Phillip: Ugh. It's like Varanasi in here!
Yes, it was THAT busy. I suppose the rain, wind, and dust kept everyone away from the chalet!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Shopping CHAOS!
While shopping at "The Avenues" on a Friday evening....
Phillip: Ugh. It's like Varanasi in here!
Yes, it was THAT busy. I suppose the rain, wind, and dust kept everyone away from the chalet!
Phillip: Ugh. It's like Varanasi in here!
Yes, it was THAT busy. I suppose the rain, wind, and dust kept everyone away from the chalet!
Pre-Easter Preparation.
This afternoon I came home to "egg hunt practice" - a really sweet activity created and organized by Phillip. While I was out, he hid post-it messages in all of my most-visited places around the house - the peanut butter cupboard, the iron pill place, under my computer, on my Kindle screen, in my wardrobe, and on the bathroom mirror! It was really fun to find them and he gave me little hints to help me out! (I wonder if he will be this nice during the official hunt....). My favourite find reads, "I'm so happy we're together!", although a close second says, "you're my gingersnap cookie!" (a new nickname, I suppose?). He's quite the charmer, eh?!
Hunnie, you get an A+ for originality! Thanks for making my day (yet again!).
LOVE YOU! xo
Cute Disruptiveness.
While students are supposed to be standing in their "lines" to await further instruction...
Most Adorable Student Ever: (walks up to Phil and whispers): Mr. Phil, I know you and your family celebrate something called Easter. I just wanted to tell you Happy Easter!
Ohhhhhh - I hope I get to teach him in Grade 6 next year!!!
Most Adorable Student Ever: (walks up to Phil and whispers): Mr. Phil, I know you and your family celebrate something called Easter. I just wanted to tell you Happy Easter!
Ohhhhhh - I hope I get to teach him in Grade 6 next year!!!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Sweetness of Grade 5.
In the middle of Phil explaining the lesson to the class....
Most Adorable Student Ever: (stands up and walks over to Phil at the front of the class) Sir, did you know that there is an endangered species called the cheetah?
Awww! Even Phillip was smiling!
Most Adorable Student Ever: (stands up and walks over to Phil at the front of the class) Sir, did you know that there is an endangered species called the cheetah?
Awww! Even Phillip was smiling!
Did You Watch It?!
We did! And it was AMAZING. Just imagine all of the dreams that were achieved in Boston yesterday. WOW. Gives me goosebumps.
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who participated!!!
Monday, April 18, 2011
5 April - The Rest of Agra!
The remainder of our day went like this:
* A "children's edition" walk around Agra Fort. I managed to fake-smile my way through the photo's and actually enjoyed the view of the Taj from this beautiful place. We continuously apologized to our guide for being "un-fun" and sick!
* Another pit-stop at the hotel to soak achy muscles in a hot bath and eat some lunch. (Please note: Phil was back to milkshakes and beer at this point!) This actually made me feel a wee bit better, as did the trip to the hotel spa for a mani and a pedi. Wait until you hear about Phil's "Indian Spa" experience. I will save that one for our in-person chats this summer! BAHAHAHAHA.
* A tour of the "Baby Taj" - which turns out to be a lot more spectacular (to me!) than the Taj itself. Perhaps it's because I was feeling a bit better in the afternoon, but no one can argue the intricate beauty of the Baby Taj! It was so much more detailed up close and seemed much more special than Agra's main attraction! I loved it. It was near sunset. It was peaceful. And there was a toilet nearby for a traveler's convenience. A well-earned A+ if you ask me!
* The Taj Mahal at sunset - from the opposite side of the river bank! I am so happy we did this part of the tour! We were able to get photos of Sarge and Captain with the Taj in the background and also had the chance to witness Bollywood in action! A movie starring "Katrina Kaif" was being filmed right near us and we got to walk by all of the stars' trailers on the way to the sunset point! Here, we learned that our guide has gotten to meet all sorts of famous people at the Taj Mahal, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie!
After a few "jumping shots", my stomach was back to terrible and so we headed back to the hotel before the sun actually disappeared. Another hot bath did the trick, but a grueling episode of "Fear Factor" did not. I would like to re-name April 5th as "the day of the gag reflex". Haha.
We slept early with fingers crossed for a healthy day ahead!
* A "children's edition" walk around Agra Fort. I managed to fake-smile my way through the photo's and actually enjoyed the view of the Taj from this beautiful place. We continuously apologized to our guide for being "un-fun" and sick!
* Another pit-stop at the hotel to soak achy muscles in a hot bath and eat some lunch. (Please note: Phil was back to milkshakes and beer at this point!) This actually made me feel a wee bit better, as did the trip to the hotel spa for a mani and a pedi. Wait until you hear about Phil's "Indian Spa" experience. I will save that one for our in-person chats this summer! BAHAHAHAHA.
* A tour of the "Baby Taj" - which turns out to be a lot more spectacular (to me!) than the Taj itself. Perhaps it's because I was feeling a bit better in the afternoon, but no one can argue the intricate beauty of the Baby Taj! It was so much more detailed up close and seemed much more special than Agra's main attraction! I loved it. It was near sunset. It was peaceful. And there was a toilet nearby for a traveler's convenience. A well-earned A+ if you ask me!
* The Taj Mahal at sunset - from the opposite side of the river bank! I am so happy we did this part of the tour! We were able to get photos of Sarge and Captain with the Taj in the background and also had the chance to witness Bollywood in action! A movie starring "Katrina Kaif" was being filmed right near us and we got to walk by all of the stars' trailers on the way to the sunset point! Here, we learned that our guide has gotten to meet all sorts of famous people at the Taj Mahal, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie!
After a few "jumping shots", my stomach was back to terrible and so we headed back to the hotel before the sun actually disappeared. Another hot bath did the trick, but a grueling episode of "Fear Factor" did not. I would like to re-name April 5th as "the day of the gag reflex". Haha.
We slept early with fingers crossed for a healthy day ahead!
5 April: Agra - The Taj Mahal
"Once upon a time....."
BAHA. THIS DAY WAS TERRIBLE.
You know that romantic image you have of visiting the Taj Mahal? Get it out of your head! Because this story is nothing like the one you would imagine.
We woke up at 6 a.m. to head to the Taj bright and early. Too bad Phil was still feeling ill and I had taken a turn for the worst overnight. I was awake all night long, with achy muscles from head to toe! I had incredible stomach pains that required me to curl up into a ball and it took me every ounce of energy I had to hold my neck up. So did we go? Well, DUH! It's STILL the TAJ MAHAL! Haha.
Dumb idea.
The experience began on a sad note, as Sarge and Captain were not allowed to join us past the monument's security. Apparently they wanted to prevent "advertising" and so stuffed toys are not permitted in the official area. LAME, right?! Ah well, we hopped on the shuttle (stuffed-toy-less) and were dropped off near the entrance. From there, you must walk about 200m through a "gauntlet" of vendors, which turned out to be much more "chill" than the "gauntlets" we've experienced in Egypt (if you've survived a Nile Cruise, you'll think India is a BREEZE!).
Once through security, I sat, squatted, and assumed "ball-like" formations as our guide did his best to keep our attention and discuss the history of the famous place. I, of course, absorbed no information at all and even gave up my camera to Phil and the guide (<------ NOT LIKE ME). Luckily, my two photogs were up for the challenge and the guide adorably placed us into fun poses and made us smile in moments we both felt like vomiting. (P.S. Sunglasses are super TEAR-HIDERS!)
One thing I do remember (haha, ONE THING!) is how beautiful the Taj looked up close. It was AMAZING. No picture could do its beauty any justice, which is why you must go yourself and achieve that "romantic" experience we all hope for!
The tour inside was cut short, as I really couldn't stand up straight any longer. We were excited to walk back to the shuttle and get back to the hotel, but we were "surprised" (and not pleasantly) by our guide's choice of "horse and buggy". REALLY?!!!! Oh dear. Up we climbed into the carriage and I held my stomach with the idea that a hand on my belly could prevent any pre-mature puking. Too bad we also had to combat a farting horse who chose to relieve himself during our five minute ride. Ughhhh - I can still remember that intense fight with my gag reflex. Haha.
Back at the hotel, it was straight to a hot bath and then bed for me! We only slept for one hour though, as Agra Fort and other attractions were waiting for us!
Ladies and gentlemen, there you have it: our UNBELIEVABLE experience at the SPECTACULAR TAJ MAHAL! BAHA.
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