India and Philippine trip Sept 2022

INDIA TRIP by Steve:

Day 1 Sat 3rd Sept
Larry dropped us off at the airport 845 pm
Checked in luggage. Boarded 1130 pm
Free in-flight wifi

Supper was basmati rice & chicken korma. Yumm
Zai had beef with mash. Just ok
Brekkie chicken sausage & scrambled egg

Zai had a separate seat but Pom guy was
understanding & exchanged seats.
Singapore staff escorted us to board flight
To Mumbai. Flight was a bit empty
Only 2 hrs free wifi.
Brekkie of omlette & chicken sausage
Suz & Zai had aloo paratha & paneer
Landed 10 mins early. Did immigration
Luggage arrived on time. As we went to get sim card
Steve OCI was missing. Was found in Suz bag.
Pick up driver was courteous & we arrived home 130 pm
Good to see mum dad. Francis uncle & his wife
were there & prayed over us.
Lunch was pork vindaloo & roast. Was yumm.

Day 2 Sun 4th Sept
Ordered food from BBC. Goat biryani & chicken
biryani yumm. Lassooni chicken tasty.

Day 3 Mon 5th Sept
Took ola & went to Chuim.
Two flat tyres. Crazy driver. Met all.

Had pilaf & sausage. Took ola at 3 pm from
Chuim to D mart. Got nutralite spread
and zai pants. Suz stayed in Chuim until
Wed

Day 4 Tues 6th Sept
Stayed home. Dal & tandoori 4 lunch

Day 5 Wed 7th Sept
Dal , Diana, Gold fish & prawn bottle
Masala. Suz back. Went to dmart in eve
Thunder lightning. Heavy rain.

Day 6 Thurs 8th Sept

Took ola at 930 am to Inorbit mall
Went to Maria's house 12 pm. Took
cupcakes

Good catch up. Met Tarun. Had tandoori
Chicken, Rashmi kebab, dal makhni & rotis.
Same driver back home. So much traffic.
Heavy rain. Near the new Naigaon bridge our
driver was beaten up by tuk tuk driver
Pilaf & choriza 4 dinner

13th Sept
Zai bday @ Farmhouse, Pachu Bunder. Excellent venue
& food. They carried mum up the stairs in a chair

14th Sept
Zai left for Pinas. So much traffic at 6 30 pm. Fountain
Was blocked. Reached 10 pm airport. Robin
Helped Zai. He came with us home in the car
Home by 12 40 am. Heavy rain

15th Sept
Zai had a safe flight to Davaeo. Dad not talking

to us. Leftover goat biryani 4 lunch, xac& roti
4 dinner. Yum. Mum slept on the bed

16th Sept
Heavy morning rain. Zai msg her tummy upset. Zaida
50th. Party was good. Huge cake. Heavy rains in
Naigaon. Dal & tandoori chicken 4 lunch. Dad got
Puri bhaji

17th Sept
Zai called. She off to Saloy. More rain in Naigaon.
Pork chops roast 4 lunch. Lazy sleepy day. Dad got Samosa & vada. Mum emotional saying she
forgetting things. Cecelia Aunty came over with
Scapulars from Valankanni

18th Sept
Dogs bark early am. Steve thinks they see someone.
Off to Thane later. Suz made prawn chilly fry
taking frozen bombils & karak pav. Got KFC crispy
and roast. They loved it. Fried rice & chilly chicken 4
Lunch. Later went to shop 4 Suz. Raining. Slept in

Janet Aunty room. BTS cake for Ayasha birthday.

19th Sept
Had sausage pilaf & potato chops 4 lunch.
Left 1130 pm. Home by 115 pm. Got parathas
and seek kebab 4 dinner. Charu visited.

20th Sept
Sorpotel of Zurika 4 lunch. Pilaf & green chicken 4
dinner. Visited Coutinho Uncle

21st Sept
Prince delivered all grocery items. Placed whats app order. Pork vindaloo
4 lunch. Pork chilly fry. Cecelia Aunty got mince
Had it with rotis

22nd Sept
Leftovers 4 lunch. Dad got meduvadas. For dinner
chicken mince with rotis.Zai meeting her
school mates in Tagum. She visited G mall

23rd Sept
Off to Chuim. Reunion 7 pm @ Bandra Gym. Suz came.
Was awesome. Good starters. Pahadi chicken
Kebab. Pork chilly. Fish fingers. 3 types if fried
Rice & chicken chilly. They paid 4 us. Left by 1130 pm

24th Sept
Met Royston at cheap jack. Then to Nigel home,
Kalina. Met Sandra & his daughters. Had tea &
Lunch at his home. He shouted us lunch. Then went to
Hearsch bakery. Got patties. Yumm. Night dinner
At Rosie auntys. Mutton curry, pilaf & potato chops

25th Sept
Left for Naigaon 1015 am. Dropped Rosie Aunty at signal
Andheri. At Dahisar check naka our ola was banged from
Behind. We ok. Bumper of car damaged. Home by 1215 pm
Goat biryani 4 lunch. Mum not ok. Breathing issues

26th Sept
Took mum to Dr Vaity. Her hemoglobin low.under

8. He prescribed meds, multivitamins.
Leftovers goat curry & potato chops 4 lunch.

27th Sept
At home . Leftovers goat biryani. In the evening
went to 6 am mass. Robin & kids visited in the eve

28th Sept
Got food from Status. Ajay visited in the evening
Mum crying. Missing us

29th Sept
Suz making fried chicken & leftovers.
Mum friend Anne visited & consoled her.
Dad not in a good mood. Mum slept in the bedroom
with us

30th Sept
Last day in Mumbai. Suz fried salami. From Thane.
Was yumm. Dad still not talking to us.
Pilaf & sorpotel 4 lunch. Left by 3 pm.Reached Airport 5

pm. Had samosas. Fries at airport Bakers st.
Jude friend Prathmesh helped with checking & seats
Allocated on Sin Akl leg to be with Zai. Reached Akl 1120 pm. Customs, luggage a breeze. Took taxi home.

INDIA TRIP by Zai:

We arrived on 3rd September 2022 in India. The flight from NZ to India went all good. We had a bit of a crazy moment in the Mumbai airport because we thought Steve's OCI card was lost. We were supposed to get the SIM card at the airport, but due to the bruhaha, we decided to do it at Naigaon since it was getting late and we knew mum and dad will be anxious. The ride back home was good, it was better than previous trips since we did not get stuck in traffic for the first time. I thought it would be like these for all our trips but I spoke too soon.

We arrived near Naigaon and it was great to see the new bridge. This bridge allowed us to travel better. It is awesome to be able to travel by car than by train.

It was a beautiful moment when we finally arrived at Rose Nagar. Dad was waiting at the gate. When we are at the house, Francis Uncle and -- Aunty were also there to greet

us. They prayed for Steve and the family.

We thought that the weather will be pleasant in September but it rained on and off throughout our trip. There was thunder , lightning and heaps of rain during this visit.

On Sunday 4th Sept, we just stayed at home and spent time with mum and dad. It is so difficult to see mum who has become so frail. Dad is also is not well but has been trying hard to do the day to day chores.

We had Biryani for the day, it was a great feast.

On 5th, we went to visit the Chuim gang. What an adventure it was when we were on our way. We took the ola but halfway of our trip, we had a flat tire. Suzie was very scared and asked the driver if it was safe. The driver said he also has family and our lives are equal, and it said it was fine and all will be well. Steve found it funny. 3 quarters of

the way, the tires burst. Good thing we were on traffic and the car was not moving. There was a curfuffle about the amount to pay the driver since he wanted more money and we were not willing to pay more. Suzie was arguing with him and we just drove off.

8th Sept we went to meet Maria, Tarun and Connie Aunty. Maria gave us a big feast. It was great to meet Tarun. It is great to know Maria has found the one for her.

10th Sept (Saturday) , we went to Thana to meet Zurika, Rayan, Tony Uncle and Ayasha. Tony Uncle seems so lonely without Janet Aunty. Ayasha has grown so tall. After a big feast cooked by Zurika, she took us to the mall. We got things for Ayasha, Tony Uncle and Rayan. We also got mum's new phone.

On our way home, we were stuck in traffic for 3 hours. We left Thana at 7 and only arrived at 10. It was also raining.

11th Sept (Sunday), we had a gathering at Robin's place. They ordered heaps of Biryani and mutton curry. All of Robin and Sylvia's family were there. We also got to witness Sylvia's baby shower. It was a mixed of Mangalorian and modern traditions. They also celebrated my birthday with a cake and song.

After the party, Steve and I went to visit Nathan and Cynthia. We had a little tough time getting a ride back home.

13th Sept, we went to Farmhouse for lunch. Steve pre-booked an Uber car, but it got cancelled at the last minute. So they had to get a couple of rickshaws to get to Pachu Bunder. It had been raining since the day before so it was wet and muggy. The place was a village area with only few houses. It was also close to the sea.

The Farmhouse restaurant area was on the first floor so mum had to be taken up on a chair carried by three gents. It was an awesome site, she looked like Cleopatra.

The sitting area is nice and airy. And the service was wonderful. Dad choose pomplete and it was cooked 2 ways: fried and curry. We had lollipop chicken and reshmi for starters. Then for mains we had fried rice, chillie chicken, and haka noddles which we couldn't eat as we were so full.

Dad and mum enjoyed it heaps and we also had a lovely time.

Then when we came home, we cut the Hazelnut chocolate cake that Zurika had delivered the day before.

Then later, the black forest cake I ordered was delivered. So grateful, I had three cakes this year in India :)

PHILIPPINE TRIP by Zai

The ride to the airport was a nerve wracking experience. We thought I would miss the flight since there was so much traffic. We left home at 6:30 and arrived at the airport at about 10PM. I was second to last in the queue, good thing Robin was there to assist me.

The flight itself was fine. I arrived in Singapore and had a 4 hour layover. Then arrived in the Philippines at about 6 pm on 15th September. There was a wait for the One Health Pass, but eventually finished everything. I arrived at GulfView at about 7ish then we had dinner. Unfortunately my tummy must not have agreed with the water because I had horrible stomach pains in the early hours of the morning.

Next day was the big surprise birthday party for Ate Zaida -16th September.

In the morning I went to BDO to settle my card issue, then we went for grocery and some shopping. We got some nice blouse and pants for Ate Zaida. Zairel went to the venue to decorate the place with her friends. By 6ish, Ate Zaida arrived at home.

I asked her to change to the clothes we got saying that she has to look good in the pics. We then were on our way to Miko's Place at Puan. Outside the venue was BradPit's sister. Our secret was about to be exposed. Good thing they had some story. Then we went inside the room and everyone was singing Happy Birthday! Ate Zaida was totally surprised. We had an awesome time.

Zairel did a very good job in organising everything. The party was such a huge success. Ate Zaida was very happy. It was lovely to celebrate her 50th bday with family and friends.

On 17th September, we went to Saloy in the morning. I wanted to see the hill that Ate Zaida and Gaga recently got. We arrived at midday and it was so hot to climb the hill. But we persevered and reached the summit after so much huffing and puffing. So refreshing to come down from the summit and have some buko juice.

We went home at about 4 pm and arrived at GV around 7 pm. So we just got some Jollibee for dinner.

18th September, I took everyone to Gaisano mall for shopping. We had lunch at Greenwich then shopping afterwards. Then after our shopping we had a short stop at the coastal road.

19 and 20th I was in Davao, then on 21st I went to Tagum with Zharina and mama. I had a meet-up with school friends on 22nd. Karen booked a lovely room at Eloisa's. We had an intimate dinner with some of my HS friends. It is great to see my HS mates after 30ish years.

Alex also invited me the next day. They were celebrating his wife's bday and was generous to share the occasion with us.

Then on 23rd, I meet with college buddies: Nova, Orlin and Noel. It was a short but memorable catch-up.

On Saturday was our beach day. Zharina and I went to the wet market to shop for the food in the evening as well as some groceries for home. The GV gang arrived at about 5 pm then we headed to Pantukan Waterworld. We arrived at about 7 PM and everyone was starving. So we had a small feast.

Then we just checked the band that was playing, the band was not the best but is was good to hear someone playing. We were all so tired and slept at about 9ish. The next morning we woke up a little early to the beautiful sunrise. We then went for a swim in the ocean. Not all went to swim in the pool. The weather was so hot and we had to check out of the room at 12 pm.

Then by 5ish, it was time for us to leave for Davao and say bye to Tagum.

On 26th Sept, I went to pick-up my new BDO card and also Suz's clothes which we had fixed.

It was Pinakbit-vegetables for dinner.

On 27th Sept, I met with Aurea and Jezrell at SM Ecoland. We had dinner at Tong Yang, a Korean resto. I enjoyed the food. It was my first experience having this type of food and I had a great time.

On 28th Sept, I met with St.Peter's mates: Edna, Irish, Vince and his wife Rose at Lumad. We thought that the dinner will be cancelled since it rained heavily. Good thing it stopped a little so we got the chance to catch up.

On 29th, I got to visit some sites at New Year's Peak, Bemwa Farm and Highway 81. I am very grateful for the time and moment that was spent with loved ones.