Blogs from Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Asia - page 14

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Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore » Banashankari April 2nd 2011

Having had a very disjointed night’s sleep on the train courtesy of our cabin mate the Indian lumber jack, I looked out the window, and surprise surprise saw more rubbish littering the line of the tracks. It was 6.30am and soon we would arrive in Bangalore City Junction station. It was time to mentally prepare myself for all the pleasures of the typical Indian city, the tour agents, hagglers, rickshaw drivers, all in sundry after a piece of my currency. By now I feel I have mastered the ability to be courteous and entertaining to them, yet stay firm and numb to their obvious poverty. I will never treat any person like a dog, yet I’m no Mother Teresa. Storm and I ventured off in hunt of a internet cafe, but being so early on a ... read more
strays

Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore March 19th 2011

You know, it is strange, but traveling on your own takes it out of you. And there comes a time you fed up of seeing dirt and garbage in the streets or seeing people just throwing it out of the train into nature, or having beggars following you all the time and Rickshaw drivers asking for three times the amount a journey would normally cost. If you face a troubled stomach on top of that, the culture shock is at its worst and you start hating everything around you. Especially getting into contact with people is so difficult as you never know what their intentions may be. In the end you get suspicious of everyone. BUT! I turned the corner now! I am so happy. Words cannot express how I feel right now. Because I have ... read more
Criket Mania
Bangalore
Bangalore

Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore March 15th 2011

phheeewww, I finally got over health problems. You know, even if you just have stomach problems, it should not be too difficult. But if you have them in India, with hot and sticky weather it is just awful!!! We were staying in Mysore in this very nice hostel. After seeing the Maharadsha Palace, we had been to the temple on the top of the mountain the following day and we went to the Brindavan Gardens the next day. The usually film Bollywood movies there. Then we went to a restaurant and had dinner and did something we should not have done. We ordered fruits with ice cream. The ice cream was fine, but you should never order cut up fruit, not even in restaurants! And that was a mistake. All was still fine when we came ... read more

Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore February 13th 2011

It was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment decision to visit Pyramid Valley, the "biggest meditation pyramid in the world" off Kanakapura Road. The parents had started getting a bit bored, and after the stresses of last week, I was ready for a little meditative therapy myself. We started off 15 minutes late as usual (I never can seem to get ready on time!). Left home (which is in JP Nagar 4th Phase) at 9.15. Our driver was driving, naturally - I don't have the guts to face Bangalore traffic! Cruised down Outer Ring Road, through the newly built and colorfully illustrated underpass at 15th cross. Really - is this what they took about 2.5 years to build? Down the road to where we turned into Kanakapura Road. Much of the middle of the road is taken ... read more
Meditation Pyramid
Shiva Pavilion

Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore January 30th 2011

Lalbaug Flower Show, Bengaluru The past week, while I was uploading my South Africa-Zimbabwe travelblogs on Sulekha from Mumbai, Avi was in Bengaluru, on office work. He managed to visit the annual Lalbaug Flower Show during one evening and take photos. Here is a treat for your eyes from his camera. ... read more
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Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore » Banashankari January 30th 2011

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

Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore » Banashankari January 30th 2011

I pick up my bags, take a deep breathe and head to the door. Father Joe prepared us, too, for what we will encounter outside and exactly where Father Nelson will be waiting for me. I've been told to look left upon exiting the door. I expect to be greeted by a swarm of taxi drivers and hotel workers offering to transport me just as my friends and I were when we arrived in Costa Rica last year. One of my fellow India pilgrims said that the first moment outside the airport into another country is often the most delirious. It certainly was in Costa Rica. But as I walk out the door into India, I am greeted not by a throng of taxi drivers, but by darkness and a cool breeze. A barricade keeps the ... read more

Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore January 29th 2011

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

Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore » Banashankari January 25th 2011

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
Wedding
Katrina and The Bull
A very happy Keralan family

Asia » India » Karnataka » Bangalore » Koramangala January 24th 2011

"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




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