A Typical Day At School

"Wake up! It's 6 o'clock! The bus will be here any minute.. You'll be late! "

The usual commotion witnessed everyday (except for weekends and those 'once in a blue moon' holidays).
The still dreaming student stumbles out of the bed,makes it to the bathroom and comes out a little revived. The breakfast isn't of his choice but one glance at the woman in the apron ... the plate is empty within seconds.

Honk HONK !!
The bus...at last! Grabbing the bag, the reluctant student rushes out of the house and is soon on the way to school. Only upon arriving at the school premises does he actually wake up (both mentally and physically).
Exchange of the latest news continues till the watchman rings the bell to the announce the start of the first period. There is great deal of noise as everyone hurries to his/her seats. After much screaming from the of that day's monitor,everyone is standing and ready to for the morning prayer. Just as the prayer slowly takes life, someone glances around or deliberately does something mischievous and everyone starts giggling.
On the other hand, everyone is solemn and religious when the presence of the teacher is there.
The first period is usually fun except for Tuesdays' when everyone prays for the History teacher's soul!! :P

Getting a free period now and then means a lot of merriment. When the Arabic teacher fails to come, the 'Arabic monitor' bosses around, showing unnecessary strength. Every few seconds, some one or the other goes into a fit of laughter and when you finally open your eyes, you'll find the monitor standing in front of you, glaring, which doesn't help either! It only causes the whole class to go into fits of laughter.
Tired of laughing, someone starts a game of 'truth or dare'. Soon everyone is busy stammering out the truth or working out the dares!

The school day gradually comes to an end with great many lessons learned, a few hundred jokes cracked and everyone feeling cheery with a grin plastered on their faces.
I will tell you this...
Going to school is lots of fun... whether you like the lessons or not. But I bet you surely love being with your friends for a total of 6 hours.. don't you?!
Well..I Do.. I love doing the lessons and being with people from different backgrounds at the same time.. I can't think of anything better than this in life..( Or can I?)

P.S.( I just wrote this down.. and now I am feeling really gloomy..I just can't wait to get back to school on Tuesday!!! History period or whatever ... I am going back!!! )

The Night of the Flight

The sunlight crept through the blinded windows. The house was still fast asleep. Outside the gentle summer window blew, making the leaves of the berry tree sway in a slow rhythm. The birds chirped and somewhere a baby cried.
I woke up from a deep slumber and immediatly sat up rubbing my eyes.

"Yes! The 18th of June, atlast!" I mentally screamed.

This was the day I was waiting for. Actually I was waiting for the night, when we will be at the airport to fly to India.

I jumped out of the bed and ran towards the bathroom, yelling at my sister to wake up as I went by.

It was too late for breakfast so we had a brunch of noodles and leftover pizza from the last night.
The dishes clinked into the basin and a pair of hands hurriedly scrubbed, dried and put them away.

"Kiddos, please make sure you packed everything," Mom called over the roar of the vacuum cleaner.

We checked and rechecked everything. By the evening Dad had taped and roped all the boxes. The bags were all locked. The fridge was emptied. The new black robes (burqa) hung in the closet.
Everyone fidgeted. The flight was at 11:59 pm and we were scheduled to leave the house at sharp 9 pm immediatly after "isha" prayer.
The prayer got over, the mat was folded and put away.

"Come on, ladies,"Dad yelled from the doorway."We will get late if you don't hurry."

"Wait, wait!" cried my sister, as my Dad took one of the bags to load it into the car.

I got the burqa over my head when the telephone rang shrilly.

"Damn it," I cussed, as I ran to the hall to get to the phone, nearly tripping over the burqa in the process.

"Hello?" I nearly yelled into the phone.

"Hello..um, Is this Ruby?" a timid voice squeaked over the other end.

I grinned. It was a friend.

" Yeah it is."

"Hey, I called to wish you a happy and safe journey. Take care..and ooh, you seem to be in a hurry. Bye...see you!" she spoke hurriedly as my mother's angry voice carried over the pandemonium, telling me to put down the phone and get ready.

" Yeah, thanks...Bye ..ciao!" I hastily answered and replaced the phone back on the set.

Finally after about 15 minutes of utter confusion, everyone was ready and everything was in order.

The lights were switched off, the gas turned off and house securely locked.
We stepped out of the gate into the hot summer night.

We got into the car ( one of Dad's friends had offered to drop us off at the airport) and set off.

After what seemed a long ride we arrived at the airport. Goodbyes were said and we trooped inside the cool airport. The air around us was electric with excitement. We passed through the customs and everything.

At the luggage check-in an unexpected disaster(?) nearly took place.
The man in charge told us that our luggage weight exceeded the limit and we might have to pay KD 100 fine.

Dad's face was unreadable.

Mom's eyes widened.

I and sis exchanged nervous glances.

The man did something on the computer.

My sister's fist clenched and unclenched.

I shuffled my feet, silently praying to God to help us.

God heard and answer came that we don't have to pay.

Dad looked relieved. Mom shook her head. Me and sis exchanged gleeful looks and silent high-fives.

The rest of the way to the boarding area we grinned and joked.

It was a bit windy. A strong gust of wind blew and my sister nearly fell from the stairs leading to the plane.
I caught her just in time and started giggling uncontrollably. Mom threw me a disapproving look and sis grinned sheepishly.

(Hey, It's not my fault! I was feeling very gleeful about the whole trip and I guess the wind tickled my funny bone!)

We boarded the plane. Yay! Finally! I scampered over to get the window seat while my sister glared. Hehe!

The Captain spoke. Safety instructions were issued. Seat belts clicked together and we all waited with bated breath.

Boy! I love take-off's. I love the way the plane starts moving slowly on the runway and bit by bit gains speed and finally with a deafening roar , launches into the air.

In a short time we were in the air.

Its a 3 hour flight to Bombay. We watched Om shanti Om. After that I dozed off. When my eyes finally opened the sunlight was pouring in through the shuttle windows. The Captain was announcing that we will be soon landed at the airport. I peered out of the window and saw the water covered areas and the green here and there. My heart lifted with joy.

Hip hip hooray!! We reached!!

I wanted to get up and dance!

We landed and went off to get the luggage.

The crows cawed and cool wind blew.

Aah..! *grins*

What happened next?

Click here.

Discovering Kuwait's South

Tribal clusters in some areas, urban hadar in others. Apartment buildings along the coastal areas with expensive rent, apartments overlooking the Arabian Gulf equipped with gyms, wi-fi-, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and underground parking lots contrasted with closed areas packed with shabby apartment buildings and old shopping centers.

Despite its small size, Kuwait is unique in the way that its population is scattered around its areas. Take Al-Ahmadi, for example, Kuwait's southern governorate. Al-Ahmadi, which is spread over more than 5,000 kilometers south of Kuwait City, is home for Kuwait's most active oil wells. It also houses the head offices of many of Kuwait's petroleum companies, as well as the suburbs of Khairan, Dhuba'iya, and Bnaider and the coastal chalets areas close to Wafra, which is famous for its farms. {Al-Ahmadi}

Ahmadi residents are mainly tribal Kuwaitis, especially from Al-Ajmi tribe. The governorate is perhaps Kuwait's most conservative area as the majority of the expats and nationals who live there are very conservative. It also houses many Shiite Muslims and many Christians, who practice their traditions very freely, but who are outnumbered by Sunni Muslims. In terms of nationality, the governorate's residents are a mixture of Kuwaitis, Western and Asian expatriates, Arabs and GCC citizens, especially Saudis.

The residential areas that fall under Al-Ahmadi governorate are: Ahmadi, Fahaheel, Sabahiya, Hadiya, Riqqa, Ogaila, Umm Al-Hayman, Mahboula, Fintas, Mangaf, Jaber Al-Ali, and Dahar, in addition to the recently completed Fahad Al-Ahmad area, which lies between Riqqa and Sabahiya on Road 40.

Fahaheel, a small town that's the closest thing to a city the governorate, was - and still is - the biggest mall area in the governorate. Best known for its fish market, which has now been replaced by Al-Kout mall that overlooks the Arabian Gulf, Fahaheel bustles with many shopping centers, big malls, restaurants and small shops that sell low-priced merchandise.
{Al Kout,Fahaheel}

The other coastal residential areas in the governorate - Mahboula, Fintas and Mangaf - also lie on the Fahaheel Highway but lack attractions; they have a handful of beach resorts and a hotel, but they mainly consist of apartment buildings and a few restaurants, with no markets or shopping centers except for co-ops which only provide the consumer with food items and household necessities.

Coastal areas are a big attraction for western expatriates and some Kuwaiti families. Due to the great distance between these areas and Kuwait City and the country's major attractions, the rent rate for coastal areas is lower there than in the areas close to the City.

THE HISTORY

Ahmadi governorate is most famous for the Ahmadi residential area, which is a town built on a slope and is most famous for its greenery and architecture. The area was built in the 1940's by British expatriates who came to Kuwait with their families when oil was first discovered in Kuwait. The town was divided into streets, avenues, and many roundabouts, more than any of Kuwait's other residential areas

Salwa Al-Bloushi, a 57-year old Kuwaiti who was born, raised, and still lives in Ahmadi talked to the Kuwait Times about the development she has witnessed in the area from her childhood until today. She explained that the British who ran the oil companies gave houses to the local employees, but the latter were still segregated from the British. "They lived in the Northern parts of Ahmadi, which is now still resided by the employees of the Kuwait Oil Company. We lived near the souk in an area that was called colloquially the 'Arab Village'.

She explains that the crescent-shaped souk historically offered far more facilities than it does now. "There was a butcher, a small abattoir that sold chicken, a store that sold fresh fish, a big supermarket that brought fresh fruits every morning, a baker, an Indian restaurant, a tailor, a readymade clothes store, a jeweler. You never needed to leave Ahmadi; whatever you wanted, all you had to do was just cross the street and you'd find all that your heart desired," she said.

" At night, the souk was guarded by officers who stayed vigilant until sunrise. She added that there were officers who rode horses, and were centered especially in the north where the British oil company employees lived. Two recreation centers, complete with swimming pools, tennis courts, swings, hockey fields, and a golf course, were built in northern Ahmadi, as well as two churches, one Husseiniya [a Shiite mosque] and many Sunni mosques. The houses had the transformation from Ahmadi's beautiful old styleto the current one began as the British expatriates began to leave Kuwait; the new residents did not know how to look after the place well.

They [the British oil company employees] built something out of this slope that is really beautiful and looked like it was in a Mediterranean country, not in the Gulf. From the window of my house now, I can see the main street where the entrance to Ahmadi is. My husband and I planted this garden, on Kuwaiti soil with fruits and vegetables that you wouldn't think can grow in Kuwait. We grew strawberries, watermelons, oranges, carrots, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, and a lot more than that in our garden. The waythe houses are organized, the way they soil is used for greenery makes this place the most beautiful in all of Kuwait for me, certainly the most beautiful. "

STOP THE WASTAGE!!

We are now in the 21st century,the world around us has changed. New technologies have been introduced. More resource consumption is taking place due to increase in the population.
Look around yourself...or rather at yourself .How many times have you -- scribbled a few lines on a paper and then crumpled it and zooomm...thrown it into the bin? Kept the lights on unnecessarily? Kept the tap open while brushing or doing the dishes? HOW MANY TIMES??
Did you ever give it a thought that these careless actions of yours will one day lead to disaster?
No, I don't think you have. Atleast majority of people don't think they are supposed to save the resources.
Now what are resources?
A resource is anything that has value and utility. They categorized into different groups that range from natural to man-made resources. For instances, the water you drink;the paper you write on; and even the technology you are using to read this, is considered a resource.
Why should we save resources?
We should save them for our future use...for the use of the future generations. If we use up all the resources now, what will be left for the future generations???
People ( yes, that includes me too) waste things without giving it much thought. Fuel is a non-renewable resource which is on the brink of getting exhausted. It takes millions of years for the fuel to get renewed again. If we overuse it now...what will we do later ?
Trees are being cut down to accomadate the growing population. Water to is being polluted and wasted. Many places in India are now facing water scarcity because of this. The increased number of vehicles and factories pollute the air which in turn causes global warming.
The ice in the polar regions melts and the ocean level rises which submerges the low-lying coastal areas. The polar region ice is melting faster now. The ozone layer has holes in it because of the chemicals in the air and the UV rays of sun come in which results in the global warming.
Even if you don't care about the future , atleast stop and think about those poor innocent animals , who are suffering because of our actions...

Preventation of wastages and overuse is possible!!
Here are some ways-

• Walk or cycle instead of using your car (It will get off all that extra fat..:P) . Carpool or take a bus for long journeys.
• Switch of the lights and fans when not in use.Try to do all the reading and writing part in the morning so that you don't have to use your lamp at night.
• Turn off the engine at the red lights or places where you have to wait.
• Use both sides of paper.
• Remember the 3 R's - Reuse, Recyle and Reduce.
• Don't waste water.Keep taps closed while brushing. Use a damp cloth to wash your car instead of hosing it down. Fix your leaking tap TODAY!
• Last but not the least, spread this message to everyone you know. Make them AWARE...

One small action on your part can make a huge difference...

START NOW ....

Beautiful Paintings

Nice Thoughts

Ways To Beat The Heat..

(silly,practical,funny,useful,thought-provoking or absolutely ridiculous)

It's the kind of forecast the elicits gasps. Groans. Triple digits and bright yellow suns march in a line across your television screen. The weather guy chuckles, then swears it's not his fault.
Whatever.
It's hot and miserable. Time to think of some ways to keep cool.
Here are a few ideas, from useful to wacky. One for each degree on that blasted thermometer:

1. Run in the sprinkler.
2. Freeze your sheets. Just before bedtime, make your bed, jump in and ...ahhh.
3. See a movie.
4. Go ice-skating.
5. Head to a swimming pool.
6. Wash the car.
7. Turn off the stove. Opt for salads or gazpacho.
8. Freeze a damp washcloth or bandanna and wear it around your neck.
9. Carry a parasol or light-coloured umbrella so you'll have shade wherever your go.
10. Have a water balloon fight.
11. Take a walk through the mall.
12. Use your hot tub as cool pool. Turn off the heat in summer and take a cool dip.
13. Drink lots of water.
14. Spray water on your body. Stand in front of fan blowing at the highest setting. Repeat.
15. Think cool. Mind over matter does help.
16. Go barefoot.
17. Fill a kiddie pool- or your bathtub - with water. Throw in a bunch of ice cubes. Try to pick them up with your feet.
18. Move slowly.
19. Close blinds or curtains on windows that let in midday sun.
20. Sounds cruel, but keep your sweaty kid(s) at arm's length.
21. Play christmas songs.
22. Bob for apples.
23. Splash in a public fountain.(At your own risk,ofcourse!)
24. Eat spicy food. It makes you sweat and cools you down.
25. Stick your heas in the freezer case at a local grocery or convenience store.
26. Take a drive - a looong drive - to somewhere you have always meant to go. The air conditioning will make it worth your while.
27. Make homemade ice cream.
28. Put a frozen cabbage leaf under your cap.
29. Drink coffee. Your body will respond by cooling itself.
30. Make Kool-Aid Popsicles.
31. Play catch with water balloons.
32. Dress in breathable, cotton fabrics.
33. Chase down the ice cream man.
34. Dip your hat or socks in water before heading out. The water will evaporate in no time but will leave you feeling cooler.
35. Embrace an indoor hobby, like scrapbooking or quilting.
36. Find the coolest beauty saloons in town. Make an appointment. Ask for the works. Be every picky.
37. Hangout in the basement.
38. Sleep on the roof.
39. Make lemonade.
40. Carve a watermelon.
41. Watch a documentary about polar bears or penguins.
42. Soak in your tub-cool water,please- with a melon facial and cool aromatic suds or salts.
43. Browse a bookstore.
44. Freeze grapes and eat 'em.
45. Pull your hair up off your neck.
46. Go for a pixie cut.
47. One word : Frappuccino.
48. Two words : Italian ice.
49. Three words : Shaken, not stirred.
50. Four words : Banana Cream Pie Blizzard.
51. Five words : Chocolate Sundae from Baskin-Robbins.
52. Go to a library.
53. Buy a grass skirt at a party store.
54. Organize your flip-flop collection.
55. Paint your toenails.
56. Grab a handful of ice-cubes and put them on a hot sidewalk. Take bets on which one will melt first.
57. Add fresh lemon or lime wedges to every cold drink.
58. Shop for new sandals. They're on sale now.
59. You know that big air vent at Wal-Mart? Stand under it.
60. Deep clean your fridge or freezer.
61. Find shade.
62. Fill a spritzer bottle with water and some colorful plastic ice cubes. Mist yourself whenever you need a little relief. (The colors will help brighten your mood, too)
63. Try water skiing.
64. Rent a cool movie like "Ice age " or "Dr.Zhivago".
65. Throw ice down the back of your shirt (or someone else's!)
66. Nap under a fan.
67. Change your AC filter.
68. Wear a hat.
69. Get yourself one of those handheld battery-powered fans.
70. Pack up and head to Colorado.
71. Avoid housework.(If this kind of heat isn't excuse , what it?)
72. Put Desitin on your nose and pretend you're a lifeguard.
73. Play splash tag.(Players run from "It" who tries to tag them by throwing a wet sponge. Once tagged,that person becomes the new "It".)
74. Shave your head.
75. Check out travel brochures for a cruise to Iceland.
76. Be glad your not working on a road crew.
77. If you're working on a road-crew, be glad you're not in the desert.
78. Rent a convertible.
79. Hot enough to fry an egg? Try it on the sidewalk in front of your neighbor's house!!
80. Turn urself in; cool your heels in jail.
81. Sing, with feeling,"In the Cool,Cool,Cool of the evening.
82. Dream of cooler days.

(Hey,give the frown a rest.This is not my stuff...copied it from somewhere!! So,chill off..!!)

Power Cuts : A survival guide

"Anybody who has spent a summer in Kuwait, knows to expect sporadic and unanticipated power outages. They usually come during the hottest part of the day and at most inconvenient times. It is usually too hot to go outdoors and you are usually too tired to go to a mall. I have a few solutions to keep cool and entertained during these excruciating periods.
Firstly, always keep your mobiles and laptops fully charged. They will provide you with a few hours of entertainment. You can use your mobile to complain to your friends and family about how you have no electricity and how bored you are.You can watch a movie on your fully charged laptop until the power finally comes back
Ofcourse the onlty thing worse than the boredom is the heat. The house or apartment gradually heats up until the inside of the your room is hotter than outside. I have simple solution to this problem;simply lay stomach side down on your hardwood floors. The buildings in Kuwait are mostly made of concrete and they retain the cold for much longer. Laying completely still on the floor will keep you cool and calm you down.
If sticking your face on a dusty floor is not your cup of tea, you can stay cool by sticking your head in the fridge or freezer for half an hour. Doing an inventory of your refrigerator during a power outage is great, you can soak up the last bit of cold air as you throw out anything that has past its use-by date.
If the power cut persists for more than a few hours, you can stay cool by filling your bath tub with room temperature water and dropping in some ice cubes.Then you can 'swim' in the tub until the AC starts up again.
But I guess we should not complain too much; afew months ago we were wishing for some heat to warm us during the cold,dry Kuwait winter nights. Now that we have it, we should take advantage."

(This article was written by Sawsan K of the Kuwait Times.I liked it and wished to share it with those who haven't read it.)

Death follows a history?

The newspapers have been filled with Jackson's life history,his songs,his wives etc..
While reading all that,it struck me odd that everytime a famous person dies,the deceased's history will appear in newspapers , ranging from the time the person peed in a wastepaper basket to the time when he got involved in a hit and run crime and landed in the prison.
When he was alive,we didn't get to know some facts,but as soon as his soul departed to the other world,people brought out more about his life.
When HH Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah passed away(May his soul rest in peace),the newspapers were filled with his childhood photos to the photos taken when he was crowned the king.When people are alive,we criticise their songs or acting skills,but when they have gone we mourn,we bring out their good qualities,love their songs etc.Couldn't we have done this when the person had been alive,shown the person that his work is appreciated.Let's not wait for the person to die and then enjoy their songs.

Wierd:?
In the July 3,Friday Times,it was reported that a Jackson lookalike was assaulted by three unindentified men,when he was copying some of Jackson's dance moves and playing his songs in a mall.The assaulters left the scene saying,"We got rid of the real Jackson and we don't want him back again."

The English Language

There is no egg in eggplant not ham in hamburger;
neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
And while no one knows what is in a hotdog,
you can be pretty sure it isn't canine.

English muffins were not invented in England
nor French fries in France.
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads,
which aren't sweet,are meat.

We take english for granted,
but if we explore its paradoxes
we find that quicksand can work slowly
boxing rings are square
and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write,
but fingers don' find, gocers don't groce,
and hammers don't ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth
why isn't the plural og booth,beeth?
One goose,2 geese.So one moose,2 meese?
Is cheese the plural of choose?
One mouse,2 mice
One louse,2 lice
One house,2 hice?

If teachers taught,why didn't preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables
what does a humanitarian eat?

Why do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck or car and cargo by ship?
Have noses that run and feet that smell?
Park on driveways and drive on parkways?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
How can the weather be hot as Hell one day
and cold as Hell another?

When a house burns up,it burns down
You fill in a form by filling it out
and a alarm clock goes off by going on.

You get in and out of a car
you get on and off a bus
When stars come out they are visible
but when lights are out they are invisble.

And why,whenI wind up my watch,I start it
but when I wind up an essay I end it?
English is a silly language...
it doesn't know if its coming or going!!

*****************************************************
The poem is written by an anonymous poet. It was published in 2008 Kuwait Times.Exact date unknown.

Exam Phobia

Exams are nearing once more...

Oh the tension
The Agony...
To have to mug up all those books and one yard long answers...
It had been a relief some time ago to know that exam were over...
But boo hoo!Here they are yet again.
The sleepless nights
The pressurised mind
The overload,the strain
IT'S TOO MUCH!
I will explode soon
So will many others

Ain't these people got brains?
How can they pressurise us like this???
After exams too,are we happy?
The results are out and we are supposed to be celebrating...but instead we curse ourselves for losing those ,already lost marks.
I believe we still won't be happy even after exams are long over and we have 3 long months stretched before us to celebrate and enjoy...
Sigh...the hands typed these emotions and the computer converted them in legible language..
If you don't agree about this...please dont worry...These emotions are mine.

The Other World

The Animal Space

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"In the high mountains of Scotland

There is a hidden magical ruin

Where only the erudite go

But never the imbecile

Its towers reach the skies

Its power is the strongest in the world

The brightly lit corridors

And the feast laden tables

The mind opening classrooms

And the fun filled common rooms

The comfy dormitories

And the largest quidditch grounds

With matches and fights

The best home for the lone

The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Harry Potter

A poem composed on Harry by me...Its silly but still-

"Beneath that messy jet black hair,
Is an innocent face so fair,
His eyes are as green as pickled toad.
Left behind on his shoulders is a big load
For him and others it's now or never
He's the bravest wizard seen ever
The only one to defeat the Dark Lord
Know him before it's too late for you
He's the only one and ever
The brave,young Harry Potter."

Shopping in India

A man cannot live without shopping.That fact is quite true.No one can.

Try and find a person on earth who has never shopped,even for an apple.Maybe, in the thick regions of Amazon, the tribal people might never have heard a word like shopping but otherwise your search will be in vain.

What are the reasons for people to shop?Most common-for a thing that is needed at home,etc.But some people are just addicted to shopping.They just keep buying things that they never will nor want to use.There will be a lots of things that are unwanted in the wardrobe or on the kitchen shelves.A way of just wasting money,time as well as energy.



Shopping in India during monsoon seasons is a thing I detest.It's simply disgusting,when you have to wade through muddy pools of water and all of a sudden, a driver without much civic sense,splashes water on you.People ought to have some sense not to race during rainy days.

That all is okay,but the worst part about shopping during rainy season is that you struggle to hold th umbrella,at the same time the shopping bags.Maybe,a bag falls down during the struggle and all your money and shopping is down the drain.

Once,during the vacations last year, we(my sister and me) and a cousin sister decided to go shopping.

We set out on a Saturday,with our purses and umbrellas.Lucky for us,it was a sunny afternoon and there was not even a sign of a dark cloud in the sky.Chatting animatedly we started downhil.Soon we had spend most of our money jewellery shopping(artificial ofcourse!).
It was getting late,so homewards we started.

On the way,my sis suggested that eat bhel puri in some clean stall.We were overjoyed.(Even though we knew the consequences of eating out.)We ordered bhel puri and shev puri.Darn!...It was mighty spicy!
Now for the dessert.We ran out of money,so we decided to buy one cup of nutty fruitty.We all shared that Rs.15 cup!

The sun was setting behind the hills.It was beautiful ending to a wonderful day!

School Foundation Day

Our school, Gulf Indian School had celebrated the foundation day of 2008 on October 23rd. It was a great success. The theme for this year was “Around the World in 40 minutes.”
The teachers and students put together hard work. It included students from classes VI to XI.

The graceful dancers VI came in colorful dresses of Mexico.

VII showed their skills in acrobats and Russian dance.

The Portuguese dancers of VIII stunned the audience with their graceful moves.

The graceful Indian dance by the IX girls supporting pots on their heads held the audience spell-bound.

The IX boys did an Arabic dance with great moves.

X did not do anything because they were going to have boards and had extra classes.

XI did a rocking Cowgirls Dance and was declared by the audience the best dance till then.

The boys of XI did breakdance with great stunts that the audience screamed their approval.

XII again did not do because of the coming board exams.

Yet all this show was well appreciated by the guests and parents.The staff and students of GIS put together lot of hard work and achieved success.We,the audience thank the dancers as well as teachers for such an excellent breath-taking show!!

Scenes of India

Let me start from the time we landed at the Chattrapati Sivaji International Airport in Mumbai. When we were in the heart of the airport I almost screamed with joy,"Khed! Here we come!"
 Khed is my hometown. You can imagine a person's joy of coming to India after 4 years. The airport was unusually empty except for the passengers of Kuwait Airways and Jazeera flights and a few sleepy security guards. We had landed at the airport during the early hours of the morning. It was hardly 4 o'clock. I was traveling with my family- mother,father and elder sister. We collected our luggage and trooped out of the airport. My uncle and some relative were coming to pick us up. At the gate,we ran into them. Greetings,hugs and kisses were exchanged and we all hurried to the car. We all got in and the car moved out of the airport area. Looking through the window one can see the old and new sights of Mumbai. As we passed the posh are of the airport and into the city,it saddens ones heart to look at the rag-clad beggars sitting on the pavement and looking mournfully at the people who passed them. We caught sight of the first (Indian)dog after many years and it was quite pleasant to hear it bark, as though it was welcoming us into the sin city. The unmusical voice of the crows, soon reached our ears. We were passing,at that time at the most dirtiest place in Mumbai. The filthy dogs were making a loud racket. The stench of the uncovered drains reached our noses and filled us with disgust. The ragged beggars under their shacks looked as though they never did have a bath since two years.

Ah! The same old India! The same old Bombay! It hadn't changed even a bit since four years. Soon we were out of Mumbai and in some other city. We caught sight of the first cow since our arrival. Whatever city this was, it was hundred times better than Mumbai. At least it did not look much like a city, more like the countryside. The great mountains rose before us. On all sides there was greenery and nothing else. It was indeed a breath-taking scene.

It was almost noon. We ladies, having fallen asleep, woke up feeling ravenous. Mom, being a very strict disciple of cleanliness, had vowed before coming to India never to eat anything made outside. Like-Say no to 'pav',the traditional Indian bun.Say no to the 'bhel puri',etc. No to the Indian restaurants. But under given circumstances since she was very hungry and helpless, she asked the driver to stop at the next clean restaurant. We all trooped in the restaurant. It was a good, clean one. We decided to order 'puri bhaji'. Oh Lord! Deccan people always make spicy food. That aloo bhaji was so spicy that it felt like hundreds of cleats stomping on the floor of my tongue.

Anyway, we resumed our journey. Soon we were in our town! Cheers! I was so delighted to see the same old shops and same buildings. We unloaded our luggage in our flat and on the insistence of my uncle, we went off to lunch at his house. 
Indeed, we had a very pleasant time amidst all the cries, hugs and kisses!!

3 cheers for the Incredible India!!!