Dear readers, for the sake of catching up and because of a sustained state of exhaustion these past few days, I am going to limit my accounts to some very succinct details. I DO feel compelled to share these adventures because of how interesting and wonderful they have been!
Being that I am technically challenged, I also cannot figure out how to change the dates of my blogs, so 3 days of exploration and experience show up as February 15th, even though they were actually inclusive of 3 days, 11th through 13th. And finally, because there is so much to share, I am resorting to this format of pictorial journalism, aided by a few added captions. Enjoy!
Feb. 11th, Tuesday
The following series of photos were taken at the Chattushringi Mandir, a very old, elaborate temple dedicated to Ganesha, aka Ganapati, the elephant god. The Indians coming here were extremely devotional: most bought and brought offerings of flowers and sweets as they came to pay homage to this much beloved deity. Climbing a great number of steps to reach the main temple seemed to be a sort of mini pilgrimage, I thought!
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| Ain't he cute! This little Ganesh was actually on an outside wall--no photographs were allowed INSIDE the main temple. That is pretty typical, as a rule. |
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| Flower and sweet seller in front of the temple entrance |
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| On the way there by rickshaw, saw this woman chiseling stone by the side of the road |
After the Ganesh temple, I went on by auto (the current term for a motorized rickshaw. What we might call an "auto" is simply known as a car here.) to a magnificent, government-owned historical landmark: The Aga Khan Palace, where Gandhi was imprisoned for almost two years, and where his wife and close friend/secretary died.
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Foreigners getting gouged, not untypically! As you can see, MY entrance fee was 12 times that of the cost for an Indian. I find it grossly unfair, this presumption that westerners are all rich. As you know, most definitely not MY case! Living on $1000/month budget has actually been a challenge thus far; I have been here a mere 10 days at this point and am already way over my allotment for this short amount of time!
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| As you can see, the Palace was quite beautiful, expansive and impressive. I would be most happy to be a prisoner here anytime! |
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| Eerily lifelike, these effigies of Gandhi were in two separate "galleries". Apparently there are 23, but for some strange reason, only 5 of them were open on this day. Rather disappointing. |
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His much beloved wife and most faithful devotee, Kasturba
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| A portion of Gandhi's ashes are interred here |
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| All ashes of Kastura and Mahadev Desai, his good friend and secretary, also interred on the premises |
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| The room in the palace in which Kastura passed away |
Many groups of school children, as well as some of college age, were visiting the Palace and grounds on this day. The kids were anxious to have their photos taken, crowding around me and trampling on my feet! The only English words they seemed to know, in fact, were "photo" and "selfie"! The teachers were some distance off, greatly amused by it all, of course, and wholly disinclined to restrain this unruly bunch.
The more sedate, orderly groups of older kids, quite civil, in fact:
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| These sweet college guys attend the University of Pune, which is one of the most acclaimed schools in all of India. There are several campuses providing classes for about one million students! Couldn't believe it. They told me that classes typically hold about 70 students. They were all studying engineering with the hopes of making it to Silicon Valley one day. When I told them what it cost to live there in a one bedroom apartment--2500 to 3000 dollars--they were amazed. We did the calculations and discerned that one month's rent would equal 3 YEARS of living in the equivalent apartment in Pune! |
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Rare sight, for some reason: scrawny wild puppy on the grounds, already "street smart", scrounging for any bits of food it can find and totally wary of human advances. I tried--and failed--to approach this sad little guy.
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| This little guy, on the other hand, was fearless and approachable, and most definitely well-fed! |
Heading back home to B. Paradise; riding in an auto on Indian roads always an adventure in itself:
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| Who knew self-driving cars are coming to India as well?! Considering the sheer volume of traffic, this concept is disconcerting, to say the least! |
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| Cemetery we passed by, home to WWII Vets, per my kindly auto driver |
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| Apparently, wife and sleeping child are expendable, whereby husband--I presume that's who the driver is, being the man with the only helmet on--is not. Woman, unconcerned, on the PHONE, no less?!!?? So appalling, but not even the worst of it! Saw a family of 4 adults and one baby on another "scooty"...they went by too fast for me to capture that unreal scene on camera. |
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| Older couple, also no helmets... I guess they figure if they die, they will simply reincarnate into a better life next time around. Do they stop to consider the possibility of mangled bodies or brain death only?! Apparently not. Amazingly, I have yet to see any accident whatsoever. Unfathomable! |
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