Kiddie Talks - III

They say you shouldn't compare kids. Comparing increases the criticism in the child. But, sometimes it works. So , I tried a modified version. Rather, comparing with others i compared with his earlier days!!!!!

Me : P, nee paappaava irukkarche rombavum samaththa iruppa theriuma.
Appollam TV paakkave maatta, "amma intha book sollithaa athu sollithaa" nnu keppa. Kadaikku ponaa ethuvum kekka maatta. Appave ethanum vaangi kudukkarennu sonnakooda "illappa athu vendamnu, namma kitta thaan irukke " thaan solluva!!!!!!!

( You used to be quite those days. You wouldn't watch TV at all. And used to ask me to teach you from the books. Even if your father offers to buy something from the shop , you would decline saying you have that already)

P : Neekoodathamma, appollem enna thittavum , adikkavum maatta.

( Even you used to never scold or beat me those days)


Henceforth, i decided to meticulously think before i open my mouth!!!!!!!!!

Kumbakonam trip - II

Morning journeys are always refreshing. Its a special visual treat enroute thirunallaru via chidambaram. We had our breakfast in chidambaram in a mess just diagonally opposite to the temple and food was delicious. There was a steady crowd all the while even at 7.30 a.m and the service was prompt. Especially, the ven-pongal. Never ever miss a trip to the mess if u happen to visit the temple. Heard, that the people around the temple usually get their breakfast and tiffin from there only. Since, in our agenda chidambaram temple didn't feature, we made a miss. Thinking of covering the temples en route next time.

Around 8.30 a.m we reached the temple tank and decided to take a dip. Since, both my son and me are in the 71/2 period my aathukarar made sure that we make this journey as early as possible. The temple tank's steps are too slippery and it is high time considering the depth the authorities take proper action regarding this. There is a bee-line of stores around tank selling all the soap, seeyakkai , shampoo and nallannei samacharangal. But, it is wise to take bath before and just taking a dip there(that's wat we did).

But, still people tend to follow over rituals by actually taking a bath in the tank with nallennai and seeyakkai all the way contaminating the tank. Athuleyum ange oru family nalla yennai massage for both body as well head pannindu , kulikkarthukkagave thirunallaru vanthathaa nenachindu seeyakka pottu antha kolathaiye naara adichuttanaga. Please...... Its just a ritual to take a dip and not to go and take a leisure bath.
There is a 10*10 room of asbestos on top of the steps for the ladies to change their clothes. Only problem is we are not supposed to bolt the door. Instead of a big room , they can erect small rooms of more numbers.

After taking a dip , before proceeding to the main temple we are supposed to take the blessings of vinayagar present on the rear side of the temple. The dip is meant to take effect only after u break a surai thengai for the vinayagar.

So after all this we proceeded to the main temple and there is another one tank in front of the temple. Please don't wonder whether we are supposed to take a dip in that too... cos same thought came to my mind. But, neenga nenachalum athula dip edukka mudiyaathu, avvalavu kodumai. So if u r a staunch believer in following traditions jus dip your feet or else ignore and proceed to the temple.

Being a sani prathosham day, the temple was brimming with hundreds of people. So it is best to get into the main shrine of lord shiva without waiting in the queue to go to the saneeswara bhagavan. When u get into the main shrine there would be so many mamas waiting to offer you special pariharams. So, if you can afford , say around 500 rs (yaruppa sonna recession nnu, jus look at the money flow in the temples) do some pariharam, and he would himself would take u to the saneeswarar sannidhi through short-cut.
But, beware you have to carry the wraths of people waiting in the hour-long queue. But, when you are accompanied by kids or old people this is the best way and intha wraths ellam jus like that thodachi pottundu poyinde irukkanum.
Many people say that you should not bring the thengai prasatham to home, but there is a board written there which states that you can always take it home since it is parihara kadavul. It is better to rely on one's own instinct.
Then, there is a perumal temple opposite to the first mentioned tank and it is an old temple recently renovated. The speciality is the "panchamukha anjaneyar " and " chakkarathazhwar". Please visit and do not miss it. Its a visual treat and you can view all the five mukhas through the openings present on all the sides.

With this thirunallaru episode ends and then our next stop was thirumeichur - Lalithambigai temple.......

Kumbakonam trip

Well my long time prayers were answered atlast. It was really a scintillating and on the whole a very new experience for all of us. The prayers were long time pending since the birth of my son which involved lots of complications.

We started around 6.30 pm on friday night along with one of our friends family. They have a daughter who is 2 yrs older than my son . God!!! They made quite a pair. They immediately gelled well despite few hiccups here and there (chaos are what guaranteed when kids meet and wats fun without few hiccups). This prompted me to have one more!!!!!!!! Lets see;)))))

I thought everybody were leaving chennai on one purpose or the other thro ECR. There was heavy traffic on that lane and it took almost 3 hrs to reach pondicherry. And though our original plan was to stay in karaikkal , we altered it and stayed in GINGER. It was worth staying there except for the food. Its truly a paradise for couples or newly married non-vegetarians. Vegetarians should stay away from the food though the rooms are good.

When my son asked for dosai they said we have to choose the side-dish among the curry items. It was a blow for my son who always has a craze for the sambar-chutney combo. Luckily he didn't fuss that day and adjusted with veg kurma. And when my truly dedicated tamilian aathukarar asked for rasam, the waiter gave a wary smile. Ist a crime to ask for rasam in south india, or does he always dwell on fried rice and noodles. When my aathukarar pointed that they serve rasam even in TAJ and PARK he then said that they dont have it there. Then why do they print vegetable thali on the menu. On the contrary, the room was spacious and ventilated with AC, refrigerator, shower working.

They have Landmark and Cafe day in their reception area which does quite brisk business. Nice marketing strategy.

Next day in the morning 5.30 we left for Thirunallaru. The drive was pleasant and we got to watch the sunrise amidst the waterways which was an enduring experience. After a long time i got to peruse my long time passion i.e clouds watching. Somehow, it fascinated me in my adolescent years. I always used to sit in our terrace (ours was an independent house) in the pretext of studying though my motive my altogether different(it was not clouds watching even ;))) ). I like to form faces and patterns and imagine things while watching them move. The first time in went in aircraft not even i wasted one minute in chatting. I was totally engrossed in the scenic view of flying above and among the clouds........

Hmm, its taking more time than i expected, let me continue later