Blogs from Pune, Maharashtra, India, Asia - page 2

After doing few short road trips around Pune, it was time to do one long road trip. Night riding on my Avenger was what I always wanted to do. Coincidentally one family event was coming up at my wife's native place Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh which is close to 900km from Pune. I thought this was a golden opportunity. So, I decided, let's plan for this road trip. There was no way my parents would have given me permission for this. I secretly started planning for this trip. I booked train tickets for my parents in such a way that they would leave at least 2 hrs before me. I had to lie about my availability for the family event due to workload at my office. Everything happened as per plan. As soon as my parents left, ... read more

This trip to India, was not like any other trip I have ever done for two reasons. One, I was not with Chris, and two, it was for work. To get to Pune, I flew Cairns to Brisbane, Brisbane to Singapore, Singapore to Mumbai, then a 3 hour drive from Mumbai to Pune. Most of the flights was with Singapore Airlines which was pretty comfy and I love airplane food! I love the little compartments and little drink cups. I also really like Singapore Airport. It's the prettiest and most fun airport I've been in, but this time my stop over was only 1 hr. I think from door to door my trip was about 25 hours ... needless to say ... it was a long trip. Pune is 560m above sea level so it's not ... read more

It was my Birthday; and both, me and Rahul - my husband were on leave. Rahul had his secret plans ready for the Day. So we all set from Home on bike, me being unaware where we were travelling that day. We traveled our way through Nashik Highway, so I thought whether he is taking me to my Mother’s home in Nashik….??? But, at Rajgurunagar we turned towards Left, and here I came to know we are going to some other place. We traveled through the small villages & Chas Kaman Dam towards Bhimashankar. Route to Bhimasankar is a diversion from Pune-Nashik highway. Till rajgurunagar (from Pune) the road will be good after that you can't expect a smooth ride. The route was very beautiful;... The drive to Bhimashankar is splendid. You are greeted with various ... read more

I’m here to “do yoga” – to study at the RIMYI for 4 weeks. I’ve been training to be an Iyengar yoga teacher since 2012 and with any luck will be certified this October when I sit for the certifying assessment in Sydney. The first time Studying at the Institute is a bit of a rite of passage for any Iyengar yoga teacher – the moment when a young teacher gets blooded – becomes initiated into the bolsterhood – is inoculated with the Indian culture – drinks form the ancient rubber chalice of asana and gets a good telling off from the grand wazoo. I went with Lynn, whose apartment I’m staying in, to visit the institute even though I don’t have any classes until Saturday. I’ve actually been to the institute before in 2008 for ... read more

You know a restaurant is successful when it is used as a landmark by anyone and everyone throughout the city. Good Luck chowk on F.C.Road is just that. It’s a prime busy crossing, deriving its name from the Irani establishment that lords over the corner. Since 1935 is what their hoarding proudly proclaims and 75 years in the business is no mean feat. Even donkey’s years feels short of an adjective to describe the legacy of this place. From octogenarians to the now college going crowd, everyone fondly remembers at some time having had a cup of Irani tea with bun maska in its hallowed confines. Cafe Good Luck is primarily a non-vegetarian place with the mutton biryani, mutton cutlet curry and mutton kheema being the mainstays of its eclectic menu. However, many a vegetarians like ... read more