UAE & ME — My Second Home | 2

During our childhood days, the long Eid holidays and UAE National Day holidays were two important holiday periods when we would spend most of our time outdoors with the whole family. It was the same for us too.

Al Ain was one of the most popular holiday destinations for families living in the UAE. I believe it was called the Oasis of the UAE, with its greenery and beautiful surroundings. At that time, most of my relatives from my father's side were also living in the UAE, which meant more opportunities to spend time with my cousins.

But I was quite an introvert child when I was around my relatives, whereas I was completely different with my friends. I would listen more than I spoke, especially when the whole family was together.

I still remember one particular trip to Al Ain. My brother was still a baby, and our relatives decided that we should all book a bus and travel together. I still have such good memories of that trip.

I remember dressing up in my favorite outfit, a beautiful skirt with a pink top,  and getting ready for the journey. There was also the usual preparation of carrying plenty of food. We had both cooked food and ready-to-eat items, including potato chips, homemade Kerala snacks and so many other things. Somehow, food was always an important part of our family trips.

There were special areas built where we would stop for refreshments. We would all get down, have our homemade breakfast and, of course, make tea. The tea was usually made with milk powder and tea bags, using the hot water we carried in flasks.

Tea was a common factor or rather, a non-negotiable part of every trip in our family. My father's side of the family had a special love for tea. Any time of the day, we were always happy to have a cup of tea, or rather, a mug of tea! And yes, I was very much a part of that mug-of-tea tradition too.

The road trips in those days took much longer than they do today, but somehow, the time spent together also felt like so much more. That is what makes those journeys so nostalgic for me now.

I remember sitting quietly and listening to the conversations of the elders. My older cousins, who had Walkman's with them, would be listening to their music, and I would curiously listen to their conversations and whatever they had to say, rather than speaking much myself.

Looking back, the journey to Al Ain was not just about reaching the destination. It was about the bus ride, the food packed from home, the many tea breaks, the conversations, the cousins, the elders and all those little moments in between.

The journey may have taken longer back then, but I think the memories lasted much longer.

After that, our trips to Al Ain continued during my school days and even during my college days. But honestly, I don't have many good memories of those particular trips!

One of our college trips to Al Ain happened just after our exam results were announced. I had failed my Cost Accounting exam, and unfortunately, my friend had also not cleared her paper. So, in a way, the trip became more about discussing our grievances, talking about our results and trying to forget our disappointment! 😄 Anyway, Al Ain continued to be a part of our family and friends' trips over the years.

The last time I visited Al Ain was in 2017, and this time it was a beautiful family trip. We had so much fun together. In fact, looking back at those photographs, I feel like all of us were part of a meme! 😄 The pictures were so funny that recently we even turned some of them into meme stickers to share in our family WhatsApp group.

Life has changed so much since those childhood trips. As we grow older, there are more responsibilities, more roles to play and, of course, much less free time. We rarely get those long, carefree family days anymore.

Still, I try to make it a point to spend some quality time with my family whenever possible. The quantity of time have become less compared to those days.

Al Ain has been a part of so many different stages of my life whether it is childhood, school, college and adulthood. And maybe that is why, whenever I think of Al Ain, I don't remember just one trip. I remember different versions of myself, at different ages, travelling there with different people and creating different memories. 

Above pictures are pictures from Al Ain Zoo, Hili Fun city and park. I know there are much places to see in Al Ain, which I will be exploring soon.

To be continued****

UAE & ME — My Second Home | 1

While writing about the places I have visited in my own country and somewhere else, it suddenly struck me that I had hardly written about the places I have travelled to within my second home — the UAE.

Having been brought up in the UAE, there are so many places connected to my childhood and memories. My journey here began in 1988, and by the blessings of the Almighty, it continues even today.

There are countless places we visited during my childhood whose names or surroundings have changed so much over the years that sometimes I wonder if they would even be recognized today.

I still remember our weekends when my father would take us to Sindbad at Al Ghurair Centre. Those who grew up in Dubai around our generation will probably remember what Sindbad was. For us, it was an amusement or something I waited, spending almost two hours there, playing and enjoying ourselves without noticing the world around.

Apart from Sindbad, our weekend outings were usually simple. We would visit parks, the Creek, beaches, or relatives. Al Ghurair Centre and Deira Park hold a very special place in my childhood memories.

Even today, whenever I visit my parents' home in Deira and the RTA bus passes the Fish Roundabout, I sometimes go back to those days. Those familiar roads bring back so many beautiful memories that was calmer, simpler and more peaceful.

Dubai has changed tremendously since then. Today, everywhere seems busier and more crowded. People are constantly in a rush, and some places can be noisy and overwhelming. Yet, amidst all this change, there are still little pockets of calm that remind me of the Dubai I grew up in.

Perhaps that is what makes the UAE so special to me. It is not just a country where I have lived; it is a place woven into my childhood, my memories and my life. 

The collage below is just a small glimpse of my early childhood, with a few photographs that are especially close to my heart.

The first one is tiny me sitting on a ride at Sindbad, looking as though I was deeply concentrating on some mysterious object in front of me rather than enjoying the ride! Even today, that little expression brings a smile to my face.

Then comes a picture of my brother and me on the merry-go-round at Safa Park, which was one of our favourite go-to destinations. Safa Park holds many childhood memories for us, I still remember there was a beautiful waterfall in the park during that time.  Most of our school picnics were to Safa park and Al Mushrif park. 

Next is another photograph of the two of us, somewhere in Abu Dhabi, sitting beneath a beautiful bougainvillea tree. There is also a family photograph taken near the Sharjah Gold Souq and Fountain area, capturing another one of those ordinary family outings that have now become precious memories.

And finally, there is the Christmas photograph with Santa Claus, a memory that deserves a special mention. Back then, getting a picture with Santa at Al Ghurair Centre was completely free, and it had almost become a mandatory Christmas tradition for us! We would happily make our way there, take our picture with Santa, eagerly open the goodie bag, and enjoy the chocolates and the little toys inside.  Even I have taken my daughter few times to get a photo with Santa Claus, which was like refreshing my childhood moments.

Now, this photograph below is something very, very close to my heart.

If I remember correctly, this was taken at the Mamzar Beach area. I was sitting on the swing, eagerly waiting for my father to come and push me. The moment I heard my dad call out to me and tell me that he was coming to swing me, I turned around with the happiest little expression on my face.

It may look like just another childhood photograph, but to me, it captures something much more precious, the simple joy of waiting for my dad, knowing that he was coming to make my little world a little more fun.

To be continued****

A Journey to Chennai and Thanjavur: 2018 / 4 - Day 2 Conclusion

After what my daughter called an “adventurous journey,” we finally reached Mambalam Railway Station in the early hours of the morning. We had booked our stay at Hotel Pratapa Plaza for the next day, mainly because it was convenient for our plans and also close enough to the International Airport.

The hotel was decent, and the manager was very kind and understanding. The moment we reached the hotel, the first thing I asked was whether they could arrange a cup of hot tea for us. After such a long journey, that was all I could think of! I did not have a good sleep during the train journey to Mambalam. I was not exhausted but was tired.

Even though it was still very early in the morning, the staff and supervisor were kind enough to arrange the tea for us. That simple cup of hot tea felt so comforting. Sitting there quietly and taking those first few sips after a tiring journey was a small moment, but one I remember with warmth. Sometimes, it is these little gestures that make you feel welcomed in a new place.

Just like in Thanjavur, we had arranged a taxi to take us around for our temple visits and sightseeing. But, of course, we could not forget the main purpose of our trip — wedding shopping. Little did I know then that shopping would turn out to be one of the most exhausting parts of the entire trip! After which my interest for shop stopping has nearly reached to Zero.

Our hotel room was quite good, clean and comfortable, which was exactly what we needed after the tiring journey. After a refreshing shower and a good complimentary breakfast, we were finally ready to begin our day and set out for our temple visits, sightseeing and, most importantly, the main aspect of our visit which is the wedding shopping.

Our first stop was the famous Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, dedicated to Lord Shiva. I had read so much about Mylapore  and had wanted to visit it for a long time. Unfortunately, since our stay in Chennai was quite short, we could not explore Mylapore as much as I would have liked. I would love to come back one day, a solo travel, especially during the Kolam and music festivals, and experience Mylapore when it is filled with its true festive spirit. I hope that day comes soon.

The area around the Kapaleeshwarar Temple was lively, with small flower shops and vendors selling bead necklaces and chains. Interestingly, Chennai was incredibly hot and sunny even though it was December. After a good darshan, we also visited the temple goshala, which was neatly maintained.

By then, it was already around 11:30, and we headed towards our next stop, the Parthasarathy Perumal Temple. To be honest, I absolutely loved this temple. I have always felt naturally drawn towards Vaishnava temples, and there was something very peaceful and soothing about this place. I also still remember the delicious food we received from the temple. Somehow, I feel a special sense of connection whenever I visit Vaishnava temples, and this one was no different, praying it remains the same as always 👁🙏

As we continued our journey, our driver pointed towards the the historic Simpson’s Clock in Chennai. The blue, cast-iron analogue clock with its Roman numerals immediately caught my attention. Being new to the city, I was curious to know more about it, so naturally, I turned to Google. I learned that the clock bears the name of Simpson & Co., a British-founded engineering and transport company established in 1840, the then Madras. What fascinated me even more was that it is a multi-faced analogue clock that is still functioning today. These little glimpses of history along the way made the drive through Chennai even more interesting.

After lunch, we finally reached RMKV, where the much-awaited wedding saree shopping began. And, honestly, I had no idea how exhausting this part of the trip was going to be! Wedding shopping sounds exciting, but when you are actually in the middle of it, choosing sarees, comparing colours, designs and weaves, it can be quite a task.

On the way, I also happened to see Hayagrivas, one of my favourite Kanchipuram saree stores. I had actually bought sarees for myself and Amma from their online store well before the wedding shopping. Their sarees are definitely on the expensive side, but the quality of the weave and the beauty of the designs make them special.

After a long and hectic day, we finally returned to the hotel. We still had some last-minute packing to do, including rearranging and repacking everything. We quickly got things sorted because we wanted to rest for a little while before heading to Chennai International Airport that night.

And just like that, our short but memorable Thanjavur–Chennai trip was coming to an end. It had been a beautiful mix of temples, history, food, shopping, family moments and exhaustion & were ready to fly back to Dubai.

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