Back to work :-(

After a kind of a long leave, including the weekends which are default holidays, am back to the torture chamber called office.

The biggest turn off for me personally where my work is concerned isn't so much my work per se or even my boss - it has more to do with the location of my office which is in one God forsaken corner of town where the traffic planning went awry but yet the building got its approval from the local authorities to proceed with construction and occupation.

I just hate to think that one needs to spend at least two hours daily just travelling to my office in the morning of working days.

Trust me, travelling home from this place after office hours is far worse and that should explain to you why I end up spending most of my time at work till late night.

Naina's birthday

Hey, today is my father's birthday. The young at heart turned 68 today.

We had a very cosy celebration at home and this 68-year-young chap got to cut two birthday cakes with his beloved grandsons Avinaash and Durveish. What luck!

Anyway, the fact my sister, her husband, their two children, my brother and the Scandinavian Prince was present to celebrate his birthday, put a big smile on his face.

Late Lunch In Seremban

I know, I know, I just returned last night from a long haul journey from Terengganu and today I'm back on the road again.

This time around the Scandinavian Prince and I are heading to Seremban in the state of Negri Sembilan.

We went to Seremban on Little One's Deepavali lunch invitation - that's her hometown. We had a wonderful time there with Little One's parents Mr and Mrs Ganapathy who were great hosts.

Although the invitation was for lunch, by the time we arrived at Little One's home, it was almost four in the evening but we were hungry nevertheless and thoroughly enjoyed the lunch prepared by Mrs Ganapathy. Thank you so much!

Due credit must also be given to Napster, the furry and fury canine called Napster. He was such a playful puppy who was a little big to be called a puppy but he was adorable, nevertheless.

Not to forget, our Seremban trip was very meaningful also because Ms. Wise One was present too - the four of us also had dinner that night at a Chinese vegetarian restaurant and proceeded tohave "supper" at a hawker centre.

Back to KL on Boo's birthday

Hiya, after several days spent in the east coast state of Terengganu for the Festival of Lights, today I safely returned home to good old Kuala Lumpur and also to my sweetheart the Scandinavian Prince.

Boy, did I miss him while I was away for a holiday with my family.

Anyway, today also happens to be my sister-in-law Ms. Bavani's birthday...Boo turns 27 today and I hear from my brother Suresh that they had a very quiet celebration.

Best wishes to her!

DeepaRaya on the road

There is an old saying that goes along the lines of "we only plan, God decides".

I think the saying is just so apt in my case this time around. What can you say - I drove all the way from KL to Terengganu, which is about some 400km away from the capital of the country, despite my flu, fever and cough.

On reaching my cousin's house at about 4pm yesterday, I was looking forward to unload my luggage and spend some time taking a nap as I only finished work at abut 2am on Wednesday morning - and I woke up at 6am to get ready for my long trip to Kerteh. Not to mention that I was leaving behind my sweetheard, the Scandinavian Prince who I have been missing like crazy to say the least.

But true to the "I only plan, God decides" saying, my plans were to be foiled by an unexpected turn of events. On reaching the door steps of my cousin's house, we were warmly greeted by her hubby and two girls - Alicia and Pinky.

Soon after, we got a phone call from my uncle who was supposed to join us in celebrating this Deepavali away from Kuala Lumpur. The call was to relay that he had met with an accident on the way to Terengganu and his car couldn't move. He was only past Temerloh when the incident happened.

Luckily, he wasn't injured. But the problem was, his accident and car had to be sorted out, which he managed to do with the help of his insurance company's appointed tow truck operator and panel workshop. But the real test came as someone had to go get him from Temerloh, which is about three hours drive from Kerteh in Terengganu and return to Kerteh again - so, in all, we're talking about another six hour drive to and fro.

My cousin's hubby offered to drive his Nissan Terrano and I felt it was only fair that I followed him as I wouldn't want to be left alone on a long distance drive, especially one on the eve of the auspicious festival of Lights.

So, my father too decided to join and the we started our journey at about 5pm from Kerteh heading to Temerloh amid bad weather - on nearing the location, my uncle contacted us to say that he has left the accident spot to the Mentakab police station to lodge the report and has the car taken to the insurer's appointed panel workshop in Mentakab light industrial area.

When we reached the place it was almost 9pm and by the time we got my uncle from the workshop and got back into the main road heading out of Mentakab, we decided we better have a quick meal as it would be past midnight when we reach home. So we decided to have KFC and make do with it.

We safely reached Kerteh again at about 1am today, which Deepavali day and the family decided to have the dinner which was prepared by my cousin. By the time we slept, it was almost 3am.

Woke up at about 7am, bathed, prayed and got ready for the traditional family breakfast on Deepavali day.

Then the day went on slowly as my cousin had several visitors to her house for lunch.

So my Deepavali this year, which was only a few days ahead of Hari Raya celebrated by the local

Muslims, was actually, a huge part of it spent on the road.

Never mind that i wanted a change of environment to celebrate this occassion, but I got one that I never imagined or would have asked for...DeepaRaya on the road literally.

Nevertheless, I'm thankful that we were all safe and sound. And for a real change, I did achieve what I wanted - I celebrated Deepavali in the comfor of home, with my parents and close relatives in a different state where we couldn't go to the temple as the first thing to do in the day like we used to and much more.

This is definately a Deepavali on the road to remember!

Far away from busy KL

Hey, guess what? I made to Terengganu from Kuala Lumur in less than 5 hours!

From the Karak highway, I took the exit that led me to the newly completed Karak-Kuantan highway - it was a breezy ride all through!

It takes about under two hours if you're in the constant 110kmph speed to reach the Kuantan toll and thereafter, for those heading to Terengganu, its back to the old but good road to drive along.

Professionally speaking, I think this highway a has a long way to go in terms of the road quality in terms of levelling and signages but I've no complaints for now as they're still new and hello, what am I complaining about when prior to this highway, I always loathed traveling to the east coast.

That's what being grateful is about, isn't it?

Anyway, I drove all the way from KL to Kerteh to my cousin's house where my family and I will be spending our Deepavali this year. It will be a much anticipated change.

Ready for a getaway

No I'm not joking - indeed, today after work, I'd be off on a holiday.

Finally, I get to do this after reaching the "I'm-almost- burnt-out" stage.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 10 November 2004, I'll be leaving good old Kuala Lumpur for the peaceful and quiet Kerteh in Terengganu.

It will be an approximate six hour drive from this cosmopolitan city to reach the east coast state of Terengganu but having been there before, I'd tell you that it is really worth the drive, time and money spent on fuel and toll.

This shall be my first trip to Terengganu after the Karak-Kuantan highway has been open to motorists - in the past, there was no highway for those heading to the west coast.

So, in the good old days, it would take one about 9 hours drive to reach this destination, taking into account brief pit-stops for a quick visit to the loo, refuelling and meals.

One had to be content with using the old road once the Karak highway ended past Genting and Bukit Tinggi.

Am eager for this getaway, as much as I'm eager to know what this year's festival of lights will be like - celebrated away from home but with the company of my parents.