We just went from wearing ALL these clothes to go out side (these are just jackets, and scarves, and hats and such, not to mention our two shirts, two sweaters, pants with tights under them etc etc) .....
to wearing as little as possible.
All the time.
It's hot here in India. But I get ahead of myself.
First the trip..... Packing was interesting, Sebas was more the trekking/take as little as possible mode, and I more of the 'but we MIGHT need it' type. It was a long process - we survived and even had room to take a few comfort items we weren't sure we had room for. Two suit cases, check. Carry ons, check. Kids, check.
Wow, this is really happening?
Then to the train that would take us to the airport (Frankfurt is a couple hours by car, 45 min with a good train) arrived to hop on the train and, it's cancelled. F*!%. Not the way I wanted to start a trip... we decided the next train was coming soon enough, that we should have time still in the airport to check in etc, and hopefully not be running the whole time. Turned out to be fine, but this is not a stress you want to have, at the very beginning of a 20 some hour travel day with kids. ugh.
Checked in, got a bassinet for Marlo to sleep in, security, boarding, and suddenly we're sitting on a plane headed for India.
WHAT? This is really happening?
Anjun, and Marlo absolutely AMAZED me. Truly. Anjun loved the new experience, airport, airplane - so much to see and do and look at and noises and and and! Marlo fell asleep between the train platform and check in and stayed asleep pretty much the whole first flight. One time he was awake when the lights were still on and stayed up for 30 min or so. But that's it. Meanwhile Anjun, Mr. Cutiepants (check out the pic)
There's no way he was just going to sleep in his seat so Sebas had to help him and hold him - which means we got pretty much no sleep. But hey, the kids were doing so SO well, I can't complain. So, teddy got to sleep in Anjuns seat. Lucky guy.
The layover in Delhi flew by (huh? New Delhi? This IS really happening!) we found a childrens play area, and Anjun got a taste of what it would be like in India, a little boy came to play with him... then his parents came, then pictures were taken of the children together, shake hands, etc etc. Little did I know that this awaited us - so far EVERY woman, and some men have to touch the boys... preferably on the cheeks, with their hands, then blow kisses into their fingers. I don't get it. Or people just pick them up. OR, the absolute worst, they take Anjuns teddy. Hey folks, that's over the line. Seriously, this has happened every day, multiple times a day, since arriving in India. oookkkk....
Sebas (above) had fun with Anjun on the escalators in the Delhi airport.... I (below) chilled with Marlo on an airline blanket on the floor. And I tried not to freak out about him not touching anything. I kept him restrained to just crawling on the blanket though...we ARE in India after all.
Flight number two, Anjun once again rocked it, even being sleep deprived and having traveled by that time for at least 12 hours....just check him out. so relaxed. This pic says something like "I've got my roll with butter and teddy, I'm good" This flight was Delhi to Chennai - about three hours. We got a full meal and by this time had to come up with some stuff to keep the kids happy. Books, snacks, water bottle, toys, anything. And at this point I'm still trying to somehow prevent a teething 8 month old to not put everything in his mouth. That was fun. NOT.
FINALLY, we made it to Chennai, got our baggage super quick - and headed out into the Indian heat. To see out taxi driver, among many many others with my name 'stacy'. Now just three hours to our apartment. We can do it. Once again, Anjun and Marlo were astoundingly cool. Happy.... cute.... funny... and good moods.... I mean how could they not be? There's cars, motor bikes, busses, cows, dogs, sheep, goats, people, snacks galore, no car seats... wow. Our taxi driver stops to get something, offers to buy us a water and comes back with a huge bottle of water and a gift: flowers for my hair. How cool is that!? (check out above pic)
Anjun likes it here, we get to ride on a motorbike, and it's basically one huge sand box. Perfect for a 2 year old. But the drastic change in temperatures was rough.
Had to cut his hair super short- trust me, there was no other way. It was permanently wet with sweat and dirty. His beautiful curly locks (which were even more crazy curly in the humidity) are now gone.... :(
But it's way better like this. The first day we really had to do a double take, he looks so different. And old.
First day, take out food, South Indian style - and LOOOOOTS of sleep.
We were all so DONE.
But the food was yummy and now the adventure begins.
Next week more info on where we are and what the heck we're doing here!
LOVE
The Weddings
to wearing as little as possible.
All the time.
It's hot here in India. But I get ahead of myself.
First the trip..... Packing was interesting, Sebas was more the trekking/take as little as possible mode, and I more of the 'but we MIGHT need it' type. It was a long process - we survived and even had room to take a few comfort items we weren't sure we had room for. Two suit cases, check. Carry ons, check. Kids, check.
Wow, this is really happening?
Then to the train that would take us to the airport (Frankfurt is a couple hours by car, 45 min with a good train) arrived to hop on the train and, it's cancelled. F*!%. Not the way I wanted to start a trip... we decided the next train was coming soon enough, that we should have time still in the airport to check in etc, and hopefully not be running the whole time. Turned out to be fine, but this is not a stress you want to have, at the very beginning of a 20 some hour travel day with kids. ugh.
Checked in, got a bassinet for Marlo to sleep in, security, boarding, and suddenly we're sitting on a plane headed for India.
WHAT? This is really happening?
Anjun, and Marlo absolutely AMAZED me. Truly. Anjun loved the new experience, airport, airplane - so much to see and do and look at and noises and and and! Marlo fell asleep between the train platform and check in and stayed asleep pretty much the whole first flight. One time he was awake when the lights were still on and stayed up for 30 min or so. But that's it. Meanwhile Anjun, Mr. Cutiepants (check out the pic)
There's no way he was just going to sleep in his seat so Sebas had to help him and hold him - which means we got pretty much no sleep. But hey, the kids were doing so SO well, I can't complain. So, teddy got to sleep in Anjuns seat. Lucky guy.
The layover in Delhi flew by (huh? New Delhi? This IS really happening!) we found a childrens play area, and Anjun got a taste of what it would be like in India, a little boy came to play with him... then his parents came, then pictures were taken of the children together, shake hands, etc etc. Little did I know that this awaited us - so far EVERY woman, and some men have to touch the boys... preferably on the cheeks, with their hands, then blow kisses into their fingers. I don't get it. Or people just pick them up. OR, the absolute worst, they take Anjuns teddy. Hey folks, that's over the line. Seriously, this has happened every day, multiple times a day, since arriving in India. oookkkk....
Sebas (above) had fun with Anjun on the escalators in the Delhi airport.... I (below) chilled with Marlo on an airline blanket on the floor. And I tried not to freak out about him not touching anything. I kept him restrained to just crawling on the blanket though...we ARE in India after all.
Flight number two, Anjun once again rocked it, even being sleep deprived and having traveled by that time for at least 12 hours....just check him out. so relaxed. This pic says something like "I've got my roll with butter and teddy, I'm good" This flight was Delhi to Chennai - about three hours. We got a full meal and by this time had to come up with some stuff to keep the kids happy. Books, snacks, water bottle, toys, anything. And at this point I'm still trying to somehow prevent a teething 8 month old to not put everything in his mouth. That was fun. NOT.
FINALLY, we made it to Chennai, got our baggage super quick - and headed out into the Indian heat. To see out taxi driver, among many many others with my name 'stacy'. Now just three hours to our apartment. We can do it. Once again, Anjun and Marlo were astoundingly cool. Happy.... cute.... funny... and good moods.... I mean how could they not be? There's cars, motor bikes, busses, cows, dogs, sheep, goats, people, snacks galore, no car seats... wow. Our taxi driver stops to get something, offers to buy us a water and comes back with a huge bottle of water and a gift: flowers for my hair. How cool is that!? (check out above pic)
Anjun likes it here, we get to ride on a motorbike, and it's basically one huge sand box. Perfect for a 2 year old. But the drastic change in temperatures was rough.
Had to cut his hair super short- trust me, there was no other way. It was permanently wet with sweat and dirty. His beautiful curly locks (which were even more crazy curly in the humidity) are now gone.... :(
But it's way better like this. The first day we really had to do a double take, he looks so different. And old.
First day, take out food, South Indian style - and LOOOOOTS of sleep.
We were all so DONE.
But the food was yummy and now the adventure begins.
LOVE
The Weddings
