Beach Day

Today was an early morning (for me not Norah) and we wanted to take advantage of the time we had before checkout. Immediately after Norah woke up we rushed to the beach while she was still in a good mood. While Anjali and Norah played in the sand, I went for a nice long stroll on the beach. It had rained overnight so it was very overcast and cool. The sky still looked stormy and it was drizzling a bit. There were only a few people up at the hour, many of whom were still dressed in pajamas and hopping into the water fully clothed.

Following our beach excursion we went and had breakfast at the buffet. Last call for my idli and sambar. Plus, I was in South India so it seemed only right. I really wanted Anjali to get out and see some of the temples as she had come all this way so I suggested we go back to the Shore Temple for a quick excursion. Our visit was brief but once again the guide convinced us that we needed a tour so we agreed. If I am being completely honest I did not learn anything new from him that I hadn’t already read up on the internet. I had either done too much research or there wasn’t that much known history behind the temple. I did learn that the temple withstood the 2004 Tsunami when everything else around it from shops to residences were wiped out. Definitely a testament of architecture and time. Norah passed out while we were on the tour and she slept so peacefully. Poor baba! Everything must have finally caught up to her. Luckily for Anjali this meant she got a little break which I sent her to the pool for. After we rotated, I went to the pool for my last dip.

I wandered the grounds one last time before I had to say goodbye to the beautiful property. The grounds were so well maintained and so stunning. I loved the striking pink bougainvillea that was growing on top of another tree. There was a sign for a tree that they said King Charles had planted. The sign was likely recent and of course he had visited here as a Prince due to the British involvement with India. How considerate he planted a whole tree after attempting colonizing a whole country! Okay I will let the tree provide the shade and I will stop.

Lunch was at a restaurant very close by serving food on a banana leaf! I have eaten off of a banana leaf before with Noel in Bangalore but I hadn’t had the guts to eat with my hands as is customary. Now, I decided I needed to try eating with my hands. It was actually very easy and straightforward to eat my fish curry and rice.

On our way out to Chennai airport we stopped and visited another cousin I had not visited in years - Nomita! Seeing Nomita after so long was lovely. We had caught up recently over the phone bonding over horrible migraines and illness so it was good to meet her in person. It is also refreshing to be able to have conversations now that we are all adults. I was always the baby of the family (still am tbh) but now that we can have actual conversations, there is a new level of connection. I really liked her energy and felt like I could have talked to her all day long but sadly we had flights to catch. I promised to see her on my next trip to Goa and bid her goodbye.

The hardest goodbye of the weekend was Bubs! She is just so cute when she is in a good mood you forget about all the screaming and crying when she is tired or hungry. I am definitely going to miss her so much but luckily I get to see her again in January. I admire Anjali so much for all she is able to do and accomplish with a small screaming child. I have so much respect and have no clue how she is able to wrangle a small child all on her own while traveling too. Moms really do have superpowers.

My flight was fine but getting home was an absolute disaster! I was standing in the Ola pickup zone but apparently most of the cabs don't come in there since they have to pay the 250 Rs parking fee. The cab was definitely waiting at a different pickup point so I tried calling him only to realize I couldn't speak with him in English. So I asked the man nearby if he could help me. He told me I was doing it all wrong and the Ola drivers wouldn't come here. So I asked him what I should do instead. He had me download In Drive and then spoke to the driver to negotiate 386 + 250 for the parking and I said fine. My new friend worked for the Indian navy and I thanked him for helping me. When the taxi arrived he told me I had terminal 2 as my location so he canceled the ride and I made him agree to take me for the promised amount. He tried to tell me I had to pay for the bridge toll and I'm like don't take the bridge. My favorite part was when I sat down and he said "you look like an Indian girl" and I had to do my usual explaining of yes I have an American accent and grew up there but now live and work here. Same speech over and over but whatever works to prevent them from fleecing me.