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Street food in Pune

Ever since I first snuck out in the evening to eat pani puri on the streets of Bangalore I’ve been a lover of Indian street food. The hand painted carts, the flavours, warm nights, the efficiency employed to prepare food in such a small space – this all appeals – but above all it’s the dedication to preparing one dish, over and over again, to perfection. Little has changed since Bangalore 25 years ago; I’m still mad about Indian street food – and it still satisfies – only now the vendors have mobile phone numbers and I can phone ahead my order – or ask for a delivery! Watch out for update number 2 (and 3, and 4) I’m just getting started on this topic! – Fi

My Pune favourite; Dabeli (a toasted bun with a veg tamarind, crunchie, cheesy filling that simply rocks)
My Pune favourite; Dabeli (a toasted bun with a veg tamarind, crunchie, cheesy filling that simply rocks)
Audrey loves her mixed juices from this guy. Sweet lime juice is another refreshing favourite
Audrey loves her mixed juices from this guy. Sweet lime juice is another refreshing favourite
Huge hit and totally unexpected is the toasted sandwich dude. Cheese for Lucinda and Chocolate for Ethan and Audrey!
Huge hit and totally unexpected is the toasted sandwich dude. Cheese for Lucinda and Chocolate for Ethan and Audrey!
Just to be clear, that's chocolate on the inside and the outside and grated on top!
Just to be clear, that’s chocolate on the inside and the outside and grated on top!
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Random Pictures from Pune

Happy Children are happy.
Happy Children are happy.
I dont know what this spiky thing actually is. In Hindi it is called "यह बात खूब भाते हैं", which means "bloody spiky thing".
I dont know what this spiky thing actually is. In Hindi it is called “यह बात खूब भाते हैं”, which means “bloody spiky thing”.
On the roof at the O hotel.
On the roof at the O hotel.
On the roof at the O hotel.
On the roof at the O hotel.
On the roof at the O hotel, where there is a pool. Its TOUGH at my workplace ok?
On the roof at the O hotel, where there is a pool. Its TOUGH at my workplace ok?
On the roof at the O hotel,
On the roof at the O hotel,
The palace of the Agha Khan, where Ghandi was under house arrest for many years. He said later that one of the worst things about it was that the whole building was on such a lean.
The palace of the Agha Khan, where Ghandi was under house arrest for many years. He said later that one of the worst things about it was that the whole building was on such a lean.
Ghandiji
Ghandiji
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Visiting Maher

On Saturday we were privileged to visit Maher Home, 40 kms from Pune. Maher provides shelter to over 700 destitute children and 200 destitute and mentally ill women. It was possibly the most humbling experience of my life so far.

Receiving a blessing and a tikka from one of the girls at Maher.
Receiving a blessing and a tikka from one of the girls at Maher.

The kids had raised AUD $166 or Rs 9700 through family and friends. This amount is enough to sponsor a woman/child for 5 months! Visiting Maher was an opportunity for the kids to give the money and just as importantly experience what can be done to help less fortunate people. We were all overwhelmed by their joy and generosity.

After a beautiful welcome greeting and blessing, each of the kids ran a short activity. Ethan read “The Waterhole” by Graeme Base, Audrey explained her school day, Lucinda taught the kids elastics.

Ethan reading The Waterhole to the kids
Ethan reading The Waterhole to the kids
Audrey explaining her school day
Audrey explaining her school day
Lucinda demonstrating elastics. "Pune, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi. Inside, outside. Roti-in-my-belly"
Lucinda demonstrating elastics. “Pune, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi. Inside, outside. Roti-in-my-belly”

Maher (in the Marathi language) means “Mother’s Home”:
A haven of hope, belonging and understanding. Our mission is to help destitute women, children and men from all over India exercise their right to a higher quality of life, irrespective of gender, caste, creed or religion.

Nick's small friend :)
Nick’s small friend 🙂

Learn more about Maher:
http://www.maherashram.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maher_%28NGO%29

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Another day in the Global Capital of Weird.

In which locals get in my ear.

Lets see – what news? Well, this complete random guy came up to me in the street, a well-dressed gent. He said I had something in my ear. Next thing I know, in the middle of the footpath, with crowds streaming by – in a flash this guy has me in a kind of headlock, and he’s got something INSIDE MY EAR. Like, in seconds.It feels like metal. I dont want to move. There is metal in my ear.

Is a metal scraper. Next thing he is smearing ear wax and some white stuff I have never seen come from any part of my body ONTO HIS OTHER HAND. I don’t know what this thing is – all I can tell you is that it belonged on Embarrassing Bodies. Massive amounts of embarrassing, personal substances from inside me are being smeared onto his hand, like its an artists palette. Shock.

He must have three hands, cos somehow, he also dives into his bag and brings out an plasticised picture of him and some guy, and he’s saying “my friend, Malcolm”. He goes for the other ear. I come to my senses, throw his picture on the ground, whip out a hanky and wipe the excrescence off his hand, and tell him to go away.

He of course keeps walking with me as I walk off, talking like we’re old mates until he fades away.

I am pretty sure he was a pickpocket, but he didnt get anything from me that time. Excellent strategy as I can tell you having that done to you completely confuses you as he’s breaking about ten taboos a second.

Another day in India, the global capital of weird.

Yes. This.

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Money Laundering leads to big problems in Pune

photo (20)

So, I left a thousand rupees and change in my trousers when I washed them this morning. Thats them, hanging in the line. The watermark is still there: the money is fine. But its about three shades lighter than the rest of the cash going around Pune, which us usually the colour of dust.

Tonight went out with just this money in my pocket, and a little change.

No-one will take it! In shop after shop they hold it at arms length like its radioactive, scowl, and turn me away! Nobody has seen money this clean in Pune. I had mney in my pocket, but I was effectively broke. In the end I had to abort my plans,turn around and come home. The rickshaw driver, of course, wouldn’t take it either, so I had to run up to the apartment and bring him some proper dirty money!