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Pune...A big city near
Mumbai.
Oct/03/2000
I got up at 4:30 am. I took shower, prepared baggage. The
previous day I mentioned the check-out time to front desk, I had
a wake-up call at 5:00 am. Immediately an employee came to my
room and asked me "Can you leave here now?" I had not
prepared yet, so had him wait for 10 minutes. He hurried me. I
said that I would take Shadabuti Exp., then he replied "It
can be in time, you can catch up along way", he asked a taxi
driver for me. I thought I stayed around Central Station, it was
wrong idea.
I got to the nearest station around 6:30am. Rush hour might
start, so trains were crowded with passengers. In a train bound
for the city, people overflowed into exits. It looked more
crowded than ones in Tokyo. Shadabuti Exp arrived at 7am. I
boarded reserved seat car, it was almost full. 1-litter bottle of
mineral water was given to each seat. I had bought the same one
before boarding, I regretted a little.(By the way, a newspaper is
available in a train)
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After a short time, a coffee, a tea and some snack were
distributed. A servant handed them to each passenger. Coffee and
tea is instant, but I was impressed with kindness service. Next
breakfast was distributed. A servant asked me "Vegetarian or
Non vegetarian", so I ordered non vegetarian food. Breakfast
was bread and scrambled eggs, hot food was so nice. I spent time
to only saw outside scenery. The express arrived in Pune around
10am.
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I had not decided to see in detail. I couldn't find my
guidebook in my daypack., so I think I could get some information
at a tourist office. I couldn't find the office soon, asked some
persons the location and managed to find it. But I was just told
that I should go to an office of the State Tourism Development
Corporation, few kilometers from here. I hired auto rikisher and
went to Stadium. The office and a hotel were in the same building,
asked about a tourist office at the hotel's front, they said that
there was no tourist division but transportation division. That
was unexpected answer.
I returned to the bus station again, I was called to stop in
front of a small tour company. They invited for city tour,
however I didn't have much time, I asked to show me around just a
few points and take me to the airport for 200Rs. The man
accompanied with me, acted my guide. First I went to the Palace,
but I couldn't enter the center because I'm not a Hindu. 2 young
men talked to me. I questioned what they did, they were students,
majoring mechanical engineering in local university. They taught
me the history of this palace and Pune City. I encouraged them to
study and appreciated them, "Nice to talking to you".
In Pune, I couldn't do enough sightseeing because of my poor plan,
it was really good that I could talk to local people.
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There were a few sightseeing points in the city but many famous
ones in the suburbs. I didn't have enough time, so gave up to go
to the suburbs. Instead of it, l asked the autoriskisher to stop
over famous points on the way to the airport, I saw them from
distance. As I passed a bridge, the guide pointed the building
over there. It looked a big residence. Some children were playing
in the river.
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As I approached the airport, some soldier were seen. The
airport seemed to be military and civil use. I killed time at
lobby over 1 hour, then two public servant-looking asked me to
fill questionnaire out. They seemed to be agriculture-related
persons. The questionnaire asked "How much do you have fruit
in a month?", etc. For the question on "How much do you
buy mango and pineapple for?", I answered "Over 5US$ in
Tokyo", they were surprised with my answer. I wished I can
eat Indian fruits in Japan in near future, filled it out. After
check-in, I went to security check, and waiting room. The waiting
room was small, however, all passengers, except for me, were
business travelers, and one third of them were non-Indian people.
I saw a woman gazing into display of note PC. This scenery was
one side of Pune City. (Pune is spotlighted as industrized city,
same as Bangalore and Hyderbard.
Around 18:00, I came back to Mumbai. I had appointment to meet
another friend, so kept waiting at the ariport. A hour later, she
came there with her friend, her junior colleague. I exchanged
greeting, then we went to a cafe and talked recent conditions
each other while having some snacks. He went to the United States
to work for 3 weeks after returning from Japan. I envy a Indian,
who doesn't have "English" language barrier. Then we
went to the nearest street, they helped me to buy a souvenir.
Around 21:00 we returned to the airport, and I expressed
appreciation then parted from them. She gave me a miniature of
Taj Mahor Palace in glass.(below photo) BI moved to the
International Airport by link bus. I had much Rupee, so bought
many goods at a shop in the airport, spent out all Rupees. The
close time of checkin was coming soon, I rushed to SQ check-in
counter. I finished embarkation and security check, so I could be
relieved. My journey 2000, India Edtion, ended now.
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