Ahhhh, as I sit here drinking my tea I have to reflect on some consistencies here. When it says “cappuccino” or “latte” on the menu, don’t go for it. It’s a mirage, it’s like being in the dessert for a month straight with no water and then you see the proverbial lake ahead of you. It’s not real. So, I sit here with my tea. The reason? The espresso machine is broken…of course it is! As is the Internet connection, as is the electricity as is the water. It’s all just a day in the life of India. Consistent.
So, yesterday started with a bang, and I am writing this because Hollie doesn’t remember yesterday…or perhaps doesn’t want to. I woke up to the familiar sounds in the bathroom and jumped into action, this was well-traveled territory. We were leaving for Periyar at 8 and things were already not going well. I dragged Hollie into the car, hoping all the medications I had pumped into her would clog her up for the 5 hour ride.
No such luck. Within 10 minutes she was hurling all over the back of the taxi. Thank the Lord for quick reflexes (a blessing bestowed upon me by brothers),
I grabbed the drivers only plastic bag wedged under the seat, with a gift for his son in it, and caught Hollie’s breakfast just in the nick of time. We pulled over, (good idea, though not easy on these roads) and figured things out. Now what to do with the bag? Luckily they don’t fine you $500 here for littering…and I am so sorry to the person that finds that bag and looks in it for something good left behind!
After the long beautiful drive weaving way up into the mountains, through tea, coffee and rubber plantations, pineapple groves, and spice forests we arrived in Periyar. A beautiful little mountain town with monkeys and elephants and beautiful people everywhere you looked. We checked into the Elephant Court hotel and Hollie put her head down to recover from the Jelly Belly that I guess I had passed on to her through close contact. We won’t be sharing water bottles and food anymore.
I headed out in the afternoon for a visit to the spice plantation with Raj – my guide – who was the funniest, most entertaining person I have come across, and he showed me through his father’s spice plantation. Amazing. So fun to see how all these spices came to be sitting in our cabinets in neat little jars. My favorite part of the day was all the elephant poop – now my kids have nothing to complain about when picking up horse poop, it SO could be worse!!
I came home and Hollie had progressed into the second phase of DB – FEVER…and Hollie doesn’t mess around when it comes to fever. So, Sanjay received yet another call from me and again he instructed me, (as he had before, but at the tender age of 49 I have NO recall), what steps to take. I so appreciate his calm demeanor and humor at any time of the day or night that his India phone rings.
Though the menu promised everything we haven’t had in a few weeks (and we know really isn’t available), we stuck with the medicinal chicken soup and called it a day. It looks like we may not have any internet until next week – which means actually you won’t get this entry until then either. Well, you’ll have some catching up to do! Off to ride the elephants~!
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