Bangalore - Day 2, Out and About

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Day 2 in India and today was a lot hotter than yesterday 40 Celsius, sweltering! I've lost half a stone in sweat and I'm shattered, so this might not be a long entry.
Today I went out around Bangalore which is a crazy place, so different from anything I've ever experienced, so many people, bikes and cars, it's manic.
The hotel arranged for one of the hotel cars to take me out for the day, so I was guided around the city by Hemand who fortunately speaks very good English and is a friendly chap, so we got on.
First stop was the Bangalore Botanical Gardens which is an amazing place which I haven't got the time or space to do justice to. The place is full of amazing plants, trees and birds, and strange people wanting to give me their address.
Next we went to a local Royal Enfield dealer and picked up a load of spare parts for the bikes we are hiring tomorrow, cost £1000 rupees which is about £13 the same stuff in the UK would have cost at least £50. I bought a pair of knee protectors from a body armour specialist, as I will be wearing cotton trousers on the road trip and not armoured bike leathers.
The Maharajahs palace is a stunning place, there is such obvious wealth and luxury inside (although starting to look a bit tatty) and outside there were about 30 ladies in scruffy saris sitting in the dirt picking weeds. I could write quite a lot about this place as it is very interesting, but too much wine and a lack of sleep mean that I won't. I'll let the pictures do the talking.
Last stop in Bangalore was an emporium where all kinds of touristy goods were sold (Hemand is on commission and gets points for how many tourists he can bring in) and I was mugged by the salesman who wouldn't let me leave until I'd bought a soap stone elephant (good luck apparently). They are quite impressive, the salesmen and the elephants.
Right I'm off to bed, or maybe I'll watch the torrential downpour (Indian drizzle) and thunder and lightning for a while.
Nighty night

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Photos

Lalbagh Botanical Gardens
Entrance to the fantastic Lalbagh Botanical Gardens
the Bangalore equivalent to Kew Gardens only a lot hotter

Lalbagh Lake
A lake in Lalbagh Gardens

Hindu Word for the Day
Rules for life in the Botanical Gardens

The Glass House
Acclimatisation greenhouse modelled on Crystal Palace
only hotter

Spit here
The Indians are very tidy they even have bins for their spit

Botanical HQ
Colonial Style HQ

Maharajahs Palace 1
Looks great but really tatty undrneath

Maharajahs Palace 2
The settee under the mirror is where the Maharajah would greet visiting dignitaries

Maharajahs Palace 3
The Maharajahs kitchen where the Maharajah loved to cater for visiting dignitaries

Maharajahs Palace 4
Do you recognise this place, similar to Windsor Palace so they say

Maharajahs Palace 5
A more realistic view of the palace.

May Tree
These beautiful trees are to bee seen all over Karnataka
and flower only in May

Bangladesh Moto GP
Everyone rides a bike here, it's great

Holy Cow!
This cart was travelling down the wrong side of the road in rush hour traffic. the cow didn't give a hoot, unlike all the drivers it held up

Comments

[thorney thorneycroft]

day 2
Hi Iain Looks and sounds very interesting..... love the photographs, i get to see places that i will probably never ever visit. Have a good day tomorrow take care. Jackie.

[Ohlookabee]

Thanks Jackie, hope all is well in Shepshed and the cats are OK