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24 hours in Banff

March 31, 2016

24-hours-in-banff-3124-hours-in-banff-1Last weekend we travelled to Calgary (about 2 and half hour drive from Edmonton) for some work and on our way back decided to visit a town called Canmore ( just over an hours drive from Calgary). As soon as we entered town it started snowing lightly and the weather was just perfect – bright and sunny and just partly cloudy. We were surrounded by huge snow-clad mountains all around us  and the view was just mesmerizing. So we decided to stay back for a day and stopped to get necessary supplies for the night. Just there I got talking with a lady at the store and was asking her if she knew any good places to stay around town and she suggested a few. She also told us that the information center would be able to guide us better and the next thing you we were right there in their office. By this time it was about 2 pm in the afternoon. The lady at information center told us quite a few places worth a visit in Banff which is just a 20 min drive from Canmore. So that’s when thought it would be best to stay in city of Banff itself so that so that next day we could walk around to places instead of driving. We stay in Banff for one day but it felt like we were there for 3-4 days. Follow along to see our journey, places to visit, places to eat and more. And let me just say that these 24 hours in Banff were one of the best road trips and mini vacay we’ve ever been to.

24-hours-in-banff-11 24-hours-in-banff-2024-hours-in-banff-224-hours-in-banff-14 24-hours-in-banff-16By the time we reached Banff it was about 3:30 pm and we were starving. Quickly checked into this cozy comfy and a steal for the price at YWCA Banff Hotel. Since it was easter long weekend following day, our options were limited. But this place was just perfect. Walking distance from the main town with all shops and restaurants and located right on the banks of bow river. We grabbed lunch at a southwestern grill cafe called Coyotes. The mediterranean pasta was delicious. After lunch we decided to visit Lake Louise ( 25 mins drive from Banff town). The lake was frozen and we could walk on it. The sun was hiding behind the clouds and creating this diffused lighting in which the scene looked even prettier. Suddenly it started snowing and it felt like everything around was happening in slow motion. This place is so beautiful that it made gasp, literally ( take a look at the slow motion video to see how I felt :)) If this place looked like this towards the end of winter, I can only image how it will look in summer when the snow melts and lake will have blue water surrounded by these huge mountains and fir trees.
24-hours-in-banff-5 24-hours-in-banff-3 24-hours-in-banff-4 24-hours-in-banff-33On our way back to the town we stopped at Johnston Canyon falls. This is a hiking track of 3 miles in the mountains. We had no energy to do the whole trek but we did climb up to see the first of the upper water falls. We also saw the castle mountain and lots of other scenic view stops on our way back to town.

24-hours-in-banff-6 24-hours-in-banff-7 24-hours-in-banff-8 24-hours-in-banff-21 24-hours-in-banff-22 24-hours-in-banff-23We spent the evening walking around the main town area looking at all the cute shops and restaurants. There is also a museum in the town which is very informative. We decided to retire early that day since we were up from 4 am and had driven down to Calgary from Edmonton. Had dinner at Earl’s Kitchen restaurant and walked back to our hotel.

24-hours-in-banff-17 24-hours-in-banff-18 24-hours-in-banff-19 24-hours-in-banff-15 24-hours-in-banff-10The next day we were up early and excited to begin exploring Banff national park. Although we did not get to see any wildlife, the views compensated for everything. First we went to visit Banff Upper hot springs. Honestly I was a little disappointed cause I though it would be natural hot springs but it turned out to be a spa and hot water swimming pool. I’m sure it would be fun to visit here when you have planned out vacation. Unfortunately the gondola ride which is just next to this place was also closed for maintenance. Next stop was Cave and Basin historic site which was one of the best things we saw at Banff. This place has natural occurring hot springs and a cave which has been converted into a museum. This place has deposits of hydrogen sulphide and minerals brought by the naturally occurring springs. So don’t freak out with the smell. You may even get this smell al over town or in your hotels but that’s not because its dirty or anything but because of then minerals and sulphur mixed in the water. Some people also consider this as healing water curing various illnesses. This place is also said to be the birthplace of Canadian national parks.
24-hours-in-banff-26 24-hours-in-banff-28 24-hours-in-banff-29 Next stop was Bow Valley falls. Truly beautiful place like torn from a magazine. Since the banks of the river were still frozen you could walk up to the edge and see the falls from closer distance which was super fun. We spent some time there took lots of pictures and then headed to our next destination, Two Jacks lake. This is also a campground. Beautiful location to camp during summer. And just next to this site is another lake called Johnson lake ( this is different from the canyon falls mentioned above). All of these places are just about 10 to 15 mins driving distance from each other. We are definitely planning to go back in summer. There are more activities to do and all the trails and treks are open. You can plan an elaborate vacation of a week to thoroughly enjoy all the activities . But if you are looking for a quick weekend getaway too, this place is not going to disappoint. In fact it’s natural beauty is so amazing that you leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. If we could see so much in just 24 hours that too without rushing, I’m sure a week here will be so much fun. Will definitely go back in summer.

24-hours-in-banff-25
24-hours-in-banff-24 24-hours-in-banff-30Hope you enjoyed the pics. All the pics were taken on my iPhone since this was an impromptu trip and I was not carrying my camera. But like always, it did not disappoint at all 🙂

http://designforsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/24-hours-in-Banff-32.mp4
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10 Comments | Category: Life, Travel

Explore Edmonton / Visit To The Zoo

January 27, 2016

Last weekend the weather here in Edmonton was just fantastic. It was about 25°F, but trust me, after spending weeks in temperatures like -2°F to -4°F, 25 with bright sunshine and crisp air sure felt like a treat. I’m amazed at how soon I’ve adjusted to  temperatures here specially coming from Houston. I seriously never thought I would. But it hasn’t been that bad except for very bad chilly days. So, we thought of getting out and exploring the city and decided to pay a visit to the zoo.
I have been documenting and blogging about our travel to Canada and the brief time that we are spending here in Edmonton (See the previous posts here and here).

Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-17 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-1Even as a kid, I remember how excited I used to be to go to the zoo. My fav memory being visiting the lions cage, feeding the elephants and eating cotton candy the whole time. Although a few sections of the valley zoo were closed for winter, most of it was open. We saw animals and birds which are mainly found in cold temperatures like the Siberian tiger and the Arctic Wolf (one of my fav. I loved the thick white fur and how it camouflaged with the snow).

Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-2 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-8 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-7 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-5 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-3 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-12 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-4Apart from these we also saw zebras, reindeers, bisons, foxes and more. There was a temperature controlled section where you could see rare breeds from all around the world.

Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-9 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-13 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-10 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-6Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-11 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-14As the name suggests, the zoo is located in a river valley and so you can beautiful landscapes all around. Our trip was followed by a nice lunch at an Indian restaurant. All in all, a day well spent.

Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-16 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-15 Explore-Edmonton-Visit-to-the-Zoo-18Keep following for more travel posts. Canada is truly beautiful and I can’t wait for spring to get here so we can explore this scenic country even more.

 

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33 Comments | Category: Edmonton / Canada, Travel

Style Shoot – Lucid Lifestyle Store

January 20, 2016

Whenever I travel to a new city, which I have never been to before, I love exploring the streets and randomly checking out shops and places to eat without ‘googling’. A lot of times local joints can get skipped out unless you have someone local who is travelling with you. This time however, I have moved to Edmonton for a couple of months and got some time to explore the city on my own. Apparently, Edmonton had the world’s largest mall until 2005. However, this city also has a LOT of small business, artist and designers showcasing their talent in small outlets and boutiques.
Lucid Lifestyle is one such charming little clothing store on Whyte Avenue in the old strathcona district of the city. I got talking with the owner and we decided to do a fun style shoot to showcase the variety and styles they carry. Katryna Rae, a fellow blogger and friend, whom I met after coming here, agreed to model for us.

LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL1 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL3 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL4Somehow I end up wearing or keeping the pieces that I buy in boutiques more than the ones I buy from branded outlet chains. Maybe because they are one of a kind and feel like they have a personal touch.

LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL6 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL5 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL7 The collection is eclectic, light hearted, stylish and contemporary. You could find pieces for almost every occasion here. Whether it is smart work wear or outfit for a fun night out with friends, casual looks for a weekend brunch or a picnic with friends. There are tons of options to choose from, which you mix and match. They carry some fun accessories too. How cute is the orange bag in the pic above?

LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL8 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL9LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL31 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL10 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL11 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL13Had fun making this huge bright colored floral backdrop!

LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL14 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL15 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL16 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL17 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL18 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL19 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL20 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL21 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL23 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL24 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL29 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL30I am in love with their sweater collection and bright colored clothes. They also carry an extremely smart athletic wear.

LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL26 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL27 LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL25 Shop online or definitely visit the store if you are in the city. Whyte Avenue also has a lot of restaurants and pubs and other shopping avenues worth checking out.
LUCID-LIFESTYLE-APPAREL28
Styling & Photography : Varsha (designforsoul)
Model: Katryna Rae (boots and cats)
Clothing: Lucid Lifetsyle

 

 

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5 Comments | Category: Edmonton / Canada, Travel, Trends / Style

To New Beginnings !

January 19, 2016

Hey there! It’s been a while since I connected with you guys. If you were following along the previous posts, y’all know that I am right now in Edmonton, Canada and have been exploring the city for about three months now. I had to break away from my set routine and that has affected my blogging too. This new environment has definitely been a challenge to continue with my DIY & ART blog posts. I don’t have access to all the stores I had, you know like when you have a set rapport with certain people and certain places, you kind of are lost when you have to move away from your comfort zone.

to-new-beginnings1However, I am taking this in a positive way. It’s also given me time to think on a new perspective for the blog. I completely took time off for about two months. I am adapting to the new city, the weather (hate the cold though), the people and the surroundings. I will admit that these past few months have made me think a lot about life in general. What I really want from it, where I see myself a couple of years from now, is it okay to venture into a lot of things creatively, weather I should think about starting my own business, will I be able to pull it off, where I want to live in future, what are the things that really matter to me as a creative person, these are just a few questions I’m trying to find answers for.
Meanwhile, I did get a chance to write blogs for an organization called the Old Strathcona Business Association which is basically an organization that looks after, promotes and maintains all the businesses of the old starthcona district (one of the oldest) parts of Edmonton. This definitely gave me an opportunity to explore around the city and write about whatever I found interesting.

to-new-beginnings2I hope to be back with a fresh new perspective and have decided that I ‘am going to write about everything that I like and everything that excites me. I used to think a lot about blog posts before. A lot of people say “you won’t be successful if you do not have a specific direction or focus for the blog” (no offense to those who do have focused blogs and who know exactly what they are doing. Kudos to them! This is just for people like me who find it difficult to wrap their heads around one particular interest). Keeping that in mind I think I started restricting my thought process. Like for example, does it fit in the category of diy or fashion or interior or food? I wanted the blog to be a lifestyle blog, which centered on these main categories. Sometimes some blogs, which you love and read regularly, or some websites and tumblr sites, which you follow, can create a certain bias in your mind along with the inspiration they are giving you. You can get caught up in the ‘internet trend’ so to say.
And so I think it is important for any creatives to time and again distance themselves from the routine, take a step back and evaluate their work. I will be writing about the above mentioned categories however I will ALSO be writing about random inspirations, thoughts, doodles, photography, images basically anything that strikes an emotion with me. After all, I have to be true to the title of the blog ‘designforsoul’ and never forget the reason why I started it in the first place.

Thank you so much for reading and following along!

love,
varsha

 

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Explore Edmonton / Gama Cafe

October 19, 2015

Explore-Edmonton-Gama-Cafe-1I’m loving living in Edmonton so far. The neighborhood I live in is fun and buzzing with activity. Still exploring new cafes and restaurants in the area. Today I’m sharing another location on the Explore Edmonton series which I started last week to share my favorite spots with you (see the first here). It’s a cute little Taiwanese spot called Gama Cafe on Whyte avenue in the old Strathcona district. As soon as I walked in, I fell in love with the interiors. It had a very parisian vibe with mint walls, white panels, crystal chandeliers and pink tufted velvet couches.Continue Reading

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1 Comment | Category: Edmonton / Canada, Travel

Explore Edmonton / Cafe Mosaics

October 6, 2015

Explore Edmonton-Cafe Mosaics1Well hello there! I have missed you guys and the blog so much these past few days. But now I’m excited totally excited to be back and share some new content with y’all. We have finally settled down in our new place. I am in love with this city and amazed at how much it has to offer in art & design, music and food. It’s getting cold slowly but we are getting used to it. So far I have been exploring the neighborhood, visiting cafe’s and restaurants, art festivals, looking for art shops, farmer’s markets and more. And so I thought why not start a new blog series called ‘Explore Edmonton’ so that I could share all the lovely places around here with you.

Explore Edmonton-Cafe Mosaics4Starting with Cafe Mosaics , this lovely cafe on Whyte avenue and just down the street from where I live. They call themselves a vegetarian and vegan waterhole and it truly is. I just walked in to grab a cup of coffee and I’m so happy I did cause I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued by the interior. So I decided to sit and order something with my coffee and ended up eating lunch instead. Ha!Continue Reading

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2 Comments | Category: Edmonton / Canada, Travel

Moving To Canada

September 6, 2015

Moving to Canada 1Finally!!! Here it is .. the news that I said I would share with you guys soon.. We are moving to Canada. That is also one of the reasons why things are a bit slow here right now. We have been trying to figure out the move and all the hoopla that goes with it. transferring, packing, moving, trashing, cleaning and everything. My husband’s got a work assignment in Edmonton,CA for a one year and we are super excited to take on this adventure. I have never been to Canada before but I’ve heard its very beautiful. I do plan to continue blogging from there. You guys are in for more of travel posts as we plan to explore this country in the limited time that we have. Yes! all those national parks, mountain ranges, hikes, camps and more.Continue Reading

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Leave a Comment | Category: Art, Life, Travel

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