What to talk and what not to!!

 Avoid talking on these lines:

Try to inculcate these thoughts, so that people will want to listen to! 

Ladakh Trip

Ladakh was on my bucket list since couple of years now!! I have heard lot of nice stories from my colleagues who went for biking trip and other adventurous stuff they have done and I too wanted to explore. 

I had went to Rajasthan trip and pinged Arnab, my college friend if he was in Delhi as I had 5 hours of layover. This reminded him of me and after couple of weeks, he pinged me asking if I'm interested in Ladakh trip. I jumped it and asked my college best buddy to join in too! All things fell into place and the two couples booked flight tickets couple of weeks before the trip! 

Here are few pictures and small details from the trip which you can find it useful while planning yours!! 

Itinerary:

Day 01 : 

Arrive at Leh Reach Leh by flight; Drive to Leh (5 min); rest, acclimatize and walk around;

 

Outside our stay at Leh

Day 02: Leh to Hunder (Nubra valley) via Khardung La After breakfast, drive to Nubra Valley via Khardung La. This pass has one of the highest motorable roads in the world. After spending some time at Khardung La, we proceed to Nubra. On the way, we can visit Diskit monastery and the giant Maitreya Buddha statue. Enjoy Camel Safari in the late afternoon. Overnight stay will be in Nubra. 

Butter tea, a very famous local tea

Enjoying the view at Nubra Valley @ camel safari

Day 03: Hunder to Turtuk and back to Hunder We drive to the beautiful Balti village of Turtuk. The LOC is quite close to this place and if allowed at that moment, we can visit a border check-post. We drive back along the beautiful valley to Hunder. 

In the lanes of the Balti village

At the northern most point of India, Thang Village

Day 04: Nubra to Pangong via Shyok We will start the day following the same route towards Leh till we reach Khalsar. From the Agyam bridge, we will take the left route which leads us to the villages of Shyok and Durbuk. The route is rarely used for commuting so traffic is very sparse. After Durbuk, we take left towards Tangtse and follow the traditional route. We drive further to reach Pangong Lake, one of the most beautiful natural brackish lakes in the Himalayas. After spending some time walking and exploring beside the lake, we drive further on the road along the lake. Our stay will be at the small lakeside village of Merak. 

Day 05: Pangong Lake to Tso Moriri On this day, we embark on a journey towards another high-altitude and more offbeat saltwater lake, Tso Moriri (higher than Pangong in altitude). The route goes through some of the most remote parts of Ladakh with villages such as Chushul and Nyoma. Keep an eye out for some wildlife. Our destination, Korzok is a quaint village with a rustic look located beside the lake. 

Day 06: Explore the region of Tso Moriri This entire day is for you to relax, rejuvenate and explore the village and area of the highest saltwater lake of India, Tso Moriri. 

Day 07: Tso Moriri to Leh After breakfast, we start our journey for Leh. On the way we visit Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and Shey Palace. 

Day 08: Leh – local sights Visit Leh palace, Shanti Stupa, Leh market and Hall of Fame. 

Maitreya Monastery, on the way back to Leh 

Such a big statue of Maitreya Buddha inside the monastery

Day 09: Departure from Leh After breakfast, get transferred to Leh Airport for boarding your return flight.

Rajasthan Trip for Shaadi dhok and Jarula (Baby's hair)

The long awaited trip which was being planned in the family since a year, but either due to Covid or due to timing etc, somehow it was not getting finalized! We had done our bookings for May'21 via flight, but it got cancelled due to the lockdown for 2nd Covid wave. 

We booked the tickets nearly fortnight ago via Train for 28th Aug'21 to 2nd Sep'21. We were 14 people altogether, including two toddlers below 2 years.

Train tickets from Kolkata to New Delhi costed around 2800/- per person. 

Day 1: 28th August 2021 - Kolkata to New Delhi 

We started our journey around 2 pm, boarded the train for 3:50 and reached Delhi the next day around 10 am. The train was right on time. Although it was Rajdhani, no food and no bedding was provided due to Covid. We had got packed food from a local vendor for dinner.

Food packed for train journey

Day 2: 29th August 2021 - New Delhi to Sardarshahar

We had booked a tempo traveler for all the days for our trip from Kolkata itself. (Driver ashok- 8383894022). He was waiting at the station when we arrived. We boarded the tempo and started our journey for Sardarshahar- our ancestor's village. En route, we stopped for lunch at the highway at Mannat hotel. We had plain simple food and it costed around 3500/- for 12 people. We stopped for tea at a place and reached Sardarshahar Agrasen Bhawan around 8:30 pm. We booked 5 rooms ( each room had a capacity of around 3) there for night stay. Since it was our native place, they dint charge us, but we paid 2100 as donation. Dinner was arranged by them. Plain simple food, delicious, costed us 500 for 12 people.

Inside tempo traveler

Inside Agrasen Bhavan, Sardarshashar

Day 3: 30th August'21 - Sardarshahar to Jhunjhunu 

We started our day by visiting the Bayla Bayanjee Mandir. We visited the temple, did puja, first shaadi dhok and then mundan (baby's hair). Beside the temple there were two other temples - Ujli and Maili temple and Bhairav's temple. In Bayla's temple, for jarula 5kg wheat, jaggery and prasad. Krishna Nai ji assembled all the things for us including prasad and it costed us around 900/-. He visited with us to the temple helping in the route and procedure for the puja. We had cut the baby's hair before the trip, the same hair we gave there in Bayla's temple. We did puja with dry roli and dry mehendi. We gave 5kg wheat and jaggery and Maili mandir as well. We gave baby's hair there also. In Bhairav's temple we did puja and the rule is not to turn back after stepping out of the temple. 

Inside Bayla 

Entrance of Bayla Mandir

We proceeded to Ichhapuran Balaji Mandir. Visited the temple and moved for lunch to the nearby location of Agrasen Bhawan which Krishna ji arranged for us. It costed us around 1300/-. We took some rest, started our trip to Jhunjhunu.

We reached Jhujhunu approx. 7pm. Booked our stay in the mandir premises of Rani Sati Daadi. It costed us around 1000/- per room. We booked 5 rooms (each room had a capacity of around 2 pax) there. We had dinner there, ordered thali for us, costed us around 100/- each plate.

Day 4 - 31st August'21 Jhujhunu to Salasar

We did shaadi dhok puja in the room as it was not allowed to do any puja in the temple,  and went to the rani sati daadi temple, gave baby hair there as well, had breakfast in the canteen and started for salasar. We reached Salasar. Booked our night stay in Agarwal Seva Sadan hotel, costed us 700/-. We stayed there for the night.

Jhunjhun Shaadi dhok puja in the room

Day 5 - 1st Sep'21 - Salasar to Khatu

We visited the temple early in the morning, gave baby hair in the temple, shopped for delicacies, sweets etc, had breakfast in some random place and proceeded for Khatu. It was 2 hours journey. We reached Khatu, had lunch at a hotel called Shyam Sakha Sadan. Each thali costed us 100/- . Since it was raining  incessantly, we decided to stay in the same hotel. It costed us around 1200/- per room with capacity of 4 people in each room. We booked 3 rooms there.  We visited the Khatu temple, bought sweets and did some shopping.

 Day 6 - 2nd Sept'21 - Khatu to New Delhi to Kolkata

We started our journey to New Delhi early in the morning 6 am. Stopped for breakfast at a nice place King's highway which was huge and fancy and nice, kind of a mall with lot of shops and food court. En route, we had lunch at the famous old Rao dhaba. It was also huge and good food. We reached airport at around 1 pm. We had a flight to Kolkata at 7:40. We spent our time at the lounge. Flight tickets we booked for 4 people at 2500/-, luckily we got some discount + 2 toddlers below 2 years ( 1500/-) . For test 8 people, came by train. Train tickets costed us around 2100/- for 3 tier. 

Inside train, while returning to Kolkata

Flight to Kolkata, while returning

Prishu's Diary

First Month -

You are the most beautiful girl I will ever know in my life. The first time i saw you, you looked at me directly into my eyes. I couldn't believe the moment was here when we were waiting for you so eagerly to be a part of this world, to be a part of me. Somehow I blame myself, for you not being comfortable that point of time. I assured you that I will take care of you. I told you to come home, we need to go to Hyderabad. You listened to me and you came home in a week. First two weeks you were fed with katori chamach. Then I switched your pediatrician, and you were able to drink smoothly with a bottle. Touchwood. You got very cranky and crying all the time in mid of third and fourth week, I am not sure, it was mostly due to hunger, which i couldn't recognize and lack of sleep. I learnt later that immediately after feed i need to calm you and put back to sleep.

     

Second Month -

Crying and uneasiness continued. I came to Ghusuri, mom's place. I was more relaxed as mom took care of your feeding and putting you at ease. However, I was always troubled whenever you feel troubled. Showed to you to another doctor on 6th Feb. I m so so relaxed! He mentioned that you have something called ***. It will go away as you grow up and have solids. I m so so relieved baby. This is your 7th week and I m becoming better and better mentally preparing myself to handle you. Second month was spent entire at Mom's place. She took care of you on her toes. Maalish, feeding, putting you to sleep and putting you at ease daily as you cried your lungs out, being colic, daily.

 

 


🩲Poop became regulated , daily morning around 8 as soon as you woke up :* First two weeks in the first month, it was 10-15 times in a day and night. Before and after every feed.
🩲Drinking milk is a challenge. Had to feed you every hour less than 1 oz as you did not drink milk at all.
🩲Colic has reared its ugly head. You cried on top of your voice for straight 3-4 hours. Starting at 1around 10:30 at night. Meera & mom played a big role in calming you down.
🩲 You achieved social smile milestone. I remember you could follow eye movement as well when we used to do video chat with dad daily and moved the phone and your eyes moved along.
🩲Had started to hold youhead better
🩲Sleept a little may be 1-2 hour during day. You did not sleep at all after two weeks in your first month during the day time. Night time was fine as usual. Touchwood.
🩲You loved talking and replied with gurgles, grunts and coos
.

Third Month:
Dad came to receive you from Ghusuri. We came to Poddar Vihar, Kolkata. Stayed there for 10 days, celebrated your first Holi and we came to Hyderabad on 10th midnight. You fell very sick with terrible cough and cold. It took time and you recovered.

 


.
So at the 3-month-mark, let me list some of the milestones that you were capable of :
.
🍼Raises head and chest when lying on stomach
🍼Stretches legs out and kicks when lying on stomach or back
🍼Opens and shuts hands
🍼Pushes down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface
🍼Stuffs both of her hands in her mouth and makes a "chus chus" sound 😍
🍼Takes swipes at dangling objects with hands
🍼Grasps and shakes hand toys
Visual and hearing milestones
🍼Watches faces intently
🍼Follows moving objects
🍼Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance
🍼Starts using hands and eyes in coordination
🍼Smiles at the sound of my voice
🍼Started to babble
🍼Turns head toward direction of sound 
🍼Has become more communicative and expressive with face and body

Fourth Month:

 

 

Phew so many changes in her in just one month. So, listing her milestones here:
🎀 Her sleep became little better during day but again close to four month completion she stopped sleeping at all during day.
🎀 She clasps hands, plays with her fingers, responds to loud sounds, enjoys close verbal and visual stimulation. Could catch one leg toes from one hand.
🎀Smiles back if I smile at her 😊
🎀Babbles and coos when you talk to her
🎀Proper tummy time. First time could lift her head properly.
🎀Pushes up to elbow when on tummy time
🎀 Moves her eyes where I or her toy moves
🎀Can hold a rattle on her own and then hits herself with it
🎀Cries if she doesn't see a human beside her 🤦‍♀️
🎀Rolled for the first time. (3.5 months) Yayy 😊
🎀Wakes up at 5 am and annoys mumma. Sleeps back at 7:30 am to 8.00 am
🎀Loves playing on the gym set and rocker chair.

Fifth Month:

💖Her grasp is getting very strong. She can pull objects and pick them up in her hand

💖Has started grabbing curtains etc and has started mouthing them.🙄

💖Can hold a toy by herself

💖 loves watching TV in case anyone is watching. We quickly move her away

💖Her babbles have started sounding so much like words

💖Raises her head and spine and wants to sit

💖Laughs in a gurgling, infectious way when you play with her

💖Is fascinated by things around her

Sixth Month:

🏆Picks up her head when on her back to signal us to make her sit
🏆Sits unassisted (in tripod position) and sometimes tries to lift both the supporting hands too 😳
🏆Started taking 3 day time naps. I feel blessed.😴😫
🏆Has just started solids and jumps on food when she us eating 🤤
🏆Wants attention. You can't be in the room and not talk to her 🤐
🏆Can recognize familiar faces 😍
🏆Cries if she sees you leave or finds herself alone in the room 😫
🏆Smiles back and babbles if you smile at her 😄
🏆Has much more interest in toys than ever.
🏆Can pass an object from one hand to another
🏆Makes a swiping movement to grab things, like a bird hunting a prey
🏆Wants to mouth everything, including her toes 🙄
🏆Tries to get things that are out of reach & falls head down in the process 🤦‍♀️
🏆Doesn't like her baby gym at all🏋️‍♀️ 
🏆Gets all excited when playing peek-a-boo
🏆Makes a deep gurgling sound and shakes her legs vigorously when excited. I love this sound of hers
🏆Bears more weight on her legs & bounces while in standing position
🏆Responds to situations & makes happy & sad faces
🏆Can roll both ways. Tummy to back as well. Does very little but was able to do.

Kullu Manali & Shimla - May 2018

It was our first anniversary and we had to go somewhere!! Sushil, Priyanka, Nitish and I decided the place to be the very famous old Shimla-Manali, to beat the summers of Hyderabad. What can be more relaxing than to be on a hill-station during the summer season of India. Thanks to the corporate world, where we cannot take more than a week holiday! So, it was a short trip again, two days in Manali and two days in Shimla. It was worth every penny there. The mountains, early morning view, river all the way along the journey and the pahadi's! It stole my heart.

The journey started on 30th from Hyderabad to Chandigarh via Delhi. We reached Delhi at midnight and checked in into a hotel next to the airport.

1st May, morning we had a flight to Chandigarh. Once we reached Chandigarh, the cab was waiting for us at the airport. We had booked a package from Antilog Vacations.
We started our trip to Manali. On the way to Manali we had breakfast (yum aloo paratha) at Haveli.. then lunch (which was okaish) at some random dhaba kinda on the way. We saw
Padoh river on the way.

On the way there was a long bridge on which we walked and clicked pictures.

We did river rafting on the way. The view was amazing. It was chill.

Finally we reached our hotel - snow villa. Had amazing north Indian dinner and walked in the area nearby to view the night chill scenes.

2nd May,2018: We woke up in the middle of the mountains, could see the snow-peaked mountains. It felt like Switzerland.

After having breakfast at the hotel itself, we headed towards the Solang Valley. On the way to Solang Valley, we saw lot of apple trees which did not start bearing the fruit though. The view on the way was awe-struck and serene.

We took an ATV to reach to the top of the Solang Valley. You can choose horses or simply walk up. Walking up is not a good option, as it is far and lot of ATVs and horses on the way would disturb.

We did some sports activities there, like crossing the river etc.
                                      

We proceeded to visit few more places which were in the package like mentioned below:
Nehru Kund,Kothi, Solang Valley (World Famous For Adventure Sports Activity) and up to Gulba/Hadimba devi Temple and Click Pics under pine trees/Vashit Hot Water & Old Shiva Temple /Club House/Tibetan Monastery/The Manali Mall Road.

We took a ropeway further from Solang Valley to reach further heights where people were doing paragliding etc.

We visited the mall road in the late evening and proceeded to take rest for the day.

3rd May, 2018: We were all set to start for Kufri. Took horses to Kufri.

We did not find any snow there. On the top of the mountains, after reaching there, we saw an old Shiva temple, and the view was good.  We proceeded towards Shimla.

On the way, we found lot of Minchy's shop and stopped to buy few sharbats and pickles.

We reached Shimla and visited the mall road. I fell in love with the mall road. We spent the entire evening there, roaming and having good food.

 

4th May, 2018. We proceeded to come back to Chandigarh. We had a flight from Chandigarh to Hyderabad the next day.