Boat Weekend and other trips with my nieces

Hi. We've been back in the US since our phased return in April/May 2012. I see that I haven't provided updates since January, and there's lots to catch you up on. But while this is on my mind....

Since the girls were little we've tried to spend one weekend each summer with Dad at his boat. Boat weekend 2012 just wrapped up, during which we had a long conversation trying to recall the chronology of past weekends. Which niece came, which friend did she bring, was it rainy, did we fish, was that the time we went to Tawas?

1998 is the first year with photo evidence that we took Lydia to the boat:

And in 1998 she brought Adam and they challenged each other to jump off the highest point of the boat into the water:

No photo evidence for a few years until 2004, Mystery Year. Apparently Dad caught a fish, and presumably I was with him to take the photo. But were any children with us?

2004 was a bonus year. In addition to boat weekend Dad and I also went to the Bahamas for a fishing trip:

2005: Lydia brought Sam and we spent the night in Tawas with attack ducks. I seem to recall grilled steaks on the deck.

 

2007, another mystery as to boat weekend. But I did find a back-to-school shopping photo:

And, for the record, 2007 was the year that Julia, Dad and I went to NYC and saw three shows, visited Coney Island, and ate at a street food fair in Chinatown:

And yes, Dad, it was October 2008 that you and I went back to NYC and saw the Rockettes:

2009 was a busy year and I really think Dad and I spent a rainy day driving around and going to Tawas. Any surprise I have no photos?

Our 2010 and 2011 break was due to my being out of the country. But we are back in 2012 with a bang, Julia, and a new boat buddy, Marge, who caught her first perch ever:

Beating the crap out of the laundry

The method for doing laundry here is a constant source of intrigue and amusement for me. Pretty much any time of day in our neighborhood you can hear one woman or another beating the crap out of her laundry. I sit in our guest room most afternoons and evenings (conducting meetings with folks in the US) and have a prime view of our neighbors' servants' living space. The baby hangs from a hammock made of the 6 yards of fabric of a sari hung over a tree branch and cries all the time. The dogs fight. The wife cooks and heats water over a wood fire. A toddler plays in the dirt and sleeps on the driveway that forms the border of their space. The mother-in-law seems to have baby duty. The husband works at the neighbors' house and then pokes around once in a while. It's an amazing story being played out in front of me every day.

You really have to see this to believe it. So I recorded these short videos from my 2nd floor window on zoom over the wall, and across the neighbors' driveway. Look for all the elements I named above, especially the baby hammock to the right in one of the shots.

A Welcome Lull

Today is a public holiday in India, so I am taking some time around the house to get caught up. It's overdue. After our holiday travels I spent the first few days of January in Chennai and then made a two week business trip to the US. I got a lot of good work done (meetings, of course) and also got to spend time with my family. Mom had a very big birthday this week so we had a little celebration while I was there. Of course, the big celebration comes in February when we meet her in Thailand. But I'll tell you about that afterwards.

Christmas, 2011, in Hong Kong

We took the last two weeks of December off. The first week we tooled around Chennai; used the Lonely Planet guide and tried to explore places we hadn't been before. I went shopping with a friend - we were seeking treasures and souvenirs. Mr. R and I visited Pondicherry and Mamalapuram, two cites south of Chennai which we have visited many times but this time with the Lonely Planet as our guide to find new places to check out.  I think I am done using the Lonely Planet books.

Off to Hong Kong for Christmas! We left late Friday night (all international flights from Chennai leave after midnight) and arrived Saturday morning, Christmas Eve. I expected Hong Kong to be a little gritty and to smell like I remember China smelling (not entirely pleasant). But it was just a great city. We marveled at how clean it is, how pedestrian-friendly with good signs in English to help you get around very easily. We bought passes that got us easily onto the subways, buses, trams and ferries- it was very simple to explore the city on our own. Plus most people spoke good English.

Mr R holding his Octopus pass for public transport. Easy!

Nov and Early December, 2011 (Malaysia and Jaipur )

After returning from London in October I wrapped up my three year project (whew!) and had some vacation days to use up. Yes, I know you think I've been on vacation all year if my blog is to be believed. But our travels  outside of Chennai have been weekenders so I had days to use.