Tag: life

Vacation gone different – 1

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

This year’s vacation to India was like switching from a sad rom-com to a wacky sitcom! Normally, I spend two whole months in the city, cramming a week’s worth of family visits into one crazy day, hitting the book fair like a discount-sleuth, and packing enough loot to rival a treasure chest to bring back to the UAE. But this time, it’s as if someone took my typical India itinerary, tossed it in a blender, and pressed ” puree,” because this year’s trip was a rollercoaster of pure hilarity and surprises!

As I stumbled off the plane after what felt like a four-hour journey (or was it four centuries?), there was my grandfather, looking more like a statue than a human in the arrivals area, waiting for us. I zoomed over with my trolley, like a racecar driver who just spotted the finish line. After everyone piled into the car, we decided to treat ourselves at a bakery—because who doesn’t need a boost of pastries and tea?

My sister, the designated biscuit bearer, provided chocolate cookies that made us feel like royalty. Once we were sufficiently caffeinated and sugared up, we headed straight home, practically vibrating with excitement to see my grandmother and, let’s be honest, my bed that I had missed more than my last three meals!

After a few hours, we finally stumbled home, and there was my grandmother, seemingly glued to the front porch, waiting for our grand entrance. I dashed over, gave her a bear hug that could rival a grizzly’s, and then made a beeline for the living room. The moment I walked in, I beelined to the closet like it was a treasure trove and dug out my glorious comfort clothes—who needs a superhero cape when you have fuzzy pants? Once I’d donned my fluffy armor, I replenished my hydration levels with the finest H2O and made a heroic leap into my bed, ready to conquer the land of dreams.

After an epic battle with my pillow, I woke up and decided to fuel my day with a brunch fit for royalty—idly and sambar, because clearly, I’m a breakfast connoisseur! After devouring my delicious masterpieces, I plopped down on my couch like a potato and tuned into my favorite shows: Golmaal Jr. and Chikoo and Bunty—because who needs real-life drama when you have cartoon chaos? After a riveting episode of animated antics, I miraculously found room in my stomach for dinner and then, like a true champion, retreated to my bed, ready to conquer the dream world once again!

The next day I sprang out of bed like a rubber band and launched into my daily routine, which involved some thrilling activities such as brushing my teeth (a wild ride, trust me), taking a long bath (the only place my rubber ducky has consistently employed), devouring breakfast like a hungry dinosaur, and binge-watching TV like it’s my full-time job.

After a few days of this elite lifestyle, we decided to grace my dad’s relatives with our presence. When we arrived at my aunt’s house, my cousin emerged from school, and before he could ask for supper, we snatched him up and whisked him away to my house, where my paternal grandmother greeted us like we were surprise guests on a reality show!

Well, folks! If you thought my adventures in India were wild, just wait until you hear the sequel—it’s going to be like a Bollywood film, minus the catchy songs and dance numbers! Stay tuned for the second part!

The End

Back to School tips

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

Hello to all my fabulous viewers! Are you feeling jittery about your first day of school, or are you secretly plotting to make friends with the cafeteria nachos? Fear not! I’m here to help you navigate this wild ride we call school. Buckle up, because I’ve got some hilariously simple and totally unique tips to ensure you have a school year that’s memorable—maybe even worthy of a sitcom episode! Let’s dive into the shenanigans!

Rule 1 – Stay organized. I know staying organized can feel like trying to herd cats on roller skates. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be so stress-free you’ll think you’ve discovered the secret to eternal bliss—or at least the secret to not losing your keys for the umpteenth time!

Rule 2 – Ask doubts. Seriously, don’t even think about being embarrassed when it comes to asking questions! If you’re worried about looking silly, just realize that the only thing sillier than asking a question is not asking it and then wandering around like a confused penguin!

Rule 3 – Study every day. I know, I know, it sounds about as fun as watching paint dry, but just think—if you crack the books daily, when exam time rolls around, you can kick back with a snack, grin like a cat that just caught a laser pointer, and ace that surprise test without breaking a sweat!

Rule 4 – Do homework. I know, I know, it feels like trying to lift a boulder with a toothpick, but think of it this way: if you tackle it now, you won’t have to panic like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs when submission time rolls around!

Rule 5 – Choose friends wisely. Pick someone who respects you, and let’s face it, makes you feel like a million bucks. Remember, it’s way better to have one fabulous friend who thinks you’re the bee’s knees than a million fake friends who’ll vanish faster than your last pizza slice!

Rule 6 – Take breaks while studying. Let’s face it, studying non-stop is a recipe for turning your brain into scrambled eggs! So, go ahead and set that alarm for a five-minute break – strut around like you own the place, jam out to your guilty-pleasure tunes, or engage in a fierce staring contest with your pet. Just do something that doesn’t involve your books, unless you want to invite the knowledge overload monster to chill with you!

Rule 7 – Stay hydrated and eat healthy. Now, when I say eat healthy, I don’t mean you have to munch on kale until you sprout leaves! It’s totally fine to indulge in those cravings; just add a side of veggies to your pizza, and voila! Staying hydrated is crucial, folks. Remember, a brain without water is like a computer without Wi-Fi—good luck getting any studying done!

Rule 8 – Get your beauty sleep! Aim for a glorious 8 to 10 hours of snoozing, because who doesn’t want to dream about being a unicorn? A solid night of sleep can turn you into a concentration master—like a ninja but with less throwing stars and more pillow time!

Rule 9 – Don’t compare yourself! Seriously, everyone has their own funky strengths and wacky weaknesses. It’s like trying to judge a book by its cover—sure, that one might look fabulous, but inside it could be sobbing over its own plot twists!

Rule 10 – Enjoy! Think of school as a buffet: sure, you need to pile your plate high with studies, but don’t forget to sneak in some fun and laughter—those are the toppings that make it all worthwhile! Just remember, creating memories is as important as cramming for that exam, and a good laugh can sometimes save you from a last-minute panic!

Follow these rules, and you’ll have an epic school year filled with more twists and turns than a roller coaster! Hang on tight and enjoy the ride!

The End

The wonders of Quranic Park

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

I’ve ventured to this park more times than I can count, and I just had to share it with all you lovely folks out there in the UAE—consider it my public service announcement! The first time we made the great trek, we were so bored at home that my dad suggested we go wherever the road might lead us, which is basically his way of saying, “Let’s wing it!” Lo and behold, we stumbled upon this enormous park that’s so big, I half-expected to find a lost civilization hiding in there somewhere!

As it was night time, we decided to unleash our inner fitness gurus in a random area before hopping into our trusty steed (a.k.a. our car) and zooming off to the local Spinneys. Now, let me tell you, this Spinneys was like the alien version of the ones I’ve encountered before! The products were so bizarrely different, I half expected to see an intergalactic menu. We snagged a pistachio chocolate croissant—because why not mix nuts with chocolate?—a cheese and spinach roll that looked like a fancy burrito’s cousin, pretzels that could probably double as weights, and scones that had obviously taken a dip in the “I’m too fancy” pool.

My mom even splashed out on tea like we were hosting the Queen! After a gourmet feast of randomness, we strolled back to our car, brimming with excitement to return the next day. Fast forward to the following afternoon, and off we went, this time packing our own food like seasoned picnickers. We also splurged on a veggie burger because, you know, health is wealth! And of course, I brought my bike because there was a glorious 3km path that practically screamed, “Ride me!” So, I rode for 9km because why stop at just 3 when you can send your legs into a spin?

Then I decided to let my dad take my bike for a spin, because who doesn’t love a middle-aged man on a bicycle? Meanwhile, I practically attacked the veg burgers my mom had made, while my sister was busy making new squirrel friends in the park. There was even a sneaky cat eyeing our feast, probably plotting a heist, but it quickly got distracted by a shiny plate of chicken biryani instead—its true love!

After a bit, my dad returned, probably winded from trying to act like a kid again, and I rushed off to join my sister. There was a zipline that looked super fun, but the line for it was longer than my patience. So, we stacked our things aside like seasoned pros and set off to explore the wonders of the park, which mainly involved dodging other people’s picnics.

There was this fancy green house packed with veggies that made a cameo in the Holy Quran—who knew produce could be so divine? It was a picturesque spot where my mom and dad spoiled us with ice creams, because obviously, ice cream is the real holy grail! We then waddled over to this place that looked like a cave, minus the bats and treasures, of course. But wait we must, as the next English tour wouldn’t start for another 15 minutes—oh, the agony of waiting when ice cream is involved!

After what felt like a lifetime in a queue that would make a snail seem speedy, it was finally our turn! We dove into some fascinating tales from the wonderful world of Islam—talk about a plot twist! Afterward, we trekked back to the designated treasure trove of our belongings, scooped them up, and made a mad dash for our car like kids escaping from school.

The next outing? Oh, we traded in our storytelling for some exhilarating cycling—because who needs a treadmill when you have two wheels? Then, on yet another adventurous exploit, we rolled out with our friends, ready to create a whole new chapter of amusing mishaps!

As we were too busy soaking in the fun, I completely forgot to play photographer! I guess you’ll just have to trust that it was as amazing as my memory—hoping you visit this place and enjoy the sights instead of my invisible photo album!

The End

Camping trip to Love Lake

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

In my last post, I mentioned that my dad had a sneaky little hint about camping for New Year’s. Guess what? He wasn’t just daydreaming! So, on December 31, we turned into packing ninjas, stuffed our bags (oops, we mean “bage” — classic typo!) into the car, and zoomed off to Love Lake in Dubai, which apparently decided it wanted to look like two hearts trying to perform a synchronised swimming routine. We got there early, set up camp like it was an Olympic event, while our friends—including the cutest little baby, who I’m convinced is the real reason we have friends—were still caught in Abu Dhabi, probably pondering the life choices that led them to embark on this wild adventure!

After what felt like an eternity (because clearly, my watch was on vacation), they finally showed up! We kicked things off by setting up the campfire, which was just a fancy way of saying we huddled together like penguins—no one wanted to be the first to admit they were freezing! The baby boy, who apparently thought my lap was the VIP lounge of the universe, plopped down like he owned the place. Meanwhile, my mom and the aunties were busy channelling their inner chefs, whipping up a feast that included parathas, chana masala, garlic paste, and hummus—because why not have a five-star restaurant experience in the great outdoors?

After our feast, we dove headfirst into a game of Japanese Whisper, where one overzealous uncle was convinced we all had to suddenly speak Japanese fluently. Spoiler: We didn’t! By the time we wrapped up our high-stakes game of misunderstanding, it was already 12 am, and we were wishing everyone a happy new year while half-asleep. After a quick chat that felt like it took place in slow motion, we hit the hay. The next morning, I sprung out of bed at the crack of 6:30 am, thinking I’d witness a glorious sunrise, but alas, the sun was playing hide and seek behind a cluster of clouds!

We all spruced ourselves up, ready to face the day. I heard the uncles and aunties were having a talk that lasted all night, but I totally missed out! Meanwhile, my mom and the aunties were in the kitchen like culinary superheroes, whipping up a breakfast feast that included omelettes, egg sandwiches, half-boiled eggs (because who doesn’t love a little mystery? ), mushroom omelettes, kubus, and of course, more eggs! After our eggstravaganza, all the uncles started packing up like they were off to a camping expedition, and the kids, including me, decided to channel our inner Poseidon and went for a walk on water. Why not, right?

There were more Koi fish than I had ever seen; it felt like I had stumbled into a seafood buffet! I was a bit terrified to play water walker at first, but once I realised they were more interested in my toes than eating them, I dove in like a cannonball champion. Soon enough, all the uncles and aunties showed up, and we waddled over to an island for a photoshoot—I think my dad took more pictures than the paparazzi. Eventually, I was so wiped out from all the fun that my dad and I decided to retreat to the car early for a much-needed rest. After all, even champions need to recharge their batteries!

After a comedic eternity, the rest of the gang returned, chatting away in the parking lot like they were discussing the meaning of life, and we eventually exchanged our overly dramatic goodbyes, as if we were parting forever. Then off we went, back to our humble abodes, dreaming of an incredible camping trip that definitely needed its own highlight reel!

After we stumbled back home from what felt like a marathon of festivities, we dove headfirst into a towering caramel cake, our unofficial new year mascot. The sweet aroma wafted through the air like it was auditioning for a cooking show, and each forkful was a blissful explosion of smooth caramel and sponge as moist as a rain-soaked sponge (and just as hard to resist).

And now Junior Story is popping confetti and juggling pineapples while wishing you a very happy new year—because if you can’t start the year with a laugh, what’s the point?

Here are some masterpieces I snapped during my camping trip—because nothing says “I’m one with nature” like a blurry shot of my buddy trying to outrun a raccoon!

THE END