Actually, its more than a month since I got back from India and the India tales are a bit old and theres a lot more happening otherwise too. I just havent had the motivation to blog frequently enough to catch up on the events that I hadnt blogged about. So heres a jump, skipping the rest of the Indian tales.
Sumant, my classmate and good friend, was in Melbourne for 2 weeks on a holiday and was staying with me. We guys had a ball of a time. At the top of the agenda was the Australian Open and the Cricket. Sumant is a bigger sports fan than me and that made the agenda a great one. With tickets booked for the Quarterfinals of the Aus open the other sessions were only on an interest basis. We were lucky to have Sania and Mahesh play in the Mixed doubles after 6 pm which meant that i could get there from work. Sumant and myself were at the Margaret Court Arena with very few others in the stadium. We were sitting in the front row and cheering loudly for Sania and Hesh. We were waving the Indian tri colour and cheering them along to a win. The 2 acknowledged our cheering at various times and when the match was over Sania came over to where we were and autographed our caps.
It was a wonderful experience. Sania - i must say - is gorgeous. Shes pretty for sure, but its the way she carries herself around that gives her the X factor. Sumant and I were bowled over:) Rohan Bopanna and Rajeev Ram (US indian), who paired up in the doubles, were present there and we went to them, introduced ourselves and took pics with them too. At the end of the match we met some Aussie fans who were supporting Mahesh and said Hello to them. They supported Mahesh coz they were supporters of Mark KNowles(Maheshs partner in doubles).
A day later, we were at the Rod Laver Arena watching FedEx and James Blake in the QF. The stadium was full. It was a typical Federer match where he finished Blake off in straight sets with the precision tennis that he is known for. The next match on centre court was Bhupathi and Knowles vs the Bryan brothers. The stands were emptying and we spotted those Aussie fans in the crowd on the other side of the court and we went over to sit with them. We were just behind the family box of the Bryan brothers. What followed will be a memory for life. We were chanting slogans and cheering Hesh and Knowles on and waving flags - all this together - 6 of those guys and the 2 of us. We were on TV about 4 times (and spotted by friends in india too , who emailed us later) and we were noisy all through. Sania was in Maheshs family box and when she was shown on the big screen, i shouted in the silence of the centre court "Hi Sania". With slogans and one-liners and cheering and jeering, it was great fun. Mahesh and Knowles upset the top seeds and went through to the Finals. Sumant and I returned home satisfied that we had a great time.
The 20-20 match at the MCG was a great atmosphere, but the result was very disappointing. We also went on a road trip to the Great Ocean road where I drove a record 600 kms in a day and was exhausted by the end of it. It was fun nonetheless. Among the other activities, Sumant and I played tennis at the Aus Open practice courts and played a couple of sessions of cricket in the nets with other friends. The usual touristy things were of course on the agenda too. In all it was a wonderful 2 weeks. Now I am bored!!!! Sumant, when are u coming next?????
Pics and videos later!!!! perhaps some on orkut too.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sunday, February 03, 2008
India Visit Nov-Dec 2007 : Part 3 - Puttu Times
Today is my Puttu Darlings 2nd Budday. Happy budday Puttu Raani.
I still remember this day 2 years ago, when I got a call from my brother that he has become a father. I heard Puttu cry and I had tears welling up my eyes. 2 years have gone by really fast and Puttu is no longer as Puttu as she was then:) I guess its a perfect time to write Part 3 of the series - Puttu times on my trip to India.
Puttu was jetlagged from her flight and hence did not come to receive me at the airport. She was asleep when I reached home and I was looking at her quietly. When she woke up a little later she was cranky as she hadnt had her full sleep and that set the tone for the next 2 days. She would look at me and know who I am, but would refuse to come to me or call me "Kaka". The moment I walk out of the room or away from her view she would have absolutely no problems calling me Kaka and telling everyone that I am her Kaka. I was yearning for her to call me kaka in my presence and I knew I had to be patient.
As she got a bit more comfortable with me, she would sit with me and go through photos and answer my questions. I would ask her whos who on the pics and she would correctly say everyone except Kaka. When I point to a pic of mine and ask who it was, she would turn the page or point at someone else and say something else:) As much as I was yearning to her her say Kaka, her shyness came across as a very cute and smart game :)
A coupla of days later, she opened up and called me Kaka and I was over the moon. And ever since she would always want me to be by her side. The moment i walk away from her sight, she would shout for me and order me with her tender index finger to come near her :) Awwwww!!!!!! and how she shouted is "kaka...Kaa Kaa.....KAAA KAAAA" and I had better responded by then :D:D:D
The few days with Puttu were spent listening to all her babbles, her enactions of numerous rhymes (Hindi , Engklish, Tamil and Marathi), playing with her, clicking hundreds of pics of her and running around the house with her.
At Thirupathi, came the Mottai episode. Since her Mama was unable to make the trip, I as her Kaka had to sit her in my lap while her head was tonsured. The way Puttu got scared and cried made me decide that it was an act of TORTURE and not TONSURE. I wondered why there existed such a ritual and even started to question the ritual. It affected me a lot. In the end, Puttu with her Mottai Thalai was as cute as ever and I even taught her to say "Me Me" when I asked who "Mottai boss" was.
With the numerous functions that were there Puttu was dressed in Pattu Paavadais (silk dresses) each time and she looked so cute walking around in them. She had her first experience with Indian Railways in a Shatabdi train and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
Saying goodbye to her was obviously very difficult and it was amazing to see how she too knew that she was parting. You could feel it. She would give u a kiss readily, while at most times u wud have to ask her a few times....she wud come to us and hug us etc etc.
For now, its phone calls, fotos and videos of Puttu that keep me going.
Once again, Happy Budday Puttu Kutty >:D< I miss being there.
I still remember this day 2 years ago, when I got a call from my brother that he has become a father. I heard Puttu cry and I had tears welling up my eyes. 2 years have gone by really fast and Puttu is no longer as Puttu as she was then:) I guess its a perfect time to write Part 3 of the series - Puttu times on my trip to India.
Puttu was jetlagged from her flight and hence did not come to receive me at the airport. She was asleep when I reached home and I was looking at her quietly. When she woke up a little later she was cranky as she hadnt had her full sleep and that set the tone for the next 2 days. She would look at me and know who I am, but would refuse to come to me or call me "Kaka". The moment I walk out of the room or away from her view she would have absolutely no problems calling me Kaka and telling everyone that I am her Kaka. I was yearning for her to call me kaka in my presence and I knew I had to be patient.
As she got a bit more comfortable with me, she would sit with me and go through photos and answer my questions. I would ask her whos who on the pics and she would correctly say everyone except Kaka. When I point to a pic of mine and ask who it was, she would turn the page or point at someone else and say something else:) As much as I was yearning to her her say Kaka, her shyness came across as a very cute and smart game :)
A coupla of days later, she opened up and called me Kaka and I was over the moon. And ever since she would always want me to be by her side. The moment i walk away from her sight, she would shout for me and order me with her tender index finger to come near her :) Awwwww!!!!!! and how she shouted is "kaka...Kaa Kaa.....KAAA KAAAA" and I had better responded by then :D:D:D
The few days with Puttu were spent listening to all her babbles, her enactions of numerous rhymes (Hindi , Engklish, Tamil and Marathi), playing with her, clicking hundreds of pics of her and running around the house with her.
At Thirupathi, came the Mottai episode. Since her Mama was unable to make the trip, I as her Kaka had to sit her in my lap while her head was tonsured. The way Puttu got scared and cried made me decide that it was an act of TORTURE and not TONSURE. I wondered why there existed such a ritual and even started to question the ritual. It affected me a lot. In the end, Puttu with her Mottai Thalai was as cute as ever and I even taught her to say "Me Me" when I asked who "Mottai boss" was.
With the numerous functions that were there Puttu was dressed in Pattu Paavadais (silk dresses) each time and she looked so cute walking around in them. She had her first experience with Indian Railways in a Shatabdi train and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
Saying goodbye to her was obviously very difficult and it was amazing to see how she too knew that she was parting. You could feel it. She would give u a kiss readily, while at most times u wud have to ask her a few times....she wud come to us and hug us etc etc.
For now, its phone calls, fotos and videos of Puttu that keep me going.
Once again, Happy Budday Puttu Kutty >:D< I miss being there.
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