Traveling to India on a whim, with a 5 and half month old. Having travelled by air to New Orleans with baby R... an opportunity to visit India at short notice was not to be missed. The pediatrician said fine, he gave a note to our doctor in India for her mandatory 6 month shots and we were all set to leave. Didn't let the family know we were coming... Don't you love surprises.. I do.
A third cousin was traveling on the same flight to Bombay and we asked her parents to give us a ride to my parents home, and they obliged. We rang the doorbell in the wee hours of the morning at 5am. Dad opened the door, milk vessel in hand thinking it was the milkman making his morning rounds. He was blown away to see his only grandchild and his youngest at the door. My mom thought she was dreaming.. Her dream to see the little one had come true.. Words can't express the feelings and emotions that overwhelmed us all. Both had waited a long time to hold their grandchild and love and pamper her. My sisters, their family, extended family, neighbors, all spoilt her rotten. She was carried everywhere a little princess with everyone at her command.
Baby R loved all the love and attention showered on her... The mosquitoes loved her, too... Thats another story. The hustle and bustle, the masses of people, the noise, the heat and humidity of summer didn't bother the little one at all. Happily tucked in the baby carrier we went the length and breadth of the city by bus, train, taxi, auto.. She loved traveling in the big red BEST bus(public mass transit)... we also travelled by air to Chennai to meet her aunt and more family and friends and then on to Coimbatore by train.. She thrived... And smiled.. Was happy... And content.. All that love impossible to describe. We had a blast the entire 5 weeks in India and were back home in the US all to quickly.
On hindsight, Ed had warned me when we got married, my famous surprise visits weren't happening after I moved to the US. Vacations and travel need to be planned well in advance. Little did he know things would change so fast. His first official trip to India was announced and came unexpectedly when I was 8 months pregnant with baby R. I couldn't, wouldn't say no to a surprise visit to see my parents and family. An added bonus, we were able to attend my favorite cousin's wedding, she had written the week before the trip happened and I quote "my eyes will scan the doorway in the hope that you will walk in to surprise us.." never doubt the power of positive thinking it can move mountains.
Traveling so far away in your third trimester is not something I will recommend but it happened for us and I will treasure the precious memories forever. The girls and I were so lucky to be able to travel frequently to India in those early years when they were babies and able to enjoy all the love and pampering of their grandparents and bond with extended family and friends, make connections with the land of their ancestors.
To enjoy the festivities, culture, warmth and gaiety of the motherland. Both have travelled frequently over the years to India, their most recent trip lasted 10 weeks without us accompanying them. They travelled to various parts with their aunts and uncles. Folks amazed at how easily they were able to blend in with everyone and enjoy themselves without us.
Travel grows the mind... Don't you agree.. Our kids will amaze us with their resilience if we let them. All these trips where by air with short road trips thrown in but I guess it all helps them be travelers.
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