The flight to Pune wasn't the easiest one. Due to time difference we finally checked in to the hotel only at half past 6 in the morning, even though we started from Moscow at 3 PM. Didn't manage to get some sleep on the way, so tried to do that right after arrival.

The first thing which is often caught by first time visitors in Asia is an extremely chaotic traffic and high amount of motorcycles / mopeds and other light cars.

And a lot of poor people. Some of them simply leave on the street. Like those guys from the photo. There are a lot of beggars among them.

Looks like this is the reason why almost every shopping mall, hotel or business centre has some military (or something alike) security. On every enter they check your stuff, bags, personal things. On the shop exit there is a guy who checks your bill and the content of your bag.

Through the entire day we managed to see only a few white people here (except us). It would be enough just fingers on one hand to count them all.
Well, it looks that white people are not that often visit these places, so we constantly had someone to ask us to make a selfie or photo with us. Like we're on the exhibition (:

Next to our hotel there is a huge shopping mall. There are a lot of shops with national clothes. However the prices are a way too high. It must be much cheaper on the bazaar. Though we didn't manage to get there yet.

In the mall we asked where the Ganesh Festival takes place, rented a auto-rickshaw and headed there.

The rickshaw right next to the mall wanted to take us to the place for double price. So we had to negotiate a bit to down the price. Though it's India. You have to be prepared to stuff like that.

Due to the Festival part of the road was closed for cars, so we had to make this part by walking.

A lot of people do sell stuff here. Though some of them do it in an abusive way. For example old women try to make a colour point on your forehead, most likely for blessing, but they ask money for it (which is strange). First of all they try put a point on you, and then ask for money. It might be not that easy to get away from them then (:

I also have seen a bit of Festival procession. Didn't get the entire purpose though. Some children showed gymnastic exercises on a pole. Need to read something about it. Or talk to colleagues.

It might be not that fancy to look on the procession from the ground level. So that balcony should be a perfect place for that :)
Right after these boys, there is a huge Ganesha statue, which is one of the best-known and most worshiped deities in the Hindu pantheon.

It's not really comfortable under the sun during the day. It feels like a grill. You want to hide in the shadow or at least somehow cover your head. Locals prefer to lay in the shadow.

Nearby there is a river, though it smells very special. It feels like all the trash from nearby area is thrown right on the river side. And also something also put in the water. We were just on the bridge, but even there the smell is very strong.

So it's not that bad in the end. For example the hotel is quite good. Even the food somehow goes it's cycle without any side effects. However can't say that we tried too spicy food in the first day. So let's see.