Tendulkars enjoy a quiet holiday in Mussoorie

MUSSOORIE: Tourists here for Christmas holidays were in for a surprise when they saw `Master Blaster' Sachin Tendulkar and his family strolling down the Mall road. The Tendulkars have been at this hill station since Christmas eve to spend a quiet vacation and enjoy "quality time'' with each other.

The family will be here till New Year celebrations with their friend, well-known hotelier Sanjay Narang at the latter's `Brothvel Cottage' in Sisters' Bazaar in Landour.

Walking leisurely around the hill town, playing cricket with his children in the "Char Dukaan'' area of Landour, is what Sachin likes to do. While stressing that he needs his "privacy'', the cricketer was not averse to an informal interaction with the media. He said he had come back to Mussoorie as he loved the place and its weather when he visited it last time.

"It gives me a chance to spend time with my family amid peaceful and picturesque surroundings,'' he said.

"We are in a relaxed frame of mind as the children are on a vacation and the cricket season has wrapped up,'' said Sachin. And no, he had no plans yet to retire from one-day cricket. "I will play till I feel like.''

He said he agreed with and respected the government's decision on cancelling the cricketers' tour to Pakistan. He said he was deeply saddened by the Mumbai terror attacks.

Since their arrival, the Tendulkars have visited Woodstock School. Morning walks in the Landour Cantonment area, strolling through Sisters' Bazaar and Kulri, the Tendulkars and their friends have brightened the New Year season in this hill station, which had been witnessing a dull time over the past few weeks. Tourists, who met the Tendulkar family and took autographs, said it was a wonderful Christmas and New Year's gift for them.