Amazing Race: India
We left our beautiful family in Phuentsholing Bhutan with lots of tears knowing that it will be some extended time before we will be able to reconnect again. We promise we will keep in touch, through skype, through blogs, through facebook, and phone calls. However, we all know that nothing beats being there in person.
Our last evening in Bhutan was bitter sweet as Mummy laid quietly in bed listening to the rain dropping away against the bedroom windows, the dogs outside barking away in a frenzy, and slowly drifting into a slumber. Mummy complained about everything there were to complain in Bhutan, honest, from the smokiness to the lack of activities to sheer boredom but it took our precious Erik, two years old, to show Mummy the way of adventures. So yes, the last night in Phuentsholing was in sadness.
We woke up bright and early, even before the sun could rise to pack all of our belongings of 4 suitcases into the family car to be on our way to the local airport (~6 hours away). There was a strike that weekend and riots were taking place, so everybody including Grandma Katy and Grandpa Tom were wired and stressed, especially when we have Erik to take care of.
Our poor Erik did not even get a chance to say his proper good-byes to his beautiful family because he was absolutely so tired. We went upstairs to give our hugs and kisses to Great Grandpa M.W. Hing and Great Grandma Chen I. Shen, and shed all our tears for leaving our wonderful and loving family to go back to our 'lives'. We gave hugs to all that were awake at the awful hour (Auntie Mary, Uncle Mickey, Auntie Sau Fong, Auntie Dinki, and Cookie) to send us a wonderful good-bye.
We crossed the border and we were in India and into our long journey of adventure (Jaigon, Jaipur, Siliguri, etc). Mummy looked out the window and see the villagers just getting ready for their day's duty. Family burning fire to keep warm and ward off the morning frost. Men huddled in the street because it was so chilly in the Himalayan foothills. Women and children getting ready for the morning meal and routine. Workers at the nearby tea estates are slowly working their way to care for the precious crop since it is their livelihood. Mummy looked at a rickshaw still parked inside a humble hut that somebody calls home, where the driver may have to ride for miles on end every day in order to have clients. Children who are fortunate enough are dressed in uniform and are making their hike to school in the cold nippy morning.
After hours of sitting in the car, we finally made a pit stop into Grand Uncle C.K's home, which is just in Siliguri and about 45 minutes away from the airport. There Erik connected with his other family, where he could feed the chickens, chicks, ducks, and ducklings. There were rabbits for him to play with. He was able to run around the "villa" and just enjoy himself before the plane ride. His Grand Uncle C.K (Grandma Katy's little brother) made Erik special breakfast of homemade sausages, fresh eggs, toasts, and all that our little boy could ever ask for. He was spoiled and loved and he knew it. Erik's Great Grandma Cho Lien were there too and loved seeing Erik play and just be happy.
We hopped on the plane and into Kolkata we go! We spent the rest of the evening in Kolkata shopping around in City Centre in Salt Lake. Daddy got to eat his Puri. Mummy and Grandpa Tom shared a "Hog Dog", yup, that's what it was called...and a pretty darn good one too! Erik ate a "Hog Dog" too but without the bun...just on a stick and then demanded his favorite 'Amul' branded ice cream. Mmmm. Yummy. We visited the family flat and just relaxed before dinner. Wished we could've stayed there instead of the airport hotel (never again...not recommended to stay at the Kolkata airport hotel..YUCK!) We ate at one of the nearby hotel restaurants since our favorite Dosa place "Anands" were blocked due to political issues.
Erik was absolutely adaptable. In each country, he always found something he liked. He feasted in garlic naans, basmati rice, parathas, and also stir-fried shrimp vermicelli noodles (Yup, Chinese style!). Daddy and rest of the gang including Grandpa Tom, Grandma Katy, and Mummy ate on yummy Indian food. Then it was off back to the Kolkata airport due to an early flight out to Bangkok, Thailand!!
Our last evening in Bhutan was bitter sweet as Mummy laid quietly in bed listening to the rain dropping away against the bedroom windows, the dogs outside barking away in a frenzy, and slowly drifting into a slumber. Mummy complained about everything there were to complain in Bhutan, honest, from the smokiness to the lack of activities to sheer boredom but it took our precious Erik, two years old, to show Mummy the way of adventures. So yes, the last night in Phuentsholing was in sadness.
We woke up bright and early, even before the sun could rise to pack all of our belongings of 4 suitcases into the family car to be on our way to the local airport (~6 hours away). There was a strike that weekend and riots were taking place, so everybody including Grandma Katy and Grandpa Tom were wired and stressed, especially when we have Erik to take care of.
Our poor Erik did not even get a chance to say his proper good-byes to his beautiful family because he was absolutely so tired. We went upstairs to give our hugs and kisses to Great Grandpa M.W. Hing and Great Grandma Chen I. Shen, and shed all our tears for leaving our wonderful and loving family to go back to our 'lives'. We gave hugs to all that were awake at the awful hour (Auntie Mary, Uncle Mickey, Auntie Sau Fong, Auntie Dinki, and Cookie) to send us a wonderful good-bye.
We crossed the border and we were in India and into our long journey of adventure (Jaigon, Jaipur, Siliguri, etc). Mummy looked out the window and see the villagers just getting ready for their day's duty. Family burning fire to keep warm and ward off the morning frost. Men huddled in the street because it was so chilly in the Himalayan foothills. Women and children getting ready for the morning meal and routine. Workers at the nearby tea estates are slowly working their way to care for the precious crop since it is their livelihood. Mummy looked at a rickshaw still parked inside a humble hut that somebody calls home, where the driver may have to ride for miles on end every day in order to have clients. Children who are fortunate enough are dressed in uniform and are making their hike to school in the cold nippy morning.
After hours of sitting in the car, we finally made a pit stop into Grand Uncle C.K's home, which is just in Siliguri and about 45 minutes away from the airport. There Erik connected with his other family, where he could feed the chickens, chicks, ducks, and ducklings. There were rabbits for him to play with. He was able to run around the "villa" and just enjoy himself before the plane ride. His Grand Uncle C.K (Grandma Katy's little brother) made Erik special breakfast of homemade sausages, fresh eggs, toasts, and all that our little boy could ever ask for. He was spoiled and loved and he knew it. Erik's Great Grandma Cho Lien were there too and loved seeing Erik play and just be happy.
We hopped on the plane and into Kolkata we go! We spent the rest of the evening in Kolkata shopping around in City Centre in Salt Lake. Daddy got to eat his Puri. Mummy and Grandpa Tom shared a "Hog Dog", yup, that's what it was called...and a pretty darn good one too! Erik ate a "Hog Dog" too but without the bun...just on a stick and then demanded his favorite 'Amul' branded ice cream. Mmmm. Yummy. We visited the family flat and just relaxed before dinner. Wished we could've stayed there instead of the airport hotel (never again...not recommended to stay at the Kolkata airport hotel..YUCK!) We ate at one of the nearby hotel restaurants since our favorite Dosa place "Anands" were blocked due to political issues.
Erik was absolutely adaptable. In each country, he always found something he liked. He feasted in garlic naans, basmati rice, parathas, and also stir-fried shrimp vermicelli noodles (Yup, Chinese style!). Daddy and rest of the gang including Grandpa Tom, Grandma Katy, and Mummy ate on yummy Indian food. Then it was off back to the Kolkata airport due to an early flight out to Bangkok, Thailand!!
Labels: Away From Home, Bhutan, New Year
posted by Tabitha | 4:24 PM
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