Category: Information

Mint Girl Goes to Carrabba’s

When you walk into Carrabba’s, the first thing that hits you is the smell and the bustle of people. Carrabba’s is an Italian restaurant in Upper Kirby in Houston. This restaurant is a bustling place with many people, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.

The service at Carrabba’s is very nice. We were seated almost immediately and a waiter was with us soon. Our waiter was very attentive and full of suggestions. Out of all suggestions, I enjoyed the dessert the most. We ordered the seasonal special; the Italian Sundae. The sundae had a vanilla ice cream base. Topping the ice cream was a drizzle of strawberry balsamic vinegar glaze and crumbled almond biscotti . It was absolutely delicious.

We ate family style; sharing everything from everyone’s plate. We got the Minestrone soup, Mamma Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken, Mushroom Ravioli, Stuffed Shrimp Mandola, and my favorite classic…..Margarita Pizza!

Every thing we ate tasted amazing. I don’t think you can go wrong at Carrabba’s.

5 Things I recommend in Dubai

I recently visited Dubai and I enjoyed it a lot. Here are a few of my suggestions on what to do.


1. Go to the top of Burj Khalifa: 
         The first thing we did when we got to Dubai was see the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa is 828 m tall which makes it the world’s tallest building. We went to the 148th floor and relaxed in the lounge there.

2. Sunset at The Pointe:
                                  The Pointe is on The Palm. It is on one of the fronds of the man-made island. There’s a small beach lined with beanbag chairs which are very comfortable. Overlooking the beach is the famous Atlantis hotel. There are many activities and games on the Pointe. There are also quite a few gift and coffee shops around.

3. Take a speed boat tour:
A speed boat tour is perfect near sunset. As the boat crashes over the waves, you feel carefree. Ours was at the perfect time. When the red sun started to set behind Burj Al Arab, all the phones came out. With the sun hiding, the effect was spectacular! I definitely recommend a boat tour near sunset.

4. The Optical Illusion Museum:
The museum, located in the Al Seef area, may seem small but it’s full of optical illusions. There are some games and pictures which might have you scratching your head. One of my favorite things to do were the optical illusion picture “booths”. One person would stand in a certain area based on the instructions and the other person would snap a pic on the labeled spots. This was one of my top favorite places.

5. The Dubai Miracle Gardens:
The Gardens is full of vibrant and colorful creations. The amount of plants and flowers in a desert astonishes me. There are many sculptures like dancers, an airplane, horses, and more! This place truly is a miracle. It is my top pick in Dubai!

Mint Girl In Udaipur

Last summer I went to Udaipur, Rajasthan with my family.

I marveled at the mesmerizing buildings and wondering how much effort has been put into constructing them. Udaipur is a place I’d visit

The intricate architecture caught my eye and I couldn’t wait to see more of it. Udaipur has interesting architecture around every corner. During my trip to the Udaipur City Palace, I noticed how detailed and descriptive the drawings and pictures on the walls were. The space was well utilized.Every piece of architecture fit in perfectly.

Udaipur

Decorating with mirrors was a very common theme I noticed in Udaipur. Typically, a picture was painted and mirrors are placed in suitable locations. My family and I were equally amazed by the amazing architecture.

I couldn’t wait to learn more about the history of Udaipur. Udaipur has a very interesting past. Udaipur was ruled by the Mewar kings and the members of the royal family still live in Udapur. I am fascinated by the life in the era of kings. The kings in those days used to hunt and trap tigers and panthers in the surrounding Aravali hills. They also like to watch elephants wrestle for entertainment. My visit to Udaipur gave me a peek into a time period very much unlike mine. See you there!

Mint Girl Reads: Count me In By Varsha Bajaj

Count Me In is a middle grade fiction book written by Varsa Bajaj.

The protagonists in this book are 12 year old Karina and Chris who live in Houston, Texas. They’re neighbors but they don’t know each other well until Karina’s grandfather gets attacked and things start spiraling out of control. What follows is that Chris, Karina, and their friends find the true meaning of belonging in America today.

This realistic fiction book is very relevant in today’s world, as kids like me figure out where we belong in present day America. I found this book very moving and emotional. I live in a community that is welcoming and accepting and I am shocked at how people can act. I knew hate crimes existed,  but I never gave it much thought until I read this book. I was shocked at how Karina’s grandfather was treated and how cruel people can be.

If you enjoy diverse reads and middle grade fiction then you’ll definitely enjoy this book.

Welcome to Mint Girl

Welcome to Mint Girl. This blog launches on my 10th birthday. This is the place I write about books and restaurants. I also share places I travel to. I write this blog so that I can improve my writing skills. I hope Mint Girl makes you aware of all the wonderful books and places I enjoy.

I enjoy traveling, because it helps me experience different cultures and see some beautiful and unique sites. Did you know I’ve lived in three different countries?

Books transport me into a different world and that can be useful when I need my alone time.I like to read realistic fiction and fantasy books.

I enjoy eating out and trying new cuisines,my favorite being Italian. I also enjoy cooking. I find the usual kids menu in restaurants quite boring as it always contains the usuals (pizza, chicken nuggets,mac and cheese)

Dance and music make me happy.

I hope to write here weekly and share a part of my world with you. Please leave me a comment.