2018 travel Archives - My Inner Shakti

Our Trip to Vail, Colorado – All That It Was and Wasn’t + Lessons

I can’t even believe it! The trip we’d been looking forward to and planning for months is behind us.

Vishnu’s cousin got married in Vail, Colorado this past week, and instead of just going for the wedding, we (V, K, me, my MIL, FIL, and BIL) decided to add a couple of days to the front end and make a mini vacay out of it.

All good in theory! But something I didn’t consider is how unpredictable something like travel can be with a 13 month old. I’ll get to that in a minute.

Because I really do believe in focusing on the positive, let’s look at what everything our trip was…

More than anything, this time away in Vail allowed for some real family time. My MIL didn’t have to spend hours in the kitchen, we didn’t have to worry about cleaning, etc. I absolutely loved the quality family time we got. My favorite moments were sitting around the dining room table chatting about random stuff and laughing…a lot!

The trip also allowed for us (me, V, and my BIL) to experience and see Vail via a “moderate” hike. While the terrain wasn’t hard to navigate, the elevation factor definitely made us more tired than we anticipated. Holy headaches!

Vishnu’s extended family is amazing and so much fun. Even though our time with them was limited, it was great seeing everyone and catching up when possible! It was also super fun to see Kaiden interact with everyone. With the exception of a few people, he was meeting everyone for the first time. One of V’s uncles mentioned making this a yearly thing (a reunion not a wedding!), so Vishnu’s taking it into his own hands to make it happen. I hope he succeeds because so much love for this family!

And last but certainly not least, the wedding! It was all so beautiful. Vishnu’s cousin Tara and her new hubby radiated pure joy. There’s something about witnessing two people who are meant to be take the next step in life! Speaking of the next step, Vishnu gave an awesome speech at the reception about just that. Instead of going down the usual route of telling stories, etc., he shared 10 pieces of advice about marriage and married life. While I didn’t get to see him deliver it in person (I stayed home with K instead of going to the reception), I heard it was awesome and one of the best speeches of the night!

In terms of what this trip wasn’t…it wasn’t relaxing! Not that I was expecting much relaxation with K being the most active he’s ever been. However, by the time Wednesday rolled around, K had a fever. And it didn’t go away. To make a long story short, K ended up experiencing his first ER visit (more precautionary because of a high temperature).

In the spirit of focusing on the positive, I don’t want to fixate on what didn’t go as expected. Instead, I want to focus on what I learned from our time in Vail. For one, I love my family. Obviously, this isn’t a new feeling, but man did I marry into a great family! Everyone was all hands in with K and ready to give me a break whenever possible. And beyond that, I love seeing K bond with his grandparents and uncle. So many special memories! On a more philosophical level, I learned that in this season of life (maybe all seasons…?) I really just have to go with the flow and take it one moment at a time. If I look at our time in Vail overall, it’s hard to see all the fun we had, but when I break it down day by day, moment by moment, I see nothing but fun. Perspective is everything. And finally, once again, I learned a lesson about gratitude. The grateful life is the best life because regardless of what’s going on when you focus on all the good in your life (and there’s always something) you’ll always be grounded in what truly matters.

And now we’re back home and slowly moving into our regular rhythm and flow. Here’s to a healthy and happy week ahead (longer if possible)!

Less than 48 Hours in LA – Delicious Food, Rodeo Drive, and a Beautiful Wedding

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If you follow me on Instagram, you know Vishnu and I spent this past weekend in Los Angeles, California. Thankfully, my in-laws were able to fly up and watch Kaiden. #blessed

This was probably the first trip we’ve taken where every activity and meal wasn’t planned out in advance. In some ways, this is the best. Leaves room for some relaxation. In other ways, it means you may miss out on something fun. I would say we experienced a little bit of both.

Vishnu and I love hiking and getting outdoors, so the one thing we wished we had planned for was the hike to the Hollywood sign. By the time we realized this was something we could do, it was a little too late. Next time!

Other than that, we had a great weekend hanging out, eating delicious food, and attending a beautiful wedding.

Where we ate

Cafe Gratitude – Vishnu suggested this place, as did the concierge at the hotel. Cafe Gratitude is the quintessential Cali restaurant. Fresh vegan food that’s slightly upscale but insanely delicious. We enjoyed a plate of Buffalo Cauliflower, a bowl of Bibimbap, a Summer Grain Salad, and a Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie. Vishnu and I both commented on how we didn’t feel overly full after eating a good amount of food. Win! Our favorite aspect of this restaurant is the location and ambiance. Located on Canon (two streets over from Rodeo), the open concept layout and beautiful patio makes the food that much more enjoyable to eat!

Gracias Madre – When I saw this restaurant on multiple ‘best of LA’ lists, I knew we had to check it out. I didn’t know if Vishnu would be up for yet another vegan restaurant, but he was…”when in California.” It’s actually owned by the same group as Cafe Gratitude (we didn’t know until we were driving to the restaurant), but the food was quite different. Gracias Madre serves upscale plant based Mexican cuisine. You guys, I had jackfruit tacos that tasted like CHICKEN! Vishnu had chimichangas filled with all kinds of deliciousness and topped with cashew cheese. And for dessert, we indulged in the peanut butter cup – a nut and cocoa based crust filled peanut butter cream. I left this place oh so happy!

Chaumont Bakery & Cafe – This little cafe sits blocks from Rodeo Drive and serves delicious breakfast and lunch options. The menu is filled with traditional menu items with a French twist. While the food was good, Vishnu and I truly devoured the baked goods. The chocolate croissant was one of the best I’ve ever had. SO buttery and flaky! I wish I could eat one of those every morning!

Rodeo Drive

Walking up and down Rodeo Drive was quite the experience. We didn’t do any shopping (shocking!), but we did gawk at the beautiful cars (ok fine, Vishnu gawked). We ventured into the Tom Ford store just to take a look, but after realizing we were being followed around, we quickly left. Just a tad uncomfortable!

While Rodeo is fun to experience, I enjoyed some of the other surrounding streets a little more. Probably because we could actually walk into some of the stores and not stick out like sore thumbs.

Honestly, unless you’re a big baller, this is probably a one and done type of experience. Vishnu and I both agreed we probably won’t be back.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Another one and done, although I did visit this about 20 years ago. Vishnu had never been, so we decided to Uber it over. If you’re a pop culture junkie, it’s exciting to see your favorite celebs’ stars. We also got a glimpse at the Hollywood sign. Other than that, there’s not much else to do.

The reason for our trip

The reason for our trip was Vishnu’s friend Andrew’s wedding. Vishnu and AJ met during their intern year of residency in St. Pete and have stayed in touch ever since. When Vishnu asked if I wanted to attend, I immediately said yes, and I’m so glad I did. AJ and Shaz are a beautiful couple and so much fun, and it was quite the experience watching them become husband and wife.

This was my first Persian wedding, and I loved all of the beautiful ceremonies/aspects that reminded me of Indian weddings. Family involvement, lots of dancing, delicious food!

Shaz and AJ (and their families) know how to throw a party! We had an absolute blast. In fact, it’s been years since I’ve seen Vishnu tear it down on the dance floor like he did! SO MUCH FUN!

And in the blink of an eye, we were back in Chicago with our little guy. We missed him so much, as evident by the number of times we talked about him!

Now we’re in Atlanta to spend time with family and celebrate Kaiden’s first birthday this coming weekend!

Random Musings – Motherhood, Life, Beauty, etc.

written by Parita 3 Comments

It’s been a while since I’ve just typed. I usually stick to a plan when blogging, but sometimes it’s nice to see where your fingers take you!

In terms of Kaiden updates, I don’t have too much to share…finally. Ha! Overall, the past few weeks have been great. A few bumps here and there, but he’s doing so well. My fingers are perpetually crossed in hopes that our three month sickness streak is over. It’s so nice to see Kaiden without a stuffed nose. My baby can breathe! Although, his teething (or what we think is teething) symptoms are a little out of control (re: diarrhea galore) . But hopefully a few chompers will be in soon!

Kaiden with the wild hair!

Out and about enjoying the beautiful weather (last week)!

Me on the other hand? I’ve been experiencing a weird allergic reaction to some unknown thing since last Tuesday. I broke out in hives after being outside for a few minutes, and it’s been on and off (mostly on) ever since. So I’m now on Allegra until we figure this thing out. I’m seeing an allergist this week, so hopefully I’ll have some answers soon. Please send some soothing/non-itchy vibes my way!

Vishnu remains unscathed by everything for now. Really (really!!!) hoping it stays that way.

The best development over the last week is that we have a mobile baby now! Kaiden started crawling early last week and has been on the move ever since. And now that he can get to the furniture, he’s also trying to grab on and pull himself up. It’s all so bittersweet! I love seeing him develop and become more and more aware of the environment around him, but at the same time, I miss the newborn days where all he wanted to do was be in my arms!

As the above clearly shows, motherhood is full of ups and downs (luckily ours are minor). Sometimes I feel like when things are on the up and up, I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I mean, I know it’s coming. Just a matter of when. On the flip side, knowing this journey is essentially one wave after another, I do try to enjoy the good stuff as fully as possible.

I also have to state the obvious. Spring needs to get here (and stay!) pronto. This gloomy weather is making me emotional (i.e. sad) even though I have no reason to be. I can handle the cold temps, but I need sunshine. COME ON!

Let’s switch gears to the good stuff. We have some fun travel plans coming up. Both with Kaiden and without. Vishnu and I will be in LA at the very beginning of June for a friend’s wedding. V’s parents will fly up to watch Kaiden – more grandparents time! And then soon thereafter, the three of us will fly to Atlanta to spend some time with family and celebrate K’s 1st birthday (WHAT?!?!). And then later in the summer, we’ll all be heading to Vail for Vishnu’s cousin’s wedding. Fun times ahead!

I have a skincare post in the works, but for now, I just have to share that Drunk Elephant products are so wonderful. And I love that I don’t have to worry about what I’m exposing K because everything is so ‘clean.’ More to come.

I’m also still loving the Namskara castor oil I shared about on my Instagram Stories. I can’t say tell yet if my brows are growing in more rapidly, but I’m definitely not losing any brow hairs. I’ll take it! If I do see considerable growth in the next few weeks/months, I’ll definitely post about it.

Another product I shared about on IG but have yet to follow-up on is the Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-one spray. I love how it keeps my coarse hair manageable and soft. Tis stuff is liquid hair gold. If you’re looking for a product that protects from heat styling, tames frizzies, etc., this one’s for you!

Other truly random musings…

I still get super irritated when people see me trying to maneuver our giant stroller in and out of doorways and offer no help whatsoever. I don’t expect it because I can and usually do figure it myself, but a little help never hurts!

Our thoughts are super powerful. I truly believe this. However, sometimes I feel like my thoughts actually create my life situations. For example, this past Sunday I woke up thinking about how K’s poops are super healthy (he was constipated for a while) and how a major blowout hasn’t happened in months. Well, guess what…he now has diarrhea. Coincidence? Probably. But this isn’t the first time my thoughts have literally manifested themselves. When I told Vishnu about this, he laughed and told me to think about his dream car. Ha! Jokes aside, I really should think more positive thoughts. You know, just in case I can make things happen!

I’m excited to share that I’m launching a ‘Working Mom’s Diary’ series very soon – Q&As with fellow working moms, topics specific to the working mom life, etc. Obviously, I have a vested interest in this topic and am super passionate about it. I hope, if nothing else, other working moms will read some of these posts and feel less alone (day-to-day life can feel very lonely).

Read this article about maternal grandparent advantage and please share your thoughts if you do! I want to write about my own take sometime soon.

If you have 53 minutes (give or take!) to spare, listen to this podcast about parenting. On point!

Annnnd…that’s all she wrote…for now. Have a great Tuesday!

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

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Manuel Antonio was specifically chosen for its location on the Pacific coast! My sister and Adarsh knew that after a few packed days in La Fortuna/Arenal, we’d be ready for some R&R. Personally, I LOVED Manuel Antonio, as lazy beach days are my favorite!

Let’s take a look at where we stayed, what we ate, and what we did…

WHERE WE STAYED

Our Airbnb in Manuel Antonio was the definition of spacious and luxurious (and expensive!). Totally worth it! When we walked into our unit, we were all confused and so so excited. First of all, we had our own elevator. And the rooms were beautiful, the bathrooms had rain showers, there was an awesome game room downstairs. I told my sister I wish we had a couple of more days to enjoy the place! Not to mention, the location was perfect too. HIGHLY RECOMMEND splurging a little for a place like this!

WHERE WE ATE

I really liked the meals we enjoyed in Manuel Antonio. Everything was fresh and tasty and made with care. Super fan over here!

Sancho’s – We ate dinner at Sancho’s on our first night and loved the food/service. They’re known for the wet burrito (a stuffed burrito covered in their special sauce). I wasn’t too hungry, so I didn’t order that (Niel and Adarsh did and loved it), but my tostada was quite tasty.

Emilio’s Cafe – We loved this place so much we ate breakfast here twice! The view is incredible, and the food and fresh juices are super tasty. I personally loved the veggie, cheese, and egg croissant sandwich. Simple yet so good! I also loved Vishnu’s dish on day 2. He ordered a savory French toast stuffed with an herbed cheese. Oh my gosh! It was perfection!

Café Agua Azul – We ate dinner here on our last night. I’ll be honest. Mama may have had a little too much wine beforehand, but I do remember the burrito my sister and I shared being pretty good. The boys all ordered fish and said everything tasted super fresh. Loved the ambiance here, so would recommend it for that reason alone!

WHAT WE DID

ATV tour – This was the only excursion we did in Manuel Antonio, and I think it kind of fell short of everyone’s expectations. Except mine! The boys and my sister wanted to go fast, however, the guide made me go first right behind him. I didn’t drive fast…at all. When we finally stopped for a break, I pleaded with the guide to let me move to the very back. He finally agreed, and everyone had a much better time for the last 25% of the ride. Haha! I also had a lot more fun riding at my own pace!

Beach days! – We spent 1.5 days hanging out at two different beaches. While I didn’t partake, the rest of the group did some boogie boarding. I did, however, read and get plenty of sun! Someday we’re going to own a house by the ocean…someday!

And that’s a wrap on our trip to Costa Rica! So many adventures, so much great food, so many memories! Can’t wait to vacation with this group (of my favorite people) again. 🙂

La Fortuna/Arenal, Costa Rica

written by Parita 2 Comments

Now that I’ve shared my personal must pack list for a trip to Costa Rica, let’s dive into the details of our getaway.

We (me, Vishnu, Vishnu’s brother, my sister, and her husband) spent a total of 6 nights in Costa Rica, including short stints in San Jose on our way in and out. I wasn’t necessarily a huge fan of where we stayed these nights, but they served the purpose and were super cheap! I will say, though, that the fast food in San Jose, namely Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, tasted pretty delicious. Even better than the states!

Ok, so we woke up super early on Thursday to drive (we rented a big SUV) to La Fortuna/Arenal. We were being picked up at our La Fortuna Airbnb around 9 am for our hiking excursion. The drive took a little over 2.5 hours and was scenic and beautiful.

And that was the start to a very fun 2.5 days in La Fortuna/Arenal…

WHERE WE STAYED

I’m very thankful to my sister and Adarsh (my BIL) for doing the majority of the planning behind this trip. They did an amazing job picking great places to stay and the best excursions.

Like I said, we stayed at a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom Airbnb. The whole vibe reminded me a lot of India. We even had a mini farm next door!

In my opinion, the best part about this particular home was the fact that the owner was incredibly gracious and kind. And that it had a washing machine for all our dirty hiking, rapelling, and rafting clothes. I bet everyone else would say they loved the hammock and the location! Ha!

Overall, I think all five of us would recommend this place.

WHERE WE ATE

In terms of meals, we really only had to think about dinner because we ate breakfast at home (in the form of bananas, bars, and PB sandwiches) and lunches were covered as part of the excursions, with the exception of zip lining.

Rainforest Café – We had high hopes for this place as it came recommend by one of our hiking guides. Personally, I felt like the food was a bit Americanized and not as authentic as I wanted. My sister and I shared some yucca fries and nachos, while the guys ordered special plates with a few different items. I did, however, love the fried plantain with cheese on Vishnu’s plate and had a few bites of that.

Don Rufino – This was our more fancy meal while in La Fortuna/Arenal. Overall, I really enjoyed the ambiance and food. There weren’t too many vegetarian options on the menu but what they did have was great. My sister and I shared a cauliflower steak with couscous. However, the butternut squash risotto that came with the chicken dish stole the show. I’m already thinking of how to recreate it at home!

Chill Out Café (lunch) – Because we had a 5 hour drive ahead of us, we wanted to make sure we ate before heading from zip lining to Manuel Antonio. I will say, for what it was, the food at Chill Out Café was pretty decent. I ordered a veggie quesadilla and fries (because duh!) and liked it a lot. Everyone else ordered tacos and said they tasted better than expected.

WHAT WE DID

La Fortuna Extreme Hike – This was a crowd favorite excursion. And I liked it a lot too! I will say that a baseline of fitness is probably something that should be recommended, as certain portions of the hike were very challenging. My favorite parts included seeing all the cool animals and birds, the views of the volcano, the team work our little group displayed as we climbed up and down for eight miles, and our super energetic guide. At the end of the hike, you go to a hot ‘river’ for an hour to relax. Not my favorite as the river was very rocky and the water pressure crazier than expected, but all in all, it was a great way to end the day!

Desafio Combo Canyoning and Rafting – I ended up loving both of these excursions more than I expected. To be fair, my bar was set pretty low to begin with. The waterfall rapelling (crayoning) definitely got our adrenaline up and proved to be a challenge. Essentially, you rapell down four waterfalls and incur two ‘ wet surprises’ along the way. There is a bit of ‘hiking’ involved with this so I highly recommend taking your water shoes with you. After a breakfast break, we headed to the river for the rafting portion of the day. This was a ton of fun, mainly because our guide was awesome. He let us get in the river and float along, and he also let a few of us ‘ride the bull.’ FYI – I didn’t do this! All in all, I would highly recommend this combo package – just remember adventure is the name of the game. Oh and lunch was pretty delicious too!

Sky Trek Zip Lining – I ended up loving this more than I thought I would (a personal theme for the trip!). Don’t get me wrong, it’s frightening if you think too much about what you’re about to do, but if you can get over the height element, it’s amazing! We zip lined across/down seven different paths, all of varying heights and lengths. The guides were awesome and made sure you had a lot of fun along the way. Again, highly recommend this adventure!

Next up, a little bit of adventure and lots of relaxation in Manuel Antonio…

P.S. To be honest, I was very nervous about all of the excursions we signed up for. I kept imaging someone getting seriously injured. I’m happy to share no one in our group got hurt over the course of our 6 day trip. We owe this in large part to our guides and the safety standards they follow. I felt safe and secure at all times. Also, as Vishnu pointed out, the safety regulations in Costa Rica probably surpass those in the US, as tourism is their main industry.

Must Pack List for an Adventure Filled Trip to Costa Rica

written by Parita 2 Comments

I thought I’d start my Costa Rica posts with one about my personal must pack list. Personally, this was a unique trip for me because our days were filled with so many adventures/excursions. Let’s put it this way – you’re not packing for just the beach!

Let me provide some context about our trip. We were in Costa Rica for 6 nights total – mainly in Arenal and Manuel Antonio. Over the course of four of those days, we participated in five different excursions (I’ll share more detail in my other posts). As you can imagine, shopping and packing for this trip was interesting.

With that being said, here is my must pack list for an adventure filled trip to Costa Rica…

1. Water shoes – These bad boys saved my feet/toes multiple times as the hot springs and beaches can be quite rocky. We also wore our water shoes during the waterfall rapelling and white water rafting excursions, and they were the perfect footwear. Highly recommend!

2. Hiking boots – I was super skeptical about this purchase, but looking back, I’m so glad both Vishnu and I splurged on good quality hiking boots. If you’re planning to do any kind of hiking in Costa Rica, I recommend a solid pair of boots. I almost rolled my ankle twice! We also wore our boots in place of sneakers for all other excursions. We bought ours at a local REI. I recommend getting fitted if you’re new to this just like you would for running shoes. The last thing you need on an eight mile hike through the Costa Rican rainforest is an uncomfortable pair of shoes.

3. Rain jacket – Even if you’re travelling during the dry season (which we did), I still highly recommend bringing a good quality rain jacket with you. It drizzled during our zip lining excursion, and while our jackets didn’t necessarily keep us warm, they did keep us dry which was as good as it got at the time!

4. Bug spray – A strong, good quality bug spray is a must! Those Costa Rican mosquitos aren’t messing around. For those of you who follow me on Instagram Stories or have been reading MIS for a while, you know my favorite natural spray is Bug Off by Me and a Tree Skincare. This stuff has travelled with me to India, Panama, Florida, and now Costa Rica. Not only is it safe to use, it really does keep the bugs away. I didn’t get a single mosquito bite during this trip (or any of the others)! And an added bonus – it smells amazing!

5. SPF – Don’t forget a good quality SPF for face and body. Personally, I like using something different on my face because of how sensitive my skin is. I can’t recommend the Drunk Elephant SPF enough. I use the tinted kind and LOVE it.

6. Hat – This may seem like a ‘maybe/maybe not’ kind of item, but it’s a must because that sun isn’t messing around. All five of us wore our hats daily.

7. First aid kit – So technically, we didn’t have to open our first aid kid during this trip. However, I still recommend bringing one, especially if your trip is excursion heavy. I scraped my knee pretty bad during the waterfall rapelling (at the VERY end while we’re walking to lunch…ugh!), and I’m so thankful someone else in our wider excursion group had a water resistant band aid. Rafting would’ve been very painful otherwise.

8. Sunglasses – Be sure to bring a CHEAP pair of sunglasses with you. Keep the good stuff at home!

9. Pants/hiking pants – While it may seem counterintuitive to pack pants for a HOT Costa Rican vacation, hear me out! A good, comfortable pair of pants/hiking pants will protect your legs from scraps, bugs, etc. The boys wore actual hiking pants (I got these for Vishnu, and he raved about them such great fit/quality for the price), while my sister and I got away with workout leggings.

10. Water bottles – Obviously, bottled water is sold everywhere in Costa Rica. But you’ll appreciate having a liter (or more) bottle of your own after a few hours in the sun. I got two of these bottles for me and Vishnu and feel that they served the purpose, not only when we were out and about, but also when we were just hanging out at our Airbnbs. A little tip – instead of buying small individual bottles, buy a (or more!) 6 liter jugs. Life saver!

Obviously, we packed other things like nice dinner outfits, bathing suits, flip flops, etc. But the 10 items above are the ones you really need!

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Our Trip to Vail, Colorado – All That It Was and Wasn’t + Lessons

Less than 48 Hours in LA – Delicious Food, Rodeo Drive, and a Beautiful Wedding

Random Musings – Motherhood, Life, Beauty, etc.

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

La Fortuna/Arenal, Costa Rica

Must Pack List for an Adventure Filled Trip to Costa Rica

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