High on life

I am high on : kids, work... :)

kids : Cinderella topped in two subjects in SYBA , Junior is getting a trophy for academics and coming first in quiz .
work : rocks
my food.. never fails to diappoint

The Joshi museum of miniature railway, Pune

Finally, I took junior and cinderella to the JMMR in Kothrud, a very maharastrian locale in Pune.I had been hunting for the place for the eversince I heard of it 2 years ago, finally found the address and phone number in a book called 'my Pune, travel book' under the things for children to do section.
Located in a robust, husting and bustling lane off Karve Road, the local maratha fervour is unmistakable. You see dozens of educated parents trudging into the museum every Saturday and Sunday with little tykes in tow.
The musuem has a giant turntable on the first floor with a huge miniature railway set up - there are all kinds of trains (42 kinds claims a pamphlet) and mechanical toys: a moving ferris wheels , a circus tent which goes up , a chimney which emits smoke, cars which move and accompanying commentary in Marathi, people who can't understand marathi are given headphones for english commentary.. the whole thing is orchestrated : It is a 20-30 mins show.

The museum was set up by Bhau Joshi, an engineer and a miniature railway enthusiast, who unfortunately died just six months after the
museum was inaugrated. His son Dr.Ravi Joshi runs the museum now.
The place is quaint , old fashioned and devoid of modern trappings but surprizingly well organized.

(the museum is only open in the weekends between 5-8 p.m., special arrangements , however, can be made for block bookings, tickets cost Rs.25 per head for adults and children above 3 years.)

Needless to say, Junior, Cinderella and me had a great time. Junior spend all morning today trying to re create the set up with his cheap chinese train tracks I bought him from the hobby shop as a souvenier, Lego and matchbox cars.