We just discovered the other side of Pune. The side that doesn't hear the chaos of the streets or feel the hands of the beggars in their hair. This side sips wine and eats salads at rooftop bars.
The Story:
Exhausted and disgustingly bloated from too much masala dosa and ice cream, Hilary, Lila, and I went to check out a new gym on the terraced 9th floor of the ICC Trade building on SB Road to see about getting memberships. Keeping expectations low, we rickshawed into the general area and then navigated ourselves to the actual building. Security guards surrounded the entrance, two metal detectors (which always beep but never mean anything) separated ourselves from the lobby, and photo IDs were required to pass through, but per usual we were able to merely walk by because of our race. The lobby was beautiful -- dark marble floors, edgy art, expertly placed shrubbery. We got into an elevator with a group of young, groomed, well-dressed, Indian men who got off on the floor below the gym. Hmmm... our expectations slowly began to creep up.
And the gym was beautiful. All new equipment and a view of the entire city from the treadmills, a DJ spun beats out into the gym, filling the rooms with the latest music. Zumba, kickboxing, pilates, super cardio. Personal trainers walk around and are available to time your squats, push you into a stretch, motivate you through sit-ups. Chilled water and hot showers. A deep turquoise pool on the outdoor terrace that looks out at the entire city and lounge chairs nearby to soak up the view during a break. Filled with attractive, young Indian men, with a sampling of a couple women, I felt more like I was in a Bollywood movie or Indian soap than actually in India.
And did I mention it's only $130 for four months full membership -- including classes, trainers, full gym access 6am-11pm? Yes, the exchange rate here is making my student bank account look like a millionaire's Cayman Island hideaway savings account.
The experience was amazing.
The Story:
Exhausted and disgustingly bloated from too much masala dosa and ice cream, Hilary, Lila, and I went to check out a new gym on the terraced 9th floor of the ICC Trade building on SB Road to see about getting memberships. Keeping expectations low, we rickshawed into the general area and then navigated ourselves to the actual building. Security guards surrounded the entrance, two metal detectors (which always beep but never mean anything) separated ourselves from the lobby, and photo IDs were required to pass through, but per usual we were able to merely walk by because of our race. The lobby was beautiful -- dark marble floors, edgy art, expertly placed shrubbery. We got into an elevator with a group of young, groomed, well-dressed, Indian men who got off on the floor below the gym. Hmmm... our expectations slowly began to creep up.
And the gym was beautiful. All new equipment and a view of the entire city from the treadmills, a DJ spun beats out into the gym, filling the rooms with the latest music. Zumba, kickboxing, pilates, super cardio. Personal trainers walk around and are available to time your squats, push you into a stretch, motivate you through sit-ups. Chilled water and hot showers. A deep turquoise pool on the outdoor terrace that looks out at the entire city and lounge chairs nearby to soak up the view during a break. Filled with attractive, young Indian men, with a sampling of a couple women, I felt more like I was in a Bollywood movie or Indian soap than actually in India.
And did I mention it's only $130 for four months full membership -- including classes, trainers, full gym access 6am-11pm? Yes, the exchange rate here is making my student bank account look like a millionaire's Cayman Island hideaway savings account.
The experience was amazing.
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