Turning Two

Yesterday we celebrated Lena's second birthday! We planned a day focused on toddler enjoyment.

We started out in a CNG going to the peninsula hotel. This requires 2 CNG's for our family and it's never totally clear if the driver knows where we want to go. So there is always the possibility we could end up in separate but equally unfamiliar parts of the city. Hasn't happened yet.

We rode to the Peninsula Hotel, the self proclaimed best business hotel in the city. We just went for the pool which you can use for 400 taka per person per hour. It's crazy expensive , but we were celebrating after all. Because it's winter here the gardeners and pool attendants were very disapproving of letting the babies get wet. We decided to risk their health in the chilly eighty degree weather despite their hands on hips warnings.

After swimming we walked over to Sugar Bun, the fast food joint in town with the biggest play place. All the kids had a good time, climbing on the random collection of toys and avoiding the Sugar Bun employees praying in the back corner. The one downer was the little boy who was so scared of us white folks that he started screaming every time Lena walked, pig tails bouncing, his way.

The Sugar Bun Bakery made the personalized bunny cake that ended the party. We drew even more attention to ourselves singing happy birthday to the bemused but delighted Lena. We walked home quickly through the crowded dusty streets, back to the apartment for baths. She looked ready for sleep as we put her down with a final reminder, "Happy Birthday, Lena. We're glad you're here."