Combining a couple of journal entries made while off-line . . .
Well here I am killing time somewhere between Taipei and Kuala Lampur (will post this later, of course). I have to say that I’m so glad we waited to travel until our kids were both potty trained and able to sit still for long periods of time. I still have memories of flying back alone with 15 month old Abi. Even so, this traveling has pushed us all to our limit. We drove to LA which wasn’t bad—but it was still work for V and I. Then we had to turn in our rental car and load all our massive amounts of luggage on the bus to the airport. Got there and loaded it onto to carts plus Abi pulling one. Stood in a long line at the ticket counter, got the bags weighed. Took bags to baggage security and waited in another long line. Waited until we saw our bags pass inspection. By then it was like 11 PM and Nitara had a tantrum in the middle of a busy thoroughfare because I would not let her sit down right there and open her backpack and get a toy out. I used my baby sling with her and it still works great. Then we had to go through airport security with our carry ons. Another long line, removing of shoes, explaining what the cans of formula were for. Then to the terminal where we camped out until our plane left. It was only about an hour of camping out but the terminal was crowded. Nitara was feeling out of sorts and vomited right in the middle of the crowd. It was then that I realized I had not packed her an extra set of clothes. At least she’s an expert at vomiting and knows how to aim for the floor between her feet and keep her clothes clean. When the gate opened we were led to a bus and had to be driven, standing room only and very cold, to the air terminal. Up a ramp that spiraled around about 3 times. Finally we got on the plane. Nitara vomited once more and after that we fed her by syringe 10 mL every 15 minutes. Her pump kept clogging because we didn’t have access to a blender to make it smooth enough for the finicky pump. We took shifts doing that for much of the 14 hour flight to Taipei. I also gave Nitara a Zofran and that helped her to sleep and get some relief. All of us were feeling out of sorts with weak stomachs but she felt it the worst.
Malaysia Airline is wonderful. Good food (we got Western Vegetarian), good service, lots of extra attention towards the kids to help us get through that long stretch as well as possible. They helped us install Nitara’s carseat and brought her an apple when I said she was limited with foods. One flight attendant, moved by Nitara’s tube and her discomfort, told me about her own daughter aged 2.5 who has reflux and gets aspiration pneumonia from it. I guess reflux touches people the world over. The funniest thing is that for the first leg of the trip, which was dark most of the way, Nitara didn’t believe we were really on the plane. I told her we were flying in the sky and she said no, you are just telling a story. It’s not real. Then kept asking to go home. On this leg it’s light out and I was able to take her to a window (we are sitting in the center) and show her the ocean and the clouds. The look on her face was priceless. Total wonder and awe. Not counting in-utero this is her first plane trip, and what a plane trip it is! We are looking forward to getting into Malaysia in about two hours and have a complimentary hotel room where we can take showers and get refreshed. I am going to probably buy Nitara a new set of clothes at the airport, at least a clean shirt. That’s one way to get a souvenir.
Abi has been absolutely the best kid ever. Very helpful, cooperative, and calm. She is enjoying the whole adventure of it and doesn’t mind watching the same movie 3 times over. I brought along my knitting. Thank goodness found out at the last minute that knitting needles are now permitted on board. It has calmed me to knit when I could be feeling afraid of flying. I guess the trip is going as good as it can be. But no joke about it, it’s grueling all the same. Especially with kids. I am not sure I am ready to do this again for at least a couple more years. Because as wonderful as Nitara is, she’s still three, and traveling with a three year old is draining. Unlike Abi who can be self-entertained, we have to entertain and supervise Nitara about 75% of the time. I’m ending this entry listening to a baby crying. He’s been unhappy most of the trip. He’s only 3 months old and his sister is 15 months old. I don’t envy the mom at all.
Updated from Chennai: We made it! The last leg was rough because we had to get back on that plane one more time. The plane was older, uncomfortable, and packed. The movies were broken, the bathrooms dirty and a long line. And the kids were just fed up with traveling. We got to Chennai, were driven to Kamini and Neville’s house, and now we are getting down to the task of recovering from jet lag. . My only sorrow is that we lost my precious Maya Wrap sling in one of the shuttles in Malaysia. Abi was supposed to be carrying it for me. She was so sad that it got lost that I told her the most important thing is we are here safe.
May 31, 2007
We woke up this morning to the sounds of the birds calling, so different from home. Amma (my MIL) says they are coo-coo birds. Am I spelling that right? Anyway . . .The weather is HOT but more than that, humid. I can deal with hot, being from Phoenix. The humidity is going to take some getting used to. I also found out that since it’s so hot there are not many mosquitoes around. I’m so glad! In January-March visits we were attacked all the time and it was horrible. The kids played nicely today together and love their new cousin Anirudh. Everyone loved the gifts we brought, too. I had a fresh mango off the family's tree and it was so, so good! I am not sure I will ever be able to enjoy mangoes in the states again. We were supposed to go to the beach today in the evening for a walk but we slept through it. Went to take a nap at 2PM with the girls, and I woke up at 8. They are still sleeping as I write this. The rest of the family is about ready for bed and here I am wide awake. We are going to Tirupati temple on Monday.
More Photos
Well here I am killing time somewhere between Taipei and Kuala Lampur (will post this later, of course). I have to say that I’m so glad we waited to travel until our kids were both potty trained and able to sit still for long periods of time. I still have memories of flying back alone with 15 month old Abi. Even so, this traveling has pushed us all to our limit. We drove to LA which wasn’t bad—but it was still work for V and I. Then we had to turn in our rental car and load all our massive amounts of luggage on the bus to the airport. Got there and loaded it onto to carts plus Abi pulling one. Stood in a long line at the ticket counter, got the bags weighed. Took bags to baggage security and waited in another long line. Waited until we saw our bags pass inspection. By then it was like 11 PM and Nitara had a tantrum in the middle of a busy thoroughfare because I would not let her sit down right there and open her backpack and get a toy out. I used my baby sling with her and it still works great. Then we had to go through airport security with our carry ons. Another long line, removing of shoes, explaining what the cans of formula were for. Then to the terminal where we camped out until our plane left. It was only about an hour of camping out but the terminal was crowded. Nitara was feeling out of sorts and vomited right in the middle of the crowd. It was then that I realized I had not packed her an extra set of clothes. At least she’s an expert at vomiting and knows how to aim for the floor between her feet and keep her clothes clean. When the gate opened we were led to a bus and had to be driven, standing room only and very cold, to the air terminal. Up a ramp that spiraled around about 3 times. Finally we got on the plane. Nitara vomited once more and after that we fed her by syringe 10 mL every 15 minutes. Her pump kept clogging because we didn’t have access to a blender to make it smooth enough for the finicky pump. We took shifts doing that for much of the 14 hour flight to Taipei. I also gave Nitara a Zofran and that helped her to sleep and get some relief. All of us were feeling out of sorts with weak stomachs but she felt it the worst.
Malaysia Airline is wonderful. Good food (we got Western Vegetarian), good service, lots of extra attention towards the kids to help us get through that long stretch as well as possible. They helped us install Nitara’s carseat and brought her an apple when I said she was limited with foods. One flight attendant, moved by Nitara’s tube and her discomfort, told me about her own daughter aged 2.5 who has reflux and gets aspiration pneumonia from it. I guess reflux touches people the world over. The funniest thing is that for the first leg of the trip, which was dark most of the way, Nitara didn’t believe we were really on the plane. I told her we were flying in the sky and she said no, you are just telling a story. It’s not real. Then kept asking to go home. On this leg it’s light out and I was able to take her to a window (we are sitting in the center) and show her the ocean and the clouds. The look on her face was priceless. Total wonder and awe. Not counting in-utero this is her first plane trip, and what a plane trip it is! We are looking forward to getting into Malaysia in about two hours and have a complimentary hotel room where we can take showers and get refreshed. I am going to probably buy Nitara a new set of clothes at the airport, at least a clean shirt. That’s one way to get a souvenir.
Abi has been absolutely the best kid ever. Very helpful, cooperative, and calm. She is enjoying the whole adventure of it and doesn’t mind watching the same movie 3 times over. I brought along my knitting. Thank goodness found out at the last minute that knitting needles are now permitted on board. It has calmed me to knit when I could be feeling afraid of flying. I guess the trip is going as good as it can be. But no joke about it, it’s grueling all the same. Especially with kids. I am not sure I am ready to do this again for at least a couple more years. Because as wonderful as Nitara is, she’s still three, and traveling with a three year old is draining. Unlike Abi who can be self-entertained, we have to entertain and supervise Nitara about 75% of the time. I’m ending this entry listening to a baby crying. He’s been unhappy most of the trip. He’s only 3 months old and his sister is 15 months old. I don’t envy the mom at all.
Updated from Chennai: We made it! The last leg was rough because we had to get back on that plane one more time. The plane was older, uncomfortable, and packed. The movies were broken, the bathrooms dirty and a long line. And the kids were just fed up with traveling. We got to Chennai, were driven to Kamini and Neville’s house, and now we are getting down to the task of recovering from jet lag. . My only sorrow is that we lost my precious Maya Wrap sling in one of the shuttles in Malaysia. Abi was supposed to be carrying it for me. She was so sad that it got lost that I told her the most important thing is we are here safe.
May 31, 2007
We woke up this morning to the sounds of the birds calling, so different from home. Amma (my MIL) says they are coo-coo birds. Am I spelling that right? Anyway . . .The weather is HOT but more than that, humid. I can deal with hot, being from Phoenix. The humidity is going to take some getting used to. I also found out that since it’s so hot there are not many mosquitoes around. I’m so glad! In January-March visits we were attacked all the time and it was horrible. The kids played nicely today together and love their new cousin Anirudh. Everyone loved the gifts we brought, too. I had a fresh mango off the family's tree and it was so, so good! I am not sure I will ever be able to enjoy mangoes in the states again. We were supposed to go to the beach today in the evening for a walk but we slept through it. Went to take a nap at 2PM with the girls, and I woke up at 8. They are still sleeping as I write this. The rest of the family is about ready for bed and here I am wide awake. We are going to Tirupati temple on Monday.
More Photos
2 comments:
Costco link does not work--I log in and it says "Sorry, there was an error."
Thankfully Vignesh was with you!!! Michael never goes with me and it's the longst 26-30 hours of my life when I travel to/from Asia/Europe/US with my kids!!
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