This is our third week in Bengaluru.
Two important jobs accomplished.
We took an apartment for rent.Then we booked a small car.
Buying a car in India was the easiest thing to do.
Initially we were overwhelmed by the number of brands and models.
So,we first just looked around on the roads when we were driving.
We picked what looked good from the outside.
After shortlisting a few brands,we went to the showrooms to get more details.
The salespeople are amazingly knowledgeable and have all the car details and information at
their fingertips.
They patiently repeated the details as many times as we asked.
We were able to test drive any car we wanted.
Some of them even brought the car to our home all the way from Whitefield to Domlur just for
us to test drive at the time that we wanted.
The test driving itself is really funny.
We took the car out of the the showroom and went onto the main Bannerghatta road...and stopped.We sat in traffic jam for about 5 minutes.
Then the cars started inching forward slowly.We also followed slowly.
Then we took a U turn and came back to the showroom.
The entire test drive was at 5 KMS per hour and most of the time,we were sitting in traffic.
In some ways,maybe thats the realistic test of the car we are going to buy.
Mainly we have to see if the brakes work!
After driving all the powerful cars in US,any car seems like an auto here.The engine drags itself,the vehicle does not seem smooth.
So,after realising that,our decision was easy.
We decided on Hyundai Getz.
We first thought of buying one small car and one big car.
Big car here,is a Honda Civic!That is considered a luxury car.
But after seeing the traffic,the nicks and dents on all cars,the slow speed of vehicles on the roads,lack of parking spaces,we quickly changed our mind.
We did not see any point in buying a big car because no matter how powerful the car,the maximum speed we drive in the city will be 25 kms.Also,chances of the car getting hit and dented is high,and we need more parking space for big cars.
People here buy all the big cars just for showing off and its a matter of prestige.
Since I don't care about both,I am being practical.
We have decided to go for Maruthi SX4.
Its a better version of an Esteem,looks good and is half the cost of a Honda Civic.
Booking the car was also very easy.
Show a document for address proof,5 photos,a token advance,and fill a simple form and we are done.
The car will arrive in one week.It will be brought to our doorstep.
Oh,also,each automobile showroom has its own resident priest to do pooja as we take posession of our car.Once the car is inspected,then the pujari is called from inside the showroom office and he does a small pooja,and he hands us the car keys...The car also comes standard with a ganesha attached to the dash board!
Now,its a matter of mustering up courage to start driving in Bangalore..yikes...!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
70 violinists
On occasion of Rama Navami,for the past 70 years B'lore has the tradition of inviting the country's best musicians under one roof to perform at the Rama Seva Mandali.
Last evening,my FIL,Srini and I decided to check out the concert of the day.
70 artists would be playing the violin at the same time.We decided,if it was giong to be mediocre,then we would come back home early.
So,we went.I must say,it was one of th most mesmerising carnatic concerts I've ever heard.
Musicians aged 7 to 70 were on stage,lead by Smt.Kanyakumari.We just did not feel like leaving half way through the concert.It ended at 10.30pm.
My FIL,hubby and I came out and the roads were deserted,not a single auto in sight.
THen a bus came "vroooming" from the end of the road.He stopped in front of us with a loud screech.
It was private L&T bus that is supposed to be taken to the depot,but of course ,the guy was going to make a few bucks on the way.So,a dozen of us hopped in.The driver was either drunkk or a foolish,arrogant ,young driver who thought he owned the road.
He took Rs.8 per person and the ride was more scary than any ride in Universal Studios or Six Flags.Only here it was realy people and real vehicles ahead of us.
Pretty much driving in Blore is a game of cat and mouse with death.
Finally we reached our stop,walked safely back home.
But it was all worth it,as the concert was immemorable.
By the way,the cost of the entry ticket for an evening of great music.....Rs 3/- !!!!!!
Last evening,my FIL,Srini and I decided to check out the concert of the day.
70 artists would be playing the violin at the same time.We decided,if it was giong to be mediocre,then we would come back home early.
So,we went.I must say,it was one of th most mesmerising carnatic concerts I've ever heard.
Musicians aged 7 to 70 were on stage,lead by Smt.Kanyakumari.We just did not feel like leaving half way through the concert.It ended at 10.30pm.
My FIL,hubby and I came out and the roads were deserted,not a single auto in sight.
THen a bus came "vroooming" from the end of the road.He stopped in front of us with a loud screech.
It was private L&T bus that is supposed to be taken to the depot,but of course ,the guy was going to make a few bucks on the way.So,a dozen of us hopped in.The driver was either drunkk or a foolish,arrogant ,young driver who thought he owned the road.
He took Rs.8 per person and the ride was more scary than any ride in Universal Studios or Six Flags.Only here it was realy people and real vehicles ahead of us.
Pretty much driving in Blore is a game of cat and mouse with death.
Finally we reached our stop,walked safely back home.
But it was all worth it,as the concert was immemorable.
By the way,the cost of the entry ticket for an evening of great music.....Rs 3/- !!!!!!
exotic fruits
I have arrived at a time in Bengaluru,when its time for the exotic fruits to arrive.
After many years,I am really enjoying and relishing the wonderful fruits that is so
alien to westerners.
I am introducing them to my kids too.Starting from the starange looking Tatenungu,Pannerle,Nerale,jackfruit to
the common guavas,mangoes,etc which are considered exotic elsewhere.
I think its even more enjoyable to me,because its not just the taste but it takes me
back my childhood.Thats what makes it even more enjoyable.
Whoever is visiting Bengaluru during this time should definitely try out all these
lovely fruits that will quickly disappear as the season is ending.
Not only are they delicious,but are extremely good for health filled with vitamins and
anti-oxidants.
After many years,I am really enjoying and relishing the wonderful fruits that is so
alien to westerners.
I am introducing them to my kids too.Starting from the starange looking Tatenungu,Pannerle,Nerale,jackfruit to
the common guavas,mangoes,etc which are considered exotic elsewhere.
I think its even more enjoyable to me,because its not just the taste but it takes me
back my childhood.Thats what makes it even more enjoyable.
Whoever is visiting Bengaluru during this time should definitely try out all these
lovely fruits that will quickly disappear as the season is ending.
Not only are they delicious,but are extremely good for health filled with vitamins and
anti-oxidants.
Friday, May 9, 2008
new experiences
After being in US for many years,we tend to forget that there are some things that can
only be experienced in India.
Three days back,at around 7 pm,we were at home relaxing.
Suddenly,we heard a loud THUD outside.We ran out and saw a kid aged about 20,
had come speeding on his motorbike,and hit my sister's car parked outside,head on.
He had gone flying in the air and fallen about 15 ft away,his motorbike broken,his head
split and bleeding.
The side of our car was completely smashed,headlights shattered.
In India,it does not take long for a crowd to gather.
My family,our neighbours,other 20 year old friends of the guy who had hit our car,and
other curious onlookers were all in front of our house.
The friends dragged the guy and made him sit on the curb,blood pouring onto his face.
I ran in and brought a wet towel to wipe off the blood,and a bottle of water for him to drink.
The guy was drunk and stinking of booze.
We decided this was a police case and should not touch the car or the motorcycle until the police
arrives.
My dad immediately dialed 100(police).Nobody answered.
He called another local police number.Nobody answered.
We did not know where to contact for an ambulance.
Finally we called an auto and some guy took the fellow to the hospital.
My cousin ran to the main road and told the traffic police.The policeman was not bothered.
He said he was not going to get involved!
One of the guy's friends came up and requested not to book a case against the guy.
Instead,they will get our car fixed no matter how much it costs.
These were young,jobless guys from the slums.There was no way they would have any
money to get our car repaired.
But my sister was adamant.She got a guy to pick up the motorbike and keep it inside our garage
and said she will not return it until she gets paid for the damages.
There was a lot of back and forth,all kinds of suggestions from the neighbours,yelling,
shouting,what should be done to the guy ,etc.
Once the heat of the event cooled off,one by one ,slowly ,the crowd started thinning and only
the relevant ones stayed back,which was us!!
An hour later,a fellow came.He said he was the guy's brother.
He came to tell us that his brother is a kid,he should be forgiven that he rode the bike drunk.
My sister was upset and was not ready to let him go that easily.
She gave him the lecture of what if there was a person standing instead of the car,
how did anybody allow him to ride drunk,that she was not going to pay for his foolish behaviour,etc..
The guy who had come listened to my sister and he started his way of dealing.
He started throwing in his cards,saying he knows the leader of some SC/ST(schedule caste/schedule tribe),so in fact, he was going to file a case against us!
Then he started throwing names of local politicians,local goondas,and other big names.
The guy wouldn't stop dialing numbers on his cell phone..he kept talking to somebody the entire time.
Finally,my dad called my sister inside and said there is nothing we can do.
We have to return the bike to the guy and also should not talk about him paying for our car.
We let the guy take the bike.
I was just watching this whole thing unfold and realised how much control these uneducated,
low level rowdies have.
Educated,decent people have to be very afraid and live in fear of these people.
I also learnt that there is nothing called fairness here.
If anything happens to us ,any loss of life,limb,or anything else,the attitude is ,well,too bad.!
Nobody will take responsibility for anything.
Police is of no use.Nobody is afraid of them.
Its what we call AAJ KA GOONDARAJ..
Goons rule.
The funny thing is, yesterday evening,I see a guy slowly walking in front of my house.
He was wearing a cap.I realised it was the same guy who had hit our car after drinking like
crazy!!
only be experienced in India.
Three days back,at around 7 pm,we were at home relaxing.
Suddenly,we heard a loud THUD outside.We ran out and saw a kid aged about 20,
had come speeding on his motorbike,and hit my sister's car parked outside,head on.
He had gone flying in the air and fallen about 15 ft away,his motorbike broken,his head
split and bleeding.
The side of our car was completely smashed,headlights shattered.
In India,it does not take long for a crowd to gather.
My family,our neighbours,other 20 year old friends of the guy who had hit our car,and
other curious onlookers were all in front of our house.
The friends dragged the guy and made him sit on the curb,blood pouring onto his face.
I ran in and brought a wet towel to wipe off the blood,and a bottle of water for him to drink.
The guy was drunk and stinking of booze.
We decided this was a police case and should not touch the car or the motorcycle until the police
arrives.
My dad immediately dialed 100(police).Nobody answered.
He called another local police number.Nobody answered.
We did not know where to contact for an ambulance.
Finally we called an auto and some guy took the fellow to the hospital.
My cousin ran to the main road and told the traffic police.The policeman was not bothered.
He said he was not going to get involved!
One of the guy's friends came up and requested not to book a case against the guy.
Instead,they will get our car fixed no matter how much it costs.
These were young,jobless guys from the slums.There was no way they would have any
money to get our car repaired.
But my sister was adamant.She got a guy to pick up the motorbike and keep it inside our garage
and said she will not return it until she gets paid for the damages.
There was a lot of back and forth,all kinds of suggestions from the neighbours,yelling,
shouting,what should be done to the guy ,etc.
Once the heat of the event cooled off,one by one ,slowly ,the crowd started thinning and only
the relevant ones stayed back,which was us!!
An hour later,a fellow came.He said he was the guy's brother.
He came to tell us that his brother is a kid,he should be forgiven that he rode the bike drunk.
My sister was upset and was not ready to let him go that easily.
She gave him the lecture of what if there was a person standing instead of the car,
how did anybody allow him to ride drunk,that she was not going to pay for his foolish behaviour,etc..
The guy who had come listened to my sister and he started his way of dealing.
He started throwing in his cards,saying he knows the leader of some SC/ST(schedule caste/schedule tribe),so in fact, he was going to file a case against us!
Then he started throwing names of local politicians,local goondas,and other big names.
The guy wouldn't stop dialing numbers on his cell phone..he kept talking to somebody the entire time.
Finally,my dad called my sister inside and said there is nothing we can do.
We have to return the bike to the guy and also should not talk about him paying for our car.
We let the guy take the bike.
I was just watching this whole thing unfold and realised how much control these uneducated,
low level rowdies have.
Educated,decent people have to be very afraid and live in fear of these people.
I also learnt that there is nothing called fairness here.
If anything happens to us ,any loss of life,limb,or anything else,the attitude is ,well,too bad.!
Nobody will take responsibility for anything.
Police is of no use.Nobody is afraid of them.
Its what we call AAJ KA GOONDARAJ..
Goons rule.
The funny thing is, yesterday evening,I see a guy slowly walking in front of my house.
He was wearing a cap.I realised it was the same guy who had hit our car after drinking like
crazy!!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Double standards?
After a week of being in Blore and getting adjusted to the heat and powercuts,my mind is on overdrive just observing things around me.
The one that stands out the most is the reaction of people around us,towards us.
Everybody is happy we are back,we get praises that our decision is the best,and it will help the kids in future.
Some of the things they observe is,my kids cannot speak kannada,but they understand when spoken to.
Another is,they dont know hindi songs,bollywood,bhangra,ShahRukh Khan,cricket,and everything else that is so hot now a days.
The reason being,my husband and I have not encourage my kids to watch all that and we dont either.
I dont see any entertainment value in it and feel they will not miss anything by not knowing all that.
Its sometimes frustrating that people,even our own relatives set double standards when it comes to my kids and the other local kids born and brought up here.
Here are some examples.
My kids don't speak kannada,and I get a long lecture everyday from the maid to my in laws to my parents to my neighbours that I dont talk to my kids in kannada and hence they dont know how to speak.NOT TRUE..
At the same time,I observe that other kids in our family dont speak either,but they are off the hook.Nobody even observes that the kids raised here are not speaking,but they have expectations from my kids.
I came here,hoping my kids will be able to easily learn my kannada culture,learn about our classical arts and be in an environment where all that will be encouraged.
I was wrong.
All I hear is Playstation,NIKE,latest games,what happened to Britney Spears yesterday,how short was Mallika Sherawat's skirt and so on...
It is frustrating how Bollywood and tabloid culture had taken over the city.
People are obsessed over celebrities and newspapers print pictures that would never appear in a local newspaper in US.
But all that goes unnoticed by people living here.
As I had said earlier,looks like people ,especially old have taken to all this better than I am able to.
It only makes my job much harder now.
I need to sift out all the rubbish and protect my kids from the nonsense around and try to
guide them towards my goal of teaching them our true culture and traditions.
I will keep posting on my degree of success here,whenever I can.
The one that stands out the most is the reaction of people around us,towards us.
Everybody is happy we are back,we get praises that our decision is the best,and it will help the kids in future.
Some of the things they observe is,my kids cannot speak kannada,but they understand when spoken to.
Another is,they dont know hindi songs,bollywood,bhangra,ShahRukh Khan,cricket,and everything else that is so hot now a days.
The reason being,my husband and I have not encourage my kids to watch all that and we dont either.
I dont see any entertainment value in it and feel they will not miss anything by not knowing all that.
Its sometimes frustrating that people,even our own relatives set double standards when it comes to my kids and the other local kids born and brought up here.
Here are some examples.
My kids don't speak kannada,and I get a long lecture everyday from the maid to my in laws to my parents to my neighbours that I dont talk to my kids in kannada and hence they dont know how to speak.NOT TRUE..
At the same time,I observe that other kids in our family dont speak either,but they are off the hook.Nobody even observes that the kids raised here are not speaking,but they have expectations from my kids.
I came here,hoping my kids will be able to easily learn my kannada culture,learn about our classical arts and be in an environment where all that will be encouraged.
I was wrong.
All I hear is Playstation,NIKE,latest games,what happened to Britney Spears yesterday,how short was Mallika Sherawat's skirt and so on...
It is frustrating how Bollywood and tabloid culture had taken over the city.
People are obsessed over celebrities and newspapers print pictures that would never appear in a local newspaper in US.
But all that goes unnoticed by people living here.
As I had said earlier,looks like people ,especially old have taken to all this better than I am able to.
It only makes my job much harder now.
I need to sift out all the rubbish and protect my kids from the nonsense around and try to
guide them towards my goal of teaching them our true culture and traditions.
I will keep posting on my degree of success here,whenever I can.
First week in B'lore-my observations...
We have all heard,and in fact it's getting boring to hear how much India has changed..
I have visited India almost every year and I can see,yes,it has changed a lot..
Each and every local has said it once"Bangalore is not what it used to be",which is so true.
Lot of young crowd,crazy number of vehicles,garbage everywhere,new stores,malls,restaurants,overall bursting at the seam.
But my area of interest is different.
Its the thinking of the people that I like to observe and see how much that has changed.
I am amazed at how well locals in their 60s,70s have accepted the way B'lore has become.
Me,being in my 30s am not able to digest some of the things that I see and read.
I can write all day about how the youngsters are more modern,adventerous,blindly aping the west,etc.
But,as a person who has lived in US for 11 years and who has brought her elementary school kids here,I am slowly starting to see how I and my kids need to change and adapt to this city's environment.
Its no longer a city that I can hope will foster interest in Indian culture and Arts in my children.
If they have to do it,then I need to work hard to get them involved in it.
Its no longer a place where family is given priority.
Everybody is so busy and so involved in their own lives and in the rat race of a city life, that I really have to put in a lot of effort to show my kids who our relatives are and to get to know them.
Its going to take some time for me to slowly look around,learn about the changes and take in what is good and leave out what is bad.
Its not easy to shed the mindset of a person like me who grew up in Bangalore in the 80s and
who still thinks B'lore is a city of intellects,a center for literature and a wholesome city to bring up the next generation of B'loreans.
But......I may be wrong.
I have visited India almost every year and I can see,yes,it has changed a lot..
Each and every local has said it once"Bangalore is not what it used to be",which is so true.
Lot of young crowd,crazy number of vehicles,garbage everywhere,new stores,malls,restaurants,overall bursting at the seam.
But my area of interest is different.
Its the thinking of the people that I like to observe and see how much that has changed.
I am amazed at how well locals in their 60s,70s have accepted the way B'lore has become.
Me,being in my 30s am not able to digest some of the things that I see and read.
I can write all day about how the youngsters are more modern,adventerous,blindly aping the west,etc.
But,as a person who has lived in US for 11 years and who has brought her elementary school kids here,I am slowly starting to see how I and my kids need to change and adapt to this city's environment.
Its no longer a city that I can hope will foster interest in Indian culture and Arts in my children.
If they have to do it,then I need to work hard to get them involved in it.
Its no longer a place where family is given priority.
Everybody is so busy and so involved in their own lives and in the rat race of a city life, that I really have to put in a lot of effort to show my kids who our relatives are and to get to know them.
Its going to take some time for me to slowly look around,learn about the changes and take in what is good and leave out what is bad.
Its not easy to shed the mindset of a person like me who grew up in Bangalore in the 80s and
who still thinks B'lore is a city of intellects,a center for literature and a wholesome city to bring up the next generation of B'loreans.
But......I may be wrong.
Hello from Bengaluru
Wow,its been a week since my family and I landed in Bengaluru.
The first word that comes to mind is "convection oven"!!
The heat is blistering.
So,about my past one week in Blore.
We landed early morn,my whole family was there,everybody were thrilled and happy .
Kids were a bit overwhelmed.My husband and I were just reeling from all the packing and
closing home in US.We had no idea what had happened the past one week before leaving to India.
It all feels like a blur.
Physically we were all tired.But emotionally,its a very strange feeling.
I felt a little uncomfortable and lost in my own city.My mind was still in Fremont,my thoughts were
about the home I have left behind and my life as I knew it.
Its funny,how we are in a confused,lost state and our family is eager to make us comfortable.
But sometimes in all the wrong ways.
It feels like they are all trying to wash off the smell of US from us,try to make us forget US as
fast as possible.
They show us the city around ,show off the new flyovers,new cars,the new malls that have come up and
how we get everything in India now,etc..
They also tell us scary stories of how people have settled in US and have suffered at old age,how US is not valued anymore,nobody cares if you are from US,fearing we may decide to move back after a year..
But sometimes it can be very annoying.We know what we were getting into when we decided to move to India,so there is really no need to manipulate our thinking.
I am still in a state of homesickness.Wherever I sit,my mind fondly drifts into Fremont,San Francisco,my kids' school,my gorcery store,my beloved minivan and all the other small things that was a mundane part of my life there.
Immediately I am brought into reality when the power suddenly goes.
I would rather take my own sweet time to get over the place that I have left behind.
But seems like everybody around want to ease us out of that as fast as possible.
Hence,I have decided not to talk about my life there,how much I cherish everything there because its really of no use.
Maybe one day,I will invite all my friends who have similarly returned to B'luru ,and chat and
reminisce about the wonderful years we have spent there,from when we were new brides to when we had kids,to the day we decided to come back to our hometown.
The first word that comes to mind is "convection oven"!!
The heat is blistering.
So,about my past one week in Blore.
We landed early morn,my whole family was there,everybody were thrilled and happy .
Kids were a bit overwhelmed.My husband and I were just reeling from all the packing and
closing home in US.We had no idea what had happened the past one week before leaving to India.
It all feels like a blur.
Physically we were all tired.But emotionally,its a very strange feeling.
I felt a little uncomfortable and lost in my own city.My mind was still in Fremont,my thoughts were
about the home I have left behind and my life as I knew it.
Its funny,how we are in a confused,lost state and our family is eager to make us comfortable.
But sometimes in all the wrong ways.
It feels like they are all trying to wash off the smell of US from us,try to make us forget US as
fast as possible.
They show us the city around ,show off the new flyovers,new cars,the new malls that have come up and
how we get everything in India now,etc..
They also tell us scary stories of how people have settled in US and have suffered at old age,how US is not valued anymore,nobody cares if you are from US,fearing we may decide to move back after a year..
But sometimes it can be very annoying.We know what we were getting into when we decided to move to India,so there is really no need to manipulate our thinking.
I am still in a state of homesickness.Wherever I sit,my mind fondly drifts into Fremont,San Francisco,my kids' school,my gorcery store,my beloved minivan and all the other small things that was a mundane part of my life there.
Immediately I am brought into reality when the power suddenly goes.
I would rather take my own sweet time to get over the place that I have left behind.
But seems like everybody around want to ease us out of that as fast as possible.
Hence,I have decided not to talk about my life there,how much I cherish everything there because its really of no use.
Maybe one day,I will invite all my friends who have similarly returned to B'luru ,and chat and
reminisce about the wonderful years we have spent there,from when we were new brides to when we had kids,to the day we decided to come back to our hometown.
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