Category Archives: Leisure

Leisure is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It also excludes time spent on necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education.

Leisure

The first weekend of 2013 ~ 4-day long

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Due to declaration of national holiday in Iraq for Arba’een on Thursday, 3 January 2013 the weekend holiday is extended to four days. It was already three days before due to Iraq’s annual Army Day falling on Sunday, 6 January 2013.

Arba’een is a Shia Muslim religious observation that occurs 40 days after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Imam Hussein and 71 supporters martyred in the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (680 CE), killed by Yazid I’s army. Forty day is the usual length of the time of mourning in many Islamic cultures. Arba’een is one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth, in which over 15 million people go to the city of Karbala in Iraq, according to Wikipedia.

This long weekend holiday is very boring in Baghdad with no activity except for sleeping, eating, television and web browsing. The last week was already a three-day week, with Tuesday, 1 January 2013 as the New Year day.

So, we had lots of holidays in Iraq in the first days of 2013. I miss such holidays when I am with my family. Then the time flies past so fast that 2 weeks seem to be just a few days, whereas it seems here that these holidays are wasted lazily.

Food, Leisure

Went for groceries, returned after having pizza

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It’s been long time that we went for shopping for groceries. We went to Green Apple supermarket. After our purchasing, we asked the driver to take us to Maximall in Al Mansour. It’s a Turkish mall and quite near to our house.

We went around the mall and went up to the top floor. It has a food plaza on the top floor. We had juice and pizza there.

View from the terrace of Maximall, Al Mansour

The juice vendor at Maximall

Food plaza at Maximall

As we were just strolling in the mall, we went up each floor by stairs. There’s a lift also, which we didn’t initially notice. But it’s not working, also. Later on, my local friends told me that there was an accident a few days back causing  a few casualties. Then I realized the reason for not working of the elevator.

Family, Food, Leisure, Travel

The last day of the Eid holidays

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After wonderful days of togetherness for the last 9 days, the last day has come for my holidays. Also, today is the day we are leaving Allahabad. Jaya is feeling very sad, of course as she has to take leave of her parents. It is a very sad environment at the house in the morning, with Jaya, Maa and Boudi crying.

Jaya, Babai & I are going to New Delhi today by Air India flight from Allahabad. I will leave for Baghdad at very small hours tomorrow and they will leave in the morning for Gangtok. Babai’s classes have started. Jaya is also going with Babai to see him off and will stay there for two days.

Babai needs to buy a few things for his hostel requirements, which Jaya & Babai will buy in Gangtok.

Our flight for New Delhi was scheduled at 2.35pm. It will go to New Delhi via Kanpur. Baba came to the airport to see us off. Dada could not come as Guttu was to participate in a song competition representing his school.

Waiting for our flight at Allahabad airport

It’s a small plane – ATR. We reached New Delhi at around 5pm. We had coffee and light snacks at IGIA, New Delhi and then proceeded for the hotel – The Metropolitan.

At The Metropolitan Hotel, New Delhi

After checking in the hotel, we had some tea and then went for a walk to a Kali temple nearby. It’s a very old Kali temple in New Delhi. Then we walked down to Connaught Place. Babai bought some gadgets at Palika Bazar.

Buying doughnuts at Dunkin Donuts

Then we went to Dunkin Donuts for some donuts. Then we went to KFC for fiery grilled chickens and slush.

Fried chickens at KFC

We completed our dinner at McDonalds with burgers. After that we walked down to our hotel.

Then burgers at McDonalds

It’s now time to part. The worst part of the trip has come. I will leave for airport shortly with the hope of getting back with Jaya and Babai again.

Family, Friends, Leisure

Relaxing at home

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After almost a year of hard studies at SMIMS and a grueling examination at the end of our first year, now I am at our home in Ranchi. While returning to Ranchi, I bought a few books for me to read and some DVDs of movies to watch.

After reaching Ranchi, I first went to Lalpur fish market to buy my choice fish and then got my laptop serviced and now playing games on it besides reading the books. It seems that it has been ages that I have played games like this.

Day before yesterday, some of my Bishop Westcott Boys’ School [BWBS] friends came to our house to see me. We had brilliant time with them. We went to our old childhood days. My mom cooked lunch for us and we had lunch together. Then we went out to a café for having coffee. A lovely day, indeed!

Leisure

Green Apple, Baghdad

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Since beginning of our stay in Baghdad we have not gone to markets for shopping things for security reasons. Of course, the security situations has improved a lot since then, however the same practice is continuing. The Bank has provided us with a person, who takes the list from us and goes to the market to buy the things with us.

We have no problem in this arrangement. We just thought of going to a mall in Baghdad to have a look around and buy the things that we need. We asked the Bank’s security to arrange for our visit. Today, the car came around 1.00 PM. We went to Green Apple supermarket near to our old Head Office building that was destroyed in June 2010 in twin car bomb attack.

It’s a nice, double storied supermarket. Although it’s not very big, it is well stocked and we could see most of the grocery items, food items that we need and many other things too. Some typical Indian spices were also there, which we bought.

We bought many things that we could not explain to the guy, who brings the things for us. Now, we are planning to go to market to buy our things regularly in addition to the normal service that is made available to us by the Bank.

This is our first shopping experience in Baghdad. I felt sad seeing our old Head Office building as it stands dilapidated, destroyed, abandoned like a raped, outcast, lonely woman.

Family, Food, Friends, Leisure

Evening coffee at Peerless Inn

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On the advice of the doctor, Jaya & I went to Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata for complete Diabetic check up. After a daylong tests at the Hospital, when we came out we were a bit tired. We were to go to the house of my cousin sister – Babuldi. We will be staying there tonight with them. Her daughter – my niece – has delivered a baby a couple of months back. So, we will be meeting our grandson too, there.

We called Soumya that we were leaving the hospital. He has actually arranged a vehicle for us. It will stay with us until we reach the airport tomorrow. He requested us to see him before we go to the Babuldi’s house for a cup of coffee. We were feeling to have some good coffee and also we have to pay him cash for settlement of the rent of the car.

Balduldi stays near Kona Expressway after Vidyasagar Setu. Peerless Inn will be a minor deviation from the route. So we agreed to go there for coffee. On seeing us Soumya immediately ordered for coffee. Also, we bought some chocolates and pastries for Babuldi’s house from the coffee shop at Peerless Inn.

The coffee was hot and nice. After the coffee, we took his leave and went to Babuldi’s house.

Family, Leisure, Travel

MG Marg, Gangtok

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An evening stroll in the famous MG Marg (Road) is a must for those visiting Gangtok. We are staying at Royal Plaza Hotel at Deorali. In the afternoon, Jaya & I planned to trek to MG Road. Babai would join us after his classes.

Nice pavements to walk

It’s an uphill trek. There is a nice barricaded pedestrian path besides the Highway. We crossed by the Paani House Shiva temple. There is a Irish Coffee Bar!!

Does it serve Irish Coffee? Well, I will check this next time.

Well, I did not check in to see whether it is only a name or really an exclusive Irish Coffee Bar.

Near Denzong cinema

Fountains at the central vista

We decided to meet Babai at the Denzong Cinema. Babai reached there in 10 minutes. Then we walked up the stairs from there to reach MG Road. The stairs are sidelined by various small shops.

MG (Mahatma Gandhi) Marg is the best place to spend your evening at Gangtok. This shopping area has flowers gardens and water fountains at center of the street. Vehicles are not allowed inside this market along the MG Road.

One can shop, eat or can just simply sit on one of the benches placed all over the market. The mood of this market is very lively and relaxed.

The central vista of the road is lined with many such benches. People sit and enjoy the leisure time on these benches. It’s quite difficult to get empty benches in the evenings.

We managed to find one. It’s good to sit and watch people moving shopping around. Also got some hot pop-corns to pass the time.

Beautiful MG Road

After the trek, Jaya was feeling a bit tired, so she planned to sit on the bench. She wanted to enjoy her pop-corn.

Need to relax after a long trek and of course some pop-corns!

After a very busy day of sight-seeing and a heavy lunch it was an ideal place to relax.

Then Babai & I went for a stroll on the road. Babai took me to show the location of the Main hospital, where he would be coming from next year as a part of his studies for MBBS.

Yesterday was Sikkim Day. So, MG Road was illuminated to celebrate. Some of the lighting work are still there.

Light decorations for Sikkim Day celebrations

There is a good Roll house, where we bought some Chicken Roll for our evening snacks.

Some hot chicken rolls for snacks, wow!

There is a nice souvenir shop selling Tibetan & Sikkimese items including prayer bells. We bought some Tibetan artwork as gifts for our friends. Then, we proceeded to our hotel by walk through a different road in the dark night. Now, it’s a down hill walk and so it took us less time.

Glittering city

Sikkim is a plastic free zone, so no plastic bags are allowed. Also chewing paan, paan masala, gutka is prohibited here. The rules are followed quite strictly here. I wish if entire India could adopt this rule and practice.

Leisure, Travel

Al Reem Lounge at Abu Dhabi airport

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On my way to Ranchi from my Baghdad today, I arrived Abu Dhabi airport by Etihad Airways. My next flight is after almost 6 hours! So, I decided to go to Al Reem Lounge at Terminal Number 1 for some cool rest and relaxations. It’s a 10 minute long walk from the Terminal 3.

I came to Al Reem for the first time. It’s really quite nice and cool. Its ambiance is also quite good. The food variety and quality is also quite good. The staffs here are also quite courteous. The only thing is that internet access is unsecured here unlike the Etihad lounge.

I also used the time by posting this from Al Reem Lounge.

Leisure

End of 9 day long solitariness

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The bank is reopening tomorrow. It was closed for 9 days on account of Eid-Al-Adha and the weekends. For the security reasons in Baghdad, I was in the state of solitariness for 9 days, almost. I, however, enjoyed this period of solitariness.

It was however broken a few times by our friend – Akhtar Tyebally. He came to our house once and I visited him twice. He stays near to our house and we can walk down easily. I had meals and Arak with him to kill the solitariness.

But, this solitariness gave me the chance to rediscover myself and also to break the monotony of routines. I only have one rule during holidays in Baghdad – “Sleep until I feel hungry and eat until I feel sleepy!” Of course, in between the eating and the necessary cooking I was enjoying TV, Internet and a novel.

The book that I was reading is named “Chowringhee”. It is an English translation of a famous Bengali novel of the same name. I read the Bengali novel almost 25 years back. This time while coming to Baghdad I picked up this book at the Airport. I however did not know that this novel will be a good partner during this 9 day long holidays.

Initially before the beginning of the holidays, I was a bit worried about how to pass the time, but believe me, I felt the time flew past soon!!

Somebody has rightly said “You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with”.

Leisure

Massage at Neo Veda Spa

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I was feeling for massage for quite some time. I could not get it done during my last visit to India. This time, I got some time due to delay in the visa formalities.

I walked into the Neo Veda spa at the Metropolitan Hotel, New Delhi, where I was staying. I opted for one hour Balinese massage. It was quite nice and relaxing. After the massage, had steam bath there.

Great, I am feeling refreshed and relaxed.