Friday, January 06, 2006
January 2006 Update from Bangalore
Sunday, January 1, 2005
Went to the local park where Maya tried her hand again at her roller skates that she'd got for her birthday. A little less shaky than before.
Monday, January 2, 2005
Our friend, Kirsty, who's recently arrived from Australia, came with her two boys, Angus and Nicholas, for a playdate. Angus is at the same school as Maya and Molly, and Charlie has seen Nicholas at various playdates already, so it was a pretty relaxed, fun, and uneventful time. We should have done this last week when the kids were going stir crazy.
Poor Molly has another urinary tract infection. Starting her on a new antibiotic. Doctor told me to get Cefadur, and from memory I could recall that it was one that she refused to take in the past because it tasted so horrible.
Went out to dinner at Taj Regency with a couple from the U.S. who are thinking of moving to Bangalore. Our friend Sriram put them in touch with us. A lot of similarities with us: eldest daughter named Maya; husband in tech field, and wife in non-profit world. Enjoyable evening eating Keralan and Goan food.
Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Went to our Swedish friend, Marie's, house, for a playdate. She wins the best playroom award. The kids didn't want to leave--especially after they saw the toy ride-on motorcycles. I'm still amazed I got Maya and Molly out of there once they laid their eyes on those.
In the afternoon Marylouise came over with Hannah and Maura. See, this is the secret to surviving holidays--stack up those playdates back-to-back. The bonus was I really liked these moms and our kids were compatible, too.
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Molly and Maya are very happy to be back in school--and so am I! The prospect of two months vacation coming up in April and May is pretty daunting, after having just survived the two week break. I'm checking out summer programs at Genie Kids, and will see whether Neev, where they're going to school, has anything planned.
Went to Charlie's Wonder Years program at Genie Kids this morning, and he was in fine form. The little ring leader. He helped Minnie Auntie (the facilitator) turn on the music for meditation, then decided it was time for "something eat" and led me upstairs to the rooftop where we have usually have snack time an hour later. Genie Kids is really into the philosophy of letting the kids do what they want to do (thank goodness! at 2 years old) so Minnie was okay with that. But then the other kids wanted to join us up top as well.
Friday, January 6, 2006
Charlie's 2nd birthday. Amma and Appa have come from Chennai for the occasion. We're hoping Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle will join us, too.
Really sad to report that Charlie's nap schedule has been shot to hell. Maybe it was the two nights we spent in Mumbai, together with a number of nights that Badri was on travel, plus a few other nights I went to the yoga retreat. Maybe it's just a phase. But the last few days it's been a struggle to get him to nap. Yesterday Rita took him for a stroller ride and he fell asleep, then was put into the crib (baby cot), but today he'd have none of it.
But it turned out to be a fine day. I took Charlie to the Heritage Center and Aerospace Museum on Airport Road and we were there for nearly two hours. He loves that place: going on the ancient helicopter, sitting in the airplane pilot's seat and trying his best to move the stick to get the simulated plane to go up and down.
And in keeping with that theme, in the evening had an airplane cake for his little party. He and the girls loved picking the candies off that decorated the cake more than anything else.
Saturday, January 7, 2006
Went to a dinner party at Amita and Nageen's. We'd met them at Nina and Sandeep's Christmas party. Amita and Nageen live in Whitefield at Palm Meadows, the gated community that you'd swear is actually situated in southern California by the looks of the architecture, streets, and palm trees. There were five couples there: two of whom have a pair of girl twins each. Everyone had lived in the U.S. for a period of time, and all were Indian or Indian/American couples.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Went to Kirsty's in Koramangala for a dinner/playdate with her two boys Angus and Nicolas. She's expecting her third (a girl) in April. Huge house (even bigger than ours).
Tonight we sat out on the front "lawn" (no grass left) with the kids and watched the full moon. I asked Badri if he'd like some wine and Molly said "I'd like some juice!" The three kids sat on their purple kiddie chairs, and Amma, Appa, Badri and I on wooden chairs. Beautiful night.
Saturday, January 14, 2006, Pongal
Today we celebrated the harvest festival, Pongal. Maya and Molly observed it yesterday in school, both dressing up in their pavadi dresses (blouse and ankle length skirt). Ratnama made a beautiful rangoli at our gate and Amma (Badri's mom) prepared sweet pongal (a rice and dal dish) in the morning. Attached to the bell metal pot were fresh turmeric, coconut, and bananas.
We all loaded into the car for a ride to the GK Vale studio on MG Road for a family portrait. What a disaster! We couldn't get one shot with all three kids looking at the camera. We agreed that we wouldn't try it again until the kids are 6, 8, and 10. Just not worth it. We'll try to capture the three of them on film at home, but I don't see us carting them off to a photo studio again any time soon (but then again, Badri reminded me that we'd said that about not going on plane vacations a few trips ago, too, and then too quickly forgot about all the pain involved in that!).
Charlie's saying, "Careful Patti!" as they both walk down the stairs.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Patti and Thatha (aka Amma and Appa) took the train back to Chennai today.
Monday, January 16, 2006
This morning at breakfast the kids were asking if they could go and wake up Patti and Thatha. They're missing them.
Went out to dinner with Badri at the Copper Kettle restaurant at the Bangalore Central mall. Good food. Nice ambience. No liquor license. Two out of three ain't bad.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Thatha's youngest brother, Sundar, dropped by today for a visit. I'd never met him before. He was in town on business from Hyderabad and had a few minutes before catching his plane back. He's an engineer working in the aeronautics industry. I looked out the front door to see him getting out of the car and he was unmistakably Appa's brother. He hit it right off with the kids, playing Thomas the train with Charlie, horsing around with Maya and Molly.
We had Kirsty and her two boys, Nicolas and Angus, over for a playdate and dinner. They all ate great, which is usually the case when they have kid-company.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Repeated Molly's urine culture to see if she was rid of the urinary tract infection, and she's clear.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Today is Amma and Appa's 47th anniversary. Wow!
Charlie was soaking himself in the driveway with a bucket of water, and Cha cha (term of endearment for uncle, and what we call our daytime watchman) suggested he get the pool out of the storage room. It hadn't occurred to me to put the kids in bathing suits yet, but it was an incredibly warm and sunny day for January. All three kids went in, but Maya lasted only about 15 minutes. Molly and Charlie were in there for at least an hour. There's nothing left of our lawn, because in the heavy rains a lot of dirt from the sideyard had washed on to the little grass that had been poking through, and the little that was there basically suffocated. So with the kids tossing buckets of water out of the pool, the front yard became a perfect place for a mud wrestling match.
Had some of Badri's old school buddies over for dinner. Badri knew Sharat from IIT Kanpur, and Shri and another friend from Boston days, circa late 80s, early 90s.
Tuesday, January 23, 2006
Hosted playgroup here today. A nice small group.
Met Badri for lunch at Herbs and Spices. Great little restaurant tucked away on 7th Cross, 1st Stage in Indiranagar. They sell homemade bread, if there's any left when you get there.
Thursday, January 26-29
Flew on the new Kingfisher airline to Chennai (Madras) to visit Amma and Appa (Badri's parents, known to the children as Patti and Thatha) for a few days. We definitely should do early morning flights. Rolled the kids out of bed at 7 and scooted them into the car by 7:30 for a 8:45 am flight. They were fresh and ready for the 50 minute flight. Fifty minutes is about the right amount of flying time, too. Badri and I are trying to figure out where else we can fly at that time in the morning and with that little flying time. Kingfishers planes are new and very nice--all one class.
We reserved a car with Avis, and our driver, Anand, picked us up for the 30 minute drive to Besant Nagar, Amma and Appa's neighborhood near the ocean. Anand is a very nice driver, but knows little about Chennai. We were lucky we were never in a real hurry to go anywhere because it often took a while to find the destination. When we arrived on Amma and Appa's street, Appa was standing on the road so we wouldn't miss the place. The kids jumped out of the car to greet him, then ran up the stairs to see Patti. They are literally a five minute walk from the beach. You can see the ocean and sunrise from the patio off the kitchen.
Lots of family came by to visit: Sudha Chitti and Gopal Chittapa (Appa's brother and sister-in-law) came with homemade puppets for the children; and Ranjan (Sudha and Gopal's son), his wife Jaya and their daughter Mira came from their place near the beach; Gopal (known by most as Dorai or Dorai Chittapa) is here from Baltimore because, sadly, his brother passed away earlier this month. We were all happy to see him, but Maya is his special buddy from his and Kamala's various visits to San Diego, so it was a special treat for her. Ragu mama and Changa mama (brothers who are Badri's uncles, known to the children as Ragu thatha and Changa thatha) stopped by a couple times. When Amma and I went shopping, Badri and Thatha went over to Ragu and Changa's place to have ice cream. The thathas are very entertaining for the children. Vasanti mami (Badri's aunt, and Amma's sister-in-law) was in town visiting her mom and she came by as well. She, Amma and I went shopping at Fabindia and a couple jewelry shops. Badri'd been saying for a while that the place for jewelry is really Chennai, so I took him up on it and got some silver necklaces and anklets for the girls when they're a little older. Also went to Rasi, a nice silk shop, and got them yet another pavadi each for them to wear in another few years.
One of Badri's cousins, Karthik, came by to visit, also. Molly couldn't quite get his name right--calling him "Artist". He has a real way with the children.
Went to the beach each day we were in Chennai. The evening we arrived it was jampacked with people celebrating Republic Day--food vendors ringing their bells up and down the beach, balloon sellers and much more.
On our last night we took a drive over to the seaside temple. It was a beautiful night, about 7 pm, and lots of families were visiting the temple.
As we left on Sunday morning Amma anointed my forehead with a little kumkum (red powder also known as 'bindi'). I asked Badri why he didn't get it, too, and he said it's only for married women. The dot is placed between the eyebrows, on a spot considered a major nerve point. The red kumkum is said to retain energy in the human body. It also symbolizes auspiciousness and good fortune, and grants the married woman a place as the guardian of the family's welfare and progeny. It was a very nice moment. A fitting end to a terrific visit, children bonding with their grandparents.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Molly has been asking several times to go visit Patti and Thatha.
Monday, January 30
We talked to Amma and Appa on the phone and Amma was very pleased to hear that both Maya and Molly are in the choir at school.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Maya stayed home sick from school today. She had a stomachache in the morning, and then later the nose and cough started, so it looks like a cold. It was tough work getting Molly to school today--maybe because she didn't like the idea of going without Maya. In the last few weeks I thought Molly's tantrums were diminishing, but now it seems like every little step with her becomes a struggle: getting dressed, brushing teeth, etc. Eventually took her to school in the double stroller along with Charlie, and when I picked her up she was in fine spirits.
I was reading to Maya and Molly today before their nap and all of a sudden I heard a roaring engine--thought it must be some construction equipment with all the houses around here in various stages of being built or torn down. I looked out our first story window to see a man on a motorcycle, finger thrust deeply up his nose, engine racing and roaring--idling! Just sitting there. Well, that was enough to wake up Charlie. No sooner had he driven off (I asked Melvin our driver to go and break his reverie) then the next door neighbor started screaming madly at her household helper--right in the driveway, under our window. Some days just seeming noisier than others.
And on that note, I'll try to get this off. I accidentally published it earlier (rather than just saving as draft).
Oh yes, had a great Mom's night out at the restaurant Sunny's--yummy European food. Marylouise (U.S.), Effie (Australia), Charmaine (U.S.), Marion (England), and Dewi (Dutch). It'd had been months since we'd gotten together, so we all enjoyed it. Looks like everyone in this group will be here another year, at least.
Patti, Maya, and Thatha
Patti and Maya
Family shot, Charlie's birthday
Kelly, Charlie, Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle on Charlie's birthday
Ta-da!
Good chops! Maya blowing on trumpet Badri bought in Bombay (Mumbai)
Sacked out grandson and happy grandfather
Local knife sharpener, comes door to door
Maya and Molly dressed up for Pongal festival
Maya at school with Miss Neelu, art teacher, on Pongal
Pongal altar at school
Ratnama making special rangoli for Pongal
Special pongal dish Amma made for Pongal festival, adorned with fresh turmeric, etc.
Ganesha adorned with jasmine and lit diyas (candles) for Pongal festival
Charlie eating with silver spoon and bowl from Vasanthi mami
Maya in Chennai (Madras) with Pata (Gopal, married to Badri's maternal aunt, Kamala)
Sudha Chitti and Gopal Chittapa in Chennai (Appa's sister-in-law and brother)
Molly (Eraserhead) at beach in Chennai
Changa mama, Ragu mama and Badri in Chennai
Pooja room at Patti and Thatha's in Chennai (Madras)
Sunday, January 1, 2005
Went to the local park where Maya tried her hand again at her roller skates that she'd got for her birthday. A little less shaky than before.
Monday, January 2, 2005
Our friend, Kirsty, who's recently arrived from Australia, came with her two boys, Angus and Nicholas, for a playdate. Angus is at the same school as Maya and Molly, and Charlie has seen Nicholas at various playdates already, so it was a pretty relaxed, fun, and uneventful time. We should have done this last week when the kids were going stir crazy.
Poor Molly has another urinary tract infection. Starting her on a new antibiotic. Doctor told me to get Cefadur, and from memory I could recall that it was one that she refused to take in the past because it tasted so horrible.
Went out to dinner at Taj Regency with a couple from the U.S. who are thinking of moving to Bangalore. Our friend Sriram put them in touch with us. A lot of similarities with us: eldest daughter named Maya; husband in tech field, and wife in non-profit world. Enjoyable evening eating Keralan and Goan food.
Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Went to our Swedish friend, Marie's, house, for a playdate. She wins the best playroom award. The kids didn't want to leave--especially after they saw the toy ride-on motorcycles. I'm still amazed I got Maya and Molly out of there once they laid their eyes on those.
In the afternoon Marylouise came over with Hannah and Maura. See, this is the secret to surviving holidays--stack up those playdates back-to-back. The bonus was I really liked these moms and our kids were compatible, too.
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Molly and Maya are very happy to be back in school--and so am I! The prospect of two months vacation coming up in April and May is pretty daunting, after having just survived the two week break. I'm checking out summer programs at Genie Kids, and will see whether Neev, where they're going to school, has anything planned.
Went to Charlie's Wonder Years program at Genie Kids this morning, and he was in fine form. The little ring leader. He helped Minnie Auntie (the facilitator) turn on the music for meditation, then decided it was time for "something eat" and led me upstairs to the rooftop where we have usually have snack time an hour later. Genie Kids is really into the philosophy of letting the kids do what they want to do (thank goodness! at 2 years old) so Minnie was okay with that. But then the other kids wanted to join us up top as well.
Friday, January 6, 2006
Charlie's 2nd birthday. Amma and Appa have come from Chennai for the occasion. We're hoping Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle will join us, too.
Really sad to report that Charlie's nap schedule has been shot to hell. Maybe it was the two nights we spent in Mumbai, together with a number of nights that Badri was on travel, plus a few other nights I went to the yoga retreat. Maybe it's just a phase. But the last few days it's been a struggle to get him to nap. Yesterday Rita took him for a stroller ride and he fell asleep, then was put into the crib (baby cot), but today he'd have none of it.
But it turned out to be a fine day. I took Charlie to the Heritage Center and Aerospace Museum on Airport Road and we were there for nearly two hours. He loves that place: going on the ancient helicopter, sitting in the airplane pilot's seat and trying his best to move the stick to get the simulated plane to go up and down.
And in keeping with that theme, in the evening had an airplane cake for his little party. He and the girls loved picking the candies off that decorated the cake more than anything else.
Saturday, January 7, 2006
Went to a dinner party at Amita and Nageen's. We'd met them at Nina and Sandeep's Christmas party. Amita and Nageen live in Whitefield at Palm Meadows, the gated community that you'd swear is actually situated in southern California by the looks of the architecture, streets, and palm trees. There were five couples there: two of whom have a pair of girl twins each. Everyone had lived in the U.S. for a period of time, and all were Indian or Indian/American couples.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Went to Kirsty's in Koramangala for a dinner/playdate with her two boys Angus and Nicolas. She's expecting her third (a girl) in April. Huge house (even bigger than ours).
Tonight we sat out on the front "lawn" (no grass left) with the kids and watched the full moon. I asked Badri if he'd like some wine and Molly said "I'd like some juice!" The three kids sat on their purple kiddie chairs, and Amma, Appa, Badri and I on wooden chairs. Beautiful night.
Saturday, January 14, 2006, Pongal
Today we celebrated the harvest festival, Pongal. Maya and Molly observed it yesterday in school, both dressing up in their pavadi dresses (blouse and ankle length skirt). Ratnama made a beautiful rangoli at our gate and Amma (Badri's mom) prepared sweet pongal (a rice and dal dish) in the morning. Attached to the bell metal pot were fresh turmeric, coconut, and bananas.
We all loaded into the car for a ride to the GK Vale studio on MG Road for a family portrait. What a disaster! We couldn't get one shot with all three kids looking at the camera. We agreed that we wouldn't try it again until the kids are 6, 8, and 10. Just not worth it. We'll try to capture the three of them on film at home, but I don't see us carting them off to a photo studio again any time soon (but then again, Badri reminded me that we'd said that about not going on plane vacations a few trips ago, too, and then too quickly forgot about all the pain involved in that!).
Charlie's saying, "Careful Patti!" as they both walk down the stairs.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Patti and Thatha (aka Amma and Appa) took the train back to Chennai today.
Monday, January 16, 2006
This morning at breakfast the kids were asking if they could go and wake up Patti and Thatha. They're missing them.
Went out to dinner with Badri at the Copper Kettle restaurant at the Bangalore Central mall. Good food. Nice ambience. No liquor license. Two out of three ain't bad.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Thatha's youngest brother, Sundar, dropped by today for a visit. I'd never met him before. He was in town on business from Hyderabad and had a few minutes before catching his plane back. He's an engineer working in the aeronautics industry. I looked out the front door to see him getting out of the car and he was unmistakably Appa's brother. He hit it right off with the kids, playing Thomas the train with Charlie, horsing around with Maya and Molly.
We had Kirsty and her two boys, Nicolas and Angus, over for a playdate and dinner. They all ate great, which is usually the case when they have kid-company.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Repeated Molly's urine culture to see if she was rid of the urinary tract infection, and she's clear.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Today is Amma and Appa's 47th anniversary. Wow!
Charlie was soaking himself in the driveway with a bucket of water, and Cha cha (term of endearment for uncle, and what we call our daytime watchman) suggested he get the pool out of the storage room. It hadn't occurred to me to put the kids in bathing suits yet, but it was an incredibly warm and sunny day for January. All three kids went in, but Maya lasted only about 15 minutes. Molly and Charlie were in there for at least an hour. There's nothing left of our lawn, because in the heavy rains a lot of dirt from the sideyard had washed on to the little grass that had been poking through, and the little that was there basically suffocated. So with the kids tossing buckets of water out of the pool, the front yard became a perfect place for a mud wrestling match.
Had some of Badri's old school buddies over for dinner. Badri knew Sharat from IIT Kanpur, and Shri and another friend from Boston days, circa late 80s, early 90s.
Tuesday, January 23, 2006
Hosted playgroup here today. A nice small group.
Met Badri for lunch at Herbs and Spices. Great little restaurant tucked away on 7th Cross, 1st Stage in Indiranagar. They sell homemade bread, if there's any left when you get there.
Thursday, January 26-29
Flew on the new Kingfisher airline to Chennai (Madras) to visit Amma and Appa (Badri's parents, known to the children as Patti and Thatha) for a few days. We definitely should do early morning flights. Rolled the kids out of bed at 7 and scooted them into the car by 7:30 for a 8:45 am flight. They were fresh and ready for the 50 minute flight. Fifty minutes is about the right amount of flying time, too. Badri and I are trying to figure out where else we can fly at that time in the morning and with that little flying time. Kingfishers planes are new and very nice--all one class.
We reserved a car with Avis, and our driver, Anand, picked us up for the 30 minute drive to Besant Nagar, Amma and Appa's neighborhood near the ocean. Anand is a very nice driver, but knows little about Chennai. We were lucky we were never in a real hurry to go anywhere because it often took a while to find the destination. When we arrived on Amma and Appa's street, Appa was standing on the road so we wouldn't miss the place. The kids jumped out of the car to greet him, then ran up the stairs to see Patti. They are literally a five minute walk from the beach. You can see the ocean and sunrise from the patio off the kitchen.
Lots of family came by to visit: Sudha Chitti and Gopal Chittapa (Appa's brother and sister-in-law) came with homemade puppets for the children; and Ranjan (Sudha and Gopal's son), his wife Jaya and their daughter Mira came from their place near the beach; Gopal (known by most as Dorai or Dorai Chittapa) is here from Baltimore because, sadly, his brother passed away earlier this month. We were all happy to see him, but Maya is his special buddy from his and Kamala's various visits to San Diego, so it was a special treat for her. Ragu mama and Changa mama (brothers who are Badri's uncles, known to the children as Ragu thatha and Changa thatha) stopped by a couple times. When Amma and I went shopping, Badri and Thatha went over to Ragu and Changa's place to have ice cream. The thathas are very entertaining for the children. Vasanti mami (Badri's aunt, and Amma's sister-in-law) was in town visiting her mom and she came by as well. She, Amma and I went shopping at Fabindia and a couple jewelry shops. Badri'd been saying for a while that the place for jewelry is really Chennai, so I took him up on it and got some silver necklaces and anklets for the girls when they're a little older. Also went to Rasi, a nice silk shop, and got them yet another pavadi each for them to wear in another few years.
One of Badri's cousins, Karthik, came by to visit, also. Molly couldn't quite get his name right--calling him "Artist". He has a real way with the children.
Went to the beach each day we were in Chennai. The evening we arrived it was jampacked with people celebrating Republic Day--food vendors ringing their bells up and down the beach, balloon sellers and much more.
On our last night we took a drive over to the seaside temple. It was a beautiful night, about 7 pm, and lots of families were visiting the temple.
As we left on Sunday morning Amma anointed my forehead with a little kumkum (red powder also known as 'bindi'). I asked Badri why he didn't get it, too, and he said it's only for married women. The dot is placed between the eyebrows, on a spot considered a major nerve point. The red kumkum is said to retain energy in the human body. It also symbolizes auspiciousness and good fortune, and grants the married woman a place as the guardian of the family's welfare and progeny. It was a very nice moment. A fitting end to a terrific visit, children bonding with their grandparents.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Molly has been asking several times to go visit Patti and Thatha.
Monday, January 30
We talked to Amma and Appa on the phone and Amma was very pleased to hear that both Maya and Molly are in the choir at school.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Maya stayed home sick from school today. She had a stomachache in the morning, and then later the nose and cough started, so it looks like a cold. It was tough work getting Molly to school today--maybe because she didn't like the idea of going without Maya. In the last few weeks I thought Molly's tantrums were diminishing, but now it seems like every little step with her becomes a struggle: getting dressed, brushing teeth, etc. Eventually took her to school in the double stroller along with Charlie, and when I picked her up she was in fine spirits.
I was reading to Maya and Molly today before their nap and all of a sudden I heard a roaring engine--thought it must be some construction equipment with all the houses around here in various stages of being built or torn down. I looked out our first story window to see a man on a motorcycle, finger thrust deeply up his nose, engine racing and roaring--idling! Just sitting there. Well, that was enough to wake up Charlie. No sooner had he driven off (I asked Melvin our driver to go and break his reverie) then the next door neighbor started screaming madly at her household helper--right in the driveway, under our window. Some days just seeming noisier than others.
And on that note, I'll try to get this off. I accidentally published it earlier (rather than just saving as draft).
Oh yes, had a great Mom's night out at the restaurant Sunny's--yummy European food. Marylouise (U.S.), Effie (Australia), Charmaine (U.S.), Marion (England), and Dewi (Dutch). It'd had been months since we'd gotten together, so we all enjoyed it. Looks like everyone in this group will be here another year, at least.
Patti, Maya, and Thatha
Patti and Maya
Family shot, Charlie's birthday
Kelly, Charlie, Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle on Charlie's birthday
Ta-da!
Good chops! Maya blowing on trumpet Badri bought in Bombay (Mumbai)
Sacked out grandson and happy grandfather
Local knife sharpener, comes door to door
Maya and Molly dressed up for Pongal festival
Maya at school with Miss Neelu, art teacher, on Pongal
Pongal altar at school
Ratnama making special rangoli for Pongal
Special pongal dish Amma made for Pongal festival, adorned with fresh turmeric, etc.
Ganesha adorned with jasmine and lit diyas (candles) for Pongal festival
Charlie eating with silver spoon and bowl from Vasanthi mami
Maya in Chennai (Madras) with Pata (Gopal, married to Badri's maternal aunt, Kamala)
Sudha Chitti and Gopal Chittapa in Chennai (Appa's sister-in-law and brother)
Molly (Eraserhead) at beach in Chennai
Changa mama, Ragu mama and Badri in Chennai
Pooja room at Patti and Thatha's in Chennai (Madras)
# posted by Kelly @ 2:05 PM 
