Blog-a-Prompt, Day 1: My true colours

As I sat with my drink yesterday evening, I realized that one of the facts of life is that my true colours are seen only when I am 2 drinks down. I was having a conversation with B earlier in the day that I am a round about sort of person, I find it exceptionally difficult to give a straight forward answer. I might know what the answer is, and what is my opinion, but I invariably try to give it in a diplomatic/ round - about manner. And that changes once those 2 drinks are down.

I sometimes do wonder why is this. Why is it so difficult? What makes it such a wrong thing in my eyes? I do not know whether if this is truly wrong in my eyes, but I think it it more that I have never ever been the one to give a preference in front of anyone. My closest friends would also say that me giving a choice would mean that I really want that, or I am really comfortable with the group. I realized today that there is another aspect to this, it can also mean that I am 2 drinks down!

Recently when I had gone for the bloggers meet at Kufri too, this was an observation which was made by folks who I met just a few hours back. Given that many of us read each other's blogs, but we were predominantly meeting each other in person for the very first time. I speak when I am comfortable, and this comfort comes about when alcohol comes into the picture. Sad, but true! Thats when my true colours manifest themselves! A  drink has a way of making you feel comfortable, feeling confident, these being the very feelings which can have a positive or a negative impact on the situation. I enjoy sitting with friends and conversing, sharing a drink, having discussions, and these are the times where I speak the most and feel light headed I guess, to speak out without the inhibitions!

Good or Bad? I do not know.
But, these are my true colours!

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A blogger meet - Kufri

Apart from being away from T for 3 nights, I was meeting bloggers, traveling to Kufri, having a fabulous time and feeling the mommy guilt disappear with the end of day 2. I didn't think the mommy guilt would go away that soon, but then it did! I was just enjoying myself way too much after so long. I guess it is so wonderful to be with your kid, but then it is also a great feeling to be free and experience the freedom once again.

So, getting to the meet, thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many bloggers who I have been following for years now, and this being my only second blogger meet, it was tad uncomfortable in the beginning, but by the end of the 2 days I could see how things were getting so easy and enjoyable for me.

Bangalore to Chandigarh, then from there off to Kufri, being rained in for a day and driving off to Chail for a quick visit and a sumptuous meal, the Rock gardens of Chandigarh and Bangalore. That would be the routing through 4 days start to end. And all I have are some photos to show how great the trip was and memories which are not be replaced anytime soon.

Gathering and gearing up

Happy bloggers looking forward to some great fun!

The must- have enroute stop

Dogs of the hills look so perfect

Nothing beats hot maggi and chai when the chill sets in

The quaint little cottages we stayed in, at Kufri

The views that greet us every morning, noon and night

Bikers really do have all the fun though

Enroute to Chail

Clouds above, clouds below

Rock Garden, Chandigarh

Short stay at Coorg

Travelling has always been something which I cherish the most, after family and dogs that is. Even if I am going to the same place to visit again, I still feel the need to find something new there. There are some favourite destinations which I have across India and I know I can always visit these places with a new slew of things jotted down. This time around my mother wanted to visit Coorg, and she was very keen on seeing the place for herself, the place being one which I have always talked about.

This time also, I decided there has to be one place which we need to go to for the first time. I had previously visited Irupu falls, Abbey falls, Raja Seat, Bylekuppe monastery, Coffee plantations, Tadiandamool and Tala Cauvery over 2-3 trips. This time around I decided to visit the Dubare Elephant camp and my mother was keen to visit the monastery again. For the next time, I still have some museums and temples at Madikeri lined up.

So for this time, here are some pictures to wrap this trip in memory

Moth which was perched on our window early Day 2

Bathing the elephant

Baby Elephant

Amma reading the details about the three forms of Buddha

Three forms of Buddha

30 days

I had hopped on board the marathon bloggers to ensure I do my weekly post and I knew there would be some real interesting posts to read. I have been pretty much only the latter for 30 days now, and it is of extreme importance that I get back into groove.

In less than 15 days, I will be going on a 3 day long break away from B, T and everyone at Bangalore, to a place around 2500 kms away. It will be a different world, something I have not ventured into ever. Meeting folks I have mostly never met in my life. It will be an experience and I am looking forward to it immensely. Since the past few days, I also wonder how I will be away from T for these 3 days. I am not sure how she will take it, but this is a step which I want to take up and try. I know there might be issues, especially for her to eat and sleep, the rest of the day should be workable. But, the tug within me, is it fear or maybe just anxiety, I am unsure. It was a instant decision which I took to undertake this trip, and it might have been contributed by the feeling of being trapped in my home life existence. Home life is something which some enjoy and some feel pressurized to undertake due to circumstances. But, in my case, I believe its a mix of both. At times I enjoy the time and the certainty which I can have about T's upbringing, but when I see the world around me moving and me just being involved in the same activities, the grass certainly does look greener. At times that might be for a while, but other times, it seems to be for a far longer period which does have such consequences!

Anyhow, back to the trip, this is something I wished to take up before also, with friends, though that never seemed to work out where three friends live in 3 different locations and 2 different time zones. We had planned this kind of a trip before we got wedded, then now I have a kid so it does seem real long ago.

This will be my first trip away from T for a night. I have always travelled with her, been with her to put her to bed and now when I see that she will be on her own with B and parents to ensure that things will run smooth, there is a knot which comes telling me, what if she just refuses to sleep, or more importantly eat a meal. I need to stop thinking thus, and try it out, she would eventually learn it and know what is the new way of things sooner than later, thats what I wish for anyhow.

A trial which I am willing to undertake and then maybe I can have far more breaks and maybe even start working in a more relaxed manner.

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