Chai Days and Monsoon Nights: I am a Glutton for Rain

I wouldn't have thought the title for this post was true, but I'm beginning to think it must be - for I reside in Portland, OR. Last summer I spent in the gray of the Bering Sea and now I am touring India during the monsoon season. During my time off from visiting doctors I've developed a habit of heading toward the nearest mountains, where undoubtedly it rains even more than in the cities I have been staying in.

This weekend was no different and I headed to Mahabaleshwar, a hill station about 3 hours away from Pune. During the monsoons Mahabaleshwar is stuck in the middle of a very large cloud. Occasionally the wind will whip through for long enough to part the fog for a few minutes. It is always surreal to be living in such dense air. It's also very beautiful, though I'm afraid it doesn't lend itself to the best pictures.

I traveled to the hill station via "semi-luxury" bus, which meant there were actually seats instead of plastic covered bench seats. I hired a taxi to take me to the many "points" around Mahabaleshwar. We spent 5 hours the first day. The second day I visited Pratapgardh Fort, an old fort that was at one point held by a Maharathi hero Shivaji. It was gorgeous in the think fog. I spent most of my time walking the wall of the fort hoping for a break in the clouds to look down at the cliffs, but alas I could never see far in front of me, though I could often hear the sound of water falling below.

On the road to Mahabaleshwar

Carabao on the road. In this area people often paint the horns of the carabao and cattle orange.

The guide that took me to the "points" where there was no view was insistent on taking "very super photos" of me along the way.

My taxi. We went on a 5 hour tour

Boiled salted peanuts in a cone made out of what appears to be the vendor's child's homework.

Valley view from the top of the waterfall. The clouds were nice enough to part for at least a little bit.

Gorgeous waterfall off the edge of the plateau. I spent about an hour wandering around this area.

River made by the waterfall.

Mini-waterfalls above the major one. Most of the local tourists were getting knee high in the water to have their picture taken with them.

They are crazy for strawberries around here! This is a strawberry patch. The plants are originally from California. Unfortunately it is not strawberry season currently, but that doesn't stop them from selling frozen strawberry d-lights!

Strawberry cream. It has cream, strawberry ice cream, strawberry crush (a type of syrups with pieces of strawberry) and frozen strawberries on top. It lasted less than 5 minuts.

To wash down the sweetness of the strawberry cream I tried makai pakoda (corn pakora) and onion pakoda. I was skeptical of the corn, but it was fresh and actually pretty tasty.

Monkeys!! These are the first ones I've seen sine traveling to Pune. I missed them so.

Typical view from the many viewpoints I visited over the weekend.

After waiting about a half hour the clouds broke for about 5 minutes to offer up this view.

Monkeys huddling in the rain.

Nandi the bull.

I visited a few temples that are about 450 years old. This was the first and had the smallest Shiva linga (phallic symbol) I have ever seen. I chalk it up to hundreds of years of people worshiping it.

Another 450 year old temple.

This is what happens to many of the historic structures. The old temple is preserved underneath this monstrosity. This was my favorite temple. It is at the site of the beginning of 5 rivers of this part of India. Each river flows from a spring through a hole in the temple where they mix and then flow out of the mouth of a cow into a large square pool then into another cow and out of it's mouth into a square pool. People drink from the waters of the first cow and I imagine bathe in the pools. I would have taken pictures, but as is often the case, photography inside was prohibited.

Non-veg dinner. I think this is the 3rd time I've eaten meat since I came to India. I do love vegetables, I just wish the most popular one wasn't potato (which apparently counts as a veggie in India). Between rice, chapati and potatoes I can have a 3 carbs in one meal!