off to q8

We have Irish breakfast from the hotel. Second time not that tasty.

@Bewley

Flight is in the afternoon. Till then we go round n round Dublin city. Fantastic place. 

Bye bye Ireland. I still can't believe it. Anyways....... I don't expect any casualities during our flight to Kuwait. Inshallah!

@ Dublin airport

@Dublin

We start early. 9o'clock. Reach Dublin by 1. The first thing is to visit The Guinness Brewery.

view from the brewery

James Joyce

in memory of war martyrs

last chance@ Dunnes

My last shopping. Finally I got over europhobia, now I'm euromaniac. But my wallet is empty. Whatodo? Anyways I buy some momentos for colleagues and lacy stuff for BFF. Sighs...

Of all these days, he chooses to come today! Martin chettan the savior of homesickness n the server of Indian vegetables, powders and other stuffs. Long live Martin chettan.

Packing n packing n packing....... 

O My God, what  do you know of packing? 

fire@home

Last day @ the library. The librarian invites us for Reading Day on Sept 2. Of course we are delighted to grace your library. The only trouble is that we will be in Kuwait that day. Sniff sniff.. As usual we wander mainstreet n end up in Courtyard. No more euro to buy steak.

I drink Jalapeno coffee from Joe Jackson's. It's already sweetened ! No one tells me. So I ask the ladybird to add sugar. Phew ! 

In honor of the visiting dignitaries, my bro-in-law lights up the fireplace. Cool. 

Going Irish

The count down has begun. Only 3 more days to go. I'm busy ticking off my Irish bucket list. The first in the upgraded list is to have an early morning Irish breakfast. Totally Irish. It' a rainy day. Forget about 'early bird ', we will have 10 o'clock 'full Irish' breakfast.We sisters walk to Kelly's without raincoats nor umbrellas just like the Irish.

Quite a filling one. Totally delicious if eaten in the proper way. The bacon pieces are extremely salty, beans sweet, black n white puddings taste like meat cutlets and  egg on potato bread bland. Just kidding. We try all the sauces n powders available. Now, it tastes much better n we happily break our fasting and almost lick the plates. No more food today. 

The young rascals at home are getting restless. The bookworms have done with the library books. The fight for TV remote has began. They haven't gone out for the last 2 days! So, after a biriyani lunch, we take them rascals to their right place- ' Dizzy Rascals'. Heee heee

The hunt for suitcase

Did I tell you about the only causality that happened during our trip to Ireland? We start at 4 am and without much ado reach Dublin at 4 pm. Upon braving out the heavily accented Irish immigration officer, I count my kids and suitcases. 3 each. Battered, jet logged but under control. Then I see my American Tourister suitcase of 3 years ! Somebody has manhandled it, the handle is broken beyond repair, it's almost open and barely holds together with the locks on each sides. By the grace of The Queen of Ireland, the inside stuff remains there. Just imagine...... Thus the official hunt for suitcase begins from day 1. On that pretext, we sisters shop n shop. Why didn't we see a single suitcase in any of those shopping malls? Anyways, it's time to pack, no more time to waste. Thanks to my sister's friend Smartypants, I own one from Ireland !

During our last trip to the library, Mirchi pesters me for this huge lollipop. Lollipop? He gets ice cream instead. Because we have left the four kids alone at home, I buy lollipops as a compensation. Holy Poppins ! You should see my teenager smile. Anything for your smile my dear.....


As you know, my little sister is a fantastic cook. You may not know that both of us are fida about mushrooms. This is the third time she makes mushroom masala exclusively for me. You have no idea. It's extremely hot n tasty like her prawn masala. Bon appetit cherie !

@ Bushmills' wonder

Today's agenda is to visit Giant's Causeway, Rope bridge, Old Bushmills distillery and then to meet a cousin sister n family at Belfast. Thus, we are going to UK again. Third time lucky, I guess.

@ Lough Foyle Ferry

Using this tiny ferry n crossing the river itself is a huge excitement for us elders n kids. Lovely river.

This is the starting point of the Causeway. The upper trail takes us to the top of the cliff with a breathtaking n wonderful view of the coast. Slightly terrific since I'm scared of heights. The lower trail leads one to the 'Giant's footsteps'. Causeway is free for public. There are only two bars here. We lunch at the coolest n the oldest one n gear up for 2 hrs trekking.

@ The Nook

I wish I could write more about these sights..... This is nature at its best. Totally mind blowing.

We plan to cross a tiny part of the Atlantic Coast through a rope bridge. It's close by. But we have to walk 1km trail to reach the bridge. The kids are tired so abandon the rope bridge. Off we go to the Old Bushmills distillery nearby but it's past visitors time. We lose a golden chance drink fresh whiskey ! Great loss.

@ Portballintrae beach

cousins meet @ giant's causeway

sunset in UK

This peaceful seaside village lies to west of river Bush with an enticing sandy beach. Kids no longer tired nor thirsty.






































It's 11pm, the sun is slowly planning to retire. I'm not yet used to this sun.

I'm not hungry and  going to hit the bed. OMG ! A day without my staple food- rice. A milestone in the history of my dietary life. What a day ! Hope I survive the night....

in London derry

We are in UK again! This place is under dispute just like Jammu and Kashmir of India. The city is proud of its culture n history and has preserved it pretty damn well. The place is full of ancient historical buildings that trumpets the past events esp 'The Siege of Derry'.

St Columb's Church

@ YANOTZE express

@ the peace brigde

It's the first day of Londonderry Fair today. Lucky us.

We are @ 'the store' my sis wanted to go so badly. This store of course is a wonder n a blessing to Indians esp Malyalees. It's run by a Keralite obviously. I meet a man there. A malayalee. When he comes to know that I'm here to visit my sis, he sort of wiggles his face n lips and asks me:- ''Are you a nurse?'' WTF! What if I am? God!

@ the Asian store

Today's amusements

We go to Arena 7, the leisure complex by taxi, the Irish taxi driven by an old Irishman. All the taxi drivers are Irish. Actually there are not many Indians here. All the works including the menial ones are done by the Irish. I haven't seen a single Asian working in any of the shopping malls or eateries. Indians are in computer field I guess.


The kids- juniors n tiny tots enjoy here to the till. I go home with an empty purse. There's play area for tiny tots for 6 euro. And a wide varieties of games for teenagers as well. Finally one place that cater to the needs of all 6 of us. We elders play snooker and try our luck in jackpot. At some point of time, juniors start collecting tickets. Suddenly Ginger hits the jackpot n gets 999 tickets ! Together Mirchi n Ginger get 1206 tickets. And so, they get a boxful of gifts. Mostly silly yet they carry them like treasures. Poor tiny tots. You don't know them. Them smartypants make a big racket and snatch most of the toys.

Today I taste two different things for the first time in my life. Slush puppie and hamburger. Haven't you seen those machines twisting n churning colorful slushies n slurpees in shopping malls? Yeah, I buy the blue cranberry slushy. Totally disgusting. Mirchi likes it. Hamburger is pork burger. Hmmm ... I prefer chicken burger.

I learn something very important today. If you are a coffee lover, have it from the exclusive outlets, directly from the barista, or else, you may lose money n damage your precious taste buds. But the disappointment. The withdrawal symptoms. You will suffer till you drink real coffee from a trained barista. So, beware !