The Yerasis (or Bhatia Yerasis to be accurate) comprising my cousin Priya, her man Ash and their two boys Nikhil and Devin, visited Hong Kong last week. Their visit is only the second visit from my US cousins Shadi and I have been here (shame!!). Honours for the first visit go to Priya's younger sister. I hear on the grapevine that Sonu and Kavita are also planning to come (and have in fact bought tickets) but they haven't told us yet. HK is small enough so that we may just bump into you here Sonu even if you are trying to sneak in without letting us know...
Anyway, the week was great fun except for the fact that (as seems to be normal whenever we have visitors) my work load increased about 200%. We were all due to go to Bangkok from Thursday to Sunday but an urgent Court application meant I had to stay in HK until Friday night and only made it out to Bangkok for the day on Saturday and half a day on Sunday (during which I worked as well). Still, it was an absolute joy to have them here and to spend time with Nikhil and Devin (7 and 5 respectively) who are two of the smartest and cutest kids I haev ever met. When I say smart, I am not kidding - I played chess with both of them and found, halfway through, that I needed to really concentrate to make sure I didn't suffer an embarrassing loss. Nikhil would have had me in stalemate were it not for one tiny mistake at the end. Anyway, some photos, courtesy of Ash (who spent the week trying to wreck my computer and took up all my hard drive with his photos):
This is me and Nikhil in our living room.
This is a photo of all of us walking up to the Peak as per superwoman Priya's request and after eating a huge lunch. Devin took one look at the slope and got his mommy to carry him up there. Look at him below and you'll see why you just can't resist...
Chess playing.. my excuse is that I was drinking a martini and kids just had water - their minds were that much more uncluttered...
a civilised picture
Priya and the kids on the harbour front in Kowloon.
Some great pics of the kids
Some pics from rooftop bar in Bangkok called Vertigo on top of Banyan Tree Hotel
And lastly, Ash and I were driven to this hotel after getting in a Tuk Tuk to go to the Peninsula (where we were staying). We had just come out of a 1.5 hour massage (in separate rooms) and wer trying to get back to the hotel so that Shadi and Priya could make their massages. The driver pulled up to what was essentially a construction site. We were extremely confused but then looked behind us to this sign to see that he had, indeed, taken us to the Peninsula just not the correct one. OF course, Bangkok traffic being what it is it took us about an hour to get back.
Anyway, the week was great fun except for the fact that (as seems to be normal whenever we have visitors) my work load increased about 200%. We were all due to go to Bangkok from Thursday to Sunday but an urgent Court application meant I had to stay in HK until Friday night and only made it out to Bangkok for the day on Saturday and half a day on Sunday (during which I worked as well). Still, it was an absolute joy to have them here and to spend time with Nikhil and Devin (7 and 5 respectively) who are two of the smartest and cutest kids I haev ever met. When I say smart, I am not kidding - I played chess with both of them and found, halfway through, that I needed to really concentrate to make sure I didn't suffer an embarrassing loss. Nikhil would have had me in stalemate were it not for one tiny mistake at the end. Anyway, some photos, courtesy of Ash (who spent the week trying to wreck my computer and took up all my hard drive with his photos):
This is me and Nikhil in our living room.
This is a photo of all of us walking up to the Peak as per superwoman Priya's request and after eating a huge lunch. Devin took one look at the slope and got his mommy to carry him up there. Look at him below and you'll see why you just can't resist...
Chess playing.. my excuse is that I was drinking a martini and kids just had water - their minds were that much more uncluttered...
a civilised picture
Priya and the kids on the harbour front in Kowloon.
Some great pics of the kids
Some pics from rooftop bar in Bangkok called Vertigo on top of Banyan Tree Hotel
And lastly, Ash and I were driven to this hotel after getting in a Tuk Tuk to go to the Peninsula (where we were staying). We had just come out of a 1.5 hour massage (in separate rooms) and wer trying to get back to the hotel so that Shadi and Priya could make their massages. The driver pulled up to what was essentially a construction site. We were extremely confused but then looked behind us to this sign to see that he had, indeed, taken us to the Peninsula just not the correct one. OF course, Bangkok traffic being what it is it took us about an hour to get back.
posted by Akash at 10:24 AM
6 Comments:
Wow, it looks like you all had a great time! If you're still there in a couple of years the Bhushan Patels would love to come out. What's the weather like this time of year?
we had a blast! the weather now is sunny but a little on the cold side - if you want to come out I would recommend May or June of September/October when it's warm but not too humid. And we know now that we can cater to two young boys as well!
Bobby - as one of two brothers, what is your opinion on siblings wearing matching outfits a la Nikhil and Devon? Did your Mum dress you and Manu alike?
yea...only thing is that Bobby will tell you to come out so he can spend loads of time with you and then at the last minute allegedly develop a bad case of the legal flu...no worries, because that means you can just spend more time with his better majority half, Shadi..only issue is that I'm now thoroughly convinced that Shadi works more hours than Bobby!
And for the matching outfits...Priya;s out of control..she is now buying me outfits to match thd kids....must be a control thing!
In truth--we had a blast!... Both Bobby and Shadi are the most gracious, forgiving, patient hosts I've ever met...(comment directed at me and Priya - not our kids!..heck, our kids are more mature than we are). We had a wonderful time and more importantly, we're glad that Nikhil and Devin got the chance to bond with the Bobby Mamma and Shadi Mamma for the week..... a week that they will remember for throughout their lives....
For the record, will like to report that the yearasi's did not bring back the Avian flu to the US...
BTW - priya is still carrying Devin - he was a Koala in his past life
Ash
oh oh..by the way, Kids were outfitted by Mantis (aka Shadi!)..her stuff is amazing....regarding Chess...bobby's not exageratting...never play my kids chess while you have a drink in your hand..i've trained them well..or is it they've trained well giving my vino cirmcumstances but lil' Devin has mated me twice - both times when a very good bottle of Pinot was being consumed...he is a little opportunistic Koala....
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