The dream come true IPO

1. The power of Manifestation

I have never fully understood or believed in the whole ‘manifestation‘ game though just as I write this, I have an epiphany! I realise there is strongest proof that it has worked for me. In the recent past, I brought something into reality by driving my energy and emotions toward achieving it. Not ‘something’, but two amazing boys! Those who know me would remember how desperately I wanted and prayed for my babies to be boys! That’s almost how badly I wanted this birthday trip with my parents to turn into a beautiful reality. Did it? Read on to know!

For Amma, Appa and me, as a family of 3, the state of Kerala has always begun with Guruvayoor and ended at Munnar with our ancestral temples somewhere in the middle. We never felt the need to explore beyond our Iyer-defined Kerala boundaries. Ancient photo-albums and stories from Amma tell me that we have visited Trivandrum and Thekkady, but that feels like ‘picchla janam!’

2025 has been a year of milestones and it’s not everyday that your mother turns 60! Nobody in their right mind would ever call that lady ‘OLD’, though she claims that her patience is depleting, hinges are squeaking and moods are swinging! Maybe her husband and daughter would vouch for that because mostly they’re the reason her BP hits the roof! But her fans? Naah, they aren’t buying the old tale! Anyway, such a milestone is one that calls for a memorable celebration and I wanted the birthday to be extra special. I wanted to travel to a destination BEYOND KERALA! Beyond Kerala, we have been nowhere together. Unless you count that one time we went to Mount Abu way back in the 90s. The two haven’t travelled much either as a couple. The last couple of years haven’t been kind to Appa’s health, yet the fighter that he is, he was very enthusiastic about doing a trip with us. 

The seed of a dream international trip was sown early in 2024 when Amma and Appa hadn’t even renewed their passports, so there was nothing I could do except for fervently pray that everything be OKAY until the October of 2025 because the devil that my mind is, it has the power to cause an apocalypse! Thankfully this year flew by and as we got to August 2025 without any mishap, it was time to get working on the

IPO – IYER PATIL OCTOBER!

I needed a destination that would suit Appa. Yes! Amma’s 60th but Appa’s comfort. Amma’s 60th but Appa’s preferences. If you think about it, the logic only works in her favour! The destination would have to tick all of these boxes:

• Shortest fly-time from Kochi
• Pleasant, favourable weather
• No long, tiring road travel
• Entertainment for 3 kids (biggest kid – Appa!)
• No exclusive beach place
• Easily available veg options

After months of planning, going back to the drawing board, arguments and discussions, the destination was finalised. What was supposed to be a SURPRISE for Amma, was completely ruined by her own daughter because I was as good at keeping my mouth shut as was Laddoo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham!

On September 20th, when my little one was rushed to the ER because of a high fever, my hopes for the trip wavered but when you want something this desperately, the Gods have a way of working it out.

2. Kerala Kaaryangal (translation: work/ matters)

“Cabin-crew prepare for take-off,” as soon as this announcement went off, I sealed my eyes shut, clung on to the infant on my lap for dear life and prayed to my Dear Krishna whose Darshanam we were hoping to be blessed with in a few hours! My heartbeat was so frantic that it was more likely I’d die of a panic attack than the dreaded flight crash. Unfortunately this never-before fear is an aftermath of the extremely shocking Air India crash this year that will stay in the mind of this Air India flyer for ever. Anybody else relate to it?

You know my love for Guruvayoor Krishna Temple dates way back to the 2000s. Those were the days when we stood in the general queue, the starting point of which can’t be seen for miles, but it’s made of people sandwiched together that they’d look like an ocean of nei payasam from a drone camera! With no phones on our person, I would stand in the queue talking to Amma and Appa about the most random things, look around, stare at people, try to read Malayalam script off the signage, get lost in my own thoughts and dreams. There was even an episode where I got dizzy from being sandwiched for hours and nearly collapsed! Scores of devotees still do all that.

What changed for us? The realisation that we are not the same as our parents. Our kids? They are a different league altogether! This generation lacks that patience. And tolerance to sweat? ZERO, but I can hardly blame them for that! Then there’s our anger outbursts in response to their tantrums! All in all, avoidable! Hence, we purchased tickets that help reduce the wait time from 5 hours to 50 mins. This visit to Guruvayoor, however, taught me one thing. While I love everything about that beautiful place, if you want to really stand and talk to your God like no-one’s watching, it’s best to visit your local temple.

After an entire day in Guruvayoor, the next two days in Kerala were spent in leisure. A drive around the towns of Thrissur is also a treat to the eyes of a city dweller. Small temples that radiate so much peace and positivity that it makes you want to visit them for some soul-searching, simple, modest homes or modern, extravagant bungalows, some in colours you wouldn’t dare to imagine, and most importantly abundant greenery like the world deserves to have!

We got some Amma-daughter shopping time at a mall while the men treated themselves to an Ayurvedic massage session. Mall even in Kerala you ask? Just how much can you entertain two little boys in a hotel room, with no screen-time, while the outside was scorching hot!? The duo spent their time running, hiding in the aisles, occasionally pulling out clothes on display, forcing us to leave early with dignity as opposed to being thrown out! We also made a trip to an Elephant training centre and an Aquarium in Chavakkad, apparently India’s largest public aquarium. It actually turned out to be impressive and was home to a surprisingly large variety of fish! Two sharks also! Cool right?

3. C for Cochin to C for Changi

We reached the Kochi Airport with three hours to spare, courtesy of Robin Uncle’s brilliant driving skills! Next time I want to fly international, I’m going to do it from Kochi! Fastest security check and immigration in the history of our travel!

It was our first time with Singapore airlines and we rate the experience a full 5/5! Pratik also went ahead to suggest that we fly Singapore Airlines to Boston the next time even if means crossing the Pacific Ocean!

Singapore Airport is so extensive that even though we took a sky train to get to a different terminal, we missed seeing the famous waterfall! Can one really cover everything in one trip? With kids and parents in tow? It’s impossible and we never burden our itinerary with such expectations. What impressed me the most was the immigration system! I have been to several airports, yet never seen something so slick! Automated, smooth, and super fast! You have officers only to guide and assist you if needed. Do we have this in Mumbai as well?

I like it when you have free days on a vacation where you do no sight-seeing but just relax in the hotel! Our first day at Sentosa was such, so it gave us time to explore the property and visit the beach. We had some 132 steps to get down before we could access the free Sentosa shuttle service that gets you to the beach. The Sofitel Resort is a beautiful property and the rooms are cozy and stylish! You know my obsession with hotels and this one got added to my list of favourites!

After two days of Sentosa, we moved to Novotel in the city where we spent the next two days. Our hotel was at a stone’s throw from Little India and Mustafa Centre. Amma was super keen on going shopping at Mustafa and you know what she purchased on day one? A bottle of drinking water to pacify Shlok and a cap for him because he was so obsessed with Appa’s that he refused to let him have it! Do you think Shlok used the one she got him? See for yourself!

Amma was mighty put off when she saw a couple of things that were priced at double of what she paid in India! Mustafa Mustafa don’t worry Mustafa, Amma will come back Mustafa! And she did! She made a beeline for the centre once again the next evening, only this time she went alone. Curious to know what she bought? A bottle of Tiger Balm and a set of two steel straws!

4. All things YUMMY, topped with oodles of hypocrisy!

You know what Shlok loves most about holidays? Staying in hotel rooms and the breakfast buffet because they have chicken sausages!

You know what I love about buffets? The bread section, specifically the ‘pain au chocolat’ even though it’s a pain to say the name! So at every such buffet, my plate is piled up with plenty of pain, sausages, bread and omelette, hash browns and pancakes. Next thing you see me doing at the table is lecture my son on eating fruits like the kid on the other table! Someday my son will point at the hypocrisy on my plate and it’ll be my turn to be pained indeed!

What was supposed to be a practical solution for cooking Moksh’s porridge on the go for the forever-travelling Patils, turned out to be the most useful and sensible gift from Amma on this IPO trip! Not only did she get the Nova Travel Cooker, but also did all the work while we ate the fruit of her labor, though in this case it was MAGGI!

Just across the Cloud 9 hotel at Kothamangalam was a restaurant named ‘Al Raaz’ with an attached fast food joint by the name ‘Kuzhi Mandhi’, which is a mix of kuzhi (pit) and mandi (a dish with rice and meat). We didn’t do any Google check for rating. Seeing the numbers that thronged the eatery was proof enough. PP took Appa for a simple yet scrumptious lunch consisting of the rice. For me it was the chicken shawarma! We even packed and took 4 to eat at the airport.

After a long and tiring day at the Singapore zoo, we stopped by for lunch at the restaurant inside the zoo premises and that is where we tried the popular Singapore Laksa Noodles. We also had a bread bowl each, one with mushroom for my parents and one with chicken for us.

After a long afternoon at the Bird Paradise, we ended the sightseeing with a very unique, not our usual style coffee at Old Chang Kee, coffee house.

On our second night at Sentosa, Shlok got hungry just minutes before our show, Wings of Time. Upon enquiry at the nearby restaurant we learned that the last order everywhere was taken at 9.00 pm. The show was scheduled to go on until 9.10 pm. So we resorted to ordering a roll and quesadilla from the food truck parked at the entrance to the show venue. It turned out to be such a good choice, including the masala potato one for my parents, that we repeated our order and that became our dinner!

On our 3rd night in Singapore, we got out to the streets to explore food options. Can you believe it, Amma and Appa headed straight for Arya Bhavan! PP and I had to do a lot of walking and scanning for suitable options and finally ended up at:

1) Al Mubin restaurant

2) Sam Leong St Chicken Rice

3) Kailash Parbhat

On the last night, PP who was still keen on exploring the local food street, headed out to do so with a couple of friends who had come over from India. I stayed in the hotel with the kids. Here’s a glimpse at what all he ate, none my type though because I’m not a fan of South-east Asian food.

5: Action Attraction 

We specifically asked the tour operator for a kids-curated itinerary, so we had one day in Sentosa and two days in the city. People automatically assume that we must have done Universal Studios for the kids but we did NOT! Marina Bay Sands? Nope. Madam Tussaud’s? BIG NO!

Singapore Oceanarium

I will not undermine the efforts gone into making the one in Kerala but even the word ‘magnificent’ fails to do justice to this Oceanarium. If I used ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,’ would it make me Shashi Tharoor!? It is so brilliantly massive that I’m scared to even imagine the one at Abu Dhabi! It’s a good 3 hour long walk inside yet you cannot be exhausted because every exhibit is a big WOW! The kids were totally enthralled by the biggies like the rays and sharks!

Singapore Zoo and Bird Paradise

After recently having done a Safari in Masai Mara, a zoo couldn’t really excite PP and me but it was a different story altogether for Moksh. Watching him enjoy the animals is what makes a visit to the zoo totally worth it! Amma will never forget the Singapore zoo for the longest time of her life. Traveller tip: Always take a stroller/ wagon for kids, even though there’s a tram inside. There’s a crazy lot of walking to do! (Amma walked a good 30 mins back to the ticket counter at the entrance to get a wagon for the boys much later into the tour! Poor lady went the extra mile for her grandkids, literally!)

The bird paradise is a true paradise indeed! Even Shlok, who is hard to impress, loved the place! Much like the other points of attraction that we visited, hats off to the minds behind the design of a park of this magnitude! The funniest episode was when Appa just couldn’t see the parakeet resting on the railing, right in front of him! We thought he was pretending until he went and kept his hand ON THAT BIRD! Lucky for him, the bird took a liking to him!

Flower Dome

You know what was the first thing that got me excited as we entered the Dome? The chill air! The whole greenhouse is so amazingly air-conditioned that it broke my heart to leave the place! I’ve never been to a place this exotic! It was a kaleidoscopic display of flowers from around the world! It is a vision of beauty, the entire place!

Singapore flyer

Shlok was super thrilled about the Ferris Wheel from the very second I had shown him a picture of the Flyer. When he saw the number ’22’ on our capsule, he was elated! An extra special Ferris Wheel ride just for him! When he learnt that there is a similar one in London, he demanded that our next vacation spot be London!

Luge ride

They have minimum height requirements, then how on earth did my little Moksh end up taking the ride? A flaw in their security? Maybe! But he was very enthu to ride tandem with his father! Don’t know after how many years I got my father to sit on a ride! Over the years, the only story I’ve heard of him having enjoyed a ride is one where he troubled his father-in-law on the Dashing Cars some 30 years ago! For someone with zero driving skills, even Amma fared very well! Unfortunately we didn’t collect the photos, so the experience stays etched in our minds and hearts alone!

Jurassic Adventure at Gardens by the Bay

Let me tell you, the T-Rex and the Brachiosaurus models are huge, and seem scarily real, so they’re bound to be a big hit with kids but you know what was hilarious? They have a team dedicated to petting baby dinosaurs and oh boy, do they really take their job seriously! When I saw them handle the Dino baby, it made me guilty about the way I ‘man’handle my human baby! The Dino baby rests ONLY in the hands of the handler even for a paid family photo! If it’s because they fear damage to their property, I totally get it because the efforts gone into creating those realistic models is commendable! But see what I came across when searching about the dinosaurs at this park!

6: Desi Drama 

We had just entered the Singapore airport when we chanced upon a beautiful spot for the perfect family photo. We noticed that a family of 3 was already at it when a ground staff approached us and asked them and us to hurry with the check in. Then began a drama that got all of us so interested that it was difficult for Amma to not stare shamelessly at them! The family that was busy with their photo session some moments ago had conveniently come super late and when informed that their gate had closed, the Delhi couple came up with the following excuses:

• my father’s condition is critical
• it’s karvachauth and we have to be home
• this is the first time such a mistake has occurred

The wife’s eyes started glistening with tears and she was holding on dearly to their little daughter who looked confused and clueless! One minute ago the father was like “SAY CHEESE”, the very next minute he’s crying and begging “PLEASE!”

Can you believe it? As luck would have it, the manager turned out to be a Delhiite himself and he let the couple in! To be honest, I was very tempted to intervene and inform him about the happy photoshoot that he missed! I decided against it. Live and let live.

We flew back Air India and thankfully it was a pretty decent flight. We reached early but thanks to Mumbai air traffic we were hovering around and then thanks to some technical glitch we waited for our plane to be towed. So yeah! Congratulations AI!

At the Mumbai Airport, Appa went to the washroom while PP stood outside waiting with Appa’s bag. When Amma and I caught up with PP, Appa was still inside. The crowd slowly dispersed and there wasn’t anyone but us still waiting for the Appa who hadn’t come out yet! Then the panic struck. PP and Shlok went inside and repeatedly called out to him. Except for one bathroom stall, all were vacant. Finally they had to bend down to look and when no feet were to be seen, we decided to move toward the  immigration section only to find him sitting there with the security! He was stopped from retracing his way in search of us!  Can you believe it, it was only minutes earlier that Amma and I had had a laugh about her putting Appa’s phone in her bag and the possible action that Appa would have taken if he were to get lost! Lesson learnt: Always have a phone on your person in crowded places, especially elderly parents.

I read the words ‘horticultural treasure trove’ on their site and that’s exactly how I can sum up Singapore after this trip.

Agreed, the entire country could probably fit inside our Mumbai but at least their serious steps at conservation of nature is evident from the abundance of greenery, both for aesthetic and environmental reasons. Mumbai, on the other hand, what are we sitting on? Mines of dust, pollution and bird poo! 

P.S. If you wondering how come I didn’t mention losing a thing on this trip, only I thought I did. It was Shlok’s new red jacket with Ferrari written across it. On the night before our flight I concluded it was MISSING. I had written off the jacket as a contribution to the Singapore Grand Prix that ended just a day before we landed! A week later when I unpacked the kids’ suitcase, out came the jacket!! Happy Shlok, happiest Amma!

Cheers!!

You know what happens when you take too many vacations a year with two young children???