Bali without the 'Balaks'

Our 2 little balaks, aka our dear daughters have always been a part of our travel itinerary wherever we go. We have been less adventurous in choosing our destinations ever since the kids arrived and always pick and choose places with beaches, parks and all other things that kids like. Our travel themes have also changed from being pacey and partying to laid-back and relaxed. From the nightclubs and the pubs we have now moved to beach houses and amusement parks. From musical concerts and DJ weekends to sundowners and special brunches, travel has taken a different course.

I wouldn't say I wasn't enjoying this sort of travel style. The kids were cooperative mostly with the usual small hiccups here and there. So we had settled in a pattern of travelling where the whole holiday would revolve around a beach destination with lots of sand toys, multiple swimming costumes, several beach hats and umpteen smiles and laughs. All for that perfect family holiday. I loved it that the kids loved holidays. But something, somewhere was amiss.

It was the 'WE' that was missing from the Family Holiday. I might not be too young anymore(after all  being on the other side of 35 has its disadvantages) but I still have that small romantic bone in me. I missed those couple moments where you'd drink the bubbly watching the sunset(without being disturbed for a diaper change) or you managed a early morning cuddle for that one extra minute(without being asked to feed them milk) or you drank yourself silly(without being bothered about who looks after them the next morning).

All of this coupled with the fact that we were hitting the all important milestone in our relationship- the coveted decade together fuelled my insides that were already yearning for a couple trip. I took the very difficult decision to take our first trip sans the kids in 7 years. Getting the caregivers ready(aka Dadi, Nani, Bua and Nanu) was the easiest task. Having the kids onboard(lured by a massive gift wish list) was also surprisingly easy. The toughest task was deciding where to go. Everywhere I looked(and believe you me, I did check everywhere), I saw travel spots which were either too beachy or too far off for a 4 day vacation or too familish....I aaas hell bent on doing a trip which was otherwise tough with the kids.

I set upon finalising an itinerary to see the Northern Lights though I soon realised that my limited budget for this extra bit of sudden pleasure didn't allow me that. From Finland to Norway to Seychelles to Krabi to Croatia. I travelled the world in my thoughts. Endless late nights checking midnight travel deals later, we arrived in Bali. Thanks to the lovely travel experts of gofro.com who did all the tough task of scouting through the flights and villas for me. Finally they found me the cheapest yet shortest flight to Bali with the most perfect pool villa in the most happening spot in Seminyak.

They gave me the luxury of a night flight(something I don't like with the kids) and slept like a baby through the flight. We arrived in the city with Mohit all charged up for some holiday partying and me all worried about what's going back home. A few Rose's later life started settling down in our exclusive pool villa and we were all set to party.

Party Party Party!!!!!

Without getting into any censored details, the three days and nights that followed went about in a trance. Literally! We danced the nights away to music we couldn't hum. We ate food that we hadn't tasted earlier. For a change no pasta, no pizza, no french fries! We drank liquor concoctions that we'd never had before. We slept for hours on the beach, we danced the nights away and we almost re did the vows.(well, thats another story altogether). I almost lived an entire couple lifetime in those 4 days.

While I was almost embarrassed when people asked me, 'how my second honeymoon was?', I was in two minds to genuinely give them details. I admit the first one might have been all about 'lust'(Blush...blush), this one was all about Love(Proud, Proud).

A lot of preparations and a huge amount of effort went in from our elders in holding the fort at home and I cannot thank them enough for this amazing break. My verdict on whether I recommend a vacation for couples without their kids- You bet your horses I do. (That doesn't mean I don't love my kids or don't enjoy our family vacations).

P.S Dont let my kids read this!

Reinventing the butterflies

That's us ...10 Years back on the same day....

10 Years
3,652 Days
87,658 Hours
2 Kids
3 Addresses
36 Holidays
5,259,000 Minutes
Countless Hugs
Timeless Memories
Lifetime of Happiness
315,600,000 Seconds TOGETHER & Counting....

Coming SOON...

As i sit down to think about the years gone by, I am overwhelmed that someone spent 10 years with me. Soon...

Around 15 days shy of a decade of being together, I recall, reminisce and recollect everything that has transpired in the past years. From Ludhiana to Delhi to Gurgaon...From the spendthrift wife to the mother of 2 to the business partner, we've played various roles. But the part we played best was being ourselves. Letting each other be ourselves.

From rooting for CHELSEA to enjoying shopping for MAC to CAROBAR to accommodating Narendra Modi, we have done it all together. From Canary Islands to Interlaken to Kumarakom to Venice to Santorini, we have travelled the world together. From laughing to crying to shouting and screaming, we have done it all. From fighting the night out to the cold wars to the loving make up to the office arguments, we continue to do it all.

From an individual to a couple to a Family to business partners, we explore, we invent and we re-invent the relationship each day.

Too much PDA!! Well, WTH, Its 10 F...ing Years after all!

Cheers
Knock Wood
THU ....THU...THU...

The Year that Was....

The 36th year of my ongoing life will soon give way to the 37th year of my life. 2016 is getting over and as I listened to free music streaming on my brand new JIO, i went into a trance thinking about what's transpired in this year. I managed to fulfil some of my goals that I set in the beginning but most remained unfulfilled...Resolutions...Humbug!

One of the short term professional goal set by me for 2016 was to hit 50 orders a day for my gifting venture. We managed to do that and more in style. But the long term goal of getting featured as a gifting couple in a magazine stays unfulfilled. 

My relationship goal was to appreciate the husband more and have patience with kids. After 11 months of failing at that, I managed to get some hold on this in the fag end of 2016. I am getting there, surely and sorely...

My travel goal was to watch the sunset in Santorini and that was done.

My spiritual goal was to take my kids every sunday to the temple and teach them some chanting. Have only been able to do this half way.

Apart from that, the year had 3 big happiness quotients....

The first added vigour to my professional life. As mentioned above, Indiagift hit its first milestone of doing 50 orders a day. It was a hill we had to climb to have faith in what we are doing. Having overcome that, we are now looking at 75 as I write this.

The second and the most important event of 2016 was the arrival of Shrihaan. My youngest and cutest nephew. No offence to Ayush, Abhiraj and Yash and the other little men who make me feel like the most awesome BUA. But this newest guy is full of smiles for me and our family back home in Ludhiana. The bundle of joy to my brother and bhabhi is surely the apple of our eyes currently and definitely the high point of 2016 collectively.

The third and equally satisfying event of this year was the one regarding my inner self. It was the realisation of contentment(for the first time in my 36 years). It was a feeling of contentment within my means. It was a feeling of happiness without the artificial pleasures of the materialistic world. It was when i realised I didn't need a TUMI to travel, my North face Backpack does just as well. It was when I realised I didn't need an iPhone7 to talk, a heart to heart cuddled in the blanket did just as well. It was when I realised I didn't need that GUCCI bag for the birthday, a kindle to revive my book reading habit did much better. It was when I realised that I didn't need an expensive watch for my anniversary, hand picked flowers warmed the heart much more.

And it is a feeling that I hope stays. I wish to carry this single most thing into 2017 as my resolution. 

No fake promises to loose weight..No attempts at sleeping early and rising early.... No false declarations to catch up with old friends...

But a single minded focussed attempt at carrying on with 'CONTENTMENT'. 

Into 2017 and onwards!

The kind of responsibilities I want

Of protecting the edge of the pencil in that box
Of getting the crayon stains off the white socks.

Of shining the polish of the shoes so bright,
Of running and catching that yellow kite,

Of wearing the fancy dress on my big day,
Of eating all the desserts from the buffet.

Of having that first dialogue in broken english,

Of tugging the rope beyond the finish.

Of playing till dark when the bugs start to bite,

Of running so hard that the stomach becomes tight.

Of playing with toy cars till the tires go screech,

Of colouring the Doll's hair an uncanny peach.

Of buttered paranthas and jalebis so sweet,
Of Nani's cake and dadi's home made treats.

Of learning to write in the cursive font,

Of reciting the hindi poem so daunt.

Of having the longest hair in the class,

Of pillow fights and rolling on the grass.

Of ballet class and swimming sessions,

Of the most colourful bandaid on all the abrasions. 

Of the shoes that light when I walk,

Of secret diaries with the tiny lock.

Of the biggest star on the christmas tree,

Of playing and laughing because I am carefree.

Those are the kind of responsibilities I want.

Those are the kind of things to flaunt.