Happy Birthday Chaubabi

Justin 6 months old, Dubai

Our little monster is one year old now. Time moves so fast. Too bad I can't be with him and his mommy to celebrate his first year birthday thanks to the foggy weather in Silchar. They were supposed to fly out to join me on 29th Nov, but the flight was cancelled due to bad weather... Just my luck.

I'm leaving some pictures here for the benefit of my family in Malaysia who're wondering how he's grown.


6 months


6.5 months


Enjoying his bath, 7 months old






7 months old, Dubai


8.5 months old, a nice warm bath, ...he hates cold water




In his walker, Daund, 8.5 months old




9 month's old, full of energy


9.5 months old, Hyderabad


10.5 months old

Our fabulous Dubai life

The Kings of the UAE, in a shop, Dubai Mall

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end... Not to say that we're not good now, but it's different here, in Daund, ...very different, but that is another story. For the time being here's a glimpse of our life in Dubai.


A cafe scene, Dubai Mall


Cheap watch on display ...only AED 166,500/- (about the cost of my entire friggin condo in friggin KL)


The parking lot, Mall of the Emirates


Papa & son, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai


Mommy, Mall of the Emirates


Family picture, Dubai Mall


Our apartment - The Crescent, International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), Dubai


The pool at The Crescent


A bird's eye view of The Crescent


Lifts at Terminal 3, Dubai Airport


Bye-bye Dubai, Dubai Airport Terminal 3

For the sake of a post

Lord Krishna using a hill as an umbrella - seen at one of the hundreds of temples in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh state, India

This new job is killing. I've switched from having about an hour or more of internet surfing, to err... about 2 minutes per day, and that is if the friggin internet is working. The rest of the day is just work. The most hardworking I've been since the first job after graduation, I think.

OK, I've decided to leave some photos of Mathura / Vrindavan taken donkey years ago in conjunction with Janmashtami, Krishna's Birthday which'll fall on the 1st or 2nd of Sept this year. Mathura is the birth place of the Hindu god Krishna, and the Mathura-Vrindavan area is where he spent his childhood frolicking with the milk maids (he's quite a lady-killer as a boy) and performing his early miracles.


The Birla Temple dedicated to the Bhagavad Gita, Hinduism's holy scripture, on the outskirts of Mathura






Birla Temple, Mathura


The Pagal Baba (Mad Papa) Temple, Vrindavan


The Hare Krishna Movement Temple in Vrindavan

In Loving Memory - My Grandma (March 1917 - June 2010)

Christmas 2007

Ma,

Thank you for never giving up on me.

Thank you for staying so long to make sure we’re all OK before you go, although that means you have to suffer the indignity of not being able to walk, and to do things yourself, which you’ve always worried about, from before.

Thank you for showing me what love really is, some thing immeasurable, unilateral, without expecting anything back in return. I believe love like that doesn’t work in real life anymore. But you showed me what it means. You showed me the meaning of patience, of kindness, of perseverance.

Ma, I’ve been selfish. I’ve more than often taken advantage of my status as your favourite. Everything you’ve asked of me, is for my good, never for yours. That I give up my wild partying ways, quit smoking, quit drinking till I’m drunk, settle down and have a family, and be close to my parents and family, they’re all for my good. Thank you Ma, for loving me as I am.

Thinking back on the times I was with you, I’ve never heard you say, that you wanted to be with your friends, or to visit places you like. All you’ve ever wanted was for your family to be close, and for your loved ones to visit you once in a while. You’ve dedicated your life to your family. But never have you expected us to give up our lives to be with you. You are one great and unselfish Grandma. I understand your message now, Ma.

You rest well. You’ve definitely earned your peace. I love you Ma. Bye-bye. God bless you. And thanks God, for giving me such a wonderful person in my life.


Christmas 2007


Granny's Birthday 2008


Chinese New Year 2010

Prelude to the Freedom Flotilla

The Mavi Marmara, at the Bosporus, Istanbul - what d'ya know, we caught the thing on camera but didn't know it, thanks to Anu's trigger happy habit with the camera.


Another shot of the ship with Istanbul's Topkapi Palace in the background


Sultanahmet, Istanbul - this must be a recruitment drive or a publicity stunt for the Freedom Flotilla (and I thought they were having some sort of a Palestinian Trade Fair at the time, I had a brochure but threw it away). The mosque behind is the famed Blue Mosque.


Anu, with a view of one of the Bosporus Bridges connecting Asia with Europe


Baby on the Bosporus Cruise


A family shot in Eminonu, Istanbul, Turkey

The Many Faces of Justin

My parents always make fun of me... :(


Justin 4.75 months - genie style


How do I get rid of the fish?


No luck, still stuck


Justin 5 months - rocker style


Justin happy


Justin happier


What's going on?


Don't push your luck


Carry me! Carry me!