Blogs from Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Asia - page 8

Just before the plane descends, I make a quick trip to the bathroom. I've sat in the middle seat on every flight and hate to disrupt my fellow passengers in order to get out - particularly the young, serious man sitting beside me who boarded the plane in Paris. Though we sit nearly touching, we haven't spoke a word the entire trip. I did hear his voice right before take-off as he concluded a phone call with someone I somehow suspect was his mother, or a lover. "Ciao!" "Ciao" "Ciao!" he bellowed before hanging up. I had a feeling he needed his space and decided against aimless small talk. I settled into my seat again only to remember that I needed to get my backpack from the overhead bin to ready my passport for customs. I ... read more

I fell into a complete slumber the minute I boarded the Air France plane for India. My request for a vegetarian meal prompted an immediate delivery right in the middle of my snooze. I fumble with my tray table, trying to pull it down, but can't figure it out. A kindly Indian nun reaches over to help me. I feel ridiculous, but tell myself I'm just tired. I manage a few forkfuls, before the highly efficient French attendants whisk away my tray. I flip through a magazine, try to read a little of the new David Sedaris and develop a full-blown sciatia cramp. I'm hitting the wall. I try to listen to music or some podcasts, but the earphones don't seem to fit the new I-Pad, or I can't make them work. I have no idea ... read more

So here we are again! Today is our final day in Bangalore as we are heading to Trivandrum (or Thiruvananthapuram) in Kerala this afternoon. We've had a great time here, risking our lives trying to cross MG Road, going on mad tuk tuk rides and eating a lot of very good food. We went to the local aquarium for Rs5, visited Cubbon Park where we made friends with a keen cricket fan and have been very well looked after by Amitha. On Sunday, we went to visit Mysore Palace, some 200km away but really worth the long drive as it is absolutely stunning. Yesterday, we were taken shopping by Sneha in Commercial Street and bought our very first Salwaar kameez! This actually came in pretty handy since we later got '"invited" to the big Indian wedding ... read more

"I read something today in the very modern, Barnes and Noble-esque bookstore in the very over-priced, un-stereotypical Indian mall, from the book of the Krishna faith. It was something along the lines of basic Buddhist beliefs, where “to desire objects” is bad because to desire leads to infatuation and infatuation somehow leads to loss of discrimination, and somewhere down the line loss of discrimination leads to loss of one’s self. It made more sense and seemed somewhat enlightening when I read it in the bookstore. Maybe it had something to do with being surrounded by Indian texts: cooking books, Hindi language books, Krishna texts, and Gandhi’s most famous quotes, that made reading that little idea out of that little page out of that little book seem so miraculous, but it resonated within me and almost made ... read more

Namaste! So we finally made it! After a long wait, two tiring flights, being questioned upon arrival by immigration and a near death experience on the taxi ride in (which took about 40min to find), we arrived at our friendly little hotel and passed out. Today, the weather is approximately 35 degrees C and the skies are lovely and blue. After organising our accommodation for the next few nights, we decided to head out to Lalbagh Botanical Gardens in our first ever tuk tuk ride. A rather scary experience to say the least! Apart from ambling around and enjoying the beautiful flower displays along with many Indian tourists, we had our first taste of fame. We have already shaken about one hundred school children's hands and been in many a family photo and video!! We have ... read more

I step off the plane, and from what I can remember, basically in an effort to capture everything on film in five seconds, run into one of those ridiculously large and obtrusive blocks to keep people from driving into the airport, and fall over it. The next humorous experience I could think of would be the palm reading, in which I was told I've been cursed deliberately by someone who's been jealous of me for a long time, and I am basically fucked from some Black Magic. I will have no money, no one special in my life, and my parents hate me. Singularly I would say that these things mean nothing, together I would think that this trip is just doomed, but by the mere fact that I am India, among amazing, intelligent, talented people, ... read more

there are several day trips weve taken in and around bangalore, the bannerghatta national park at the end of bannerghatta road which is where our first guest house has an interesting safari, there were little white tiger cubs who had all grown up the second time we saw them. the bear was i guess much too excited with all that was happening. there were lions, tigers and they were quite free to roam. it seemed like a nice habitat for them. neemrana has a property called the villa potti pati in malleswaram, an old reddy house now converted into a non-hotel hotel. malleswaram at some point never used to allow any non-vegetarian food to be consumed in that area. it was inhabited by staunch south indian brahmins alone and is one of the oldest localities of ... read more

the windflower spa and resort seems balinese in its design, architecture and layout. the weather in mysore however was a bit hot which attracted flies around its open air dining area. the rooms have a nice view of an inhouse lagoon and cottages on either side. the chamundeswari hill borders the resort and its a nice tucked away kind of getaway with massages, a swim and good food thrown in. the golden palms, resort and spa is a bit filmy if i may borrow a word from the world of hindi cinema. the lobby was overcrowded since it attracts many conferences and the buffet lunch and dinner were served at their coffee shop. there is a gigantic pool, temperature controlled which is where we spent the entire evening. the golden palms also has a health club, ... read more

The taj westend has featured in the Conde Nast traveller as one of the best hotels in the world several times. and it surely feels that way. its set amidst so much of green, its own walkaways and vegetable garden punctuated by old world charm bungalows and the main porch. our first stay was during christmas and the lobby had very pretty decorations what with santa present there himself. we were staying in the club rooms which are in the main building and i would advise against staying there as it doesnt give you a view of the gardens. it has a four poster bed and one is situated close to the restaurants and coffee shop. we had a set lunch at the blue ginger, a vietnamese restaurant with a delectable cuisine. after some drinks at ... read more