Last Friday Morning

Every day I get up to a lovely morning, not yet hot, slightly cool. It's been long time I wanted to take some snaps of my morning walk to the bus pick up point. And there are reasons for doing so. I didn't take photos of all possible interesting things, however tried to give you and impression of what the city we live in like. 

First as the path from our house leads me among the houses I can view how people manage their homes. I must say that in India those who have their own houses take really good care of them, and adorn their little front gardens with various beautiful flowers and gorgeous blooming trees and bushes. 

Like this bright orange ones which make a bright fence "cover".

Dahlias are very popular in our city. Mostly they are of a red color.

I couldn't miss this delicate lilly in one of the gardens.

Another dalhia - this kind are huge and have multilayered petals.

A nearly wild  rose bush with little roses of this dark pink color. 

Now as I filled my mind with color I continue strolling along the road, towards the market you can see afar. I will walk till those one storied buildings and to the left. It got really hot here, around +35 in the afternoon, though morning is still bearable. 

On the approach to the bus stop I take time to click a picture of these. (Please educate me again which flower it is). This wild bush can have flowers of different colors - red, pink, yellow, orange!

Here I reach the trees under which I usually wait for my bus and meet my co-workers leaving from the same spot. New translucent leaves appeared just two-three weeks ago, it was unusually "cold" the whole March. 

I am sporting my special maternity salwars - such a comfortable thing!

The bus picks me. I continue my morning riding along the city roads. At some point I realise that I need to include  my baby into this short photo shoot too. Here we are, 26 complete weeks. It looks big from the top, and round - I love it! 

                            

The 44 sector market - still closed, people lazily preparing for the day. All the markets in Chandigarh city look quite the same, so it is a problem sometimes for a new person to remember the way. I still cannot give you directions if you ask me (so ask somebody else :))

The city roads include round abouts which join them into a web around sectors. Sector 35 cross road and a round about.  

The same round about - notice how pretty it looks like! Every such has its own landscape design and plants growing in it. My parents liked these very much when they saw them and took many photos.

Just a glimpse of how the morning traffic can be - all possible vehicles in one place! It is crazy at times! You can see an auto rickshaw -  a small three wheeler, which makes loads of noise with its engine, and is one of the essential types of  transport in Indian cities.

Sector 26 vegetable market "mandi". It is always chaotic and crowded, and noizy, be it morning or evening. From here vegetable sellers purchase their lot, and then sell on the carts in the city.

Oh well, this is an IT park where I work. It is a huge territory with different offices, including mine. No, that one is not my office :) I go back along this road which takes me about 45 minutes.

Just before I get in the bus again and start that routine itinarery - a Jerusalem Thorn tree covered with yellow flowers which give away the sweetest fragrance I've ever felt!

Bye bye for now! See you next time with a bit of crochet in my blog finally. I am also sorry for not replying your comments, I read them all, but this week my office work is so hectic that I am too tired to switch on my home laptop in the evening. I look forward to the coming up weekend and hope the next week gets better. Hugs!

Old Goa, Panjim, Aguada Fort - Part 6

Here we are turning to summer finally. Days are longer and hotter now though evenings are cool of which I am glad. I don't look forward to summer months - it is going really tough here then. So current weather is just what we need. Today the world is celebrating women's day... How I wish that women still took more place in politics and international relations, may be we would indeed have no wars and find better ways of conflict resolution. Also many a times during my pregnancy I thought that my baby (as well as many other) will be born in our world full of frightening things, and I am not sure I will be able to protect him/her from them completely. 

Life is peculiar nevertheless. There, where it is peace, we keep on enjoying good things... family relations, traveling, shopping... We have to carry on. Today I am presenting one of our last days in Goa.

We started off with the thought of visiting one church in Panjim, Goa capital, which my D wanted to see as it was shown in many Bollywood movies. On the way, as usual, we discovered other sight seeings, liek this cathedral with graveyard. I cannot tell you the name, but once again it a Portuguese architecture.

We had to reaffirm and ask the way to Panjim many times and it was a long one... It was hot that day but scooter ride soothed sun's heat somehow. We were approaching a long bridge.

Which ran across a wide river...  Then we had to turn left and go along this river.

I liked the boats on water.

After many directions given by locals, we arrived at Old Goa... when asking people where the church was everyone assured it was there.. when it wasn't. Every time we were told it wasn't far, just 5 km, 3 km... and so on... In the end we were told by one kind man that we came to Old Goa by mistake in search of that church. Well, it was an adventure that day. Anyway we decided it was also good as we could see the old part and its sightseeing. Like this Arch of Conception as I read words on it.

archaeological museum building...

a Basilica of Bom Jesus

Then we at last got right directions, we reached Panjim itself. This are the streets there. 

By 3 in the afternoon we arrived at the aim of our whole trip that day - Lady of Immaculate Conception Church in Panjim. My D was happy to view it himself as he wanted to. Unfortunately we couldn't enter its premises, as there was some service going on, and it was very crowded. Besides... being silly I wore shorts and open top... and was not allowed moreover. Although we were relieved and happy to be there, the impression was spoiled by some of the churches "whoever", who behaved with us very rudely, as we were just trying to see a little inside the building. He started arguing with D, shouting at him... just right outside the church's entry. I was ashamed. I said my D not to continue any such talk... And we turned back.

After the churches's "tour" we undertook a ride to Aguada fort -another piece of Goa Portuguese past. Built in 18th century.

 The lighthouse inside the fort walls.

The wonderful sea view... Sunshine...

 The day ended with usual evening swimming in the sea.  The same evening we went out to have dinner at the Russian cafe, but that experience wasn't good at all... to our disappointment, the food was poorly prepared, costly, and the next day I fell sick, but tried to stay up and cheerful.

 Such a calming evening. Just one and a half day was left.

Palolem, Agonda and Kola Beaches in One Day - Goa Part 3

It has started becoming warmer in Chandigarh. Day temperature is around +20+21 now, morning might be somewhere +15. I know that many of you still are in a frozen and snowy place, and my sighs about “cold” weather here seem to be pretence, but it is not. When it is evening and early morning, our house is freezing. We have to put socks, warm pajamas and jackets before going out of our room. We still put the heater on every now and then. Not a very comfortable living. But at the same time I don’t want to complain because the hot summer is in future. I am also more and more scared of it because that will be my last trimester, and I am really worried how I am going to cope up with +40 and AC, and going to office and at the same time taking care of myself, my baby and my D.

I have many other worries, which appear anew with my every awakening in the morning: how am I going to bear pain of labor, how will I take care of my baby, will baby be fine in summer with AC? For the past few months I had such mixed feelings about my pregnancy from “am I ready”  to “a sudden excitement about having that little one in my arms in just a few months”… I cannot say I was very excited in the beginning, more I was depressed and used to cry on my husband’s shoulder saying that I am scared.. But he is always there for me and now I feel much much happier about having a child and dreaming of that special day when we finally see him or her. Yes, I shall note that it is illegal to try to determine the sex of a child in India due to some social problems. But for us anyway it doesn’t matter as soon as the baby is healthy and happy.

Ok, now I  am not going to spend all time chatting about my ”interesting condition” and will continue sharing that little trip we had last to last week in photos and short comments to them. By the way recently I got to know that vacations a couple takes during pregnancy is called "babymoon" :) Well, so here are pics from our babymoon.

Another morning at Palolem beach - gorgeous view just as soon as you wake up. Calm sea in the morning and not hot yet. I even had to put on some thin stall.

 However we knew we had to leave all these the next day - this view and surroundings which became so close to our heart. This very beach we used to go to swim to every morning and evening...

Our friends, with whom we went, offered us to go to another beach in South Goa - Agonda. For that we rented two scooters and drove away for search of new adventures. The road was pleasant ,and you wouldn't feel those +33 C degrees while going by scooter. Yes we were that adventurous, especially me and my also expecting friend. Don't judge :)

We liked this "Amazon" river we passed by on the way to Agonda.

Agonda itself was quite a silent place, and you could see there mostly older people, sitting in the cafes and sipping tea, coffee and other drinks.We had pleasant swimming there though and... headed to another beach Kola, suggested by our new friends from Belorussia who also lived at Sai Valentine's beach huts.

I must admit we almost regretted going there, because the road, going left from the main way, was simply horrible! I was so afraid for our baby, and for us that we would puncture the tyre and will have to walk or worse will fall from the scooter on that rocky and dusty road. But circumstances were merciful. And Kola met us with this incredible view. We tried to swim there, but waves were too strong and high we had to withdraw from there.

The opposite was this water line - truly exotic! 

 Way back from Kola was same horrible, but we overcame this obstacle and safely reached our darling beach huts... and then another sunset at Palolem...dinner on the very seashore... We were really sad, especially my D, who liked that place so much, we couldn't leave it all and couldn't decide whether we  stay for one more day, but

 The next day we took up another journey - to the North Goa! This rooster's voice I heard one morning at Palolem... Bye bye! See you!

We were quite tired after going from South Goa to North. It was hot, car was without AC, and by the time we reached the place we felt like we will not go ANYWHERE! But this new scene, view of Little Vagator beach, lifted up our mood and gave another boost of energy. Here is the hotel we stayed in - Oltramarino. An Italian one, more expensive than those lovely beach huts, but located in one of the most peaceful parts of North Goa, which otherwise is famous for its night life, psychedelic parties and of flocks holidaying Russians!

That small bamboo hut with red roof, last from the right, was ours. 

Soon I am going to share what I crocheted these days – not much, but I am slowly coming out of crochet and blog blocks.

I am also worried for my crafty part of life after the major event – will I have time for this, will I be able to spare few minutes for blog and crochet in a day? Will I be one of those worn out moms, with always puffy eyes and fatigue because of the lack of sleep or will be a happy mom with rosy cheeks and lips and overall pretty... Let’s see. At least now I try to look good, and be in a good mood and smile more. I am also happy to get job I desired for long – to be a translator. Besides I am able to earn some additional money which will be much needed soon.

Till my next appearance in blogger, I wish you to stay safe and warm (or cool) wherever you are! Love and blessings to all!

Relaxing Days - Goa, Palolem Beach Part 2

Our next morning at Palolem beach was as bright as the beach huts we stayed in. They were called Sai Valentines, Sai meaning Saint in Hindi as a combination Sai Baba and Saint Valentine. What an invention! hehe :) We used to adore this view with bushy palm trees at the back.

Here is the first hut we got - colorful, simple, perfect for seaside vacations. We tried to lie in hammock too, but it wasn't comfortable to get out of it.

Of course that one of the main aims of ours was to SWIM! I was taught swimming by my parents when I was small, my D learnt swimming himself about 2 years ago, going to the swimming lessons in early morning, 5 am! I am happy that he got such determination to do it! So we enjoyed warm water of the sea immensely... amazing experience, so much of joy.

I couldn't stop from collecting few seashells - one of the beauties of the sea. Now I regret I didn't get more of them, but may be next time.

After pleasant water procedures we were very hungry and wen tin search of breakfast. On the way I took the picture of the ad board - 80 % written in Russian! For those who are not aware, Goa is an abode, for some a sanctuary, of Russians! I was so happy to see many of such boards, menus and other written words  in Russian there. 

Finally we settled in one of the cafes with a wonderful sea view just in front of your eyes. That morning we felt we were taking a long awaited rest. I was so happy sitting there and doing particularly nothing!

Our breakfast arrived - it was yumm! My D had English style, I - Spanish style breakfast as they call it. Don't know whether they actually look like this, but it didn't matter as soon as we liked what we got!

 Then we had a walk back to our huts. There were many boats on the shore at that time of the day, later fisher men would rule them to the sea to catch seafood for restaurant dinners.

 As I had mentioned already, Goa has strong Christian influence and here we found small church facing the sea.

 Goa has MANY dogs who keep on lying here and there on the sand and then ask for food from tourists in the cafes. But this one was a dog of an Indian woman who used to come every morning to clean this sand and if needed, hotel rooms.

 Time flew while we were relaxing and feeling happy to be in such a beautiful place. The sunset at the sea is a special one... I love this pinkish sky and other people in no hurry.

In the evening we again went to try out local eating points and the moon, which turned this way in India, was the witness of our happiness. The next day was going to be not less great but even adventurous.

Good night, my friends and I appreciate your kind comments and wishes! Blessings and hugs to all of you!