One More Morning in Mexico

This really is the life, isn't it?

In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle

We knew we were being shuttled to the jungle for a wedding in a cave. That's about all we knew. 

So here we are. Simba enters the jungle for the first time.

Carlos pushing Andre. Bethany trying to bother Andre. Sounds about right.

What? This is how New Yorkers dress in the jungle.

The reception was in Aktun Chen cave.

...the lion sleeps toniiiiiiight!

We suddenly discovered the magic of the external light source for taking pictures inside the cave.

So after many constant refills of Johnny Black by the waiter, we continued to be amazed by the external light source.

Once again, the external light source. We think we're so clever.

Obviously we went up multiple times to this dessert wall.

Lazing Around

Give me more sitting on a beach and doing nothing. Everyone needs more of doing nothing in life.

Give me more aunties and uncles to play with!!

Playing in our backyard.

A rare catch, I'm told.

Elie, the man of the hour, who has inexplicably walked away from brunch (which he calls a waste of time) with all of us and from Shake Shack (because his nipples were cold so he claimed) walks away. Again.

More Bitchi, More Tulum

While in Japan, B learned that beach in Japanese is "bitchi." Obviously she is trying to use her new word.

Soli, Carlos, Simba, and Bethany sat at the beach while everyone else kayaked and golfed. We had a glorious time. We wanted more. But then Daddy Ding Dong came to bring us all to Tulum (the rest of the group hadn't been). So Carlos led us straight towards the beach at the Tulum ruins. Luckily Carlos was insistent cause the beach closed (cause the ruins were closing soon) within twenty minutes after we arrived.

Morning view 

Adam's treasures 

Morning view from Simba's angle

Everyone was silently reading their books/tablets at 7 in the morning.

Auntie Soli stuck around to play with Simba.

Entranced by the waves 

Beach tent was enjoyed not just by Simba

Uncle Sachin learns how to hold a cub 

Tulum

The wedding activity on Friday was a catamaran ride, but it would have been too much hassle with Simba so we ventured over to Tulum instead. Following our Japan/Australia/Singapore itinerary, we headed straight for some good food at El Tabano. We were really happy. Then we very easily "snuck" onto the gorgeous beach at some Tulum resort (water at Tulum beaches was much less rocky than in front of our condo). Finally, off to the ruins.

Watching a kid is pretty relaxing with seven other adults around, huh Carlos?

Hmmm, though maybe we should monitor the activities the adults do with Simba. Ahem, Uncle Adam.

Simba really couldn't get enough of the king-sized bed. Again, should we be nervous?

Ceviche, tamales, and seafood in some creamy almond sauce at El Tabano. So good.

Simba fell asleep at lunch so we wandered around for a bit and finally ended up at some restaurant in some beach resort, fully intending to get a drink. But no one took our order so we just chilled next to the beach and went into the water.

Lizard/iguana thing knows how to enjoy the ruins.

Just look at that water.

Simba, for once, they're not just discussing pretend (fantasy) football.

Adam is not just a lover of birds, but also of their predators. Here, he feeds stray cats store-bought ham.

Beachfront

A bunch of our law school friends went down to Akumal for our friend's wedding from Wednesday to Monday. So we rented a condo on the beach. Not much beats living on the beach and hearing the sound of the waves crashing day and night. 35 bucks a day. Clearly we lawyers need to reassess our day-to-day. 

Simba enjoyed both the nice weather and the many doting aunties and uncles.

View at 6:30 every morning

Simba seems to be enjoying the king-sized bed that our friends were nice enough to insist we take.

7am. 2 empty beer cans already? Ya right. You know the main difference between taking a trip with friends in our twenties versus thirties? In our twenties, the majority were up until 2am. In our thirties the majority are up by 7am.

That's right, Simba. The Celtics DO sit atop the Knicks.

Adam, birding. Woodpecker on pole.

Lucas and Jess happened to arrive as we waited in the town center.

Shortly after this picture was taken, it started pouring for the rest of the afternoon. So we swore that in the following days, we would immediately go to the beach.

A Short Trip

Simba's ninth plane ride was last Wednesday. After three months in Asia/Australia, we thought we needed another vacation...Akumal, Mexico!

Another Stop on Simba's Family World Tour

And here we are in Connecticut. Simba needed a feeding stop on the way back to New York. So Simba got a taste of dorm life at her Uncle Laurence's school. 

Simba couldn't stop looking around the dorm room and smiling. Should we be nervous?

Teaching the lessons of the red Solo cup

My dad's shrimp were Lau's request from the leftovers we brought back. Chinese fat kid.

Hibernating in Boston

For the six days we were in Boston, we spent time with family (Simba is the first grandchild, great grandchild, and great grand niece on B's mom's side. Simba is enjoying the attention) and tried hard to get Simba over jetlag. When you're up every hour with a baby who doesn't want to sleep, jetlag doesn't seem to be an issue for the adults--we could sleep at any time. Once Simba stopped waking up all the time at night, jetlag struck for Bethany. But Carlos slept like a good little baby.

Bethany also did not leave the house once after she arrived on Tuesday for fear of the cold (and a desire to continue not knowing what day it is--as we've often asked ourselves these past few months. An amazing feeling. You should try it).