Pondy....

Pondicherry was a surprise visit and totally unexpected! me and family were in chennai for a cousins wedding and found ourselves having a day free for ourselves....after toying with various options...we decided to head towards Pondy...a city i had only heard abt from my best friend who had this insane affection towards it...he was born there so i assumed he has a natural affliction towards the place...boy! was i proved wrong and how????

we reached the city arnd 4PM on a rainy day ( not the best season) and i was amazed to find the entire city bordered by the sea...that to me seemed like the coolest place to be in (prior to the Tsunami!!!) and i badly wanted tos tay in a sea facing accomodation....we found some but almost all of them had a bar attached....this bought the place as a choice a big notch down....my uncle's common sense ideas won out and we ended up staying in Saravana Bhavan-like hotel....with good south Indian meals....the day we reached we hooked to the net to find the atractions....we already knew you shudnt miss Auroville....but we wanted more...

there were very that we found ourselves to be interested in and one of them was the ashram in the city which we visited after a yummy idli/vada breakfast...it was a peaceful place with a lot of volunteers....the ashram is a place u'll want to go for some ur "think" time.....

after lunch....we headed out for the Auroville....we were informed that the place has a golden big ball that is actually an auditorium in the making...but for me the most spectacular thing was the urn that contained all the world's sands...thus mixing us all and conveying the TRUE message of mankind....its a revered spot for me....legend has it that when the World convention was held....the representatives from all the countries of the world where invited with a caveat....that they bring a bit of soil/sand from their motherland.....which they did and all of it rests in the big urn just outside the amphitheatre at Auroville...its a long walk...in the sun...but if you want peace....and experience oneness with the world...u'll see it here....

given a choice i'll visit the city every single year....and have been waiting to go back there.....

Kodai....

Kodai...i can sign up for a tour guide here...this place has a draw, an attraction that i cant refute....i have been here 3 times and each time with a different set of people....

The place is a holidayer's paradise....and offers you everything u cud hope for....the first time i went there...i was with friends...my FIRST trip sans family...i'd a huge mix of emotions coursing thru me....excited to be out all by myself....happy that i was with a group of people i totally like....scared w/o family....being 5 girls in a land we dont know and dont really speak the language (i manage, but very little)....we asked for a single room (!) to be housed in....the manager was in splits and then finally housed us in the suite....it was like entering a fantasy world....for me....

we set out and covered a varied array of places....most of which we were advised furiously to NOT miss....people who advised us to NOT miss the places...were also subjected to upteen number of viewings of our 450 & odd pictures....some of them in the blog for your viewing pleasure(!)

the second was unique as i was almost the only person who had bee to Kodai and everyone hung on my every word(!) for guidance...we 2 kids,2 kidults, 6 adults it was a joyride with its road blocks....for one we cudnt do the more daring slope views and the Devil's Kitchen....but the fact that we had fun from the rundown, dilapited resort where my mother and uncle spent a sleepless night (there was no latch on the front door, a broken TV, cold freezing water & no food) to the dreamy day we had in Kodai International, one of the best hotels i have been to....the trip was a basket of episodes that raked from serious to funny.....

Sameer - the fighter

Sameer...is my nephew....my maternal uncle's son...abt 2 years old and has already taught me a BIG lesson....he came early into this world and had a struggle on his hands.....it didnt help him that he was still small to come out here and had to be in the incubator.....foor almost 10 days.....i rememer seeing him in it....all red & blotchy and al of us had a prayer to God....to "get him upto speed" or not get him here at all......it was a continous struggle for 10 days for him and prayers by us that got him out of the dark and his first scream/cry was the sweetest soun to his parents who visibly relaxed after it...when he was abt 1...he was a quiet boy and wud stare at everything in open eyed wonder....we wondered how he was so quiet (all the kids in the family were known for notoriety) and had this constant fear....come circa 2008...and he flexed his muscles and showed us his strength...it was one thing after the other.....a toy car....the phone...cordless & mobiles that met their end at his hands.....our Sameer had woken up and hasnt stopped ever since....

now when's he falls...we dont fear he'll have trouble pulling himself up but that he does and moves onto to conquer it.....he's an active 2 year old that keeps us in constant fear of our precious / fragile possessions.....but in awe of his activities...he's so aware when he's actually made a mistake....a goofy smile after the deed and he gets away with murder :)

he's been a great strength in my life...showing me that after u fall...u dont look down but up and will only have up as a way to go......when u r at ur lowest....u have only one way and that is UP.....

Workplace...C&C and SDI

Vinay changed my world by selecting me for the dual role...i was initially disappointed that I didnt get the FT role he'd in mind...but after being here for the past 8/9 months, i know this was the best thing to have hapened to me....its so great i cant count my lucky stars...
I ave some of the best bosses - Srini & Vinay....some of the best co-workers....the netire SDI team, Chai and the rest who totally make my life @ work a great great plzce to be....