1. There's something addictive about the habit of travel. The more you do it, the more you want to do it.
Week 7 was spent in NYC, Week 8 in Singapore and this one, Week 9 was be spent in India. It can get tiring, cause dis-orientation and involve a lot of packing/ unpacking. Yet if you ask me, I can keep doing this for a long time to come; that's how much I enjoy multi-city living. And with an almost 18 month old who seems to have joined the bandwagon sportingly enough as well, who knows we might just be at the onset of this habit transforming into a lifelong practice.
2. A trip to Mumbai is always fun and forever looked-forward to. Not just reuniting with the family & friends but the sights, sounds, smells and most importantly the street-food are always incentives that pull me back there, as often as possible. Not to count the relaxing (on the scalp & the pocket) head oil massages that I've been a big fan of, ever since I discovered them eons ago, which have become an essential indulgence in every Mumbai trip so far.
3. Zoe met L'ill Reinaa and I met Sumi, one evening in Mumbai, over yummy samosa's, dhoklas, chai & whatnots, courtesy: Sumi's generous Dad who brought these home especially for our international playdate (British/ American babies were meeting in Mumbai, India).
Sumi and I (who happen to have a gazillion common friends from all walks of our lives) are modern-day pen pals. After having met just once in person when we both lived in NY, we've stayed in touch since, over emails and social media. Naturally, a reunion in Mumbai was a must, when both of us realised that we were going to be in the city, at the same time. More so, to introduce our two little daughters to each other, who spent the evening babbling & dancing while their Mommy's bonded over life, cities, careers & motherhood.
4. Mumbai trips are filled with reunions, be it with friends, family or acquaintances, some of whom one is happy to meet up close & personal and others whom one flees from, having spotted from even far across the road. Each trip back home, brings to the fore curious cats (Read neighborhood uncles & aunties usually) with questions that one has forgotten the art of answering, after having lived in the States for as long as we have. Thankfully being married with a baby provides an impenetrable shield of sorts to intrusive queries, although it does not guarantee a completely non-intrusive conversation at the very least. Unless of course one does a quick, "Oh Uncle I forgot something....." and cuts it short by rushing off in the middle of a chat.
5. The Father-In-Law has indulged in a new set of hot wheels; the purchase of which was deliberately timed by him, to overlap with Zoe's visit to Mumbai. While he hoped his grand-daughter would auto-start the car for him, she appeared to be more interested in moving to the music belting out of the car's stereo system. The 'green bicyclist' in me let out a silent 'Yay'. There may be some hope that she's taken after her 'would-rather-bike-the-earth' mother than her 'I-love-my-BMW' father. Am just saying you know!
6. 'The Village' (as we appropriately call ourselves) is a group of fun-loving, spirited, high-on-life, young 30-somethings (well, averagely speaking) that all came together over the past few years in NYC (but now live in the city & everywhere else) and went from being friend-of-a-friend to becoming local family for each other. For us (Hubster and I), The Village is also known as the biggest fan-base of our daughter. To them, she is a communal responsibility, with whom each member has forged personal relationships over the past year and a half of her life.
Two of our fellow Villagers met and fell in love in NYC and decided to tie the knot this December in Mumbai. The wedding was to serve as a mega-reunion for all of us and that is exactly what it turned out to be.
The daughter and I joined other Wedding guests in boarding the 'Wedding Bus' that took us to the venue - Silent Hills Resort on Friday morning, from Mumbai. Hubster joined us there, a day later.
The entire weekend was planned meticulously by the organizers and special kudos goes to the bride's lovely Mom, who left no detail unplanned. From the delightful catch-up sessions with old friends and a plethora of self-volunteered baby-sitters/ dance partners for the daughter, to the delicious fare served for every meal; From a dynamic setting that matched the mood of every function to a variety of foot-tapping music beats that kept us grooving all weekend long; From giving me my first ever 'Nauvari' draping experience to seeing the daughter drool (literally) all over the groom or steal the bride's thunder with the photographers (Not that the bride would mind that), this was a memorable wedding weekend, for sure.
Oh and of course, after all that gluttony, my wedding lehenga still fit, which was an added bonus!
7. Our last few hours in Mumbai were spent with Hubster's side of the family, doing what we do best at his place; shamelessly devour Fried Pomfret, Sol kadhi with Rice, Shrimp Curry among other delicacies. Being married to a coastal Maharashtrian ensures that my periodic cravings for Fried Pomfret are taken care of, courtesy M-I-L's lip-smackingly good Maharashtrian fare.
On that gluttonous note, we left Mumbai once again to get back to Singapore. The next week is going to be a 'Rest Week' as per our self-imposed mandate, after which the plan is to elope again, for another two week long international escapade. Visas need to be taken care of and travel-kits need replenishment. On to these tasks and many more, I will be back next week with another update!
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Shweyta
Week 7 was spent in NYC, Week 8 in Singapore and this one, Week 9 was be spent in India. It can get tiring, cause dis-orientation and involve a lot of packing/ unpacking. Yet if you ask me, I can keep doing this for a long time to come; that's how much I enjoy multi-city living. And with an almost 18 month old who seems to have joined the bandwagon sportingly enough as well, who knows we might just be at the onset of this habit transforming into a lifelong practice.
2. A trip to Mumbai is always fun and forever looked-forward to. Not just reuniting with the family & friends but the sights, sounds, smells and most importantly the street-food are always incentives that pull me back there, as often as possible. Not to count the relaxing (on the scalp & the pocket) head oil massages that I've been a big fan of, ever since I discovered them eons ago, which have become an essential indulgence in every Mumbai trip so far.
3. Zoe met L'ill Reinaa and I met Sumi, one evening in Mumbai, over yummy samosa's, dhoklas, chai & whatnots, courtesy: Sumi's generous Dad who brought these home especially for our international playdate (British/ American babies were meeting in Mumbai, India).
Sumi and I (who happen to have a gazillion common friends from all walks of our lives) are modern-day pen pals. After having met just once in person when we both lived in NY, we've stayed in touch since, over emails and social media. Naturally, a reunion in Mumbai was a must, when both of us realised that we were going to be in the city, at the same time. More so, to introduce our two little daughters to each other, who spent the evening babbling & dancing while their Mommy's bonded over life, cities, careers & motherhood.
4. Mumbai trips are filled with reunions, be it with friends, family or acquaintances, some of whom one is happy to meet up close & personal and others whom one flees from, having spotted from even far across the road. Each trip back home, brings to the fore curious cats (Read neighborhood uncles & aunties usually) with questions that one has forgotten the art of answering, after having lived in the States for as long as we have. Thankfully being married with a baby provides an impenetrable shield of sorts to intrusive queries, although it does not guarantee a completely non-intrusive conversation at the very least. Unless of course one does a quick, "Oh Uncle I forgot something....." and cuts it short by rushing off in the middle of a chat.
5. The Father-In-Law has indulged in a new set of hot wheels; the purchase of which was deliberately timed by him, to overlap with Zoe's visit to Mumbai. While he hoped his grand-daughter would auto-start the car for him, she appeared to be more interested in moving to the music belting out of the car's stereo system. The 'green bicyclist' in me let out a silent 'Yay'. There may be some hope that she's taken after her 'would-rather-bike-the-earth' mother than her 'I-love-my-BMW' father. Am just saying you know!
6. 'The Village' (as we appropriately call ourselves) is a group of fun-loving, spirited, high-on-life, young 30-somethings (well, averagely speaking) that all came together over the past few years in NYC (but now live in the city & everywhere else) and went from being friend-of-a-friend to becoming local family for each other. For us (Hubster and I), The Village is also known as the biggest fan-base of our daughter. To them, she is a communal responsibility, with whom each member has forged personal relationships over the past year and a half of her life.
Two of our fellow Villagers met and fell in love in NYC and decided to tie the knot this December in Mumbai. The wedding was to serve as a mega-reunion for all of us and that is exactly what it turned out to be.
The daughter and I joined other Wedding guests in boarding the 'Wedding Bus' that took us to the venue - Silent Hills Resort on Friday morning, from Mumbai. Hubster joined us there, a day later.
The entire weekend was planned meticulously by the organizers and special kudos goes to the bride's lovely Mom, who left no detail unplanned. From the delightful catch-up sessions with old friends and a plethora of self-volunteered baby-sitters/ dance partners for the daughter, to the delicious fare served for every meal; From a dynamic setting that matched the mood of every function to a variety of foot-tapping music beats that kept us grooving all weekend long; From giving me my first ever 'Nauvari' draping experience to seeing the daughter drool (literally) all over the groom or steal the bride's thunder with the photographers (Not that the bride would mind that), this was a memorable wedding weekend, for sure.
Oh and of course, after all that gluttony, my wedding lehenga still fit, which was an added bonus!
7. Our last few hours in Mumbai were spent with Hubster's side of the family, doing what we do best at his place; shamelessly devour Fried Pomfret, Sol kadhi with Rice, Shrimp Curry among other delicacies. Being married to a coastal Maharashtrian ensures that my periodic cravings for Fried Pomfret are taken care of, courtesy M-I-L's lip-smackingly good Maharashtrian fare.
On that gluttonous note, we left Mumbai once again to get back to Singapore. The next week is going to be a 'Rest Week' as per our self-imposed mandate, after which the plan is to elope again, for another two week long international escapade. Visas need to be taken care of and travel-kits need replenishment. On to these tasks and many more, I will be back next week with another update!
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Shweyta
No comments:
Post a Comment