The big move. . .GoodBye Mercure . .Hello Palm Meadow

The much anticipated day came on Friday.  We finally left hotel living and moved into a house.  Finally, I have the space that I so desire and the kids have room to stretch their legs.  We all have our own space without being on top of each other  - or getting sick of each other.  (Did I just say that?)  

The down side is that I am going to miss my free breakfast from the Mercure.  I am going to miss housekeeping cleaning my room. I will miss my new friend that I made while being there.  (No worries, plan on having them over!)  I am also going to miss Kormangala - it is a locality of Bangalore.  This is where the Mercure was and I was just starting to know my way around it - fairly certain of not getting lost.  Now I need to know a whole new locality - Whitefield.  

Up side. . .Let me explain Palm Meadow.  

I call it the expat bubble of Bangalore.  I am not sure how many houses are in this community.  I have heard some say 250.  I have heard some say 500.  Not sure what the correct tally is. . .but it's quite a bit of homes.  

The homes here range in size.  Some are just enormous and some are just big.  I am not sure if 'small' is in Palm Meadows vocabulary.  If you were to ask me, I think our house falls in the range of 'the small side of Palm Meadows'.  The house hunting here takes on new meaning.  Some want to use all the 'allowance' that they are given.  Some base decision on location.  Decisions are based on outdoor space.  There are many reasons why expats choose the house that they will rent for the next couple of years.  Our choice was based on the good ole real estate mantra. . .LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.  Trust me when I say, this was hard for me to swallow.  The 'cheap skate/money' person that I am, wanted to spend every last bit of 'allowance' that was given to me.  The houses that were shown to us in our price range were beautiful. . large, spacious and sheer awesomeness. . . . BUT. . .they were along 'the wall.'  The wall?  What is the wall?  How do I explain it?  The 'wall' is the boundary of Palm Meadows.  What is beyond the wall is out of Palm Meadows control.  On one side of the wall, they are building some apartments.  They are not complete, but who wants people looking in?  Who wants to deal with the dust?  

On another side is, well, I am not sure.  Truth, I don't want to live there and find out.  I have also read on some other blogs, that when cobras have been found. . .it is always along the 'wall.'  That is enough for me to say 'No Bueno' to the 'wall.'  

The house we chose is in the first phase of this development - there are two phases.  It is a 5 minute walk to the club house and a five minute walk to the school bus stop.  (Or in the girls words - a 30 second bike ride)  The club house is where the pool, gym, library (yes, you read correctly), hair salon/day spa, dry cleaners and restaurants are.  I could be missing some other things. . as I am learning the lay of the land.

This is our house!

Right now our house is empty.  We are expecting our air shipment to be delivered on Monday.  It has been here, in India, for a week, but they have been so gracious in holding it for us - until we acquired the house.  Our sea shipment will not be here until the end of April.  Sea has all the furniture.  We will resort to sitting on the patio or floor. 

Our house is a 3 bedroom house with 3 1/2 bath.  We have 5 outdoor patios.  Talk about outdoor living space.  Each of the bedroom has their own bathrooms, which I think is pretty awesome!  The girls have their rooms on the second floor and not only do they have their own bathroom, but they also have their own outdoor patio.  Sheesh!  Such a hard life they live.  

Olivia's personal patio

Paz's personal patio

The kitchen isn't anything to write home about but it suffices.  I am happy that I have a dish washer.  That is not a common thing here.  

The dishwasher is the laundry room. . .but I am not complaining!

My cooking gas

All the floors and house columns are made of mable and granite counter tops for everything - baths, kitchen and outdoor seating.  It is amazing here, there are literally 'fields' of this stuff all over India.  I wish I could just ship some back to the States.

The girls wanted me to include - what they call - the 'Chinese Toilet.'  This is a room that is accessible from the outside - heading into the laundry room.  It is used for the help.  Should they need to go. . they have someplace to go.  This is a whole new world to me. It is a future post.

Here are some more house pics

Ahh. . .can't wait until our furniture comes

Looking down into side yard

Looking down from patio

Looking across the street from patio

Side yard

Our block

You know what this is. . .

Windows in living room.

They think the light are funny looking

Another patio

Also, I wanted to add the contrast of the traffic in Palm Meadow.  Take a look at this video and you will understand why we chose to live here.

Side note. . .

Today, I plan on going to the pool. I will need to check out that scene.  Yesterday, while I was at a 2 hour grocery shopping adventure -Hubby and the girls went to the pool. They met a lady that I have been 'following'.  Her blog, India Awaits, is one that I have read from beginning to end. (http://indiaawaits.blogspot.in) I am very happy that he met her and shocked that he went up to her like he did.  (Remember how I wrote about his interaction with the driver)  She is leaving very soon and she shared some India wisdom with him.  I hope to meet her before she leaves!  

I am going to end all my blogs with the one thing that we desire or are thankful for. 
Todays desire:

Hubby: coffee pot
Paz: family and friends
Olivia: being able to use faucet water
Me:  Chicken bouillon

Paz decided to get into the blogging mood - this is what she typed:

I wall [will] love india.