Mosquito nets = AWESOME forts

so this will be a two part post of sorts, with two leftover stories from Pune...

we learn something new every day. In Pune we thought it would be really nice to go check out the Empress Botanical Gardens. It was on the map in the Lonely Planet book, and it seemed like it would be a good way to spend a beautiful day. We caught a rickshaw, negotiated a price, and we were on our way. During the ride, the driver kept turning around, smiling, and saying that "the garden is lower". We smiled back, not really understanding, but wanting to be polite. Finally, we arrived, and he was still smiling a whole lot when we collected our money. We figured he was just a happy rickshaw driver, and we venture in. The sky is so blue, the banyon trees are insane, and there are some flowers here and there. We walk along the path, dotted with benches, and then we notice something strange. There is an Indian couple on every bench, and they are all making out, or seriously cuddling. What is this? We have arrived at an Indian make out party? Ooooh, the driver wasn't saying that the garden is lower, he was saying that the garden is for lovers! Ay yi yi. We walked along the path for a short time, but after a while it got really hysterical/awkward. So what did we do? We ran over to playground! Which in due time (and after many confused stares from little kids and parents) also proved to be hysterical and awkward. Not wanting to waste a perfectly good rickshaw ride, we walked a little deeper into the park and found an awesome stage and amphitheater. Of course we had to dance! But unfortunately just minutes into our Indian debut, a security guard asked us to leave. Third time in trouble in India, ah well... We left the gardens, not really seeing much flora, but a little wiser of the Indian teen love scene.

We also went to the annual classical Indian music fest in Pune. We had been wanting to go to this fest since we arrived in Pune, but we couldn't figure out how to get tickets. Finally, on our last day, Deepa, Pravee, and their friend Jack took us to the festival site. We waited on line with hundreds of people, waiting to get in to see the final two acts. However, just when we were about to reach the front, they closed the gates and said that no more people would be allowed in. Ah! There were already thousands of people inside, couldn't they just let in a few more? Discouraged, but not giving up, we went to another gate. Praveen spoke to one of the guards, and tried to explain to him that his American friends came all the way here for this concert! But to no avail, we were not getting in. We stood in front of the gate for a few minutes, trying to guilt the guy into opening the door, when Jack spots a friend of his inside. Jack is a pretty well known musician in Pune (and quite a good drummer, and official rock star!), so he has a lot of music contacts. Jack called his friend over and asked him to let us in, and the guy opened the gate! We ran in, thanked Jack, Praveen, and Deepa, and tried to find a place to sit. The place was dead silent (relatively), and everyone was sitting on the ground. We ended up sitting in the dust behind the stage, but in front of a giant screen, so at least we could see what was going on. The flute player, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, was playing, and it was incredible. Jake wrote some pretty great haikus about it... I'm just happy we got in, and got to experience the concert with so many people...

Off to the eco-resort and a very long train ride!! The yoga retreat was rejuvenating and relaxing.. Mud baths are amazing, everyone should try having their entire body covered in mud and drying in the sun, sometime in their lives.