Reema & Nicolas | Photo Album

Photo Album

01. Pretty Things From India

When Nicolas visited Reema and her family in India, they took time to explore the city. One of the stops was the Elephanta Caves, where countless men and women setup stalls to hawk their wares.

Reema and Nicolas decided to bring back some trinkets. They were interested in getting intricately carved stonework: two round candle globes (pictured) and two carved elephants. The plan was simple; Reema and her brother would buy the trinkets and Nicolas would pretend he did not know them, least he ruin their good price!
While Reema and her brother Amit were negotating prices, Nicolas, now with nowhere to go, suddenly found himself at the attention of the hawkers. To keep from being suspicious, Nicolas began to play the haggling game too. Perhaps Reema underestimated his skills having never witnessed his prowlness as a boy in the plaza of Tecate, but in the end Nicolas was offered a deal to good to pass up. Reema returned to find that her globe cost 100 ruppees more and was smaller! They had a good laugh and began the long walk with their new collections down the mountain.
02. Love Travels

After finishing his doctorate, Nicolas found a position in Huntsville. Reema, however, was still working on her doctorate in Atlanta.

For nearly a year Nicolas and Reema took turns on alternate weekends to make the drive to each other.
This began with the initial apartment hunting process, included completing a move (pictured shortly after), and only ended when Reema completed her doctorate and found a position in New York. Nicolas has fond memories of Reema’s very squeeky PT Cruiser pulling in front of his driveway. The entire apartment complex must have known she had arrived! When Nicolas visited Reema at her home in Atlanta, he had the luxury of a new(er) car, causing the whole street to buzz with news that some idiot had parked a half-decent car in Home Park. Anyone who knows anything about Home Park, knows you don’t do that. Miraculously, his car was never stolen, his windows never broken. That whole street must have also known not to mess with Reema and her girlfriend’s place--they’re tough!
03. A Good Box

When it came time to find an engagement ring, Nicolas found himself way out of his depth.

What style should it be? What type of stone (modern: diamond or traditional: not diamond)? The list went on and on. Finally, completely unsure of how to proceed, Nicolas brought Reema a power point show of options that he insisted she answer, as though she were at the optometrist (A or B? ... A or B? Was A better? ... or B?).

Having finally figured out what he needed, Nicolas thought he was set. Then Reema lumped on one more requirement. Anything he buys cannot help fund the wars around the world. After educating himself proved to be far more difficult than one might imagine. While the stores love to stand by their "Conflict Free" slogan (which cleverly refers to the minimum legally required of them -- the "Kimberley process") most will refuse to even disclose the origin of their stones. "Conflict Free" is intentionally narrowly defined to mean that no rebel groups are involved who are fighting a UN recognized government, a standard met by any UN recognized government to fund their own wars.

To meet Reema’s much harder "War Free" standard, Nicolas turned to Brillant Earth. The box is pictured.
04. Beautiful, Exotic Flowers

India is full of exotic things.

Reema once told Nicolas that every forest should have dangerous animals lurking. India has lions. Tigers too. And, you gussed it. Bears. Ever read The Jungle Book? Yes, cobras too. And saltwater crocodiles. You’re pretty much hosed.
Yet not all exotic things are likely to eat you. Besides stunning birds there are amazing flowers. Here Reema shows off some flowers from her family’s garden.
05. Travel with Passepartout

Reema and Nicolas have a favorite character from Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. That’s right: Passepartout. He accidentally leaves the gas on before departing and is forced by his master to pay for it.
So please do not forget both your passport and a valid Indian visa. And if you’ve not read much of Jules Verne, take Passepartout’s advice and remember to remove your shoes before entering a temple in India.
06. Mumbai Darshan

In other words, the sights of Mumbai. This is the famous Haji Ali mosque in the southern part of Mumbai . Irrespective of religion, caste or social standing, thousands are drawn to this benevolent saint for his blessings.
07. Gateway of India & Taj Hotel: From Sea

Returning from a day long adventure on the Arabian sea, the Kundu family and Nicolas relished returning to Bombay at the end of the day.

There in all of its majesty, standing high and proud, the Gateway of India beckons us home. Behind it, the Taj hotel dominates the shoreline with its stately lines. Today the hotel commonly sleeps the world’s leaders: presidents, dictators, and princes.
But what of the gateway that our ship sails towards now? What adverturers have passed through its gates?
08. Arabian Sea

A sunset over the Arabian sea is a sight to behold. As the sun falls lower and the waves lap at the sand, is there a person alive who would not feel their heart stir by such a sight?

Children dancing in the waves. Teenage boys shout with excitement and families make their quite way along the shore.
09. Thanksgiving Puzzles
When Reema and Nicolas came to visit Nicolas’ parents, a horrible puzzle was waiting. They did manage to finish the border, leaving Nicolas’ dad (Mark) to finish it.
10. Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves contain world famous ancient carvings. The Kundu family took Nicolas on his visit to Bombay out to visit them. They are accessible only by ship, as they are on an island in the middle of the Arabian sea.
11. A Lot Can Happen Over Coffee

When Nicolas met Reema, he quickly figured out that she liked to go for coffee breaks. As most of his family knows, Nicolas really does not like coffee at all. Yet what did Nicolas do? "Reema -- let us go for a coffe break!".
12. Doctor & Doctor

A proud moment for Reema. Years of hard work have paid off.

Reema and Nicolas felt as though they were on the top of the world. Now both officially Doctor and Doctor.
The doctor is in. Yes. This is Doctor Reveles speaking.
13. Reema’s Birthday: As the Night Spins Around.

What do you do to celebrate a big birthday when you’re only grad students, generally unable to appreciate the finer things in life due to fiscal limitations? You find a way to do it on the cheap!

On Reema’s birthday, Nicolas and friends climbed the Westin to the spinning restuarant for drinks. Late on a Thursday, almost otherwise deserted, good company had a commanding view. They were on the top of the world, and sent Reema into a new year with blessings and chear.
This was followed by an exploding chocolate cake. No, not some fancy dessert in some fancy place. Nicolas tried to make a cake. It exploded. (Reema still ate it. Reema likes cake.)
14. "Ek Bakhra Halal Ho Gaya"

The above auspicious title phrase loosely translates as "Another Man has Met the Fortunes of Marriage", and is traditionally said at the announcement of an impending marriage. In the photo, Reema & Nicolas were honored to attend the marriage of Namita & Rajiv where they were able to send their dear friend Rajiv off into connubial bliss. The two met their dear friend Prashant there and ganged up with friends Eliot & Ann for the Indian ceremony.

This was Nicolas’ first Indian wedding experience and Reema & Nicolas have used it as a template of the quintessential Indian wedding format (especially easy when you've only seen one!). This was certainly a well done affair! Reema & Nicolas hope you have as much fun at their ceremony in India as they did at Rajiv & Namita's.
15. Amicalola Falls

A fun hike on Nicolas’ birthday to the second largest waterfall in the United States.

Nicolas had the company of Reema and his good friends Prashant and Rajiv. Together they climbed the verdent landscape, saw the waterfall (it’s not the most awe inspiring, but they knew that), and then hiked out on lesser traveled trails.
It was a brilliant day with fresh clean air, pretty sights, and good company.
16. Congratulations

At Reemas home in Albany, NY. The Reveles family have gathered to pop the champaigne.
17. Gateway of India

This is a 'must see' when you visit Bombay. Nicolas took Reema and her parents for a cup of tea at Taj hotel here. If you need a entire brochure of tea options in an ornate sitting room with a piano and servers waiting to take your order. Then dreamily sip your tea while looking out at the magnificent view of the Indian ocean doted with boats of all kinds. Wasnt this a good way of winning the parents over! Though equally impressive was the bustling crowds, hawkers, tourists and the mix, with a gigantic serene banyan tree keeping a watch on them all.
18. Durga Puja Goddess!

At celebration of Durga Puja, worship of the powerful Durga deity in Atlanta, GA. The one occassion every year, Reema and her Bengali girlfriends get the chance to strut around in a saree. This celebration brings nostalgic memories and makes a few new happy ones for Reema. After hours of patiently waiting for Reema to finish dressing, Nicolas takes pride in his beautiful life partner and goes with her to learn and experience her culture through her eyes.
19. Tecate

When Nicolas’ grandfather, Papi, turned 88, the family decided to make an event of it! Nicolas brought Reema, all the way down across the border to Mexico. The celebrations were wonderful and Papi’s birthday was declared a great success. But when it was time to go, Nicolas realized there were members of his family who might enjoy Reema more him!
Getting back into the states was an interesting experience (although perhaps routine for the border patrol). You are from India? It says here you study in Georgia? What are you doing here in Mexico? As Nicolas begins to worry about the future cost to visit Reema in Mexico, he jumps to mention that they are school friends. These aren’t the droids you are looking for.
20. Palace of Versailles

Overlooking the vast gardens in the Palace of Versailles in Paris, Reema and Nicolas pause for a photo. It was a cold and windy January and the city was deserted. Reema and Nicolas made the most of it, rapidly exploring large parts of the entire city.
Paris: we will be back.
21. Happily together.

Soon to be Doctor and Doctor Reveles walking away with each other. You fill in how that story ends.