2016 travel Archives - My Inner Shakti

Hawaii 2016 – Kauai

Kauai was the next and final stop on our Hawaiian adventure (Maui being first). We chose Kauai as our second island for a number of reasons – the #1 being it was the most recommended by friends and family. And they were right, everything about it was absolutely breathtaking!

Kauai, the Garden Isle, is lush, tropical, and stunning. It’s also the oldest in the chain of Hawaiian islands, making it that much more mesmerizing. At one point during our boat ride along the Napali Coast, I looked at Vishnu and said, “God really knew what he was doing, huh?” Basically, imagine being plopped into the middle of Jurassic Park. That’s Kauai! I loved how untouched it felt (only 20% of the island is accessible by car) compared to more commercial Maui. Vishnu and I decided Kauai is worth a second visit and that we’ll be back to see more it in a few years.

In true Parita fashion, I’m going to share where we stayed, what we did, and what we ate. And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me!

Note – Vishnu and I are behind in life and haven’t downloaded the pictures on our SLR yet. What you see in this post are pics from my iPhone! I didn’t want to delay this post any further, so for now, this is what you get!

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at the Koloa Landing Beach Resort in Kauai, and you guys, this place was incredible and HUGE. Honestly, upon entering and checking out our new digs, I felt like it was way too much space. But nothing we could do at that point but enjoy it.

The villas are spacious, beautifully decorated, and equipped with the best appliances. Luxurious to say the very least.

In terms of location, this was much better than where we stayed in Maui…probably because the island is smaller. The shorter drives were much appreciated.

The only drawback to this resort was that a lot of the property was under construction during our stay. Fortunately, we didn’t experience any noise issues. It just took away from that resort-like feel.

WHAT WE DID

Captain Andy’s Napali Coast Dinner Cruise

This was our first adventure in Kauai, and I loved it for so many reasons. First, I got us the best seats on the boat (the very front), so we felt each and every swell! Second, the Napali coast is GORGEOUS. Seriously, there are no words. It’s one of those places that you have to see to believe and appreciate. And third, we saw a mama hump back whale come up and out of the water! That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen, and it happened about 100 feet in front of us. AH-MAZING!

The dinner portion of the cruise was good (nothing to write home about though). They cater to vegetarians, so they’re winners in my book regardless!

Jurassic Falls Helicopter Landing Adventure

So here’s the thing. These helicopter tours are expensive….VERY expensive. But Vishnu (and my cousin) convinced me that it would be well worth our hard earned money. And they were right! This was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life (second only to sky diving!). This special tour lands in front of Jurassic Falls, made famous by the movie. Again, this is something you can’t really explain in words. It was such a special experience, especially because there are so many parts of Kauai we didn’t have access to by car. HIGHLY recommend this if you can/are willing to dish out some $$$.

Kauai Coffee Estate

Since our helicopter tour was early in the morning, we had all afternoon to explore. Vishnu’s mom’s family manages coffee estates in India, so we thought it would be fun to visit one in Kauai. While it was a real adventure, we liked trying different kinds of coffee, tour the estate, and eating coffee ice cream. This certainly isn’t a must visit place, but if you have time and want to do something relaxing, this is it.

Kauai’s Hindu Monastery

This was our last stop before heading to airport, and what a special way to end our trip. We made it just in time to sit through a short religious event and receive blessings from the priest. For those who follow the Hindu religion, I highly recommend making time to visit this monastery. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, and there’s a special energy that surrounds this place…so peaceful!

WHERE WE ATE

The Juice Bar at Living Foods – The fruit in Hawaii is just a tad bit sweeter than it is in the on the mainland, so when we saw a juice bar close to our hotel, we had to stop. Again, my FIL’s smoothie was the winner! If I remember correctly, it was called the Tropical Delight. YUM!

Pietro’s Pizza – If you’re looking for true Italian pizza, this place is it. Vishnu LOVED Pietro’s while I found it to be so-so. I like my pizza smothered in sauce and evenly covered in cheese, while Vishnu appreciates unique ingredients in smaller quantities. Depending on what kind of pizza you prefer, this place could be right up your alley.

Tortilla Republic – We went here for lunch and found it to be pretty decent though nothing special. The menu has several options that cater to different tastes, preferences, and diets. My vegetarian tacos were tasty, while Vishnu’s quesadilla wasn’t flavorful enough.

Keoki’s Paradise – If Mama’s Fish House was a winner in Maui, Keoki’s Paradise was the clear winner in Kauai. The fish everyone (but me) ordered as their main dishes was apparently perfection. My FIL said the way they prepared it was very tasty and special! Although the highlight of the meal was Hula Pie – Oreo cookie crust, macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, and macadamia nuts. This place definitely got a thumbs up from our clan!

Kauai Beer Company – We ate here for lunch on our last day in Kauai, and surprisingly, everyone loved what they ordered. Personally, my roasted veggie sandwich on French sourdough was filling and delicious. Even Vishnu’s jalapeno turkey sandwich looked really good!

And that, my friends, was our adventure in Kauai!

Overall, Hawaii was a super fun escape from freezing Chicago, and I can’t wait to return and see even more!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Hawaii 2016 – Maui

written by Parita 7 Comments

Maui was the first (of two) stops on our Hawaiian adventure. As you all know, this was a family vacation with Vishnu’s parents. His brother and his brother’s girlfriend were also supposed to join us, but unfortunately, they had a change of plans. When originally deciding which islands we would visit, the six of us came together after talking to family/friends and consulting different sites, and we picked Maui and Kauai. If we had a little more time (and money!), I would’ve loved to spend a couple of days on Big Island as well. Next time for sure!

Overall, Maui is a beautiful island with so many different aspects to it. As Vishnu would say, “the juxtaposition of the water and the mountains is beautiful.” Personally, as much as I loved Maui, I found it to be pretty commercial. At times, it felt like we were in Southern California…not that I complained or anything!

In true Parita fashion, I’m going to share where we stayed, what we did, and what we ate. And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me!

WHERE WE STAYED

Because six of us were originally going on this trip, we opted for villas/condos instead of hotels. When we found out Niel and Neelam couldn’t joint us, we thought about switching but decided to stick with the original plan.

We stayed at the Kapalua Villas while in Maui. Our two bedroom/2.5 bathroom condo could’ve easily housed six people. Honestly, we had a lot more space than we needed, but it was nice.

The villa itself was beautiful. It felt like home with comfortably beds, a washer/dryer, spacious bathrooms, etc. The only regret when it came to this villa was the location. Everything we did in Maui was centrally located, but we stayed on the northwestern side of the island. It took us at least 30-40 minutes to get to and from. However, other than that, I would highly recommend the Kapalua Villas!

WHAT WE DID

Snorkling by the Molokini Crater

Our first excursion on the island of Maui was snorkling by the Molokini Crater with Sail Trilogy. The boat ride to the crater took almost an hour, and what a bumpy/choppy hour that was. Over 70% of the people on our boat ended up sick. Thankfully, Vishnu and I were both spared!

Once at the crater, our captain conducted a mini snorkling orientation for the group, and then we were off! Even though it was a bit overcast, we were still able to see lots of different fishes and sea creatures, as well as coral. Vishnu loved this more than I did. In fact, he was the last one back on the boat when it was time to return to shore. My little fish!

Road to Hana

In my opinion, the Road to Hana is a must when visiting Maui. But word to the wise – this is an all day adventure. We left home at 6:45 am and returned around 7:00 pm.

The Road to Hana in its entirety is about 64 miles. It starts in a town called Paia, and it ends…well, it ends where you want it to given how much time you have and how everyone is feeling. The road itself is quite windy and dangerous (especially at night). Luckily for us, it wasn’t too crowded, so we (Vishnu) were able to navigate it comfortably.

Vishnu and I would HIGHLY recommend using the Shaka app as you explore the Road to Hana. We loved learning about Hawaiian history, and let’s be honest, this thing prevented us from missing most of the major sites! We even explored some ‘off the beaten path’ type places because of it. It was the best $5 we spent on the trip!

Overall, we probably made about 12-15 stops along the way. My favorites included Ho’okipa lookout (great wave action!), Honomanu Bay, Upper Waikani Falls, and Wai’anapanapa State Park (black sand beaches!).

Of course, we got pretty hungry on this 12 hour journey. I read a lot about the smoothies at Huelo Lookout, so that was on my must stop list! My FIL’s smoothie was awesome…I think it was called the Haleakala Sunrise. Regardless, it was yummy! We also stopped for some fresh baked banana bread at Aunt Sandy’s. It honestly tasted like it came straight out of the oven – dense, flavorful, and warm. And finally, for lunch, we stopped at the Nahiku Marketplace and enjoyed some delicious Thai food (Pad Thai for me!) from a stall labeled THAI FOOD! Again, so fresh and tasty.

Haleakala National Park Sunset

Haleakala National Park is home to the dormant volcano Haleakala. People usually make the hour or so drive up the volcano to see the beautiful/colorful sunrise and/or sunset views. Because we had so many early mornings, we opted for the sunset views and were not disappointed in the least. Word to the wise – bring a warm jacket to take with you because it’s at least 30 degrees cooler at the top than it is at sea level. Brrrr…

WHAT WE ATE

In addition to the delicious food we ate on the Road to Hana, we also hit up some pretty fantastic restaurants during our time in Maui.

Monsoon India – We ate here with Vishnu’s aunt and uncle one night after driving around the island for a bit. For an Indian restaurant in Maui, it was pretty decent! The dishes we ordered were rich in flavor. However, while this place was great, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to eat here. There are plenty of other more Hawaii’esque’ restaurants to choose from.

Mama’s Fish House – Mama’s Fish House is a treat yo self kind of restaurant as it quite pricey. If you’re willing to dish out a bit of $$$, this place serves delicious fish dishes (hence the name!) and quite the vegetarian meal as well. Vishnu and my in laws loved their ahi, mahi mahi and sea bass, while I really enjoyed a Maui Tempeh coconut curry dish. But perhaps the highlight of our meal was the chocolate pie we gobbled up at the end (it was like a Twix bar being combined with Oreos!).

Frida’s Mexican Beach House – Personally, I was super excited about Frida’s, as Mexican food is one of my favorite cuisines. And I wasn’t disappointed. The veggie enchiladas I ordered were really good (although I wish they were smothered with cheese and not covered!). Overall, I think Frida’s is a must visit restaurant – not only is the food plentiful and delicious, but the relaxed atmosphere and fun servers make the dining experience that much better.

Slappy Cakes – Brunch at Slappy Cakes wasn’t all that exciting, but it did the trick. The savory dishes are good but not great. However, the pineapple banana pancakes we ordered to share tasted delicious (can’t wait to recreate at home).

And that, my friends, is our trip to Maui in a nutshell! Up next…Kauai (my favorite island!).

Happy Wednesday!

Weekend at Home + Holiday Vacay (!!!)

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Weekends spent at home (in Atlanta) with family are some of my favorites. The pampering, the food, the lack of responsibility (even if only for a few days)…I love it all! And this past weekend was no different.

I flew into Atlanta on Wednesday evening, worked from home on Thursday, took Friday off, and then spent my last night at Vishnu’s house. While it was a super quick trip, I feel like I did a lot.

First of all (and most importantly), I ate a lot of my mom’s delicious food. Nothing like momma’s home cooking.

I got a much needed pedicure. MUCH NEEDED.

My mom and I went shopping and did some damage at the Banana Republic Factory Outlet. I also bought a cute pair of booties at Target.

I spent good quality time with my parents. They’re likely not going to like that I posted this picture, but I love it so much. Cuties!

I played with my BIL’s girlfriend’s dog…Little Bum Bums (that’s her name!). You guys, I’m not a dog person at all, but this little thing stole my heart when I first met her a couple of years ago and still has a strong grip on it. She’s THE cutest! In fact, whenever we spend time with her, I’m almost tempted to get one for myself. Almost.

We spent time at Vishnu’s house with his family – talking, eating, laughing, and planning our trip to HAWAII!!!! It’s official…tickets are booked! So. Freaking. Excited. More to come!

And now it’s Monday, and we’re back to reality! Here’s to a good week ahead. 🙂

A Weekend Getaway to Madison, Wisconsin

written by Parita 6 Comments

Madison, Wisconsin isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of a weekend getaway. At least it wasn’t for me! However, after spending the weekend there with Vishnu, my sister, and her husband, I totally see why people would want to take a few days exploring the capital city and fun college town. We had a blast trying new restaurants, taking in the sights, and celebrating Vishnu and Aekta’s birthdays!

With that being said, here’s a ‘where we stayed, what we did, and what we ate’ guide to Madison.

WHERE WE STAYED

Before booking our hotel for the weekend, I consulted my friend Erin who went to school in Madison. She suggested a bunch of hotels, so I researched each one and ultimately settled on the Hyatt Place Madison Downtown.

This hotel was perfect for the four of us in terms of cost, location, and room size. It was also super clean, which is always the most important criteria for me. If you’re looking for a nice, no frills hotel in the heart of downtown Madison, the Hyatt Place is it!

WHAT WE DID

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate the way we wanted it to this weekend, so we had to be flexible with our plans. Vishnu wanted to go biking around the lake on Saturday, but because of the steady drizzle and cooler temps, we opted to walk around the lake for a bit and then down State Street (a fun shop and restaurant filled street that’s blocked off to cars).

We also spent some time Saturday morning exploring the Dane County Farmers Market, the largest producers only farmers market in the country (no resale allowed!). Erin highly recommended this, and I totally see why. There were literally hundreds of stalls – honey, cheese (so much cheese!), baked goods, breads, salsas, etc. This was truly a highlight of our trip!

The four of us agreed that we used our time to the best of our ability, however, next time we want to visit a dairy farm, go biking, and visit more fun bars.

WHAT WE ATE

The Old Fashioned – We ate at The Old Fashioned on Friday night per Erin’s recommendation, and it totally reminded me of an Athens, Georgia (where I went to school) kind of place. Because there was a bit of a wait, the hostess gave us four $1 off coupons to use at the bar. The beer selection was amazing – so many interesting beers to choose from – and CHEAP! $4/beer! That would get you like two sips in Chicago.

Upon being seated at our table, my sister and I ordered the cheese curds, the highlight of our meal. The slightly chewy cheese, the crispy beer battered exterior, and the delicious dipping sauces…party in my mouth! Aek and I also split a vegetarian sandwich. Adarsh ordered the cheeseburger, and Vishnu went for the fish special. It’s safe to say that no one left hungry!

Marigold Kitchen – After reading review after review for different brunch spots, I decided Marigold Kitchen would be the first one we tried. Thankfully, everyone loved the food/drinks they ordered. Once again, my sister and I split a dish – the chilaquiles. Vishnu ordered chili poached eggs, a slightly smaller dish but very satisfying according to him. Adarsh ordered a chorizo and corn relish omelette – he raved about it! We also ordered two carrot ginger pancakes for the table. The cream cheese topping was perfection!

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream – Located on State Street, this fun little ice cream place offers TONS of unique flavors and serves up HUGE scoops. Being in the dairy capital of the US, my sister insisted we try some Wisconsin ice cream. You don’t have to twist my arm! Vishnu and I shared a cup of Espresso Oreo (coffee + Oreos) and Zanzibar Chocolate (3 different cocoas). YUM!

Cento – Cento is a trendy Italian restaurant with some seriously delicious food. Everything we ordered from the wine poached beets, to the boys’ pizza, to our pasta, to the drinks. to the Tiramisu dessert tasted fresh and flavorful. And we didn’t hold back at Cento because this was Aek and Vishnu’s birthday dinner! We had so much fun chowing down and chatting about ‘deep stuff!’

Eldorado Grill – Last but certainly not least is Eldorado Grill, our final Madison restaurant where we ate brunch and drank copious amounts of coffee before driving back to Chicago. The Tex Mex food at Eldorado is fun and inviting. With so many options, Aek and I decided to split two dishes, which then prompted Vishnu and Adarsh to do the same. Out of the two things we ordered, I LOVED the chilaquiles (yes, again!). The sauce, the cheese, the layered tortillas – it all came together perfectly. Every bite packed a flavorful punch!

And that, my friends, is our weekend getaway to Madison, Wisconsin in a blog post! I can’t wait to go back at some point and explore (and eat) some more. 🙂

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST HUSBAND AND SISTER A GIRL COULD EVER ASK FOR!!!

Your turn – when was the last time you took a road trip and where did you go?

What I Ate in London

written by Parita 4 Comments

You guys, I’m on my way back from London as I type! What a whirlwind of a trip. It would’ve been absolutely fine, except for the fact that we took a redeye flight in and didn’t get a chance to rest at all. Upon arriving to my hotel room, I took a shower, got ready, and went to the office. The sleep factor didn’t get any better over the next couple of days. Phew! I’m really looking forward to some relaxing, quality, family time this weekend!

With that being said, I have a few fun London updates (all food related…big surprise).

Firstly, I ate my beloved Pret’s porridge twice, and it was glorious. My boss tried (and loved) it too! Her exact words were, “You mentioned this stuff a few times now. I should probably try it.” Haha!

Second, we had dinner at a restaurant called Granger and Co. on Tuesday evening. I’m telling you, every London restaurant I try is amazing and often better than the last. This place had quite a few vegetarian options. I decided to try the lentil, tomato, and burrata dish – so much texture, flavor, and earthiness. I need to recreate this one soon!

Finally, we had dinner at The Cinnamon Club on Wednesday night. The restaurant itself was super unique – located in the old Westminster Library. And the food! Unique twists on Indian food presented in the most beautiful and clean way. I shared beetroot vegetarian cakes and the malai kofta (paneer dumplings in a creamy tomato sauce) with my boss. So much yum! I also ordered the plain lassi – it had hints of vanilla and sesame oil. #strangebutsogood

Other than that, the trip was all about that work, work, work, work, work life.

I plan to rest as much as possible before landing in Chicago because this weekend is full of activity and good food. More on that next week!

Happy Friday eve!

Recent Happenings + August Goals

written by Parita 6 Comments

So it’s August. When did that happen? I know, I know. I say this every month, but for real…we are more than half way through 2016. Ahhh!

Blogging is…well, still the same! Every time I try to get some kind of schedule, my plans are thrown off (or I’m too tired to write a coherent post). I’m not sweating it too much though. I know I still want to blog. Now, it’s just making the time to write. I’ll get there.

In terms of other recent happenings…

We had a team lunch at St. Lou’s Assembly last week, and can I just say that my taste buds were so happy. The menu is full of soul food type items, and everything (I tried) was simple yet flavorful. I ordered the BBQ cauliflower + 3 sides (smashed potatoes, mac n’ cheese, and spicy tomato broccolini). Stick to your ribs good!

On Saturday, Vishnu and I drove to Indianapolis to visit his cousin. My favorite parts of our trip included playing with their 18 month old baby (soo cute!), watching movies in their home theater, and eating Moose Tracks ice cream. It was a fun but exhausting 24 hours (we stayed the night). Babies are adorable and very energetic little monkeys! I could hardly keep up.

Work is still going well. I think I’ve got a pretty good routine down (on most days). I wake up around 5:15, work out, shower/get ready, and head out by 7:15-7:30. Vishnu’s schedule varies because residency is comprised of 4 week long rotations so every month is different. He’s enjoying his field and learning a ton.

In terms of workouts, I’ve been all over the place. Basically, I do whatever sounds good. Given the day, this may involve the treadmill, the elliptical, weights, Barre3 Online, or Jillian Michaels workouts. It’s not as structured of an approach as I’d like, but every little bit counts, and that’s what I’m going for.

Surprisingly, given all of the amazing restaurants in the city, we haven’t really ventured out yet. I told Vishnu that we need to chat this ASAP, especially before it starts to cool down (hoping we have a little bit of time!). I’ll be sure to share my favorite hot spots as soon as I find them!

And in one final super important update [sense the sarcasm], JoJo (the Bachelorette) picked Jordan (if you didn’t know, he’s Aaron Rodgers brother…haha). While I didn’t watch every week, I did enjoy the Bachelorette finale pizza night my coworker Erin hosted. It was fun talking all things politics, life, and the Bachelorette! I’m not convinced that JoJo and Jordan are going to last, but who knows!

Other than that, life is pretty much the same old! We’re just enjoying life and taking things day by day. 🙂

August Goals

I stopped blogging about my monthly goals at the start of the summer. Things were crazy at that time, and I felt like I wasn’t giving my all to achieve the goals that I did set. Well, that’s about to change in August!

I’m keeping it super simple to start [back] with…

GOAL 1 – Drink 60 ounces of water a day. All is well in my world when I drink enough water, and I’ve been slacking a bit lately. 60 ounces is totally doable and very necessary, so I’m doing it!

GOAL 2 – No checking work emails first thing in the morning. I don’t know why I put myself through this every morning. My alarm goes off, I grab my phone, and my finger gravitates to the envelope. Enough is enough! Checking work emails first thing in the morning is stress inducing, and I need to stop. I should, at the very least, give my mind time to catch up to my body before stressing myself out!

Well, wish me luck! And HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Your turn – did you watch this season of the Bachelorette? Thoughts on the newly engaged couple? What goals are you trying to conquer this month?

Weekend Recap – One Final Post-Wedding Ritual

written by Parita 5 Comments

This weekend was nothing short of fun!

On Friday, we had dinner with Samir and Roshni (and her brother and sister-in-law). Even more than the delicious RPM food, we really loved spending a few hours with them talking and laughing (oh the laughing!).

On Saturday, we woke up bright and early to prepare for our short trip to St. Louis. Adarsh’s parents hosted a post-wedding ritual in the local temple and invited all of us to join them. In short, the drive down was quick and fun. Aek drove and I kept her company by keeping the conversation flowing. The boys slept for most of the car ride.

The religious ceremony was a little long but good. Dinner was delicious (as was every other meal we ate). The late night conversations and shenanigans were the best.

Before we knew it, it was Sunday and time for us to drive back to Chicago. I drove for a couple of hours before Adarsh took over. The drive up felt a lot longer than the drive down…probably because we were all exhausted!

Overall, our time in St. Louis was absolutely wonderful. It was so great to spend time with everyone, including my parents, Vishnu’s parents, and my cousin who lives/works in St. Louis.

So thankful for all these wonderful human beings! 🙂