We've arrived back from Goa - which was fantastic by the way - will return there one day soon.
We have spoken to Dr Yash today and EPU is now scheduled for Thurs 18th Feb. Egg transfer will be Sat 20th. Fingers crossed for success.
We are staying at Gordon House Suites, which is pure luxury, very close to airport and we have access to Waterstones Country Club which is next door - which means hobbknobbing with the who's who of Mumbai - lol.
Although it was our 2nd time in Mumbai, still can't get used to the beggars banging on the car windows at every traffic light! Don't mind giving them food or drink, but money is a no no.
Relaxing for the week, and then off to North India next week until we head home. Will try to avoid the staff directing us to so called bargain shops as we now know they are on a commission (however shopping is good and memories are memories).
Can't fault SI so far, or our travel guru, Amit who has arranged everything admirably.
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Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Having a Blast in Goa
Well, so much has happened since our last post.
We had a great time in Mumbai. Meeting our surrogate was a very special moment. She came to the SI clinic with her husband and Son, (who was only seven years old and very cute). The whole family looked very happy and healthy. The Husband spoke a little English which was great, but even then, it was very hard to know what to say. I was pretty dumb founded by the whole situation......not really knowing what to say or ask. Our surrogate C made very little eye contact, but when she did, it was lovely. She had a beautiful smile, which i had not seen on her profile picture. We did give the family some small gifts, but C did not want to open them there, she appeared embarrased. The whole meeting took around half an hour or so. Silly me forgot to take our camera (can you believe it!!). So lovely Gopa from SI took some photos for us, and will hopefully eventually email them to us.
We had alot of time speaking to Gopa at the clinic which was great. She told us lots of useful information about her role in caring for the surrogates while they are pregnant. She had a very positive and calming nature and made me feel at ease immediatley. We were able to look around where the surrogates stayed for there 2ww. The surrogates were very welcoming and I recognised many faces from looking at profiles previously. I sat on one of the beds with two of the surrogates and some how had a small conversation with them, with help from Gopa. It was a very reassuring experience.
Before leaving for Goa, Doug did his deed at the Hospital, (seman sample for freezing), without any hiccups.
During our time at the hospital we met a lovely American couple who are also using the SI team.They were going through there ET process and all appeared to go very well. We were able to all meet up for a meal later in the evening which was very nice, also meeting up with Amit our travel guy. Amit has truley been great during our whole stay thus far.
While meeting with the Docs at the hospital, we were told that our dates had changed for EPU as our donor had commenced her period. I was exstatic!!! Everything was going to plan, it just meant that we would shorten our time in Goa...no big deal. So we now head back to Mumbia on the 15th for EPU & ET two days later, staying for five days (all going to plan).
We have then arranged to head up to northern India to take in some more sights.....why not!!May as well make the most of our time over here.
So Amit has sorted us out some great deals....we can't thank him enough for his knowledge of india and arranging everything for us.
We are having a lovely relaxing time in Goa......just what the Doctor ordered after the rush of Mumbai. You can not fail to relax over here....sunshine every day, great food, nice beaches, and loads of tourists.
It is almost like little Britain over here!! Alot on English where we are staying in Candolim.
We hired some scooters and had a GREAT time looking around...a bit scary BUT loads of FUN.
Also went to some massive markets at Anjuna yesterday and got some really cheap stuff.
Everything has been amazingly cheap...makes for a GREAT holiday.
So five more days in paradise, and then we head back to Mumbai. Really hoping that this amazing trip is going to be topped off with some amazing results with SI. Everything has been very positive so far. Lets hope it continues..........
We had a great time in Mumbai. Meeting our surrogate was a very special moment. She came to the SI clinic with her husband and Son, (who was only seven years old and very cute). The whole family looked very happy and healthy. The Husband spoke a little English which was great, but even then, it was very hard to know what to say. I was pretty dumb founded by the whole situation......not really knowing what to say or ask. Our surrogate C made very little eye contact, but when she did, it was lovely. She had a beautiful smile, which i had not seen on her profile picture. We did give the family some small gifts, but C did not want to open them there, she appeared embarrased. The whole meeting took around half an hour or so. Silly me forgot to take our camera (can you believe it!!). So lovely Gopa from SI took some photos for us, and will hopefully eventually email them to us.
We had alot of time speaking to Gopa at the clinic which was great. She told us lots of useful information about her role in caring for the surrogates while they are pregnant. She had a very positive and calming nature and made me feel at ease immediatley. We were able to look around where the surrogates stayed for there 2ww. The surrogates were very welcoming and I recognised many faces from looking at profiles previously. I sat on one of the beds with two of the surrogates and some how had a small conversation with them, with help from Gopa. It was a very reassuring experience.
Before leaving for Goa, Doug did his deed at the Hospital, (seman sample for freezing), without any hiccups.
During our time at the hospital we met a lovely American couple who are also using the SI team.They were going through there ET process and all appeared to go very well. We were able to all meet up for a meal later in the evening which was very nice, also meeting up with Amit our travel guy. Amit has truley been great during our whole stay thus far.
While meeting with the Docs at the hospital, we were told that our dates had changed for EPU as our donor had commenced her period. I was exstatic!!! Everything was going to plan, it just meant that we would shorten our time in Goa...no big deal. So we now head back to Mumbia on the 15th for EPU & ET two days later, staying for five days (all going to plan).
We have then arranged to head up to northern India to take in some more sights.....why not!!May as well make the most of our time over here.
So Amit has sorted us out some great deals....we can't thank him enough for his knowledge of india and arranging everything for us.
We are having a lovely relaxing time in Goa......just what the Doctor ordered after the rush of Mumbai. You can not fail to relax over here....sunshine every day, great food, nice beaches, and loads of tourists.
It is almost like little Britain over here!! Alot on English where we are staying in Candolim.
We hired some scooters and had a GREAT time looking around...a bit scary BUT loads of FUN.
Also went to some massive markets at Anjuna yesterday and got some really cheap stuff.
Everything has been amazingly cheap...makes for a GREAT holiday.
So five more days in paradise, and then we head back to Mumbai. Really hoping that this amazing trip is going to be topped off with some amazing results with SI. Everything has been very positive so far. Lets hope it continues..........
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
We are finally here!! In Mumbai!!
Can't believe we are sitting in our hotel in Mumbai.
We had a great flight over, arriving at the airport at 2am in the morning.
We then faced a sea of Indians, with signs waiting to collect passengers.....we both became very panic stricken when we couldn't find our names on any of the many signs being held up. Finally asked someone looking official, that we were looking for the Ramee Guestline Hotel and he kindly pointed us to our driver....(phew what a relief!).....we then ventured to some dimly lit car park where we were then greeted by someone over friendly, greeting us and welcoming us to india, who shook our hands and helped us with our luggage etc, then promptly asked "porter money!!". At this point in time we didn't have any rupee money, and stated so....he replied with "any money!!"....Doug then frantically started to look for some Australian change we had floating in our bag which he was having great difficulty finding....it was all becoming very suspicious, when the driver promptly told Doug to get in the car and sit down, "SIT, SIT!!" he said. It then became obvious that this guy was just after money, and the driver just wanted to remove us from the whole situation....we drove off with the driver saying, "where are the police", "he wants drinking money"......we then drove to our hotel passing through every red light, dodging stray dogs and any car in our path along the way.
After arriving at our hotel the staff were very friendly.....but again still had no rupee money to tip....couldn't tip the driver, who hung around us at the reception with a friendly smile for quite a while, and then couldn't tip the porter who helped with our bags to our room,.....who also hovered in our room for around a minute or so waiting for a tip......felt awful not being able to tip.....SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE RUPEES BEFORE COMING TO INDIA IN FUTURE!
We then hit the sack about 4am, and slept soundly in a very comfortable bed until around 9am. Made it down to breakfast before it closed, enjoying yummy freshly cooked eggs (Doug being curry mad, had to have spicy cajun potatoes which he infoms me were nicely chillified).
At breaky had a call from Dr Sudir, asking if we would like to meet up, so were picked up by Vikas, one of the clinics drivers at 11.30. Arrived at the hospital, after a very hectic ride (can't work out if Mumbains are the worst drivers or the best drivers in the world), and finally met Dr Sudhir and Dr Yash. Had a good chat about procedures etc, had a couple of blood tests and then went for lunch with them. Very nice meal with two very nice people. Vikas then picked us up and took us back to the hotel. On the way back, we saw our first cow, which, oblivious to the busy traffic, was lying in the middle of the road.
Will be going to SI offices tomorrow to meet with surrogate in the afternoon.hope to go for a wander around Juhu beach in the morning, will be investigating the Juhu restuarants this evening.
All good so far, SI very good, hotel very good, Indian people warm & friendly.
We had a great flight over, arriving at the airport at 2am in the morning.
We then faced a sea of Indians, with signs waiting to collect passengers.....we both became very panic stricken when we couldn't find our names on any of the many signs being held up. Finally asked someone looking official, that we were looking for the Ramee Guestline Hotel and he kindly pointed us to our driver....(phew what a relief!).....we then ventured to some dimly lit car park where we were then greeted by someone over friendly, greeting us and welcoming us to india, who shook our hands and helped us with our luggage etc, then promptly asked "porter money!!". At this point in time we didn't have any rupee money, and stated so....he replied with "any money!!"....Doug then frantically started to look for some Australian change we had floating in our bag which he was having great difficulty finding....it was all becoming very suspicious, when the driver promptly told Doug to get in the car and sit down, "SIT, SIT!!" he said. It then became obvious that this guy was just after money, and the driver just wanted to remove us from the whole situation....we drove off with the driver saying, "where are the police", "he wants drinking money"......we then drove to our hotel passing through every red light, dodging stray dogs and any car in our path along the way.
After arriving at our hotel the staff were very friendly.....but again still had no rupee money to tip....couldn't tip the driver, who hung around us at the reception with a friendly smile for quite a while, and then couldn't tip the porter who helped with our bags to our room,.....who also hovered in our room for around a minute or so waiting for a tip......felt awful not being able to tip.....SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE RUPEES BEFORE COMING TO INDIA IN FUTURE!
We then hit the sack about 4am, and slept soundly in a very comfortable bed until around 9am. Made it down to breakfast before it closed, enjoying yummy freshly cooked eggs (Doug being curry mad, had to have spicy cajun potatoes which he infoms me were nicely chillified).
At breaky had a call from Dr Sudir, asking if we would like to meet up, so were picked up by Vikas, one of the clinics drivers at 11.30. Arrived at the hospital, after a very hectic ride (can't work out if Mumbains are the worst drivers or the best drivers in the world), and finally met Dr Sudhir and Dr Yash. Had a good chat about procedures etc, had a couple of blood tests and then went for lunch with them. Very nice meal with two very nice people. Vikas then picked us up and took us back to the hotel. On the way back, we saw our first cow, which, oblivious to the busy traffic, was lying in the middle of the road.
Will be going to SI offices tomorrow to meet with surrogate in the afternoon.hope to go for a wander around Juhu beach in the morning, will be investigating the Juhu restuarants this evening.
All good so far, SI very good, hotel very good, Indian people warm & friendly.
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