VRAJ has had a Beach Birthday at age 1, 3 and 5. I guess it has become a Tradition!
BRIJ is right behind him at 1 and 3. This year it was espcially enjoyable because the babies are Boys and played on their own for most of the Day, giving Moms and Dads a chance to have our own little party too. A Great Day for a Great Celebration.
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Late Dhuleti at Shadowbay Park
A bunch of friends got together at Shadowbay Park to show kids how dhuleti is played after last weekends cancelation due to the rain. This was better because it was the little ones who controlled the field of colors. No big intimidating kids around them. Even the parents were afraid as they attacked us one by one and even as a team.
Chanchal Ba
Brown speckled spheres twinkle in her almond shaped eyes.
Dreams she of bhajyas and seero, hinting what today’s meal will comprise.
Chanchal Ba
Her lips ready stand to greet others with “Jai Swami Narayan”.
Wrinkly is her soft brown skin, the color of pecans.
Chanchal Ba
Smile she does when oil is rubbed into her scalp by her two grandsons, whispering “Oh prabhu, Oh prabhu”
as Vraj and Brij’s fingers slide over her soft skin, slippery with lotion.
Chanchal Ba
My name she forgets not, while her memory plays hide-and-seek with painful thoughts and sorrow,
She walks to the agasi to bathe in the first rain of tomorrow.
Chanchal Ba
Papa squeezes her squishy stretchable cheeks until she yells, “Ramesh”,
While Mummy pataayne pataayne takes her up and down the steps with promises of darshan.
Chanchal Ba
Bimal teases her with relentless questions and
Laughter shakes from her heart as Vishalbhai picks her up, spins her, and takes her off to heaven.
@ 98 years old…. We will miss you!!
Two Ace’s, i.e. Amit n Ashish were the only two who got ready to wake up at 5-AM and head out to Thol Lake in the outskirts of Ahmedabad, for a beautiful Sunrise and some migratory bird watching. I under-estimated Ahmedabad temperature and had a thin shirt on but neither of these guys gave me their jackets… Two Jack Ace’s. 
I got creative and hung my camera bag at the back and Amits camera bag in the front but in vain, the wind was chilling. Ashley’s hot coffee also did not work. Luckily found a spot which looked like a bunker and i took shelter in it.
Sunrise was a sight and the dance of swallows in the sky was a something that could not be captured in a camera. King Fishers diving in the water and the native Parrots were the most entertaining. I had a great time clicking and the Pictures can tell the story. Please click “Continue Reading” below to see more pictures.
There were captured on my Phone Camera like many other so the quality is low, but these are some of the precious moments from the last few days of Vraj’s India trip. He spent most of his time with Shiv and Dhyana and if we were to ask him who are your friends, then the first two names are Dhyana n Shiv followed by Paavan and Vaani etc. Its is special for another reason because Me, Utkarsh & Amit have amazing stories from growing up and we see our kids making some memories of their own. While taking them around, we got a chance to revisit and enjoy Jasuben’s Pizza, Bhagwati Chaat, Ras Ranjan Panipuri n Tikka, Havmor Cholle Bhature, Tomatoes, Manek Chowk, Law garden, Kankaria etc and last but not the least…. the Mango Ripple Choco Dip ice-cream. This is what i would call the Next Gen of the Same Ol Best Friends…
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An evening with Dhyana and Vaani. Amit-Purva decided to take the kids to the Kids Zone at Kankaria but the activities were for a bigger age group so we decided to spend time at the lake.
Gujarat government has done a great job with the lake and Kids had a good time.
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I really wanted to be at one place and capture this eclipse but we had to be at a party, so took 85 % of the pictures from the car while traveling from one side of the city to another, luckily Vaibhav was driving. Then took the last few from the roof top of Lopa’s farm house. Unfortunately could not get the other half of the eclipse because the party had already begun…
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It was a really nice evening spent with Mom n Dad before Nilam and Brij left for US. Rajasthani folk dance performers on their traditional music, Magicians, Rope-walker, Camel rides, Head-Massage and lot more. It is couple of miles down my home in Ahmedabad but felt like we were in a local Rajasthani village. Nice place, entertainment was great but the food was not even close to Rajwadu, they could have done a much better job.
Only regret was not carrying my Nikon SLR with me, though my iPhone and mom’s camera came to the rescue.
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Before going to India, Vraj had been telling Rameshdada, “I want to do fireworks when I come there”. I guess it was one of his favorite activities from his previous India trips. Post Diwali, Dada saved fireworks for the kids and they had a great time firing them almost every day. Brij enjoys the trara-mandal’s and the sapolia’s, but he does not like the loud fire crackers. It was all fun and I enjoyed one of my favorite pastime – taking pictures of fireworks.
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