The Terrific3 travel blog

It was so comfortable sleeping in our lovely hotel. I slept pretty well! Just in time to leave here in a couple days and face jet lag again. Z said he was up at 330am for a bit. Poor kid—jet lag seems to go on for him for weeks.

Z and I headed to the gym where I ran 3 miles on the dreadmill (not a typo :-)) and he ran, biked, lifted weights. He and I travel so well together because he’s interested and energetic in a similar way to me and usually wants to stick close and do whatever I do. His brother is a bit different (and older) and often seems to want to do his own thing or space (but it works well since he’s older and can stay alone sometimes)

Then to breakfast which was by far the best and most delicious and fresh breakfast spread we’ve had in India. Z and I had fresh pau bhaji, they made us fresh and delicious sugar cane juice with lime and ginger, the pastries weren’t hard as rich and seemed freshly baked, and S’s omelette took less then 5 minutes to arrive at our table. Maybe we had just gotten used to less than perfect service at our other hotels, where it was often slow or had to be requested multiple times. But this hotel is a true 5 star—so amazing all around. And we got an amazing view too. In stark contrast, from where we ate breakfast outside, we could see into the windows of the big dilapidated building next door. This is the irony of India, and really many big cities in the world—such wealth and luxury right next door to such abject and unforgiving poverty. It’s hard to really grasp at times, but the relative anonymity of an urban lifestyle, and the breakdown of the “village” and community allows us to be disconnected from the plight of our neighbors in a way we wouldn’t be in a rural area.

We met our guide (Ranjana same as yesterday) at 830am and we drove to the Gateway of India where we saw that and the Taj hotel, pictured below.

We then boarded a boat to elephanta island to see the Elephanta caves (named as such by the Portuguese when they discovered them). The boat ride was a one hour ride, then a little train, then the amazing caves. Such history and amazing art here. Made in the 6th century, these “caves” were literally hammered and chiseled out of a volcanic mountain that was carved up with these instruments over the course of 35 years. All the carving was monolith out of the volcanic stone. So awesome and inspiring and beautiful. It really struck me how ancient of a religion Hinduism is.

We headed back on the boat and got back with 2 hungry hot and tired kids around 130pm. Our guide recommended Swati for chaat and pau bhaji so our driver took us there and we saw a long line, which made the boys unhappy and whiny. We got in in 20 minutes though and tasted the best pau bhaji we had so far, and good shrikand. The pizza was pretty disgusting and S wouldn’t eat it (and the restaurant refunded us) and the Undhyoo and vada pau were not great (better Vada pau at Bollywood in portland) .

Then back to our hotel and pool time for the boys…

And then sunset with Z. S refused to go with us since we left at 520 and his watch told him sunset would be at 605 and he refused to listen to my advice about how it’s important to go a bit weiler. Lucky do him, we have a sunset view from our hotel room.

This was an incredible sunset as Marine drive was lined with literally thousands of Indians watching the sun set. Never before have I viewed a sunset with so many other people who were there for the same experience.

Now it’s almost 730pm today and Z is asleep and S is trying. We leave for the airport tomorrow at 10pm and our Timeshifter app recommended going to bed at 7pm today (and wake at 4am—-we likely won’t do that). I’m hoping this means I can get my kids 3 hours of sleep before leaving for the airport tomorrow. I suspect that has the potential to be problematic, especially for S, who doesn’t do well be with being woken up, but I’m already braces for a painful 24 hours of travel back home.

I literally can’t believe it’s our penultimate day; on the other hand, a 2 week trip to India has been the perfect length of time to be away, to be with the kids without childcare. I’m so glad we picked the company we did for the tour. They did a fantastic job of taking care of us and of educating issues and being flexible around the kids’ needs. It could’ve gone many other ways if we didn’t have such good service from them.

Good night!