Postcards from Pune

If you want a looooong drive in your car during the monsoons and want a relatively quick getaway - head to Pune. And make sure you hop on to the expressway. It is a glorious 2 hour drive - replete with slick, wide and mostly empty roads (enough adulation has already been given to the highway in that respect); majestic, brown mountains humbled in meek, but pleasant green blankets of wild grass and shrubs; tiny rivulets cascading down hurriedly, and of course, the cloud cover that you pass through. Needless to say, it is a wondrous and fabulous experience to drive through these beauties of nature. Who needs to visit the Alps when its twin is right here in Maharashtra?

Some postcards from my drive are uploaded below, which though were taken 2 weeks back, still stay on in my memories. Most of them were taken with my humble mobile camera, with the car windows rolled up. So, though the quality isn't great, the essence is captured. And I treasure it.

Yeh sooni sooni rahein: The first thing that strikes you 'bout the expressway is its wide and thinly populated roads. No pesky rickshaws/bikers and no BEST bus-bullies. The road is, for the most part of your journey, yours and only yours! Check out the huge, looming clouds above too!

Almost got of my car to climb on one of these mountains. Was restrained in time, lest I slip and break a few bones on the mossy slopes.

Well, couldn't take a hike, but atleast could take some pics! This pic reminds me of Mt. Kilimanjaro for some reason. Only the snow is missing.

I love the crudeness of the truck juxtaposed against the beauty of the mountains. Notice the little streams of water running down the hills, as well as the cloud almost covering the tip of the mountain. Similar sights were prevalent all over the journey.

Tunnels always fascinate me. They lead you into darkness and lead you out into bright light. To me it is the perfect paradox created by man.