Its a very special day. The day I saw this world for the first time 27 years ago. Its always a special day for me. Well, this is my fifth birthday in Taiwan (Quite a long time huh?).
This year, I started getting wishes and gifts even a week before my birthday. It was so nice my friends and lab-mates Yii-lih and Chia-fen gave a post card made of wood in the shape of Taiwan Island marked with all the important tourist spots in Taiwan. On the back side, they wrote a sweet birthday wish in Chinese (Well... I could read a part of it but had to get Yii-lih's help to read the whole thing). When they went to Hualien few months ago, they specially requested the hotel they stayed to send it card for my birthday. Its a very special and unique gift which I will remember forever.
Also, My best buddy Nitin gave me a very special gift. A calender for the year 2011. What's so special in it? Every month of the year had a picture of mine with some quotes from famous personalities underneath. It is really a very creative and wonderful gift. Also, Nagaraj, my other good friend and house-mate ordered a special cake for my birthday party. Thanks a lot my friends!!!
Its not the gifts but their friendship and affection that counts. I also got a lot of phone calls, E-mails and Facebook messages from all friends in different parts of the globe. Vishnu, my friend and classmate during my bachelors' and masters' degree called me from Norway. His call was the one to wake me out of the bed on my birthday. Its been a long time we spoke to each other over the phone and it was really nice talking to him. Gayathri, my good friend and classmate from college, also called me. Her wishes are always special and close to my heart. One more friend and classmate, Rani sent her wishes through mail. She never forgets to wish me on my birthday and it continues even after these many years.
Wishes poured in from all my cousins and other family members. Neeju sent me a nice E-card and Poorni called me to pass on her wishes. Many of them sent nice E-mail wishes. Last but not the least, wishes from my dad, mom, sister and grand-mom came through Skype. Thanks to the advancement in technology!!!
As for the birthday party, I didn't have any proper plans till the day before, as ever. I just thought of buying some new clothes and then have a simple party with a couple of friends. As it was a Monday, I thought of going out to have some dinner rather than arranging a party at home. But, in the end, plans changed and we could get-together in a French Vegetarian Restaurant for dinner and there were about 12 people. Though the food was not of the choice of many, I believe that everyone enjoyed being together after quite some time. I cut the cake in the restaurant to end the birthday in a very nice way. Thanks to all my friends who came there amidst their busy schedules.
Its a custom to make three wishes before cutting the birthday cake, two of them revealed to the people around and the third one kept as a secret. Here goes my two wishes.
(1)Good health and wealth (wealth doesn't just mean money) are very important to have a happy life. More precisely, I wish a year which brings prosperity.
(2)Life is like a roller coaster ride. There are always ups and downs. I wish I have the maturity to handle everything and be happy always.
Its nice to read all the columns in your blog.Keep going... Cheers, Abi.
ReplyDelete@Abi: Thanks for the motivating comments...
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