FunderfulWorld

Looking for a change of scenery on the busy Sinhagad Road? The Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden (or Pu La Deshpande Udyan), located on Sinhagad Road in Pune, is a welcome visual treat. It is based on the Korakuen Garden in Okayama City and was inaugurated in 2006.  B has a special fondness for everything J (read Japanese), and so, as we entered the garden, he was on a high. We strolled along the paths in the well landscaped and vast green space, and crossed the little bridges over streams flowing through the garden.

Many years ago, I would often hike in the hills in the Sahakar Nagar neighborhood of Pune with my parents and sister. Sometimes, as a special treat to ourselves, we would cross several hills and reach the beautiful temple complex of Parvati, located on a hillock. At other times, we would go to Parvati the “official” way: climb approximately 80 steps from the main entrance near Mahila Mandal. And each time, the beauty of the temple complex and the views of the city from atop the hill made it a joyful experience.

Baneshwar, the site of an old Shiva temple, is located about 40 km from Pune. We headed to Baneshwar on a Saturday morning. The small charming temple is surrounded by a forest, and hence the name ‘Baneshwar’. In the temple premises, Junior was drawn to a couple of tanks and their inhabitants (turtles and fish).  Outside the temple, several walking paths trace routes through the green environs; one of these paths leads to a waterfall.

We exited the subway at Clark Street station, and enjoyed a morning stroll in the neighborhood. The streets in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District have interesting names such as Love Lane! Our first destination for the day: Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park.  A long and enjoyable walk took us to the playgrounds at Pier 6. Junior was spoilt for choice – Slide Mountain, Swing Valley, Waterlab, … After spending a great deal of time in these play areas, we explored the Marsh Garden in the vicinity.

A trip to New York City was one of the highlights of our summer vacation last year. My earlier visit to the Big Apple had been a whirlwind tour of the main attractions in the city. Our recent visit was a more relaxed one, and we enjoyed exploring this vibrant city at a leisurely pace.  The New York Transit Museumwas one of our first destinations during the trip. On a bright summer morning, we headed to Brooklyn to learn about the history of New York’s transportation.

About an hour’s journey beyond the popular hill station, Mahabaleshwar, lies a piece of paradise – Tapola. The tranquil backwaters of the Koyna dam, the majestic mountains around, the small quaint villages, and the incessant chirping of birds welcomed us to Tapola. We pitched our tent at Sakha Niwas Tapola, an agrotourism center, in the little hamlet of Harchandi. Well, to be honest, we chose the room over the tent option :).

Maharashtra is blessed with a beautiful coastline dotted with many sandy beaches.  This winter, we spent a few days at Karde beach (near Dapoli) in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Our daily routine included morning swims in the blue sea, long walks on the beach to greet sandpipers and plovers, building complex structures in the sand, and watching the sun set over the Arabian sea.  The Journey: It took us approximately five hours to reach Karde from Pune by road.

Back in Pune after more than a decade, I have started re-exploring my “home” town. Often, the sight of familiar neighborhoods kindles trips down memory lane in the city that I called home for more than twenty years. At other times, I view Pune from the perspective of a visitor. New sights and experiences in the city. Familiar sights and experiences viewed with a new lens. And so, one weekend, I decided to join the Pune Heritage Walkto discover Pune with a guided walking tour of the city.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad area, home to several major automobile companies, now has a Science Centre. Explore the world of automobiles, enjoy learning science in the “Fun Science” section, and walk among dinosaurs in the open Dinosaur Park. We spent a Sunday afternoon at the centre and thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  The Pimpri-Chinchwad Science Centre(or Pimpri-Chinchwad Science Park) is located near the Auto Cluster in Chinchwad. At the entrance, one can purchase general entry tickets to the science centre, as well as additional separate tickets for the 3D Science show and the Taramandal, an inflatable portable planetarium.

Pune. A city I called home for over 20 years. From tiny steps at a preschool to the adventures in high school. From feeling completely lost on the first day of junior college to graduating with confidence from an engineering college. From weekly family outings to the Peshwe Udyan Zoo to weekend trips with friends to Esselworld. From riding a tricycle on the terrace to zooming on a Bajaj scooter in the streets.