Piyo & Jerry have travelled by air and road mostly. So when joy proposed that we take train from Tuti to Bangalore, I readily agreed. Joy booked in a two-tier AC car. It turned out out to be wonderful experience, which I'm convinced Piyo will remember for long.

While in Bangalore, we went shopping for land in Hosur. I liked what I saw.

Though coming back to south has been in my mind, I have not been taking any serious steps towards it. I have been living with the mentality of “living out of suitcase.” When I saw this land, I felt a desire to settle in a place which I can call home. Even Rani who wasn't keen to get a land, liked and agreed we should buy it.

In addition to we liking the place, the idea of getting a land and building something according to our wishes later, was tempting. As I write this (after two weeks of returning to Delhi), we have deposited an advance amount to purchase this land.

On Saturday Joy threw a party for Appa's birthday and gifted him a golden watch.

We returned to Delhi on Sunday, physically tired but mentally refreshed.

We quickly got back to the daily rhythm, but not Piyo. Piyo sobbed missing Dharishika and all the fun he had. He kept repeating, amidst tears, that he liked thuthukoodi and Bangalore and he wants to go back. He wanted to the chicken he befriended in Tuticorin. I had to leave whatever I was doing and had to play with him to divert his attention from the depressive feeling that engulfed him. In two weeks, he is better, but he still says that the flat is “uncle's and not ours,” so we should leave to Bangalore. He is constantly praying for his Appa to get a job in Bangalore and to quickly build a home in Hosur.

We returned last week from a long 11 days trip. This is probably the first time in 10 years that I have taken such a long break.

We went to chennai on Aug 1st. We stayed in hotel trident as like the last time we went to chennai. On Aug 2nd, I attended the AGM of Manali Petrochemicals. Ever since I started investing I have been wanting to attend an AGM, only this year it became convenient to attend. To my surprise, lot of people had come for the AGM. However most of them were concerned only with getting snacks and gifts. I witnessed shareholders piling up gifts in bags while the meeting was going on. Add to it, one if the suggestions during the Q&A session was to revert back to soaps and cosmetics for gifts rather than the wall-clock that was gifted. Despite this gift-seeking crowd, there was a good gathering in the hall for the meeting. The chairman of the board, Ashwin Muthiah, chaired the meeting. He answered most of the queries from the shareholders, directing some queries to CFO.

In the afternoon, we visited Isaiah's (Rani's relative) house. He has two kids and they had gone to school. We waited until they returned and spent sometime with them.

Later we visited the church at st. Thomas mount. I have a emotional attachment with this serene hill. I had spent hours weeping in this place. But for the past five years or so, I'm returning to this place every year with thanks in my heart – my delhi engagement, two kids, kid for Joy and this year, increase in my engagement fee. It has been so consistent that even Rani started believing.

After good amount of time, we went back to the hotel at about 7 pm. Then I went for swimming, which of course is highly relaxing.

Later in the evening I met with Deepak and discussed his business plan. He is a committed and skilful guy. He bounces off ideas with me every now and then over phone, so I took some time to meet with him in person.

As you can see it was a full day. Am glad about it.

On Saturday we left to Tuticorin by Spicejet. It is a 50 sweater and what surprises me is that it is full every time we have taken. That much demand exists!

We visited Ganesh & Mary on Sunday. For long Ganesh worked in far away places like Andhra and Bombay. All those times Mary was in his native place taking care if the two young kids. We have prayed often that they should stay together as a family. Recently Ganesh got a job in Nellai and Mary got a teaching job in a near-by school. It was a satisfying and happy occasion to be in their house. Am convinced they will only grow in every aspect from now on.

Aug 5th was the big day for which we went to Tuti. Six adults and three kids had to get ready early in the morning. Despite that inconvenience, we decided to go for the high mass of the golden car festivity. We knew its going be heavily crowded, as like every other time. Yet I wanted to be there and I wanted Piyo to experience the same. To our surprise, the crowd management was well done. We were very close to the golden car and were able to watch the proceedings from near.

Next day we visited churches in Uvari, Udangudi, Periyathai and also the Manal Matha church. As a custom we finish the trip with a visit to Manapad beach. Manapad has a clean serene and safe beach. I couldn't play in the beach as I had to take care of Jerry, nevertheless it was a relaxing time.

This is the first North Indian wedding we attend. So there was lot of curiosity.

Marriage function was to start at 5.30 pm, but it started only by 7.30 pm. There were drums playing all these times. Piyo was fascinated by these drums so we were there for a while. But even he got bored. So by the time, we were in the car to go to the marriage function, we were all tired.

The function itself was in a resort, which I overheard, is owned by an actor.

As the groom came in procession, there was crowd-dance to the North Indian beat. Hired-boys were carrying decorated lights on both sides of the street. I remembered Ed Thatha in my native town, Udangudi, who used to make such glass decorations.

The resort was huge and the crowd was also large. There might have been easily 2000 people. Obviously, food arrangement wasn’t up to the mark. Even when we managed to get food, we didn’t eat much – either we were tired too much and didn’t have appetite or food itself wasn’t so great or may be both.

We were told that the marriage ceremony itself – the tying of knot and such, will take place around midnight. We were so tired so we decided to leave.

We went up to the couple and noticed how tired they looked too. I wondered how they would have stamina to stay through the whole process.

We reached the room by about 11.30 pm.

By the we stayed in Hotel Tokyo Vihar. Most of the hotels had a Japanese names or there were Japanese photos in the reception.

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It took us almost four hours to reach Bodhgaya from Patna, probably due to traffic jams – we were told it takes only around two hours. So we reached here only at 2.30. Himanshu, the groom, was in between his rituals but was gracious enough to come out to receive us and ensured we checked in comfortably.

In the evening we visited, Mahabodhi temple, place where Buddha obtained his nirvana. There is a big tree near the temple, which is supposed to have the lineage of the original tree – a sapling of the original tree was taken to Srilanka & when the original tree fell, a sapling from the tree in Srilanka was brought here.

There are temples built from almost all of the Buddhist nations – Taiwan, Bhutan, Burma and so on.

Though we visited late in the evening – six, it was way too hot. Though we spent only 20 min, we were sweating by then.

As students we have studied about this place so often & the place (‘bodhi marathaddi’) comes up in our talks so often. It’s nice to visit that place.

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photos can be seen from flickr.

it has been a wish for quite some time to visit kerala. now that Joy is inbetween trips (she is leaving to australia on march), we thought it is a good time to go to wayanad. we are leaving in another half hour. i am packed with camera, video and a good spirit.

it has been quite a packed days in this week (more so without sleep and with wheezing) planning and preparing of this trip. but i am assuming it is all going to fantastic.

now that i am subscribed with twitter, i will try to post via sms; provided there is a signal in those places.