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Published: December 28th 2005
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 a few words of english. At one point I felt very uncomfortable, because a whole group of men were laughing at some joke and pointing at me saying "marrying him!" and pointing at one sort of evil looking guy.
So I brought out my pictures, and once they saw Eric, they stopped that kind of thing and then mostly left me
alone - I guess they were scared of Eric (thanks for the help babe!). After a few hours I clambered up into a bunk above the seats and tried (unsuccessfully) to sleep for the rest of the 12 hour trip. I was cold and the bus honked its horn just often enough to keep me awake. Also, I was hungry, since I hadn't eaten in 24 hours for fear of.....spending more time in the bathroom!
We pulled into Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, around 3am, and I found the train station without too much trouble. I walked maybe 500 meters to get to the entrance, and passed easily more than 200 people sleeping on the street, wrapped tightly in blankets on the sidewalk. Needless to say, I walked in the street to avoid tripping.
It was a similar scene inside the Ahmedabad Train Station, where families were huddled together waiting for their trains to arrive. I put my backpack down beside a group of young Indian girls and waited there about an hour before the train arrived. I was in a different class this time, because the AC2 class was full, so I had a seat in
Chair Class - basically it looks like a very worn airplane seat, and there are 3 on one side, 2 on the other.
I tried to sleep a little bit, but the 11 hour trip to Mumbai seemed to drag on. There was some lovely scenery as the sun rose, and some mountains and rivers to admire. I also spoke with several nice peple, including a lady and her son (who was from Toronto!) who were heading to Mumbai for his wedding. That lady was just tickled to tell me about the wedding!! People were constantly moving up and down the aisles selling food and drink and plastic trinkets.
Unfortunately, the rail line was also lined with the shacks and slums of the very poor, which always saddens me.
Arriving in Mumbai was a bit of a shock - it was 29 degrees and muggy when I found my way out of the station. I had hoped to arrive early enough to do some touristy-things, but I only had a few hours, so I took a black cab south towards the other train station (for east and south trains), I stopped and used the internet for a
while, until I started to worry about my stomach again! I headed to the train station for a train ticket to Pune, and left Mumbai shortly after arriving. Its too bad I didn't see more of Mumbai, but I really couldn't stand the weather, so I likely would have been unhappy anyways.
The train to Pune was about 4 hours. Enroute I chatted with an Indian/British/American woman, who was back in India for the first time in 30 years. It took me awhile to find the National Hotel, which is set back in an alleyway from the road. The road, of course, was full of rickshaw drivers, each of whom tried to get me into their rickshaw. Some just asked, some asked where I was going, and some drove right in front of me to try and get my business!
The National Hotel is set amongst some trees and is a 120 year old British colonial-style house, converted into an inexpensive hotel by its Ba'hai owner. I was lucky to get a room without a reservation, and I paid 416 rupees (that included a 16 rupee luxury tax) for a room with two single beds, a tv and
a bathroom. The ceilings were about 15 feet high! Other than this, it was pretty plain, but reasonably clean. I slept reasonably well on the hard bed, except that I got pretty cold.
I woke this morning feeling much healthier than I have the last two days, and took my time showering, braiding my hair and watching the BBC world news. I had found the phone number of the Hadapsar Gliding Club in the phone book the night before, but I tried twice and it rang without answer. I thought of giving up, but I had travelled to Pune for the single purpose of seeing an Indian Gliding club, so I took a rickshaw to the airport.
Realizing it was not the sort of airport that gliding would be done at (it was an international airport!!!) I asked one of the gaurds for help. He pointed me in the direction of the autorickshaw stand, and for 500 rupees ($12.50) I collected my bag from the hotel and headed to Hadapsar, a suburb of Poona, about 20 minutes by car from the train station.
The car entered through a rusted gate into what looked like an abandoned yard,
Blanik landing
The Blanik touches down at sunset at the Pune Gliding Club, Hadapsar.but there were a few people in a building, and they pointed us toward a hangar. Through the grass I could see a glider in the distance!!
Inside I introduced myself and was welcomed by the many people of the club. They even gave me a Pune Gliding Club hat! I had arrived at just the right time, as the day was starting up, and I joined the group on the field, walking out with the man who happened to run the place and was the senior pilot.
Its amazingly similair to our own gliding operation at home, there were even some kids from the NCC - National Cadet Core - out for familiarization rides! There were about 10 gliding club members out running the operation. It was winch launch, and the field is great! Its all dirt and grass, but its 1200 METERS long, yes, meters. There is a slight slope (barely noticeable) at one end, and its very wide.
I chatted with the members and took some notes about the details, as I plan to write up a little article for the SAC magazine when I get home. About 4 cadets had gone for rides,
when I was asked if I wanted to go! Unfortunately the winds started playing some games and I didn't go. We took a break for lunch, and I tried eating a few things - I had some bananas, and even tried a little of the home cooked lunch that the club members brought - it was great!!! After a good long drink of water and a little food I felt re-energized.
The gliders used are 3 Blanik L33 (Super Blaniks) and they have one L13 solo Blanik. Only 2 L33's were in used, as the other was in maintenance. Gliding here is very much a spectator sport! The low rock wall around the field held 20-40 young spectators at various points throughout the day. Located in the middle of a busy resedential/commercial area, people were constantly walking around on a path inside the wall. They had to hold the launch at time for the people in the way!
The day was getting late though, and instead of flying myself, we opted to finish all of the cadets. I'm going back tomorrow, and there are no cadets scheduled, so it should be a great day! I'm going to need to remember my sunscreen! It got up around 30+ I think.
So, my first flight in India, and my first winch launch!! Should be great!
After the last flight everything was packed away and two of the people were kind enough to offer me a ride. We stopped on the way out for chai at a roadside stand, and a little bit of a debrief! I got a room again at the National Hotel and tried to get a ticket for Goa for tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately the booking was closed, and I couldn't. I'll try for an unreserved ticket tomorrow.
I got extra blankets in my room tonight, so I will hopefully sleep better! After a bit of a walk and a rickshaw ride I found this place, with great fast internet and a nice atmosphere. Tomorrow I'll do a bit of sightseeing, and head back to the gliding field around 11 am. Cross your fingers for good winds!
I'll hopefully be in Goa 12 hours after I leave, but without a reserved ticket, its hard to say! I'll let you all know when I arrive!
Best wishes!
Eileen
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Brent
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Nifty
It sounds like you are enjoying everything India has to offer, hope you get flying. Cookie