Dallas cowboys

In downtown Dallas adjacent to the pioneer cemetery is this beautiful cattle drive sculpture... One of the first places I visited when I was new in America.

Happy New Year 2014

Puerto Rico - Enticing Paradise for discerning travelers

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puerto Rico, The All-Star Island for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

While planning a vacation I tend to look for places that offer a variety of attractions and recreation options. Some features that I always look for while considering a destination include: comfort and luxury, great food, adventure sports, outdoor activities, beaches, golfing greens, and of course shopping and entertainment.

While reading up about different destinations for my next holiday I came across Puerto Rico and was fascinated by the different holiday options that the island nation offers. A great advantage for US residents is that one doesn't need a visa or entry permit of any sort, just get into a plane and land up in this tourist paradise. In short you can Live your own 5-star vacation story in Puerto Rico.

The biggest draw of Puerto Rico for me is the 270 plus miles of coastline with several thousand feet of relaxing beaches that offer sun, sand and unlimited fun. For instance I would love to spend a day in one of the Travel Channel's top 10 beaches - the Flamenco Beach in Culebra. Another must do item on my agenda for Puerto Rico is a visit to the El Yanque rainforests and climb the cloud-kissed mountain tops.

Being an adventure sports enthusiast I would make time for a session of caving in the Camuy Caverns that run through the 3rd largest underground river in the world. It would be thrilling to achieve this feat. Not many in the world would do that. Puerto Rico tourism website is a great source of information on visiting you can Like SeePuertoRico.com on Facebook

I would cap all my activities with varied gastronomic delights that only Peurto Rico has to offers to wash them down with the famous Rums that are only made here.

I would say that Puerto Rico is a holiday destination that offers 5-star comfort and makes your holiday,. memorable for a long time to come. This is the place to create memories for life. Learn more, Follow @PRTourismCo on Twitter.

I have given my reasons to visit Puerto Rico for my next holiday. What are yours? I would be happy to know..

Bob Woodruff Park, Plano

Fall in Plano is quite brown and grey but nature is beautiful nevertheless. The trails are covered with leaves. Even in the cold it is quite invigorating to take a stroll through the park.

Texas Summer Sunsets

Texas Sunsets are amazingly beautiful. These are recent pictures of a summer sunset at Lake Ray Roberts, Pilot Point, TX

Aruba - An Island of Many Possibilities

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aruba Tourism Authority for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am a travel junky, I love to visit exotic locations, enjoy great food, participate in adventures, soak in new cultures, and of course relax during a holiday. My most favorite destination is invariably is a place that offers outdoor activities, good food, and of course shopping. I am not a big shopper but I do love to buy antiques, local artifacts, and other odds and ends as memories of my visit.

Ever since I heard about the offerings that Aruba travel has I have been sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to get there and enjoy the new destination. First off let me tell you about the amazing shopping options that this exotic island offers. Prices are 10-35 percent lower than in continental America. There are upscale malls selling international brands, jewelry stores, and of course the downtown shopping experience that only Aruba can offer.

You can buy anything at Aruba from gold and silver jewelry to watches, to cosmetics, to handicrafts and souvenirs to clothing. You don't have to worry about carrying all the stuff you buy, the public bus service is convenient, cheap and frequent. You can rent a car too, driving is similar to America i.e. right side of the road and the best thing is you don't have to get a new license to drive, US driving license is accepted. That takes a huge hassle out of the way. Shop keepers in Aruba welcome US currency, credit cards and travelers checks.

Eating out is a great in Aruba, there is a great deal of diversity of cuisines and flavors. The ambiances are mostly elegant, creative and casual. Service is great and echoes the typical Caribbean hospitality. For those who enjoy gastronomic adventures, on offer is classical delicacies such as frogs' legs, duck, venison, foie gras and chateaubriand. Fresh Caribbean catch including mahi-mahi and wahoo are also on offer.

Those like me who are into outdoors there are the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sun-kissed beaches. There are amazingly beautiful hiking trails in the Arikok National Park, the Casibari and Ayo Rock Formations. Culture and history aficionados can enjoy the new state-of-the-art Archaeology Museum and the fascinating Numismatic Museum.

I can go on and on about Aruba, but the best thing for you to do is to plan your next holiday. Only personal experience can make you aware of how amazing a holiday in Aruba can be.

See you in Aruba.

Bridge and Water

A foot bridge across a creek in a residential area in Texas.

View of the Pacific Ocean in California

Lake Ray Roberts Views along the Johnson Branch

Dead Wood on banks of Lake Ray Roberts



Lake Ray Roberts shoreline - great walking locale

Ray Roberts Lake - Johnson Branch

Ray Roberts Lake in North Texas region is one of my favorite locations to visit. The vast expanse of fresh, clear water surrounded by wilderness and trees makes it an ideal place to spend a quiet evening at. To facilitate recreation the state government's arm Parks and Wildlife department has created many state parks around the lake and I recently discovered the Johnson Branch on the far side of the lake from my perspective. I visited this park last week and walked along the shoreline for a few miles enjoying the sounds and sights of water as it created ripples and occasional waves in the wind.

Finding India in America

Most Americans don't have a great opinion about India, but then wherever I travel in the United States I see evidence of India. For example in Texas deer hunting is very popular, the animals that are so fondly hunted were introduced here from India. The cattle that Americans like to eat so much are also products of India, which have been hybridized and bred to produce more meat.

I recently found another Indian influence on American soil. At the Lake Ray Roberts one of the predominant species of grass is the "Indian Grass". Here are some pictures of the signage that I saw: