Back in June when school finished and we realised that Emily's passport wasn't coming and people gradually left us behind in Chennai, the summer stretched endlessly before us. In reality the eight weeks of school holidays went by rather too quickly and were much more fun filled than we had anticipated. Rather like in Shanghai not everyone abandons ship for the whole summer and our friends kindly staggered their holidays!
As the end approached we decided to give ourselves a treat and head off to a resort hotel down the coast. The small town of Mahabulipuram is a 45 minute drive from Chennai and although it has many similarities it has a more laid back feel.
We left our house early, arriving in Mahabs at about 9:30 needing coffee. In Chennai cafes tend to not get going until about 11 (something we have found hard to get used to), however it was a different story in Mahabs. Mahabulipuram is a bit of a backpackers destination and the feel of the place transported Sam and I back 15 years. As soon as we drove in to the town there was a wealth of cafes open for breakfast and serving good coffee. We found a great place on the Main Street and while the boys tucked in to Nutella pancakes we feasted on masala omelettes.
We left our house early, arriving in Mahabs at about 9:30 needing coffee. In Chennai cafes tend to not get going until about 11 (something we have found hard to get used to), however it was a different story in Mahabs. Mahabulipuram is a bit of a backpackers destination and the feel of the place transported Sam and I back 15 years. As soon as we drove in to the town there was a wealth of cafes open for breakfast and serving good coffee. We found a great place on the Main Street and while the boys tucked in to Nutella pancakes we feasted on masala omelettes.
After saiting our hunger we headed to the park to see the temples and rock carvings and the famous 'butterball', a huge rock picariously balanced on a slope.
On entering the park we made the mistake of engaging in conversation with a self appointed guide. He spent the next hour accompanying us around.
He had some good local knowledge and took us to a small temple but it all got a bit awkward at the end when we returned via his shop. Despite our refusals he couldn't understand that we really didn't want to buy anything. Unfortunately in these situations it is almost expected that you buy something even if you don't want it! Luckily Emily provided us with a get out and we wandered back in to town to get lunch.
On entering the park we made the mistake of engaging in conversation with a self appointed guide. He spent the next hour accompanying us around.
He had some good local knowledge and took us to a small temple but it all got a bit awkward at the end when we returned via his shop. Despite our refusals he couldn't understand that we really didn't want to buy anything. Unfortunately in these situations it is almost expected that you buy something even if you don't want it! Luckily Emily provided us with a get out and we wandered back in to town to get lunch.
For lunch we had been recommended a restaurant called Moonrakers. William and
Oliver enjoyed the novelty of being able to select their seafood before it had died!
Following lunch we headed to our hotel to relax by the pool.
Following lunch we headed to our hotel to relax by the pool.
The next morning was rather eventful. Emily turned six months and had her first taste of solids. She seemed mildly interested in the banana and idly (soft steamed rice cake) we gave her, although rather a lot ended up on the floor.
Missing our strolls in Shanghai to get coffee we decided to head in to town via the beach. The sand was pretty firm and for the first section pushing the buggy was easy. However it became more tricky and as we left the vicinity of the hotel the beach was less clean in terms of washed up sealife. Our idillic stroll barefoot along the sand quickly became a disaster as the buggy got bogged down, the boys narrowly avoided treading in all sorts and Sam trod on a sea urchin!
Missing our strolls in Shanghai to get coffee we decided to head in to town via the beach. The sand was pretty firm and for the first section pushing the buggy was easy. However it became more tricky and as we left the vicinity of the hotel the beach was less clean in terms of washed up sealife. Our idillic stroll barefoot along the sand quickly became a disaster as the buggy got bogged down, the boys narrowly avoided treading in all sorts and Sam trod on a sea urchin!
Luckily we had just about made it to the path in to the town and we limped along and flopped in to our cafe for crepes and coffee. About an hour later, feeling much restored and discovering the sea urchin hadn't left too much behind we explored a little more. The rock carvings were magnificent and we decided to leave the main shore Temple for another visit.
On the walk back to our hotel we picked up some antibiotic cream from a pharmacy and asked for tweezers. However, in order to buy them we had to go to a metal shop! We made it back to the hotel in one piece for lunch and a relax by the pool.
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