These past two days we have been taking it easy in Pune, getting ready for our swing through southern India. Sunday. I took a long walk through the neighborhood. You can see five of our neighbors lounging in the first picture. These dogs are everywhere. I don't know if they are any specific breed but they look remarkably similar everywhere.
In the afternoon Shawne and I walked to the Aga Khan Palace where Ghandi was jailed for two years. Both his wife and personal secretary died there while waiting for his release. There is a museum and a memorial site in a very nice park-like setting. Some of Ghandi's ashes are buried there. While we were there, one of the guards blew his whistle and ordered a young couple to cease and desist. The girl had her arm around the guy's waist. In India it is not okay for couples to show any signs of affection in public but it is perfectly normal and okay for guys to hold hands or put an arm around one another's shoulders. Unlike in the US, it carries no connotation of gayness.
In the evening we took one of the three wheeled motorcycle taxis to a shopping area that is blocked off from traffic each Sunday night. The taxi is a wild ride that gets you out in the traffic at a very gritty, noisy, smelly, on the street level. After we arrived, we strolled along enjoying the street life, families on outings, food vendors, rides for the kids, etc. Then another wild ride home.
On Monday we visited Nalini's office with the ragpickers. A very spartan, dusty affair tucked under a stadium.
We then went to a little school that Hema, a woman we met at the ragpickers education affair, works with. The school has before and after school programs for the very poor to supplement the government schools, many of which are very, very bad. They also have a school on wheels, a bus that goes into poor areas to bring school to the kids. They are doing some great work. Their web site is at http://www.doorstepschool.org/dss/home.php.
In the afternoon, we stopped by the Shanivar Wada Palace, right in the heart of Pune and did a bit more shopping.
Tonight we pack and head for the airport to fly to Cochi (Cochin). We will tour Cochi on Wednesday and then will be out of touch for a few days, on a houseboat and at another wildlife preserve. At least I've finally caught up on my blogging.
Nalini has been a gracious and generous hostess. We have had the best food of our trip in her home. Weight Watchers has taken a real beating. It will be hard to get back in tour mode tomorrow though we have heard so many good things about the south, we are really looking forward to that too.
1 comment:
Glad to hear they are so passionate about education, and that you're taking it as easy as those dogs in the picture :).
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