And then the travel began...
Feb. 22nd, 2009 03:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smittenbyu24 December - 25 December 2008
My in-laws joined us in Bangalore on Christmas day traveling by train from Mumbai. MIL's aunt who lives in Puttaparthi found out about it and insisted that they drop by at her place before heading down to Bangalore. The train stops at Puttaparthi on the way. N and I decided that we also join them there to spend some time with grand-aunt, whom I had met at my wedding and was so in love with! So the plan was for the two of us to head there on the 24th and spend the night with her. Parents-in-law would get off the train at 5am and spend time with grand-aunt till about 8ish when we would get a rental car to take us back to Bangalore.
So, N thought since we will have the day on the road, if we could take the chance to see something on the way. We thought of Nandi Hill, etc. and finally dad gave the idea of seeing an uncle and family in dad's hometown of Madanapalle. Uncle has always made the effort to come and see us wherever we or any family member is. No one takes the effort to go see him and his family (most of his siblings are now in once city. so mentality is that it's easier for them to come!). So, we decided to go see them in Madanapalle and then reach Puttaparthi in the late afternoon/evening.
We rented a car. The driver, Appaji, came nearly an hour late in the morning claiming a flat tire!! Oh how recklessly he drove!! We had so many near misses! We even saw at least three serious accidents in a span of three hour journey and he would comment how sad it was, etc. But didn't seem to learn much from that whole experience. sigh.
On the way we stopped at a truck stop with a tire shop to get the flat tire fixed.
That hole in front is the "oven" to set the rubber. Very creative!
Watched the various drivers enjoy hot cup of tea and swap stories in the cool weather.
In Madanapalle we stopped at my uncle's new home and enjoyed the company of both my cousins as well. It was very enjoyable. Then we drove down to see my paternal grandmother's sis-in-law, who still lives in the home she and husband got build decades ago! My dad grew up in a house this size with four other siblings and mom! This is the living, dining, bedroom, den, and anything else you would like it. There's a fairly nice size kitchen with some storage with a bathroom on the outside (an outhouse). I did get a chance to see my dad's home. They had a big garden though. Their house is now gone.
Same room the other side.
There are very few houses with this construction left. Which is too bad. Cause it's nice and cool inside and the fan is hardly ever used! The front of the house.
It took us another three hours to get to Puttaparthi - which is also the home of Sathya Sai Baba. N's grand aunt resides at the Ashram of Sai Baba. So we got to spend the night there and witness some of the bhajans they were holding in honor of Christmas. I was rather indifferent to the place as I have no really idea about the organisation. Only that the followers I have interacted with seem to be wonderful social-service-oriented people.
The 25th morning as planned in-laws joined us along with N's cousin (grand aunt's grandson), who gave us a surprise visit! Had an enjoyable time and headed out to Bangalore at 9ish! We got stuck in Bangalore traffic, but eventually arrived to my uncle and aunt's place where most of the extended family in Bangalore were congregated for lunch. We had a wonderful time seeing all my cousins and family there.
My in-laws joined us in Bangalore on Christmas day traveling by train from Mumbai. MIL's aunt who lives in Puttaparthi found out about it and insisted that they drop by at her place before heading down to Bangalore. The train stops at Puttaparthi on the way. N and I decided that we also join them there to spend some time with grand-aunt, whom I had met at my wedding and was so in love with! So the plan was for the two of us to head there on the 24th and spend the night with her. Parents-in-law would get off the train at 5am and spend time with grand-aunt till about 8ish when we would get a rental car to take us back to Bangalore.
So, N thought since we will have the day on the road, if we could take the chance to see something on the way. We thought of Nandi Hill, etc. and finally dad gave the idea of seeing an uncle and family in dad's hometown of Madanapalle. Uncle has always made the effort to come and see us wherever we or any family member is. No one takes the effort to go see him and his family (most of his siblings are now in once city. so mentality is that it's easier for them to come!). So, we decided to go see them in Madanapalle and then reach Puttaparthi in the late afternoon/evening.
We rented a car. The driver, Appaji, came nearly an hour late in the morning claiming a flat tire!! Oh how recklessly he drove!! We had so many near misses! We even saw at least three serious accidents in a span of three hour journey and he would comment how sad it was, etc. But didn't seem to learn much from that whole experience. sigh.
On the way we stopped at a truck stop with a tire shop to get the flat tire fixed.
That hole in front is the "oven" to set the rubber. Very creative!
Watched the various drivers enjoy hot cup of tea and swap stories in the cool weather.
In Madanapalle we stopped at my uncle's new home and enjoyed the company of both my cousins as well. It was very enjoyable. Then we drove down to see my paternal grandmother's sis-in-law, who still lives in the home she and husband got build decades ago! My dad grew up in a house this size with four other siblings and mom! This is the living, dining, bedroom, den, and anything else you would like it. There's a fairly nice size kitchen with some storage with a bathroom on the outside (an outhouse). I did get a chance to see my dad's home. They had a big garden though. Their house is now gone.
Same room the other side.
There are very few houses with this construction left. Which is too bad. Cause it's nice and cool inside and the fan is hardly ever used! The front of the house.
It took us another three hours to get to Puttaparthi - which is also the home of Sathya Sai Baba. N's grand aunt resides at the Ashram of Sai Baba. So we got to spend the night there and witness some of the bhajans they were holding in honor of Christmas. I was rather indifferent to the place as I have no really idea about the organisation. Only that the followers I have interacted with seem to be wonderful social-service-oriented people.
The 25th morning as planned in-laws joined us along with N's cousin (grand aunt's grandson), who gave us a surprise visit! Had an enjoyable time and headed out to Bangalore at 9ish! We got stuck in Bangalore traffic, but eventually arrived to my uncle and aunt's place where most of the extended family in Bangalore were congregated for lunch. We had a wonderful time seeing all my cousins and family there.
