Day One in a Bangalore World

Arrival this morning at 2:30 a.m. Adam and I arrived at our temporary home in downtown Bangalore at 3:30 and began to unpack our belongings with an exorbatant amount of energy. Perhaps it was due to sleeping on the plane or perhaps it is the energy of this land, but both of us are readapting to Bangalore life.

We awoke this morning to a lovely letter under our door suggesting that today we should please ignore the "hooter sound between 1100 and 1200 hours" and to not panic. The hooter sound we soon discovered was the fire alarm being tested.

It is an exciting challenge to see the ways English is presented here in new ways.

Adam and I spent most of the day recovering, sending a few emails and lazily sitting by the pool. We did however get a chance to take a walk to what will soon be our new apartment. We held hands and looked both ways and ran and stepped this way and that  together across the busy intersections in attempt to avoid rickshaws, dogs, bikers, motorbikes, cars, trucks, etc. (Also the occasional cowpies.)

We did stumble upon a Leb-Mex restaurant that we thought we should give a try. That's right folks, Mexican and Lebanese all in one locale. In the food realm, Chipotle may have one up on them if only they got together with Falafal King. I will let you know how the digestion plays out....However, they may have given our Mpls Chatterbox a run for their money in providing many a board game and an acoustic guitar to play... this may be worth a revisit in itself.

Adam and I did indulge a bit in our new favorite bakery- BreadWorks- lovely french bakery...Baker's wife- you may have competition. Come visit us just for this- we swear it is worth it. A haven for a good cup of joe and chocolate crossaint. C'est tres bon, mon amis.

Western lifestyle and fashion may be slowly creeping in here. However, I notice a big difference in India's approach to it. Here is a big over-generalization and a thought I may have to revisit later. It appears to me in the U.S. when a new fashion trend enters Minneapolis, people all want to look alike when they wear it- it becomes evident what they are trying to pull off and perhaps is a bit unoriginal. Which seems odd, because the individual is such a valued statement and life in America. However in Bangalore, it seems to me the opposite. For example, women in Bangalore may be combining traditional and current fashions, however they rock it in an individualistic style- bold, bright colors and patterns, refreshing. They may dress individually and uniquely but they are such a communal unit.  Walking past a local tea stand, one can find many rickshaw drivers huddled together chatting over chat and tea.

Last thought of the day, who knew dumptucks could be beautiful and unique in style as well? Every garbage truck we past driving from the airport was decorated in an original way, ornamental hindu hanging objects, a painted lotus, a sign that is handpainted saying, ok to honk. Hello, New York! Maybe if we had bumper stickers that said 'okay to honk" we would not have so much of a negative vibe around slamming our horn at folks. In Bangalore, the honking seems much more polite- as in" by the way, I am right on your tailend, but please don't mind me- just passing though..."

But here is something the U.S does have in common with garbage trucks in Bangalore. They both stink. (censored.)


With that, I say, au revoir and good night.


















Photo: Adam at Leb-Mex Restaurant