8.16.2008

Our First Road Trip

We all crowded in our friend's minivan yesterday and traveled 50 kilometers down the coast to Ideal Beach, in Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram is a 7th century port city, located in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu. It's flanked by a number of historical monuments of yore, with the Shore Temple as its main attraction. There is a lot to see and do here, which we will have to save for future road trips. Yesterday was devoted to the beach.

Ideal Beach is a private beach resort that offers day use for both the beach and swimming pool. There are two others in the area where the expats vacation; Turtle Bay to the south and Fisherman's Cove to the north. However, neither of those offer day passes. Though we have our own beaches in Chennai, they are so disgustingly polluted that they're virtually useless for recreation.

In our 3 overseas posts we've had, we've managed to always live on the coast, thus our girls have grown up with a beach. Yesterday's venture brought us to a new body of water... the Bay of Bengal, situated just along the southeast coast of India. The water there was lukewarm, with much less debris and garbage both in the water and on the sand than we had on occasion in Israel.

Our drive to Ideal Beach took over an hour, though we made a pit stop AT The Pit Stop, a little racing themed cafe, Indian style, about half-way there. We grabbed some lunch and then crammed back in the car for the rest of our journey.

There's not much to say about spending the day at a beach resort basking in the overcast sun... the kids got sufficiently sandy at the beach, swam until their fingers and toes were good and pruney, they noshed, they whined, they passed out. Sadly, I sat on the sidelines all day as I still didn't have a bathing suit. Darn lost luggage!

The driver met us after 5pm, and drove us to another beach resort, Fisherman's Cove, for dinner. We finally made it home by 9:30 pm, with sleeping kids in tow.

Another successful road trip.








12 comments:

San Diego Momma/Two Funny Brains said...

I just keep thinking what a great experience your different "ports of call" must be for your kids.

And I love the sound of Mahabalipuram and the Bay of Bengal beach. It all sounds so cool, unique and exotic!

You're lucky!

Deb

Unknown said...

It looks like it was a great day at the beach!

Simple Answer said...

Drat that lost luggage! Have any of your shipments arrived yet?

I love the beach!

Kelly said...

Sounds and looks like the girls had a great time...I'm glad there's somewhere you guys can go to away from your polluted beach in Chennai (yuck!!).
The most striking thing about your post is the girls...they look like they get along so well. Is this just a pose for the Camera or do they really get along that well?!

Mom24 said...

What a wonderful day, spoiled only by your lack of luggage. What a bummer. I can't even imagine how much you must be missing it. Any idea when/how you'll be able to start replacing things?

The resort sounds like a lot of fun. I miss the beach. We are very far, so if my kids have been to the beach two or three times in their lives. It's heavenly, but very expensive, and very far away!

MMMmmmm sand and sun. We're going to the suburban pool today. Just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?

Jen said...

I am glad that you guys had fun. It is cool that you are starting to get out and explore.

Mrs4444 said...

I LOVE the two sisters (one with the flower). Might even have to save it, just in case I ever need such a big smile again :)

The Mom Jen said...

We're so spoiled here with gorgeous beaches and you searching for one with the least amount of garbage in the water and sand. I need to appreciate more.

Your girls look like they had so much fun!

mary s. said...

Your girls look so happy - how amazing that they get to have this part of their life's experience.

Unknown said...

Bengal? As in tigers? More beautiful pics--that's great that you have friends there too. I'm sure it makes moving across the world easier.
~Christy

Tenakim said...

They're too cute, Jill!!!

Bramblemoon Farm said...

Wow, what an experience. The kiddos are SO cute, and the beach is weird. BAHAHAHA
Especially the food "booths" in the other post. I'm new to SITS by the way, and I have to say your blog makes me think I should complain less about Michigan:)

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