Grassy Waters Preserve

The nature in Florida still seems exotic to me having lived here for over 6 years after coming from up North. I am getting more used to seeing alligators and much less afraid of them than I used to be, but they are still interesting to see in their natural environment.

Uday and I went to Grassy Waters Nature Preserve after we discovered it around the same time by a friend and one day while I was driving by it for work. We decided to go there last weekend and had a lot of fun taking pictures of nature. The big alligator in our pictures has a hump on his back and they named him "Humpy".















This little alligator was hanging out between the edge of the water and parking lot just minding her own business basking in the sun. Her face reminds me a little bit of my dog Boo with her slight permanent smile.



Here is another picture of Humpy heading towards us!



Uday can hardly believe his eyes when he sees Humpy swimming all the way over to us! I'm excited and am taking it personal that he must like us!!












Maybe he thinks we are going to feed him. We are tempted but we know it is not good for an alligator to get used to humans or they will have to be killed, and so we don't take any chances!



We know Humpy can find a meal in this diverse Preserve.


Grassy Water's Preserve is a perfect name for this park!



Uday takes a picture of this Lotus in the water and I love the reflection of it in the water..


We have fun watching the fish through the clear water.


Might be the next meal of Humpy!!


I try and capture these dragonflies, but they are fast and I am still learning the art of photography.



I take this picture and am not sure if it is a weird bug or if it is just a shell of a bug...


We take rest at one of the many lookout spots at the park. I love Tiki Huts!


I take more pictures of nature...


and practice perfecting more dragonfly pictures at a different location in the park.



Uday takes this cool looking bug! We are still trying to figure out what this one is called?


Uday and I take many pictures and video of this grasshopper and admire its exotic color and beauty.



Awwhhh... A face only a mother could love!


A green dragonfly that looks a lot like the leaf next to it, captured in a quick snap!


Another quick shot of this butterfly that only stood still for a split second. I noticed this same looking butterfly on the free poster we got at this Preserve in their learning center.


My close up picture of the Lotus flower at the Preserve.


We also met a nice guy there who does photography for a hobby and his website is called piginaswamp.com. You may click on the website name for a link of his nature pictures.

Here is short video of the alligators and grasshopper, enjoy!

Mean People Suck!

I thought long and hard before I wrote this blog but decided to write it being aware of a few things up front:

1. The main reason why people say and do mean things is for attention.

2. The second reason is a toss up between insecurity and jealousy.

Even though I may be giving into, at the very least, the number one reason why people say mean things, I find that it is sometimes helpful to "kill-em with kindness". Thus if it is attention this person wants, it is attention this person will get, because I believe it is for the greater good.

Recently I received a comment on my Bahama's Blog that I did not publish that said the following:

Hey Uday, the chick in your pics looks fat, you look cool though... Cheers man!

This comment was disturbing on many levels and it seemed obvious to me that this person was too cowardly to write their name and instead left it Anonymously. This illustrates the obvious, that Mr. Anonymous knew that he was being mean and he did not want to publish his name for the world to see the kind of person he really is.

I also found it interesting that it is clear throughout my blog that Uday and I are married and that Mr. Anonymous called me a "Chick" instead of "your wife". Perhaps he felt like saying "your wife in your pics looks fat" as too disrespectful (like a "your mamma joke") so he made me seem less personal to Uday as just a "chick". When all is said and done I am not sure if calling me a "chick" instead of "wife" shows more consciousness or less?

The other thought I had for a brief moment was, maybe he thinks that Uday is with someone else in the picture and this "chick" is not his wife, but if this was the case that Uday was with some random stranger in a picture than why would he care to comment in the first place? Then I came to my senses and left my innocence behind and came to the realization that Mr. Anonymous is really being mean...but why?

Why would this poser, (acting like he's cool with Uday) want to hurt my feelings and hurt Uday's?

Does it go back to his own insecurity about his life, or jealousy about our life, as he may not have all that we do? Or is it just the way our society is now?

I have struggled with my weight all of my life and I know better than anyone when I am gaining weight. I know that I look better when I am thinner and I know how much work it is to lose weight and keep it off as I have done it before. I have all of my excuses for gaining weight recently such emotional eating from stress at work, traveling to exotic places and eating their food, spending more time blogging than exercising, and thinking that I am pregnant every month to finding out that I am not. I know that these excuses are not good enough but isn't that my business and my bones to bare (no pun intended)! Last I checked my blog was not about being a beauty pageant winner or a playmate so how is his comment relevant in the first place?

I guess, I am sounding defensive but I have trouble with the pressure our society puts on weight, age and wrinkles (for women especially). I know our World is shallow but why does someone like Oprah have to feel embarrassed about gaining weight?

Oprah writes in her own magazine in Jan 2009, I'm mad at myself. I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, "How did I let this happen again?"

As much as eating healthy and exercising is important and usually makes one feel better, I'm here to tell Oprah, other celebrities, and people like myself who struggle with weight and mean people too, "There are more important things in life to concentrate on other than starving yourself and exercising your brains out!" Yes, there is a time and place for eating healthy and exercising, and yes I need to do more, consistently, but when is society going to concentrate on more important issues! Life is so short! If mean people could take that energy and help the homeless and starving children and animals around the world, not only would this be a better place but people like Mr. Anonymous would feel better about themselves. Oprah could concentrate on helping others, which in my opinion is what she does best, instead of spending all of her time controlling her portions and wasting the whole day at the gym to look good on her magazine cover. Imagine all of what people like Oprah could do if they set their mind to it if they were not in the gym 7 days a week? Imagine what the extreme skinny celebrities could do if they were not snorting cocaine 7 days a week to stay so thin?

When you Google Jessica Simpson or Jennifer Love Hewitt, weight gain comes up by their name. Why does this make headline news, because mean people suck and it goes back to the number one reason, attention and jealousy!

As much as celebrity's and non-famous people like me would like to say that they don't care what other people think, it is human nature to get hurt and in general it is not nice, and poor Karma to say negative comments about others especially in writing.

Hoping that "mean people" learn something from this blog, "Cheers"!

What Happens in West Palm Stays in West Palm!

Last weekend my cousins from my grandmother's side came down from Massachusetts for a visit and all of these pictures are courtesy of my cousins Debbie and Judy. I decided to take a break from the camera this weekend and just have fun and pay more attention to my guests as I sometimes get too carried away with the camera. They were interested in sightseeing and the nightlife that South Florida has to offer. Well they can't possibly come here to do sightseeing and not go on an air-boat ride to see the South Florida Gators. And I am talking about the real gators not the college football team... and that is the first thing we did. First they discovered the Everglades. This was my third time here and each time is a different experience, and never old for me!


It is always exciting to see an alligator in its own natural environment up close and personal and even more fun to be with others on their first time.


We learned that these birds are voted one of the prettiest in Florida and even more beautiful in person.



We also learned that they have a difficult time surviving due to being eaten by the alligators!


Below is a picture of my cousins Debbie and Sharon in front of the air-boat we were on.


Here Debbie, Sharon and Judy are being brave for a picture in front of an alligator that is coming towards them.


After the air-boat ride we went to see this "Alligator Dundee, Jr", play with his friends and answer questions for us. I appreciated the respect he had for the alligators and his warmth in protecting them.


He also had a little fun with the gator!


Bye Gators, until next time!


After leaving the Gators and stopping at a store where they sold Florida Oranges and other specialties from the area we were on our way to our next destination in the area called the Hard Rock Seminole Casino. Here the options are gambling, eating, dancing, and shopping to name a few. I can't say what we chose to do besides the awesome Italian Restaurant that we ate at because we had a girls day and night out with a secret pack! Below is a picture of the Hard Rock lit up at night from the parking garage as we were leaving!


Next Sharon, Debbie and I kept the party going and when we got home and changed we went out to City Place in West Palm Beach and had a lot of fun dancing but did not bring the camera.

The next night we got ready to go to South Beach in Miami and this time Uday joined us and Mom and Judy stayed home and relaxed.


Simba wanted to join the party but there was not enough room in the car!


We ate at a Latin fusion restaurant where the food servings were small but the food was very good. This was my first time having Spanish food gourmet style! Below Sharon and Debbie toast with their signature Miami drinks such as Sangria and a Mojito.



Below is Debbie and Sharon in front of Versace's old house.


and us too!


We had to show them Miami's most famous nightclub called Mangoes and Uday and I wanted to go in since we never have before but instead we all decided to go to the outdoor club called Clevelander where we could dance. At Mangoes it is all about watching the sexy male and female Latin dancers.


Uday and I had fun watching from the outside for a while.


Finally some dancing of our own. My cousin Sharon was the hit of the party with all of her groovy moves.


My cousins enjoyed some sunshine and relaxation at the pool at my mom's clubhouse during the day.


One of the days they were here I took Sharon and Debbie to Peanut Island for snorkeling and Mom took Judy to Busch's Wild Animal Sanctuary. Judy took a few pictures of what they saw at the Sanctuary. Sharon, Debbie and I did not take our camera for snorkeling. Later we all met up at the Tiki Bar and had lunch! It was a great South Florida day and the weather could not have been more perfect!!






Before they left they decided they had to go to the Breakers in Palm Beach for dinner. For those who do not know what the Breakers is, it is the most posh hotel in Palm Beach! It is the place to see and be seen! Uday and I decided to sit this one out! Below is a picture of the ladies outside the Breakers.


Now a few pictures of the inside...




Cocktail hour at the Breakers with the ocean view!


And Sharon being herself and adjusting well to the Palm Beach lifestyle!











Last but not least a picture of my Mom feeling like a princess with the royal treatment at the Breakers and with our cousins!


It was so fun having our cousins here for a visit and we can't wait for them to come back again! We will be thinking of what to do with them next time and hopefully more prepared to keep up with my cousin Sharon who was like the "Energizer Bunny". Hope they enjoyed a little bit of what West Palm Beach and the area has to offer! And remember "What happens in West Palm stays in West Palm!

Discovering the Grand Bahamas!

I am not sure that anyone lives for adventure like we do!!!

It's ironic how it is so much easier to get up early in the morning with very little sleep for something fun and exciting than it is to get up for work on a full 8 hours of sleep. Even though we live in south Florida and are loving it, I still find it exciting to go and visit other spots of paradise and so did Uday when he found out that I gave him a gift for a one night and two day trip to The Grand Bahama Island for his 30th birthday! My mom and I also bought him an underwater camera to use for snorkeling.


We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale at 5:45am for our cruise to the Bahamas on the Discovery Sun Cruise ship. It is smaller than a "typical" cruise ship but had a pool and included a complimentary breakfast buffet and on the way back the next day a free dinner buffet. I used the pool but Uday did not since it feels like their is an audience and everyone is watching, but it got hot and I was glad I had a swim in it and cooled off. It was filled with salt water from the ocean and I loved how much easier it was to float.


Uday's birthday was on September 24th but since we had to move out of our Townhouse that weekend because our new renters were moving in and it was too difficult to go that weekend, we went the following weekend on October 3rd and 4th. It was also good timing since Uday had been working really hard with his new job and we already could use a break from my Mom and she with us since we moved in with her for a while!




I was planning on catching up on some sleep and some reading on the cruise but Uday was too excited to check everything out and take pictures. For entertainment we played Bingo, explored the ship and did a lot of people watching. Their was also a casino on the ship but we did not go in there as we wanted to keep our money for the rest of our trip. We enjoyed the entertainment where they held contests for the people on board.


In about 5 hours we landed in Freeport Bahamas and after a somewhat long process at our hotel called Flamingo Bay, and we were off to visit the caves we learned about all the way on the east side of the island.


Driving fast on our rented scooter, Uday was in the front and I in the back, we were off on a new adventure. We were told it would take about 45 minutes but it seemed to be a lot longer than that until we finally reached our destination. As soon as we got there it began to rain. I did not mind it because my bathing suit was on under my blue cotton dress and it made it more exciting and fun with the rain. Giggling with my dress up above my knees I ran alongside Uday to take shelter in our first cave.




I know this is not very lady like but it was a long drive on the scooter and no restrooms on the long empty road of trees so with no one around and some shelter I used the cave as a good spot to take rest.


Then the rain got harder as we journeyed on through the trail to visit the next caves. I thought this cave made for a pretty picture.


After we visited the caves we walked across the street to go visit "Golden Beach". It was still raining but we came so far we did not want to turn around and leave because we knew that we would have no time the next day. In addition it was raining so hard that we probably would not get very far on our scooter.

We walked along a nature trail before getting to the beach and took some shelter under a pavilion waiting for the rain to ease up. We used this opportunity to spend some romantic time together and to take pictures of nature.


When we finally arrived to the beach we were disappointed that it was high tide! This beach is famous for its beauty at low tide, thus the name "Golden Beach" for the length of beautiful sand. But we still went for a swim in the rain and enjoyed the warmth of the ocean and took more pictures of nature. If we get to go back again we will definitely plan it out better to see this beach at low-tide. It was interesting to me to see the underneath of trees.


Besides a few people in the distance that we thought were drowning for a little bit and then realized they were just having fun along the sand bars in the middle of the ocean we had the whole beach to ourselves and shortly these people also left.



We reached back to our hotel by nightfall and went downtown to Lucaya for some dinner and night entertainment. We danced to some live reggae music and then a D.J playing dance music and we had a lot of fun.



The next morning we ate at the Greek restaurant which was also where I had the best coconut shrimp the night before. We were told that this Greek place, ironically was the best restaurant in town and they also made local food. I had the best coconut french toast I have ever had for breakfast. Actually the only coconut french toast I have ever had! I would recommend this place for dinner or breakfast!!


All of the snorkeling trips got canceled this morning due to not having enough people to take out so we searched and searched for a place to snorkel and finally found out about a place all the way on the west side of the island called, "Deadman's Reef" at Paradise Cove. Uday was a little frightened by the name of the reef because he is always thinking about sharks but before we knew it we were back on our scooter again for another long ride. This was another place where we practically had the whole beach to ourselves and were met by a nice guy who works there selling snacks and snorkeling equipment.


Below is just a few examples of the beauty we found here but as usual these pictures do not do this place justice.


"Deadman's Reef" - is called so because if a ship were to miss spotting this reef and hit it might lead to their death as it is huge and even bigger underneath the water!



The water was very clear and perfect for snorkeling!





There were a lot more fish that I did not get on my camera but Uday got on his new birthday gift, filming with his underwater camera.

We did not snorkel the whole reef because we did not want to be late and miss our cruise ship back home. But after Uday talked more with the guy who worked there, took more pictures at Paradise Cove, we had just about the time we needed to get gas, get back to turn in the scooter and get our luggage at our hotel.

But since Uday and I always run late and get side-tracked easily we decided to take pictures of all of the conch shells we saw along the way and to take one stinky one home with us.




We suddenly realized that we had less time than we thought and that it takes more time than we thought to do everything we needed to do to make it back to our ship on time. In a panic and driving as fast as our scooter would go we tried to think positive!


We turned in our scooter and got a taxi from there to our hotel to pick up our luggage and the taxi guy charged us "an arm and a leg", could have been literal with how fast he was driving to help us get back to our ship on time!

We were so happy when we got through immigration before they closed and saw our ship! Even though we had fun and we would have liked to stay longer we knew that Uday's new job may not be so understanding as well as my Mom who was taking care of our dogs.


Once on the ship it was interesting to see this twister or water sprout over the ocean near the Grand Bahama Island, as I have never seen one in person.


We did some more relaxing and had a frozen drink and enjoyed more entertainment and our dinner buffet!


Before we knew it we were back home in Florida and it felt like we had a vacation! I was glad that Uday seemed to enjoy his 30th birthday gifts! Happy Birthday, honey!

Click on the picture below to see more pictures from this trip:


Click on the picture below to see a short video of our trip:

Back Home in America!

July -
We arrive back home in America after spending two weeks in India just in time to recuperate and get ready for my favorite holiday, Independence Day. I have now discovered a new found appreciation for America and enjoyed spending the 4th of July on Delray Beach, Florida this year. Ahh it is good to be back home!


Uday and I both love Delray Beach especially since this was the town we got married in. We walk towards the beach where they will be setting off the fireworks.














We make some friends and I just love their "Patriotic look"! It doesn't get better than this on the 4th of July!!


We also meet another nice couple who have extra 3-D glasses and they give them to Uday and I. This was the first time we both ever watched the fireworks in 3-D.



It is like looking at a kaleidoscope!












Time moves on and we are back at home enjoying our dogs. Simba continues to be curious and fits in quite well with the family.




August -
We do some more exploring of Florida and decide to visit "Blowing Rocks Preserve" in Jupiter, FL. I join Associated Content and Examiner as a new writer and I publish an article on examiner.com on the "Blowing Rocks Preserve". Click on the picture for a link to this article.


We can't resist frequent visits to Peanut Island off of Singer Island and Riviera Beach, FL where we snorkel often. It is a $10 round trip ticket for a 10 minute ride on the Water Taxi to get over to the Island to snorkel for free. Every time we go it feels like we are on vacation and I still can't believe we live here!


There is also a Tiki Bar stationed here while we wait for the Water Taxi and it is not only a great place to get tropical drinks but they have a good menu and live music!



We take some fun pictures snorkeling but the pictures of the fish do not do this place justice. The snorkeling is great here but the pictures often come out blurry!

Uday's ready for snorkeling...


and so am I....


there is always lots of fish here!


But not always jelly fish, I guess this is season!


We also visit another favorite spot in our area called Bush Wild Animal Sanctuary, where they rescue wild animals and return them back to nature whenever possible and when it is not possible they take care of them at the sanctuary. It is a free place to see and learn about these animals but they need all the donations they can get to stay running.


They have many types of animals here and we took a picture of only a few since they are fenced in and the pictures do not come out is good as we would like. Below is a Florida Panther and they have a few of them here that used to be someone's pet and were de-clawed and cannot survive in the wild this way. One of them is actually named Simba, like our dog and they look alike too!


We enjoyed this very cute owl...


this pretty Falcon, which by the way, Madonna said she would be if she could be any animal!


And this Florida bird that I believe is called a Blue Egret and many, many more creatures ...


September -
In addition to enjoying being home and doing tourism in and around our home town we have been busy packing and getting ready to move out of our town-house and in with Mom since we got renters and we put an offer on another home. Since the offer is on a "Short-sale" we know that it will take some time and we are thankful that we can stay with Mom along with our two dogs, Boo and Simba, and her dog Hailey.

Before we know it we have moved our stuff to storage and are living with Mom. Here is a picture of the three dogs getting along on the bed we will be sleeping in for a while.


We continue to keep so busy that it is difficult to keep up with my blogs but as long a we are still having fun, it's all good!

June 12th & 13th "The Real India"- Touring Secunderabad and Saying Good-Bye to Family

June 12th,

It reminds me of Slumdog Millionaire when Uday decides to give me a tour of where he hung out as a child, in his city called Secunderabad, as we casually watch people walking on the tracks before crossing the railroad ourselves to get to the other side. Although it happens in America as well, now that I have seen a good part of India, I am not shocked about kids hanging out around the railroad tracks in India, as I am in the United States. I realize that India has expanded my mind and I am not sure if it is in a good or bad way yet. Have I already normalized kids living in risky situations and hardships, or have I learned that what I define as "dangerous situations" are not how they are defined here?











We move on and Uday shows me the green water that he and his brothers used to play and swim in along with the cows. He tells me that the only thing that happened from being in the green water was some itchiness. Instead of taking the stairs, we began to climb the steep hill to the Muslim Mosque. Uday tells me that he believes that since he climbed these rocks so much as a child that this is the reason he loves to climb rocks to this day. I take my shoes off and follow this nice lady who does not speak any English into the Mosque and I am surprised by how plain it is inside especially compared to the Hindu temples I have visited. My stay inside the Mosque is short, before joining Uday for more of the tour outside.


Just as I think I am beginning to learn to expect the unexpected in India I am surprised to see a small Hindu Temple just below and on the same property of the Muslim Mosque.













We watch people bang on rocks for a living to break them into smaller pieces to sell them for building roads and foundations for houses and such. It seems like an unbelievable task to do it the old-fashion way, especially in this day of technology.


Wherever Uday and I go we like to get in touch with nature and see where the locals live and since this is Uday's home town it was fitting to get a walking tour and see the sights. My favorite part of walking around his home town was seeing the wild animals. I found the wild pigs particularly cute.











I also enjoy seeing the hens, but I know that the pigs are safe in India from being eaten but the hens will not last long. I continue to feel badly for the dogs with no homes and the cows that seem out of place.



















Although we may have passed one grocery store type place in India, for the most part from what I observed is that people go to specific stores for specific things. This also feels old-fashion to me and not very advanced. In the U.S.A. I hate grocery shopping and feel that it takes too much of my time but in India it is even less convenient. One store for chicken, one for rice and one for vegetables. Here there are three next to each other but what about all the other needs. Not a lot of people have refrigerators and the people who have them do not have ones as big as ours in the U.S.A. It appears that many people get their food fresh, cook it and eat it , and do this routine on a daily basis. Many things such as milk are delivered by foot to the home daily.


Here is a common way of transporting food from the store to home is illustrated below.


I have already seen many electrical wires much worse than this one and have shown some of them on previous blogs of the "Journal of the Real India" but this one was special since it illustrates a guy working on the wires with no safety precautions like we have in America. In fact, I think he is standing on some trash in order to reach the wires. If I haven't already said it, "India is like looking at the past and into the future all at the same time". It is ironic to see a country that still lives in many ways in a "3rd word mentality" and at the same time so technologically forward that the most advanced countries call to get technological help from India. I find myself wondering if our world looked like India in Europe during the Industrial Revolution and I wonder if places like America and other countries will look like India in the future, with over population and growing poverty. Time will tell but as for now, I appreciate the opportunity to recycle and live in a cleaner, more convenient, "equal opportunity world" outside of India. A world full of technology and luxury where we hardly see wires hanging, let alone streets decorated by them.


Time continues to go by slowly in India and the non-native (me) is getting restless. After more rest and relaxation we decide to go shopping after we come home from touring the neighborhood. Actually I beg to go shopping as I have not bought any gifts for my mom and we will be leaving tomorrow. Uday kept telling me to not buy anything until we get to Hyderabad and now that we are here he has not felt like taking me to the place to get gifts. Luckily for me Pradeep's wife Aruna, is also interested in going shopping and helped make it happen. No matter what culture one comes from, most girls want to shop!


Uttam drives into Hyderabad to a place called Charminar. It is full of Muslim women all dressed in black and street vendors as far as the eye can see down the many streets in the whole town. A hustle and bustle atmosphere quickly becomes stressful with Uday trying to bargain to get the best deal. After being here several hours and beginning to lose patience with Uday's "bargaining". He finally gives in, even though he is not completely satisfied that we are getting the best deals and I buy three purses for friends at home, a red and gold lace scarf used at marriage that I know my mom will use as a decoration for her home, two black scarfs, one bangle that Uday talks me into buying for myself since this place is most famous for their bangles and a few thinner bangles for the girls at work. We search everywhere but cannot find the small gold mirrored elephant that I got in Jaipur and accidentally washed and ruined at Uday's parents home. I also purchase this really scary looking gold mask that is suppose to be hung outside the door of your house to keep the evil spirits out and everyone things I am strange for liking it.










After feeling pretty satisfied about my purchases (all but the gold elephant) and Pradeep and Aruna feeling good about what they bought for themselves we take a few more pictures and try to get back in time to go to the nightclub. To make a long story short instead we go out for dinner and get chicken biryani for the second time in Hyderabad and this time we get it to go. We are exhausted from shopping and looking forward to having biryani from where it became famous.



It is truly awesome to see all three brothers get along so well with each other, while they are all so different from each other in personality.


June 13th

We only have until about 2pm before we will be leaving for the airport and it is captivating to see how the family is responding to saying good-bye. The family seems more emotional than they did in the beginning. It is interesting to note how I am feeling anxious to go back to the comforts of home and see my dogs yet at the same time feeling sad. I never expected to have such a good experience with Uday's family especially with our past history.


I really appreciated getting to know Uday's dad better than I thought, since in the past he told Uday he would disown him if he married me and never spoke with me on the phone. In person I could see how much love he has for his kids and the role he plays in the family as "peace-keeper". I am not sure if everything would have stayed as calm and gone as smoothly had it not been for Uday's dad.

Uday's mom and I had a very difficult past when she came to visit before our wedding and I was very afraid of the same things happening when visiting this time, but with two years of healing and making amends, Uday's mom was very nice and cooked incredible meals. Ironically, she had her own gold elephant and was nice enough to give it to me since I could not find another one to buy. "The elephant in the room that no one was talking about" as the saying goes, was transformed and the old elephant was washed away. This new elephant was a gift and not a curse and I very much appreciated the kind gesture; the amends and the gold elephant itself. I had a pink one when I was a kid that I remembered being fascinated with and somehow it got broken and I have wanted another one ever since. It is so nice to feel more like family after being married to Uday for two years, I finally feel I'm a part of his family.










In addition to missing his family, I know Uday will really miss those mangoes that he had at least one or two a day of when he was at his parents home.


Uday loved these special Indian mangoes so much that he had difficulty sharing and if no one asked, he did not offer.


Even though I did not feel Uday was nice to his dad during the Ramoji Film Studio outing, their love and caring for each other is undeniable and also very cute. I realized just how much Uday and his dad are a lot alike, during this trip.



I loved getting to know my two brother-in-laws... Pradeep, the tall one with the mustache, a truly good human being, who is sensitive, innocent and a lot of fun to go dancing with.


Uttam, Uday's younger brother and I got to spend more time together, and I enjoyed my time with him very much. Uttam is "the thinker" and taught me about how much time there is in India to be able to think. He also taught me how in "India everyone is an actor and how everyone thinks that everyone is acting". Not only is he a deep thinker and in my opinion a great actor, as well, he is more sensitive than he gives himself credit for and I appreciated him being in tune with me and trying to make me feel comfortable even when I was angry and disappointed with Uday. I felt connected to Uttam in a spiritual way and felt like I could listen and talk with him for hours. I know I will miss him and I already do. Even though I did not get to know him for long, I feel comfortable with him as if we have been friends for a long time.


Saying good-bye is hard to do, even more so after getting to know much more about you. We will meet again, we just don't know when, so for now we will keep re-living the good memories until then.

Below is a little clip of how Uday and Uttam chill at home doing their version of a tribal dance called "Theen Maar" (meaning "Three Beats"):



This is my last journal entry of "The Real India" until we visit next time. I leave India feeling like a changed person with the positive and negative experiences in me, I have grown and somehow feel more enriched. I begin my journey home with more gratitude and with more satisfaction that my life is good. As for the well-being of our world, I question this more.

June 11th - "The Real India" - Ramoji Film City

June 11th

Feeling peaceful and relaxed, the whole family decides to go to Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, for some tourism as a family. I get so much positive reinforcement from the family just for doing the dishes that Pradeep's wife and I are fighting over who is going to do the dishes especially since it will look bad for whose ever wife is not doing the dishes. We decide to compromise and wash them together. A little later I catch Uttam washing his dish... and he says he never does dishes!











While we are washing the dishes, Uday is hanging out with his dad and very happy that he and the rest of the family are able to talk his dad into going with us this afternoon. His dad does not want to spend the money and have to do all that walking, but agrees to go anyway after some convincing.


The family hires a taxi since there are too many of us to fit in their small car and we are on the road for about two hours.









I am not sure what to expect, but I picture Bollywood dancers and singers somewhere with a colorful background. I just hope I get to meet the most hottest actor in Bollywood movies right now named, Sharukh Khan. We enter and the suspense builds.


I am surprised to see "Guinness World Records" and "Largest Film Studio Complex in the World", on the Ramoji sign. Now I really have my hopes up on what we will experience here.


We watch some dancers dressed in traditional costume as we wait to get on the bus that will take us further into the Park. I can't image how uncomfortable that nose ring must be on the female dancers.


Soon after we enter the park I find it funny to see an Indian dressed like an American Indian. I can see why the first explorers in American named our Natives, "Indian".


Just into the park after the long car ride and ready for a little rest and relaxation, especially Uttam.













Finally some picture time with the family with some outdoor scenery. First the male Kumars...


Next the female Kumars...


More pictures...


Uday and Uttam...


Uday and Pradeep...


I snap a picture of Uday modeling and like how his shirt blends nicely with the wall. I also could not resist taking these picture perfect flowers.










After much walking we finally get to the movie part and I begin to notice how sweet and romantic Pradeep and Aruna are together. It is interesting for me to watch them knowing that they had an arranged marriage and did not begin to know each other until after being married.


Staring Pradeep and Aruna - the innocent lives of each individual turns into an everlasting love together forever.


Pradeep and Aruna go off on their own for a while to spend time together while Uday becomes busy yelling at his dad for not walking with Uday's Mom. He is so busy lecturing his dad about how unromantic he is and not a good husband that I am spending my time hanging out with Uttam. I feel angry with Uday for creating drama and negativity when everyone is getting along and happy. I am thankful that Uttam is there and I really enjoy his company and laid back attitude that Uday once had. I also find it ironic that Uday is criticizing his dad meanwhile he should be looking at himself. The therapist in mean thinks that he is mad at his dad because he sees his dad in himself and vice versa and wishes he was more romantic himself (hmmmm... I feel like I have written this before). But Uday says he was angry at his dad because his dad was not doing what he would like him to do. We all meet up again at the cowboy stunt show and I take these funny pictures of the guys. Uday takes a picture of me and Aruna but we don't look as funny as they do.




It is very hot and I can't seem to drink enough water. I am still "not feeling" Uday, so I decide to spend more time with the rest of the family and by myself. I am very pleasantly distracted by this monkey that found a snack and enjoy taking a few snapshots. This monkey seems like it is equivalent to our squirrel in America in the way that it is common here and not caged.



















I with Uday's father, and Uday with his snack, are getting ready...











to watch a dancing style Bollywood Act...










Uday and Uttam were drooling over this white older woman from Russia, with her slim figure and long hair. I agreed that she had a very nice body but I was mostly jealous that she had the job of my dreams (if I can't be on Broadway or Las Vegas). I fantasize about moving to India and giving up everything to be a dancer here even if it is at a "cheesy want to be like Universal Studios" but not even close, place. No offense to this place, as I especially enjoy the show, but compared to the theme parks in Orlando this park was a big disappointment.


But I didn't go for the park as much as to have a fun family outing with Uday's family, one that we never had before ,and who knows if we would ever be able to have again. I still feel sad that Uday decided to let his ego make the experience a lot less desirable than it could have been. I feel bad for Uday's dad who did not want to come in the first place, feel a little bad for myself that I am lonely and embarrassed about Uday's behavior and feel bad for Uday that he might regret his choice when ever he gets over his ego. Even though I am having a "pity-party" in my mind, I put on a happy face for the rest of the family's sake and decide to speak to Uday when we return back at his parent's house in private. Here we all are taking "happy" pictures.










Uday's family does not appear to take Uday's attitude as personally as I do. Here is a picture of Uday's parents, Lalitha and Prem holding hands on there own account and also some beautiful night scenery.













With the peace and relaxation gone, that I had when I entered the park, the night at this park is nevertheless, spectacular. Even though we are all tired and hot, I am glad that we stayed so long to see the different monuments and structures lit up. It has potential to be a very romantic spot.

Click on the picture below to see all of our pictures of Romoji Film Studio: