26th Aug: Day spent with Mohit, Shalini & Shaurya!!!

Thunderbird, which sounds more like a Bike, is the Lane in which Mohit has his home!!! Overlooks the forest from the backyard & they do spot the Deer’s quite so often!!

Mohit takes us around Washington DC, shows us the spot where Pentagon was hit, through Georgetown, onto a cuppa chai & coffee at the Old town area of Alexandria Harbour!! And an interesting Ethopian dinner at Adams Morgan (an absolute must for the night spots!!), completely Shalini’s idea. These two places, I shall have to visit again, & spend an entire day , checking out the interesting shops & getting the feel of downtown Washington!!! Totally a … lets just hang around kind of place!!!

Apart from this have to make sure that in my next trip Mohit & Shalini take me to the Café at Hotel Washington, where humare PM rehten hain , when he visits Bush Bhai!!!

Absolutely love these guys, with whom I feel so comfortable, whom, Mom has taken an instant liking to, where Shaurya takes just about a minute to decide I am his friend more than his Dad’s & shows me all his toys!!!

Hightlight… the Harley Davidson set of 5 bikes that were lined near Starbuck…. All you bike lovers …. I can just imagine you all drooling ……..

25th Aug: Yeh kaun chitrakar hai.......

A drive down to Luray Caverns is like driving from Bombay to Poona or Ganeshpuri, or anywhere in India…. same kind of terrain!!!!

Where, every corner was a Pub in Europe, we find a Cathedral at every turn at US…. Koi hume samjhaye yeh majra kya hai???? Hummm

Luray Cavern contains a visual delight of Satactite & Stalagmite formations (limestones) . Truly is a wonder of nature, the natural beauty & sculpturing is mindblowing…. Kudrat ka karishma!!! Every part of this cave is a fascination of creative artistry, truly breath taking. If in Virginia, then a visit to this place is a must. This place also houses a Garden Maze, anyone for some adventure must go in here. And for the people who love cars, you just have to check out the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, which house’s some majorly Antique Cars!!! Which brings me to another question…. Amongst all the vintage cars that we saw here, 99% of the cars had right hand drive ….. so why in the heavens name did the Amrikan’s decide to change the steering wheel to the left?????

One our way back stop at the cutest antique shop… if I lived here , there would be quite a few pieces from this place in our home!!!

Hightlight…. Actually drove Montu da’s car, from Luray Cavern, with him, being the best coach ever, through the scenic Luray County, passing through Blue Ridge Mountains (white water rafting happens here), Shenandoah River, Skyline drive, Harpers ferry!!!! I did not kill anyone & loved every minute of the drive!!

22th Aug: Dinner with Alok & Tanya.

Went to Bel Air, a lovely country side about 2 hours from Shabnam’s place. This is where Alok & Tanya have their home, above a small mountain top.. A place which has a church at about 10 minutes distance from each other, forest land all over, some farmland, the most gorgeous looking houses, with interesting landscaping, greenery all around. Fabulous Meat curry cooked by Alok & Cheese Cake by Tanya….. recipe is on the way & just have to try & make it once I get home!!!

Landscape & Terrain is completely different from Europe. I, for one prefer Europe more!!!

Trivia… Most farm homes are devoid of visible boundary & it is divided by pegs, which cannot be seen!!

19th Aug: Another BBQ, and this time it is Washington.

A small gathering , where all of us gave each other enough attention!!! Montu da was the official chef , with Shabnam doing the marinate. Mom helping with the salads, while I manage the show!!!:-)

Meeting Janaki ( still upset that Jim wasn’t here) after a good 20 years , was fantastic. We just picked up from where we had left , didn’t fell that we hadn’t met for so many years!!! She took us for a lovely pre-lunch at TGIF, where ,to Mom’s absolute delight we discussed about the ashram and its teachings. And it was Strike One, when Janaki said , she had been to Ganeshpuri for a picnic, as a 13yr old & met a Swami in Silence at an ashram there, who’s presence was so over powering & serene, that she was tempted to go there again, but things didn’t fall into place & she never did. How uncanny is it, that Janaki has met Baba Muktananda ….. stranger than fiction life is when things like this happen!!!

Met Neela, friend of Shabnam, a complete fun person & someone who broke my record…. She has changed 14 school’s vis a vis to my 9 schools!!!!

And then was meeting Mohit, after 27years. Beauty being, I don’t even remember ever speaking with him in DC. But meeting him, with Shalini & son , Shaurya, not for a minute did I feel that I was meeting them for the first time types!!! Conversation flowed beautifully & Mom, took an instant liking for Shalini ( after all adrak walli chai jo banaya Shalini ne!!).

Shaurya & I, had a few one second games of Chess, where he just had to win all the games. Then he decided, the Chess box was the alligator’s mouth, which would eat all the fish aka the pieces ….. what an amazing imaginative mind these kids have!!!  And all that he ate was …. Typical desi style , biscuit chai main duba ke …. How perfect!!!

Anecdotes:

Montu da, as a student in Amrika, tried his had at cooking for a few guests & made Cabbage ki sabzi. It was only later when , a neighbor ate the sabzi, was he told that he had made Lettuce ki sabzi!!!!

Shabnam, when she went for the very first time shopping books, etc for Mithun at Staples, she went around asking where the Rubber was!!!!;-)

And now for a reverse one:

Neela’s friend, born & bought up outside India, went shopping at a shop in Bombay. Once through, he was ready to go, when the sales person said ‘ Come Back ‘ & before he could here ‘Again’ …. He had done an about turn & went back to the sales person, wondering why he had been called!!!

Highlight… my brain cant seem to function the amrikan way. Everything here is ulta pulta … be it the switch, the door knob, the driving, the wotever … dimag sunn ho chala hai!!! Driving here is way out , will kill us all, since half the time I am telling Shabnam she is driving on the wrong side & have nearly got ourselves killed coz , we are looking at the wrong side when we cross the road!!!!

17th Aug: The Eagles have landed...

Is the message I got when I landed in Washington from Shabnam!!!!

A turbulent flight, 3 movies and a few winks later, we arrive at Dulles. The immigration takes ages, where one has to now go through a finger Id & a photo identification of sorts, to our Baggage going Missing for a good 45 minutes, where we searched the entire place, thinking someone must have kept it somewhere else, since we were the last few passengers to collect our luggage. Can you imagine the Trauma we went through when we saw the luggage belt empty, and our 3 bags nowhere in sight, considering all our last minute shopping was in 2 of them??? Complained about it, to be told that our bags had arrived & to hunt again … another round of the entire place & we find our 3 bags kept in one corner near the belt!!!  How did it get there … have absolutely no Clue … however , just thank the stars that we found them!!!

It’s welcome, amrikan style!!! Hummm

Visit this enchanted place. Its National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Set at the lovely valley of Emmitsburg, on the Mountainside, linked with Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton,the Shrine is one of the oldest American replicas of the revered French shrine, Shrine of Mary.

There is a mystical energy here. A place where one can sit in silence & go within. We sat in silence & when I opened my eyes, I felt the forest loom towards me. Was sure something was wrong & shut my again. When I opened them, same thing. It was the third time that I realized , that the leaves on the tree’s have a certain pattern in which they move, irrespective of the wind, and that’s what gives one the feeling that the trees are moving towards you, wanting to share some mystical secret, a mystical mantra ….

Since Montu da is organizing the decoration for the ICCC Independence day celebration & Mela, Mom & I helped him with some stuff …. & Voila, I actually got paid for it by him, my first hard earned money here!!! He He

Highlight…Shabnam , Mom & I went to celebrate at Macroni Grill & the woman at the Bar, actually explained to us that Canberry Martini had Vodka in it !!!! Guess, 3 asian single women at the bar is not a sight that they see here in Frederick!!! If only the Bartender knew hum kis mitti ke bane hain!!!:-)

However we went to Houlihan’s and they gave us some good Mojito’s & Canberry Martini with no questions & no explanations!!!!.... Mayb  coz I asked for the drinks this time!!!!;-)

13th Aug: Time flies...

Last minute shopping & the tastiest chicken masala, gosht aloo ka salan at Shakib’s place , with Baaji & she doing the cooking … absolutely lip smacking!!!

Visit to the Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden. An architectural wonder, since its made sans any steel. Amazing intricate carvings by Indian artisans (where the marble’s & limestone’s were sent to India for the carvings & shipped back to London) and assembled like a jigsaw puzzle.

Sunday begins with Father & son, organizing the most lavish typical British Breakfast of Eggs, Bacon, Mushroom, Baked Beans, 4 types of Sausages, breads……. and filter coffee !!!!

Saw Manchester United & Reading kick of this season, at the local Pub with Shaun, chilled beer & Apple Cider for company, with the match ending in a draw & Shaun majorly upset by this, after all he is a die hard fan of ManU!!!

Evening was Goodbye time with Mr.Sterling, Joan, Ravi & Uma visiting. Sabrina giving us a surprise & baking a pineapple cake for us, which had a Sad face on it & said ‘sorry, u r leaving’!!! How sweet is that….

Monday…. Time for us to pack up leave. An emotionally hi- strung time for everyone, considering we have been here since 2 & a half months. We felt like we have become permanent residence of this country!!! An emotional farewell & we are on our way to US of A………. its Amrika calling ……..

Washington is a place where we have been before & visited all places. So, this time our stay with Shabnam will be just chill out at home & meet everyone who we know are living within 2 hrs of driving distance from her place!!! So, don’t expect major blogs for the next 2 weeks …….. unless something happens that I just have to mention!!!!

Bon Voyage………

10th Aug : Diana's Visit...

And for the very first time since we have come here, all of us actually sit in the garden, totally totally relaxed. It’s all thanks to Diana, that we make use of the lovely weather & spend the entire time that she is here in this well weeded & tended garden. Loads of talks happen, food, drinks…. A remarkably chilled out day.

Since Diana is now in the travel business, takes people around in her car for day tours to places around London, there is travel talk too. And, just have to take her advice & visit to Bath and Stonehenge, when I visit London next. Which means, have to add this to my already pending Cotswold!!!

Hightlight… driving Mr.Sterling’s new Jaguar, V6 ,2.5 ltr ,X type. He died with my bambaiya driving, but I had a complete thrill!!!! Wow!!!

And …. While all of us maraoed our Tequila shots, Bapi managed to convince Mom to take one tiny winy shot .. which she did …. Where the Tequila must have got nightmare’s, seeing someone down a shot as if it the bitterest of the bitterest  medicine … such apman … uffffffff!!! J

Trivia …. There are some interesting names that the Pubs in England have … The Naked Turtle, Bag o’ Nails, Groom & Horse, Hen and Chicken, Bazaar( the Bar), The happy Cheese  and loads other , but the one that I absolutely fell in love with is “Nowhere Inn Particular” !!! Just visualize this….. a young kids wants to go out to the pub & visit his friends …. His parents ask him where he is going … & he says… Nowhere Inn Particular !!!! ;-)

9th Aug: Canary Warf & Cutty Shark

Drive through Thames Tower & St.Katherines dock( both an absolute must walking areas) to reach Canary Warf. A business hub with everyone suited booted … a different feel & atmosphere. One can’t imagine that you are in London with all these high rise Modern Buildings!!! Agar thursday nahin hota, then we would have had some good Japanese food here. The Mall here has some very good restaurants.

From there, a walk around Cutty Shark, which is under repairs after the fire.

If I had known earlier, what I would have really done is spend one day entirely at Greenwich, which has some interesting places apart from Cutty Shark, Observatory , the regular tourist stuff, the place is buzzing with activity!!

And another day at Canary Warf , and making sure that I walked through the River Thames underground walking path which links Canary Warf to Cutty Shark … should be one interesting walk!!!

7th Aug: Shaun's another year older & wiser . I hope!!!

It’s Happy to you, Shaun, with Mom & I, gear up for the evening party!!

It’s the ghar walla’s , us people, Mr.Sterling, Joan, Ravi, Uma & Gaurav, who come to celebrate in the evening. Saab ki farmayish ka khayal rakha gaya tha… pav bhaji for Shaun, Vada for Bapi, Dahi puri for Sabrina & since Fenu likes everything … she did do justice to it all as did everyone one else. Sabrina made a chocolate cake for Shaun & did a surprise entry with it after dinner. After this surprise, was the gift I gave Shaun, a dollar gift wrapped with layers of 15 sheets & within each sheet was a quote which he had to read out …. Poor kid was ready to kill me for all the patience he needed to read all the quotes, remove every layer to reach the one pound, But gave a lovely hug instead!!!

Highlight…. Uma saying that instead of the food we had at the BBQ, we should have had stalls with this food instead .. total dehati & absolutely Tasty!!! Next time around we shall have to have a Bambaiya week, with the totally bambaiya kind of Junk food!!!

Trivia…. Did you know that UK boasts of having, probably more Mosque’s than in Pakistan!!

There is a place called Richmond near Heathrow, where the sound of the aircraft can be heard below, but for some reason, you cannot here it on top of that hill !!!

6th Aug: Oxford, a day with Tony!

Oxford, an architectural beauty, some the buildings are gorgeous, & considering some of them are universities, I can imagine why so many want to come here to study!!!

Walk around the city, exchange loads of notes with Tony, have a tasty meal at Zizzi’s & drop Tony back at the hospital, so he can get back to his research!! But not without extracting a promise from Tony, that he shall marry after 2 years, in summer, so that I can see one match at the centre court, Wimbledon, a Football match at Wembley Stadium & be invited for his bachelor’s party!!!

One definitely needs to spend atleast 2 nights here to enjoy the city & the nightlife, which according to Tony , completely rocks!!!

Trivia… With all the changes happening in the systems, there are quite a few people who are quitting the medical profession & moving along to different ones!!!

Did you know there is a party called the Monster raving loony Party in UK with division in US too ….. inko dekhne ke baad, methinks, humare politicians kya kharab hain!!??!!!

5th Aug: BBQ happens atlast .

Saturday goes in getting all organized for the BBQ, me being the official driver & Shaun the cleaner , who transport all the chairs, tables, slush machine, etc etc etc, from Mr.Sterling & Ravi’s. While Fenu organizes the all the veggie food, drinks,dips, salads, with rest of the house helping big time!!

Sunday, turns out to be the hottest day of the season!!! Perfect for drinking the chilled Beer!! Meat arrives, with Abu doing the most amazing job with marinate of the chicken, kheema, & prawns. Food disappears, what can one expect with Bapi & Ravi being the ideal Chefs as does the daru!! About 50 people in all & it’s a fantastic evening …. All the mehnat ne acchaa rang laya!!!

03 Aug: Lets Burn some Gas..

A very wholesome British breakfast for all of us…. Takes Mom & me , down memory lane , when Uncle Rony use to make us Sunday breakfast of… cheese toast, sausage, bacon, fried egg, grilled tomato & a good cuppa coffee!!! Kahan gaye woh din …………

All Bapi M needs is a car all tanked up & he can drive around the world …. That is what we have done today …. Drive around the world for sure!!!

Drive along the small towns to reach Milford on Sea. This is truly the most scenic place that I have seen so far. Although pebbled beach, the water is absolutely blue, & if it wasn’t for the fact that the water was so cold, we sure wud have taken a dip. The corn field on the other side of the beach is a perfect match.

Didn’t want to leave this place, but it’s a long drive to Bournemouth. A typical typical beach area , with human, who are packed like sardines in a tin. The Sun has got just everyone out to the beach …. In a way .. it is claustrophobic for us!!! However, we do dip our feet in the cold water, take a spin on the speed boat(miracle we didn’t get thrown off the boat coz of the speed), drink chilled Carona to cool down & try our hand at Hit the Bottles stall to win a pink panther … but kuck nahin hua .. coz for one .. our aim was way off & we didn’t have enough strength to knock them off their base completely!!! Sighhhh

Time to head home driving through an area called The New Forest. Its dense, just like the forest in Isle of Wight & the wild animal here that will put the fear og God in you definitely be a Rabbit & worse come to worse, one might just have a Fox trying to nip your leg ……. If that aint scary …. Wonder wot is!!! J

Take a detour through Bank & see the most amazing typical village & modern homes, complete country types , reminds me of Mehrauli !!!

Stop at Lyndhurst for a nice cuppa tea with scones. Go to a cute café , which has its own bakery. And have the tastiest Potato Wedges & the freshly baked Scones, with fresh clotted Cream & strawberry Jam ….. absolutely to Die for … ooops …to Live for ….. it’s the very best & no one should come back without eating it, warna life main kuch toh miss kar hi doge!!!

A small stop at Winchester Cathedral, an extremely majestic structure!! Wish we had reached on time to see this church from inside … but no matter, there is always a next time!!!

Reach London late evening to be welcomed by Bapi M’s neice & family. Itali & Jeet have the cutest little girl, less than 2 years & her energy and antics take away our tiredness in a jiffy!!!

Hightlight: Shop called Pages of Lyndhurst, on the high street , next to the Café, which has the most unusual curios all made of glass. If anyone goes there, please make sure you buy me a glass handbag, coz by the time we spotted the place, it had shut down…. Ufffff !!!

02 nd Aug: Weather Gods as always, my bestest friends!

A fruit platter of exotic fruits in our system, with Bapi M & Sabrina, eating a typical English breakfast, we are off to check out the rest of the island.

First stop is Shanklin, where we take off to play some Crazy Golf, we just about get the hang of it & it starts to rain. It’s a quick chat with the weather Gods , where one has to explain that the rains have to stop by the time we reach Needles, coz we just have take the cable ride & check out the coloured sands!!

It’s a constant drizzle & some good rain, while we walk & drive around Shanklin & Freshwater Bay. Which continues while we go to the southern most point of the island, to see the Tower at St.Catherines Point.

By the time we reach Needles, Alum Bay, the rains have disappeared…. & we take the cable all the way down to the pebbled beach, which is lined with mountain of coloured sand, reminds me of Chamarel of Mauritius!!! Absolutely beautiful place with water sparkling clean. While Sabrina goes to fill one of the glass rabbit frame with the coloured sand, Mom & I, take off to see how Glass is blown & sculptures , gift articles made .. quite fascinating , I must say.

Its time for us to drive to Yarmouth, to take the Ferry to Lymington. Yarmouth Pier has quite a few people fishing with their fishing lines. We actually manage to see one kid , all of 10-12 yrs , pull one in, and a pretty decent size too!!! Yarmouth has all the boats getting ready to start sailing for the Cowes week.

Lymington, another sleepy town where sailing is the main sport. Its unbelievable the number of boats, that are docked here.

Drive around the high street & then to our B&B place, run by this lovely retired couple, Ian & June Caruther. Freshen up & go to an Indian restaurant, called Lal Quilla, which serves us the best Indian food , we have eaten,  since we left Bombay!!! Thurday ka fasting aise khanne ke baat ekdum tript atma ho gaya hai!!

Highlight…. Since sailing is the main sport all around this area, come across 3 Yacht Clubs, which although , do not have direct affiliation with Yacht club, Bombay, but , will extend their  hospitality, if one shows them the Bombay club card!!! Uncle Rony …. Hope you are reading this, coz , this is one holiday you can take & stay at all these clubs!!!!

01st Aug : Off we go to Isle of Wight

A sunny day, where we drive around Portsmouth & then take the ferry to Isle of Wight. An island, which is a blend of Goa & Mauritius. An island which boasts of pebbled beach, to Sandy beach, to the farmlands, to the immense greenery all around, the forest, the mountains …. Everything under one roof!!!

Loads of things one can do here, but since we are short of time, visit all the major spots.(And anyways, you can drive around this complete island in couple of hours.. chotta sa toh hai!! )

A less than 5 minute cutest ferry ride takes us to Cowes, which otherwise would have taken us an half hour drive around the island!!! Tried to lookout for some exotic Cow’s , but didn’t find any!!;-) A typical sea front, with shops, water sports,Fish n chips, Mast’s up with boats all moving with the wind ….. Want someone to find me a Man who owns a Boat & need them to send me the picture of the Boat!!!!ahem!!

Around Ventnor’s, kind of sandy pebbled beach, where I saw some lovely & interesting shops. A visit to Model Town at Godshill, which houses a complete miniature replica of the island. We felt like complete Gulliver’s, infront of this dwarfed version.

Relax at Melville Hotel at Sandown. A seafront, which has a lovely pier, full off entertainment.

Drive along the sea coast of Ryde, hunting for some Ride’s … but nada … no ride’s there… sighhhhhh….

Round & round the island we go, through the winding dimly lit streets or the completely dark lanes , hunting for a place called Crabs & Lobsters Inn at Bembridge, which has the best sea food. We loose our way more than once , eventually reach the place to be told that the last order is at 9 pm ( we reach there at 10pm) , & when we ask them to whip up some food, we are told that the chef has already left for the day!!! Can you imagine that????

Seems, the entire island ceases to serve food after 9 pm & that the only place which will serve food is a Kebab& Pizza place at Shanklin!!! This island is truly a sleepy village, perfect for the retired … Fenu & Bapi shall make this, one of their retirement destinations!!!

Highlight …. Bapi M pulled over by the Police, for driving erratically, for showing indicator of right but going left , the fact that one of the back lights is not working!!! First time experience for me …. And Bapi M , manages to hold his own & smile through it by saying he has just come from London & is Lost … warna …. Humara kya hota …. Pata nahin!!! He he !!!