Local News, Daily life in Pune

दिली छोरेस

Summer Camp! On the way home from Camp!
Wonder whats in the bags?

लोवे थे फ्रेश्नेस्स ऑफ़ रैन!

My first traditional Hindi Wedding

I got to my apartment in Pune late Sunday afternoon. I met my new roommate from Holland. His name is Neils and is a good guy. On Monday morning Neils and I hired a driver to take us to a wedding in Bombay. One of our co-workers was getting married. Even though Bombay is only 78 miles from Pune it took 4 hours to get there. No one drives very fast here as most vehicles are 2 stroke engines and the road conditions are terrible. Turns out that the roads in Bombay are much worse than in Pune. I don't think that they are roads, they are just areas that vehicles try and drive on.

As far as the wedding! it was amazing! Hindi weddings last for 7 days. We attended the main marriage ceremony on the 7th day. Khushali was an absolute beautiful bride and I am so happy to have been invited to witness such an event. We had a meal with multiple courses (I have no idea how many or even what we ate but it was very good.) I did know what the ice cream was made from. The primary ingredients were red and yellow rose petals, cream, sugar and small nuts. It was very good. Turns out that different colors of roses taste differently. I was told that I could buy rose syrup to go on pancakes, salads, or just to drink when I had acid stomach. I will go and buy some later this week and give it a shot.

There are many rituals preformed during the ceremony, many of which have very specific timing. The planets, moon and whatever else needs to be properly aligned according to the birth dates of the bride and groom. I am wondering if this is why weddings last for so long. The bride and groom also cook for each other, feed each other, wash each others feet and stick there big toes in some kind of dough. I have no idea what thats about but was fun to watch. They also take turns leading each other around the wedding hall, this is symbolic of there are times that the man should be in the lead and other times when the women is in the lead.



Pictures are the bride, groom, brides parents and a cute little girl dancing.

Me and a couple of friends traveled to Roatan Honduras. It was an amazing! The island is long ~45 miles, but is only 3 miles or less at its widest point. The Island is completely surrounded by a coral reef. It was amazing! We met some of Devons friends and they are a great bunch of people!

We 'Norkeled and 'norkeled (snorkeled for those that don't speak small child). Holly found her inner "Iguana Whisperer", Karla was the main norkeler and picture taker. Devon was the gracious host, taxi, tour guide, and best pal! In the evenings we watched the "leaf cutter ants" work and work. We were all glad that we are not leaf cutter ants!

Playmates and Playgrounds

So you ask if I made any friends?? OF COURSE!
I'm an excellent Bowling teacher--Not one of my friends had ever bowled!
Evening of dancing, Saturday hygiene stop and My Loving Son!

Getting around!

There are many forms of transportation in India.
The rule is that if it has wheels, used to have wheels, or is large enough to carry one person and has a horn it is used!
Scooters, motorcycles, bicycles, rickshaw (motorized as well as human powered), taxi, camel, elephant, camel, Ox pulled carts, tractors, and I even saw a family driving around a steam roller.
It was common to see 3 people on a motorcycle and from time to time, would see 4 on a bike.

There are no traffic laws, whom ever has the loudest horn or is the bravest gets the right of way.

Living In Pune

There are several types of living conditions in Pune.
There are many homeless people, which are subdivided. Those who sleep in the same spot daily and declare that spot as theirs, and those who sleep where ever they get tired.
The next step up is a tent or lean to
Then there are the neighborhoods made up of small grass type huts.
The tin huts made of 4X8 sheets of corrugated tin, and then finally apartment living.

Recient travel to Pune

I recently traveled to Pune India.
India is the most amazing place I have been to. It is a place of contradictions, colors, textures smells and adventure.