THE LIST

1.Stand with the elephants in the elephant orphanage,Srilanka
2.Get drunk in the beaches of Goa at dawn
3.See the sunrise in the Grand Canyon
4.Visit Ajantha and Ellora caves
5.See the three oceans merge in Kanyakumari
6.Watch the boat race in Kerala
7.Be to the kite festival in Rajasthan
8.Visit the ever so beautiful Taj Mahal
9.Camp in the Himalayas
10.See the inside of a Pyramid
11.Stay at a romantic hotel in Venice overlooking the river 
12.Touch a tiger in the tiger temple,Thailand
13.See the Niagara falls
14.Stay in a boat house,Kerala
15.Sign up for the Matador travel writing program
16.Be to a wild life safari in South Africa
17.Do everything in Rome ( I love Rome)
18.Visit Greece
19.Sign up to volunteer teach
20.Do a 1000 surgeries
21.Start my own clinic
22.Learn to play the keyboard
23.Go on a hot air balloon ride
24.Have my own magazine column
25.Have my own show
26.Take a picture in front of the Statue of Liberty
27.Get up close with a kangaroo
28.Read a book a month
29.Clear my MRCOG part II

The things I'd like to do,as of 2013.

ABSOLUTE MUST-DOs WHILE SPORTING THE BUMP

Yes,you'll have to miss out on parties,kiss goodbye to those mouth-watering grills,shelve those sexy stilettos and forget so much more!But,before you feel too deprived,remember along with all the "don'ts", pregnancy brings with it a whole lot of "dos".Surprised!Read on and discover ways to perk yourself up while waiting for your wee lil one.

1. SPA YOURSELF SILLY

Be it a hair spa or a foot massage or a back massage,get moving and fix an appointment with your salon today.Pregnancy brings with it a number of aches and a massage will be oooh so wonderful,trust me!

A word of caution : Avoid treatments which involve heat and chemicals.Make sure the salon personnel are aware of your pregnancy.If getting a body massage,lie on your side and avoid lying face down or on your back.Make sure your masseuse is trained in pre-natal techniques.Opt for fragrance-free or not-so-strong massage oils.Discuss with your obstetrician before indulging in a massage.

2. HAVE A MOVIETHON

Why toss,turn and try so hard to catch that ever elusive shut eye.Have a moviethon instead,bring out those all time favorite movies and sitcoms.Nothing is more fun than watching your fav stuff on tv back to back.

3. GO FOR THAT BABYMOON

Yes,you heard me right.Pack your bags and go someplace nice,away from all your nagging relatives,just you n hubby dearest.Trust me girl,you'll be on your knees thanking me for this later.It'll be a looong time before your next vacation.There are a number of pregnant friendly destinations and staff in many airlines/hotels etc do take that extra effort to keep the pregnant lady comfortable.So.check with your doctor and go relive that honeymoon.

4. GET STYLISH

I agree,pregnancy does have those crappy days.But,remember pregnancy is the time u also have gorgeous locks and to die for skin.Make the best use of it,on days when you feel especially down try a different hair-do,put some make-up on and get sassy.

5.GET MOVING

Go out for a walk in the park.Move and be active,it'll make you feel a way lot better and take your mind off those little aches and the queasiness.

6.ROMANCE AWAY

It'll be quiet some time before you n your partner get to be alone after the little one is born.Make maximum use of your together time now.Get dolled up and go out on a date,do things together like yoga or exercise or meditation or whatever it is that you two will have fun doing,it can even be just playing a bunch of board games.

7.SAY YES TO SEX

Contrary to popular belief you can absolutely and very well have sex while pregnant,unless you have certain high risk factors,in which case you'd have to confirm with your obstetrician before indulging in the act.If all is well,I'd say go for it.With your hormones all over the place,believe me when I say you are going to be having one badass night!

8.ENJOY ME TIME

Yes,it's time you push all scary thoughts of the eminent labor and not-so-far-off-future parenthood aside and just enjoy the present moment.Pregnancy is a glorious experience and do justice to it by simply enjoying it.

9.MAINTAIN A JOURNAL

As vivid as everything is to you right now,it'll all evaporate away once you enter motherhood.Maintain a journal so you can sit up on fine day,years later and relive your wonderful pregnancy.

So,there you are.Pregnancy is not all drab n dreary.Make the most of it and pamper yourself.You do deserve it afterall :)

10 things I'd regret in my deathbed

Dying makes me shudder...I'll regret having to leave this wonderful planet the most.That's something I can't control,so I'll just go with the flow!Pondering about life and death,na that is not what this post is about.It is about an introspection of my much-to-be-changed lifestyle.The 80 something me is looking at the present me and she goes tsk tsk tsk!That woman's got some nerve!But,I decide to forgive her,she invited me over for a cuppa :).And the evening goes like this.....

Crappy straw haired woman : Hi der,please make yourself comfortable dear.
Her pretty daughter offers me a comfortable plush leather chair.I plonk myself and oooh my bottom is ooooh so comfy!This woman is rich man.I look around,the house,it's big,elegant and stylish.I wish I was living there.
CSHW : Looks at me bemused, I WISH I HAD MADE MORE FRIENDS INSTEAD.

Me : I have amazing friends and I love them!
CSHW : Hope they know that.Take time out with your friends dear,you never know how long they'll be around.You know,I used to love dancing,I still do!
Me : What stopped you then?
CSHW : Me.I always thought I'd look stupid and people would make fun of me.I WISH I HADN'T GIVEN SO MUCH THOUGHT TO WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT OF ME.

Me : That's sad. Since you've realized that,whats stopping you now?
CSHW : Are you kidding me!Look at me,I've been fighting weakness for 10 years now!I'm glad I can make it to the loo without help.I'll let you in on a secret lil girl,you know what's worse than dying?It is living a life of pain and dependency.I WISH I HAD TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MYSELF IN MY HAY DAY.

I stare at my feet,not knowing what to say.The poor rich lady.
CSHW : You seem to be a polite girl,she smiles.
I smile back.
CSHW : I wasn't so polite when I was young,treated many people in many different ways.Now when I have nothing to do and I lie here all day waiting for my maids to bring in my food,those thoughts haunt me.I used to think I was at the top and that was all that was needed.I WISH I HAD TREATED ALL THE PEOPLE I MET WITH A LIL MORE LOVE.

Hey I was invited over for coffee,where is it?
CSHW : Your tea and cookies will be here any second,dear.
Freak,she can read minds,this lady.
CSHW : I was never a foodie,but now when I am imposed with all these diet restrictions,I WISH I HAD EATEN AND COOKED MANY DIFFERENT CUISINES.

 CSHW : Speaking of different cuisines,have you travelled around?
Me : I have,but not as much as I'd like to.
CSHW : Why is that?
Me : I never seem to have the time.
CSHW : Laughs.There is never going to be time dear.I WISH I HAD MADE MORE TIME TO DO ALL THE THINGS I WANTED TO.

 CSHW : Travel more dear,there is nothing more fullfilling than seeing new things,meeting new people.The world has so much in it,one lifetime is not enough to experience its glory.I WISH I HAD TRAVELLED MORE,SEEN MORE,LEARNT MORE ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND THEIR WAYS OF LIVING.

CSHW : But I do wish I had taken more pictures of the few places I did visit.Heck, I wish I had taken more pictures of just about everything in my life.My memory fails me now,you see.I'd like to relive all those moments through the pictures.

CSHW : Do you play music?
Me : I know a little of the piano.But then again I never have the time to practice.
CSHW : I learnt the piano too but never stuck to it.I WISH I HAD STUCK TO ALL THE THINGS I STARTED AND LEFT UNFINISHED.

Me : I/'m sorry,it looks like you have a lot of unhappiness.
CSHW : Its mostly regret,dear.All this time by myself makes me think,was it all meaningful?I WISH I LIVED A MEANINGFUL LIFE.

I look at my watch,it's time for me to leave.This lady has been whacko,regardless,I'm glad I helped,if at all I did.
Me : Bye grandma. (oops,I don't even know her name!)
CSHW : Goodbye my dear.Here is a bonus one for you.I WISH I HAD SAID I LOVE YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE I LOVED,MORE OFTEN.

And zap she was gone!!Gone as in gone.Hell what is happening,am I going insane or is this a message from above???

A MOTHER'S WISH

As I lie here beside you,my luv,there are so many things I wish for you,my baby...

I wish for you to marvel at all the wonders this world has to offer

I wish for you to make sense of all the marvels you once looked at with awe

I wish for you to go out and make your own discoveries

I wish for you to never lose the joy of experiencing something new

I wish for you to enjoy all the turmoil of this world

I wish for you inner peace

I wish for you close friends,best friends,meaningful enemies

I wish for you to meet people you look up to with respect

I wish you would want to,and will imitate them

I wish for you to get inspired and to inspire

I wish for you failures that teach you to succeed

I wish for you success that teach you to be noble

I wish for you to enjoy every facet of life sensibly

I wish for you to have a million senseless joys

I wish for you to never be afraid of doing the right thing

I wish for you to know that you have a family back home loving you wherever you go 

I wish for you to realize that there are two people who'll support you in whatever you do

I wish for you to have a full life.....a BEAUTIFUL life!

REFLECTIONS

As 2013 was closing,I went into discussion with a friend about the year's significant happenings,both world wide and in our petty little lives.That led me to take a step back and be thankful.I have so much to be thankful for and I don't do that very often.Tonight I'm doing that and I urge you to do the same.These are a few things that has made my being,a happier one here.

HEALTH : I am thankful for my health.For the fact that my 5 senses are fully functional for me to appreciate the beauty of this place,to smell that yummy chicken curry,to sway to mozzart,to feel the cool breeze hit my face on a warm afternoon and yes,to taste and devour the multitudes of cuisines.I am thankful for that.I can walk,run,skip,jump and ofcourse dance (something I love!)...If you can do all of the above or any,take a moment to breathe thankyou,many in this world cannot.

INTELLIGENCE : I am not meaning to brag here,but yes,I can decipher,understand and act on stuff.I can make sense of the world around me.(Literally yes,but philosophically,I still have a long way to go).So,I am thankful for the mind bestowed on me.

FAMILY : I am thankful for a close family.My brother is one of my best friends.My parents are just a phone call away.My grandparents have left legacies for me to learn from.My numerous cousins,aunts and uncles have made my days happier ones.I am the person I am today because of my family and I am thankful for them.

LOVE OF A GOOD MAN : I read somewhere,"To be in a marriage is the nicest place to be".It may not be the nicest place,but,I assure you,it sure is the best.I am thankful,I go to sleep holding the hand of a man who respects,loves and cares for me in ways that is hard to describe.

DAUGHTER : Having a child has been the greatest revelation for me.It has opened up a whole new world to me.It has made me realise my life is not the pivot of this world.Having my daughter has made me feel complete and whole in a wierd way and I am thankful for the completeness I feel.I love her to the ends of this earth.

WORK : I am thankful I am able to do something I am so passionate about.I am thankful that my husband has a wonderful job and we have money to house and feed our family,buy the things we want and some,we don't,without having to worry.I am thankful for the stability and the gratification of my job.

INCREDIBLE FRIENDS : Friends are the family you choose.I am greatly blessed on that note.I love my friends.They let me be who I am and love me for it.It's amazing and I am thankful for them.

I am thankful for my comfortable house.I am thankful for my terrace where I spend many a evening in peace.I am thankful for beautiful sunrises and sunsets.I am thankful for the beach and molaga bajji.I am thankful for pedicures and awesome shoes.I am thankful for coffee and bread.I am thankful for the people doing jobs I hate doing,like mechanics.I am thankful for clean sheets.I am thankful for crazy days and cozy nights.I am thankful for car rides and holidays.I am thankful for flowers and trees.

Of all the things I am thankful for,I am most thankful for my mother,she is my best friend with whom I have had my most bitter fights,nonetheless,she is my sunshine and I am thankful for her.

I hope each one of you thanked Him for something you appreciate and enjoy.Do share it with me.Have a good day:)