darshanan-blog

[darshanan-blog]

Series Review: Mad Unicorn (streaming on #Netflix)

Inspired by a true story of a Thai entrepreneur, “Mad Unicorn” currently streaming on #Netflix takes the viewers through an extraordinary journey of a young, hungry entrepreneur. The story is inspired from the real life entrepreneurship journey of Komsan Saelee and his eventually founding Thailand’s first unicorn and largest shipping company, Flash Express. Expertly directed by Nottapon…

[darshanan-blog]

Exploring Land's End, San Francisco, CA

Today my friend and I decided to hike in the Land’s End area at the NorthernWestern corner of San Francisco, CA. Although we have been there a few times, today we took the time to explore it more thoroughly and walk up and down its many hike paths. The day was beautiful and the views even more stunning. Here’s a peek into the history of this area. Yelamu tribe of Ohlone Indians For millennia,…

[darshanan-blog]

Summary/ Review - Titan: The Oceangate Submersible Disaster

The documentary “Titan: The Oceangate Submersible Disaster” currently streaming on #Netflix, explores the 2023 submersible disaster in which several people lost their lives during an excursion to the wreckage of the Titanic, a British passenger ship that struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912. Titan is directed by Mark Monroe and the executive producers include Liz Garbus,…

[darshanan-blog]

More than a travelogue, this is a plea!

Those of us who live in the United States of America are uniquely fortunate to live in the land of incredible natural beauty. Woody Guthrie’s song “this land is your land, this land is my land” is truly emotional and brings tears to the eyes. I love the beautiful lyrics though I disagree with the fourth line “this land was made for you and me” and in the second last stanza upon seeing hunger on…

[darshanan-blog]

Travel: Olympic National Park, WA & Seattle

We spent about a week hiking and visiting different areas through the Olympic National Park in Washington. It sits at the intersection of rugged Olympic mountains and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean with several rivers and streams flowing through the region. Pacific salmon and many other species inhabit the region. Hurricane Ridge and Sequim, Crescent Lake, Marymere Falls From Oakland we…

[darshanan-blog]

"Come back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" - Play Review at #Theatreworks

The musical currently running at Theatreworks, Mountain View, CA, “5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean”, with roots in the film by the same name, explores the dreams of a group of women in a small Texas town. A group of women fans of actor Jimmy Dean, have planned a 20th year reunion at 5 & Dime store location. As they catch up and reminisce, through flashbacks and songs, we learn of their young…

[darshanan-blog]

Bollywood Movie Review: The Diplomat

Based on a true story, the film “The Diplomat” currently streaming on @Netflix keeps the audiences on the edge of their seats with its gripping narrative that follows real-life events of an Indian woman’s ordeal in Pakistan.  Uzma Ahmed (Sadia Khateeb) is deceived and lured into a love relationship by a Pakistani man, Tahir (Jagjeet Sandhu) when she is visiting Malaysia. His promise of marriage…

[darshanan-blog]

American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden (#Netflix Mini Series) Review

American Manhunt for Osama Bin Laden is a three part docuseries currently showing on #Netflix. This short series is an incredibly well made gripping tale of the decade long search for America’s most wanted fugitive, Osama Bin Laden. The story, the beginning and the ending are well known. And yet the series will keep you riveted. Starting with the 9/11 attacks, the series takes us through the…

[darshanan-blog]

Gujarati: Krushnotsav - ડગલો પરિવાર દ્વારા પ્રસ્તુત કૃષ્ણોત્સવ કાર્યક્રમની એક ઝલક

પહેલી જૂને, ડગલો દ્વારા પ્રસ્તુત કૃષ્ણોત્સવ કાર્યક્રમમાં પ્રેક્ષકોએ ખુબ ઉમંગ થી કૃષ્ણગીતોને માણ્યા. બે એરિયાના કલાકારો આણલબેન, અચલભાઈ, શ્રાવ્યા અને આરુષિ અંજારિયા, નિકુંજભાઈ અને આર્યહી વૈદ્ય, મીષાબેન અને દિલીપભાઈ આચાર્ય, પ્રિયાબેન પારેખ, વાગ્મીબેન દેસાઈ, વંદિતા વૈદ્ય, મુકેશભાઈ કાણકિયા, અનીસભાઈ ચંદાની અને બાલા જી વગેરે કલાકારોએ ખુબ સુંદર કાર્યક્રમ પ્રસ્તુત કરીયો કે જાણે તેમને સાંભળતા જ રહીએ. …

[darshanan-blog]

The Mauritanian - #Netflix Film Review

Watching the 2021 film, “The Mauritanian”, is an insightful, eye opening yet heartbreaking, gut wrenching experience. The story is not new, but watching the film and related discussion is most fitting for this time when there are talks about suspending the Habeas Corpus as part of the current administration’s immigration crackdown.  Directed by Kevin Macdonald, the film starring Jodie Foster,…

[darshanan-blog]

A day in Istanbul, Turkey - Highlight Hagia Sophia

I’ve been to Istanbul before but on this trip, we had a day to spend in Istanbul and there is lots to see. We visited a few less touristy places first. Pierre Loti – This is a lovely spot with a gorgeous view of Istanbul skyline across the ocean. Galata Tower – was built as a watchtower at the highest point of the mostly demolished Walls of Galata. It is now exhibition space and museum. We did…

[darshanan-blog]

Travel: Palermo, Italy - Conca d’Oro and Monreale Norman Cathedral

Monreale, Palermo Cathedral:The cathedral, located on the slope of Monte Caputo, overlooks the fertile valley of Conca d’Oro below. There is just one word – WOW to describe this Catholic church, dedicated to Virgin Mary. A superb example of Norman architecture from 1174, it is well preserved, with pointed arches, on columns decorated in patterns in gold and colors, made of glass tesserae. It was…

[darshanan-blog]

Travel: Agrigento: Valley of the Temples & Villa Romano del Castle - S. Italy

Agrigento: Valley of the TemplesAgrigento, also known as Akragas, was one of the leading cities during the golden age of ancient Greece.  Here we took a guided tour of the Valley of Temples. These ruins of Akragas make up Sicily’s most amazing archeological site. Entire area with 1300 hectares is a United world heritage site. It is huge and shows the glory of ancient Greek art and…

[darshanan-blog]

Syracuse: Island of Ortigia

Syracuse or SiracusaSituated on the Ionian coast of Sicily, Italy, at one time Syracusa was more prosperous and better known than Rome. The central Archaeological Park Neapolis has a Roman Amphitheater, the Teatro Greco, sacrificial altar where once a year 400 or so bulls were sacrificed and a feast was held for the residents. In the park there was an awe-inspiring humongous limestone cave, the…

[darshanan-blog]

Travel: Giardini Naxos, Mount Etna - Taormina, Italy

[darshanan-blog]

Travel: Matera in S. Italy - Amazing & peculiar

Matera: Amazing and peculiar history, incredible views…. Matera was a poor region and after the great civilizations inhibited the region, for several years, it was not really connected to the rest of the country and lacking in resources and infrastructure. Before that for over 9,000 years, people lived in caves (along with their animals who gave warmth, in the cold). Caves are called “Sassi”…

[darshanan-blog]

Travel: Reggio Calabria: Southern Italy