Ellora Caves

Saturday was an extra long day.  We had off from work, and we decided to get in as much sightseeing as we could.  Unfortunately, our driver kept getting lost, and we didn't get to see everything we wanted.  But what we saw was absolutely incredible.

First, I took some pics during our ride from Pune on our way north to Aurangabad.

Finally, we got to the Ellora caves, which are outside of Aurangabad.
(With some help from Wiki:) Well known for its monumental caves, Ellora is a World Heritage Site.  Ellora represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture.  These caves were built during the 5th-7th century.  These structures consist mostly of viharas or monasteries: large, multi-storeyed buildings carved into the mountain face, including living quarters, sleeping quarters, kitchens, and other rooms.

There are 34 caves in total, but not all of them were available to us.  There were a lot of renovations taking place.  But what we saw was amazing -- and keep in mind, all of this was carved directly from the mountain.  Like, nothing was constructed and then brought in; it's essentially one enormous sculpture.  The details are absolutely amazing.

So, the first cave we saw was Cave 16.  (From Wiki:) Cave 16, also known as the Kailasa or the Kailasanatha, is the unrivaled centerpiece of Ellora. This is designed to recall Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva – looks like a freestanding, multi-storeyed temple complex, but it was carved out of one single rock, and covers an area double the size of Parthenon in Athens.

 I mean, it was absolutely incredible.  There were a couple of temples inside the cave that we had to take our shoes off to enter.  And, it didn't feel quite right to take pictures inside.  But there was also pretty amazing.

We wandered through and visited most of the other caves that were available.

 You saw that cow feeding on the ledge?  There were a few cows, and other wildlife too.  In fact we saw crabs in a pool of water outside one of the caves, but the pictures weren't coming out.  But, after we finished our tour, we ran into some monkeys, and a goat.

Around town

I've taken some photos while driving around, but I have also been trying to not look like such a tourist.

Here are some pictures I took on the flight from Mumbai to Pune.

And here are some pictures from around Pune.

Hotel

Sunday morning, and I have some good pictures to upload.  Gonna do it in a series of posts, instead of all in one big post.  So, here's the hotel room, which is really nice.  Everyone is really helpful here-- almost, too helpful.  Also, there's a lot of security here. We have to go through metal-detectors every time we get back from a day trip and reenter the hotel.  One of our colleagues told us that there was a random bombing about a month ago, so security has been amped up.  In fact, whenever we drive to a building, they make the driver pop the hood and trunk, and they've got mirrors to look at the underbelly of the car.

As an aside -- my mom told me last night that there is some crazy anti-American sentiment right now all over the world, I guess based on that guy's YouTube video (which I watched last night, and it's like the worst scripted, performed, and produced thing I've ever seen)?  Well, things are pretty safe here.  We were out and about yesterday, and some people asked us where we were from, but we just smiled and kept walking.

Anyway, here's pictures of the hotel room.  I totally plan on taking a bath at some point during the trip, although my days are getting numbered...

Here are some views outside my window.  The river is pretty cool, we saw some cows down there the other day.

Morning!

Here's a little-less-hazy picture of my room's view.  I'm also trying to figure out where I might get a good picture of the sunrise/sunset.

Anyway, there are some clouds out there, but it looks like it's going to be a great day.  Check back later!

Two the left, Two the left

Oh man -- I thought I was finished catching up to Mumbai time last night, but today I was dying by 4:30pm.  I had given my presentation from 1-4, and had enough adrenaline to last all the way through...but after, it was a struggle to keep my eyes open at my desk.  P.S. -- they put us in the center of the room, with all the other desks surrounding us.  There was no getting away with closing my eyes.  I did that trick where you pretend you're rubbing your eyes, hoping just the act of having your eyes closed will somehow recharge your internal battery.  But, how many minutes can you do that before someone thinks you have pink eye?  Anyway, I got through it...

Before I gave my presentation, our colleagues provided lunch for us.  There was buttered chicken, dal makhani, and some other things I wasn't sure what they were, but everything was absolutely delicious.  They told us it was mostly Punjabi cuisine, and that if we wanted the really hot stuff we should try some Maharashtra foods.  We're up for the challenge, so I think we might be trying that tomorrow.  Looking forward to it -- I'll be bringing tissues for my runny nose.

We also talked about all the different kinds of breads, and what breads go with with foods.  Punjabi foods are generally eaten with naan, which is what we had for lunch today.  This part was really interesting, actually -- So, we were eating family style, passing the dishes around and sharing, and using the naan to pick up and eat the various foods and sauces.  I picked up the naan with one hand, and used the other to tear a piece off, and had done this a few times before I froze with TOURIST'S-PANIC.  I noticed the other men were using just one hand to simultaneously hold and tear the naan.  I suddenly remembered that people here don't generally use their left hands socially -- you don't eat with your left hand, or touch someone with your left hand.  It's traditionally considered "unclean."  I'm sure it wasn't a big deal, but  I'm really trying to get into this experience, and I immediately corrected myself and starting using just my right hand to tear the bread.  But let me tell you, that was no small feat.  My regular muscle memory was not prepared for this, and I fumbled a few times to find my groove.  Eventually I got down a technique of holding down the bread with my pinky and ring fingers, and using the other three fingers to tear away some bread.  I will definitely be keeping this in mind for the rest of my stay.

For dinner tonight, we and I did our own thing -- we were both exhausted, and I really wanted to get in a second trip to the gym and get some other things done.  I ordered room service -- I think this is the first time in my life ever doing that -- and, as per usual, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

I was trying to keep it light tonight.  Ha.  On the right there was a vegetarian kebab platter, with tandoori broccoli, paneer pukhtan, paner aur akhrot ki seekh.  That green mint-cilantro chutney is my absolute favorite, it has come with almost every meal we've had so far.  It reminds me of a chimichurri sauce, and it's so good.  Then on the left there, there's biryani chicken (that's hidden under the khumati rice).  I feel bad for not finishing it all, but I didn't realize there'd be so much.

Well that's it for tonight.  I know, I know, I need to upload more pictures.  I don't have a lot, but I will try to get them posted by the weekend.  Right now I'm going to do some work, and then read some before bed.

P.S., What Not To Wear is very much still alive here in India -- I'm catching an episode right now as I'm typing.  This really feels like home.