Yupping It Up

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There's a buzz in Bangalore - no, not the high-pitched one emitted from the too numerous autorickshaws but from the many besuited men and women who are the backbone of the global tech/financial firms that have outsourced their operations to India. Now, I'm not sure what the work conditions are like and I know for certain they are being paid a hell of a lot less than their counterparts in Europe, but there is opportunity out there and as a result more signs of a certain wealth in this city than anywhere else we've been to in India so far. For example, there are gyms and stylish apartment blocks peppered throughout the city, bars, coffee shops and bistros serving much more than the usual Indian fare and also visible ways to spend leisure time and excess rupees e.g. games arcades, cinemas and bowling alleys!

That being said, Bangalore is still very much an Indian city and there are the usual sights and smells and temples to visit. We visited the fort of Tipu Sultan which was built back in the late 18th century as a stronghold against the British. Here, we were interested to learn that the Sultan owned a mechanical toy whose movements depict a British soldier being mauled by a tiger! Now housed in the V&A museum, we're planning on seeing this when we get back to London. There's also evidence of the British influence, namely in the architecture in the Northern part of the city and the Botanical gardens to the south of the centre. The gardens, although a little scorched, were pleasant and extensive enough for us to take a couple of hours stroll through and feature a glass house modelled on the one at Crystal Palace. That's also on the list when we get back to London!

We really enjoyed a couple of days in Bangalore to break the monotony of constantly eating south indian curries and to shop in places where there is actually a price tag. For me, the highlight had to be whopping T's ass in our bowling game with only two strikes!

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Photos

Vidhana Soudha
Houses the secretariat and state legislature. The inscription on the front reads "Government work is God's work" - whatever!

Lal Bagh Botanic Gardens Glasshouse
Based on London's Crystal Palace

Colossus
Vidhana Soudha again

An Equine Local
A random city dweller

On The Up...
...high rise offices are appearing everywhere.

T Throws One Down
Bowling in Bangalore

Comments

[shaikhzabiulla]

good photos
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