Kavin, Who Amazes Me!

He's one year and two months old and knows where to plug the charger pin into the laptop.

My parents, who usually plug in and out the charger, are frequently perplexed by the laptop's charging port's location. But my nephew Kavin remembers the point and plugs in exactly, even though he occasionally pulls out the charger when he is in a bad mood or in the middle of his mischief.

Kavin is on foot and walks through; though not totally balanced, many things went to a higher level that he couldn't reach, and what truly struck me was his grasping power and repetition of what we do. I know all growing kids do these things, but when I experience it, it looks unique and amusing to watch. But I still think he's smarter than most toddlers I have met. 

Apart from my parents, no one knows or has learned how to put the footrest and other supporting things in my wheelchair and even don't know the pattern of things to be followed. However, Kavin, on the other hand, observed how it was done and attempted to assist me by picking up items that went after another, but he was unable to execute them or too little for this work. He is also aware of my phone, and if he picks up, he hands me over my wheelchair board, and at the same time, he places the phone on his ear as if he is on call. Among the other mobile phones, his first choice was my iPhone SE 2016 because it was the smallest among the phones at home and could easily fit in his hand.

He likes upbeat songs, and when he wants to play them, he will hand me the remote and insist on playing them with hand gestures and nods. I oppose kids watching television or using smartphones, but occasionally, beyond the policies, when he sweetly asks me, I can't say no, and I also can't stop his parents when they do the same to force him to eat. I'm happy with them not showing him phones except for a few minutes on a video call with his maternal grandmother and aunts.

Aside from these, there are numerous things about him that I admire and marvel at daily. His presence always brings cheers, despite his share of mischief and stubbornness, which belongs to the kid. I just wonder how kind and sweet he is to me in particular, and I feel his special attention to me; perhaps he can recognize me as different from others. Sometimes he shows me the light at the end of the tunnel, but the other side of my life has taught me not to over-expect. But, in any case, when he's around, life is fantastic and raises me to new heights. 

Photos from his first birthday

His delicate touches and the authority he is taking over me give me a feeling I can't put into words. Even though my cousin's sister's kid and nephew, Jeswanth, gave me the tender feel of a baby (after a long time) before Kavin was born, I wasn't as close to him as I was with Kavin to experience the long-lasting essence of a child. From the time I woke up till I went to bed at night, I indulged in his mischievousness, smartness, and intellect, with him wishing me a good morning and night. 

I end with a quote I wrote:

"A child is a reflection of ourselves, and it's time to behave politely." But that doesn't mean you should never show the negative aspects of society."

Auro Guest House, Auroville

(At the petrol station)

The first thing we did when we arrived in Pondicherry was fill up our car's diesel tank because everyone knows that the price of petrol and diesel in Pondicherry is less than in Tamil Nadu, and this time per liter was 6 rupees lesser. We generally talk about Pondicherry as having Auroville as a part of it, but mostly it is located in the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu and a little piece under Pondicherry, a union territory in India. 

Auro GP Guest House

My brother had not confirmed any lodgings until we arrived but was sure to obtain some rooms in one of the many cottages and homestays in Auroville, but I continued to look for a wheelchair-accessible place while traveling. I discovered Auro GP Guest House, which is located next to Auroville Center Parking and meets our budget and requirements. Despite its location on the main road, the guest house is calm once you enter, and there isn't much traffic on the road. 

The guest house features a long corridor with five to six rooms on each side and another five to six rooms on the first floor; the ground-floor rooms are step-friendly for wheelchair access. My nephew Kavin thoroughly enjoyed his stay; he became excited seeing the long corridor as he only started to walk; he continued to stroll up and down freely and noisily because there was no one on the ground floor. The staff is also friendly.

After checking in, we drove to a temple that my parents had wanted to see for a long time, and conveniently, the temple (Panchamukha Sri Anjaneya Temple) is only six kilometers from where we stay, on the outskirts of the Pondicherry-Tindivanam Highway. From there, we drove into the city to check out the beach and to get dinner for us, but sadly, all of the roads leading to the famous Promenade Beach were closed, just as they were last year when I visited in February. We could have (parked the car and gone in) if it hadn't been so late, but it was already dark, so we moved back to our room.

Our room

The rain began as soon as we entered the guest house and lasted until a few hours before we checked out the following morning. We couldn't think of going anywhere, and there was a constant pitter-patter of rain all night, which I had recently experienced. We reserved two rooms for us: one for my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew and another for me, mom, and dad; both rooms have the essentials, such as air conditioning, television, and intercom; and the rooms are neat and, most importantly, not difficult to mention.

When I returned to Auroville for the second time in 2009, knowing about its concept of a universal township that belongs to no one but all, I wanted to stay or live in a peaceful place where consciousness is practiced beyond all beliefs and partitions. I know it's practically impossible (for me) to dream of living there, but at least lodging in the vicinity of places that adopt peace and are environmentally green and clean inspires me to come again.

If I had planned ahead, I would have explored more of its surroundings and attempted to see Matrimandir; only after I returned home did I learn that there is an experimental house built with earthen materials in what appears to be the backyard of where we stayed. Auroville continuously hosts a variety of artworks and workshops to promote organic living and the value of preserving nature and the environment. I also recall reading articles about Auroville's use of raw materials in the construction and development of forests.

And what appeared to be another face of Auroville is Cafe. There are numerous cafes strewn throughout Auroville, and the youngsters were gleaming like stars over there; I shot a lot of sign boards along the way to share with Signs2.  

Weekend getaway to Auroville I

We went to Pondicherry two weekends ago, and it was an unplanned trip because my brother abruptly called from the gym at 9.30 pm on Friday (if you've been following my blog for a while, you know my brother owns a fitness center, aka gym, and he's also a trainer) asking if we could go to Pondicherry or Javadu Hills because he was free for two days. 

The beautiful monument at the entrance/exit of Pondicherry.

I had no intention of traveling and planned to skip if possible, but he was adamant about going somewhere, and we were still waiting even after I went to bed. He called from his room as if he had found a place to stay at Auroville on the outskirts of Pondicherry to accommodate the trip. We awoke with the same unsure mindset as he went to the gym as usual early in the morning; we considered canceling, but he arrived sooner, confirming the trip, and we had our breakfast, packed our lunch, and were out of there by late morning.

He planned to start the journey early in the morning to avoid traffic, but it was 11 when we left, and we didn't expect ECR to be crowded at that hour; nonetheless, it was free after the city limit. The road was in poor condition, or there was erosion of the upper layers in several places due to continuous rain, and the road expanding procedure slowed our progress. But we were not in a hurry and had no intention of stopping along the way; the ride was leisurely, and we arrived at Auroville in the evening. 

The day was sunny, and the sun was bright enough to dazzle; I captured some beautiful sky shots. Don't forget that we were traveling with a baby on board. This is my second trip with my nephew Kavin before the end of the year, and his travel adaption is far better than on previous trips. He enjoyed the place we stayed, but he had some worse coughing upon our return.

Though December is my favorite month to travel because of the cool weather that comes with the end of the rainy season and the beginning of winter, I have had to prevent travel for various reasons, including the lack of a travel wheelchair. We have a customized wheelchair for my travel needs, but it hasn't been finished yet, so I had to take my bucket seat wheelchair, which I use every day at home and is slightly heavier than a standard power wheelchair. 

My brother had not confirmed any lodgings but was sure to obtain some rooms in one of the many cottages and homestays there, but I continued to look for a wheelchair-accessible place while traveling.  I found a place that fit our budget and needs while still being close to the heart of Auroville:  the Matrimandir, a large golden sphere symbolizing the birth of a new consciousness.

As I already stated, I went with the flow because I didn't have time to plan anything. Even though we accommodate very close to the Matrimandir, I had no intention of visiting, seeing the golden sphere from the viewing point up to where visitors are allowed to watch quietly. 

I was inside the Matrimandir when it was still under construction roughly 22 years ago. Even then, it was quiet, and they installed a glass globe in the center of the dome structure, which glows in the sunlight. I couldn't view the glass globe because it was in an elevation position that steps could only reach. But it was an unforgettable experience; the second time, we were only allowed up to the viewing point, which I explored in my wheelchair.

I've included an image of the Matrimandir (and myself in front of it) shot in 2009 to illustrate the concept.

more on the trip in the next post... 

My Tea Travel

Tea and rain are often combined to create an ideal time for a tea break! 

Tea has become inevitable in our daily lives, and many of us have become obsessed with its flavor and the refreshment it offers with every cup. The monsoon we are going through (right now) has become a favorite time and reason to have some hot cups of tea.

The weather in Chennai is unusually cool for the last few days, thanks to a depression in the sea that's moving slowly, and it's impossible not to compare it to the weather in hill stations or highlands; I'm mildly shivering in the open. I turn off the ceiling fans, something I rarely do in Chennai unless the weather is cool enough. A cup of hot tea would feel great. 

Actually, I was and still am a coffee enthusiast; tea came into my life in 2013 when I was bedridden for nearly two months owing to a femur fracture and cast. I sipped tea and coffee between breakfast and lunch and also took that as an advantage to sit on the bed -   I hate lying down for a long. Tea became my regular beverage.

Not that I hadn't sipped tea before, and I shouldn't forget that I'd been traveling with tea since childhood because my grandfather owned a tea shop, and my first tea may have been at his stall. I remember drinking tea solely to dip butter biscuits in; however, I liked tea when my grandfather made it personal. Tea and butter biscuits are my favorite combo.

I'm always looking for good tea, but that doesn't imply home-brewed tea is poor. When I travel, I prefer to explore different tea shops to acquire a varied taste of tea since I believe the flavor of tea varies from person to person, perhaps which is why someone who brews good tea is called a tea master. But if I see Kumbakonam degree coffee, I would land there!  

The Kumbakonam-degree coffee and Filter coffee are my favorites. If I were given a choice between tea and coffee - of the type mentioned above, I would go for coffee.

I attempted to recall some of my favorite teas, but I could think of a couple. The tea at the Waterfall Estate outlet in Valparai was one of them. Among the three journeys I took to Valparai, south India, no trip is complete without tea at the outlet. I also enjoyed a tea I drank in the Nilgiris village of Yedappalli, and the Chamraj Tea Estate outlet has the best tea. 

(Waterfall Estate's cute little hut tea outlet.)

More than a month ago, I only drank milk-made tea, which is still the same I enjoy most of the time. I'm always looking for the finest tea and the best among them. My parents drink a specific brand of tea, but I used to switch brands to taste something better and better, but after a few cups, the taste returns to the same, regardless of the brand. 

When I visited Munnar in Kerala, I made it a point to visit the Tata Tea Museum and factory - which I will write about in a separate post. I tried a different tea at their store and bought a couple of packets of KannanDevan Tea, but what I tasted there was not the same as what I tasted at home. So I understand that the method of brewing tea makes a difference. 

Some time ago, I  tried Assam Masala Tea, or Chai as it is known in other regions of India. I enjoyed the aroma of the tea, which had a little spicy flavor. And we don't make it daily because it takes time to brew, unlike the traditional approach of tea powder dropped in boiling milk. I recently bought Darjeeling tea, which I had been planning to taste for quite some time. 

I learned Darjeeling tea is the finest tea in the world, and it was even a favorite of the late Queen of England, the great Elizabeth. Darjeeling tea is organic and hand-picked to be distinct for its label, and it tastes best when made with hot water rather than milk. I ordered Darjeeling black tea from Amazon, and because it was my first time, I chose tea bags over tea leaves.

I looked for an excellent Darjeeling tea on Amazon and chose Typhoo Darjeeling Black Tea Bags, whose price seemed reasonable and dependable after reading the reviews. I'm not sure which varieties are the best because this is my first time tasting this type of tea, but I'm happy with the flavor. I always want to taste the true essence of tea, and Typho's Black Tea is delivered on that front within a few minutes of dipping the tea bag.  

Typhoo Darjeeling Black Tea Bags came with an offer of two boxes of tea bags, each containing 25 tea bags. I was hesitant to buy it at first, but after taking a sip, I couldn't think of anything else except savor. 

Blog, Blogger, Carrom and Kavin!

First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone for your comments, suggestions, and concern for my emotional well-being in the previous post. It gives me a boost and energy to do something outside my regular activities, which keeps me continually occupied and ensures that I never have a dull moment or allow the dreary weather to cloud my cheery mood. I'm always an upbeat person who tries to grin even when things are unpleasant; even when things are tough, I keep an ear open for tiny notes of birds or other critters tapping around. 

Someone suggested I play Carrom, which was my childhood favorite. 

"Carrom is an Indian tabletop game that is immensely popular in the Indian subcontinent. It is widely played by families, including children, and at social occasions, with varying standards and rules in different places."

Most of our summer vacations were spent playing carrom (along with other games), and when our cousins visited home, we played carrom, but I don't remember touching the striker in the last ten years. I quit playing carrom when my cousins lost interest (because I can't play the game on my own), and I even lost my carrom board in a 2015 torrential downpour.

I have always wanted to play carrom, but my fingers have either stopped cooperating, or I lost the power to hit the striker afterward. My memories of carrom were always refreshing, and I could close my eyes and return to those treasured memories. I also used to stand and play carrom while wearing caliper shoes. 

Me and my cousins playing carrom from 2009.

My carrom board, which was 20 years old when I lost it, has always had a special place in my heart. My late maternal uncle bought us the carrom board in 1994 or 1995, and I took good care of it, even telling my cousins (born after 1995) that this carrom board is like your older brother so they wouldn't damage it. 

Everyone in our families adored our uncle, so you can tell how special he was. He was a philanthropist, not only financially, but his hard work had earned him great value and respect in the eyes of others. So how could I throw away something that remained as a memory of him, and I had only saved a few things that were also stored away in the loft? I could feel his thoughts were settled in the bottom of the memories like sediments underwater that never resurface until something triggered them.

My blog is significant in my life because it allows me to openly share my sadness, joy, and discomfort with life, which I have done for the past 17 years. Nobody supports me as much as you, bloggers, and friends, and your comments meant so much to me. In contrast to other social media today, where people only like and rarely share thoughts, I find your comment communicates with me individually. 

The hurting has never been a new occurrence in my life, and when it overflows, it bursts here in the expression of thoughts, but lately, I have discovered a delight in life. Kavin! 

My nephew Kavin lightens the mood, and I can't think of anything else in his company, and in his embrace, I am lifted to my emotional core since I haven't felt this way in a long time. I couldn't put it into words; when he hugs and kisses me, it's like the bliss of having accomplished something so pure, innocent, and beautiful that it will never be the same again.

It's something I've realized as he's been away from me for a while now; even though his absence was brief since he was visiting his maternal grandma, I feel the void intensely, but when I think of him, it feels unspecified. Though my nephew Jeswanth (my cousin's sister's boy) was the first to give me that emotion after a long time, Kavin, who is only six months younger than him, inspires me more because we live together in a household, and Jeswanth comes and goes from his house. 

Nothing but a little regret!

It was a tunnel called the parental, and there was no light beyond it. No one knows much about me other than a concern, or I don't know that I haven't shown much of myself to anyone curious about the person I am or me. 

Aside from the primary feeling that life will be unbearably difficult without my parents, I worry about how understanding the people around me are. I don't travel far, but within my home and the extended family, beyond my mother and father, there is no awareness of me. 

People see me in my wheelchair all day, but I wonder what they think of me when I'm not sitting in a wheelchair.  Life isn't pleasant sitting in a wheelchair all day, but it is comfort compared to other obstacles such as attending nature calls, bathing, eating, sleeping, and other essential daily demands. I'm just thankful I have an electric wheelchair to get around on my own; otherwise, life would be difficult and timid. 

I just realized that, aside from my parents, the people around me don't know how to handle me unless I guide them. Still, the important thing is that they lack patience (which is a risk factor when dealing with me), and despite living nearby and seeing me daily, they lack the basic knowledge to assist me. They help us simply because we call them, rather than acting in their self-interest.

I was recently emotionally injured, albeit not directly affected, and I am positive it was related to my issue. I often felt like causing problems for someone because of how they behaved or acted hastily. 

It's a blessing and a curse at the same time that I can read the expressions on my loved ones' faces, perhaps because I notice details; even little changes don't escape my attention; the tone and, most of the time, their eyes reveal their intent while their lips go mute or overtalk. 

It all started in 2019 when my father had an angioplasty and stents placed. He had been cautioned not to lift weights, so he no longer lifted me for any position-changing activities. Since then, my brother and cousin have been assisting me with this, and we have only lately employed an assistant to help my parents place me in the bath and toilet. 

We had an assistant at the beginning of 2019, but he only came for one day; when he lifted me, I tore a ligament in my shoulder. We didn't look for anyone after that, but now that I couldn't bear the hardships we caused them, or at least lessen the burden, we seriously looked for a caretaker and got a nice guy through my physiotherapist. He works as an assistant radiologist in an ortho clinic, taking x-rays, and he agreed to assist me on the side.

Everything is going smoothly till now, and my heart also feels light that I won't bother my loved ones too much. Although I know they don't deny helping me at any time when we call, and I want to emphasize "just when we call," they are aware of how much I rely on them, but until we call, they don't reply or ask on their own and sometimes have to compel when they are out somewhere. It's difficult to do justice because they aren't obligated to answer, but I'm grateful for the unconditional help, which is impossible if they don't love me.   And I'm glad that, despite their apathy, they continue to help me, even though I'm upset that they do so without knowing anything about how things work for me!  

Deepavali 2022 Celebration

Deepavali this year (Oct 24) was good, and I had nothing to do but watch the night shower of colorful fireworks that rocked the sky from all sides; however, I could only see the fireworks from the balcony that meets south. The day didn't feel any different to me, and as usual, the television shows were unwatchable, and I couldn't recall doing anything else with my time.

After five years, my uncle (my grandmother's sister's son) chose to spend Deepavali with us. I last celebrated Deepavali with him in 2017, and I wasn't expecting him to come, but it was a pleasant surprise, and he assisted me in lighting the fireworks I had purchased. Unlike others, we do not ignite Dias (lamps); of course, it is the festival of lights, where the rows of lamps adorn the houses; we used to do the same for Karthigai Deepam rather than Deepavali.

Nephew Kavin enjoys holding sparkler fireworks

So far as I recall, we only ignite fireworks in the evening, and the sound of crackers, despite its discomfort and animal hatred, has something to raise the festive spirit. I oppose sound and hence do not purchase sound crackers, but the sky shots emit sound, which is inevitable. I buy fireworks every year because I enjoy seeing them produce light and colors; I don't believe there is any link between fireworks and the festival of lights; it's the only time fireworks are accessible and burst, and most of us do the same. 

This Deepavali is also the time in five years that I went out on the day before Deepavali and visited one of my favorite beaches, Palavakkam Beach, with my uncle. Usually, I go out a day earlier to observe how things are going around the festival of lights, and seeing festival lights around gives me some self-enthusiasm. When it comes to festivals, no one in my family circle is as enthusiastic as I am, and I can't make anyone else feel the same way; at the very least, I celebrate myself with things going on around me. 

Following is a series of sky shots from the balcony:

Kavin's 1st Birthday Party

My nephew Kavin (brother's son) celebrated his 1st birthday on Oct 26th wonderfully in the Food Village (a beach restaurant come party space) in ECR, Chennai. The event went well, and the guests highly appreciated our arrangements for the birthday party. 

The event was organized by my brother independently, which is the first of its kind apart from the events related to his business. He looked for some party halls, but none were suitable, such as Food Village, which has an open lawn adjoining a closed hall to avoid a sloppy mess in the event of rain. Thankfully, nature does not shower us with rain until the next morning, which is uncommon because most of the events after my brother's marriage, which took place during a raging cyclone, had rain.  

We arrived at the venue an hour before the event began, and the nephew had a brief pre-birthday photoshoot on the lawn; I had some time to roam about the set up and take shots. A buffet dinner has set up on the lawn, and round tables were placed in the center to sit and eat, with a nice pavement to walk around. I liked the light and balloon decoration in the theme of blue; to match it, the nephew, brother, and sister-in-law also wore blue attire.

The birthday party was delayed by an hour from our original time of 6 pm, because of the late arrival of guests. The time we returned home became late at night. But this was not a problem. Everyone seemed to have a good time at the party, and some unexpected guests made it memorable. Just for the words of the invitation, a neighbor who had just arrived from Dubai the night before came over to say hello with his family. 

With close friends and family gathered around the stage, Kavin cut a cake, which was likewise a blue cream cake; he relished tasting the cake (but it was the cream) pieces fed by others. They used a firework candle on the cake instead of a traditional candle. As a result, there was no candle-blowing moment because blowing a firework is not easy unless it burns to empty. 

The only thing I didn't like about the event was the loud DJ music. While I don't deny that music is a party staple, the louder they play it, the more it leaves me in a blank where friends and family wondering about me can only shake their heads because I couldn't hear what they were saying and my words went unheard by them.  Even "happy birthday" and clapping sounds disappeared into the DJ.

We are glad Kavin wasn't grumpy during the party. Generally, he would whimper and cry his way through the crowd, refusing to go to anyone new. Most of the party attendees were new to him, yet he managed somehow without going to anyone! Lol. The guests showered him with presents and blessings. 

Food Village is entirely wheelchair friendly, with the restaurant in front overlooking the ECR and a party lawn in the back with a separate entrance from the sidestreet, which leads to the well-known Sai Baba temple. I had wanted to go to the restaurant for lunch or dinner for a long time, and it had finally come true owing to Kavin's birthday. 

These days, birthday parties are conducted mainly for Biriyani, and Kavin's birthday wasn't an exception.  There was Mutton Biriyani, Chicken 65, Parotta, Chicken gravy, and Veg-Biryani, for vegetarians. 

The food was much better and tastier than we expected from what we heard. I want to try the restaurant again for the biriyani because I couldn't get enough that day owing to the late hour. I generally avoid biriyanis at night because I'm concerned they'll be tough to digest, but I've had no problems so far and still want to avoid them at night.  

We hired a photographer and videographer to cover the birthday celebration, and I believe there is still a post-birthday photoshoot to be performed before the Pendrive arrives. After some thought, I stepped closer to the stage to take some photos and video of the cake-cutting ceremony; we'll have to wait a bit longer for clean pictures. 

In the end, everyone was pleased or had no flaws.   

If you have time check the video clip from the birthday

RGB Monday

Kavin, my nephew, is having fun with his colorful toys!

I purchased this beach toy set since he is fascinated by the winnow, mug, and other home-cleaning items. Kavin is already 11 months old and will celebrate his first birthday on October 26th. We are excited to hold the event in some venue close to home that is also handy for me to attend. 

I bought a xylophone for my other nephew, Jeswanth, a year ago. But it serves the purpose only now; Kavin understands how the instrument works and knocks the metal bars with the sticks, but he still puts the wood stick (shaped like a Lolipop) in his mouth (as shown in the image) and hits the note with another. He occasionally knocks with both sticks. He's intelligent and patiently listens and watches things before going ahead. I'm also working on a birthday video for him, using photos I've shot so far and doing my best to make it look good. 

Krishna Jayanthi and Kids!

Krishna Jayanthi is a Hindu festival celebrated in India and wherever Indians live around the world to mark the anniversary of Lord Krishna's birth. Krishna is worshipped in the guise of a child on this day because it is his birthday, and thus young mothers easily associate the celebration with their child. The festival is held today. 

Every family with a child enthusiastically celebrates the occasion. Beyond a religious celebration, it has evolved into a children's festival, with families that have children under the age of five taking advantage of the opportunity to dress their children as Krishna (if a boy) or (for girls) his wife Ratha. 

Schools, like homes, celebrate the occasion by requesting kids to come to school dressed as Krishna or Ratha on this day or the day before or following the festival. I sense a compulsion forming during the festival; a compulsion from one's friends and family circle compel  (asking haven't you dressed your child) one not to miss the event, even if they aren't interested. 

Every child raised in a Hindu family seems to dress up as Krishna, and I, like my cousins, was no exception. I don't remember dressing as Krishna, but I have the photographs to prove it. Back then, we dressed as Krishna from a piece cut down of dad's Dothi and mom's jewels as ornaments. Today, however, they sell a ready-made Krishna costume for children. 

Though every festival and day has become commercial these days, Krishna Jayanthi also joined the eve; aside from the sales/buying of ready-made sweets and refreshments, which were previously homemade, the Dothi and other ornaments (as a set) have also added to relieve parents. I wasn't surprised to see a television commercial promoting the special Dothi intended for kids to tie on Krishna Jayanthi; my sister-in-law is concerned that she missed the ad because she purchased a set locally and early to dress my little nephew Kavin!  

Kavin as Krishna

My nephews, Kavin and Jeswanth, dressed up as Krishna. Jeswanth dressed as Krishna for the second time; he was 4 months old last year and cooperated well, but this year he refused to participate, and we could only put a Dothi and a flower band on him. Kavin's brows were decorated while he slept, and he had no idea how to remove the ornaments. Though they were ready to come out on their own, we managed to hold things on him sometimes and took photos. Below were the two in their respective costumes.

Jeswanth in his simple look with a peacock feather on his flower band and pearl-like chain.

A screenshot of Kavin from my facebook story.

Jeswanth in his costume from the side.

Jeevan 37

Yes, you are correct if you are. It's my birthday, but it was just another day for me, except for this cake-my favorite black forest.

And what better gift could I ask for on my birthday, July 31st? 

A sweet kiss from my cute little nephew, Kavin. He was really eager to eat the cake, but we just gave him a small sample of the cream. hehe... 

A dream!

I was expecting things to change.

The gloomy weather will pass eventually.

As a positive sign, to make way for the sunshine; 

Things only went worse. 

The weather quickly turned into a storm.

Destroying the dream 

that I got for someone I care about;

I realize this isn't the end, and life must continue.

Perhaps, like the cycle of the seasons.

The consumer may change his mind.

And get out of the trance 

before it turns life into the trash.

Bye Bye Bye...

I noticed something with the younger generation that I find insulting. While on taking leave, the young people got into the habit of saying "bye bye bye..." rapidly (without seeing the faces) instead of saying just "bye"!  This is a habit I've noticed more with relatives' girls when they leave home after a visit. I'm someone who doesn't give much importance to formalities, and I don't mind someone taking leave without saying goodbye to me, and I feel distanced when someone from our close family circle says bye. Sometimes I don't say bye for the same reason when I think of them as a family. The younger generation must change their mindset, and I see no reason to believe this generation will be any different. It's an attitude of indifference. 

Even if it's merely a formality, there should be some intention to say goodbye, yet they sound like they're fleeing as if imprisoned. The 2K kids prioritize friends over biological relatives, forgetting that it was they who surrounded them before they went out to find pals. I think of family and friends as having two eyes, and the younger generation should learn to see both equally to have a thorough understanding of life.  We all have various experiences and paradoxes that lead us to like or despise one another, but on the whole, I think our relationships need to be balanced. Respect can only develop in a relationship that is valued. Otherwise, it'd be bye bye bye... 

RGB Monday (& Little Monk Video)

Hanging underwear! Lol 

Once again, back with my nephew Kavin's colorful underwear (I couldn't get an apt picture to share for RGB Monday) found his undies hung to dry on the balcony railings. It reminds me of nothing but the Tibetan prayer flags; the colorful rectangular cloths hung along the paths and peaks in the Himalayas. 

Recently, we dressed him as a little monk and did a mobile photoshoot. As we got him to Tonsure, a custom of shaving all the hair on the head as a rite before the child turns one, he looked almost like a little monk, so we dressed him in an orange shawl and took some photos and videos. I composed a photo/video slideshow using those, and I hope you watch the slideshow/video embedded below. 

RGB Monday

Jeswanth's colorful birthday party

Last month my nephew Jeswanth (cousin's sister's son) celebrated his first birthday in open parking within a hotel in Mamallapuram. I didn't take many photos of the event, and thus I couldn't share them with you, and I also forgot to write about it. While scrolling through my iPhone photos for RGB Monday images, I came across a few pics from his birthday and decided to include them here. 

They got a large remote control Jeep for his birthday, and he was invited to the venue by putting him in the seat. To our surprise, he remained quiet and pleasant during the event, but he was ecstatic when everyone fed him cake after his parents assisted him in cutting the cake. 

They bought a double-layered cake with his name written on a chocolate bar facing the guest and a candle in the shape of a lotus that blooms when lit. I'm glad the event was held on the ground floor since it made it easier for me to attend. I went close to the stage to see what was happening, and it was a modest and pleasant gathering. We had mutton biriyani and veg-biryani for dinner, but it was too spicy, and I limited myself. 

You can see Kavin (bro's son) in a red hat, watching the happening. 

Jack and Black!

Jack and black as my bodyguards,

Accompanies me on my evening walks; 

Jack took the stairs while I elevated down; 

He became my chief escort, walking alongside me. 

Even though we protect him 

From his main adversary, Puppy,

A stray dog who frequently attacks him.  

Black is a daring bitch; 

A clever dog that survives amid crafty wolves 

She only comes home when she's hungry. 

Regardless of that, she comes with us. 

I'm about halfway through the backstreets.

Jack and Black have a good time together. 

Jack has many friends in the neighborhood, 

One of them greets him as if he were a guest.

Every time we pass by their house, we smile.

They open the gate for him and feed him biscuits. 

The entire family enjoys his presence.

Similarly, the Black isn't left alone. 

Jack has a down-to-earth demeanor. 

Despite its massive size and intimidating appearance,

He is, at heart, benign.

Seeing Jack, the kids run toward him.

Pat him, and he, too, stay up to his breed-

A descend of Himalayan Sheepdog-

A livestock guardian canine. 

Jack is the one who is lying, and Black is standing behind him.

P.S. Jack and Black are our puppy-adopted street dogs. When we lived at our previous home on the backstreet, one of our street dogs gave birth to puppies. We just fed them, but they refused to leave, and when we moved to our current home, they followed us. Jack was adopted by my cousin's sister. And when she married, we had to look after him as well. Because they were born and raised in the backstreets, the dogs roam the backstreets and return home to sleep and eat. Only Jack stays at home all day, owing to that one dog named Puppy, who blocks and sometimes hurts him when he enters their street, so he only joins us for an evening walk. 

RGB Monday

 Colorful fishes 

My nephew (brother's son) Kavin's soft toys; since he is likely to grow teeth sooner or later, he enjoys biting things. To keep him from getting hurt, we prefer these soft toys. 

Here's Kavin, my adorable little nephew, who has started crawling. He has become a part of my happiness and a daily source of encouragement. It's amusing to watch him play, crawl, make naughty faces, and attempt to communicate.