Tucson, Arizona

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

The Barn Owl seen at the Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson, Arizona

Today is my 41st Birthday, and to make a simple note of it, we took a day trip south towards Tucson, Arizona. There is no better time to visit the wild desert than now, in springtime, and so our first stop was the Saguaro National Park. Flowers and cactus were blooming white, hot pink, and yellow.

The Sonora Desert Museum was stop number two, where we were treated to the sight of this Barn Owl, a Harris Hawk, and some confined wildlife. The Tucson Botanical Garden was almost our last stop; a birthday cake awaited me at the Silva’s home, and then it was back into the car for the drive home.

Phoenix Mountain Hike

JWise Photo of the Day

Phoenix, Arizona

I probably had a nap to tend to or some other lame excuse, but for whatever reason, I did not opt to hike up Lookout Mountain with our gang.

Jay Patel, Caroline Wise, Rinku and Krupesh Shah in Phoenix, Arizona

Our gang is known as The Crazy Guju’s and Bad Ddhoriyo’s; you’ll find our tag “cGbD” all over north Phoenix. Lookout Mountain is our turf and so we have to send a patrol up here to make sure no Tamil’s or Telugu’s try to muscle in.

Jay Patel in Phoenix, Arizona

Jay will be standing guard here overnight.

Superstition Mountains in Mesa, Arizona

After the gang was done up at Lookout Mountain, I joined them for a trip out to the Superstition Mountains in Mesa for a look around.

Renaissance Festival

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One of the many players making the experience of the Renaissance Festival all the more real inviting passers by to try the chocolates here in Arizona

Year in and year out, we keep going to the Renaissance Festival east of Mesa in Arizona. Some faces even become familiar; vendors surely do as we have our favorites we never miss, such as the Bungled Jungle. A favorite of Caroline’s for wooden hair accessories is Morgan’s Mane, and both of us love the Broom Company for handmade unique brooms that, sadly for them, last forever.

For entertainment, you’ll find us either watching the Wylde Men, The Tortuga Twins, or the Ded Bob Show. So it’s the same old stuff year after year, but it’s still a great time for us.

Engagement

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Sonal and Anju Patel at Kushbu and Saurin's Engagement in Phoenix, Arizona

Sonal and her sister Anju arrive for the engagement of Kushbu and Saurin.

Kushbu and Saurin's Engagement in Phoenix, Arizona

Truth be told, it was late 2023 when I discovered that this blog post only had one brief paragraph at the bottom of these eight photos. You wouldn’t fault me for not being able to pull much from the back of my head where some dusty memories might remain from 19 years ago, but I’m having difficulty finding even some cobwebs leading me to them.

Kushbu and Saurin's Engagement in Phoenix, Arizona

Mom, Dad, and sister with Saurin and Kushbu to the left.

Kushbu and Saurin's Engagement in Phoenix, Arizona

The ceremony is underway, with about 80 guests in attendance.

Kushbu and Saurin's Engagement in Phoenix, Arizona

And with the placement of a ring on Kushbu’s finger, the couple is engaged.

Kushbu and Saurin's Engagement in Phoenix, Arizona

Writing this and looking at these nearly 20-year-old photos, a long time has passed since last we saw Kushbu and Saurin who has been her husband for many years.

Kushbu and Saurin's Engagement in Phoenix, Arizona

The youngest girl up front is Kushbu Patel, daughter of Sonal, who I don’t believe had started high school yet, but today, she’s married and has a couple of children.

Kushbu and Saurin's Engagement in Phoenix, Arizona

After having the opportunity last year to attend a wedding and reception, this year we were invited to two engagements. These Indian events are extravaganzas with lots of beautiful clothes, great food, dancing, and singing.

Channel Islands, California – Day 3

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Malibu Creek State Park on Mulholland Drive in California

Taking the scenic route through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area as part of our trip back to Arizona. We are passing Malibu Creek State Park on Mulholland Drive in California; on the right in those mountains is the site where the TV show MASH was filmed. This sure beats the freeway.

Caroline Wise on Mulholland Drive buying a box of strawberries in California

Thank you to the person selling vine-ripe strawberries next to the road. Every time we stop for berries in Southern California, it ruins us from buying them in Arizona.

Highway 101 in Los Angeles, California

Back on the freeway for the drive home. Just beyond the curve ahead to the right will be our first glimpse of the Los Angeles skyline, and the temptation begins to go explore some other corner of Hollywood or L.A. These moments of the trip might be the most nostalgic for me as it brings me back to my teen years when I’d clandestinely make my way to the greater downtown Los Angeles for some exploration.

Interstate 60 in Los Angeles, California

The last major stack of interchanges on Interstate 60 traveling east across California. We deviated off the I-10 as we needed to grab a couple of Boba teas at Ten Ren’s Tea Time in Rowland Heights. If you’ve never been to Ten Ren’s, you might not understand why it’s worth the detour.

Interstate 10 in California

Only an hour left to Blythe means we’ll be home in around three hours. You can be assured that we are still eating those yummy strawberries all the way home.