She makes our lives wonderful

This gorgeous little thing is our lovely daughter Ankita. These recent before-after (head shave) pictures give away her naughty gleam in the eyes.

A bundle of energy that she is keeps us running around the household, whenever we are home. Darn I hate to travel > 3 hrs to work and miss all the action at home... But I'm so far loving the job as well.....

Her Fav chew food
- trash cans
- footwear
- anything she can lay hands on

Her Fav. sport.
- crawling fast from the room to balcony and back
- standing up on the edge of ( furniture) like a bed/chair letting go of the hold

Her best smile
- usually most of the times but best when she wakes up or sees Toinks

She occupies
- 3/4 of our bed
- 2/3rds of our wardrobe
- almost 100% of our attention

She hates
- to see us leave for office
- to put on clothes

Nazar na lagge

Thank You God

Corregidor Islands - The devastations of WWII

"Mr Peacelover", that was the title I was accorded at my 12th standard farewell a few years back. My recent trip to Corregidor Islands, a few kms west of Manila, Philippines makes me think the title was deserved. I wasn't around in my current incarnation during any of the WorldWars but am sure that If I had been around, such mass destruction would have pained me more.

I like history, forts and monuments of the era bygone, So we (a colleague of mine and I) started out for Corregidor Island from Quezon City around 6:30 am, took a 90 minute ferry to reach the Island. The island is a beautiful piece of land, green and so full of history. It partially blocks the Manila bay and still holds significance for entry into Manila via sea. I did no research before heading for there and thought it had some Spanish/American/Filipino fort etc. I had no inkling of the carnage it would have seen more few decades ago.

The brief on WWII history in Philippines. During WWII the Philippines was under a state of Partial Self-government under U.S. supervision. US of A had a sizable presence on the islands and that was detrimental to the Japanese scheme of things during the WWII. The Japanese launched an offensive on Dec 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbour, Philippines, Malaysia etc to counter the US build-up

As part of this attack, the Imperial Japanese forces bombed the barracks, military installations on the Corregidor Island where the Filippino-American army was holding fort under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The bombed ruin of the barracks, officers mess, a theatre, a 1000 bed Hospital (inside the Manilta Tunnel) are the silent witness from the time of the war. Before leaving for Australia under US presidential orders , MacArthur said to this army "I Shall Return". And that he did, 3 years later launching a surprise attack close to the lighthouse on the island. The Island was reclaimed after a short battle. This marked an important chapter in the freedom of the Filipinos from the Japanese. Philippines was formally declared independent in 1946.

Though the Japanese Army was defeated but they did not surrender, they set-off explosives in the lateral tunnels of the Main one and perished. The tunnel is shaped like a fishbone (see pic). The destruction caused by the innermost lateral tunnels have not been removed till date and thus the Island has a story of being haunted

I was immensely moved by the sheer size of destruction during the WW at a localized point. And then there are current wars against killing of innocents. I couldn't quite see and appreciate any Heroism (save for struggle for independence) on warring sides during the war... could just see devastation.

In honor of every soldier who died and never returned, my head bows in silence.

Some pictures of the trip to the island and more..

Let there be no war
Pl let there be no war
Lets live and let others live in a truly Free world.

Halo-Halo at Bar-One

Had been to Quezon/Manila in the Philippines over the last couple of weeks, the city does offer some challenge the vegetarian way of life. But I survived on bread, fresh fuits, "Bollywood" food and cuppa noodles.

Bar-One at The Holiday Inn, Quezon City become the place for me and some other bunch-a-people to hang about, meeting new people, joking around, sing songs out aloud, talking about what not, and having a couple of drinks and playing pool table. It was a United Nations of sorts....Indian, American, French settled in India, Australian settled in Philippines, half a score of Koreans on tour, Argentinian, Filipinos and God knows who all... We had fun.

I had a penchant for asking the most ridiculous drinks - aka mocktails, juices, iced-teas and what not at the "Bar-One". And the staff was always up to it. The Halo-Halo takes the award though.

It is a very popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice, milk, and sugar, to which is added various sweet beans and fruits, and generally served cold in a tall glass.
The bar typically doesn't stock such ingredients and so they got some for me and our friends from the ... How very thoughtful.

It was also amazing to have such a preparation at a bar at peak business hours :-D

Love those folks... they made me stay fun. More about it soon ( I hope)