Mexico-

some display in park mayan village

Mexico, have been to Cabo san lucas (todo santos, la paz) 2009 and Dec. 2016 some 4 days Puerto Vallarta. My Smugmug gallery had pictures, ya right no writeup on blog abt. PV & Cabo 2009 / 2016 gallery

My first restaurant food after coming from India was Mexican and that too burrito trying.
Cabo was the first visit with most remembered was fresh orange juice which is thank god with pulp ( mostly i like fruits , yes but do try things when at place) and was amazing, did some water activities there , small detour to see todo santos for some weaving factory, hotel california and typical Mexican breakfast small store in village ( cheese, beans and tortilla), another first time try out and liked was jasmine water , tamarind water and salsas were of very different kinds. The two towns were very quite places with really hand counted people visible.
Then in later years Puerto vallarta for just some days, the boat to reach waterfalls and river crossing those might be most pointed out things among other. The murals and paintings were amazing. So food wise was quite aware of mexican food options fajitas, tacos and nachos and all time favorite being flan ( very similar to kharvas what we make in India, especially one with saffron.. ymmmmmmmm, been ages eating that, not looks wise but one very close to taste thing one can make is full fat milk boiled with lemon to separate milk fats and add jaggery and cardamam, saffron to it , I come from supra family tree with plenty awesome things eaten growing up, they make anything out of anything) .

Hilarious as it may sound but in Mexican I was learning for past year I got asked plenty times " when R u going to travel to Mexico" Even I was not aware of this some days of thing was going to happen post Colombia. My go to plan, may be plan or not (one can not call it plan as i just do it , don't care kinda) was for something different. Sick of the walls ( well that's for some other time to xxxxxxxxxxxx, Pay for no mistake of yours and who decided? ) Besides I write all these things just for myself.

This time was fun practicing my learnings and its really fun way post colombia to get more speaking practice , one can communicate and understand. "Necesito practicar mi espanol"  :) I have my own fun things here..

Chichen itza

Pyramids and ancient things and rituals and tribes , well they existed in every country and still do. Its
just that every tribes way is different. At one point travelling in Delphi near first Olympic stadium there is a museum where one can see in that era all around the earth / world what was happening.  More than any other history thing that i have ever seen it was really cool way to get the whole picture. The Map should be still there.Wish there was this kind of map about all ancient tribes all around, n'way. May be it exists, not aware of.

Driving down the streets one can not imagine behind all these trees  are beaches, caves, some
underground rivers and deep holes wells , Cenotes, pyramids and what not . The area is kind of covered with vegetation.

won't call it hiking just some walking around exploring ruins in "Tulum" Nice port city with beautiful beaches and plenty iguanas... Seems to have plenty marine life too.

Chechen Itza the place and pyramids are well maintained and one is not allowed to climb any ( one might feel bad but in sense its a good way.) The scale and thought process that went into building , the echos, ball game stadiums, locations, since calendar was around position of Venus ( the observatory) nd many other things. People would read sky for understanding everything. Lost skill anymore for individuals like u and me? The place is large scale and still under excavation.  Many vendors with real good carving skills and carvings adorn the complex. Beautiful place. 

Missed opportunity was caught in COBA:  was when climbed the pyramid and u get the sense, in the footsteps of kings as they would see their land from high up. Its very different than what u see from below.
The site too has many ruins and things spread out.

Under sea walk

Just some water things :Was long due since summer.
Jumping in middle of rough ocean with snorkel gear, life vest first time, had done submarine before but was nice with bigger coral reef and plenty marine life to see.... 

Some other things would be under sea walk (20 ft. below ), nice immersion jet boats glad to run there at last minute and the individual who joined for running. Explored the Mayan village alone, nice place. Seeing wildlife in their own natural habitat is what is most interesting, although i had as a kid fish tank nd later i just hated that concept of confinement (in a way its good for everyone to have an opportunity by visiting zoo or such places to see things but at the same time xxxxx ) The place was really nicely maintained and was complete collaboration of  Mexican culture & history right from dances to shows, all around everywhere really beautiful vocals and singers, Mayan villages the things they make and games played and food. Really good experience.

Video is nice too

The 2019 last sunrise walk I did on beach  would be a thing to remember , as i did it with remembering 2019 and all things since 2014 ( many morning walks did alone on beach , including afternoons in pools and ocean when was in hotel).....

New year started with ATV ride , night zip/ water zip, some other thing.... Could have done differently yes , may be ....



Smugmug gallery of Mexico
To see all other galleries click on home icon. All Pictures taken by me and if I am in picture one can find description below abt it.
Instagram Mexico



2019:
Jordan petra trek, Ireland coastal trek solo with group, Italy dolomites full circuit trek, Croatia hiking some other things, Colombia lost city trek solo with group, Mexico exploring water things, Rain run half , weighted 13.1, some challenges 175 miles, some 5k 10 k ....Night bike ride , Tour du lopez bike ride, Snow shoe hikes, fat tire biking , cross country skii, undersea walk, immersion jet, Jumping in middle of ocean, archery , slack line and other balance roll stuff ( didn't have much time just tried), camp muir solo with group that was my getting one more year younger thing for myself, some 18 milers, volunteer , spanish, greman, nature walks

Just started new year Atv, water night zips... The year sucked in the sense lost my aunt in ireland trek ( and ppl have more interest in garbage they created than ....) now my best school teacher)  Looking from 2014 the things  my neighbor died ( second to my father), my yoga teacher & more.....

Colombia- Lost city Trek solo with grp.

Colombia : Lost city Trek + Small dist. biking
Dec 5 -16 2019

Nothing on thanks giving wknd. long story for a while now.  Next 5 some days I was alone in seattle in literal sense no one talks no one calls nothing , not sure what I did to anyone ever and I know , I don't deserve this kind of treatment. ( just went around for couple things & did packing and left on 5th evening in taxi to airport)

It happened so that while watching expedition unknown some episode, came across some lost city kind of thing not this in particular and just remembered had seen this kind of some trek, in a spur of moment thing gets booked only for me. In south America have done Peru Inca trek / section of amazon basin, Chile Atacama hikes / Patagonia trek and now was Colombia. another introduction for the country was from Ana ( long story but just the name is enough)

"Its Colombia and not Columbia" one can find many t-shirts saying that everywhere. Flight was for Medellin, city is little inside from the airport.Taxi takes almost 40 minutes passing through 8.4 km of tunnel. Looking out from window right side on winding road one

can see first glimpse of the place ( many trees and housing complexes). It was kind of late in the evening, dumped stuff in room and I just explored nearby park, nursery, some cafe place for sandwich and fresh juice stall. U walk little farther from hustle bustle and one is in some polished area. Given Christmas time, the decors were everywhere. Its always so that all the decors are made of natural materials or straws etc and for the displays in south /central America vs. other places one can find distinct diff. Both being nice.

Next morning was group meet and pleasantly all enthusiastic youngsters ready to take on new thing. The presentation with lunch hmmm first start of Colombian food ( plantains and mango and lot other stuff) and  right in time came the downpour lasted for short while just to clean the streets for you :).
Later the day was spent exploring the Medellin city, the noticeable diff bet areas 1 to 6, with various developments underway, the exemptions for lower income individuals and facilities developed for them, the gondolas, trains and buses , escalators and may other modes of travel, libraries, some skills development community classes. Some sections in the city are not gogo kind which is true for any place. River runs through & creates separation  and like plenty rivers everywhere massive cleanup is necessary as per locals. Communa 13 section was nice with beautiful graffiti and development underway, just reminded of Valparaiso section in Chile.

The El Penol and town of Guatape is really beautifully kept.Yes and there was small section of biking too. That was fun.


Many times its been said that when u " means I " visit the place its very different than when others do or U always write about positive things and skip the other bad experiences or stuff etc well ( I do notice like u do, its ok just travel like explorer and try to be like local, that will make your experience nice too. Little flexible, not too fussy if some thing is out of place (happens). If there are specific things / needs just be open to group members or guides or even locals and tell them. As a tourist everyone mostly would try to make your experience nice as that gets the revenue for any country. There is always a clear cut diff. bet when u live in that country and when u visit that country as a traveler ( u notice things which u wouldn't otherwise).

The area is very lush green with many mango and other trees and yes plenty street dogs :) Santa Marta and many places one can walk around to see. Food tastes different and nice everywhere. First time of trying Colombian food.

From Santa Marta it was some 4 days of trekking with refuge stays, when they say do carry bug spray please do and use it ( mosquitoes). They have all nets and nice bunk beds to sleep into, With showers,  rivers to swim into or waterfalls to enter into. It was interesting to see how ways of living are changing for some from their original businesses to this tourist business thing.

Top respected "Mamu"

The area was originally mainly for (and still is )four tribes kogi, wiwa, arhuaco, kankuamo .....though some reluctantly have adopted new ways to some extent. Its diff culture for them and would be nice to see it stays the same for future generations from both sides to experience ( tourists as well them). Often it happens that more the tourism happens they too change over time. Think the responsibility lies on both sides to set limits. They have definitely restricted areas where tourist can visit and others are sacred places for them and every September they close the lost city trek for some cleansing. (It was even noticeable in africa with masai people how they have set limits in a good way ) The lost city involves many terraces, the original map is carved in stones, the stairways to, some areas which are allowed for tourists and has military base, noticeable even on trek portions. Way to keep travelers safe.

In the Tribes typically boys and girls are differentiated using mochila the cross bags for boys and beads for girls. One would find them wearing all white clothing. One can differentiate bet. tribes by their hats.The top leader " mamu" and his family is allowed to stay in the sacred site vicinity and he wears special head gear woven by him which represents rivers flowing and many other things. It was nice of him to allow us to meet him and visit the area.

Every guy has mochila with coca leaves and for exchange for greeting each other. Special plant is used to make threads & natural dying process is used to make variety of things. Cows, pigs, horses , mules, many farming areas to grow things even coca leaves.

Tyrona national park and many other places have beautiful beaches and sure there is plenty wildlife in many other parks , that is for some other time. Some turtle nesting areas, anteaters, monkeys, condors, many other birds. Tropical fruits which really taste good. " mangoes, water melon, passion fruits" .. tamales with jackfruit.

  

Post trek just spent a day in Cartagena as the flights are kinda of odd timings & even got to explore the place for a day. Did old walled city exploring and waterfront was diff change. Its kind of smaller and different than Medellin. As is in every developing country or county there exists in nearby vicinity the stark contrast bet. the old city and the highly developed polished new areas. Its nice to see the preserved old sections of cities anywhere you go.

Ya I so wanted some beach kind vacation apart from treks and things I do during summer , it didn't happen. Just one opp. later got in croatia and got to hear plenty after swimsuit wearing, hence went really very conservative here ( now that I think of it , would have been fun in tyrona park... anyways) but post that also got to hear plenty things... so for the next which was kind of unknown to me till end of this trip, wore what i wanted ( for anything i do, there is always that some noise, which isn't even interested in any facts but just want to create chaos all the time, for their reasons whatever they may be ... I hardly care anymore)

Nice place and am sure many other parks have more things...
Besides they had their own photographer for this trip and given all things going around i made my smugmug picture site private long before trek. My taken some pictures are visible here (click to zoom) and had uploaded the next day on instagram of mine "rupsinthewa" besides i have album too on smugmug its private (was asked , so its open again)

this of me was taken by one crew mem.

Some pics from my cam & cell :-
Smumug gallery of mine

Pics : Instagram
Click to see

Colombia y Mexico

Nota corta en espanol:  Colombia y Mexico

Este decembre yo visito Ciudad Perdida en Colombia.
Esta area ofrece muchas oportunitidades para el senderismo en bosque bellos. Esta caminata es para cuatro diaz.En Ciudad Perdida  area hay cuatro groupo de gente diferente. ( kogi, wiwa, arhuaco, kankuamo). Hay un monton de militares en la caminata para la protection de las personas. Esta caminata es muy bonita.

Ciudad Medellin es grande. El centro de ciudad hace 45 minuto en el texi de medellin aeropuerto.
Ciudad Medellin es divido en seis grupo. Communa trece seccion es para beneficion a las personas de bajos ingressos. Esta ciudad tiene hermoso graffiti. Communa trece esta preciosa.

Despues de caminata nosotros visitamos el parque de Tyrona. Parque de tyrona tiene muchas animales diferente, tortuga, cocodrilo, mono, hormiguero etc.Muchas palayas con agua azul.

Pasado yo visito ciudad Cartajena para uno dia. Esta ciudad es pequeno en comparacion con medellin. La parte antiqua de la ciudad es muy bonita. La ciudad viejo tiene muchas tiendas pequeneas y restaurantes.


Despues de Colombia yo visito mexico. Yo no conozco sobre de esta viaje. En el pasado yo visito cabo san lucas y puerto vallarta. Yo visito Cancun este viaje.  Hay muchas actividades de agua en esta lugar : esnorquel, submarino,buceo, jet barco .

Yo visito las piramides y las runias de chichen itza, coba.  Palayas de cancun son muy divertidas.

Colombia y Mexico son lugares muy divertidos.

Para foto "click" aqui

Instagram
Colombia instagram "click" aqui

Mexico instagram "click"aqui


( 😂  at least wanted to start somewhere, not that expansive word bank i have of the language hence many repeat words... )

Oct:

Garden 
I wasn't even aware of this show happened last 19 sept., suddenly went last night " spelling bee" My picture website

evening, early morning...., weekends

Sat 5 / Sun 6 : morning some miles ...
Sat 12: Temple ritual :) .... just quick up Little si, good to see lot of individuals enjoying trail.
Sun 13: something morning, marathi song program evening (I  just found out and last minute nice)....
Some mushroom findings solo on some evening nature walks /  halloween solo, picked pumpkin on naturewalks etc .... I don't post all here ..
 Been doing this for years ... Halloween / etc click here

Bellevue square diwali 2019

Fri 18: Hour gym early morning, zumba evening
Sat19: some biking new kind first time, post 2.30 bellevue square diwali , I went as I had come to know about event. Yup all were there, met everyone keni, chaphekars, shriram, shraddha oak, milind and many more.


click for pics

Sun 20: Nice crowd for game.Just last minute &
Something evening




Fri 25 : Dhanteras ( gajar halwa prasad) diwali, zumba , morning weights, Music prog. night. Well this was the first time went for Opera singing show,two acts very different.
Sat 26:- Yard clean up post storm, Volunteering planting trees
(11.15- 2.30),   volunteering
Sun 27: Laxmi pooja, ( sheera prasad ) all other stuff, later evening went for diwali temple BAPS.

 Entire diwali (my diwali).... Sat : Still hate my hair ....

Knew of this event went pretty late sunday..Mon i entertained myself rangoli

 
 Happy new year ..

Tue 29:- Just some 7/8  miles redmond ... 






click here on regular basis & help yourself here

Real Images on other site. (entire halloween I , me , myself)

Real Images Halloween click here :: 

Actually there was some funny thing This time wanted to do something totally diff. than last year with aged look and added some crows for some deathly effects nd things.. The day ( kind of very early) when I kept the pumpkin outside real gang of crows was everywhere, crows are pretty smart and I guess by afternoon they figured out these were fake crows ... but it was funny episode [ ( crow / the birds movie :) ]. Lot of kids used to come years back, now they have outgrown their age and malls and places are pretty warm for parents and kids. Still bunch of neighborhood kids showed up . Happy halloween !!

Sept:

Sat 21: Volunteer event for morning was cancelled, some miles samm park, REI event was going on something... later redmond farmers market ... and later in evening someone got back post week of special extension preplanned with someone's help...  Insta sat

Sun 22:something early morning and later was made sure went for seahawks game.

Sept 28 2019 Sat evening

Sat morning sept 28 2019

Sat 28 : 9-1 morning trail volunteering ,
Volunteering trail work 


<= evening teatro zinzanni 


Sun 29: Some miles outside in park. Robins wood.

Sept: Dolomites full circuit

Sept 1- 13 :- Dolomite Alta Via 1 full circuit (snow , rain, sun) (trains , bus )

80 /85 some miles or more ...

clickto zoom

Well its been third visit to Italy, first time being typical touristic touch nd go long back, later second was trek solo: climbing Stromboli, Etna etc. and this time trekking Dolomites. Yes and how can it be skipped a part of italy when did tour du mont blanc trek (so actually 4 times ). Had heard a lot about it and would have happened last year itself or early this year solo , did do Ireland solo. The Journey to starting point Dobbiaco was really great with train ride being very pleasant and comfortable. Original train was cancelled due some track issues, so had another & met cool lady with two daughters ( she does dubbing ) ,transferred to bus through slovenia, then another train through austria and finally destination. One lady was going to do same trek with her church group, am sure she had great time. Coming from Bombay now Mumbai probably train journey is the most missing part for all those who have experienced it. One even tends to form daily travel groups and all things which later come with it. Even after being with zillions of people one can still be oneself amidst the crowds or even part, so is true everywhere else... n'ways

Yes and not to forget the awesome lady who helped while waiting for taxi at the station.

Reached the hotel later in the evening and yes, there came rain :)  Meeting group members and sharing each others get to know intros...Everyone including myself, people are little hesitant or better word would be reluctant to open all their cards on the first day, ( have noticed in all trips )
Very nice small group of individuals ( would call it a cozy group) with plenty accomplishments of their own.

Next day was the start of some 12 days of Dolomites full circuit, with nice stays at all huts with real

click to zoom

  beautiful settings and non-expected amenities for the places they are at. The real hardy food, kind of expected for hikers was really nice at some of the refuges and they were very accomodative of any special requests. Since many individuals would hike on same trails, it was but obvious to catch up with them at the end of the day, sometimes at the same refuges sharing tables. Lucky to watch sunrises from the bed (and to all those who were there watching them too from where ever), starry nights, snow.
Got to experience all kinds of weather ( that seems like the theme song for most treks) rain, snow, sun and seems like this is the year I am using my rain gear to the fullest :) . Ignored all this while, I was using gaiters last winter for my rain pants as they are pretty short , but too bad have to replace them.

By OTM

Did carry poles , but apart from opening them 3 times ( just because was carrying them in hands all the time) glad never needed to use them as such and was fine even after doing things before trek (Croatia 50 or more miles) and after the trek too (2 days venice lots leg work). So something I did / am doing is working fine ( that's just the reminder to myself). The real terrain, passes , distances ,elevations all can be found anywhere. The geography, various mountains (civetta, moiazza, pelmo etc) and plenty stories to accompany (Italian troops/ Austrian ), our guide did nice job doing that and we did our part of harassing ( not really , just joking) , forgetting and plenty other things , testing one's patience :)  haha :) What things can tick an individual off.... Naaaaaaaa ... just kidding. May be he has different story to tell abt .what we did :) :)

Some individuals walk along or stop ( simply hear / simply listen) and some don't but they still listen. Everyone pays attention to things in different style. But brush it off vs processing (hearing /listening) are two different things.

click to zoom

Will  U be U when U know someone is trying to cross check everything they know / heard about you.. As U probably knew they are doing that.
-- U will for sure, if all this while U were not faking anything.

Reluctantly (with all that has been done to me and got sick of telling individuals things) I had not invested at all in things to do around here, just went / just came back. Would have otherwise done "via ferrata" or some other whatever.

Selfie attempts

Insta 1 update: 

Insta2 Update: 

This is the last trip for my camera, it gave up in the middle also, cell did kinda ok job


Click here for Pics from my camera / cell


Would have liked to do something else in connection  solo or long before but as with all as always .... n'ways its pointless iterating same thing over and again ...



Spent last two days in Venice. Had been to Venice before. In the first visit to Italy got to experience the floods in st. mark square and the Adriatic ocean in its glory. Very short touch down visit. Trust me Venice looks the most beautiful in light drizzle and had been in Gondola ride that time.

This time it was different experience for two days, in the sense train ride to Venice followed by bus then boat and then walk to hotel, post trek with all the luggage. Besides I had my own some things to handle for last one and half day of trek.
Yes, leg work was major part of it while exploring various alleys, different locations, watching kids football etc.
First time to these islands : - visit to Murano ( glass blowing factory & things made dolphins / horses) , Burano (visited twice, second time being regatta for keep the lagoons clean, had to leave early as the thing started kind of late and was happy to meet Swedish lady on the peer, she has been to India many times) the fishing village is very colorful with famous bakery and chance encounter with two senior ladies in front their apartments was great, watching the sun spots through the telescope set up by an individual was a treat in Burano,
Lido, just walked up to the beach in afternoon & otherwise seemed like its a real fancy place.
Amongst castle, museums, churches and things, one with hands on museum for ( Leonardo's contribution to technology ) was really neat.

Small bookshops, mask making shops, art / jewellery galleries, wooden toys shop, there was one real weird place came across while venturing out in small alleys (place that screams don't go here).

click to zoom

While walking came across some music show and went for it, it was real amazing (later to discover it was one of the best shows to be seen)

Watching sunset from vaporetto and golden moonrise over lagoon was thing to remember.
The golden moonrise with wind blowing en-route airport was so gorgeous, one could have just hunkered down boat and lied in it watching & listening to favorite music. Never to forget the magic that it spilled over the lagoons.

What could have been different ( the timing to visit some of the places to get the best out of that place could have been managed better, than too much indecisiveness & just going back and forth on same streets or avoiding somethings for no reason) and seriously post trek it becomes kind of empty walk as u are used to be with set of individuals for number of days, it would have been nice to have their company here too. Did meet some trekkers while exploring around but still not the same.


Post all this got back on Monday haha nice to see plenty "welcome backs' at the airport, the only question asked was "where have u been this time, then just go.... I myself started laughing post seeing the reactions on the kind of luggage I had lifted, I mean I am used to it but not the viewers (seems like). "Thanks though.


I got Back Mon 16 afternoon , loads of cleanup, Week gym stuff

August: Croatia

Croatia:- Aug  25- 31

Hiking around krka, plitvice and many other places, Rest would call it as plenty leg work.
Some 9 or more miles day.

Croatia,the first introduction to the country was from one of the pictures had seen of Plitvice national park and second would be one couple who was there on earlier trek.Some bits and pieces here and there. How was this place selected, not sure just random. Because I felt like. Had nice flight going & coming back after dolomites trek alone.

The first entry from the airport to the Dubrovnik and the board beams "unstoppable" and "Run 2020" & some others .....
Taxi driver was great and did point out couple nice things to do around, islands to visit etc.
Was nice to see full blown sunny spell all around. Walking around the city walls with an individual who has lived through war was right way to experience it through his eyes and had great time , earlier could have done some other things but opted for just some walk around same area.That evening was end of some symphony orchestra in the square and was delight to experience that with the masses. The peacock island to visit and walk around is nice but from my personal point of view I wanted / would have done plenty water activities or activities rather than just leg works everywhere. Finally after little back and forth opted for some boat ride and those who saw me sitting would know literally where I sat :)

The museum atop hill and sunset over town turns magic spell on old city. would have been nice to

have reached here earlier or hiked earlier to explore area at the top, there were some horse rides too. One of the best part was seeing upclose meteorite with its tail fiery lights passing right in front of eyes. At first I couldn't believe I spotted and saw it just in front, once in a blue moon things like these can happen.

Ston walls walking around 12 in the afternoon, its really nice section, if one has seen kumbhalgadh, or some have seen Chinese wall, something on the similar lines. The fruit stall vendor at the start of the wall can provide good options post or pre , as per one's interest and choice.

The car carrying ferry services, just like here or one experienced in Ireland or many other places are nice options to get to destinations, avoiding unnecessary travel time and doing things one wants to

do.

Old heritage town in Split, farmers markets, Havr island and finally got a chance to take a first dip in the ocean at least 30 minutes.

Magic of music, mood and atmosphere, kudos to the singer and his selection of songs.

Krka National park, hiking around and yes, did enter water and en-route waterfall met one couple from Switzerland ,it was nice company.

This is Krka

Plitvice national park hiking around, a typical touristic place and someone was insistent to walk opposite to crowds to skip all best views.That was an ....n'ways

The caves later and experiencing, seeing bats was cool. The kid in the group was very smart and very good listener,so was the guide. There was going to be some bat watching night but had to leave further so ...

Some tractor rides and nice family meet ( grandmother who really wanted to speak to me and her grandson was the mediator for everything , as she knew German and I knew English) Nice trio to share front seat of tractor. They shared quite a lot of information about Croatia and kids mom had recently taken her boat licence etc.

From old to young biking was the way of moving around and it was really nice to see. Finally walking around Zagreb, the loudest music in the busy street and some other things...

All in all may be 9 / 10 miles day of leg work. Very nice place with many mountains, islands and in

reality one can opt for many other things to do.

May be next time.

Insta gallery 1

Click here for Pics from my camera / cell

June:- Camp muir (solo with grp)

Sat / Sun 9:Nothing great casual something sat.... some 13.1 miles on Sunday Redmond River SOLO  .... unlike for rain run half marathon in Jan where I ran it, this time did just brisk walk. Besides some event was going on at the location too. Later went out for somethings...

Sat 16 thanks to passby walker

Sat15: Impromptu drive to Rainier NP , hiking :   Insta:
Sun 16 : Hiking etc discover park etc insta

thanks to passerby hiker SAT15

Discover park ...

In GYM: Do my own workouts .....

 

Sat 22 : Given Snoqualmie falls is pretty small hike usually never go here .... today when did solo ( have done plenty solo hikes before ) first time did it from city to falls almost 7 miles...was nice ...

 more picture : more images

https://travelexpedition.smugmug.com/Washington-2019/

Stupid selfie attempts :) camp muir  Solo with group June 30 2019

Sun 30:- Hiking Camp Muir   base camp for rainier (SOLO with group)... nothing bad , just little whiteout and thunderstorms in the surroundings. Two of us among the group with one guide went all the way... more later..
Some other images My cam

Ireland hiking/ solo with grp.

Ireland Hiking etc:-
May 21 - June 1st 2019

Thanks for picture to Some German individuals on Top of Torc mountain (reached early & they were sitting at the top)

Last minute, Ireland ( Just some hikes and things. Well if the news I received at end of it is true ... its the worst trip ever, had just wifi connection  and if ppl came to know of it on trip and didn't bother letting me know as true with many other things already known to them ( mountaineers, texas, sammamish and many more with many more connections)  ....


It was since long time, when during searching for coastal treks, first choice that time was Ireland but for some reason it didn't happen and we opted for Portugal that time. Had hardly any significant break since last winter and No complaints but for both treks Jordan Petra & Ireland which I did solo had kind of windy, chilly, rainy weather. Beautiful anytime around, yes things happen.
I did do in bet some things which I always do..

As is it was last minute, why she is not going anywhere and all that, was lucky to grab tickets and other arrangements also worked out thanks to individuals. Unlike other times where I alone explore things and have my ride to hotel etc. this time when I landed met a member in group and on my suggestion it was great to see she enjoyed the cab ride to hotel and then we explored Dublin a bit. Later was kinda in rushed mode to enter the room and even went out alone later in evening exploring some other parts. The Painting shop near St. Patrick church was nice.

The itinerary is pretty clear, in addition it was nice to use some free time for self explorations alone.
The morning walks on Killaney hill road heading to towns were nice.
Exploring inch beach in rainy weather two some miles, one individual did came for .5 some miles.
The coastal run towards lighthouse and some other parts of town.
The cromwell's bridge and local parks and harbor was pleasant walk even in rain which did stop later.


and some others ....

Its hard to separate the hiking only as the arrangement of things had many urban portions and plus my own things done. The legwork was 90+ some miles...
For the definition of coastal walk its far different than the other coastal walk done, even for the intensity of the things. En route stayed in many small villages, kind of isolated areas, hence can not say much about towns. Its was nice to experience the black and white art work assignment for students, the nice music show, many sweater and thing shops, plenty book stores,  the golf club individual, not to forget my ever enthusiastic cab driver, line dance and other dances pros.

It was very accomplished group of ladies and everyone added their own flavor to make things nicer.
For some I might feel had they not had any connections to ppl who know me, things could have been little different for me. Normally most of the times ppl don't know where I am and i don't post things unless I am back.

Since Ireland kind of shares weather similar to that of Seattle , lot of greenery, crisp , foggy rainy, windy with sunny spells weather patterns. Many dairy products and to those who drink coffee, beer for sure Irish beer and pub local music culture and there are some hard rules to follow right from clapping to other things, which was nice take ( if u are like me, u can opt for hot flavored water and enjoy local music with your group, did that just couple times), local fruits ( blueberries were really good).

Every piece of land on earth is different and what makes it even more different is the locals and culture that occupies it. Hence amongst all similarities there will always be vast differences in every place where you go and it will make it well worth the visit.

Will update more later......


More later .....
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