Okay so it has been a little over 3 months for me in Dallas. I had heard little about Dallas/Texas before I came here, except ofcourse in school geography when we learnt Prairie grasslands! I come from Pune, a city in Maharashtra India, surrounded by big & small mountains of the famous Sahyadri ranges and through which the once-beautiful twin-rivers called Mula-Mutha flow. Basically I am a nature person, and get attracted by jungles & mountains! I had been to Calif before & had already seen the nature & America's wild in its best form. So I was pretty excited for getting to stay in a completely different part of the US. The first glimpse of Dallas was however rather depressing, when I looked down from the plane before landing. It is a plain landscape! No hills, nothing!
Well, my dear hubby did his best to change my view about Dallas & he quite succeeded also! In my short stay of 3 months here, he eagerly showed me the best places around Dallas. I was pleasantly surprised to see how man can bring such a drastic change to turn a rather plain & arid terrain into a highly landscaped & green habitat! Man-made lakes of various sizes & shapes abound the city. These lakes are jogger's paradise with the numerous trails that go around them. Besides these, there are numerous other attractions in this city, some of which I could visit in my short time span here. Rest of them compete with each other for the top 10 items of my wishlist! I gather a few of them in the pages below (courtesy: Yahoo travels and few other such sites):
1) Dallas World Aquarium & Zoological Gardens:
1801 N Griffin St
Dallas, TX 75202-1503
+1 214 720 2224
daryl@dwazoo.com
Open Hours
10a-5p daily
http://www.dwazoo.com
A South American rainforest filled with unique plants and animals such as monkeys, colorful toucans, crocodiles, manatees and otters. The aquarium portion features 85,000-gallons of saltwater with marine life from around the world. Rare sea dragons, giant clams and endangered sea turtles are but a few of the intriguing animals on display. An outdoor lagoon-like exhibit features Black-footed penguins.
2) Dallas Asboretum:
8525 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218-4335
+1 214 515 6500
Open Hours
9a-5p M-Su, Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day
http://www.dallasarboretum.org/
Off the shores of White Rock Lake lies the garden of a lifetime. Sure to make anyone green with envy, the 66 acres of lush, perfectly manicured landscapes hold a treasure trove of trees, bushes and flowers. Quaint and quiet walkways meander throughout the grounds, with countless coves. Also located on the grounds is the DeGolyer House, a 1940s-style Spanish mansion. Tours of the house and its sculpture garden are offered. The Johnson Color Gardens, the Woman's Garden and the Lay Ornamental Garden with water walls are exquisite features of the picturesque grounds.
3) White Rock Lake:
8300 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218-4332
+1 214 670 4100
Open Hours
6am-midnight daily
White Rock Lake has 9-plus miles of waterfront trails—the complete loop around the lake takes about three hours. Also offered are fishing, sailing and horseback riding. Those who enjoy bird watching will find that the lake attracts a wide variety of birds
4) Reunion Tower:
300 Reunion Boulevard E.
Dallas, TX 75207-4409
+1 214 651 1234
Open Hours
10a-midnight F, 9a-midnight Sa, 10a-10p Su-Th
This Dallas landmark has graced the downtown skyline for 21 years. Three levels of activity top the 50-story structure, which are encircled in a dome of lights. The triangle formations of the structural cylinders encase the elevators that carry passengers to the top levels in 68 seconds. For the more actively inclined, an 837-step stairwell is located in the middle of the tower. Over 200 lights add shimmer to the geodesic dome, which can be programmed to form an infinite number of patterns. Some of the more famous include "The Electric Moon," "Texas Raindrops" and "Dallas Disco Fever." The tower opened in 1978, just two years after construction began and only five years after its conception. The Lookout is the lowest of the upper levels and provides both an indoor and outdoor observation area. Visitors can view many points of interest throughout the Dallas area from 360-degrees.
5) Cedar Ridge Preserve:
7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy
Dallas, TX 75249-1159
+1 972 293 5150
Open Hours
Tu-Su sunrise-sunset
http://www.audubondallas.org/
The beauty of Texas' nature can be experienced first-hand with a hike through this 630-acre preserve. With guided and self-guided tours available along the ten miles of wooded trails, outdoor enthusiasts can wander up to the Escarpment Nature Preserve, the highest point in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Along the way you can view ponds, wildflowers and a butterfly garden before arriving at vistas and an observation tower. The trails vary in difficulty. All are natural terrain paved with rock, mulch or dirt. They are designed for foot traffic only, and bikes or roller blades are not allowed. Hikes can last anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours, depending upon selected trail. A snack bar, gift shop and amphitheater are also scattered on the preserve grounds.
6)Southern Methodist University:
6425 Boaz Lane
Dallas, TX 75275-0001
+1 214 768 2000
http://www.smu.edu/
This private, four-year, liberal arts university has an enrollment of just over 9,000 students. People from more than 80 countries and all 50 states come to study on this campus. Though named after the Methodist denomination, students from every religious background are welcome. SMU has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 100 national universities. And plus its a beautiful campus, good place to take a walk & relax!
7) Boulder Park:
3200 West Redbird Lane
Dallas, TX 75237-2207
+1 214 670 4100
Open Hours
Daily during daylight hours
Maintained by the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association, this park is conveniently located near I-20 and Highway 67. Hosting approximately 6 miles of bike trails, Boulder Park offers the perfect ride for everyone. There are sections for beginners and others for advanced riders. Most of the trails have been created for bike use, but there is a soft-surface hiking trail for nature lovers. Here you'll find open sections, wooded areas, rocks and water.
8) Old City Park:
1717 Gano Street
Dallas, TX 75215-1211
+1 214 421 5141 (Dallas Heritage Village)
mguthrie@dallasheritagevillage.org
Open Hours
Vary
http://www.oldcitypark.org
The city's oldest park is full of lush and landscaped gardens and a recreated Victorian age town. Nestled near downtown, the 13 acres of sprawling green are accentuated with Victorian-era homes and stores. Inside each of these buildings, visitors will find volunteers demonstrating weaving, cooking, black smithing and other historic crafts of the era.
9) Dallas Arts District:
Northeast corner of Downtown Dallas
Dallas, TX 75201
+1 214 953 1977
info@artsdistrict.org
Open Hours
Office hours: 9a-5p M-F
http://www.artsdistrict.org/
One of the largest urban cultural districts nationwide, the Dallas Arts District is home to numerous performing and visual arts venues. Visitors will marvel at unique masterpieces on display in the district's museums and galleries. World-class culture abounds with ongoing art, music, drama and dance performances.
10) Fair Park Coliseum:
1300 Robert B Cullum Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75210-2364
+1 214 670 8400
This beautiful park is situated two miles east of downtown Dallas. It boasts of nine museums and six performance facilities, such as the Music Hall, Smirnoff Music Center, Band Shell, and the Cotton Bowl Stadium. With the largest collection of 1930s Art Deco style architecture, this National Historic Landmark is open to public and corporate events.
Other online resources about Dallas attractions:
Info about off-beat and little known lakes around dallas :
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Texas/Dallas-876982/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Dallas-Parks_Lakes-BR-1.html
So, for those who, like me, thought there's nothing else to do in here except for food & shopping, well there's lot of interesting places to visit around Dallas! Just get hold of a good company & directions from google maps!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Happy Gudhi Padwa!
It was gudhi padwa yesterday, the start of Maharashtrian New Year! It is considered to be 1 of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar- 1 of the 3 and half muhurtas, as it is called! Traders try to make their most important deals on this day; for laymen, its the day when you make the most important shopping of the year, like house, car, gold or even saris!
Its the day which symbolizes the arrival of Spring, with markets loaded with bright yellow marigold flowers (zhendu chi fule) and mango trees swinging with fresh green leaves (paalavi). Maharashtrians celebrate gudhi padwa by erecting gudhis i.e. long bamboo sticks erected in their balconies or windows, with its end covered with bright silk cloth and garlands of zhendu flowers, mango and neem leaves, and sugar cakes, everything covered with a tambya, or a vessel kept upside down.
This gudhi is the symbol of the vibrant and fresh spring, and harvest season, as well as of victory and will. This is day when Brahma created the world after the deluge. This is also celebrated as the day when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
In traditional marathi households, people erect these gudhis (also called the Brahma-Dhwaj) in the morning, and worship them with flowers, haldi-kunku and diyas. These gudhis are kept erected till the twilight. They also prepare a naivedya for the gudhi, with a typical maharashtrian sweet dish like puran-poli or shrikhand. They also eat a chutney of Neem leaves on this day, and it is believed that this neem leaves chutney purifies the blood and gives them immunity for the rest of the year.
This was also my first gudhi padwa out of India. And I so much missed my dear family in Pune, as also the festive celebrations and the joy that is in the air on this day there. We did celebrate this gudhi padwa in our own way though, & i tried my hand with gulab jamuns on this gudhi padwa! Sweet way to start this new year, isn't it!
Its the day which symbolizes the arrival of Spring, with markets loaded with bright yellow marigold flowers (zhendu chi fule) and mango trees swinging with fresh green leaves (paalavi). Maharashtrians celebrate gudhi padwa by erecting gudhis i.e. long bamboo sticks erected in their balconies or windows, with its end covered with bright silk cloth and garlands of zhendu flowers, mango and neem leaves, and sugar cakes, everything covered with a tambya, or a vessel kept upside down.
This gudhi is the symbol of the vibrant and fresh spring, and harvest season, as well as of victory and will. This is day when Brahma created the world after the deluge. This is also celebrated as the day when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
In traditional marathi households, people erect these gudhis (also called the Brahma-Dhwaj) in the morning, and worship them with flowers, haldi-kunku and diyas. These gudhis are kept erected till the twilight. They also prepare a naivedya for the gudhi, with a typical maharashtrian sweet dish like puran-poli or shrikhand. They also eat a chutney of Neem leaves on this day, and it is believed that this neem leaves chutney purifies the blood and gives them immunity for the rest of the year.
This was also my first gudhi padwa out of India. And I so much missed my dear family in Pune, as also the festive celebrations and the joy that is in the air on this day there. We did celebrate this gudhi padwa in our own way though, & i tried my hand with gulab jamuns on this gudhi padwa! Sweet way to start this new year, isn't it!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Inspirational quote!
I have an addiction to net surfing; almost close to being my passion. Once while 'pursuing' this passion, I came across a very inspiring quote from the great management guru Peter Drucker-->
"The only way to predict future is to CREATE it!"
Well said! It took me down to my own analysis of past, present and future...
About past: How often we are lost in regrets over things we couldnot do or haven't done so far. Why should we let ourselves indulge in such self-pity? Of late, I have started getting a lot of free time to reflect and ponder upon various things in life. I have started believing there's always a second chance for everyone! You can do what you always wanted to do.. there's no one stopping you but YOURSELF!
About Future: There are always some things you cannot change at all. Things like these give the unpredictable edge to our future. These things are best left to the fate; its better not to worry about them. There are also some things which are in your hands. Things like realising your dreams and passions. As long as you can think, you can always act on such things. These are the things that deserve a permanent place in our mind; and its our duty to look for opportunities to realise them. A duty towards ourselves- to make our life productive and worth living every moment!
About Present: Someone had said long ago, you should not ponder about your past or worry about future, coz past is gone and future is yet to come; if you can do this, you can truely Live in Present, coz present is just what the word says, a PRESENT, a gift of life! My version of this saying is- Make present the best moment of your life and it will take care of your future and make past the best memories to remember. This again boils down to the fact that future can be created the way we want it to be if we live our present moment to the fullest capacity & in alignment with our dreams! Thats exactly what the above quote means.
Whew! enough of being preachy today! Time for action!
"The only way to predict future is to CREATE it!"
Well said! It took me down to my own analysis of past, present and future...
About past: How often we are lost in regrets over things we couldnot do or haven't done so far. Why should we let ourselves indulge in such self-pity? Of late, I have started getting a lot of free time to reflect and ponder upon various things in life. I have started believing there's always a second chance for everyone! You can do what you always wanted to do.. there's no one stopping you but YOURSELF!
About Future: There are always some things you cannot change at all. Things like these give the unpredictable edge to our future. These things are best left to the fate; its better not to worry about them. There are also some things which are in your hands. Things like realising your dreams and passions. As long as you can think, you can always act on such things. These are the things that deserve a permanent place in our mind; and its our duty to look for opportunities to realise them. A duty towards ourselves- to make our life productive and worth living every moment!
About Present: Someone had said long ago, you should not ponder about your past or worry about future, coz past is gone and future is yet to come; if you can do this, you can truely Live in Present, coz present is just what the word says, a PRESENT, a gift of life! My version of this saying is- Make present the best moment of your life and it will take care of your future and make past the best memories to remember. This again boils down to the fact that future can be created the way we want it to be if we live our present moment to the fullest capacity & in alignment with our dreams! Thats exactly what the above quote means.
Whew! enough of being preachy today! Time for action!
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