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Wednesday
Aug102005

The ever amazing Chinese

A colleague at work told me about this chinese synchronized dancing, where 20 or so identical (physically close) dancers perform a show.

He sent me a web site showing this dance. At first I thought it was computer graphics or some special effects. Later, I realized that it was a bunch of dancers standing one behind the other.

To see this video click here.

Sometimes I cant help but wonder if every chinese person I meet is a perfectionist.

:)

Wednesday
Aug102005

Hello Montana - Photo Blog

Went to Montana for the first time ! on a business trip this week. It was absolutely beautiful. The pilot was nice to let us know we were flying over Glacier National Park.

Had taken my camera (to get some Photos for my work memo), but used it to get some shots through the airplane window! The camera battery low indicator was on, so I got only two shots, but they came out well..

What do you think ?

1. Glacier National park (the ice)!





2. A little lake formed by melting ice




Wednesday
Aug102005

BARR - Udupi Palace

Udupi Palace is a well known chain. We go to the one at Poplar and El Camino Real (for those of you outside California, you must have figured out by now that all the Indian eateries are on El Camino Real !).





It is a nice place with plenty of seating and you can find parking without difficulty, especially if you know that there is additional parking at the Jewellery store parking lot nearby.

There has been a recent staff change at Udupi with only two or three of the old timers left. The newbies are learning the ropes and I have to say that service this week was much better than what we got three weeks ago. We also got the feeling that the place was understaffed.



Wait time : 10 minutes (no one to seat you !!)
Food wait time from order : 15 minutes.
Check time : 3 minutes (Visa Mastercard Amex)
Average price per person : $14
Rating "Grandma, where are you ?".
Service : Average


Items sampled : Rava Dosa, Vegetable Bhaji, Poori Bhaji

You cannot go wrong by ordering Poori Bhaji at Udupi. The guys have nailed this one perfectly. You get three pooris instead of the two you get at other restaurants.

If you order items like rava dosa which take time to make, strongly suggest the vegetable Bhaji (Japanese folks- this is tempura, indian style). They give you two or three potato , two hot chili and two onion bhajis (batter fried veggies !). There is a slight hint of masala , thanks to the powder they spread on top. This comes with salad and an amazing chutney. They could have served the dosa with this chutney instead of the regular cocunut chutney.

The Rava dosa was a work of art. The three of us finished it so fast (good sambar too) that we decided to order another one. It was worth the wait. Same crispy crunchy, non oily rava dosa. It got the "yummy" with some vigorous head nodding from the little critic. The cocunut chutney was not the best we have had (Spice Hut will give these guys a run for their money on the cocunut chutney).

A very enjoyable dinner place. Things should improve once the newbie waiters pick up speed and improve on customer service. Strongly recommended !

Sunday
Aug072005

Photos from the park- part 2

More photos from the park.. this time , from two different local parks within 5 minutes drive from our house.

An evening well spent taking pictures and playing with the little one.



The big girl slide !!







Big girl swing too !



Happy people . .



This photo doesn't do justice to the beauty of this park. Not my best fountain photo.. but someday when the little one is not tugging at my feet, I will improvise.

Sunday
Aug072005

BARR - Spice Hut

A nice little Malabar Eatery at the corner of Remington and El Camino Real, that is more popular for its non-veg menu. But there is plenty of south indian vegetarian stuff at this place.




I still remember our first visit to spice hut almost two years ago when they had advertised two dosas, sambar and chutney for a $1.50. The "Set Dosa" hasn't changed in quality, and neither has the price ! Just like home, the dosa is slightly on the thick side, with the right sponginess (if there is such a word)!!



Wait time : 3 minutes
Food wait time from order : 10 minutes at 5 PM(have had to wait for upto 25 mins in the past at 8 PM)
Check time : 1 minutes (Visa or Mastercard Only)
Average price per person : $5.5
Rating "Grandma, where are you ?".
Service : excellent


Items sampled : Set Dosa, Dosa, Malabar Paratha, Vegetable Cutlet and Chai.

The dosa at spice hut (plain or with masala) is great in terms of quantity and quality. The dosa is large and filling and they give you enough sambar and cocunut chutney (really good chutney) to finish the dosa. We take home the remaining sambar to eat later with rice! The thing that stands out in the masala is the onions cut in ribbons instead of tiny pieces.

The Vegetable cutlet was crispy and just right.

The malabar paratha (same as Madras paratha at saravana bhavan, pilsbury readymade)- a layered wheat bread was thick and I strongly recommend that you eat this item first if you ordered more than one item. It gets a little leathery in texture if it goes cold. Not a fault of spice hut though. It is characteristic of paratha, in all restaurants.

Chai has been hit and miss for us at Spice Hut but today it was perfect.

The little one ate the dosa and cutlet and was declaring "yummy" all the way. She insisted on dipping the dosa in sambar and we let her. We thought it might be too spicy for her, but she had no problem and gave a double yummy.

Strongly recommended for light snacks or a filling dinner. Incidentally, they have changed all the tables and chairs which are really comfortable.