Pune is the second largest city in Maharashtra, and provided me with a one night rest on the way North. I visited the Tribal Museum. Yes, there are tribes in India. In many rural areas, there are people with cultures distinctly different from the dominant Indian culture.
While wandering the back alleys of Pune, I came across a small ‘café’. The proprietor sat cross-legged on a little platform with his tea-making equipment surrounding him. I ordered spiced milk and watched as he leaned this way and that to make it. This simple activity was so artistic.
My next stop was Ahmadabad, where I visited the Patels again. While eating lunch, Mansi, the daughter and I discussed food. I said how much I liked her mother’s cooking. She told me that she really likes pizza, and suggested that we go to Pizza Hut. So, in proper tradition I had pizza on Super Bowl Sunday. Actually Pizza Hut is much better in India than in the U.S., at least for me. The entire menu was full of yummy vegetarian options. We had the ‘Spicy Indian’.
On Monday Mr. Patel drove me out to a ‘step well’ outside the city. The well is a large, subterranean structure. A large staircase leads down through columned levels to a well at the bottom. It was wonderfully cool down in the well, and despite being under ground, it felt very open and airy.
My night trip from Ahmadabad to Delhi was less than comfortable. The train was full, and I was on the RAC list (Reservation Against Cancellation). This means that you have to share a seat with another RAC person until something opens up. I sat up talking to my neighbor, a man from Rajasthan, about politics, religion and life. It was a great conversation, but ended around 11 P.M. Finally at around 2 A.M. a berth opened up. I was first on the list, but had traded seats with another RAC person so she could sit with her friend. The Train Conductor (TC) gave the berth to her. I chased the TC down and asked the name of the person who should get the berth. It was of course me, and he asked the woman to move. I felt a bit guilty, but only until I fell asleep.
Posted by gardella at February 3, 2004 01:52 AM