Summer time pastime
Seasons change
This being our yet another trip to the USA, we could have the opportunity to be familiar with more places around to have idea how fast this place is developing and the changes with new additions in the neighbourhood. First thing was the lush greenery everywhere we could see out of what barren land with stark naked trees due to snowy winter weather we left the place last time. With flowers of all kinds welcoming the Spring season heralding the better days ahead but not that easily. We had some weeks together with showers to cool the temperature to give the impression that winter was not yet over and leaving us so easily. Sometimes it made think if there would be fine weather at all with hot summer days taking over. Soon the vast stretches of land with plants and yellow flowers everywhere dried up and bales of hay were seen lying around being made by converting dried up forage plants there strewn. Another stretch was already lavish green covered with corn plants about to mature and ready to be harvested during this span. A plot of such land opposite of the road we take coming out of the community was to be developed into another residential area. This would make commuting time for those going to work escalate as already a number of vehicles pass through before we take our turn there. Another such a community nearing completion with new road was found coming up next to the community we stayed in Exton during our first visit in 2010. One Sunday afternoon we were for lunch with Sheshadri-Nisha and her parents, who welcomed our little baby with traditional welcome Tika. It was nice of new mother to offer some cash on puja thali to reciprocate in gratitude as per our custom. We had very appetizing south Indian food to taste though myself kept off spicy items. May be wondering what of such cuisine without spices - yes, curd rice and payasam helped me a lot, rest was just for tasting rather testing the dish served all others enjoyed the best!
It was quite pleasant to find rows of beautifully constructed similar looking town homes on both the sides while passing through Fringetree Drive of West Whiteland nearby. Many other new communities had come up and were already part and parcel of the life of the people here. Outstanding common feature of these developments seem to be the Indian population. It would not be much of a surprise if you find local community parks crowded with their children as also the grocery shops by parents. Earlier there was one by the name Himalaya Indian store but now Bhawani and some others have come up in and around Exton. Same with the restaurant serving Indian cuisine that has multiplied over the period and people would not mind travelling that distances in search of authentic taste. Even Americans have developed a taste for Indian food served less spicy. Started with Indian Hut, we now have Indian restaurant with names like Deccan Biryani, Devi, Bangles, Ruchi and Tabla besides Nala and Spice,which serve Indian and Thai combined. Latest to join the race was with the name Manam, a word that reads same from front and back. Very much like the word Malayalam and the word we had for our group at Rhenock way back in 1963. Named after the famous Navjivan Trust Gandhiji started, it also read same in Nepali/Hindi - Navjivan Sandhya Club!
Restaurants here serve water with ice or no ice to welcome as the guest is ushered in and shown the table to sit. Contrary to the common notion that the people in America drink a lot of beer and only beer for water even but apparently it is not so here. Many of these places whether Indian or Chinese do not serve liquor at all. At the most some restaurants have beer in their menu under beverages mainly of mocktails non-alcoholic. There are beer bars for those who love and found on sale during Annual Block Party we joined with many games for children. When we first came here we had small breweries with draft beer like Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant and another was Victory Brewing Company that has grown popular with its brand name Victory. Incidentally, there has been a spurt in beer bars as well with as many as six that came up in the neighbourhood around this summer. World of Beer was the first this season while one fine Sunday noon we found ourselves in an open beer garden just started. Developed in sprawling lawns where barns and stables used to be there earlier and named as Levante at the Stables. Learnt that it was an 1840 farmhouse/stable where the rawness of the original stable was preserved with simply built a 32-tap bar around it. Not only their own beers, but Pennsylvania (PA) wines and some mixed PA cocktails as well served. Food trucks, close to two acres of outdoor seating and lounging and a chill atmosphere. Planned to be open through the summer, the satellite might remain open year-round the way they are going ahead well received. (To be continued)
Disclaimer: This is author’s personal account of memories updated to cherish and treasure often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names (*asterisk for those no more), quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and no malice whatsoever intended. He can be reached at [email protected]. His latest "The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots : Sikkim" is available at Rachna Books.
It was quite pleasant to find rows of beautifully constructed similar looking town homes on both the sides while passing through Fringetree Drive of West Whiteland nearby. Many other new communities had come up and were already part and parcel of the life of the people here. Outstanding common feature of these developments seem to be the Indian population. It would not be much of a surprise if you find local community parks crowded with their children as also the grocery shops by parents. Earlier there was one by the name Himalaya Indian store but now Bhawani and some others have come up in and around Exton. Same with the restaurant serving Indian cuisine that has multiplied over the period and people would not mind travelling that distances in search of authentic taste. Even Americans have developed a taste for Indian food served less spicy. Started with Indian Hut, we now have Indian restaurant with names like Deccan Biryani, Devi, Bangles, Ruchi and Tabla besides Nala and Spice,which serve Indian and Thai combined. Latest to join the race was with the name Manam, a word that reads same from front and back. Very much like the word Malayalam and the word we had for our group at Rhenock way back in 1963. Named after the famous Navjivan Trust Gandhiji started, it also read same in Nepali/Hindi - Navjivan Sandhya Club!
Restaurants here serve water with ice or no ice to welcome as the guest is ushered in and shown the table to sit. Contrary to the common notion that the people in America drink a lot of beer and only beer for water even but apparently it is not so here. Many of these places whether Indian or Chinese do not serve liquor at all. At the most some restaurants have beer in their menu under beverages mainly of mocktails non-alcoholic. There are beer bars for those who love and found on sale during Annual Block Party we joined with many games for children. When we first came here we had small breweries with draft beer like Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant and another was Victory Brewing Company that has grown popular with its brand name Victory. Incidentally, there has been a spurt in beer bars as well with as many as six that came up in the neighbourhood around this summer. World of Beer was the first this season while one fine Sunday noon we found ourselves in an open beer garden just started. Developed in sprawling lawns where barns and stables used to be there earlier and named as Levante at the Stables. Learnt that it was an 1840 farmhouse/stable where the rawness of the original stable was preserved with simply built a 32-tap bar around it. Not only their own beers, but Pennsylvania (PA) wines and some mixed PA cocktails as well served. Food trucks, close to two acres of outdoor seating and lounging and a chill atmosphere. Planned to be open through the summer, the satellite might remain open year-round the way they are going ahead well received. (To be continued)
Disclaimer: This is author’s personal account of memories updated to cherish and treasure often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names (*asterisk for those no more), quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and no malice whatsoever intended. He can be reached at [email protected]. His latest "The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots : Sikkim" is available at Rachna Books.
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