I am constantly amazed by the way blogging is evolving. What started out, mostly, as private online journals has today developed into a shape far beyond recognition. Blogs today have become a mode of communication, a way of life, a marketing tool, outlets for creativity, and so much more. The importance of blogging in my life, too, has grown over the years. Today, my blog is a part of me, and I am thankful for the ways in which it has opened me up. The friendships I have cultivated through my blog are an essential part of this opening up.
I began reading Deeps’s blog about a year ago, and we knew instantly that we had a lot in common. The way we look at certain societal issues, for instance, or the way we want to bring up our children is almost similar. We haven’t interacted much offline, per se, but have been regular commentors on each other’s blogs, discovering, in the process, shared viewpoints, similar natures, and a shared love for music, food, books and travel.
When Deeps heard I would be in Delhi for a while, she immediately dropped in an e-mail to me saying that she would be there too during the same time. She asked if we could meet, and I said ‘Of course!’ Phone numbers were exchanged, and a tentative plan was made. Once in Delhi, both of us got busy – me with my slow travel and she with meeting her relatives and soaking in the feeling of being back home. We kept our fingers crossed for our meeting, though, and things did fall into place eventually. The OH and I met up with Deeps, her sister-in-law and Nammu Kutty at the Hauz Khas Deer Park just one day before we left Delhi.
Deeps was sweet enough to tweak our initial plans a little to accomodate my sight-seeing and meet at the park, instead of the place we had decided on earlier. And that turned out to be a good thing, because we all enjoyed the park so very much, especially Namnam! Nammu had a grand time running around here and there, swinging, and watching the deer and peacocks in action. 🙂 The rest of us had a lovely walk around the park, chatting and taking loads of pictures.
What a totally relaxed, comfortable and informal meet-up it was! Not for a moment did I feel that I was meeting Deeps and her family for the first time, and that is SOMETHING for me! We talked about each other, our families, Delhi and Bangalore, and what I should absolutely not miss doing in Delhi. We all had fun, without any awkwardness or pressure. 🙂
Thanks to Deeps, I got to see an entire peacock, something I had never seen before! 😀 She is a very sweet and easygoing person, and Nammu is super cute! 🙂
We parted with promises to keep in touch and meet up some time again. I hope we do!
Thank you for the lovely time, Deeps! I am so glad to have met you! 🙂
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Have you read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of this travelogue?
The peacock is a sure poser 😛 Whenever any peacock sees me and my camera it runs away 😦
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@Visha
So I have heard from many people. This one was quite friendly, though. 🙂
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What fun! I am so envious! I would have loved to meet Deeps and Namnam again. And in such a gorgeous setting! You take such lovely pics, TGND! And your narrative transports us there!
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@Smitha
He he. It was indeed fun meeting them, Smitha. The setting turned out to be just perfect! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
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Lovely, lovely photos!How wonderful to meet with a blogging friend. I took some photos of peacocks recently that I really should share on my own blog. 🙂
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@Suko
You did?! Hopping over to your blog right away!
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@Suko
Oops, sorry. In my overexcitement, I misread your comment as saying you have already posted the peacock photos!
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WOW! I am so thankful to you, for, if you had not reached my blog, I would have missed on such a beautiful blog of yours 🙂 Lovely pictures.
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@Dew
Hey, Dew! Thank you so much for the kind words. 🙂 Welcome to my blog! Hope to see you here often!
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TGND! So so cool! Really nice you got to meet Deeps! Providence, ah? 🙂
Lovely account. And amazing shots 🙂
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@Kismi
Thank you! 🙂
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Meeting fellow bloggers is quite something, isn’t it? I still remember the first time I met a blogger in the offline world. It was at Dilli Haat and the blogger was Zephyr 🙂
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@Sudhagee
I agree – it is a wonderful experience! 🙂
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Hello!
My first time here, and I can totally relate to it when you say “We […] have been regular commentors on each other’s blogs, discovering, in the process, shared viewpoints, similar natures, and a shared love for music, food, books and travel.”
In my own case, two friendships that I cherish to this day originated as blogging banter. I am grateful for them.
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@Srini
Hey, Srini! Welcome to my blog! 🙂
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All pics are really beautiful. Your travelogues are just awesome. You got to meet blog friends as well.
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@Sumana
Thank you, Sumana! Glad you had fun reading them.
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Wow the meet-up post is up already! A louder ‘wow’ for that beautiful close up shot of the peacock! I remember running to all possible angles to get a good shot of the bird, but in vain.
It was absolutely lovely meeting you and OH too, TG! Like you said it didnt feel as though we were meeting for the first time. And that is what makes blogging even more magical, no? I agree with you completely, blogging has evolved so much more than being just a journal to many of us 🙂
I so hope we meet again 🙂
I am yet to read the previous parts of your Delhi travelogue. I will be back to read them as soon as I have returned to Doha 🙂
Will talk before leaving. Take care 🙂
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@Deeps
Thank you so much, Deeps! 🙂 Looking forward to talking with you, and to meeting you again!
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Wow those are some beautiful close ups. Lucky u!! Have been in Delhi for quite sometime little while back but never been able to visit one single wildlife place 😦
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@Oftenidothink
Thank you. Welcome here! 🙂
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awesome pic of the deer. hey, I described blogged as the extended friends, our own newspaper whom we can edit and vet write-ups. Blogging has changed our world and I couldn’t imagine ki i would make such awesome friends:)
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@Vishalbheeroo
Blogging is all that and so much more. I have been lucky to find some amazing blogs, too. 🙂
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🙂
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Wow, you met Deepti ? And you seem to have enjoyed your trip Delhi, so glad. I love the way you write about these places in detail 🙂
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@Bindu
Yes, I did enjoy the trip.. Thank you! I am glad you enjoy reading my rant-y posts. 🙂
It was fun meeting Deepthi and her family.
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Beautiful shots TGND!! I have never seen such a close up picture of a peacock, this looks amazing.
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@Greenboochi
Thank you so much, GB!
Sadly, I had never seen an entire peacock before this. All the ones I had seen had their feathers cut off. 😦
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Lovely clicks..I agree..Blogging has evolved a lot!! How did you manage taking a close up of a peacock??Its quite a shy thing!
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@Paatiamma
Errr.. this one wasn’t shy. He was sitting very near us, posing beautifully for the camera. 🙂
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Oh those pictures are amazing!
and you met up with Deeps and Namnam..gah I am jealous
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@R’s Mom
Deer Park is a lovely place, RM! 🙂
Jealous?! You have had some pretty amazing blog meets yourself! 😀
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