I am grateful to MS for the social network it has provided to me. I have got a lot of virtual friends many of whom have turned into real friends whom I interact on personal basis. I had gone to Bengaluru on 31st July this year and during my two days visit, met MSian friends like Mazhar Bhai (maaz_nawaz), Deepak Ji (deepak27) and Umesh Ji (derebail). Now I get some vacation to spend with my family outside my town only during the last week of December and the beginning of January because of the school holidays. Last year we had visited Goa during this period. This year, I decided to visit Bengaluru with family and welcome the new year 2011 with my MSian friends.
I got the train tickets booked and arrived Bengaluru with my family on 29th December. We reached Nahar Heritage on Saint Marks Road where Mazhar Bhai had already booked the rooms for us. After meeting him, we spent the first day at Bengaluru itself. He arranged our visit to the ground of the Cricket Academy where the cricketers practice. It's just adjacent to the Chinnaswamy stadium which hosts international cricket matches. My little son was very eager to visit this place. Courtesy Mazhar Bhai, I was able to fulfil his wish. The sad thing for me was that just one day prior to our arrival, two esteemed MS members - Swamiji (aaryesdee) and Khaled Bhai (bkaks) had left Bengaluru.
Next day, we moved to Coorg through taxi (again managed through Mazhar Bhai only) and had a good time at different natural places. We spent the night of 30th December at Dubare which is a very beautiful natural place. My children enjoyed there the company of elephants and myself and my son enjoyed swimming also. We got a cottage just in front of the water-body and the next morning was highly beautiful for us, a misty one, yet soothing the soul.
We came back to Nahar Heritage by 9 P.M. on 31st where Mazhar Bhai was waiting for us for the new year party. We played games and enjoyed the food and of course, met the family of Mazhar Bhai.
Next morning, i.e., the first morning of the new year 2011, Umesh Ji (derebail) came to meet us. We exchanged wishes, pleasantries and views. Umesh Ji was willing to take me to the Civil Defence Academy and myself was also eager to go and enrol there. However it would have been a time-taking exercise, hence Mazhar Bhai advised me to pursue it sometime in future when I visit Bengaluru alone.
In the evening, Deepak Ji (deepak27) visited us. As per our annual tradition, my wife cut the new year cake (that we had bought from the nearby market). Myself alongwith Mazhar Bhai and Deepak Ji had the pieces. Several issues pertaining to cinema, music, literature and of course, MS, were discussed.
On 1st and 2nd January too, myself and my family visited the local tourist attractions at Bengaluru (like we had done on 29th December). On 31st December and 1st January, I exchanged new year wishes telephonically with Fenil, Ajeet Ji (ajeet15), Virat (viratbond), Meghana (meghana.c) etc. It was a pleasure talking to the MSian friends.
It was a special adieu to the going year and welcome to the new year for me this time. I will cherish its memories for the years to come.
