Folks,
I can't believe even now that Ajja and Dodda are already back in India. I had a blast with them around here with us in New Jersey. They brought such fun and newness to our place. I will try and remember all key events that happened when they were here.
They arrived in a little bit dazed state - that is understandable. Jet lag is a nasty thing. It was so funny to hear ajja say - let me sleep for five minutes and he would snore for half an hour in the evening. Again when dodda went to wake him up, he would say, "I am not sleeping but have just closed my eyes" ( pssst. - as though we don't understand). Anyway, with birthday party approaching, their jet lag was slowly going away and within a week, they had adjusted.
Then came my birtyday party. You can find all the details here. Ajja got a chance to meet Padma ajji, Leela dodda, Vasanta Shashi aunty who had taken care of amma when appa had gone to attend Akshatha Maami's wedding. I think he liked the party as much as we did.
Then it was the trip to Niagara. Appa was not feeling well. Yet, we all insisted that we should visit the Niagara. It was a loooooong drive from home to Niagra. We went to Anaya's birthday part and from there started driving to Niagara. I was counting trees, houses, light poles, what not, the drive never seemed to end. I was fast asleep when everyone finished viewing the falls at night and came to hotel. I thought it was already day break but it was only 11PM. Next day was real fun. We went in the Maid of the Mist ride right into the mouth of the great falls. Everyone was kind of looking funny with trench coats (Now I look at the photos and I also had a mini trench coat). The water falls looked magnificient from the boat. Only hiccup was it was cloudy when we were in the boat and I heard appa saying that we have missed the beautiful rainbows. On our way back we stopped by Leela dodda's place. I have started talking now and I wanted to understand if it was safe to touch the cats Shadow and Flexi. Ashwin never seemed to understand my question. Finally I gave up and decided not to touch the cats.
Following week, it was the visit to Washington DC. Krishnaprasad uncle had come from Raleigh to meet us all. We visited a few memorials, the White house, US Senate and Madame Tussad's museum. It was fun watching Ajja touch and feel the wax sculptures and he wanted to get a good photograph with Benjamin Franklin.
Following that they went to New York city. The usual places Times Square, Broadway, atop the Empire state building etc. Ajja was getting tired in the evenings. So this was a short trip to the city.
Meanwhile Dodda enjoyed shopping with Amma. Appa was even joking - "Amma now does not need company to go to Bharat Mall in Mangalore. She has visited some of the largest malls in the United States". Within a few days, it was time to pack up. Appa helped to pack the bags in the middle of his sickness (he coughs a lot now a a days). Three bags, 50 pounds each and Ajja and dodda were ready to fly back.
Click on the album below to view all the good times we had.
It was very hard for all of us to say bye bye. I am hoping that they will come back again and I can enjoy the moments like holding ajja's nose and help him do his Pranayama. Next time, I will be ready to learn Yoga (I am halfway there - Have you seen some of my yoga yet? I will dedicate a long post for my latest activities)
Ciao,
Saaranga
I can't believe even now that Ajja and Dodda are already back in India. I had a blast with them around here with us in New Jersey. They brought such fun and newness to our place. I will try and remember all key events that happened when they were here.
They arrived in a little bit dazed state - that is understandable. Jet lag is a nasty thing. It was so funny to hear ajja say - let me sleep for five minutes and he would snore for half an hour in the evening. Again when dodda went to wake him up, he would say, "I am not sleeping but have just closed my eyes" ( pssst. - as though we don't understand). Anyway, with birthday party approaching, their jet lag was slowly going away and within a week, they had adjusted.
Then came my birtyday party. You can find all the details here. Ajja got a chance to meet Padma ajji, Leela dodda, Vasanta Shashi aunty who had taken care of amma when appa had gone to attend Akshatha Maami's wedding. I think he liked the party as much as we did.
Then it was the trip to Niagara. Appa was not feeling well. Yet, we all insisted that we should visit the Niagara. It was a loooooong drive from home to Niagra. We went to Anaya's birthday part and from there started driving to Niagara. I was counting trees, houses, light poles, what not, the drive never seemed to end. I was fast asleep when everyone finished viewing the falls at night and came to hotel. I thought it was already day break but it was only 11PM. Next day was real fun. We went in the Maid of the Mist ride right into the mouth of the great falls. Everyone was kind of looking funny with trench coats (Now I look at the photos and I also had a mini trench coat). The water falls looked magnificient from the boat. Only hiccup was it was cloudy when we were in the boat and I heard appa saying that we have missed the beautiful rainbows. On our way back we stopped by Leela dodda's place. I have started talking now and I wanted to understand if it was safe to touch the cats Shadow and Flexi. Ashwin never seemed to understand my question. Finally I gave up and decided not to touch the cats.
Following week, it was the visit to Washington DC. Krishnaprasad uncle had come from Raleigh to meet us all. We visited a few memorials, the White house, US Senate and Madame Tussad's museum. It was fun watching Ajja touch and feel the wax sculptures and he wanted to get a good photograph with Benjamin Franklin.
Following that they went to New York city. The usual places Times Square, Broadway, atop the Empire state building etc. Ajja was getting tired in the evenings. So this was a short trip to the city.
Meanwhile Dodda enjoyed shopping with Amma. Appa was even joking - "Amma now does not need company to go to Bharat Mall in Mangalore. She has visited some of the largest malls in the United States". Within a few days, it was time to pack up. Appa helped to pack the bags in the middle of his sickness (he coughs a lot now a a days). Three bags, 50 pounds each and Ajja and dodda were ready to fly back.
Click on the album below to view all the good times we had.
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It was very hard for all of us to say bye bye. I am hoping that they will come back again and I can enjoy the moments like holding ajja's nose and help him do his Pranayama. Next time, I will be ready to learn Yoga (I am halfway there - Have you seen some of my yoga yet? I will dedicate a long post for my latest activities)
Ciao,
Saaranga
