Cherry Blossom Festival – Rejoicing Friendship!!

Gift of friendship

Everyone in this world celebrates most wonderful and loved relationship “Friendship” in the month of August. There can be no better reason to write about the gift of friendship to the people of United States from the people of Japan – 3020 Cherry Trees!! The Cherry Blossom Festival is the annual celebration of the enduring friendship between these two countries. This year the celebrations were quite emotive and had the sentiments of thousands attached, who came to express their support for the earthquake hit victims in Japan. 

Cherry Blossom Fireworks

We were in Washington DC (DC) to enjoy the nation’s biggest springtime celebration — Cherry Blossom Festival 2011. It has been celebrated for almost a century in US and reflects the respect for Japanese culture in the nation. These Cherry trees turn the Tidal Basin into a cloud of pink each spring for everyone to enjoy.

DC is best when explored on foot. It is tiring and quite chilly in the month of April. Nevertheless, the city acquires the ambrosial flavor of cherry trees planted in the Smithsonian area! It was the evening of April 2 and we were close to Jefferson memorial to witness the radiating fireworks show of the Cherry Blossom Festival. The most spectacular show I have seen, that totally captured the spirit of the festival.

Cherry Colored Fireworks

Bloom watch is the main reason for almost a million tourists to flock to the capital. We were there, just like thousands, to admire the blossoming cherry trees and attend events that herald the beginning of spring in the nation’s capital. And the view was truly amazing!! The view was serene!! The view was exquisite!!

Cherry Blossom - Pink Cloud

We walked and wandered, clicked pictures, admired the scenic view, enjoyed kettle corn.. All this and much more… Not realizing that we would need some energy for the 8 hour road trip back home. We left the state of Delaware at almost 9 pm. It was dark and raining. … I admit we had a tiring journey back home, with very little concentration to drive or to listen to music on deck so that we do not fall asleep. We halted at every service station in New York and Connecticut and took a 5 min nap on our way back.

All-in-all a fun festival that rejoices friendship, raves about beauty and rises for a cause  :)

Maple Festival, New Hampshire — must go for lovers of sweetness in life!

Spring - couple of weeks away

Every year the Maple Festival in New Hampshire marks the onset of spring. This year it was somewhat different. The official start of spring was about a couple of weeks away, and in northern New England, it was still winter. The long winter and late spring of New England is indeed hard to get used to, for someone who is new to New England. Most people say, nothing much happens until the snow finally melts in late April. I beg to differ!! 

What it takes to make Maple Syrup

 The Maple festival in New Hampshire has loads to offer. With air masses getting warmer and winter losing its grip, sap begins to rise in maple trees across New Hampshire. The sap tapping time lasts for about two weeks in March. Sugarhouses and producers all over New Hampshire celebrate this occasion with a bang! They invite people in and organize open houses, festivals to feature the region’s most famous product — NH Maple Syrup.

We were there in the third week of March this year (19 - 20 March, 2011) to join the celebrations at the NH Maple Producers Open House Weekend. There were over 60 sugar houses participating across the state. It was really difficult to choose which ones to visit! We could cover two sugarhouses that day, primarily because we spent way too much time admiring the scenic drive to New Hampshire, chatting with the owners on the steps involved in the maple syrup manufacturing process, getting to know exclusive New England traditions like ‘Maple Sugar on Snow’ from some elderly couples. 

Maple Syrup - just about to get ready

Fresh and warm pure Maple Syrup

The first sugar house had a distinctive aura - small, cozy, welcoming pull. It was a family owned sugar house where all the members of the family were busy attending to visitors, educating them on how maple syrup is made, distributing free samples of the fresh and warm ‘Maple Syrup’, along with free fresh homemade donuts and coffee. This scene was very close to my heart, as it jogs back to my memories of India. Most small time businesses in small towns in India — like a local newspaper vendor or local grocery store or local dairy are — family run, where all members of the family come and chip in some time during the day.  

  

Second Sugar House

The visit to the second sugar house was even more captivating. There were so many families, that we had to walk through a long trail of cars (about half a mile) to get to the sugar house. It was a petite path and I guess it was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. We somehow scrambled over the petite path to reach our destination. And as we moved closer, I realized that it was all worth it!! Couple of yards later, I could see kids playing with their Maple Cotton Candies, couples sharing jokes, pets fooling around with their masters. My guesstimate is that there would around 75 people celebrating the festival; it was amazing to see so many people at one sugar house, all appreciating the sticky sweet treat – fresh and warm!

Fresh fun treat with Maple Cotton Candies, Maple Kettle Corn, Hot Maple Chocolate, and many more Maple delicacies :-) A must go for lovers of sweetness in life!

We love maple cotton candies

Enjoying the festival