Lori and I are on day three of exploring Bangalore and getting settled into our temporary apartment and plan to move into our permanent apartment within the month. Both are within a 10 minute walking distance from each other and have allowed us to get a great sense for the new community we will be living in. The people here have been incredibly welcoming and friendly. We are often greeted with a genuine smile and a true interest to get to know us and tell their story. Those we have talked to range from drivers to staff at the apartment to many that work in shops and restaurants. A strong work ethic and love for their family comes up in many of the conversations.
With a love for food, Lori and I have been exploring the many grocery stores and shops of where we can find comforts from home as well as local foods. We are finding that almost anything is available if you really want it...but its more of a matter of are you willing to search and pay for it. For example, Jiff peanut butter is available for around $5 (compared to a size that may be $2 in the US). A box of 6 organic granola bars was $8...probably $3-4 in the US. However, we found some delicious local olives at a deli that were less than a $1 and a fresh coconut for an afternoon drink that was less than 30 cents. An early sign that we may need to buy a comfort item now and again, but understanding what is available in the community will be important for our experience and pocket book...my version of being green :)
With a love for food, Lori and I have been exploring the many grocery stores and shops of where we can find comforts from home as well as local foods. We are finding that almost anything is available if you really want it...but its more of a matter of are you willing to search and pay for it. For example, Jiff peanut butter is available for around $5 (compared to a size that may be $2 in the US). A box of 6 organic granola bars was $8...probably $3-4 in the US. However, we found some delicious local olives at a deli that were less than a $1 and a fresh coconut for an afternoon drink that was less than 30 cents. An early sign that we may need to buy a comfort item now and again, but understanding what is available in the community will be important for our experience and pocket book...my version of being green :)
Anything with a surprisingly high price = big cost to import. On the flip side, we found a surprise in almond butter here dropping in price from around $11/jar to $4/jar. I have to assume that the almond harvest this year was good.
ReplyDeleteOh, and watch out for monkeys. Cute but mischievous.
ReplyDelete