Relaxing Time

Chill out time by the pool at Temple Bay Resort, Mahabalipuram.

We spent a great weekend relaxing by the pool enjoying being away for Chennai for a couple of days. Recharged our batteries ready for the last leg of the school year. We will really miss the warm weather when we go home. Not the 40 degree days, but just knowing you can go swimming whenever you want is great.

When it was time to go home Mac said, "Do we have to go back to India now"?

All Grown UP

You know the school year is is coming to and end when you start hearing, LAST this, LAST that. Friday night was the last dance of the year for the middle school kids.

The theme was Farmer/Formal. In other words, dress up or dress down.

Sounds like they all had heaps of fun. Eliza will miss these social dances when she gets home and starts school at her "all girls" school.

Eliza and some of her friends from middle school ready to go to the dance.

The Butter Ball

Down at Mahabalipuram there is a huge rock that is called the Butter Ball. It's one of those freaks of nature the way it just sits there on it's edge and doesn't fall over. We had missed seeing it the other times we had been down in Mahabalipuram, by the time we had seen the other temples we were just too hot to do anymore tourist stuff. So on our recent trip down there we were determined to visit this park. It was a really hot day but we managed to last about an hour before we all just about melted in the heat. There are some amazing stone carvings that must be years old and it is a very peaceful place to be. That is apart from all the guys pestering us to be our guide, telling us they are studying English and just want to practice. Yeah right, at our cost undoubtedly. We took some quick pictures and had a walk around being the center of attention before we hot footed it off to the resort for a refreshing dip in the pool.

Zorbing

Last weekend the kids were invited to go down to Temple Bay Resort to go ZORBING.

Now Zorbing is when you get strapped into a huge inflatable plastic ball and get rolled around up and down a hill. Much like a hamster I expect.

We couldn't get out of town quick enough and booked ourselves a room for the night to stay at the resort. Which I must say is absolute paradise. You totally feel like you are in another country.

Eliza had to write a bucket list this year at school saying all the things she wants to do before she dies... One of these things was to go Zorbing.

So we get down there and Eliza has a major attack of the nerves. Whats new! With a lot of talking around by our friends (more like threatening on my behalf) we manage to get her into the big, hot, plastic ball along with her friend Noah, who was almost equally as hesitant. Man it must have been 40 degrees in that thing. They got strapped in, all the time nearly hyperventilating and off they rolled, down the hill. She was so hot by the time they squeezed themselves out of the ball and so relieved that it was over. One more thing ticked off her list. Eliza and Noah took off so quick in fear of having to get back in that huge hamster ball again.

All strapped in ready for some action

Get me out of this thing.

I SURVIVED!!!

Sam and Jamie, ready to take a roll down the hill.

Friends Forever

"Are we going to be friends forever?" asked Piglet

"Even longer" answered Pooh.

This is the most gorgeous photo of Mac, his friends and their teacher Maureen.

It almost brings tear to my eyes.

As you can see they LOVE her. They have all decided to marry her. What a lucky woman, 3 young husbands. wink.

When Mac's school closed down last month we were all devastated. He and his 2 buddies loved going to school to get together and play everyday. What would we do to keep them entertained with no school? Enter Maureen. She was their favorite teacher at their school and was going to be out of work with the closing of the school. So we offered her a job to home school the boys at our homes. They take turns between our homes and it is working out really well. She is "So" happy and the boys are loving continuing their friendship and play dates.

This week they even had a little excursion to the Children's Park and Snake Park. They didn't want to come home they had so much fun running around.

Maureen has found herself a full-time job and is sad to have to leave her boys. We have 2 more weeks of home school for them then it's only one more week till the big kids finish up for the year. Then it's time for everyone to head home for the summer or return home to their home countries for good.

What lovely friendships these kids have had while living in Chennai. Mac will miss his 2 buddies, but will hold fond memories of the fun they had together.

Going To The Movies In India

My friend Darlene and I managed a trip to the movies on Monday to see "Remember Me". Great movie, though very sad and left me feeling quite haunted.

We need a quick lunch before the movie started so we popped into the restaurant at the movie complex to have some local Indian food. We ordered Masala Dosa which came along with Samber and various chutneys. It was so delicious.

Day out at the movies in India

$3 movie ticket

$3 lunch

Priceless.

Thanks For The Visit Cyclone Laila!

We have welcomed a lovely cool turn in the weather thanks to the presence of Cyclone Laila, which is sitting north of Chennai in the Bay of Bengal. Who would ever imagine we would be so thrilled to see 14o mm of rain fall in 24 hrs.

You could almost hear the city breath a sigh of relief as the temperature dropped to the low 20's yesterday. Of course along with the rain came the power cuts, people wading through knee deep water and uprooted trees falling onto parked cars. There was also the threat that school would be closed today due to the bad road conditions, but alas, we have woken up this morning to no rain and school is on. YIPPEE. Although it would have been nice to stay at home and have a pajama day.

I ventured out yesterday to do some grocery shopping and tried to get a few shots of just how much water there was lying everywhere.

The river just behind out house looking west towards the ocean, the sky was so black.