Ko-Samet Trip

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Ko-Samet Trip Photo Gallery









Weather was awesome with little drizzling in the morning when we took off for this amazing Rayong-Ko Samet trip on Saturday 12th April'08. We were two families with three kids including Oshin. Plan was to roam around Rayong province on Saturday and to visit Ko-Samet Island on Sunday. It was not a coincidence that we encountered water splashing incidents on the way as Thailand celebrates their 'Holi'-like beautiful festival of Songkran this week which added lot of fun and frolic to this outing. Songkran is Thai new year celebration which lasts for three days.

Vijay was driving the car, specially availed for this trip to make it more convenient while travelling with so many kids, and he was quite comfortable driving and locating places in this area as this place is also his work location which he visits quite often. Kids were very happy and excited and so were we two couples. Drive was not very tiring as the highways are smooth like butter here in Thailand.

On our way towards Rayong our first destination was 'Tiger Zoo Sriracha' beside the highway few kilometers before reaching Rayong city. Sriracha Tiger Zoo is amazing with tens of huge and healthy tigers and crockodiles within your close proximity. Shooting the tigers (obviously with my cam!) just behind a glass window and feeding the cubs with a milk bottle while holding them on our lap was amazing. Pig mother feeding tiger cubs along with it's own piglets, monks and tigers playing with each other in open, pig dog and tiger playing together, lady hanging tens of deadly scorpions on her abdomin, tens of crocks taking sun-bath, pig race, photo session while holding cubs and crocks, elephant show, crock show, tiger show are some of the other major attractions of this zoo.

Before sun could touch the adjoining sea horizon we reached 'Kantary Bay Sriracha', a premium resort in the town and our night halt destination. We had a good late lunch-cum-dinner at 6 O'clock after we got fresh after an eventful day. Something very interesting happened after we came back from our strawl at the beach and when we were about to call it a day. Ultimately we had to shift to an another nearby hotel, Hotel Botanica, in a jiffy and it was nearly midnight when we actually slipped into our beds.

Hotel Botanica is worth a mention here. It's a moderate sized hotel which has been completely turned into an open botanical lab full of vaious species of plants, trees and other unique shapes and structures. We checked out next day afternoon as we headed todards Ko-Samet island. Water splashing was in full swing when we came out on the main road. We ensured that all the window panes of the car were fully up and doors were locked before facing the Songkran crowd on the roads while going towards the nearest sea shore - Banpae Pier - to visit the island.

Clock struck 2 when we landed in Ko-Samet island, at Nuanthip Pier. We grabbed some drinks and eatables before taking a cab for 'Haad Sai Kaeo' beach - a beautiful white sand beach in this island. Again we met with lot of enthusiasts pouring water from both the sides while our journey, in a open cab, towards Haad Sai Kaeo.

Beach 'Haad Sai Kaeo' is simply amazing with a beautiful giant statue of a mermaid couple at the very entrance of the beach. Clean white sand beach and clean blue waters with hundreds of folks trying different kinds of activities ranging from kids and their parents engaged in making sand castles to enthusiasts trying para-gliding, speed boats and banana rides. Our whole afternoon at the beach was fully fun-filled and we tried almost all the fun activities available out there.

We had to leave as the clock arms became vertical as it was the last ferry trip towards Rayong from there. We wished if we could have stayed overnight there as it's always memorable to sleep on the beach enjoying camp fire at night and enjoy the morning sunrise.

Ko-Samet trip was yet another joyful and adventurous trip to a beach which will be in our memories for long long time to come. I'll come back with yet another episode of my travel to an another destination. See you till then and take good care of yourselves...

Naveen

Oshin turns 5

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Oshin's 5th BirthDay pics

It's a big celebration time as Oshin completed five springs this January the 24th 2008. I being a mother hardly believe that she has grown so fast. Time really flies and it seems as if she were born just yesterday.

If I look back at these five years spent with Oshin they felt no different than a quick sleep full of sweet dreams. Oshin has been our dream child and we've shared immense love and affection that's expected from any other ideal kid. She's so understanding on all matters and cares a lot for her family 'n friends and specially for me. I'd like to highlight here that she'd immediately pitch in and take my side in case her dad is at disagreement with us on something which could turn into an argument session. She would made him realised that he's at fault and would put a stop to any such unnecessary blame-games.

Her love and affection towards small kids is yet another interesting aspect of her behavioural characteristics. She's very possisive towards the kids and won't leave any stone unturned to cuddle them. It leaves us undertermined when it comes to call we three as our complete family after looking at her fondness for tiny tots.

She was no different during her initial years also and was a very calm and cool kid unlike other typical kids, except those initial couple of months which were very much forgettable. I really find myself fortunate while comparing Oshin with other kids that I see around me. First girl child in the family is regarded as Godess as per hindu mythology and Oshin literally realized this statement. We enjoyed all sort of prosperity and good luck since the day she entered our life. We feel really blessed being the parents of a kid like Oshin and also at the same time we've been enjoying seeing Oshin growing leaps and bounds.

I'm pretty sure that any mother would feel herself lucky to have a child like her and cherish the moments spent with her. I congratulate her on her fifth birthday and wish her all the luck for years to come.

Hema

Celebration being in Bangkok

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Life is pretty cool in Bangkok. In fact every day is a celebration and we are enjoying every bit of it. Though we don't celebrate each and every indian festival but also never missed any of our festival here as wer have a big indian community here in Oakwood and we gather to celebrate all major indian festival traditionally.

Join us here for Desi get-togethers

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Memorable Khao Yai Trip

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Khao Yai Trip Photo Gallery










Yet another amazing group outing in Thailand was our overnight tour to Khao Yai. This tour was undoubetly the best tour for us in this country. It was also not a package tour and also all the catering services were taken care by all of us only. It was a two-day adventurous tour which started on the saturday morning and we were back our hotel well in time on sunday evening.

It was September the 29th of 2007, a very beautiful morning just like any other dawn this green capital of the kingdom of Thailand. We were all 12 in number and all set to leave before we could get up on any other weekend day. It was a Saturday and we made sure that we could get an extra rest day after this trip full of activities. Enjoying our road travel of two and half hours - nicely utilized with singing, dancing, boozing and eating - we made sure that not a single moment was left unturned. We took couple of breaks on the way and grabbed cup of coffees 'n cans of beers and announced our presence at the resort (which we booked) by 11.

...

We finally bid goodbye to Khao Yai at 5 O'clock. While coming back we had a blast of dance inside the van. We also stopped on the way for coffee break and reached Oakwood before 8 O'clock.

Any feedback folks?
Naveen

Tour de Hua Hin Beach

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Tour de Hua Hin pics









Tour to Hua Hin beaches was wonderful and shall be in our memories for a long long time to come. It was special in many ways. It was the first team outing for all the India-IBMers here in Bangkok. Secondly we didn't book any package tour and it was completely self planned and with self catering and camping services. It was a one day fun-filled tightly stuffed tour which started as early as 7 O'clock in the morning and we were back to bed at Oakwood well before the clock joined the arms at the midnight.

It was July the 28th of 2007, a very beautiful morning just like any other dawn this green capital of the kingdom of Thailand. We were all 12 in number and all set to leave before we could get up on any other weekend day. It was a Saturday and we made sure that we could get an extra rest day after this trip full of activities.

Enjoying our road travel of two and half hours - nicely utilized with singing, dancing, boozing and eating - we made sure that not a single moment was left unturned. We took couple of breaks on the way and grabbed cup of coffees 'n cans of beers and announced our presence on the beaches of Hua Hin before our watches told 11.

There was a scream of sheer joy when everybody got the glimpses of the sea from inside the van. Jumping out of the cab and getting our feets wet was the priority at that moment. Oshin was with her bag 'n baggage which included her beach gear having all sort of spades, buckets, and the whole lot of equipment to build the sand-castle. We spent nearly an hour before we left to search for a shelter to start our Bar-b-que.

We drove to a nearby place which was also on the beach, in fact more beautiful and lonely then the earlier one, was perfect choice for all of us to setup our bar-b-que and start preparation for the group-feast. It was great fun to work collectively for the preparation of this lunch along with lite humourous conversation. We also took a quick strawl at the beach in while our peers were buzy preparing meals for us. Few other didn't missed the chance to grabb couple of beer, encashing these intoxicating moments completely.

After the meals were over and we were also little exhausted, we planned to drive little further and do some more photography. After sitting on stones wetting our feets in a group at the beach for a while, chatting, singing, shooting, we finally bid goodbye to Hua Hin at 5 O'clock.

While coming back we made a halt at Sofitel on the way and enjoyed cup of coffee after having a strawl on the wife soft sand inside. Now finally it was time to make a move for Bangkok as it was already 8. After this hardly anything happened before we were informed that we've reached our beloved hotel-Oakwood. We had lot of leftover food which was regarded as dinner that evening at our suite and before we could wish good nigh to each other it was a new day and 2 AM in the morning.

Now what you say folks? Wasn't it fantastic?

Naveen

Words from Chacha Kalaam

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The President of India DR. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's Speech in Hyderabad

Why is the media here so negative?
Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements?
We are such a great nation.
We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.

Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.

I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.

In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. Why are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.

Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to build this developed India. You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.

Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a vengeance.

Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.

YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke,
The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - YOURS. Give him a face - YOURS. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity... In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds( Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else.'YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.' YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut
shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand.

Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston??? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?

Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay, Mr.Tinaikar, had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he said. 'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels?
In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan. Will l the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.

We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.

This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?

What does a system consist of ? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr. Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.... I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians.....

'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA
AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'

Lets do what India needs from us.


Thank you,

Dr. Abdul Kalaam
Ex President of India

What is Celebration?

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What is Celebration?

Celebration means...
A winter evening.
Four friends.
One barsaat. (Rain)
Four glasses of ‘chai’ (Tea).

Celebration means...
Hundred bucks of petrol.
A rusty old bike.
And an open road.


Celebration means...
Maggi noodles.
Your friends.
A hostel room.
4.25am.

Celebration means...
3 old friends.
3 separate cities.
3 coffee mugs.
1 internet messenger.

Celebration means...
Rain on a hot tin roof.
Pakoras deep-frying.
Neighbours dropping in.
A party.

Celebration means...
You and mom.
A summer night.
A bottle of coconut oil.
A head massage.
Gossiping about absent family members.

You can spend
Hundreds on birthdays,
Thousands on festivals,
Lakhs on weddings,

But to celebrate…
All you have to do is spend your Time with your loved ones
This New Year lets promise to keep in touch

Forget the Things that made you sad.....
Remember those that made you glad.....
Forget the troubles that passed away...
Remember the blessings that come each day !!!!!

My Other Pages:
My Photo Gallery
Welcome to Oshin's Oasis
About Oshin
Pithoragarh-My Home Town
I Love Bangkok
Sanju's Marriage
Naveen’s Sweet Memories
Why Moms are so special?
Words from Chacha Kalaam
Why Moms are so special?
Tour de Hua Hin Beach
Memorable Khao Yai Trip

Why Moms are so special?

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Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed."

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for rewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the excursion and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her bag Mum then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night Solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and radios, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...?

Moms are made for the long haul… and they can't die sooner because they still have lot of good things to do!!

With Love...

Oshin

Naveen's Sweet Memories

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I'm a kumauni born and brought in a beautiful small village in the lap of majestic Himalayas in the state of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand). My village 'Dewal' is situated five kilometers away from the main city of Pithoragarh, beside Dharchula road - the state highway that connects this border district to the kingdom of Nepal and a well known 'Mansarovar' pilgrimage route. Click here for Pithoragarh pics

Being the first boy child in the family I was given special attention over the other siblings (I'm not sure whether I should take it as my luck) which includes a younger brother and two elder sisters. I hardly remember my preschooling days spent in old Delhi inside the ramparts of Red Fort (sounds interesting right?! any other time folks).

Daadima was a divine soul and I'll keep missing her all through my life. She was a indeed a brave lady who lost her 25yr old son yet faced immense challenges in her life with a positive frame of mind. Her biggest strength was her extraordinary temperament and extemely humble nature. She found her lost son and heir in me after a while on my birth and overwhelmed. She carried out our upbringing with utmost care, especially mine, and showered her full love and affection. I still remember how much pain she used to take to cook delicacies of our choice and bottling seasonal  fruits, especially for me. She mostly used to handle kitchen and always complemented for the motherly affection which we missed at times.


I fully enjoyed my childhood in this paradise. I treasure all the days passed in my village as some of the best memories of the past. Though I got very little time to spend with my family members due to various reasons but still I have enough memories of those wonderful days passed in that heavenly adobe.



I was provided better schooling as compared to my brother and sisters. At an early age of four I was sent to stay with one of my uncles in the nearby cantonment area for my kindergarten schooling. Getting admitted in Kendriya Vidyalaya Pithoragarh for formal schooling was also a big challenge for my mother and my schooling over there was possible only due to her extreme efforts. Initial couple of years in the school were pretty tough for me and my family as I had to walk eight kilometers daily to go to school. Click here for Kendriya Vidyalaya Pithoragarh pics

My uncle Dr. D. N. Joshi came forward to support my parents to take care of my further schooling and I was sent to his awesome residence 'Green Cottage' in Pithoragarh city. Under his care and kind supervision I excelled in my studies during those initial years and this was the time which groomed my childhood and shaped my future. But unfortunately this couldn’t last long and I had to go back to my village again to continue my schooling after sixth standard. After completing high-school from Kendriya Vidyalaya Pithoragarh in 1989 I joined Government Intermediate College Pithoragarh and completed my senior secondary studies in 1991.

I still can't forget those wonderful days spent in GIC hostel in year 1990. During my SSE final year in 1991 my family left for Punjab and shifted me to my elder sister’s place. This last year, before leaving Pithoragarh, was full of mixed emotions with lot of memories which I'd like to forget. I remember I was very eager to leave Pithoragarh at that time as I was not at all enjoying my stay over there. Today I think it was good that I left Pithoragarh during that time because a delay of even even year could have drastically deformed my future. I was not keeping well those days and I fell seriously ill couple of times just before those crucial SSE examinations which also affected my studies and result to some extent. My uncle Dr. D. N. Joshi's timely support during those odd times is really unforgettable. I left Pithoragarh as soon as my SSE examinations were over and I joined my family in Roorkee where my father was currently posted.

I visited back Pithoragarh in 1997 after a long gap of six years. I cannot forget how happy I was while travelling back to my sweet hometown after such a long time. I clearly remember that I couldn’t sleep on the previous night of this dream travel.

By end of year 1997 my parents were desperate to change my marital status and turned up every stone to please me. On June the 11th of 1998 - a nice sunny day with little drizzle on- Hema and me tied up the tightest knot according to the hindu tradition. We both trusted our parents' decision and with the grace of god we're one of the happiest couples on the planet called earth.

Naveen

Sanju's Marriage

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Sanju's Marriage Photo Gallery

It added thousand smiles to everyone's face as Sanju’s marriage got fixed on 6th of December'06. It was a long due family festival and each one of us was eagerly waiting for it. We just arrived in Bangkok as this marriage date got fixed and we were in a great dilemma whether to attend or not. Initially we were not quite hopeful and decided to stay back but ultimately god paved the way for this big and once-in-a-while family celebration.

We reached India late night on first of December and the very next day we left for Pithoragarh. Clock struck six in the evening and we were at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal, ready to takeoff for a pleasant journey through the majestic Himalays. Pithoragarh showed it's beautiful face, glossed with a bright winter sunshine and it was 11'O clock when we boarded Sanju's car, on our way to our lovely hamlet. Overall it was a very tiring yet fun-filled journey and there was a pinch of smile on our tired faces, after reaching Pithoragarh, as it was a dream come true for us othe our beloved ones as no one of us expected that we could attend this marriage. It was pleasure walking amidst the green wheat fields on our way to our village a mile away through the beatiful terrains.

In no time it was 6th of December – the much waited Sanju’s marriage day. Each one of us in the family and close relations could hardly wait for this day. All the expected family members, friends and relatives had already reached by this day.

Yesterday evening was the mehdi ceremony (applying henna on the groom's palms - of course to bride too.. but as we're from groom's camp.. :P) which showed an awesome trailer of an amazing next day celebration. Hardly anyone was spared during the dance round that followed the mehdi ritual. All the kumauni, bollywood, pop and dance numbers were played exhaustively to put on a rocking show.

As the morning sun peeped out of beautiful mountains guests started reaching the venue at Bisabajer. Celebrations were already in big swing since early morning. Most of us didn't sleep at all to avoid missing the show. For the family members the day was bit chaotic as they had to entertain the guest apart from dressing themselves up.. each one of us was running around to get something done.. everyone was running around to get catch hold of someone.. everyone was bit piled up with a bunch of activities.. still everyone was very happy as they gonna witness the tremendous celebration ahead.

"chholliyas" and "dholees" (traditional dancers and drummers) had already arrived and were busy with their makeup and warmup activities. Chholliyas were the biggest attraction of the day and as the years passing kumaunees are returning back to their tradition, like other indian communities, as they've realized of late that it's their cultural richness that distinguishes them from the rest of the world. Dholee played the initial ritual beat followed by the tradition prayers by the band party. Uncle Bhuwan was the first enthusiat seen dancing to the first tunes and perhaps the last one too. An awesome dance blast rocked the venue in which all the key members of the family were on the dance floor including the groom which was followed by, much in demand, "chholliya dance" on “Chhaliya Dammua” beats.

Haldi ceremony (application of turmeric paste to the groom by the family ladies) was on while the males were busy demonstrating their dancing skills, that too after a long wait. Sanju was painted in yellow, claded only in a white dhoti only till his knees. It was a huge crowd outside as most of the friends and relatives turned up this time round and it was the prime time of this traditional celebration. Dance and music was given a break as the groom gave his appearance outside fully ready to board “doli’ (kumauni palanquin). Some interesting tradition shows off here too as the family ladies carry out some rituals of worshipping the family gods/goddess while boarding doli. Dance and music goes on full swing again as the family heads finally decide to take off, on their way to bride's place, the last few moments to shake it up for the folks left behind (mostly the ladies who generally avoid joining the males on their way to bride's place but times are changing fast of late).

Few quick hours slipped off very fast we danced and walked, with a mild drizzle on, to the nearest roadhead. It wasw the final dance blast near the groom house followed by a half an hour road journey to the bride's place. "Baratees" (folks who join groom on his quest to conquer her bride of dreams!) finally settle down for a quick rest while witnessing marriage rituals at the "vivah mandap" (the sacred place with the holy fire lighted at the centre and nicely decorated sarrounding to carry out the marriage rituals as per the hindu tradition), after finishing off their late lunch. Marriage proceedings were on for quite some time at the mandap as folks, still desperate to show their last dancing skills, were motivating drummers and chholliya with currency notes and peg of whisky - real reasons to make the commercial chholliyas and dammuas to work!

Then comes the difficult time when a daughther, a sister, friend says goodbye to her beloved ones - her pieces of heart. You can count those people on fingers who left untouched in that wet atmosphere - tears flowing down the cheeks everywhere - drummers play the famous bollywood number "babul ki duayein letee jaa.."... you nasty guys. Bride's family members left in dismay.. shedding their tears at a corner... whole life of ther girl replays in front of their eyes in quick succession...

But life moves on.. the show must go on... things get better when baraat reaches grooms place.. celebration in full swing here.. someones tears bring happiness to other.. oh cruel life. A very grand welcome for the new couple.. Naveen and I demand a huge customs duty (as part of a ritual again!) as the couple enters the house for the first time.. Vineeta dances away her emotions as part of yet another ritual. All the gentlemen still pampering drummers and chholliyas to make their last hip shake happen - though things are pretty exhausted on either side - but this moment will never come again.. let's celebrate max out of it.

We bid a very emotional goodbye to our family and friends few days later and it was bit difficult to return back to day-to-day routine for quite some time. We still cherish those awesome memories and often recall those wonderful moments with the helps of videos and pics.

Hema