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Some of the musings of my India visit after close to almost 4 long years. An attempt to jot down few big/small things that make me smile / think / enjoy / what not?

Travel -

The nervousness that creeps in thinking of amount of shopping / packing and taking care of so many things before one one internation trip with a 6 and 2 and half year old, almost took away the initial excitement of going. What about their food during trip? What if they don't eat this... that...!These moms with kids think the sky is going to fall on the head, I tell you! And how are we going to spend that wait time in the airport? What if kids get too cranky?
But fortunately all those worries turned out almost worthless. Taking sufficient sealed snacks came really handy. Killing time was never so easy. Take kid 1 to rest room for a change and then wash hands with soap. Just as you return to spot kid 2 thinks it is just the right time for rest room visit. Again go there and wash hands with soap. And then comes that typical original smell. Crap! Cannot even peep or sniff! So go to rest room only to know it was 'tandi hawa ka jhonka' (passing air) and then wash hands again! Done... 2 hours simply passed by.

You know kids react fairly well when you give cool names to the activity. Here we were camping in Plane for a night. Daughter was so excited to have a TV all for herself that she could control. Chose direct flight to Delhi and a change there. It was good choice...though I had less sleep kids had good continuous sleep. I knew chota bheem would do one of these two things - cry wild or sing loud. Fortunately he chose 2nd. When any from crew approach us it makes me uncomfortable, but fortunately she asked him to sing one more for her! Uffff......

I was enthralled by the ambience and interiors of Delhi airport. It was almost like name the stuff from US and you will get it. Saw beautiful dance mudras (hand gestures) near Immigration check. At another place saw the different posture of Surya namaskar. I was so tempted to visit each rest room in the airport. No, you got it wrong. The pictures of extremely good looking gals and guys from different parts of country was such a joy to see.

The last leg was little tough. It is play time as per US. I tell dh...these expensive electronic gadgets only become source of fight. But like every dad he thinks otherwise. Sigh! Finally...I told him to take back his Samsung tablet and pacified kids with some of those grandma times games. Again there were 2 options for chota bheem. He was getting restless and wanted to choose first option. Somehow I was making him choose option 2. I don't know what these co-passengers think about parents with young kids. How else should we travel? He looked at me once...I thought okay. He looked at me one more time. Hello Mister....I know to look back too! Settle down! Mera munna....poor boy...the airport glass was so speck clean that he thought it is entrance and went and banged just as we were pulling out luggage. It was really funny to hear him say in domestic flight....'I wanth to go tu Indya'!

Thanks rimjhim

Thanks RJ..loved reading your blog.....I had forgotten all about those dreaded flights...now...it has all come back...:emdgust:..thank you very much for that:)

Yes after morning tea...went for a walk! Met a mom...a tiger mom....a very pretty tiger mom with her pretty daughter of around 7-8 years old. She was the first one for me to meet. She was walking briskly and her daughter had to run. Seemed more like she is training daughter for something. Both had almost waist length plaited hair.

I smiled at her....see I have just come from US. She looked at me...and then she looked at my simple elegant heeled footwear. And then walked away??? Simplicity has become my mantra ever since hubby posted on his wall ... 'Simplicity is ultimate sphistication. Let it be so'. I looked down...and then....bahhhh...bahhh....what the heck am I doing in that footwear in the morning!!! Bigger bahhhh.....shucks....I forget to bring along my running shoes. They are still in that other big suitcase! My capri style track suit a total waste for next few days! :( :(

Saw another lady...she thought she was jogging. I felt her regular walking may be faster than this. I wanted to tell....devi ji...please do not mistake....your one cup of tea after you return will add lot more that what you think you are burning!

By the way...before that as we were coming in the car....saw a man running...in fact running very well. The car honked....no effect....! It honked again.... I thought he could be around just 30 plus. And now one last time...driver simply had to honk....with a sudden swift he jumped like a bungee jumping and turned 180 degrees and continued running backwards. What a style?!!! Impressive! He seemed not 30 plu but almost 45 plus...Very impressive!

Saw quite a few young boys and men in the morning in track suit. Saw fewer ladies but not bad! Waiting to go to Lal Bagh one morning!

Gated Communities

Am visiting folks staying in a Gated Community, and it is truly a luxurious life style by any means. 24 hours water / electricity, extremely well equipped kids play area taking safety into account, the netted area for cricket / foot ball practices for older kids, tennis court in front of every apartment, green and clean, very big swimming pool, highly secure (every day house keeping people go through security check before entering and leaving), medical facilities with in community, kids school buses have a separate parking area with in, a temple, groceries and eatery store, community that celebrates cultural festivals together with kids getting chance to perform, what else do you want? It is such a promising place for R2Iers. One can find a huge mix of people from all parts of country. For those whose workplace also happens to be close, there is nothing like it. Many places you spend money and still don't get the value for it, and here it is pay for it and enjoy.

Took kids and their cousins to the play area other day. Had good time and when it was time to leave I said - 'Kids, everybody come and hold hands'. They all came and lined up to hold each other's hands and we starting walking. Seems the one of the residents asked grand mother - "Is she the teacher?" LOL That was funny! It actually gave me an idea of prospective day care business if ever.

Noise and Cell phone and......and traffic

First few things that come as annoying are the noise / cell phone and traffic. Every body can hear every body's talk. And there is moving vehicles all the time or cell phones ringing all the time or TV turned on really loud. With 2 little naughty nuts am usually less sensitive about noise but if one wants to have a sound nap one got to switch off the button of hearing in mind. Every body has a cell phone and everybody has a loud ring tone. And oh boy....those sms...the one I read said...Rs. 399/- per square feet in .... Contact me for more details. Mobile has become one of the major abused of marketing. 10sof SMS each day and people have even stopped checking many of them.

And now Traffic. It is outright scary. One blink 10 vehicles will be there in a spot and next blink they disappear. Before coming I was very excited about driving and now hold back. I actually wanted to ride two wheeler but don't think anybody would let me. DH usually starts driving within a day or two but this time with so many 1 ways and construction even he took it a bit easy.

Traffic is actually cruel. Another reason for me to be extra worried this time is that got to know one of close relatives became victim of somebody else's rash driving. Kind of still remember his smiling face in front of my eyes. If one can afford then having a designated driver is the best thing. There is road construction several places. But some areas where this has been completed is very good. Probably next 10 years roads would be much better but again by then who knows how much more the population would have added to. For a country of plenty in population, corruption and several other not so great things, how is it that we see a common man still happy? That is where I think deep and strong philosophy helps. Unlike west where individual has control over several activities one wants to do, here several external activities control what one can do and one cannot!

[QUOTE]For a country of plenty in population, corruption and several other not so great things, how is it that we see a common man still happy? That is where I think deep and strong philosophy helps.
Bollywood could be more of a reason than philosophy. Or... many in desh could be following the same code as yourself "Live Happily and Let others Live Happily ! :)". Keep up the nice diary.

[QUOTE]Preity Zinta To Cheer The Common Man
source

Life is going on at such a quick pace! I am so busy without any business!!! hehehehee.... Cooking I don't do....cleaning I absoulutely don't do....feeding kids has reduced as they have learnt to sit along with all and eat. I am not watching much of TV. Did not get any chance to call anybody for so many days. Then what is it that I am doing??? I don't know! The time just flies by. Sitting on the other side I used to wonder why folks cannot make time for small things....and now experiencing it. Finally today took all the numbers and called up small set of people. Next set tomorrow. After such a long time...I just went for an immediate nap following excellent home cooked lunch.

The other day....stopped the driver midway to buy sita phal. I didn't know we get something call ramphal also. The attire plays an important role in the price the other party quotes. One dozen sitaphal...Rs. 600/-. I let the relative and driver do the price bargaining and took a sitaphal and started eating. Wow....... am so happy we don't get sitaphal in US. Else I would have definitely missed relishing the fruit so much here. Kiddo is slowly picking up the flavor. Anything she sees me enjoying...she wants to try and is ending up liking it a lot. That is increasing the competition...but then that's okay.

I am yet to write about the weekend in India... will do that as soon as I get a chance...could be few minutes...hours or days.... till then cia....! :)

rimjhim;424117Took kids and their cousins to the play area other day. Had good time and when it was time to leave I said - 'Kids, everybody come and hold hands'. They all came and lined up to hold each other's hands and we starting walking. Seems the one of the residents asked grand mother - "Is she the teacher?" LOL That was funny! It actually gave me an idea of prospective day care business if ever.

rimjhim;424118 For a country of plenty in population, corruption and several other not so great things, how is it that we see a common man still happy? That is where I think deep and strong philosophy helps. Unlike west where individual has control over several activities one wants to do, here several external activities control what one can do and one cannot!

rimjhim;424464Life is going on at such a quick pace! I am so busy without any business!!! hehehehee.... Cooking I don't do....cleaning I absoulutely don't do....feeding kids has reduced as they have learnt to sit along with all and eat. I am not watching much of TV. Did not get any chance to call anybody for so many days. Then what is it that I am doing??? I don't know! The time just flies by.

What a wonderful heartwarming narration - so glad you are finding time to share..keep them coming.:)