On a recent trip to the Catskills, I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Robin from MyMelange. We decided to try a place she had heard lots about: the Village Tea Room, in New Paltz.

The parking wasn’t that bad even though the lot was full — a significance of good things. If people don’t want to leave, then the restaurant must be good. And the name –Village Tea Room—had me at hello. I’m a big tea buff, and I heard that they served high tea. Which meant scones and stuff.

The entrance was pretty, with a trellised arch, and the building itself is a Historic Landmark. Inside, a cosy tea room (with lunch items too), and pretty silver foil packets of tea My eye was immediately drawn to the cakes and pastries, notably the honey bee cake, which I was told was made of orange sponge cake, with a vanilla filling and a touch of chocolate, adorned with a ganache honey bee with almond sliver wings. I had the good fortune to try it and it was delicious!

But the service—much to my disappointment and to Robin’s—was painfully slow. It was the day before Mother’s Day, and after more than a half hour wait (there were empty tables), we were finally seated. And then we were told they were out of bread, because of the unanticipated demand for Mother’s Day. I ordered pasta (it was a delicious pesto—nothing to complain about).

After we finished our meal, we wanted to order macaroons but despite us waiting right in front of the cashier for a while, they didn’t even take our order! It’s sad when such a fine establishment (the food was delicious) gets to suffer because of poor service. And over the years, I can definitely remember when poor service impacted my judgement of a place: if it weren't for the attitude and indifference of some of the wait staff, I'm sure I would have come out raving about the Village Tea Room.

And that's not entirely the staff's fault too: I think management is to blame, certainly. But then that experience got me thinking about service, and tipping, and how much we take good service for granted. Certainly, I'm a good tipper, but I tend to notice more when the service is poor than when it is genuinely great.

I'm sure that the much acclaimed Village Tea Room will continue to do well in its business—the food and wine selection is just too good for it not to do well. But if there's a big day (like Mother's Day), then little things like stocking up on extra ciabatta or seating people promptly–go a long way in making a good day into a great experience.

The beautiful entrance and arch

Beautiful flowers were in bloom everywhere, and that really put spring in my step

Love at first sight and bite: the delicious Honey Bee Cake

My pesto was delicious and al dente

This is the chocolate ganache cake: another sweet temptation

We milled around the cashier but it was obvious they had their hands full: eventually, we gave up on ordering macaroons to go…

Myself, Robin, Chris and Butterscotch (who seems more fascinated by Robin's dress!)

Have you experienced poor service when you travel? How have you dealt with this?

The setting? A magnificent day in New Paltz, New York, from where you can see the Shawangunk Mountain range (a section of the Appalachian Mountain range). The air is cool, the surrounding foliage is crisp, and Matthew and I have decided to hike the 3 mile loop around Lake Minnewaska.

For those of you who have not visited the Catskills area (you may be more familiar with Mohonk Mountain House), you'll find an embarrassment of riches —trail wise. I cannot express to you how much I love it here, and over the years I've witnessed the demand increase and Bed & Breakfast reservations fill up weeks in advance.

Lake Minnewaska has beautiful dark blue waters, and is dog friendly too. The three-odd mile trail around the Lake will take you past the famous Cliff House and Windmere among attractions. We had a breeze hiking the trail and it's not strenuous at all, even at 33 weeks of pregnancy! Butterscotch enjoyed the walk immensely, although she was very tempted to get into the lake (we restrained her because we didn't want to transport a soggy dog back). But as you can see from the pictures below, many dogs enjoyed playing fetch.

The parking at Lake Minnewaska's main lot is $8, but you can avoid this charge if you park by one of the many odd trails, you can skip the fee.

Once you arrive at the parking lot, follow the well-marked trail to Lake Minnewaska, and enjoy the simple loop (offset by carriage trails).

Nearby Can't Miss Attractions:

• The Walkway over the Hudson is a pedestrian bridge that spans more than a mile long, and is over 200 feet above the Hudson River. Walk this on a beautiful day for breathtaking views!
  
• Mohonk Mountain House: this unmistakeable Victorian castle is a fairy tale setting for weddings and festivities. It was built in 1869, and has 266 rooms. If you book, remember it's an all-inclusive stay including a sumptuous buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea.
  
• The Mohonk Preserve, which is a State Park. Try the hike up to Bonticou Crag if you're really into hiking.
  

Butterscotch and I enjoy a clear day!

Finding a cool, shady spot is tough work…

One of the dogs we saw at the park had a ball…literally.

A Bassett Hound finds true love…

Lilac trees are plentiful

A view from the bridge

This is truly an idyllic spot in the park, and you can picnic here, take plenty of bridal photos (or fun family photos), or simply chill.

Matt enjoys a great perching spot while I enjoy the view!

It seems hard to believe that I've been married for ten years. Ten years! Matthew and I met while in college, and we've cherished every minute together, and it really helps to have a partner who shares the same interests as you.

On the morning of my anniversary, I woke to some beautiful surprises on my coffee table. To be honest, I had not even processed the information that it WAS my 10th, so I had not really done quite the amount of planning as Matthew had (evidently). First, I woke up to these:

Because it was my 10th–the metal of choice was tin: hence the elegant tin pail. And of course, there was a card. When I opened the card, it asked me to look under the table, and I found yet another package. Inside this was a sleek black new Dell Inspiron Laptop, which was particularly touching because my old one had died a few weeks ago, and I was trying hard not to get frustrated at the thought of tapping away at a desktop. What a thrilling morning already!

Now, as though this weren't enough (to be honest, I would have been completely happy with flowers, a card and a tin pail!), I was promised a trip to the New Paltz area (the base of the elegant and seemingly endless Shawangunk mountains) but our lodging would remain a mystery. That's one aspect I love of being married: we love giving each other surprises. In fact, I keep reminding myself on a daily basis that a life without pleasant surprises is just not as fun. We work at it–but it's a labor of love.

So that evening, I was whisked away to one of those Bed  & Breakfasts that are everywhere in the area. To my great surprise, we were allowed to bring Butterscotch as well (a quick call to the B&B took care of this). That just about sealed the deal because I knew then that weekend was going to be perfect. Even though I love to travel, I do hate leaving my Golden Retriever behind.

After a swift drive with relatively little traffic, we discovered it was close to dinner time, and we had not even thought of dinner arrangements yet. We were eager to try the Foodspotting app to see what vegetarian options were nearby. We were instantly taken with the photos of a delicious vegetarian enchilada platter at a restaurant called Cinco de Mayo in Waldwick, NJ. The restaurant's web site itself is unimpressive, and thank goodness I didn't look at that first because I would have brushed it off. But Foodspotting's pictures were very convincing, and we took a 3.9 mile detour from our journey to head towards our enchiladas.

Cinco de Mayo prides itself on "Fine Authentic Mexican Cuisine" and I was excited to try some authentic salsa. The art on the wall, hand painted by one of the owners, was striking with its sun ripened, tropical colors. And thankfully, after convincing our waitress that we did not indeed eat any meat or dairy (our waitress even understood the word "vegan"—hooray!), we ended up with a delicious meal worthy of Foodspotting's best. They even gave us a complimentary dessert: a fried banana concoction that was definitely NOT vegan but delicious (see, sometimes it's okay to have dairy for a good cause).

The interior of Cinco de Mayo in Waldwick, NY: A true Fiesta

The salsa was perfection, and the secret, they told me, were the poblano chiles

This is just one of the examples of the art you can expect to see in this restaurant. It's worth coming here just for the eye candy alone.

So, by the end of dinner, we were staunch fans of Foodspotting and we continued on to our bed & breakfast. By the time we arrived at Mountain Meadows, it was close to 11:00pm. The atmosphere was beautiful, dark and quiet as a pin (not even any crickets), and we pulled into the driveway and checked into some very cosy digs.

Mountain Meadows is a solid choice for a B&B, and run by a charming couple, Art and Corinne, who instantly made us feel at home. It features several amenities you'd want in a B&B: a heated pool and hot tub, extensive gardens, a delicious hammock and comfortable and tastefully furnished rooms. We had a tropical room furnished with the cutest toucans and wicker furniture…it brought back fond memories of our time in Clearwater, FL and Fisher Island.

Everything was comfortable, peaceful and quiet…the way a Catskills B&B is supposed to be.

The day too, was perfect. Sunshine ruled.

Hammocks are always welcome!

Sitting in the living room's rocking chair (it's good for the baby!) with my first child, Butterscotch.

It's amazing how much attention Golden Retrievers need! They take longer than your taxes.

The smell of a delicious breakfast woke us the next morning. These are fresh baked blueberry muffins that were soft yet chewy.

After a restful evening at the B&B, we were ready to tackle the day and were eager to begin hiking and wandering through the acres of the Preserve. We were glad to chat with Corinne and Art for a bit during breakfast, and they told us after having done this (the B&B business) for several decades, they had decided to put up the place for sale. This saddened us but let's not forget how much work a B&B can be. Many people think it's an idyllic lifestyle, but don't take into account the early mornings, clean up and regular maintenance and effort (not to mention marketing) that comes with the territory.

We were also so glad they loved Butterscotch and invited her to come along. While the concept of a pet-friendly bed & breakfast is becoming more mainstream, it's tough if there are say–three or four dogs on the property and they can't get along.

Stay tuned for more adventures on our anniversary trip…

Everyone has their definition of Paradise. My travels have resulted in colorful journeys all over the world, from my favorite island (Aruba) to South Africa and Macau. Of course, not all journeys are created equal: Paradise is so personal.

For me, Paradise is not necessarily all the glitz and glam. Sure, I’m impressed just as the girl next door is, with marble lobbies and swank hotel rooms with a nice tea service, but Paradise is about finding a place that makes you comfortable.

It’s like finding that perfect relationship where you can actually be yourself. No need vacillate personalities like Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria or Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire. Come as you are.

In that vein, I do think my personal paradise has to be Aruba. Many of you know and have read about my experiences on that island and those marvelous sunsets and Bonbini moments. It’s not an island that has an insane variety of activities, but the beaches are spectacular and there is that Dutch hospitality that always puts me at ease each time I visit. Also, I really love its small size. It's also so close to New York City (a mere 4.5 hours by plane) that you can escape to an island that's a hop, skip and a jump away from South America in no time.

The people in Aruba are very laid back too: they really know how to appreciate the quality of life. In this aspect, it's a very European island. But that's my personal Paradise…I want an oasis with a beach, history, good food and a warm and welcoming attitude. I don't really need the marble lobbies (although I've stayed in many sweet places on the island too) because in the end, a welcoming attitude is priceless.

Copyright: Butterflydiary

One of my favorite sunsets: copyright Butterflydiary.com

When I visited the tiny island last October (it is only 30 square km, after all), I didn't expect to fall in love with the ying-yang of it all. On the one hand, Macau is definitely about the glitz and glam. It's a bit like Disney for casino and hotel lovers, and yes, I truly felt as though I was in Epcot Center when I visited.

But that's not why you need to visit Macau now. The island is experiencing such a boom in growth, with worldwide visitor arrivals in 2011 well over 28 million. Most of the visitors are from mainland China, but the U.S. is the primary long haul source of visitors to the island.

There are so many reasons to visit Macau, especially now. Here are a few.

Plenty of room at the Inn: The accommodations are expanding to manage the demand, and currently there are 65 hotels and 32 guesthouses in Macau (23,222 rooms). So, does this mean you can expect to find bargains when you visit Macau? It depends on what you mean by "bargain." Yes, there are inexpensive options such as monasteries and guest houses.

The Biggest Holiday Inn and Sheraton in the World: The new Sheraton Hotel in Macau will open in 2013 in the Cotai section area of Macau, and will be the largest Starwood property in the world. Not that we're suggesting to go to Macau just to stay at the largest Sheraton in the world, but it gives you an idea of the size of the demand.

Learn Your Portuguese History: While it may not be obvious, Macau has Portuguese cultural roots that date back 1558 when Portuguese trading was finally permitted on the island. From the Maritime Museum to the UNESCO World Heritage Site The Ruins of Saint Paul, there are places everywhere for you to get a wee bit of knowledge about Macau's rich heritage.

Spas and Shopping: When I visited, I enjoyed what may well be my most luxurious massage, at the Banyan Tree Spa. In fact, I'd even venture to say it's worth flying to Macau to experience this royal experience. My massage lasted well over an hour, in a large suite that resembled a house with private patio, and culminated in a fragrant tea service.

Dining:  I had a terrific experience –food-wise–while I was there. You may remember that I savored a beautiful tea ceremony at the Hotel Okura. Macau is a gem when it comes to discovering Portuguese food, and of course, sampling various types of food from China and nearby Asian countries.

Luxe for the Eyes: The elegant lobby of the MGM Grand Hotel, with Dale Chihuly's work above and a Salvador Dali statue.

The beautiful St. Dominic Filipino-style church near Senado Square. Notice the ceramic mosaic flooring which is itself a swirly work of art.

A quiet street in the Peninsula area of Macau.

It's not the Mexican Independence Day (which is celebrated on September 16th), but Cinco de Mayo is well known because of the victory of the Mexicans over the French forces in Puebla in 1862.

New Yorkers, of course, celebrate the holiday with pride and a lot of margaritas. If you're looking for popular bars and hangouts to celebrate this holiday in the city, here are a few you may want to try:

Credit: Mayahuel.com

Mayahuel, New York City

This Mexican restaurant prides itself on superior drink and a luxurious tequila with a "deep, smoky mezcal." Their margaritas are legendary, thanks to mixologist Philip Ward's supervision. The restaurant is located on a rather boisterous in the East Village, perfect for people watching. 304 East 6th Street, New York, NY 10005. Phone: 212 253 5888. There are no reservations, so go early but be prepared to wait.

Rosa Mexicano

The chain has several restaurants in Manhattan, and just for Cinco de Mayo they're debuting the Skinny Margarita which is made with Organic Silver Tequila and Organic Agave. Of course the classics La Clásica and La Única are still on the menu, as is their popular classic, the Frozen Pomegranate Margarita.

Dos Caminos

Another chain with locations sprinkled throughout New York City, Dos Caminos is a place I keep coming back to because of its fresh guacamole. It can be pricey, so be warned. New on the menu for Cinco de Mayo are "inspired cocktails" but the restaurant was too busy to disclose what they precisely were.

Mamajuana Cafe

This multi-location margarita establishment offers seriously good margaritas for a mere $6, including their famed Margarita on the Rocks and Mamajuana Mojito. Call (212) 362-1514 for reservations.

Crema

Creme takes the Margarita to another level, with its oddly unexpected flavorings to the classic. So, think Pineapple Jalapeño, Watermelon, Tamarind as garnishes to your standard "on the rocks." There's also a La Flaca (their version of Skinny Margarita at 103 calories) for the diet conscious.

Scotland Week kicks off annually on Tartan Day (April 6th) and fun and festivities last an entire week in both the U.S. and Canada. The finale in New York was a colorful and fun Tartan Day Parade, complete with bright felt kilts, and a lot of revelry.

But when I was invited to partake in some Scotland Week activities, little did I know I'd be releasing a bit of my inner Picasso with a painting lesson by the Scottish Artist Hazel Campbell. Hazel was in New York City in honor of the Year of Creative Scotland campaign, and she regularly gives painting lessons in her hometown in a quaint studio on a beautiful Galloway farm.

A few bloggers and I were given empty canvases, pots of acrylic inks, long and elegant paintbrushes and bamboo sticks to embrace our inner creativity, and were just encouraged to spill our creativity. Some writers painted their image of Scotland (impressionist style), others just danced to the tune of their own colors. Hazel just asked us to relax and not over analyze everything. "There is absolutely no right or wrong," she said as she beautifully got to work, mixing and matching colors on the tray and letting her imagination run wild. Here are Hazel's "rules" to let go:

• Don't worry about form…the painting will take a life of its own;
• Work within a small framework if you don't want a painting that's too large;
• Become a child again: release your inner creativity and embrace everything;
• Play with the paints! As adults it's so easy to find it difficult to let go but that's precisely the reason you should paint.

The soft-spoken and elegant Scottish artist, Hazel Campbell, who taught us to release our inner kid through a paintbrush

By the end of the lesson, which was filled with laughter, cookies, delicious sandwiches and desserts…we were all a bit less "New Yorker" in our mentality and a bit more Galloway. But there was something so liberating about the whole experience—you see, I had never thought of painting as a way to understand the local culture. But it is very empowering…you should try it sometime.

My starting point

My version of Scotland…(don't judge!)

A Hazel Campbell original

And if you are lucky enough to be in Scotland, and can visit Galloway, try your hand at one of Hazel's classes:

SUMMER CLASS DATES FOR HAZEL CAMPBELL'S "PAINTING FOR PLEASURE" CLASSES 

May: Weekend course:
Sat 12th May - Sun 13th May 2012 £100

June: 5 day course:
Mon 11th June - Fri 15th June 2012 £220

Aug : 3 day course:
Mon 20th Aug - Wed 22nd Aug 2012 £150 

All courses run from 10am to 4pm and include coffee, tea and lunches, which is a real steal. For more information, email
hazel@painting-for-pleasure.co.uk.

After the lesson, I must say, I felt very relaxed. It was almost as though I had been to a spa with colors and paint pots. Who
would have thought this sort of release would be that good for the system?

There is this one aspect of travel that particularly irks me, and that usually involves dealing with naysayers in travel.

I'm talking about people who use the words "can't" "impossible" "never" etc. all in one sentence. Over the past few months, I've been hearing some "you can't do it" type of feedback from people, especially since I'm about to become a new mom. And here's the typical feedback:

• You'll find it difficult to travel with your newborn;
• You'll be so tired you'll need every bit of sleep and you won't be able to travel;
• Forget about traveling with your kid –it's expensive.

A sunset in Aruba: photo credit Matthew Minucci of Butterflydiary.com

These kinds of comments are not empowering —they leave me wondering about the person who commented more than anything else. I've always been a "can do" person, and even now, during my pregnancy, I'm more active than ever —going to the gym daily, traveling every opportunity I get, and loving the entire travel and explorations phase without too much fatigue.

This reminds me of America's relationship to travel in general: they are phobic about taking vacations because they're worried that in this economy, they will be viewed as being "less dedicated" to their jobs if they take a vacation. The typical naysayer will often talk about the following topics:

• Vacation and travel are expensive: I don't have the money for that;
• I need to save up in case I get laid off;
• I'd rather read books than travel;
• I'm afraid to travel.

These are all very valid reasons why not to travel—so much so, that many don't travel at all thinking of all the excuses (and if you add a dose of global warming, earthquakes, recovery tourism etc. into the mix, then we might as well be home bodies for the rest of our lives). I'm not saying the answer is to be silly and schedule a visit to a war zone instead of going to Hawaii, but as I often say, once you're out on the road –it's addicting. Traveling is so much more about Dr. Suess' "Oh the Places You Will Go, The People You'll See" than reading dry words and seeing beautiful pictures on screen and in a book. While I certainly get inspired by blog posts and books, nothing—absolutely nothing– compares to the very act of seeing a place for yourself.

So, here's how I typically deal with the naysayers:

• I turn a deaf ear often–after all, that's too bad if they won't take the risks and rewards of travel;
• But in my effort to inspire them to travel, I let them know how they can travel–how it CAN be done and any budget friendly, kid friendly options out there–after all, we're in this business to educate, empower and inspire!;
• Be patient and understand their POV: they may have valid reasons for not traveling and being understanding and lending an ear often helps.

How do you deal with naysayers? Do you turn a deaf ear to them or try to steer them towards your POV?

As a frequent traveler, my luggage is almost like an arm extension. If something is too cumbersome, I'm just quite irritated. If a piece of luggage is just right, I feel as though I've found my new best friend.

Recently, I was invited to attend the Family Travel Conference hosted by Traveling Moms where they introduced us to a new piece of expandable luggage by Ricardo of Beverly Hills, which has been making luggage for 30 years. I fell in love with the super lightweight Crystal City collection, which is ideal for day trips anywhere. And….purple is one of my all time favorite colors!

If you're a frequent traveler, here are some tips to help you find the perfect piece of luggage:

• Check to see if it's truly lightweight. There are a  number of pieces of luggage that promise to be lightweight but come in at 10 pounds–to me, lugging something that's too heavy in addition to your clothes, shoes etc. is quite an important consideration!
  
• Check to see if it's a carry on: many suitcases look tempting but if you have to pay $25 or some such to check it in every time you fly, then consider if for long-haul trips;
• Do find your style and color! With the number of choices on the market, it would be pointless to travel with a piece of luggage you're not proud of;
  
• Check all sites for the best price: there are a number of sites from LuggageOnline.com to Amazon.com that will give you some comparables, but for authenticity, buy from the source itself;
  
• Take it for a test drive. While many won't let you return a piece of luggage after you've used it, remember to wheel it around the store and lift it and see if you're capable of putting it in the overhead compartment etc.

This new 20 inch expandable spinner is a great carry on, because it is truly Super Light Weight and made with a flexible micro ballistic nylon fabric with a PC composite shell.

Butterscotch loves it! …and look at how big it is…

It has two compartments that pretty much fits everything you need for a short trip (i.e. weekend or a few days) and is expandable. The split-book style luggage gives you space to separate everything and there's a secure elastic strap to keep everything in place. Finding the perfect piece of travel luggage becomes easier when the manufacturer has thought through the details.

The upper compartment has zippers that reveal a place to store your shoes or clothes, and several compartments including a TSA approved 3-1-1 Bag for all your cosmetics and stuff…super convenient.

Basically everything  I need to jet off in style for the weekend….The luggage also has a good handle system.

Shown above: Ricardo of Beverly Hills Crystal City 20" Expandable Spinner Carry-on, retails for $300, on sale for $179.

***

Disclosure: A sample piece of luggage was provided to me by Ricardo of Beverly Hills for editorial consideration.

I'm sure many of you know this through the grapevine already but people have been asking me to break the announcement officially on my blog, and to post pictures. So I'll come right out and say it: I'm expecting a bundle of joy soon!

After many years of debating whether I should or not, I decided that the next step in the cards for me was to become a mom, and I am so thrilled!

As to answers to some of the questions you've been asking me:

How Far Along Am I?

Well, I'm entering my third trimester soon, and guess what? The baby seems to be sort of a Cirque du Soleil kid, kicking every chance it can. But rest assured, I hear it's very healthy and happy so Matthew and I are thrilled.

Do We Know the Gender?

Yes, we're having a GIRL!

What Is My Due Date?

Well, officially it's July 3rd. I am so thrilled it's a summer baby but I'm REALLY hoping it's not a Fourth of July baby because I know it will be quite a mad rush to go to the hospital when people are assembled watching the fireworks! Plus, I really don't want my kid to share a birthday with another major occasion, but who knows? It's not in my hands!

Will I Still Travel With the Baby?

You can bet your bottom dollar on it! I have many trips planned even before I reach the 32nd week mark (which is when my doctor tells me I should "cease and desist") but I plan to take the young 'un everywhere!

I think in this modern day and age, it's hard to expect moms to sit still with the baby especially if you have a dose of restless legs like me. That said, I'm excited to see where the little one will want to go!

Drop me a line if you have a kid and are a traveler! In any case, I'd love to hear from you!

xoxo

Charu

Photos: Matthew Minucci