well delivered, genuinely funny and full of gay references. Next came Dhaya Laxminarayanan-an Indian female comic which is quite rare here. She was funny too but I expected a lot more Indian-themed jokes. The headliner was Dan Germanine. He had a Hangover-Alan type appearance. Loved his act which kept us laughing the entire time. Except for one annoying audience member who kept interrupting the performers, the entire hour and a half was totally entertaining.

Inside Rooster T Feathers Club-You can see the stage in the background

If you want to laugh till your belly aches while sipping on some drinks, this is the place to be. This is a perfect place for a date or meeting up with friends. I'm so glad I went and intend to check out more comedy clubs around the city in the future.

What: Roosters T Feathers
Where: 157 W El. Camino Real Sunnyvale CA 94087
When: Wed-Sun. Check website for show times
Fee: $13