Below is a (broken down) panorama taken from the main living quarters of our flat.

We wake in the morning to a massive bird symphony from the park next door.

Here, below is the view of the Institute from my bedroom window.
And a (broken down) panorama from my bedroom window:

A closeup view of a park in the distance from my bedroom window.

Below is a typical sight – areas where sidewalk or road construction is going on. There is no “safety first” motto here. These bricks are stacked up in the middle of the sidewalk, there is a ditch in the street, and pedestrians are expected to walk in the street (remember the crazy drivers…).

We’ve walked by this man every day. He’s set up on a busy intersection, shining shoes. Of course, pedestrians have to go around him and walk in the street to pass by… But not just around him, but around the rickshaws and motorcycles too.

Here’s a pretty busy street that intersects about a half a block from where we’re staying.

I’ve seen a few of these corn carts set up. On the back side, he’s got a big steaming hot pot of kerneled corn.

Pune Central – it’s a six-floor version of a Target or Walmart. To get to the grocery section, you have to take an elevator to the 5th floor.

Pune Central is a half block away (the corn guy was set up in front of the building), so now we don’t have to take a rickshaw to buy groceries!

Kathleen and I took a walk yesterday through the park. There are these signs. I’ll let you figure them out …

This is a Ficus benghalensis, the Indian Banyan, a large and extensive growing tree of the Indian subcontinent that produces propagating roots which grow downwards as aerial roots. Once these roots reach the ground, they grow into woody trunks that can become indistinguishable from the main trunk. You probably think I’m really smart now, right?

Today is 9:30am Asana with Geetaji, then 4-5:45pm personal practice time in the asana room.

We checked out of the Hotel Chetak yesterday & into the ninth floor at the Anugraha. We have a great view of the city, the park, and most importantly, the Institute. My room directly overlooks the asana building. View pictures will be on my next post.

The OBYoga water bottle was here. We’ll probably go back to the Chetak for chai and “toast butter jam”.

After checkin, we went (for the 3rd time) to the Ambience Hotel for a combination lunch/dinner.

Here’s Sharon, Kathleen (you probably don’t recognize her without her rhino face mask) and me at the Ambience.

View from the driver’s seat…

A fine machine, indeed. The pollution here is so bad that, especially when you’re in a rickshaw amidst the heaviest of traffic, you need to pull something up over your face. Even then, and after doubling the scarf, the pollution is overpowering.

We got “taken” for a ride yesterday… Kathleen and I flagged down a driver and asked to be taken to “Good Luck Choke.” A “choke” is an Indian version of a round-about intersection. When we got in, there was already an Indian girl in the back seat (there’s barely enough room for 3), so we squeezed in. He told us “30 rupees.” Ok, even though 2 days ago it only cost 22 rupees … This rickshaw driver was the worst (or best?) driver so far. He was really good at maneuvering through traffic (that’s good), but insane about it (that’s bad). I have no idea how we made it to our destination without hitting someone or something – riding in a rickshaw is most comparable to riding a bumper car, only there’s no bumping (I hope). He took this other person to her destination first, which was way far out of the way, then dropped us off at some busy intersection, pointed and said “Good Luck Choke that way.” AND he said “60 rupees.” NO way (even though 1 rupee is only .017 to one US dollar). We ended up paying him 40 and then ended up walking four blocks to get to our destination.

More motorcycles. They’re everywhere.

Merchants here seem to specialize in only one item. So if you need to purchase several items, you need to go to several different shops which are all about the size of my walk-in closet, with stuff packed inside. None of the merchandise is marked for price, so they randomly charge whatever they want.

Strictly flip flops.

Shirts only. You need pants? You have to go down the street.

Get your belts here.

Accessorize with a purse or wallet.

Watches.

Need groceries? I’ll save that one for a future blog.

Day 2 yoga itinerary for today… Personal practice time from 9-noon, and then Pranayama with Geetaji at 6pm.