Holidaying in Pune and Nasik

I’m falling pretty behind on my blog and am writing a few ‘predated’ posts. ;-)

I was in Pune and Nasik in July, visiting family and friends. Here are a few pictures – I’ll need to fill in the rest when I get time.



My cousin Varun showing my mom his lovely drumset. He uses his room on the second floor to practice, although he has to cover the drums with a cloth dampener to ensure he doesn’t wake up the rest of the neighborhood.



Street scene in old Nasik. While I’m not an expert at this, the little gully, wall painting of Shivaji, and architecture of the building with its louvers appeared typical.



The Kala Rama temple, perhaps one of the most significant shrines in the city, is known for its idol made of dark rock.



Bees! Bees! Bees! All around the temples, there were several tiny bees near all the deities. I clicked a picture, but it may be hard to see the little ones. There’s a nice wikipedia article on identifying common bees and wasps.



More interesting than the Rama temple is the Sita Gupha, the caves where Sita is believed to have hid during the Ramayana. We climbed down into the caves through a narrow passage where we literally had to crawl through on all fours. One thing for sure, there’s definitely no way Ravana’s ten heads would have made it through it ;-) Picture of my mom with her childhood friend Bala and siblings Arthi and Adwait in front of the cave. They were such wonderful hosts.



The massive Kumbh mela which happens once every twelve years happens here.



Beautiful Nasik is wine country. Several rolling hills and miles and miles of wineyards. Here’s some pictures of the table grapes from Bala’s farm.

Zen Sarcasm

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you havetheir shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13 Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and Put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a 'Dark Side', and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need It.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative
on the same night.

Who's it gonna be?

"I was built to be the best
Number one and nothing less
Leave me to my destiny
I have waited patiently
I have vision' oh i believe
I know I can count on me

So stand up for the champions
For the champions stand up
Stand up stand up
For the champions for the champions
Stand up for the champions
For the champions stand up
Stand up stand up
For the champions for the champions
Stand up"

Right Said Fred - "Stand Up For the Champions"



New to the game of tennis? If there was a good time to start following the game, beyond a shadow of doubt, this absolutely is it. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are taking the game to a level where they are simply head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, and irrespective of who wins Wimbledon this Sunday, the audience and tennis are the winners.

Harry who?

Shannon, one of my good friends from my Iowa Sate days sent me this pretty funny pic of her dressed up as Harry Potter for Halloween. And the other pic is of her without her costume. She has dyed her hair black as well. Pretty convincing, eh?