Pune, Honestly? It's...A Lot.
okay, so pune. i didn't choose pune, exactly. it was a last-minute gig, filling in for a drummer with a band that, let's just say, has a very specific aesthetic involving a lot of glitter and surprisingly aggressive flute solos. anyway, i landed yesterday, and it's…warm. like, really warm. i just checked and it's basically a *sauna out there right now, hope you're into that sort of thing. the weather report said 27.53 degrees, feels like 27.45, pressure's 1010, humidity's 43%, sea level's 1010, and ground level is 959. Honestly, who even needs all those numbers? It's hot. That's the takeaway.
my hotel is near Shaniwar Wada, which is cool, I guess. It's all old stone and history and stuff. I'm more of a 'find a dive bar with a decent sound system' kinda guy, but hey, when in pune. Speaking of which, the traffic is…an experience. It's like everyone decided to learn to drive at the same time, and the rules are more like…suggestions. I swear, I saw a rickshaw overtake a bus while simultaneously carrying a family of five and a stack of what looked like wedding cakes.
I've been trying to find good places to eat, because, you know, fuel. Someone told me that Vaishali is legendary for its south indian food, but also that the wait times are insane. Apparently, you need to arrive before they open and bribe the security guard with chai. I also overheard someone at the hotel bar saying that German Bakery Wunderbar is good, but it's 'touristy'. Like that's a bad thing? I'm a tourist! I want touristy! TripAdvisor has some reviews if you're feeling overwhelmed.
"Don't trust the street food vendors who offer you 'special' lassi. Just…don't."
That was a warning from the hotel concierge, who looked genuinely terrified when he said it. I'm taking notes.
I spent a couple of hours wandering around Laxmi Road today. It's…intense. So many people, so many shops, so much stuff. It's a sensory overload, but in a strangely exhilarating way. I picked up a couple of vintage t-shirts (score!), and almost got run over by a scooter approximately seventeen times. If you get bored, Mumbai and Lonavala are just a short train ride away.
I tried to find a decent coffee shop, because, priorities. I ended up at a place called The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. It was…fine. It wasn't life-changing coffee, but it had air conditioning, which is a major win in this heat. I heard from a local that there's a hidden gem called Filter Coffee Press, but it's apparently 'hard to find' and 'you need to know someone'. Of course. Yelp has a few listings.
My neighbors seem pretty chill, mostly just waving and smiling. One guy tried to sell me a kite* earlier, which was…unexpected. I think he was genuinely disappointed when I declined. I'm starting to think I need to learn how to fly a kite.
Honestly, pune is a bit of a whirlwind. It's chaotic, it's loud, it's hot, and it's definitely not what I expected. But it's also…interesting. I'm starting to think I might actually like it here. Or maybe I'm just delirious from the heat. Either way, I'm gonna go find some more chai and try not to get lost. Check out Pune365 for local events. And if you see a drummer with a glitter-covered snare drum, say hi. Lonely Planet also has a guide.
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