My December diary

http://www.punediary.com/html/kelkar.html
http://www.rajakelkarmuseum.com/index.asp

I had been to Pune early this month for a cricket tour. My dreams came true. There was a 20-year longing for me to visit a museum [linked above]. I could visit with a few friends of similar interests. Ah, this is simply fantastic. Mind you, this is a one man's collection. Since I too have the habit of collecting knick-knacks, it naturally was pulling me.

But the purpose of my tour was for cricket. Our team ended up lifting the trophy, winning all five matches. My bowling contribution [took 10 wickets in all] was instrumental in putting the opponents under pressure. We enjoyed our cricket. Weather was pleasant, more like Mysore.

Another plan was to visit my good friend and to travel by the new expressway. http://amitkulkarni.info/pics/expressway/ It was a wonderful expreience. My friend was happy I could make it. We had lunch at his home. By evening I returned. I had planned these before the tournament started.

Yet another dream was to visit my late cricket coach's house. The last I went with him [when he was alive] was in 1986. Now with the help of my team-mate, I could locate his house, now changed to apartments. This was close to the cricket ground where we played a match. I met his daughter and could collect a couple of his pictures from his album to my album. Will post later.

On X-mas eve, I'll be leaving to a place called Karaikudi for yet another tournament. Will be back only on New Year's day. So, I wish all my friends here on DG ......

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Dinu

Dinu
Congrats on your dreams coming true. LOL And it's great about your game. Keep up the good work. Stay safe in your travels and know you'll be missed when you don't post.
Hugs&blessings ... Elaine

I forgot to include the distance of these places from Mysore. Pune [pronounced Pooney] is about 1000 kms. and Karaikudi is down south about 600 kms. I will hang around the Internet on and off today and so will try to post whatever I can before I leave. In between, I have to finish off my work at my desk.

Dinu

Dinu. congratulations....sounds like you are an integral part of your team.

By the way, how far away is GOA from Mysore?

Happy holidays Dinu and safe travels.

Dinu....Congratulations on your win!

Also...Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year./ Jo

dinu, please let us know how everything went and that you are now home safe with lots of pictures to post. debi

Thanks dear friends.

debi,
everything went on well on this second tour as well. I returned home Friday evening. Our team this time lost in the final by a very small margin. The hosts had done well to arrange the tournament in a nice manner. We had our own guest house and so our team were put up comfortably. The unique thing about this place is that the campus is host to Peacocks and peahens. They roam about just like any domesticated animal. These lovely birds used to come behind our rooms as they are so well accustomed to humans. My friends were feeding some food and they came the next two days at the same time! We enjoyed their company early in the morning before we prepared ourselves for the games. It was lovely. My friend has taken a picture and I have to wait for him to send me a copy [he was from Lucknow, 1000miles away!]. Since I was the most senior and the nominated captain did not come, I was the captain of our team for this tour. We had some enthusiastic boys from other laboratories/Institutes and they too enjoyed the tour. Food was truly delicious and sumptuous - Chettinad foods, a speciality of that area.

pebble,
Goa is 16 hours by road from here. Connected by air from Bangalore 90 miles away from Mysore.

Hope you all enjoyed the Christmas and I now wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year.

Dinu