Visiting Home Town For The First Time

That was a long awaited journey for us. Taking Ikey for the first time to our home town in Kerala. There were lot of people awaiting to see him for the first time. We were thrilled, but little worried on whether the journey will make him uncomfortable. However, he was all good and enjoyed the trip.

So it took 2.5 hours extra than we usually need to travel. We started off at 4:15 am in the morning. Wrapped him and assigned sift wise care from Ani and Mummy. 

Me and Ani enjoyed the drive always. In-fact, Ani was so excited as she is having the first long journey after an year. And that reflected. It was fun talking and discussing various things in this world, all through the journey. 

Mummy used to be uncomfortable during the car journey. However, as Ikey was in her arms, she forgot about everything else. Engaging him and telling him about the things around, she too enjoyed the moments.

Surpassing the Western Ghats and approaching the Tamilnadu-Palakkad border, lies this signage. Welcome To Kerala State. 

This was the primary character in our journey's photography script. Ani noted this before and suggested to have a click with Ikey at this point.

The sad part is that it reminds how things are kept under ignorance by the Kerala authorities. How much will it take to paint it and keep it clean? 

The one factor of Bangalore-Kerala journey remained the same. The pit-stop at Saravana Bhavan hotel. We didn't want to miss it for any reason. So we took a break...

The ultimate combination as far as I am concerned for breakfast. Fresh crispy vada + Ghee roasted pongal + signature sambar + Freshly grinded coconut chutney. Happiness!

The energy booster. After a 6+ hours of drive, this coffee does the magic

Ani's favorite Ghee Roast + Sides

Mummy's Favorite Masala Dosa + Sides. I tried to click the masala mix inside :)

Ani is never happy with her first order. So came the second one. The pyramid ghee roast + sides. 

I never ignore a good restaurant nor forget to appreciate. Long live!

On the way, Ani noticed a palm fruit seller. Her grandma loves it. And she wanted to get some for her. So a pit-stop which is not in the script.

Showcased to lure in the customers. And Ani fell in it.

Practice makes a person perfect. He prepares the order in seconds.

I don't like this anyway. But Ani tasted it and said it was yummy. 

A special trip for us and for all our dear ones.

All Moments Are To Savour

Oh yes! Busy days going on. Busy at office, busy at home, busy with traveling. However, all these comes packed with tons of joy and happiness. The tiredness is getting over by being with the dear ones.

The Fun Parenting

Today is January 26th and while watching the Live Republic Parade in Doordarshan, with Ani, I was thinking about how our life got changed since Ikey came in to our life. 

Meanwhile, Ikey was enjoying his new gift from his Peppa, which arrived just then. That gave me sometime to ponder on some of the interesting facts, pertaining to him and us.

We both loved sleeping on weekends. Sleeping late nights on Friday's and getting up late by 11:00 AM in the morning. We enjoyed those moments. 

However, it isn't the same anymore. Our sleeping pattern's got changed. Now it is more disciplined. And we have to thank him for teaching us a tight scheduled life style.

A change in character is an obvious need when looking after a baby. While Ani improved with all the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, two of those gifts benefited me the most, which I had the least in my life.

I was telling Ani towards the coming of Ikey into this world - "I am not going to help you at the night time to take care of Ikey. I have to go to office and got work which are of high priority. I need proper sleep for my head to work just perfect. So don't expect me to get up in the middle of the night and help you."

And Ani said OK. 

However the things weren't the same as I thought. I realized the fact that that fatherhood factor inside me will not allow me to sleep, listening to all those sweet midnight music show happening around. So I began to get up, support Ani, help her with the diaper changing and all the other assistance required. 

That wasn't bad. I wasn't tired in the morning, not feeling any dizziness. It was just a myth and I lived with it for years. Man, I would have had a lot of productive time.

Nothing else matters these days for us, than watching him smiling while we spent time with him.

That is priceless.

Second Highest Bridge In The World

It was another busy day searching for a destination to visit. Spend an hour and planned 3 places to visit. Royal Gorge was the first one in the sequence. 

The main reason to visit this place? This bridge was the highest bridge in the WORLD till 2001, when it's position was replaced by the Liuguanghe Bridge in China.

I was amazed at this creation for all through the journey. A construction masterpiece by itself. Unlike the bridge in China, this isn't made of concrete, but with big chunks of metal, all over the place.

And can you believe the fact that this bridge was built in just six months. That was an amazing fact for me.

The sad part - in June 2013, the areas was destroyed by a severe wild fire. Almost the entire park and the facilities were burned to flames. Only the bridge stood the ground. 

The entire place looked deserted due to this event. Hope they will rebuild the old glorious day of this park.

Stroller Trial

Sometimes none of the positions work for Ikey. That is when I tried placing him in the stroller. Thought it might work, but he was very sad about that. 

Lesson learned  - It is not the time for the stroller yet. 

Diaper Changing Fun

Diaper Change - That is one thing my friends used to tease me when Ikey was close to come out to this world. 

To be frank, diaper change is not a tough job for me, except when it happens between some urgent work. 

Still patient and smiling, we make Ikey the happiest person in the world.

How to Grill & Bake fun on a Christmas?

Whats more fun than spending time together on a Christmas night. That is what we planned. Decided to do a grilling session for preparing the Christmas dinner.

Confirmed the menu the day before and Ani led the shopping for the items. 

Invitation & Menu

It was real fun to prepare the recipes for the grilling. Prawns, Chicken, Fish Fillets were all ready the day before. Perfect marination overnight.

The tough part as usual is to make the charcoal burn. We bought some Weber charcoal and lighter, which made the job easier compared to the last time.

The charcoal burned in few minutes, however cechi took all the efforts to make it burn :) Excellent job!

The prawns ready to grill on the skewers

Ani wanted to engage full heartedly to the grilling, however she did the complete job of marinating the items for us to grill.

Get smoked :)

Yummy prawns BBQ in the make

Fish Fillets

Encouraging the charcoal cubes in between

Veg Biriyani and Fish Fillets

Ready for dinner

Ani's creative shot :)

Ani tried the fruit cake for Christmas the first time. To be frank, it was awesome. The main ingredient is the wine soaked dry fruits. 

It was a real yummy deal.

Altogether a fun filled and joyous Christmas night...

When to grill next?

How to beat the Bangalore Winter

Grilling is fun

To be frank, climate is the main reason why I hate Kerala and love Bangalore. Climate, I can't compromise.

Many says that Bangalore is not the old Bangalore anymore. IT development and real estate is killing Bangalore at a faster rate (who is worried about it anyway).

Inspite of all these concerns, Bangalore winter is still good. It is a chilled December for me and Ani. While I enjoy the climate, Ani is not liking it much. Especially Isaac and mummy are facing troubles due to this climate.

It was on my birthday, Ani gifted me with a small charcoal grill set. I was excited to grill at the very moment. But for that I need to get some charcoal.

Took the bike and went around my place to get some charcoal. Nowhere they are selling it. Finally went into a BBQ restaurant and bought some charcoal for INR 60/kg.

Marinated the chicken with the traditional Tandoori Chicken recipe. And started the grilling by 9 pm.

But the tough part was to lighten up the charcoal. It took my life to make it burn as I didn't have the right tools to do it :)

Freezing cold outside, but the heat from the grill was so soothing.

However at the end of the grilling - satisfaction made me to SMILE.

BTW - the chicken was yummy :)

Getting grilled in the traditional way

Ready to savor...

Dallas Farmers Market Walk

This place was great to spent time

It was another weekend and while planing for the place to visit, Dallas Farmers Market popped out from one of the travel catalog. Decided to visit the place for one another reason - cooking.

Wanted to cook chicken curry that needed some fresh vegetable. Can see the place and get some veggies too. That was the real intention :)

That was a fantastic place to spent time. Clean and vibrant place. Spent almost three hours, visiting the stalls at the market, trying out the food and clicking the pictures around. 

The market consist of 4 huge sheds.

Shed 1

Local Farmers: sell their own produce grown within a 150-mile radius of Dallas. Farmers display a "Verified Local Farmer" designation.

Produce Dealers: resell refrigerated produce, including food shipped from out of state

Shed 2

Eateries, specialty foods, and food related products

Shed 3

Produce Dealers: resell refrigerated produce, including food shipped from out of state

Shed 4

Wholesale Produce Dealers: sell large quantities of fresh vegetables and fruit

Just got out of the farm - fresh :)

Home made vinegar

Tempting and yummy veggies called me to pick them up. However I controlled myself because of the limited travel budget :)

Those were so cute to watch. They shied in the afteroon sun light

Veggie varieties...

Deal of the day

Creative minded vendor with her stall

Yummy juicy Caribbean honey covered grilled chicken...Heavenly...

After almost 3 hours, got out from the market and took a stroll around the place.

The neighborhood 

The signature gate 

Tractor prototype

A nursery next to the market. Well maintained, clean and extremely beautiful

More details: http://dallasfarmersmarket.org/visit/plan-a-visit/

Lakewood Church & Joel Osteen

The worship team getting ready for the service

I've been watching his live sermons for almost two years now. But never tried to search his church location. Not in my wildest dream I thought of standing at this church in my lifetime.

I was surprised to hear from Paul that his house is only few feet away from the Lakewood Church. Really? - then what am I waiting for.

Searched for the worship timing for the next day and reached the church an hour before. As I was a first time visitor, they gave me the seating in the second row. Wow that was great.

I was excited to live in one of my dreams then. Worship for half an hour and there comes the person whom I admire the most...

And the best part, I could meet and talk to Joel after the service and got his autograph on my bible. 

Fantastic Experience...

The stage getting ready

Stadium size church got filled in minutes after this click

Joel on the stage with his joke of the day. I couldn't believe that I was watching him live, few feet away...

Hung around the church for sometime. Church getting ready for the next service.

Joel's autograph on my bible

Soo great and nice to meet you too Joel...

Meeting Paul and Nancy

Houston wasn't in my travel list, until I met Paul . 

Paul got transferred from Seattle to Texas, based on his location preference, as he was staying out of Houston.

We used to go pick lunch for the team together from Chipotle and I loved that ride always. When I speak about the facts of India, it will be closely correlated from Paul's experience from Hongkong.

It was during one of those journey, Paul asked about visiting him and Nancy at Houston. Houston got added to the weekend trip list as I was excited to meet them over a weekend. And it happened. 

This trip will be one of those moments that I will cherish for sure. There was no ice breaking needed, no formalities. They were so easy to get along. 

We went out for dinner at a Thai place together followed by a Houston city ride. In between the ride, we hopped in for a dessert from their favorite store. Coconut milk & bamboo based desserts, DrinkBamboo, but it was so tastey and yummy.

Paul and Nancy became the best Houston guides, showing around the places and explaining about the city and the culture.

After spending time with them for a day, I headed towards the Lake Wood church the next day for the Sunday service.

If I am visiting Houston again, they will be in my visiting list for sure...Thanks a ton for the wonderful moments!