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.

🟒🟒🟒🟒🟒🟒🟒🟒🟒

A Journey to Chennai and Thanjavur: 2018 / 3 - Day 1

 After a good vegetarian thali with sweet payasam, we headed to a nearby temple. Unfortunately, I cannot recollect the name of the temple now. I only remember that it was a temple dedicated Devi and  an auspicious day and that the temple was quite crowded. To be honest, I don’t remember much else from that visit.

I should admit that by then, I was a little tired and exhausted for many reasons. Straight from work to flights, early morning tours, walking around Periya Kovil and Thanjavur Palace, and then a really good, hot vegetarian meal — yes, I was feeling sleepy!

My eyes were slowly closing, and I was missing the views around me. But not for long. A quick nap, and the traveller in me was ready again!

As the weather was quite cool, we opted for a taxi without air conditioning. Apparently, the drivers don’t use the AC unless you pay extra for it. But this actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With the windows open, we could enjoy the beautiful village scenery, endless paddy fields and the cool breeze along the way. It felt much better than sitting inside an air-conditioned car.

Around 3 pm, the car stopped near the banks of the River Kaveri.

Oh, what can I say about that moment?

It was so refreshing that I simply did not feel like leaving. The cool river, the gentle breeze and the peaceful surroundings created such a relaxing ambience. At that moment, I honestly could not ask for anything more.

We all walked down the steps towards the river, dipped our feet in the cool water and stood there for some time. Somehow, it felt as though my exhausted body had suddenly been recharged. I felt so refreshed, almost as if I had just taken a good, long shower!

Near the banks of the River Kaveri is the Tyagaraja Samadhi, the resting place of Saint Tyagaraja, the legendary Carnatic music composer.  This was an emotional moment for me, as I had never imagined that I would one day visit this place, as I never knew this exsisted and receive his blessings, especially for my daughter, who is so fond of dance and music. It felt even more special to be there and seek his blessings for her.

One thing I noticed during this trip was how temples and shrines seemed to be a part of everyday life in Thanjavur. Everywhere you turn, there is an idol, a small shrine or a temple quietly blending into the surroundings.

Even by the banks of the Kaveri, there was a beautiful idol of Lord Vinayaga. Somehow, seeing the idol there, surrounded by the river and nature, felt very special. It was simple, peaceful and beautiful, just another little moment that made this journey memorable.

We then proceeded to a Navagraha temple, followed by a visit to Thiruvaiyaru, where we were blessed with the opportunity to seek the divine blessings from Aiyarappar Temple, also known as Panchanadeeswarar Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati

The name Thiruvaiyaru means “five rivers,” referring to the five rivers surrounding the town. The temple is renowned for its magnificent Chola-style stone carvings.  Maha Shivaratri and Panguni festivals are among the important festivals celebrated at the temple. Revered as Dakshina Kailasam (Kailash of the South), Aiyarappar Temple holds immense spiritual and historical significance for devotees. Our last temple run in Tanjore was the Vasisteswarar temple, dedicated to Guru Bhagavan. The memory which I can recollect from the temple, is the fragrance of jasmine flowers and the lady who sold it.

And that marked the end of our mighty Tanjore trip. We headed back to the hotel for a quick refresh before checking out after dinner.

Our next destination was T. Nagar, Chennai. As mentioned earlier, we had planned to travel to T. Nagar by train, which was one of the reasons we chose one of the best hotels near Tanjore Railway Station. Once again, I must say that Hotel Yajappa did not disappoint us when it came to hospitality and service. They kindly arranged a drop-off for us at Tanjore Railway Station.

Our train journey was from Tanjore, and our destination was Mambalam Railway Station, which is approximately 1.5 km from central T. Nagar. Since we were expected to arrive in the early hours, well before dawn, we checked with the hotel reception about transportation from the station. They assured us that auto-rickshaw services were available 24 hours at Mambalam.

We had already booked our train tickets with the help of the hotel staff, so everything was arranged. Since Tanjore was the starting point of the train, we were fortunate enough to get seats in the General compartment.

What a day it was! It was my daughter’s first-ever experience travelling in a General coach. She was fascinated by the whole experience until she spotted a mouse running around inside the coach! She was both surprised and scared, and even today, we remember that moment with a good laugh.

Travel is not always about luxury or perfect arrangements. Sometimes, it is the unexpected little moment, the unfamiliar experiences, the small inconveniences, and the laughter that follows, that become the memories we treasure the most.

Every journey comes with its own share of expenses, experiences, surprises, and stories. But when those experiences become cherished memories, they give us the energy and excitement to start planning our next adventure.