Happy New Year, all! We have a lot to look forward to in 2010. Jerm and I will soon start looking for a new apartment. We are still looking in our general neighborhood, because we love it here. We thought it would be a good idea to take advantage of the recent drop in rents. It looks as if we will have no problems in finding a new place. If anyone wants to move to NYC...now is the time! I am also starting a new job in February. YEA!! A friend of mine started a cloth diaper service and well, it has really taken off so, I am going to work with to help build the business. I am so excited and I am kind of happy not to be doing hair anymore! It was about time for a change.
For now, that is all we've got, so, I am going to post some random pictures from 2009.
Love you all!
We rode an elephant!
Jerm turned atheletic!
Jerm got his Mariachi suit...finally.
The FAB's came to visit!
Jerm played tug-of-war at the Roaring 20's Lawn Party.
Jerm, James and friends dressed up as grocery items and ran through the city.
My brothers and I actually stood for a photo together without anyone making a face(even though it was because my grandma was in it...)
We got snow in December!
James discovered that kids aren't that creepy after all.
Chica slept...
And chica played!
After some much un-needed airport drama and 30 something hours either in flight or in airports, we are home. I was happy to walk through the front door and collapse onto our nice comfy bed. Jerm has barely slept and both of our clocks are way off! But, good things come from it. He spent all hours last night going through the over 1000 pics we took and picked out his favorite 200 or so and posted them here:
http://gallery.me.com/jeremybaumann#100001
Enjoy! And I hope to continue this blog whenever we have anything to say.
Feel free to ask any questions about any of the photos if you have any.
We spent last night in Thekkady and now we are in Kumarakom. Thekkady was so pretty. It was a five hour drive up windy mountain dirt roads the whole way. A tad scary considereing the lack of guardrails. Before heading out today we rode an elephant. Laseeka was her name and man, was she cute. We really wish we could have done a night tiger safari while we were there but we didn't have time. Kumarakom is our last stop. We get on our house boat at 12noon tomorrow and stay afloat 'till 9am Wednesday morning. That should a great way to end this trip. When we get off the boat we have to make a mad dash to the airport, a three hour drive, and hopefully make our flight back to Mumbai.
I suppose our next post will be when we are home sweet home back in NYC. I have to say, I am going to miss India, but not the mosquitoes.
Pictures and such will come soon....
Now we are in Cochin. It's pouring outside and we long to be back in Goa. We did a few tour sights today that were pretty cool but we wish to be back on the beaches of Goa eating yummy seafood. We leave tomorrow for a five-hour drive to Thekkedy where we will do the spice tours. Fingers crossed for no rain. After that our elephant tour on Monday then to the backwater houseboat Tuesday. So, this may be our last time updating until maybe Wednesday when we have time to kill at the airport.
As far as Cochin goes, the air is thick, the mosquitoes thicker and the salesmen even worse. It's time to move on.
We are heading back to the hotel to order a few beers to the room, since the dry day or I should say "days" are now over. YAY! Jerm is glad!
Talk to everyone soon.
We are just getting our bearings in Goa and now it is time for us to leave. We are unable to post any pictures because unlike our last hotel there is no WIFI connection. It looks as though we probably wont have it in the rest of places we are going to stay but, maybe...
Goa is beautiful. Really hot, though. We were on a boat yesterday and we both are now rocking the Gordon Ramsey sunburn. On Wednesday we went to a huge flea market that only happens on Wednesday and ran into the honeymooners. After a few beers and kingfish we went our separate ways. Yesterday, we chased dolphins around in a boat. I am pretty convinced it was one dolphin messing with us the whole time. It was funny!
So, today we head to Cochin. We are there for 2 nights where we are doing some tours of temples and churches. Then we head to Thekkady to the spice gardens and elephant sightseeing. After that, our houseboat and then back to Mumbai for our flight home.
We are having a great time. Jerm has fallen in love with cows and even more with dogs. The dogs here are awesome! They are everywhere and have a great life. Frolicking in the ocean, running on the beach, the only things left that they need are bandanna's.
We both decided that Goa would be a good vacation destination. It's sad leaving places after only a few days but, I suppose that seeing different places is the best way to go the first time here.
Until later...
*oh, and a friend we met while in Mumbai is a journalist and had an amazing camera. He gave us his website so go ahead and check out his photos of the wedding and celebrations henryten.com.
I think he only has the Mehandi photos up but keep checking back, his photos are really cool!*
xoxoxo
I didn't want you to go through withdrawels and we are not quite sure when we'll be able to update again!! So, two new posts per your request:)
-During the wedding ceremony.
-The stage at the reception. This was the biggest reception I have ever attended! The couple sits on the stage the whole evening while the guests go up and bless them. It lasted about three hours. We ate and mingled while they were stationary to the stage.
-This was the band. Jeremy and I sat and listened for awhile. It was surreal.
-Us in our wedding get ups. Aren't we handsome!
We are about to hop on a plane to Goa. We are not sure if our hotel will have internet so we may not be able to update quite so much.
Now, our vacation begins...
-A picture of the ornate henna'd feet of Jen. She sat for 7 hours the morning of the ceremony while they did her arms and feet.
-When Vikkal arrived everyone was waiting out front. Fireworks went off in the street and everyone danced to welcome him.
-There was a cricket game going on in the dirt field across the street and these kids came to check out the festivities.
-Some of the women from Vikkals side of the family dancing in the street.
And finally, Jennifer on her wedding day. She looked amazing!!! The ceremony lasted around two hours.