Shirdi trip - Aug 2010

3:15 pm 8th Aug 2010 -- Kopargaon Railway station


Waiting for the Karnataka Express train to come. It is on time and will come around 4:45 pm. Sitting in the waiting room reminds me of the train journeys taken as child. I think I should do it more often. It is seldom that I travel with train these-days. Sitting here made me realize that some people are not so privileged and I should not be taking my lifestyle for granted. Should be grounded and appreciate the big and small things God has given us.

Had a very good and fulfilling Baba darshan and Shirdi trip. Left Bangalore on Friday, 6th Aug 2010. Caught Karnataka express, the departure time being 7:20 pm. I reached Kopargaon next day around 2:00 pm. The train journey was very comfortable. It was raining in Kopargaon when we reached there. Though it was not pouring, but good enough to drench someone if exposed for some time. Because of rain, it was difficult to get the transport to Shirdi. Finally got one auto on sharing which dropped me to Hotel. There were two passengers with me. Both guys from Bangalore, whose parents had already arrived in Shirdi and waiting for them. In the route of around 40 - 50 mins, they received so many calls from them :-) Thanks to technology. Life has become so easy and comfortable. For me too, I was always in contact with my family throughout the trip. I think it made them comfortable, knowing about my whereabouts and well being. Since I was traveling alone. My booking was in Hotel Goradia, though found it little expensive. Think they are quoting the prices due to the proximity to Temple. I decided in favour of it, since I had stayed here before, it being in walking distance to temple and I had stayed there before.

On reaching there, freshened up, ordered sandwich and coffee. Then left for Darshan. It was still raining. Luckily the shop in the hotel was selling an umbrella. It was around 4:00 in the evening and was not that crowded. My first Darshan was very good and I did not have to wait long. As soon as I came out, I saw the donation counter. Decided to go there and deposit the money given by relatives and friends. Collected Udi and parshad from there. Then visited the 3 adjacent temples - Hanuman ji, Shani dev and Shiv ji. Took a round around the neem tree and went to Dwarika Mayee and Chowdi coming out of gate 3. Reaching Dwarika Mayee, I was remembering my initial visit to Shirdi when I was in college. That time there was no enclosure for Dearika Mayee and demarcation. It was one open space for templae and Dwarika Mayee. I also remember seeing the open dhooni. Now it has all changed. Then went for Mukh Darshan. Here one can sit/relax/medidate/do pooja, at the other end of the Samadhi temple. You get the view of Sai Baba Samadhi from far off. Later guard asked us to vacate that place, as evening 7:00 aarti was about to start. Again went to stand in the Queue. Went out from gate 3 and entered from gate 2. Got a very good place to sit for the Aarti. Then collected my slippers and went back to hotel. Ordered veg noodles and gulabjamun from room service.

Had planned to go for Morning Aarti on Sunday, but lazy me could not make it. Inspite of the fact that I could hear the bhajans on my bed. Finally got up at 7:00. Got ready, finished breakfast and left for Darshan around 8:00. Today the queue was very long in the Samadhi temple. After darshan, went around the temple. Went again for Mukh Darshan. I found that place very good and peaceful. There overheard people talking about SatyaNarayan pooja being conducted. Decided to attend it from 10:30 to 11:30. Had to pay Rs. 100 at the donation counter for that. After that sat outside the temple, since could not muster courage to stand in the queue again. Sat outside the donation counter,during the 12:00 noon aarti. In the morning I had bought the bhajan booklet, which I read along. Then went out from gate 4 to buy something for Navya and Tia. Before leaving back to hotel, went for Mukh darshan to take baba's blessings. Reached my room - 309, had coffee while packing. Checked out around 2:00. Hotel people called an auto for me, who dropped me here. Thanks to Baba for calling me here and grounded me back to reality.

Tia's 6th birthday

The celebrations were on 19th Dec.

On 17th her Birthday, we had done small Pooja and Havan at home. She wore salwar suit, gifted by her Nanaji. But she was waiting eagerly for 19th when all her friends would come and she would cut cake and get gifts.

I had called her friends at home, and kept the party at home. I think the best part of the party was planning. Buying gifts for kids, gift wrapping them and finalizing the menu. The menu was simple-Pizaa, smily faces fryums, chips, cake and fruit juice. Kids enjoyed the games we played. Passing the parcel and bursting the balloons. Ved had done a terrific job of decorating the entrance and room.

Kids were still manageable, but Bozo was over the top. He was extremely excited with so many kids around and very high noise levels. On top of that he was restricted to the balcony, and had no freedom to roam around in the house.

All and all, the party was a hit. Kids had fun and we ended the celebrations having dinner with Chacha, chachi, Mini, Medini and Amod. Finally after Tia opened all her presents, she was satisfied and decided to sleep.

Tia's 6th Birthday

Shiamak Davar - Tia's Dance class

Shiamak Davar - Tia's Dance class

Tia gets her first professional haircut

This Saturday, that is 4th April 2009, we got Tia's hair cut. It must be loooong since I had trimmed them last. Her hair are so curly that they just don't seem to grow. And till now I was just trimming them if required at home.

This time Mummy and Ved, asked me to get it done from a professional. So I decided to take her to the Lakme Saloon near our house. She was so adamant on not getting them cut, anticipating that it is going to be very painful. Was okay, if I cut them. Finally after cajoling, threatening, bribing Tia agreed.

It was a big task for 3 of us to put her on the chair for the cut. Once the hairdresser started combing and cutting, Tia was a game.

But to our dismay, hairdresser completely said no to short hair for Tia. Which Mummy and Ved wanted. Since her hair are so curly, her opinion was that blunt or boy's cut would not look good at all. So it was decided it would be U cut. They were looking so good that day, since after blow drying the hair were completely straight and shining. We were very happy with the end result :-). Though everyone agreed that the real cut would be visible after one wash, when the curls would be back.

This is how it happened (photos).............

Birthday season is tough on me :-(

Why? Because my resolution of loosing weight, goes for a toss.

March is month of Birthdays.............. So many parties to attend.............
In a way it is fun. I get in touch with mothers in L&T, which is rare for me.

With Pickoo also here this time, it was double bonanza. 13th is his, 14th is Aryan's and 15th is Navya's.


Now the list of Tia's friends :-)
Abhay
Ryan
Aditya
Sriram

We were discussing that, looks like Sriram's birthday party was the last one where mothers are invited. Now with kids grown up, from next year it would be kids only party. So, I think I shouldn't be complaining:-)

I would be missing all these parties next year............................. And with the way my dieting and exercising is going on there is no hope of loosing weight - with or without parties.

Can I achieve it?

Finally I have started the weight loss program. It was long pending from my side. Am planning to upload the picture I took about the time I started it. Clicked on 28th Oct. And would revisit it once I am done with the program. I have given myself 4 months for this task. Around 1 1/2 months are over, and I have managed to loose about 2 1/2 kgs.

Jan end would be my target date. Hopefully I will manage to loose 6 more kgs by then. The aim is to get my pre-pregnancy figure back, and fit in those clothes. Hope I am able to achieve the same.

Trip to Innovative Film City

Nov, 9th 2008
It had been ages since we had gone out for a day outing. Plans were in the making since many days and finally on 9th they materialized.

We aimed for an early start. Yes with 2 kids, earliest is 10:00 am for us :-) It is around 40 odd kms from our home(took NICE road). The day was warm and thankfully it did not rain that day.

We took an entrance ticket in Innovative, with the option of paying inside for whichever ride we choose to go. First impression is good, though it is still under construction. I think when it will be completed, we will have a nice place to showcase. Tia and Navya enjoyed running in the vast expanse. We started with the mirror maze, which was very interesting and fun. Though little scary for Tia, who wanted to go out as fast as possible. Which was not be done, as we were completely lost there :-)

From there we went to Kids area. Before that Ved went and rented a pram for Navya. Since as always we forgot to bring it from home. Tia took one ride with me and one with Ved. We too relived our childhood. Then next, it was beach for us. The only attraction in Innovative, for Tia, was the beach. And father and daughters really had fun there. For them it was a big escape from the scorching Sun.

The highlight of the day was the 4D theater. I was little apprehensive about Tia getting scared there. But it was worth it. I would recommend it for all who have not had this experience.

All in all, it was a nice day outing for us.
We wrapped it up around 5:30 and left for home, after buying a cap for Tia. God knows why she took fancy on that :-)

Photos uploaded.

Innovative Film City trip - 9th Nov 2008