Wonderful Chennai Trip 2012 !

Shafi's cousin & his family have come  from Saudi to Chennai for a vacation of 20 days. Last year, they invited us to stay with them , but somehow we could not make it up. So this year we planned to go over a weekend . We loaded up on Friday evening at around 6'o clock and reached Chennai at 11 pm ! Rismi had a blast and we enjoyed some family time together...


Rismi with Sona

 

My bubbly with Sona and Sibi

Sona, Rajula Akka and Me with my bubbly



Lovely Brothers !

We did so much during our trip ( Had yummy home made meals, played games/cards, had ice cream, did shopping, watched movies, went to Mayajal, had breakfast @ A2B, chit chatting, ate so much sweets/snacks, been to Dhama's home, wonderful highway driving...the list of activities is endless!). . Rismi had 4 awesome buddies that kept her so busy (Sona & Sibi - her cousins, John & Jenni - Friends).  I have about 75 photos from the trip, so I tried my best to narrow them all down.


look at my cutie.. giving me a good pose :)



Rismi with Thamizhini kutti

 

So much Love on Thamizhini!!!

Rismi kept on telling me to meet Thamizhini papa. Hence on Sunday evening [at around 5.30 pm], before driving back to Bangalore, we visited Dhama's home to meet Thamizhini kutti especially. We spent very short time in their home as Shafi wants to cover the drive-way distance with the presence of light/sun [I know, Dhama is upset with it , Sorry dear] . But we loved it and it was wonderful moment and each and every minute counts there.


Playing in Slider

Rismi is about to slide, and Thamizhini is following her

Yahooooo.. Come on dear

 

Love this shot.. Fabulous smiles from Mom & Daughter

Dhama served hot hot Vegetable cutlet and it was very yummy.  Rismi and Thamizhini were playing very busy, and both are adorable.Thamizhini papa is very cute and charming. Though she is just 1.4 years old [usually toddlers cries at the unfamiliar faces] , she mingled nicely with Rismi, Priya and played well.  They had a limited play time in the apartments play area , but both of them enjoyed their company.


My precious little angel

They were so into it !

Kids enjoying in Duck's ride



Rismi is so proud to be with Thamizhini

It was wonderful weekend and went by way too fast :(  ...  Rismi was incredible, honestly. We drove with Rismi 5+ hours each way. Going there we drove through the evening and she slept the whole way. While driving back , she stayed awake for the first 2 hours and was super happy. She fell asleep in the last 3 hours of the trip (we got home at 10.30 pm).

Mysore Trip

         Finally Shafi got some time to breath relaxedly after a hard day's work [ Not a day, Years together ;) ] . Yeah!! We had a long weekend (3 Days .. Thanks to Kannada Rajyotsva!!!) . First we planned to go to Coorg. But we dropped that plan as we thought Rismi doesn't enjoy much there .. So decided to go to Mysore , b'coz of Rismi , though Mysore is not a new place for us . We started here at 2'o clock in the car after having lunch .

             All the way, Rismi was asking when Mysore comes??? , When we reach there??? She was so happy as we are going to Zoo .. She is expecting mysore each and every minute . Yep!!! We reached mysore by 5'o clock and refreshed in the Hotel [Shafi already booked a room in Hotel Sujatha - He is well planned , surprisingly ;)]. Oh.. Sorry !!! I forgot to tell onething.. When we reached Mysore we were enquiring about the hotel address. Rismi asked the same question now, Where is Mysore? I said,  we are very much in Mysore dear.. She replied, No Amma! We are in the Car ..  I really surprised after hearing this statement .. What a Presence of Mind !!! These days Kids are so smart !!! What do you say ??

          At 7'o clock, reached Brindhavan. By the time , we reach there, it was dark and it was drizzling tooo . So we directly went to see Water Dance. Took a ticket for Boat after standing in the Long queue. First Rismi was so scared to get into boat. Somehow we have managed to get in her. But while getting down, she didn't want to.. She wanted to go one more round :) . Again we somehow manged to get out of her from the boat . Within 10 minutes what a big Change !!! Really, its a challenge to bring up the Kids..

       We got a good place and was waiting to watch the Water Dance , rather want to show the Water Dance to Rismi . Unfortunately, it was started raining heavily [Left the umbrella in the Car itslef]. So without seeing it we rushed over to Car and headed back to Hotel . Had a good dinner and slept off .. Morning we got ready and directly went to Zoo [Yep, Rismi's expectation comes to an end !!!] . She enjoyed a lot in the Zoo. She stood near each and every place of the animal's cage and asked so many questions about that. Shafi didn't get tired at all and replied her patiently.

          Her favourite animals are Elephant, Gorilla, Crocodile, Giraffe, Zeebra, Chimpanzee, Tiger, Lion etc  etc..... She saw everything except Lion.. She asked Where is the Lion ? But our Lion KING was sleeping inside the Cage [Not able to see as it was sleeping behind the rock] .. When all other animals were quite active , Our only KING could sleep in the pretty day Time {Am not telling about TLs ;)} We were in the Zoo for more than 3 hours and showed almost all the birds and animals to Rismi in the Zoo . [Hope we did not miss anything]

      We got tired as we were walking all over the zoo.. But Rismi .. No chance !!! she was brisk enough and eager to see What is Next  ??? Great !!! I love to be Kids.. They don't get bored easily rite.. Whatever they see, its new for them and learning something from it.. Quite Interesting know,  To be a Child :)

  

         After having a good lunch [ofcourse relaxed sometime in the room], we headed back to Bangalore . But Rismi did not want to come to Banglore.. She wanted to be in Mysore. I told her, Next week we will come here like that [We teach kids, that we should not Lie. But at times, we cant stand over by our words :)]

          While driving back, She peacefully slept in the car and we reached home by 7'o clock .. Rismi's first trip to Mysore!!! She is asking me still, மைசூர்-கூ போலாமா? . Lets see.. When can we ? :)

Day out - Sunday Special - National Park

         We were having a long time plan for a day to take Rismi to the place where she enjoys, relishes herself .  We could not find any good place in Bangalore and finally ended up with Bannerghatta National Park [Zoo]. Though We took her there when she was 8 months old, now she hardly remembers that trip :) . The moment we told, today we are going to Zoo, She is so happy and enthusiastic to visit the zoo.

Its Orange Day :) !!!

Shafi with Rismi and Meera

            Rismi's happiness got doubled when we told Meera also joins with us for the Zoo. Though Meera is one year elder than Rismi , She is Rismi's close friend in the apartment, and in school too. She stays in our Block only , but in 3rd floor. As Meera's parents have some work, they allowed Meera to come with us along with Raji [Meera's Care Taker/ Steward]. After having breakfast, we left home at 9'o clock and reached the zoo at around 9.30 AM.

Rismi and Meera with their stewards



The Responsible Mom !!!

      As it is Sunday, the crowd for the zoo is at its peak level. Rismi and Meera started asking whatever was selling outside the zoo. [Mango, Pineapple, Ice-cream, Corn, Bubbles, balloons, Whistle.. etc... etc... ] . It was little difficult to manage them till we get the tickets. We got only Whistle, balloons and bubbles for them as other items are not hygiene . After standing in a long queue, Shafi got the tickets and we entered the zoo at 10.15 AM.  We went for a Wild Safari, it is like a drive through zoo where the animals roam free and can come up to your car. There is no bars or cages and the animal is set free. We have enjoyed the freedom of Lion, Tiger, Bear, Deer, Giraffe and Bisons in the forest. It was so much fun and Rismi liked all the animals. After the wild safari, we were slowly walking to the other part of the zoo.



They got whistles too ..



With their balloons which are matching to their dress color



Don't Disturb Mom.. I am busy in watching animals





Looking for Crocodiles through the Fence

     There monkeys, crocodiles, Cobras, Foxes, Elephants, Peacock, so many Varieties of Birds, and lot more animals are housed for exhibition. Rismi and Meera were very excited and had a fun time with all the animals. There was an elephant ride where many kids were sitting and travelling on the back of elephant. As Meera and Rismi are scared about the ride, they enjoyed by just watching the elephant's ride.



Meera is getting Blessings from a Wild Elephant

 

Elephants are having their lunch

     Kids are little jaded and exhausted roaming all around the zoo. We found a good place to take rest for sometime under a tree. Its almost crossed 12 noon, and kids started feeling hunger. So we thought of having snacks. Shafi got Ice cream for Priya and Raji and Kids had Puffed rice and ground nuts which we brought it from home. After a half an hour of quality time, kids got energized and back to full form. We played Hide-and-Seek, Ringa Ringa Roses with the kids. They played nicely in the zoo-park, and enjoyed in the swing too. 

Playing in the swing



Taking rest for a while

 

Playing Hide-and-Seek in the park

 

Now, its Rismi's Turn :)

    Kids had a really a wonderful time and they were so happy to be there. It was almost 3'o clock and we thought of leaving the zoo. But they were not ready to leave.. They were saying, please 5 minutes.. please 5 minutes..  Again Rismi and Meera could get some time and energy, out in the play area. Finally we forced them to leave the zoo. They were little upset, but could not help them as it was already reached 4'o clock.

Rismi does not want to leave the zoo

 

They are sad to leave the zoo.. Got upset and sitting quietly



   It was such an awesome trip and everyone had an absolute blast !  Kids are really enjoyed and loved the Animals .

Zooooo Dayz !!!!

        Shafi's uncle family have come here for a week for their son's half yearly vacation. We would like to entertain them by taking them to any good place in Bangalore apart from shopping . As they are not interested to go to Wonderla Amusement park, we gave them a suggestion of Bannerghatta National Park. They are ready for that and we have decided to go on Sunday [yeah, today only] as Shafi had an important work at office yesterday.

I am ready for the zoo, in my new frock.

Me and my Sameema maami

            Rismi is just 8 months old and this the first time we are taking her to the ZOO. She could recognize the animals which are Elephant, Bear, Tiger and Lion [Thanks to Animal Planet !!!] . She was so happy to get ready as the other kids and Sameema was around her. Rismi does not trouble me much while having food, getting dressed up when the kids are around. She used to happily playing with them, by that time, I could finish my work ;) [feeding, getting her ready, etc..]. We all set up ready and left home by 9.30 am and reached the zoo at around 10.15 am.

I'm excited, Let's go for zoo?

Hey Jolly Jolly!!! Came to zoo !!!

        Due to Sunday, there was a bigggggggggggg queue in front of the ticket counter. We were waiting, waiting & waiting and finally we got tickets after an hour. Uffff.... Oh My God !!!  It really checked our patience. We have decided, at any cost, we should not come here on Sunday or any other holiday. First We had been to butterfly park and we could hardly find the butterflies. But there were few butterflies which are really really beautiful and big enough with lots of lovely colors on its feathers. I am not sure, why didn't I take any photos of it :( . May be fed up and tired of with the queue.

Shhhhh! Be quiet !! There are so many elephants behind me !!



Am with my daddy, Kamil and Kasif Maama

             We went for a Wild Safari, it is like a drive through zoo where the animals roam free and can come up to your car.  There is no bars or cages and the animal is set free. Rismi was very excited to see all animals. But to the 8 months old, it makes really a hard difference where the animals are inside the cage and set free. But other kids really enjoyed it. Few of our captures are below.

Pride tiger !!!

A rare white Tiger !!!



Group of dotted deers



Sambar deer

             After finishing the wild safari, we had been roaming all over the zoo to see the animals, reptiles and birds which are inside the cage. Shafi took care of Rismi very well, showed all the animals and explained about it to her neatly. Hope she understood what he said :) . 

Dad, give a pose for the photo. Mom is waiting !!!

Usshhh... I'm bit tired. Let me take rest for a while in your hand :)

Yep ! Enjoyed the zoo very much. Lets go home...

         We had a very good time in the zoo and enjoyed nicely with the kids. Rismi slept in the car itself. After having lunch at McDonald's, we back home at around 4'o clock.