Pea-Sized Frog :-o

In Borneo they found a tiny tiny tiny frog! I am just amazed by the tinyness of it!!!

My Day Off!!! :D :D :D

The view from my spot on the bench in Dupont Circle

I took today off from work. I have vacation that is expiring at the end of September so I figured I'd have some fun days off.

It was a relaxing day. In the morning I went to the gym, had a long shower and then went to Bruegger's and had a sesame bagel with hummus. I went back home, did some chores and then got ready to head to the Dupont Circle area. After buying lunch at Tomatillo Taqueria, I headed with it to the circle. All the benches on the outer rim were well shaded by the trees. I found a free spot and settled for lunch. The breeze was gentle, cool and perfect. The setting was so calm with other people enjoying their lunches, either alone or with friends, squirrels running about rummaging for nuts and munching away, bikers stopping for some rest and dogs enjoying their afternoon walk. After lunch, I just sat observing the squirrels below the tree in front of me. It's amazing HOW fast their mouths move when they chew! When the breeze stopped and the squirrels left I got up to walk to the National Geographic Museum. The museum was interesting, as always. After, I walked back to the circle browsing different stores and buying random items. This made me peckish, so I bought a freshly made glazed donut from Krispy Kreme and settled down to enjoy it while reading my book. Satisfied, I headed to union station to meet Saurabh, see his office and then go to watch The Importance of Being Earnest. I finally got home close to 11 PM, and so ended my wonderful day off!

The Importance of Being Earnest

Ever since I read the play for the first time in school I have wanted to watch it. We got tickets for the play running at the H Street Theatre and headed there this evening. I was disappointed. The performance had a very in a very crude and crass manner. The humour Oscar Wilde generates in this play is because of the delivery of the lines by proper aristocratic British people. The accents didn't live up and the direction the artistic director took was not what I wanted from this play. I laughed, but only because I knew what the lines all ready were and I remembered enjoying them while reading the play. Very often I laughed before the lines were acted out. If I hadn't read the play before a lot of the subtle humour would have been lost on me during this delivery of it.

What was interesting about this play was that all the male roles were played by women and vice versa. I especially liked Sara Barker who played Algernon Moncrieff. Everyone else was just okay.

My thirst to watch this play still remains unquenched.

National Geographic Museum

I have been wanting to go to the NG Museum for the new exhibits for a while now. They are currently running "Design for the other 90%" and "Da Vinci - The Genius". Both the exhibits are just wonderful.

Design for the other 90% is about design ideas for water, electricity, shelter etc. Since most design is developed for the rich 10% of the world, the remaining 90% get left behind. They are the ones that need it most to make their lives more efficient so that they can then spend time educating themselves or in money generating activities. What I found highly ironic about all the design ideas for them was that all the ideas are sustainable. If, for the poor, so many useful products can be developed that are so incredibly sustainable, then why can't design for the rich 10% head in that direction more vehemently. The rich consume so much more, have so much more and continue to strip nature of everything. While the poor, with barely anything still are so much more respectful of the planet we dwell on.

The other exhibit (this one permitted photography) was on Leonardo Da Vinci and his immense intelligence and contributions to so many different fields - art, music, science, aviation. The exhibit had constructed machines, instruments etc from designs in his writings and sketches. It was pretty cool! I thought his design that set the base for the modern helicopter pretty neat. I loved loved loved his clock! I would love to have a clock like that in my home. There was also detailed analysis of the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and The Vitruvian Man. The interesting thing about the Mona Lisa is that what we see today is not what he painted. The sky was blue and her skin more buff. With infrared imaging technology we are not able to see what he had painted. Oh also, of interest, Da Vinci had painted the Mona Lisa with eyebrows and eyelashes!!! They are not sure why, over the years, they have disappeared.

Left - How he had painted it. Right - What we see today.

Da Vinci Clock (video - click to watch)

Tomatillo Taqueria

Having bought a groupon for Tomatillo Taqueria place I headed there today on my day off. There was a short line outside this Taco stand that sets up only on weekdays from 12 - 2 for lunch. They have an extremely limited menu of soft shell tacos and a burrito with your choice of veg, carnitas, barbacoa and chicken. They have 4 different salsas to choose from, guacamole and rice and beans. This is their entire menu. I got 3 soft shell tacos (2 chicken, 1 barbacoa) with guacamole and the rice and beans (veg beans). Everything was ABSOLUTELY scrumptious! I liked the chicken more than the barbacoa and may only get chicken if I am able to go to this place again. But, I noticed a lot of people ordering the pork, so my guess is that the pork is really good there. I HIGHLY recommend checking this place out. Thank you Groupon! You are why I tried Tomatillo Taqueria out! :)

Tacos!!!!

Rice and Beans

Doesn't this planet look like a sad/dejected face?

Electricity Being Conserved?

The escalators to go down at the Tenleytown metro stop have not been running for the last few days. In the evening, however, they are always on. There is no maintenance work being done on them. I wonder if this metro's attempt at saving electricity and hence saving money? Since the upwards escalators are working, if this is their plan, i think it is quite smart! Especially iffff it curtails further price hikes (wishful thinking, eh?)

This Reminds of a Certain Someone...HAHAHAHAHA

Spine Stretch on Ball

Today, at the end of the pilates workout she had me do the spine stretch on the exercise ball. It was friggin' brilliant! I was sorely disappointed when she said I had to do it only one more left! Boo! I could have easily hung out there for a few more minutes. It's a brilliant stretch!

Ever Thought You Were in a Jam?

A traffic jam on the Beijing-Tibet highway enters its 9th day! Officials say it will go on for another month before the bottleneck clears up! Really! I am not making this up! See! And, according to the article the commuters are cracking jokes. Gotta hand it to the temperament of these guys! I would sure as hell go crazy! I can't help but wonder how the relieve themselves...food and water has been provided for by the impromptu stalls that have set up. I guess port-a-potties!

'Twas a Baby-Full Weekend

Shenandoah and Kids!

Yesterday, I joined Saurabh and Somik, Aditi, Aryaman and Reyansh on their Shenandoah excursion. Saurabh and I were picked up at about 8:45AM and we headed out to Virginia. A long drive later we had entered the Shenandoah National Park. We parked at Elkwood trail parking lot and hiked about 1.5 miles in. It was downhill going, so coming back was interested. Especially with a 4 year old and a 5 month old. We finally got out at about 2, regrouped a little before we left to find some lunch.

Aru did quite impressively for all the walking we did. He was all geared up with his baseball cap, sunglasses and loculars (what we adults call binoculars)!!! Reyansh just enjoyed hanging around on his dad and taking in the sights! :D

Kids Say The Darndest Things!!!!

Aryaman: When are we going to reach the mountain?

Mom: We are on the mountain. We are driving up.

A: Nooooo...we have to climbbb up the mountain!

M: Yeah, but first we have to drive up and then climb

A: Noooo...we have to climb uppppp. We can't take the car in the grass.

M: Yes, but we are going to drive up a little and park and then go.

A: How many times to tell you? The car can't go on the grass. We have to climb up the mountain.

M: Look...you can see the valley down. We are driving up a mountain.

A: Nooooo...we have to go to thatttt mountain, there! We have to drive and them climb. You don't understandddddddddddd!

Dad: Mom is being silly!

A: Everyone knows Thaaaaaaat!!!!!!

Rasika for Restaurant Week

I have been wanting to go to Rasika for a while now. I had heard really good things about the food there. Restaurant Week was a good excuse to go, though, we just about managed to get an appointment at 10:15PM on Friday. I know that the restaurant week menu differs from their regular menu, but it still give a sampling of the chef's abilities.

I had all ready checked out the restaurant week menu a couple of times before we went and so had pretty much decided what we were going to order. Luckily, Saurabh concurred! :)

For the appetizers, we got Shrimp Balchao (red chili/malt vinegar/garlic whole spices) and Parsi Lamb Cutlets (ginger/green chillies/garam masala/tomato). We really really enjoyed the lamb cutlets. They tasted homemade, and that's always the best compliment for Indian food that I can give. The shrimp was nice and I enjoyed it, but I didn't LOVE it.

Shrimp Balchao

Lamb Cutlet

For our main course, we ordered the Salli Murgi (chicken/apricots/straw potatoes) and the Mixed Grill (salmon/achari tikka/seekh kebab). Both were excellent. In the mixed grill, the fish was delicious and the chutney they served with it too! Yum! They were served with basmati rice, naan and mint paratha

Salli Chicken

Mixed Grill

Mint Paratha

We ended with the Lychee Rose Sorbet and the Gulab Jamun with Cardamom Ice Cream. I really enjoyed the gulab jamun and the cardamom ice cream. The sorbet, thought nice, would have been better with lighter rose flavour and a stronger lychee flavour.

Lychee Rose Sorbet

Gulab Jamun with Cardamom Ice Cream

Groupon got Gap-ed out!

Teaism

Tonight, I met Mamta for dinner at Teaism. I have been meaning to try this place out for a while and finally got around to doing it today.

To drink, I ordered the Chai Shake that comes with cinnamon gelato. Since I don't like cinnamon I asked them to not add the gelato. What I should have realised is that they probably infused the chai with cinnamon too. They did, and it was bleh! Chai is NOT supposed to have cinnamon! >.<

To eat, I got a lot! I got an order of the Shrimp rolls, which are available only on weekdays until they last. This was the best part of my meal. Other than this, I got the Meatball Bento (hot meatballs with tomato-miso sauce, sweet potatoes, broccoli & rice). It was nice, but not great. I don't think I'd order this again.

Shrimp Rolls - the dipping sauce was YUMMMMY! I wanted to get the remaining home, but forgot!

Meatball Bento Box - I wish the rice didn't have the seaweed, it made it fishy

Overall, I was disappointed with the food. I had heard great things about teaism so this experience threw me off. I do want to go back and give other dishes a chance. I think I ordered the wrong things for my palate.

Witnessing News! :)

At the Paul McCartney concert we went to last Saturday, he had this girl come up on stage who wanted him to autograph her back so she could get it tattooed. She said her name was Morta (or something like that). This morning in the eye opener section of the express I read about it! It was kinda cool reading something in that section that I had seen happen! :)

ps: it appears that the newspaper changed her name

Off to Burma!

...or the restaurant, at least.

Smita, Vishal, Saurabh and I met last night for dinner at Burma Restaurant. I have been there a couple of times and while the food there is good...I wouldn't say it is out of the world. I would definitely go back (ESPECIALLY for their iced coffee...Oh My GOD!!! divine!) but I wouldn't tell anyone that they MUST go.

The appetizers are definitely not recommended. They don't have an interesting choice and the two we got weren't too great. We got the Golden Triangle (Fried triangular shells with potatoes; sweet and sour chili sauce) and the Golden Fried Prawns (Battered with sweet and sour chili sauce).

Golden Triangle - basically, aloo samosas!

Golden Fried Prawns - hah! I just realised they called it prawns and not shrimp!

For the main course I ordered the Kauswe Thoke (Noodles, ground shrimp, onion, cilantro, hot pepper, garlic, and lemon juice) which was nice. Saurabh got the Kokang Chicken (Steamed breast pieces, sesame, soya, cilantro, ginger, garlic, onions, lemon juice), which I thought was the best dish of the night. Smita ordered the Chicken Curry (with potatoes) that was quite nice and home food tasting. Vishal got the Tamarind Fish (Salmon simmered in tamarind sauce, with onions, peppers and chili paste; with coriander) that I didn't enjoy too much because it was quite fishy.

Kauswe Thoke - So different from the Kauswe I make

Kokang Chicken - A MUST get!

Chicken Curry - All ready delved into

Tamarind Fish - Almost over

Philly Fun

This past weekend (August 14th and 15th) we went to Philly for the Paul McCartney Concert. The concert was absolutely fantastic. At 68, the man's energy levels are unbelievable, his voice is unchanged and his stamina is incomprehensible!!!! To go 3 straight hours is not an easy feat, to do it without drinking water is unimaginable! But he did it and sounded phenomenal while doing it!

The rest of our time in Philly was spent rather lazily. We had a yummy lunch at Vietnam Cafe in West Philly with Maha, a delicious brunch at RX in West Philly as well (where we met Vincentttttt!!! 2 month old cuteness puppy!) and hanging out with Mehul, Asli, Maha and Navid in old town at the Triumph brewery.

This trip was the first time we spent time in West Philly. It's different from the Philly we are used to. It is more residential, the homes are big with large porches. People sit outside on their porch and wave to passerbys. It's a nice feeling. There also seem to interesting restaurants and murals all over, as we are used to seeing in Philly. :)

It turned out to be a really nice weekend away, especially since we have barely travelled this year.

Bananas

I really like this description of the fruit:

"A clump of bananas - The fruit of which , as healthy as bread and as succulent as cream" - Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days.

Of course, 'curved yellow fruit' describes it well, too. :-)

Stormy DC!!!!!

DC has been having insane storms this summer. It has definitely been my stormiest summer ever! Typically we have 1-2 storms all summer, but we seem to be having one a week, if not more. People are continuously losing power, trees are falling, debris is all over the roads and pavements! I have seen some of the prettiest lightening streaks across the sky! The winds are insane! with trees swaying mightily. During one of the storms, the trees were so far bent, they were nearly touching the ground. I think last evening, the thunder was SO loud that it set off someone's car alarm at work. We were standing near the door watching the storm and we heard the alarm go off! Global warming is here with every possible sign it can administer!

Pedicure Set? or Cutlery?

fork, spoon and a knife - apparently!

Saurabh wonders!

Feast for Fast

I came to work this morning and found on my desk dates, figs (fresh from someone's tree) and egg muffins (eggs + millet flour + spinach + thyme + stuff I don't remember)! Later, I got some chocolate cake. If you looked at my desk today, you'd never guess I was fasting! Thank you Houda! :)

Mary Poppins!

We went to Kennedy Center today to watch Mary Poppins! I have been wanting to go for this performance for a while, now. It was EXCELLENT! The sets, the singing, the dancing, the acting...all brilliant! They changed the story from the movie, but they made it work well.

My favourite performance in the first act was Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The dancing was just amazing. They did a bit where the entire troupe was acting out the alphabets of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. This is what I ABSOLUTELY LOVED about the performance. All the performers were in absolute sync! Excellent!

In the second act I especially enjoyed the tap dance performance to Step in Time. It was a fun performance and since I am partial to tap dancing, I really enjoyed this. One of my favourite bits in this performance was when Bert (the chimney sweeper) walks up the side of the stage, then upside down on the top of the stage (while performing to the song and tapping) and then walks back down the other side of the stage! :)

The sets were just amazing! I think if photos were taken, the photos would look real-ish! One of my favourite set scenes was when the kids (Jane and Michaei), Mary Poppins and Bert are sitting on the roof with there feet dangling and you can see other rooftops in the background! (the photo above)

The one thing I have realised about watching broadways that I have all ready watched the movie is that I tend to expect to see the movie actor on the stage, so end up being disappointed. It first happened when I went for Chicago. I wanted to see Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta Jones and Rene Zellweger. That time, I didn't really enjoy the performance, so my disappointment was enhanced. This time, I wanted to see Julie Andrews when Mary Poppins came on, so of course, I was disappointed. However, this time, the performance was so fabulous that I soon forgot about Julie Andrews.

I highly highly recommend this broadway!

ps: Mary Poppins final exit is pretty cool! I won't say what it was :)

Ramadan Mubarak!!!

Smoked Mozarella Goodness

When we went to Cleveland Park on Sunday for brunch, we stopped at Vace's (an Italian Deli) to pick up their smoked mozarella and garlic bread. Last night and tonight, for dinner, we had the bread + smoked mozarella + tomato + basil. OMG!!!! The mozarella is just sooooooooo utterly delicious! I could eat it ALL!!

Relaxing Monday!!

After pilates this morning (my last class before Ramadan begins :( ) I came home and rested a bit. Called Soma Fit Spa to schedule an 80 minute massage at 3:00PM. for Saurabh and me. On Mondays and Tuesdays they have a 'happy hour' special, which is a 50 minute massage for $74 and an 80 minute massage for $108.

We headed out at 12:30 to go to Furin's in Georgetown for lunch. We had a livingsocial coupon that was expiring soon. It turned out to be quite an interesting place. We got the 3 salad sampler (tabouleh, pasta-pesto salad and Thai chicken salad) and the Chicken Pastilla with Greek salad. The pastilla wasn't a hit with us. I don't think we appreciate the sweet/salty flavour combination. The salads were all delicious, as was their fresh lemonade.

Me in Furin's with all the food we got!

After lunch and some errands (new battery for my nook and posting mail) we headed to Soma Fit. It is QUITE a fancy place. Once we signed in at the front desk, we were given a pair of slipper, a robe and locker keys. The locker room was again, fancy! It included a steam and a sauna. I don't particularly care for either, so I didn't take advantage of it. Saurabh tried them out since he hadn't ever before. I will let him tell his story. heeheehee. After changing into the robe, we headed up one level up and waited for our masseuses. While we waited, there was water flavoured with an orange cut in half and cookies (Danish butter cookies - I have been craving those for a while, and cheese twirl biscuits). I wasn't too hungry or thirsty then, but I took advantage of this after my massage. Jay was my masseuse. The massage was excellent, though it definitely felt like he kneaded to pulp some parts of my body, especially my shoulders and upper back (OWWWW!!!!)

That's where all my knots were!

After, we came home for a bit before he headed out to AMC Mazza Gallery for the prescreening of Expendables. It is an absolute action movie; funny too, when they are actually talking and not either threatening people, cutting people up or blowing people up. I can't say I was bored or anything. I see it doing quite well in the box office.

'Twas a Good Weekend

This past weekend has been busy and really fun. After a lazy Friday morning and afternoon, I headed out to meet Smita and Saurabh for dinner at BGR The Burger Joint. I got the Wellington burger (Roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, garlic with a touch of mustard seed and blue cheese. Served on a fresh buttery-toasted brioche bun with BGR's mojo sauce). The burger was good (Hell's burger was better). The patty was, interestingly, light. Like it had some air in it. Saurabh got the fries with garlic, which was basically fries topped with whole cooked garlic. Different, but not the greatest. After, we headed to Keegan Theatre/Church Street Theatre to watch 'Noises Off'.

Wellington Burger + Fries topped with garlic

Noises Off was a 3 act play about the making of a play and the background farce that encompasses it. It was hilarious. The first act is the rehearsal for the play 'Nothing On'. So, the director corrects the actors as they rehearse their dialogues and actions. There are also indications of affairs with the cast and crew of Noises On. In the second act, the set is turned around so we see the backstage of Noises On and see the drama that goes on behind the stage as characters go to perform their bits and come back. The drama includes personal issues the cast develop with each other. The final act had the set facing us again and this time it was the "actual" performance of Nothing On, but it included all the personal drama between the actors that started in act 2. Very entertaining and an interesting concept. :)

Outside Keegan Theatre

After the play, we met Vishal at the Dupont Circle Metro. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter Brickskeller (someone still hasn't got a state ID!! ;) ) we went to Afterwords Cafe. A couple of appetizers, a couple of desserts and a few drinks kept us there till about 2:45AM. It was fun! Their Mac and Cheese is delicious. The other appetizer we got was the Thai Water Buffalo Wings! The main reason I mention it, is its name!!! Thai Water Buffalo??? REALLY!!!?? :-o. Also, they were delicious! Initially, you taste a sweet/sour/garlicy flavour and when you are almost done with your wing you realise the kick the wing has packed in it!!! It throws you off! I'd definitely recommend it.

Afterwords Cafe

On Saturday, after sleeping in, we headed to Landmark E Street Theatre to watch The Girl Who Played With Fire. This was the Swedish version (obviously, since the Hollywood version isn't out yet) with English subtitles. In this movie, like the previous (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) they have done an incredible job of capturing the essence of the book and changing just enough so as to prevent making the movie drag. Good job! :) Vishal joined us for the movie.

After the movie, we went to Ping Pong. Aram had told us about Ping Pong telling us they make really good cocktails, especially the ones with Lychee juice. I tried the Lychee and Roses (Bombay Sapphire, rose petals, lime and lychee juice) and the Ping Pong (Martini Bianco, white wine, Yokaichi Shochu and lychee juice). Of the two I liked Lychee and Roses better. The boys both had the Lemongrass and Lime (Jewel of Russia vodka, fresh lemongrass, lime and lychee juice). This was definitely the best of the 3 drinks I tasted. I liked all, but I would pick the Lemongrass and Lime next time I went. The boys didn't care too much for Ping Pong.

Lychee and Roses (in martini glass) and Lemongrass and Lime

To eat, at Ping Pong, we ordered 7 different dim sums. Some were really good, some were okay. I especially enjoyed the Chicken and king prawn shu mai (Chicken and king prawns in an open pastry topped with shitake mushroom in a translucent white pastry). The Spicy pork dumpling (Pork and spicy sautéed vegetables) was also realllllly good! All their dim sums are around $5.00. Each plate has 3 dim sums, which made it perfect for the 3 of us to share! :)

After dinner, we walked around Chinatown a bit. We were going to go to Oya, but it was way too dressy for how we were dressed. We walked to Gallery Place and got crepes from the crepe stall there. I got the dark chocolate one. Quite yum! I'd like to go back to this stall sometime to try their savoury crepes.

On Sunday, Saurabh and I went to Ardeo for their Champagne Brunch. I quite liked this place. For appetizers with shared the Big ones mussels (w/ cider vinegar, shaved fennel, thyme) and the Persian cucumber gazpacho (w/ black garlic crostini). This was the first time I have ever had a gazpacho and it was extremely delicious. I was skeptical about a cold soup, but I would totally crave and order this again. I didn't care too much for the mussels, but Saurabh liked them. For our entrees, we got the Grilled steak and eggs (natural beef hangar, poached eggs, grilled bread, béarnaise) and the Squid ink risotto (calamari, sliced garlic, dried chilies, italian parsley salad). The steak was really good. I didn't particularly care for the risotto. Though, it was hilarious to see Saurabh eat it! With every bite he took, his lips and teeth were BLACK! For dessert we shared the Strawberry Tart (chocolate crust, strawberry gelato). The chocolate crust was a perfect amount of sweetness to complement the strawberries. The gelato was the best part of the the dessert. It was just excellent!! I totally wanted to order another one, but I was too full.

Persian Cucumber Gazpacho

Delicious Delicious Strawberry Tart

The rest of Sunday evening was lazy. It was just such a fun, relaxed but still full weekend. And it ended with a bonus day off. I took Monday off this week! :)