Last Day in India

It was surreal to wake up this morning and realize before another night comes we will be on our way home! Of course it will be a very long and no doubt challenging journey. We are taking Continental (like Amy and Clint) so I am expecting a nightmare-ish airport experience.

But today we explore! We are off to meet Riyani's little cribmate at the Lotus Temple for a little exploring and then hopefully I will find someplace to go shopping! We have done most of our souvenir shopping but now I am on a quest to find clothes and toys. We'll come back and check out of our hotel at 2pm then have several more hours at our disposal before we head over to the airport. Hopefully I'll have a chance to post a few pics of our morning adventures while we're packing up.

A few words for future traveling families (I keep thinking of them but forgetting to post)- bring at least four cans of puffs and 3 packets of yogurt melts (she loves them), bring enough clothes so that you have an outfit every day AND a clean pair of pj's for every night (trust me despite your best efforts your clothes will NOT smell fresh, even pj's, and don't be like me and plan on washing in the sink- took days to dry and just not how you want to spend your time), whenever and wherever you can get small bill rupees (we have had a heck of a time getting anyone who can change a 500 or 1000 bill, even the hotel cashiers who give them to us!) you'll need them for tips, Croc sandals have worked wonderfully (didn't need the sneakers that were a bit heavy in the luggage), hide the newspaper from your gotchya day (we saved ours but housekeeping threw it away), watch tv once in awhile (we have been totally surprised by weather and other events- duh, we could've turned on the tv there are English channels), make your in-country flights for the morning (yes it will suck because you'll be getting up very early but if it's canceled you'll at least have a shot at getting out the same day), ziploc bags ARE awesome (truly I was skeptical of this but we have used them for so many things), we didn't need as many granola bars (probably 1 box would have sufficed- I brought 4!) or any of the bottled water I packed (the hotel will give you some each day). Expect lots of security at your hotel (I was a bit shocked at the car searches and metal detectors at the entrances) since the Mumbai attacks. I'll add more if I think of it!

On a last note our hearts and minds truly are with the people of Kolkata. The talk of the devastation of the villages brings to mind Riyani's birth family who we know lives in one of the outlying villages of Kolkata. We truly hope that they are safe.