Summer 2010 Tours and Travels - Boston and Newport

Motto of this year’s and every year hence forth’s vacation and travelling: Be a traveler and not a tourist. So armed with this motto and a ‘one year plus or minus a few months’ old baby, we toured and travelled. Henceforth, I am planning to carry a small book and make notes. That will make me feel like a true traveler. So, let me start with our first trip on the Memorial Day weekend to Boston and Newport.
The initial plan was to go to Block Island but my ‘heart’ was really not into it. I am not an idle vacation person and especially not a water person. I mean I don’t even swim (other than in 4 feet water:)!. So, somehow sitting in the beach running around and keeping a 11 month baby entertained is not my idea of a holiday (at least not for now). So, when we were too late to catch the boat to Block Island, I for one was very happy. So, we headed to Boston. Parked the car, walked along the river, went to Quincy market, it started raining but we had to reach the museum because that’s where the duck tour starts and we had already booked it, so, mad rush to the train station and then finally the duck tour. I love big cities and I think each city has a ‘feel’ and a ‘mood’ and I love walking on the city streets with tall buildings on either side of me and experiencing the city. The next best thing is to simply tour the city taking in the traffic and seeing the city pass by. I absolutely loved it! The boat ride in the water was okay. Nothing special about it. The only fascinating thing about it was the way it entered the water and the wheels folded and the same thing when we got out of the water, now, that was truly amazing! Now for my memories, I liked the walk along the river, that’s another thing I love, staring into the water. Quincy market – I thought I liked it then but now when I look back, it doesn’t generate any ‘warm’ feelings in me. We had our lunch there- had a plate of Thai food and I think some burger. Okay, again, I guess because I had high expectations. The drive through the city was very nice especially sitting in a nice comfortable bus with a sleepy baby in your arms. On the whole I think I liked Boston but I want to go and experience the city once more on my own terms.
The next day. Please, please one digression? went to a garage sale near my BIL’s place and picked up a painting, some clay hangings (that now hang in my kitchen) and a big silver ring. Shopping always, then and the now memories give me a nice warm feeling:). We left for Newport late in the afternoon and reached there eveningish. How shall I describe the place? It’s a very small towninsh, English town kind of a place with lots of small shops along the streets. very, very, nice. We walked along the shoreline that goes behind these famous mansions. The next time I want to spend an entire day here visiting these mansions. So, anyhow did not go into the mansions because we were too late , just walked along the shore, which was also very lovely. By then it was dark and the perfect time to walk on those cobbled streets We walked, and went into shops (notice, I said just went and not shopped, they were all these trendy designer shops(:) and walked some more. Krish slept after sometime. There was this one narrow alley that led to the shore, we sat there looking at the boats and eating an ice-cream, nicest and warmest memory of the trip:)
Ooh, finally a perfect end to a very nice trip. We stopped in Edison for lunch. Had yummy Biryani and a GOLA!!It was just absolutely yummy! I can still remember the taste of it! It had all those flavours mixed with the taste of the tamarind on top! Hmmm..heaven!

As I remove my head from the sand, I see a big, whole world out there..

Well, motherhood is difficult and then add to it a job and running a home and it can get very overwhelming but that was no excuse for me to get into a cocoon, where I have been for the past one year. I was not even aware how I had lost touch with so many people. Today after ages I logged onto Gmail chat and saw a very good friend online. She was very, very angry with me. We were best buddies in the Bangalore office and we moved to the US at about the same time, she came here to study and I came here after marriage. We religiously kept in touch even after coming here and our weekly chats would go on for more than an hour. And then came motherhood and Krish and I just disappeared. Add to it my phone number changed. This made me realize how my life has become one tight circle with just me and my family. Today was an eye-opener. Well, no more excuses, I have to bring back some kind of focus into other aspects of my life as well. I am planning to go back to school. Is that too ambitious of me? But if I don’t do it now, I know I will never do it.

Random thoughts..

•I really really wish I believed in God! I wish I believed in miracles! I wish I believed that praying hard will get you anything! I really wish I had not lost my faith!

•It is a very, very , lonely world without a God! It is very scary too!

•I agree, it is when you see the 'deep lows' can you see the 'high highs' as well. But I think I will go with stable and mediocrity any day.

It can’t be easy being God

Nari from Country Ally and Barry from country Bally die fighting in the war. So, obviously since they die fighting for their country, they go to heaven or at least reach the gates of heaven.

Nari: Dear God, I killed 8 soldiers and 25 civilians. I did it for my country Ally and for the people of my country.

Barry: Dear God, I killed 23 soldiers and 25 civilians but I took care to see that the place I threw the bomb did not have women and children.

It can’t be easy being God.
However, what if Nari is talking to God Hari and Barry is talking to God Allah? Would they have wars too?


How do parent’s who lose their children in war justify it?

Funny man Krish

It's easier writing in points. So, henceforth, all my posts are going to be in points:)
1) Pictute this - Mummy is in the kitchen cooking.Now, kitchen is Krish's favourite room. I can understand.it has treasures everywhere from the bin to the coutless shelves and cupboards..So, mummy very sternly tells him to go back to the living room and play there. So, what does this funny man do? He shakes his forefinger at my mom implying a 'no, no'! So, rule no. 1, no talking sternly to him.
Rule no. 2: No laughing. I mean no laughing period. He doesn't like it. He thinks we are laughing at him!
2)Now, since mmmy is here, she has taught Krish a lot of things. He points to various things like flower, tree, birds etc..She has also taught him 'parts of the body'. When we say head, nose, ear, tummy, hand, leg, Krish very obediently points out the respective parts but mind you it has to be in that same very order! So, the other day, when mummy asked him head, he after pointing out his head hurried on with the rest of them without even being asked! My funny man is just sooo hilarious!!