Friday, October 06, 2006
Monday, October 2, 2006
Went to the parade at the Mysore Palace for the Dussera holiday. Our Australian friends, Kirsty and Andrew, were in town with their kids, too, and we ran into each other there and sat together.
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Took the train back from Mysore today. Kids had a little swim after breakfast and I packed up. We really enjoyed our time at the Metropole Hotel. There's a wonderful staff here who are terrific with the children.
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Maya's first day back at Canadian School. I set my alarm for 6am, woke her at 6:30, and we were out of the door by 7 to go to the bus stop. I saw the bus list and realized an old friend of hers, Hope, is on the bus, so I called her mom beforehand and asked her to look out for Maya. They rode together on the bus, and once she got to school, my friend Jackie and her daughter Kimberly brought Maya to her classroom. Maya had lunch with Nayeli. Kimberly and Nayeli were also adopted, from Malaysia and Guatemala, respectively.
Picked up Maya from the bus stop on Main St. in Domlur, and she said she had a belly ache from the bus ride. I spoke with Malithy, her old teacher at Neev, today and asked her if she'd save a spot for her at Neev in case Canadian School doesn't work out. But Maya said she enjoyed her first day of school. Miss Ashi, her teacher, liked the paper she gave her on the first day with words she's writing in cursive. When Badri and I looked at the math homework she brought home, our eyes went wide--stuff she'd done at Neev last year. I surmised that Miss Ashi's starting out with easy stuff in the second week of school just to get their brains warmed up (we hope!).
Met with Priti for Charlie's first half of the school year and with Amba for Molly's. All's well with Charlie--just refuses to sit in circle time once in a while. As for Molly, her teachers say she's not doing a lot of things that we know she's doing at home. And most odd, is that she always plays by herself and doesn't talk to anyone else. On the contrary when she's outside of school, whether on the train or in yoga, she walks up to people and starts chatting them up. I know I shouldn't worry. Not everybody's a social butterfly. As long as she's happy.
Friday, October 6, 2006
Brought Maya to the bus stop and she was pretty excited about school. Went to yoga--the regular old crowd--then to meet Nina for coffee. Her twins are in Charlie's class.
Getting packed for Kabini Jungle Lodge. I shouldn't have unpacked anything but the dirty clothes from last week's trip.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Took the train to Mysore, then our new driver Suryakumar met us there and we drove us to Kabini Jungle Lodge. Pulled in just as the evening safari was leaving. Badri and Maya went off for that. Molly, Charlie, and I explored the Kabini grounds. Sat for about an hour in one of the moored boats, the two of them pretending to drive, and watching the cormorants: counting how long they'd go under water before coming up for air.
The Kabini folks were great. Dinner's from 8:30-10, and they brought dinner to the room for the kids by 7:45. Badri and I then each took turns going to the dining room.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Maya, Badri, and Molly went on the morning safari and boat ride. They definitely saw more on last night's safari (evening viewing always better, unless you get out by 5 am, and that wasn't an option) but we were so glad Molly went and held up just fine. Charlie and I did more exploring and spent some more time on the moored boat watching the birds.
In the evening I went on the safari with Maya and we saw lots of wildlife: elephants (with and without tusks), gaur (Indian buffalo), wild fowl, peacocks, spotted deer and sambar deer, langur monkeys, and wild boar.
Monday, October 9, 2006
Maya's like the energizer bunny. This morning the coffee/tea/wake up call came at 6 am as usual, and Badri and I looked at each other, with a tacit agreement that no one was going anywhere. But we decided to see if Maya was interested in the safari. Of course! Badri and Maya were heading out the door when Molly and Charlie decided that they weren't going to miss it. So in five minutes I got clothes for those two together, as well as changing myself, and we were off on a little safari and elephant ride. We saw one tusker who wasn't wild--it had escaped from a nearby elephant camp, chain on the foot and all.
Had a very interesting time with the guides while waiting for the elephants to come along with the mahouts (elephant drivers). We were told that most of the poaching at the Nagarahole National Park is of trees, not animals. Especially sandalwood, which goes for 500 to 1000 rs per kg (apx. $8 per pound).
Maya climbing down from the anti-poacher lookout
Elephant foot close-up
Just back from two nights in the jungle. How many parents do I hear say: "I need a vacation when we get back from our vacation." Charlie just really keeps us running. We're too old for this!! The first night in the cottage Charlie was up all night, same as he was last week in Mysore. The second night, Charlie slept like a dream. It was Molly who woke up twice to throw up, then Maya who wet the bed (she was completely exhausted and had a dream about peeing on the potty--except she was in her bed), then back to Molly, who had a major blow out (dysentary). Just suffice it to say, it was a long night, with little sleep.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Had my Hindi class at School for Languages and Soft Skills. I'm really enjoying it. Understanding more that I hear around me, but wonder when I'll be more conversant.
Picked up Charlie at school and went to playgroup at the new Total Environment apartment building between home and school. A Dutch/English family moved in with their one year old daughter, and they have a heavenly apartment. Two grassy areas and a private pool, plus four bedrooms and an unbelievable kitchen/living area. But 2.5 lakh! ($5,555/month). Unbelievable. Rents around here are going through the roof. We're lucky we're paying half that (but, true, we don't have a pool, alas).
Our new driver is working out great. This is the first one we've had a reference for, and it was glowing, very positive. He's been driving in Bangalore for 10 years and really knows the area. Doesn't say a lot, but is great with the kids.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
What a day. Badri brought Maya to the bus stop, then we dressed Molly and Charlie in traditional Indian dress for the school's celebration of Diwali. They're out of school today and return Oct. 30. Once Charlie went through the school gates and saw the ten headed Ravana puppet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravana, he started howling. Nothing could calm him, so I brought him home and he missed the Diwali festivities. I didn't go to yoga anyway because my stomach was still upset (Molly, Charlie, and I have all had upset stomaches since we came home from Kabini on Monday).
Picked up Molly at 1pm and she looked so cute in her pavadai. Amma had given us the purple material to stitch the outfit, and it was so appropriate that the border had prancing deer after our Kabini trip.
Charlie in kurta pyjama and Molly in pavadai
Went back to Neev for an hour long overview on Jolly Phonics. The presenter was Australian, and talked about how it's worked so wonderfully over there. It seems a great way to teach kids their letter sounds.
I was on my way to the Canadian International School (CIS) at 4:30 for curriculum night and I got a call from the school. Maya was still there waiting to be picked up. Wires had been crossed--she didn't realize she was supposed to take the bus home. So I picked up Badri at work, and we both rode to the school. He took her home, and I stayed for a couple hours to hear from all the teachers (main teacher, P.E., computer, and art) about what they're teaching this year. Traffic was terrible, so poor Suryakumar clocked lots of hours on the car going back and forth twice to Yelahanka from Indiranagar (24 km, or 11 miles).
The international school scene in Bangalore isn't perfect, by any stretch. First of all, if you want to live anywhere within the city limits, you're going to take an hour to get to any of the schools. The schools inside the city are strictly Indian, with mostly academics and very little extracurriculars like music, art, or dance. We're constantly trying to decide if we should move the whole family up to Yelahanka and put Molly and Charlie in CIS, too. Problem is, they'd be in school until 2:45 and 12:30, respectively, way too long a day for their age.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
After Hindi class, met Marylouise, Alla, and Flavia for lunch at Citrus restaurant in Leela Palace. Hadn't eaten there for quite a while. Flavia's a very interesting woman from Brazil. Her daughter's at CIS as well, and her husband works for Praxair, a gas products company.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Marylouise picked up Maya at school today and she had a sleepover with Hannah.
Kirsty and her kids came over, as well as Priya and Kavi, and we had a big playdate. Priya will be heading off to Italy soon, partly on vacation with Kush in Venice, and partly on a work retreat. Sounds nice!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
In the middle of the night I found Molly at my bedside. She missed Maya and wanted to sleep with me. We went back into her room and I slept on Maya's bed (the most comfy bed in the house). She woke me at 6 a.m. (painful, on the weekend) and we both had slight sore throats. Went downstairs for breakfast. When Charlie woke up later, the first thing he saw was a shiny candy wrapper on top of the microwave. And he wanted it. I said no, he started whining, and I turned my back to make coffee, knowing full well he'd get a stool to climb up for the prize. Just decided a tussle wasn't worth it this early. After he unwrapped it, Molly said approvingly, "Good job Charlie! You opened the candy without asking mama for any help!"
Went to Marylouise's to pick up Maya from her sleepover with Hannah. The children had a nice play and we all had dosas out on the patio. Chatted with their yoga teacher who had come over to give them a lesson at noon. He might start teaching a class at Badri's office. Right now Badri's taking Spanish from a friend of ours, Bharati, at Fair Isaac in the a.m. It would be great if he could work yoga in, too, without leaving the office. Bharati is Indian, but lived in Barcelona for the last two or three years and speaks terrific Spanish.
Great Diwali party to kick off the festival season (Diwali's next Friday, and my friend Alla, from Latvia, is married to a Punjabi, Chris, from Delhi). The party was heavily Goldman Sachs since Chris works there. It's customary to play poker at Diwali parties. They set up a room with two big mattresses practically filling the place, with candles and flowers. Most of the folks played cards, but I begged off. Just never been into cards.
As one newspaper article put it, "Diwali is fireworks, gambling, and wild parties." We'll head to Goa on Wednesday, October 18, for Molly's birthday. I imagine we'll have a nice low key Diwali, far from the fireworks that go on all night for days.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Awesome 4th birthday for Molly
The day before Molly's 4th birthday. I invited a few of her friends to go horseback riding up at the Embassy Riding School. Chae Young (Korean), Astrid (Swedish/Indian), and Naomi (American/Chinese) are three of the girls I've seen her have nice interactions with at playdates. They had the best time on their ponies. I'll include some pictures. After their ride they bounced on the trampoline and then we went for lunch at Pizza Corner.
In the evening we had cake and ice cream with just the family and staff.
Molly on her 4th birthday
Molly with Patti and Thatha
Maya and Molly with Thatha and Patti
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Molly's biggest birthday present--a plane ride to Goa to spend five days at the ocean and in the pool. Had a great plane ride (one hour only). Booked into a lagoon suite, which has a sitting room and bedroom, with a door separating the two. Weather is wonderfully hot, perfect for pushing us into the ocean and pool all hours of the day. We had two extra mattresses brought into the sitting room and the kids sleep comfortably there.
Waiting at the airport before Goa for Badri's tailor to deliver his coat
Leela Goa
Pool at Leela Goa
Upon arrival, we saw Joan, an American woman we met in Mysore three weeks ago. She's traveling with her three kids (4 years, 3 years, and 5 months old), her sister, and driver. Her husband's British, in the army, and they're in Vellore, India, for a year. They love India. In fact, he proposed to her in Rajasthan. As we talked more, I found out that Joan met another friend of ours, Brigit (New Zealander) in Cochin while both were traveling there last week. Small world.
We had dinner in the Cafe and Molly had another birthday cake. She's very happy to have as many cakes as we can provide, of course.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Spent all day in the pool and in the ocean. Badri and I took turns watching the kids: first he worked out in the gym, then I took a heavenly swim in the ocean. Maya's swimming on her own and can't get enough of it. Charlie's getting more comfortable walking around the pool. Before, he always had to hold on to me, but this kiddie pool is great. He goes on his own for the first time.
Charlie with a forced smile and a cookie
Maya and Molly in their ghagra choli
Took a taxi car ride (as the kids like to call it) with driver Benny to Riverside Restaurant and had delicious prawns. It's a beautiful setting, with six tables on a thatched roof pier-like dining room.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Had breakfast and a little swim then went with Benny on a 1 1/2 hour ride to Old Goa. Charlie threw up all over me, then was fine.
Went to the Basicilica of Bom Jesus, site of the mausoleum of St. Francis Xavier. St. Francis is the patron saint of Goa. He's called the "Apostle of the Indies". His body is literally on view through a glass coffin. I was glad it didn't seem like Maya could make out that it was actually a shriveled up body in there. He died on Dec. 3, 1552, and since that date different parts of his body have found their way all over the world. In 1614 his right arm was sent to the pope in Rome, a hand to Japan, and parts of the intestines to southeast Asia.
Mausoleum of St. Francis Xavier, Spanish missionary and patron saint of Goa
Then we walked around Dona Paola, a picturesque point where the river meets the sea. Had lunch at Mama's Kitchen. Terrific ambience.
Kids looking out at Dona Paola
Badri and kids in front of Mama's Kitchen
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Hired a babysitter, Antoneta, for tonight. There was a big Diwali party poolside. I brought a sari and Antoneta wrapped it for me, and also showed me how the sari is wrapped in different parts of India. Gorgeous buffet dinner with live music and fireworks going off over the ocean. They actually called our room twice to ask when we'd be arriving for the party. When we got there, we realized they were anxious for us to arrive because they thought we were bringing the children, and were holding off on the fireworks so the kids could see them.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
I got up early with Charlie and Molly and we went to breakfast, then for a swim. Went back to the room and packed for the 2:15pm flight back to Bangalore (one hour from hotel to airport).
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Marylouise hosted the play group at her place in Embassy Woods on Cunningham Road. Went with all the kids to a packed house. Met a new arrival, Gabriela, from Mexico, who is married to a Canadian. She has two children, 5 and almost 2. Her husband works for Nike, as she did as well, before coming to India. She is very excited to be "inheriting" Maria's cook and nanny, Vanilla and Lakshmi. They are two great terrific helpers who I've known since I arrived 2+ years ago. First they worked with Nicola from the UK, then they were Marylouise (U.S.), then Maria (Sweden), and when Maria leaves next week they'll be with Gabriela. Vanilla is Vani's sister. Vani, who we adored, cooked for us for over a year until she left last year to have her second baby. Now Vani is working for Ilsa, who lives up north in RMV, closer to Vani's house in Malleshwaram.
Went to Kemp Fort with Maya and Molly on a sari shopping expedition. Really, we went because some of Maya's gift money (200rs, or $4.40) was burning a hole in her pocket and she wanted to spend it. We ended up buying a sari for a going away present for Maria. Went into the tailoring department at Kemp, and the saleswoman was very good at helping me figure out what size they should make the blouse. She recruited a couple more saleswomen so together we could look at all our sizes and decide on the right fit (in the end, Maria says the sari blouse fit perfectly!).
The fun part of sari shopping is sitting down on a couch with the girls and having them bring out all different types of saris. They also offer you tea, coffee, or juice. Quite a fun day out for the girls. Maya ended up spending her money on hair doo-dads. Interesting, because she has a whole closet full from Mom.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Alla came over with Bruno, her one year old black labrador retriever, and Molly had a terrific time playing with him.
Kirsty and kids came over for playdate.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Went on a loop with the stroller and Charlie and Molly. Stopped by Maria's. She'll be leaving next week and I'll miss her SOOO much.
Went to a Halloween party organized by Overseas Women's Club at Embassy Woods club room. Kids had a great time, and so did Badri and I. The kids saw their friends, and Badri and I caught up with a lot of "old" friends and new arrivals.
In Halloween costumes
Went out for dinner and drinks with Kirsty and Maria. Met at the Leela Palace library bar and then moved on to Zen for some sushi. Maria's heading back to Sweden this week and she will be sorely missed. She talked about a friend of hers, a fellow Swede, who has been here for seven years and is married to an Indian man. This friend basically sticks to long-timers in Bangalore, not those on temporary assignment, because she's had a tough time saying goodbye to so many people. I can see why someone would feel compelled to do that. Maria's husband, Mats, works for IBM, and she says they'll be back for short visits because his work will bring him here.
Kirsty asked Maria why she agreed to come to India, because Maria had just started up a management consulting firm in Sweden that was doing very well when this opportunity came up for Mats. It was largely because they had adopted Astrid from India. Maria thought it was important to experience the country her daughter is from. And if they hadn't come, they never would have adopted their second daughter, Mimmi. So Maria doesn't seem to have any regrets about having given up her blossoming business.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Had a great afternoon riding at the Equestrian Centre for Excellence (ECE). My friend, Alla, invited us along where she goes riding, near Palace Grounds. Maya (6), Molly (4), Charlie (2), and their friends Cavin (6) and Ayana (4) all went along. All but Ayana rode. Molly really wanted to trot because she saw both Maya and me trotting, but she was on a big horse (not a little pony) and I was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold on, so I asked the guy leading her not to let her trot.
Alla and her husband, Chris, brought along Bruno, their black lab, too. There wasn't a lot of room in their car so Bruno sat in the driver's lap while he drove! Now Bruno's not a big lab, but he's not a puppy anymore, either. Badri and Charles (Ayana and Cavin's dad) were in the car with Chris, and all the kids were in our car. ECE is about a half an hour's drive from our house, much closer than the Embassy Riding School (1+ hour away). So I'm toying with the idea of taking up lessons, too. It's 3000 rs for 12 rides, or about $5.50 per time, so I think it's worth it. Although it is English style, not western.
It was Charlie's first time on a horse. He hadn't even tried a pony before at Embassy Riding School, so it was wild to see him on a big horse. He wasn't on long, but long enough to start getting more comfortable without seeming scared. I can't even remember the last time I rode a horse, so it felt rather funny being back in the saddle again.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Brought Maya to the bus stop and Charlie and Molly went back to Neev for the first time in a few weeks. They seemed happy to go. On Friday when dropping Maya at the bus, Molly had cried that she wanted to go to Neev.
