kids and all we are off in two weeks

OssieMum · Sep 23rd, 2005, 21:54

How inspiring is this website !!!! Big thank you to all who post here for making the planning of our upcoming trip such a fun experience. It's four of us - me & hubby & two kids aged 9 & 11 and we're off for seven weeks. I love reading all the first impressions and now that we are getting closer my nerves also are starting to kick in (I think its all our well meaning non traveller friends looking kind of stunned when we say we're going to India), so I enjoy reading other similar posts and knowing that others have felt the same way. A recent internet search put me on a website with peoples travel blogs - this will be good I thought - it was so depressing that in the end I decided that the majority of the people posting there were the biggest misery gutses (no offence to those who write positive blogs, it really was 90% misery on this particular site). The majority did nothing but complain - makes me wonder what they really expected in the first place. Immediately after that experience I came back to IM and there right at the top of the new threads was an uplifting post from a young woman who had just returned from a solo trip with such a beautiful attitude about all of her experiences - thank you, thank you, thank you! Anyway our itinerary is Kolkata-Darjeeling-Sikkim-Allahabad-Orcha-Delhi-Rahjasthan-Mumbai (or more or less that - we are flexible). We've arranged a few home stays and have just had the most wonderful help already from various people in India to book things etc. We have travelled a bit with the kids but I have no illusions that there will be some tough times, but as a family these memories are just as priceless. Before we fly out of Mumbai I am tossing up whether to go to Matheran or Konkan coast (but probably not as far south as Goa) any suggestions will be gratefully received. Keep up all the fantastic vibes out there. We will see you in India!

SHIMLA · Sep 24th, 2005, 08:52

Hello OssieMum and welcome to the forum!

All set for your India trip ? Great ! Am sure you'll have a wonderful time.

Regarding your question on Matheran vs Konkan coast, the two really cannot be compared, as Matheran is a hill-station. It hence depends on your interest - the hills or the sea.

shanthi · Sep 24th, 2005, 13:44

Have a great time and don't forget to keep the kids covered up (sleeves and hats )- you got all the necessary immunisations for the kids? Watch them when cleaning their teeth - tell them to use bottled water only - keep their mouths closed when taking showers and be as strict as you can about them washing their hands many times a day. Kids are usually the first to fall ill as we can't watch them 24 hours a day.

OssieMum · Sep 25th, 2005, 06:07

Hello Shimla
I hope we can fit in both the hills and the sea but I dont think we'll have enough time left to relax for a few days and do both. My guess at this point is that the coast will win. The bit I have read about the coastline south of Mumbai down to the border is that it is fairly quiet but with some nice villages and relaxed towns.

OssieMum · Sep 25th, 2005, 06:15

Hi Shanthi
thanks for those thoughts, yes we have had a lot of immunisations and will be taking anti malarials, covering up well and so on. Good thoughts on the shower water, I had thought about it but will now definitely talk to the kids more about it. Illness in the children is probably my only niggling worry - you feel the responsibility strongly, but you can only do all the advisable things and trust in yourself, common sense and a bit of luck. However they are strong healthy kids with good immune systems so I am confident that if we are careful nothing too drastic could happen. Travelling with children is just the best thing, we open ourselves up to so many great experiences just by travelling as a family. Anyone else out there considering it - Just do it!
Life is an adventure - we refuse to hide from!

SHIMLA · Sep 25th, 2005, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by OssieMum

Hello Shimla
I hope we can fit in both the hills and the sea but I dont think we'll have enough time left to relax for a few days and do both. My guess at this point is that the coast will win. The bit I have read about the coastline south of Mumbai down to the border is that it is fairly quiet but with some nice villages and relaxed towns.

That's fine ! Now that you've decided to visit the sea, I suggest two places on the Konkan coast, south of Mumbai - Guhagar and Ratnagiri. These are quiet, less frequented places and are easily accessible by road or rail.(Guhagar has no direct rail link, but access from the nearest railhead Chiplun is extremely easy).

Sep 23rd, 2005, 21:54	#1
OssieMum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hunter Valley, Australia Posts: 7	kids and all we are off in two weeks How inspiring is this website !!!! Big thank you to all who post here for making the planning of our upcoming trip such a fun experience. It's four of us - me & hubby & two kids aged 9 & 11 and we're off for seven weeks. I love reading all the first impressions and now that we are getting closer my nerves also are starting to kick in (I think its all our well meaning non traveller friends looking kind of stunned when we say we're going to India), so I enjoy reading other similar posts and knowing that others have felt the same way. A recent internet search put me on a website with peoples travel blogs - this will be good I thought - it was so depressing that in the end I decided that the majority of the people posting there were the biggest misery gutses (no offence to those who write positive blogs, it really was 90% misery on this particular site). The majority did nothing but complain - makes me wonder what they really expected in the first place. Immediately after that experience I came back to IM and there right at the top of the new threads was an uplifting post from a young woman who had just returned from a solo trip with such a beautiful attitude about all of her experiences - thank you, thank you, thank you! Anyway our itinerary is Kolkata-Darjeeling-Sikkim-Allahabad-Orcha-Delhi-Rahjasthan-Mumbai (or more or less that - we are flexible). We've arranged a few home stays and have just had the most wonderful help already from various people in India to book things etc. We have travelled a bit with the kids but I have no illusions that there will be some tough times, but as a family these memories are just as priceless. Before we fly out of Mumbai I am tossing up whether to go to Matheran or Konkan coast (but probably not as far south as Goa) any suggestions will be gratefully received. Keep up all the fantastic vibes out there. We will see you in India!

Sep 24th, 2005, 08:52	#2
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	Hello OssieMum and welcome to the forum! All set for your India trip ? Great ! Am sure you'll have a wonderful time. Regarding your question on Matheran vs Konkan coast, the two really cannot be compared, as Matheran is a hill-station. It hence depends on your interest - the hills or the sea. __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

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Sep 24th, 2005, 13:44	#3
shanthi Account closed on user's request Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South India Posts: 785	Have a great time and don't forget to keep the kids covered up (sleeves and hats )- you got all the necessary immunisations for the kids? Watch them when cleaning their teeth - tell them to use bottled water only - keep their mouths closed when taking showers and be as strict as you can about them washing their hands many times a day. Kids are usually the first to fall ill as we can't watch them 24 hours a day.

Sep 25th, 2005, 06:07	#4
OssieMum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hunter Valley, Australia Posts: 7	Hello Shimla I hope we can fit in both the hills and the sea but I dont think we'll have enough time left to relax for a few days and do both. My guess at this point is that the coast will win. The bit I have read about the coastline south of Mumbai down to the border is that it is fairly quiet but with some nice villages and relaxed towns.

Sep 25th, 2005, 06:15	#5
OssieMum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hunter Valley, Australia Posts: 7	Hi Shanthi thanks for those thoughts, yes we have had a lot of immunisations and will be taking anti malarials, covering up well and so on. Good thoughts on the shower water, I had thought about it but will now definitely talk to the kids more about it. Illness in the children is probably my only niggling worry - you feel the responsibility strongly, but you can only do all the advisable things and trust in yourself, common sense and a bit of luck. However they are strong healthy kids with good immune systems so I am confident that if we are careful nothing too drastic could happen. Travelling with children is just the best thing, we open ourselves up to so many great experiences just by travelling as a family. Anyone else out there considering it - Just do it! Life is an adventure - we refuse to hide from!

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