Toy train ride with Nilgiri Mountain railway

An incredibly late post is finally up, yay!

During our Ooty trip in last April, we had an exhilarating ride over Niligiri mountains on Ooty's popular toy train. This historic railway line has been operating since 1899 (founded during British rule in India) and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. 

These rare locomotive steam trains run from Ooty to Mettupalayam, covering 46 Kms and passing through 200 curves, 250 bridges ( including about 30 viaducts ) and 16 tunnels. Blame on lack of time, we had chosen to travel till Coonoor from Ooty (Udagamandalam), which is around 26km. We had booked our tickets well in advance over IRCTC website. It's very difficult to get tickets during peak time especially around summer vacation in India.

Here is the photo journal.... Needless to say, we had best time watching the breathtaking wonders of nature by enjoying the Nilgiris morning breeze patting over us. 

Project 365 :: Week 35

Day 236: Watching sunset from our corridor...
Day 237: Girl is attempting a new art on a paper plate
Day 238: Girl's new drawing– an elephant near a mountain and a smiling sun is peeking through...
Day 239: We spotted him today at the play area. Kids had loads of fun watching him!

India's Independence Day

India is celebrating 68th Independence day on 15th Aug. Over the weekend, we were playing with the tricolor...

My Sunday Photo :: Silent Sunday | 10 Aug 2014

My Sunday Photo

Project 365: Week 32

Day 215: Girl's new construction. Dad helped with the chair and background is from her imagination. 

Eid Craft

Eid is the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, the fasting month, for muslims around the globe. L and I did some quick craft work around eid. Sharing it below.

These little red seeds are natural ones found extensively in Kerala. Kids usually fall in love with these beautiful beads.  We collected these during our summer vacation back home.

My Sunday Photo/ Silent Sunday :: 03 Aug 2014

MySundayPhoto and Silent Sunday

Project 365 :: Week 31

Day 208: At Kerala to celebrate Eid with family. It's been pouring down like anything. Look at the flower from MIL's collection.

Day 209: Henna decoration on hands to celebrate eid on next day. Mummy's "art" on little hands.

Day 210: Girl on her Eid special outfit; all set to head to eid gah (prayer ground) to attend prayer.

Doddabetta Peak - Ooty

Pictures from Doddabeta Peak, Ooty, the highest peak of South India!

Tales from KG2 - 2 :: Beauty

Beauty is a term which needs a major re-definition, I suppose. It's high time we have to "un-learn, re-learn and re-define" it.

What made me think so? Nothing but whining of my preschooler.


Scene 1: We were walking towards our apartment after picking L from school bus. The worried girl asked me:
"Mama, do you think I have dark circles around my eyes?"
Mom: "What??? dark circle?? How did you learn this? Who said so?"
Girl: "Mr. J (her KG mate). He said it needs to be treated else I won't be pretty."
Mom: "There is nothing around your eyes. You look tired because you did not sleep well. You better not bother at all."
Girl: "But, Mama, J said it's there and it's bad." [He even suggested creams.]

I had tough time convincing my daughter that she just needs to ignore such blabbering.