Pune - The Trip

While the visit to Pune was in essence for Dhruva's convocation, it became special for another reason as well. 

Dad and mom going with us. 

Why that's super special is because, at 83 and with a bad knee, dad had decided last year that he wasn't going to be doing any more travel. This was yet a conscious exception, one he wanted to do for Dhruva.

End of trip, we're walking up to the house when I asked how he had held out, he said 'maybe a little strained, but more significant is that I'm feeling more confident and rejuvenated'. That was not just wonderful to hear, but so inspiring. 

A little anecdote on that. In addition to the convocation, he also accompanied us to the Bhuleshwar temple. At the temple when dad was sitting outside, just enjoying the view (as he couldn't do the steps into the temple), apparently there was someone who came and touched his feet saying 'it's equivalent to touching gods'. Looks like he drew that same inspiration as well. 

I saw this with mom too, when we went to Amritsar recently, and now again. She literally did some minor level acrobatics to enter the sanctum sanctorium, as the steps were too steep. A reiteration of what one will, and can do, if we set our mind to it.

And this trip brought that out again, with both of them, that one notch deeper.

The trip in pictures:

Boarding

Hotel Majestique where we stayed had this lovely view, with a railway track too. Was enough for Dad to happily stay in (he has a mad love for trains, even today) ,when the rest of us went about doing our own thing.

Cheeku the totally adorable and friendly hotel doggy

Lunch at Majestique

The hotel had some flowers which we initially thought were artificial.....that pretty

With the hotel being on the outskirts, (near MIT), we could actually do walks through long stretches of nurseries (which are so well known, they export world over), and the picturesque countryside of Pune.

Enjoying some ganne ka ras (sugarcane juice) on the way

Going on countryside drives with dad is, as always, a lesson in geology :).

He spoke of how this mountain was black basalt, rock formed of lava from the earths crust and how there were different layers clearly visible, each separated by maybe about 10,000 years (the fertile black soil of Pune comes from the lava rock too)

A popular part of the city, Camp, is so rustic and beautiful, giving such an old time feel...... banyan trees, colonial bungalows, quaint cafes, book shops.......has so much character, that just being there is a fun experience.

A quaint little cafe with a sweet and cozy feel and some amazing food

Some charming old time houses we came across as Diksha and I took a walk searching for a book store ( and we found one that warrants a whole separate post :)

Way back, Pune airport, Dad enjoying the runway view as we waited for boarding. It was interesting how the wheelchair guy left him next to our seats, and he had me wheel him upfront for view of the runway.....privileges of the wheelchair he said :)

Daddy and Ma, so so touched and happy you did this trip with us.....means much, and will remain cherished for ever more.