Friday Flowers- Flowers like Astrix's Ears!

Yellow Flowers

I do not know the name of these flowers but the white petals remind me of Astrix's ears!

Can You Draw or Paint?

Flowers against the Sky at Bangalore

I got into a conversation a few months back that was about painting. I was declared a bad painter, I was actully painting future scenarios! I have no objections to that. I was remembering the incident today and I thought I would talk about another related stuff.

When I was in school, drawing was a compulsory subject. I almost always stood second in the class! The girl who stood first would score around 76 in drawing and I would score 36 to 40 (33 were passing marks). That too because the drawing teacher knew I was good at other subjects and probably she had a kind heart and was disinclined to fail me. The final difference between the two of us would be 2-15 marks, but then how much could reasonably I cover from that 30+ handicap in just one subject?

When drawing was out of the syllabus I was so, so happy. But it dawned on me suddenly today that my situation is not so hopeless. I can take pictures and I actually enjoy taking pictures a lot! I mean like the picture above, I can never paint like that, but hey taking pictures is also quite exciting!

PS. I know for sure that Bindu can draw. And take pictures too!

Indian Chinese Food at Chung Wah!

When people ask me (they rarely do, I wonder why?) what kind of food I like my answer is Chinese and then I add Indian Chinese and not Chinese Chinese! I have had Chinese Chinese (in the real sense) only once at Singapore and it was so bland for my Indian taste buds that I decided it is not for me.

Not so with Indian Chinese, it is sufficiently spicy and I really enjoy it.

Chung Wah at Jayanagar, Bangalore

So, when I was in Bangalore and met Lakshmi for lunch she did ask me what would I like to eat. After taking a lot of time I finally stated my wish, Chinese and Chinese it was. Her friends had recommended Chung Wah and that is where we headed.

Now when I am sitting in the January chill of Gurgaon, I remember all the more clearly how beautiful the weather was and the terrace of the restaurant is actually nice!

Mushroom Soup

Another thing that I like is Mushroom, mushroom and more mushrooms! And I started with Mushroom Soup and Lakshmi had ordered Hot and Sour soup. After the first spoon both of us readily concurred that the soups tasted really good! So far so good.

Schezwan Rice

Both us shared the rice and the vegetables and the portions (for us) were quite generous, the food worth writing a post about! I can heartily recommend Chung Wah, it is in Jayanagar 3rd block.

Cauliflower in Sauce

And now it is somewhat late at night in India and I am craving for Maggi (some more Chinese noodles made by Nestle) but there is none in stock! I think I will have to do with some bread and eggs. What a let down.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Flower Shop Owner with an Attitude!

Flower Shop, Bangalore

I am very hesitant to photograph people for the fear of giving them offense. So I was clicking pictures of the flowers at the shop (Gandhi Bazaar, Bangalore) when we noticed that the gentleman had taken out a 1000 rupee note and was pointing it to my camera. I, of course, was very happy to oblige!

Yet More Images from Gandhi Bazaar, Bangalore

I think I got the most colorful pictures in Bangalore while strolling through the Gandhi Bazaar. It also helped that I went there twice. And we always went to buy something, it was not a long stroll or one meant for photography and yet I could capture so many images that I still enjoy looking at.

Bean Seeds for Sale

These bean seeds (I don't know what they are called in the local language) are used for making Sambar (a hot spicy curry) and December is the season. So the pavements were full of people selling them.

Wild Red Berries

Not sure what these are but they for sure caught my eye. Thet resembled a small football from a distance and there was a green version too.

Sugar Canes for Sale

We actually bought two and the next day I chewed one of them. Pure bliss. Sugarcane juice was also on sale but I am quite careful about the water I consume (caught jaundice, typhoid and what not as a child). And the canes were so soft that it was quite easy to take the skin out with teeth and just chew on the juice. If you have not done it till now, you have to try it once.

Indian Gooseberry or Amla as we call it

The Amlas were lying in a heap and looked quite photo worthy. It is supposed to be full of vitamin C and tastes a little bitter. At home there always used to be Amla chutney in the season and instructions to eat it. This time, I just took the picture.

One More Train Video

Bhusawal Station, Indian Railway Platform

I was in the Karnataka Express train at the Bhusawal Platform right across the scene, traveling back from Bangalore to New Delhi. I had the camera in my hand and I was standing at the door of the AC III coach but this was not the platform side. From the movement that I could see on the next platform I knew soon there would be a train coming. We after all have this peculiar habit of peering out and then everyone would start when someone has spotted the train. And for sure soon the train came in!

Different Ways They Torture You 0n the Rajdhani Express Train

Announcement and Music on the Bangalore Rajdhani Express Train

We traveled by the Rajdhani Express recently from New Delhi to Bangalore (and came back by the Karnataka Express Train, both AC III coaches. So the journey must be comparable, Right? Well, hear me out and then decide for yourself.

There is a big advantage of traveling by the Rajdhani Express to Bangalore, it is a faster train than Karnataka Express. It takes 36 hours to reach Bangalore by Rajdhani and 42 by Karnataka Express.

The tickets of the Rajdhani Express are a bit more expensive but assume that the difference really does not matter to you.

Now listen to the sound track in the video above (after two minutes you can listen to a small sample of the tunes they keep playing on the public address system of the train).

• How do you find the welcome after boarding the Rajdhani Express train? That cacophony continues for a good ten minutes when you board the train and it can send small children into a crying frenzy!
• They wake you up between 6.00 and 7.00 am in the morning to drink tea! Don't get me wrong, I live on tea but at 6.00 am I like only one thing and that is sleep!
• The sample song that you listened to (what you did not listen to the soundtrack of the video? Do that first before you read any further). They play it at all the hours of day and night. One of the things I am looking forward on a 36 hour journey is to catch up on sleep! It is impossible with the music blaring at all hours at a volume over which I have no control.
• It might have made sense to play music (for a limited period) in an era when music players were not in every device you could think of! Now if I wish to listen to a song I can with my mobile phone and so can almost everyone that is the target market of the Rajdhani Express!
• They have been playing the same songs since last 20 years or so it feels.
• We realized this time that there is a person in the pantry whose job is to play the songs. You can request him to play it down but whether he will comply and for how long is any body's guess.
• The sound system is pathetic. It just drives you nuts with the repetitive music in screeching tones at all hours. I wonder if there is someone who likes to listen to it, but then I am sure the Indian Railway is not going to conduct a customer satisfaction survey anytime soon.

Now would you blame me if I wish to avoid the Rajdhani Express train the next time around even though if it means sitting for longer in the Karnataka Express but mercifully without a public address system?

More on Traveling on the Footboard of the Karnataka Express Train

A Video from the Moving Karnataka Express Train

If you have traveled in the Indian trains you know people follow a pattern. Sesha and I were in one of the AC III coaches in the Karnataka Express train with 6 other people for close company. There are six berths (out of which we occupied two) facing each-other and two on the side (sometimes 3 on the side but that is another sotry). A kid if 6 years and his grandfather occupied the other two seats out of remaining four. Then there were two more couples to make the number complete.

When we boarded the train at Bangalore, there were so many people inside the coach but that is common. There would be two people to see off one or two who are traveling and they will remain inside the coach till the train is just about to move.

Then as the train started all the co-passengers try to gauge each-other. I thought my lot was quite reasonable. I was a little worried about the 6 year old, after all the journey was 42 hours long and even adults find it difficult to pass time. Bu he turned out to be a remarkably non fussy kid, he would only ask like a stuck record, "When will the food come?" "When will the train move?" "When will our station come?" and the like. But that was really not much.

As everyone was coming from a 'home' destination the dinner meant opening food brought from home. Only someone traveling for business would be usually an exception for it! Dinner from home over, people in my 8 seats set went to sleep quickly.

I am usually one of the last person to wake up in the mornings and that is what I did. It is a difficult task to use the by now dirty loo and brush my teeth. Breakfast follows it. If the lot is amiable chit-chat would start among book-reading passengers. In this manner somehow the lunchtime arrives. After lunch most of the people go for an afternoon nap.

That is when I decided that I would go and stand at the doors of the AC coach (my nephews tell me that it would be much more crowded in a Sleeper Coach and I may not like it) with my small point and shoot camera. Men do this all the time, women have also started doing it a little bit but it attracts attention.

However, most of the people at the open doors of the moving train were college kids and as I teach students of the same age, they very well left me alone. It must be my frown that warns people not to try and start a conversation with me (even then a school lad borrowed my mobile looking for songs and took one picture of the countryside for me with my camera). I requested a gentleman to take a picture of mine sitting at the door and later I was advised by him not to stand too close to the door when the train is coming to a halt or someone may snatch my camera in quite a patronising manner. One has to take such comments in stride.

Clicking pictures from a moving train can be a frustrating experience. That is when I decided to make a video instead and clicked pictures when the train would slow down!

PS. I am in way encouraging anyone to travel on the footboard and near an oen door. I did it just for a lark and even though quite common, you will find warnings all over the train advising against it.

Bye Bye Bangalore- Some More Images from the Vegetable Mart and Market

I would be leaving for Gurgaon today later in the evening. It was quite a pleasant stay at Bangalore and a fabulous trip to Surathkal Beach.

I am so glad I managed to meet Lakshmi and Nilesh. I have many more friends from college days in Bangalore and next time I will surely try to catch up with them too.

Red dried Chillies at the Corner Shop

Bottle Gourds, All Stacked at 'Smart' Departmental Store


Musk Mellon and Mellon at the Departmental Store

Chillies and Parwal at the Departmental Store

I am quite amazed at the pictures I have clicked at Bangalore. I see the same things at Gurgaon too but I am so caught up in my day to day life that they just do not seem to attract any attention!

I think I would be heading out in January itself again! Now that is another pleasant thought.

Some Flowers, Some Shops, Gandhi Bazaar (Market)- Bangalore

Purple Flowers, Gandhi *Bazaar (Market)- Bangalore

As soon as I got down from the auto, I saw these flowers hanging from a shop. An old lady was sitting there and she just let me click the picture in peace. As I can load pictures from my mobile, that is what I used today.

Beetle Nut at a Shop in Gandhi Bazaar (Market), Bangalore

Had to make this picture soft focus because it has not come out really well. So I hope the soft focus is hiding some of the flaws!

Coconut Tree, Bangalore

I for the first time realized that if you look high up towards a coconut tree, you would find the tree having a round symmetrical center! Have you noticed that before?

A Small Corner Shop at Gandhi Bazaar (Market)

There was so much stuff inside the shop, much of it related to worship. Made for a colorful picture for sure.

And while you see these pictures, I am actually in Mangalore, I did this as an auto post.

Have a wonderful 2009, and travel more.

*Added Bazaar for Market after the anonymous comment pointed out that it is known as Gandhi Bazaar only.

Meeting Lakshmi and Nilesh

I met Lakshmi and Nilesh (see the first comment, he does not blog, yet!) yesterday in Bangalore. And it had a positive side effect on the mobile phone camera and the PC relationship, my mobile phone started talking to the PC yesterday after I came back. But more about this a little later.

Lakshmi and I met for lunch in Jaynagar 4th block and she went with my choice of having Chinese (Indian Chinese food rules). We went to a place called Chung Wah in the Jayanagar 3rd block. The place was recommended to Lakshmi by her friends. The food was really good but I promise I will do a separate post.

I was telling Lakshmi that I am not really as talkative in the real life as I may seem on the blog. But I have seen this time and again that when you meet someone after reading their blogs for a long time, it is easy to talk to them. I got to hear a lot about her job and travels and time just went too quickly.

A Local Mosque in Bangalore

Then it was time to meet Nilesh in the Jayanagar 4th block (Kanti Sweets) and not only Lakshmi dropped me there, she waited till Nilesh arrived. I knew I would recognize Lakshmi because I have seen her pictures but it is not so in case of Nilesh (remember, he does not blog, yet). However, he had assured me that he would recognize me and so he did. I would have dismissed him for a college student and not an IT professional with at least 6 years of experience. With him I had coffee at Adigag, dragged him along while I shopped for my nephew (Brat 2, Sesha did some shopping for Brat1) and dad. Nariyal pani (coconut water) was the next stop and then it was time to head to the bus stop!

Pots on Sale at the Roadside, Bangalore

Nilesh dropped me to the bus stop. And right ahead was the bus that I needed to board. But when I asked the driver, he said the bus would go nearby but not the full way. I then asked him if I would get another bus, he said yes. Then I told Nilesh I would wait. He explained that the driver meant that I would get the another bus from the spot this one would leave me. I said bye to him and jumped into the bus. It took me to the place it had promised.

Then I had a little bit of fun. A lot of people were waiting where the first bus dropped me. They all boarded the next bus, so I too boarded it. When I asked the conductor for a ticket he said the bus would not go there and I should get down at the next stop. The next stop looked quite familiar, so I decided to walk to the place where I am staying. Just to confirm, I asked an elderly person about the housing complex and he affirmed that I could walk straight ahead.

And the two pictures that you see in this post have been taken while I was walking back. I am quite glad that I managed the bus journey without any hiccups as I can't speak a word of Kanadda Kannada.

The PC is now talking to the mobile phone because I using the back USB ports, earlier I tried the front USB ports and I did not know they don't work!

Before I wrap this post, let me mention that there are a lot of lady bus conductors which I have just not seen in the North India. And many of them speak English and give useful directions to helpless souls like me..

It was quite a wonderful day.

On the Way to Bangalore!

Flowers on the Roadside, Bangalore

When you will see this picture I would be looking out of the window of a train heading south!

White is the Theme for Today

Manali-Leh Highway

From a Trip to Best Western Resort in Manesar

Nanda Devi: Kuari Pass Trek

From the Strees of Bangalore

PS. Life is quite hectic till 27th April. Should be getting more time after that.

Flying from Delhi to Bangalore with Air Sahara

Recently, I was in Bangalore for a short Holiday made possible due to the availability of low cost air tickets. I remember the time when air travel was too expensive for us and by train it took almost more than 40 hours to reach to Bangalore from Delhi. Short trips were just not possible then.

When we do air tickets, we solely go by the lowest price. For two and a half hour flight everything else can wait. This time we booked our tickets through Makemytrip.com. They got us Air Sahara round trip tickets for Rupees 7500 per person. I have traveled with Air Sahara before they tried to get a merger with Jet Airways (and failed). That experience was good (they had excellent meals back then) though the ticket cost was more than twice too. I was a bit apprehensive how it would be this time but all in all, it was not a bad trip.

The Check-in at Delhi: Nightmare is the word to describe it. I was dog tired, coming straight from work (after teaching 18 year olds!) and the Air Sahara counters were overflowing with people. And overflowing people mean chaos and frequent attempts to break the queue (we Indians just can’t stand in a queue!). Sesha and I stood in different lines, maximizing our chances that at least one line may move. Both moved at a snail’s pace and I asked at least three people (politely) not to break the queue (and got ugly glances in return but I can live with it). A few people (and one well dressed young girl, actually she started that unofficial line) tried directly to go to the back of the counter to bypass the queue but thankfully she (and everyone else) was told to join us mortals for the check-in. My line moved faster and Sesha got out of his. But when I handed the lady our tickets and photo identity cards, she started talking to her colleague and complained loudly about her supervisor not giving any attention to the legitimate demands and got out of her seat! Not very confidence inspiring but thankfully she handed our tickets to another person and I finally got the boarding passes.

We immediately attacked a snack bar and crashed in the waiting area, I reading a book (Silas Marner, still unfinished and I am reading O. Henry now) and Sesha chatting on the phone.

The Flight: I will forgive the lady who got up in quest of her supervisor because her coworker gave us exit row seats! My mood immediately improved. I also got instruction on how to open the door in case of an emergency.

The flight was uneventful (except for the fact that Sesha hates flying and always cribs inside a plane). I still love to watch the Delhi night lights during the take-offs and landings. The meal served was from Taj-SATS but it was a typical flight meal, pretty unappealing. Still, at the price of the ticket I paid for, it was a plus that they were serving a meal! The flight started late from Delhi and arrived late at Bangalore.

The Return Flight: I was traveling alone from Bangalore to Delhi as Sesha was coming later. And can you believe it? I got the exit row seat again. And next to me were a bunch of giggling, cackling teenage girls going to Delhi for some school competition (don’t know which school they studied in!) but thankfully they feel asleep halfway through the flight. The breakfast again was very average but the flight was on time.

On both the flights their cabin crew was polite and professional. On our return flight the flight captain was a lady but I could not catch her name on the announcement system properly. If Air Sahara manages to give me such good prices, I will have no problem flying with them again.

Ayudha Pooja in Bangalore

I was in Bangalore just before the Dusshera festival. On the 9th (or is it the 8th day?) I saw many vehicles decorated with banana leaves and flowers.

Vehicles get Decorated for Ayudh Pooja in Bangalore

I was quite surprised as I have not seen something on this scale in North India. I was told this is called Ayudha Pooja where people worship their means of living. I found the way of celebration quite interesting.

Vehicles in jainagar at Ayudha Pooja, Bangalore

Then the other day we were going to a place through quite narrow by lanes, when we came across this procession. My brother-in-law was driving the car and we had to pull aside. I immediately got down and started clicking pictures.

From the Bylanes of Bangalore

I had been discussing my plans for buying a new camera all around and my brother-in-law said "if you are this crazy, you should buy a digital SLR!" Amen to that.

Colorful Flowers and a Partial Rainbow from Bangalore!

I have been in Bangalore for past few days (Sesha belongs to Bangalore) and I never thought I would take a break from blogging. In this IT city our home was (actually Sesha's parent's home) without a net connection as soon as we landed. Only today we got it back. So here I am showing you some stuff that I photographed.

Flowers from Streets of Bangalore

I love the colors of the flowers I see on the streets, it is not so colorful in Delhi. On the flip side, CNG has made Delhi a lot more liveable, here it is getting too crowded for the size of the roads it has.

Such a Riot of Colorful Flowers

I requested all the ladies selling flowers to let me take a photograph, and they gladly did but I could not gather the nerve to ask if I could include them in the pictures too.

Shades of Oragne: Flowers from Streetside, Bangalore, India

White Flowers

What striking colors! Don't you agree?

A Partial Rainbow in Bangalore

Finally, there was a rainbow (OK, so what even if it was partial?) and I had a camera. I know the surroundings are bleak but the rainbow does not give a damn and neither do I. There were two occasssions when the rainbow had come out in Gurgaon and once I did not had the camera. The next time I didn't notice it at all. And later people told me that there was a rainbow only after it had vanished.

Finally everything worked. I had the camera, there was a rainbow and we were in the car going somewhere. We stopped for petrol and I immediately came out and took pictures and here they are!

Some More Pictures From Bangalore

When I was in Bangalore in the first week of November, the weather was like what you can see above and I had a nice time going around with my camera.

Here are some more flowers from Bangalore, but don't ask me what they are called.

This, I was told are coffee beans! Had never seen it before.

This is a fruit that in my part of the globe is known as 'Chiku.'

A street side shop that caught my fancy but I was not in a mood closer and ask for permission from the lady sitting there to take the photo.

The roads of Bangalore, and this one is good, because it has no pot holes in the middle of the road.

Small coconuts kept on a windowsill and saying Bye Bye (below) this photo was clicked at the airport.

I can Understand Why Bangalore was Called the Garden City

I have been for a few days in Bangalore and I clicked all the lovely flowers, a few coconut trees and a faboulous sunset around the housing complex I am staying. It has been raining on and often and flowers seem to just grow out of their own free will.

Though Bangalore in general has been changing , so much traffic, narrow roads, pollution and washed away roads are the things that we had to negotiate if we went out of the house. I have uploaded a few of my pretty photographs only.

Sympathy White Lily (First Photo) and Small Yellow Flowers

Such a Small Rose Bud

Frangipani

Flowers, Tress and a Bit of Sky

Coconuts (above) and Yellow Hibiscus (below)

A Glorious Sunset