Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve! We decided to celebrate the New Year at a live concert in Pune at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Looks like these two guys are having a good time!

Alina and Matt . . .

Paul, me, and Matt enjoying some music. Peanut also enjoyed the concert as he kicked me incessantly and swam around my belly the entire evening to the beat of the drums. . .

We arrived back at Waterfront just before midnight for a champagne toast . . .

Happy New Year 2010! We toasted the New Year on the terrace as the fireworks went off . . .
Matt with his second favorite girl . . . Lily! Just kidding!
Alina made us some cheesy poofs as a snack later that morning . . . Yummy!
Matt and Alina left Pune on January 2nd via Mumbai - Delhi- Chicago - Detroit. They missed Paul and I so much that they were elated to learn that their plane in Mumbai was grounded and they missed their connection to the States in Delhi. Paul and I quickly hired them a taxi and they returned to Waterfront at 3 am on January 3rd. Last night, they again attempted their long journey home, and since "no news is good news" we assume they will be arriving in Dearborn in the morning on January 6th. We miss you already Matt and Alina!

Random Day in Pune

We woke up (eventually) and decided to have a random day out wandering around in Pune. We first went to Shivaji Market to get some fresh fruit and vegetables . . . and take a look at bangles. Matt picked up some strawberries to make us some fresh strawberry and banana juice.


Then, we headed off to the pool for an afternoon of sun.

The Pied Piper of Pune . . . Seriously??!!??

That evening we went to The Big Fair!

Matt and Paul shooting guns at a sign that says "Love." Hmmm, interesting, very interesting . . .

Paul and Matt with the little man at the "Love" booth . . .
Since our budget is so tight with Peanut on the way, Paul attempts to win a bar of soap for me at the ring toss . . .
The scary Ferris wheel whipping around . . .

30 minutes was enough at The Big Fair. Back to Waterfront to relax with James Bond before New Years Eve!

Agra

We left Delhi at 6 am as we drove South to Agra to view the Taj Mahal. 'Three times a charm' for Paul and I as we finally got to see the Taj on a sunny day with blue skies.


Me, Paul, Matt and Alina . . .

Paul and Matt . . .

Peanut and me at 23 weeks . . .

A woman feeding her baby as she waits in line to see the Taj . . .
The fog started to roll in as we ended our afternoon . . .

Paul and I . . .

We left the Taj and went to the Red Fort of Agra to see this magnificent structure. A sea of people greeted us as we walked through the gate . . .

Spectacular detail . . .

A baby monkey contemplates how to get a banana for lunch . . .
The audience hall . . .

We finished at the Red Fort and decided it was time to head back to the airport. Luckily, we left Agra when we did as there was an accident on the highway and we nearly missed our plane back to Pune. Fortunately, our driver took the back roads and we somehow made it in one piece back to the domestic airport.

Delhi

We arrived in Delhi late as our airplane was delayed from Bangalore. We ventured out the next morning to Old Delhi to see Jama Masjid and wander around the streets a bit, and encountered this tangle of wires. . .
Matt and Alina enjoying the spectacular display of images as we walk to Jama Masjid down this street . . .

We enter Jama Masjid and are told to wear these long multicolored robes. Matt and Alina decided to climb up the minaret to get a view of Old Delhi . . .

On our way back to our ride, we spot this goat in his nightcap settling down for a sleep . . .
We leave Old Delhi and head over to New Delhi. We decide to go look at Parliament, and then head over to India Gate.

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles . . .

After finishing at India Gate, we decide we have had enough culture for the day and go to Khan Market for some shopping, lunch at Amici's, then off to the Janpath for more shopping. We then head back to the hotel to freshen up a bit and grab dinner at Baci's in Sunder Nagar Market. It was an awesome day! Tomorrow morning we leave at 6 am to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

A Day in the Royal City of Mysore

We left Goa and continued South to Mysore. Mysore is definitely an interesting place. Here are some photos from our short 24 hours there . . .
Random streets . . .

The palace . . .

Matt and Alina at the palace . . . Gate at the palace . . .

Paul and Matt in front of the Hindu temple at the palace . . .

Mysore train station . . .

Let's play rummy! We took the train from Mysore to Bangalore, and then hopped on a plane to Delhi.

Christmas in Goa

Christmas in Goa! We arrived in Goa and quickly started our adventure as a tiny Maruti Suzuki picked us up from the airport and we drove from the South to Baga Beach in the North. As you will see below, Matt, Alina and I are crammed into the the tiny, steamy backseat and I quickly became the annoying backseat driver as our actual driver raced us along the windy path to Baga Beach.

Alina and I buying pashminas at the Anjuna Flea Market . . .

Paul searching for a new silver ring . . .

Tibetan jewelery . . .

A rainbow of dolls . . .

Tea and spices . . .

Goan lady . . .

Colorful spices . . .

After an afternoon in the heat, we headed back to Alidia for a dip in the pool, beer, and fresh lime soda for the pregnant chick.

Later that evening, we had dinner at a shack on the beach and were entertained by the fire juggling act . . .

Matt and Alina enjoy fresh strawberry juice the following morning at Lila Cafe . . .

Paul on Christmas morning at Lila Cafe wearing his Santa hat . . .

Walking through the pig farm and past the naked Swedish guy to the beach . . .

Finally, we make it to the beach after a near encounter with a sassy pig . . .
Merry Christmas!

Some random Indian guy in his whitey-tighties walking along side the cows on the beach . . .

Sunset on the beach . . .

Off to Mysore tomorrow morning!