Blogs from Pune, Maharashtra, India, Asia - page 11

Pune is a University town southeast of Mumbai. The first thing we noticed when we got off the train was that it was so much cooler here, still hot but bearable. Once we got ourselves to FC road we decided that this was much better, we were able to walk for more than 100 m without being hung onto by beggers or invited to look at every single stall (all selling the same stuff) that we passed. Big sigh of relief. Moved to a cheaper hotel on the friday as we could't afford to stay in the clean place we bagged after getting off the train. The cleaner was in our new room when we checked in but we haven't been able to figure out what he was doing, it certainly wasn't cleaning the bathroom with ... read more

I went to Kanyakumari alone. I am not a loner or something. Its just that I read about an article about backpackers somewhere and another article about travelling alone and I thought what the heck let me give both of them a try at one go. It started like this..I started from Pune on impulse. I was working late night once and I just logged off from my computer, picked 2 jeans and a coupla t-shirts and took the first train to Bangalore ( 2.40 am ). I had a friend in Bangalore and after much convincing he got ready to go with me to Bandipur national park, Ooty and Kunnoor. It was fun. We returned to Bangalore and from there I picked the train to Kanyakumari on 23.10.06 9.30 pm kanyakumari express. Let me warn ... read more

I was fortunate enough to be invited to stay with Indian friends whilst on my visit to this strange and unfamiliar country. After the initial culture shock of arriving in Mumbia, a place very different from anywhere I've experienced before, it was very welcoming to be in familiar company and staying with such a warm and friendly family. I worked opposite Sandeep for some time prior to leaving my job at Rubicon and we got to know each other through sharing lifts to and from work. By co-incidence Sandeep would be revisiting his home country at the time I arrived. Pune (pronounced 'Puna') is a rapidly growing city. Its become a center for technology companies and very busy in recent years. The Traffic is now very heavy especially during rush hour but it doesn't feel as ... read more

Techbooks have given me my own office and a gentleman who brings me tea twice a day. My first day I got a dozen red roses. Hint, hint fellow coworkers, I may be hard to live with after I get back. I gave Roshan his cowboy hat, thank goodness the hat still fits, Roshan shaved his head. He was so overwhelmed that we got him that hat. He refused to wear it in the office but I was able to get a photo of him. This weekend I went with Roshan and his wife to MG Road (Mahatma Ghandi Road). We looked at hundreds of saris and I selected two outfits to be stitched. Dhanya and Roshan introduced me to some Indian sweets. They were not my favorite. One tasted like stale cookie dough soaked in ... read more

Hi Everyone!! After a hectic period of travel I am safe and (relatively) healthy in Pune. Pronounced "Poona", it is about 4 hours by train south-east of Mumbai (Bombay). After finishing my last entry in Jaisalmer, I hurried to catch the bus from the main circle a few minutes from the hotel. I was so sad to leave Shahi Palace that I just about cried! I also feel bad for leaving in such a rush - I really wish I'd said better goodbyes. I immediately missed the company of Gareth and Tracey, and suddenly I felt quite lonely. Amidst the great confusion of yelling men and animals and dust I climbed onto a bus bound for Amdehbad. Aboard, I found that I was the only foreigner, and the only woman. Only 3 or 4 people knew ... read more