Simply divine: Celebrating New Year in Sydney
What's life without new beginnngs?
Happy 2023 greetings, dear reader!
I began the New Year with darshan at Sri Venkateswara Temple, Helensburgh, Sydney, Australia.
Sydney is an amazing city to visit. It is a city close to my heart. Hope to be back soon!
And it just feels so good to be writing my first newsletter after celebrating New Year in Sydney. The vibe is totally delicious…..maybe because I’ve been on a cooking spree!
Celebrating the New Year with my family is how I welcomed 2023.
Together, we sipped non-alcoholic fruit wine to cheer the fabulous New Year fireworks at Darling Harbor, which is one of my favourite places in Australia.
We ate delicious Hyderabadi vegetable biryani that I cooked alongwith my mother. The recipe was shared by my mother-in-law alongwith a yummy green chilli chutney. There were other yummy food items to complete our New Year’s eve celebration too.
Precious moments that now get me all teary-eyed, you know!
Read more about the Sri Venkateswara Temple here.
I took two weeks off to enjoy Christmas and New Year with my loved ones.
See, I had spent so much time in the last two decades, not doing the things I love to do.
This year rings in differently for me.
This magical year is about rediscovering the things that make me happy.
Like travelling to be with my family in Sydney.
Taking long walks with my parents.
Cooking a fabulous breakfast spread and birthday feast alongside my mom.
These are life’s little pleasures that I have denied myself for decades.
I was too busy proving to myself that I am good at my work.
I no longer want to be that person. Not now, not this year, not anymore.
And it hit me with sudden clarity that life can always throw amazing surprises even when it tends to be a rollercoaster ride with many bumpy, challenging moments.
Don’t wait to do the things you want to do.
Don’t put off exploring the places you want to visit.
Make sure you are never too busy for those who love you.
On this happy note, I wish you a fabulous start to 2023.
I want to share a nugget of wisdom from Prakash Iyer’s bestseller, ‘How Come No One Told Me That?’ where he writes:
Good to remember what John F. Kennedy said way back in 1961 to inspire a nation.
He talked of his dream ‘of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth’. Notice, not just landing on the moon, but returning him safe to the earth too…..Success, as Kennedy was quick to point out, was not about landing a man on the moon. It was also about bringing him back alive.
It’s time to add one more chapter to your strategic goal setting….We need to answer the question, “What will we do after we get there?”
Think about it.
It could change your life.
Next, here are some interesting articles that caught my attention:
Growing Up in Australia
Sydney’s Most Beautiful Buildings Illustrated
My Nostalgia for Enid Blyton is Complicated
The Best Fiction Books of 2022 | TIME
How does it feel when Obama selects your book as one of his favourites of the year?
The Joy Of Reading Slowly | The Guardian
Few good things I did in December 2022
Sage Vyasa has given the essence of the 18 Puranas in the dictum, 'Paropakara punyaya paapaya parapeedanam' (to help others is merit; harming others is sin). Help ever, Hurt never. If you cannot render help, at least restrain yourself from hurting others. That itself is a great help." [SSSS, Vol 32, Ch 9]
Participated in a poetry session where my son read out his poem in English and its Malayalam translation. Felt super happy to see non-Malayalis appreciate the effort.
Enjoyed a fun-filled day at my son’s school, interacted with his peers who read out their poetry.
Had loads of fun with my family in Sydney and I cooked a delicious Thallassery stew to team up with soft and fluffy white appams. Everybody loved it and I made it again!
Finished reading ‘Good Innings: The Extraordinary, Ordinary Life of Lily Tharoor’ in one long sitting and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the book. A smooth, candid read on the rollercoaster ride of motherhood! It showcased a young mother’s determination and grit.
Long walks in Sydney with my parents and travelling across the beautiful city -this tops the list of my precious, happy moments with my family as we bid adieu to the year 2022.
Dear Reader, please know that I write for you.
What are your favourite destinations on your travel bucket list?
Do share your thoughts in the comments below.
I love hearing from you!
Till we meet next….signing off with happy vibes!