Chocolate Tasting

I have done wine tasting before but never chocolate tasting. And I feel terrible that I took so long to try it. Bay Area Older Adults, the organization I volunteer with conducted a chocolate tasting event for its members. Being a volunteer I got lucky and had a chance to attend it.

Chocolates for tasting

The Chocolate Garage conducted the tasting and Sunita, the owner made a short presentation about the process of chocolate making. This was followed by questions from the group and then of course the actual tasting. There were 8 samples to taste and we were told what to expect from each one. The flavors varied from banana, butter, ginger, gingerbread to habanero. It was interesting how each piece melted in your mouth and brought out the distinct taste and experience. My personal favorite was Fresco Peru 225 which is 70% dark chocolate and has a strong cooked banana taste.

I thoroughly enjoyed the informative, delicious and unique experience. I have already made arrangements for my next tasting session :)

Cacao seed

Bars available for purchase

Presentation on chocolate making process

Sample plates

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

Shakespeare in the park

Summer means there are a ton of events in the park and most of them are free. Shakespeare in the park is one such event. This year the play chosen was 'The Taming of the Shrew.' It is held in various cities in the Bay Area and we attended the one in Cupertino Memorial Park. 

Armed with blankets and picnic baskets, people gathered in the park to see the Bard's comedy brought to life on stage. The almost 3 hours long show started at 7.30pm. The park was packed and everyone seemed to enjoy the show. The costumes, lighting, sound and stage were very professional. The cast gave a lovely performance and my favorite was Katharina, the Shrew. 

View of the stage and the spectators

There was a 15 minute interval during the show. Portable toilets for public use were installed which was a blessing. Tea, coffee and a few snacks were also sold during the break. A lot of families mostly with kids left during the interval. We stayed on until the end and thoroughly enjoyed it. The only annoying part was the disturbance by children and the fact that it got really chilly at night and we only had a light jacket. Apart from this, it was a wonderful evening. 

The Taming of the Shrew performance

What: Shakespeare in the park

Where: Multiple locations. Check website

Website: www.sfshakes.org

When: Summer of each year

Fee: Free; donations accepted

Us at the park

Point Lobos State Reserve, Carmel

I've been to Carmel once and that too six years ago. I can't believe that in the two years that we have been in the Bay Area, we didn't visit there even once. Last Sunday, owing to a Bach concert that Vishnu wanted to attend, I got an opportunity to go to Carmel. I saw the pictures of Point Lobos State Reserve and was sold instantly. So, while Vishnu attended the concert, I along with my in-laws spent a wonderful afternoon hiking, picnicking and soaking in the beauty of Carmel.

Entrance to Point Lobos State Reserve

Point Lobos is considered the crown jewel of the California state parks and not without reason. It has such stunning views, amazing wildlife, great weather and scenic beaches that one can sit at a spot and stare at all the beauty around and not get bored. I'm not even exaggerating. See for yourself.

Gibson Beach

Parking is difficult to find in the park as it is usually packed especially on weekends and holidays. You can park on Highway 1 as we did and walk inside. It is not a very long walk. Each vehicle is charged $10 while walk-in visitors are encouraged to donate $1. We purchased a map for $2 and set on our path to explore the park.

A short walk along the South Plateau trail and a 100 odd stairs brought us to the absolutely gorgeous Gibson beach. The white sand beach with turquoise water is a sight to behold. To my surprise, the water was not as cold as I expected it to be and I actually could stand and play in the water comfortably. And did I mention we spotted a deer on our way to the beach!

Me at Gibson Beach

As we continued on the South Plateau trail, we saw the Bird Island on which were perched hundred of black-colored, long-necked birds called Cormorants. We then passed by China cove which was closed off due to hazardous conditions. It looked equally beautiful. The Bird Island trail led us to a picnic spot where we devoured our packed lunches taking in the beautiful views all around us. 

Cormorants on Bird Island

After we had replenished our energy, we kept hiking on the South Shore trail till the Weston Beach. This beach was completely different from the previous two beaches. That does not mean it was any less scenic. I was amazed at how so many different views and sceneries were all packed up in one park. The Weston Beach has huge uplifted sedimentary rocks on which you can see multi-colored patterns formed by erosion. It had a very 'Grand Canyon-like' look and feel except that here you have water and cool breeze.

Weston Beach

Next stop was the Sea Lion Cove from where we could hear the barking California Sea Lions lazing on the rocks. There are otters and seals too although I don't quite know how to distinguish them. The rock formations here are magnificent and makes you appreciate nature. 

Sea Lion Cove

The Lace Lichen trail took us back to main entrance. The trees branches on this trail are covered with gray stringy lichen giving it an eerie feel. The tall trees let very less sunlight on the trail and the cool climate encourages the growth of lichens on branches which have already died due to lack of sunlight. I would never dare to walk through this trail alone!

Lace Lichen Trail

This park is undoubtedly the best hiking spot we have ever been to. The trails are mostly flat and can be covered easily by a person with average fitness level. The drastic change in the landscape at every short distance blew our minds away. This park has so much more to offer and I look forward to exploring the spectacular views during our next visit.

My Sister-in-Law and I at Gibson Beach

What: Point Lobos State Reserve

Where: 62 California 1, Carmel Ca 93923

When: 8 am-7pm or 1/2 hour after sunset

Fee: $10 per vehicle or $1 donation for walk-ins

Hearst Castle

For the long weekend of 4th of July, we decided to visit the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. I had heard a lot of great things about it during my previous trip to The Mystery Spot.

Hearst Castle is a historic landmark mansion located near the coastline of San Simeon. It is a massive 90,000 sq.ft house/castle built by William Randolf Hearst, a powerful media magnate, in 1919. Story goes that when William was a little boy, he and his mother travelled across Europe for a year and a half. The wonderful art and architecture that he encountered during this trip left a lasting impression on him. Years later, when he started building the Hearst Castle on their family campgrounds which he referred to as 'La Cuesta Encantada' (The Enchanted Hills), it was obvious that he wanted to incorporate elements from the buildings that had fascinated him during his trip in Europe. The chief architect of the castle was Julia Morgan who shared Mr Hearst's passion and worked tirelessly in making his dream a reality.

Cupid sculpture on the terrace

Sculpture in the fountain

There are several tours offered at the castle-Grand Rooms, Upper Rooms, Gardens, Cottages & Kitchen, Evening tours etc. Each one costs $25. You can reserve your tickets online to avoid any wait times. We booked the Grand Rooms tour for 4pm. At the visitor center, one can buy tickets or exchange your online voucher for actual tickets. Tour buses take you up the hill to the castle. It is a 10 minute bus ride that has a recorded narration with a little bit of history about the Hearst family. On reaching the top, our tour guide welcomed us and so began our 40 minutes guided tour.

Fountain in front of the Hearst Castle

The Castle is magnificent to look at and coupled with the gorgeous view of the California coast, it is an absolute beauty. The main structure is modeled after a cathedral as you can see from the picture. 

Hearst Castle

The tour took us through 5 different rooms. The Assembly room was where Mr Hearst's guests were welcomed. It is heavily furnished and to some it might even look oppressive with all the art work and sculptures.

Hearst Castle Assembly Room

The next room is the Refectory or the dining room which has a very 'Harry Potter-dining room-like feel. That is not surprising because this room actually served as an inspiration for the set design.

Refectory at Hearst Castle

The Morning room is the room where guests gathered in the morning to smoke. There is visible damage to the art work on the ceiling due to the smoke. Restoration work is currently underway to bring it back to its former glory.

We were then taken to the adjacent Billiards room followed by the Theater where Mr Hearst used to screen the latest Hollywood movies of his time for the guests. We were shown a small clip from a video featuring Mr Hearst, Charlie Chaplin and other guests.

Billiards Room at Hearst Castle

Sculpture in the Theater Room Hearst Castle

After the tour concluded, we went to the famous Neptune and Roman pools. They are a treat to the eyes and one can only imagine what it must be like to swim in those majestic pools.

Hearst Castle Neptune Pool

Hearst Castle Roman Pool

The tour bus then took us back to the visitor center where we saw the 40 minute film 'Building the Dream' on the Imax screen. It showcases the story behind Mr Hearst's inspiration behind building the castle and also gives a glimpse into what it was like to be hosted at the Hearst Castle. 

I completely enjoyed the visit and would have loved to see more rooms. However, I found the $25/tour to be a little steep. No food or drinks are allowed on the bus or the castle. There are food stalls, washrooms and a gift store at the visitor center. There is also a small, free exhibit about the Hearst family and the castle design which you should check out. 

On our way back, we stopped at the Elephant Seal Viewing spot. There are lots of elephant seals sunning themselves on the sand. The place stinks though so we got out of it after clicking a few pictures. Worth visiting for the close up view of these giant animals that weight about 2000-5000 lbs!

Elephant Seals at San Simeon

What: Hearst Castle

Where: 750 Hearst Castle Road, San Simeon

When: Daily from 9am

Fee: $25 per tour

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

Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz

Summer is here and what better way to spend a day than visit Santa Cruz with friends. We started from Sunnyvale at 11am and reached 'The Crepe Place' restaurant in Santa Cruz at 12.15. It is a very cosy restaurant with an old world charm. We chose the outdoor seating in the garden and had a relaxed lunch for over an hour. I was impressed by the vegetarian options. Post lunch, we headed to the Mystery Spot.

History of Mystery Spot

Mystery Spot is a circular region of around 150 feet in which there are anomalies to the normal laws of physics especially gravity. A lot of demonstrations by the guide show these anomalies at work. It was pretty amazing and the actual experience is fun. However, when I got back home and googled about the place, I read that it is merely an optical illusion generated by clever engineering. This does not make the place any less exciting or take away from its fun.

Our Guide Moe-appears slanted even when he is standing straight

We had already booked the 3.36pm tour of the Mystery Spot and bought the tickets online. The entrance had this impressive graffiti.

Mystery Spot Graffiti

On the way to the Mystery Spot house

Inside the Mystery Spot house

There is a small gift store, snack stalls and restrooms near the ticket counter. At 3.36pm, our tour number was announced and we were greeted by our tour guide, Moe. His demonstrations included a ball sliding up a wooden plank against gravity, people standing in slanting position, lead pendulum swings only on one side, height changes in people and others. They were peppered with very clever jokes which made it very entertaining. I absolutely loved the guide's narration. I don't have very good pictures or video that show the phenomenon inside the tilted house which is the epicenter of the Mystery Spot. At the end of the tour, we were given the Mystery Spot bumper stickers that we see on so many cars.

Mystery Spot Bumper Stickers

I highly recommend this place as it is a fun experience on your way to Santa Cruz beach. We did go to the beach, walked around the wharf and had an early dinner before returning home. A day well-spent!

At Santa Cruz Wharf

Santa Cruz beach

Sand Sculpture at Santa Cruz Beach

What: Mystery Spot
Where: 465 Mystery Spot Road, Santa Cruz CA 95065
When: Mon-Fr: 10am-6pm; Sat-Sun: 10am-8pm
Fees: $6