Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008

Though I was brought up as a Hindu, I have always been under a circle of influence by Christian friends, neighbors. So Christmas was one festival which was and is always close to my heart. As kid have enjoyed helping my friends in making their Christmas trees, cribs, sweet decorations and cakes. I can never forget baking cakes at Tina’s house with Dominic Anna. :-)
But this Christmas was a little away from my normal Christmas occasions. Yes it was different cause I wasn’t at my usual location. ;-) This is my first Christmas outside my own country. I was at Brussels, Belgium this day.
The weather was about 2C for the whole day and I was literally freezing.
Was a splendid site to see the houses decorated with lights and a reindeer in lights by the door side to greet everyone? Santa jumping and crawling the walls & ladders were also cute and funny to watch all over the streets in apartments and houses.
Everywhere I went was massive Christmas trees completed decorated in bright colors.Overall was a good experience to have a hang of the Christmas outside India.
However home is home :-( when it comes to food. I went all the way to Antwerp to have Indian food, and my bad luck the restaurant was closed down for Christmas. That was a little insane to go about 40 Min by train to catch up some good food. But trust me it’s worth the time.
Hmm! With not much of choices left I had my Christmas lunch in Pizza hut and returned back.On my way back I met this young BATMAN, Isn’t he awesome:-D

My first few day's in Brussels!

My first few day's in Brussels!

Well, it all began like this for me to start writing in this site or rather there was only one person persuading me to kick-start as I have a starting problem just like “Humara Bajaj scooter’s”.

A quick flash back on how it all began?

I had to travel abroad for about 90 days during the second half of 2008 and it was quiet surprising for me on my acceptance to travel all alone. Initially I assumed that it really should not matter much to travel alone since I already live alone in India and I already had an experience of travel abroad early this year. But trust me it’s not very easy!!!

It was Friday and my journey started from Chennai , TN on the 12^th Sep 2008 to describe best or to kindle your imagination a little it was just like were in “Unnale Unnale” Deepika started off her trip to Melbourne.

Had to drag myself to work in about 2 hours after I landed in the city of Brussels and fortunately the Airport, Hotel and My work Place were in the same locality, so managed without any hassle.

Ah ! Now killing the next 2 days was a challenge cause “It’s Weekend” L

And I stayed in an industrial place away from the central city so finding any departmental stores is pretty rare.

Hmm, This was the real testing time, somehow managed to figure out a drive way store in about 2 km distance. During my walk I enjoyed the climate and weather and of course the scenic beauty of yellow flowers spread across any direction I turned my head J

Next I decided to visit the city , so took some help from the receptionist at the hotel who also helped me with a map to find my way across the city and with a timetable of train service and bus service to the city.

Then what? I was all on my own and finally got to do, all I wanted to do while I was at home :-)

Will be continued.....with my bizarre , lovely and stupid experiences during the next 5 weeks.