Bangalore Trip

It's been a while since my last post... so here's an update! Go to the toilet now - it's a long way to the end of the post!

I'm now in Bangalore, visitting relatives (mostly from my mum's side). I came here on the 6 am train from Chennai (aka Madras). Firstly, it was weird to see the streets of Chennai at 5 am - it was so clear! For once it wasn't a hustle and bustle of activity - and we could actually drive continously without stopping for traffic every now and then!!!

The Railway Station (Chennai Central) was a different story - this was thronging with people even that early! The trains are the lifeblood of Indian Transport and it could be seen why the Indian Railways is one of the most profitable Government Enterprises!

I rode on a new train called the Shatabdi. This was very different to the typical Indian trains. It is fully air-condidtioned, and set up like an aeroplane with stewards serving food, bringing complementary newspapers, snacks and so forth. It is very comfortable, Western and 'antiseptic'. It really did not have that special atmosphere of Indian trains. Indian trains are known for their noisiness and cheerfulness with travellers speaking to each other (whether they know them or not), and the hustle and bustle of vendors walking up and down selling things and spruiking them as though it were a market place! It's a pity that these experiences may disappear soon as India becomes more modernised!

Bangalore is a very modern and Westernised city. My cousins took me to the new shopping centre known as 'The Forum'. I was really amazed - I could have been in Australia! You could watch movies at the Village Cinemas, eat at Mc Donalds, KFC, or Subway, have a coffee at Java Green along with cookies from Cookieman (the Great Australian Taste as the advertise), buy cosmetics at Lush and do all the other things we do in Australia. I was also amazed at the prices - I watched Harry Potter (yes it has already come out here!) for $3 Australian, had lunch for another $3 at a really posh restaurant, and had a coke and ice cream at Macca's for 60 c. I really like the LARGE RANGE of vegetarian items here - something I miss in Australia. Pizza flavours are really good too - masala, tikka, paneer - the best of Indian and Italian!!

There is also a Nike store, Adidas store, Reebok store, Tommy Hilfiger, and all the other major brands. I did not expect it to be so cold though. I don't think I've ever worn socks and sweatshirt around the house in India before!

This is also relatively multicultural place with many asians and westerners around. They are usually expatriates for all these IT companies set up here. The Indians here too are quite westernised. According to my cousins most of the people our age here have boyfriends and girlfriends, and they 'hang out' at the mall 'checking out' the guys and chicks! They even talk about what alchoholic drinks they've had in their parties. (I didn't really expect that in India from what my parents tell me!!) A lot must have changed from their days!

In conclusion, Bangalore seems a perfect blend of Indian and western - perfect for Indians who've lived abroad. You can have McDonalds along with the best in Indian food, buy Nike or Reebok, and then shop for sarees, watch Harry Potter or the hits of Bollywood - all for very cheap prices (compared to Western countries)! Then after a hard day of shopping, there's no need to wash the clothes, or dry the dishes etc - as most people have servants to do all that!

For the family - today I managed to catch up with Bablu and Raghu. Their kids are really cute - Swaru was shy at first, then she started running around showing off all her toys and drawing onthe walls! Adi had fever, so he was sleeping most of the time, but supposedly he's even naughtier than Swaru. They really like the Wiggles, Hi 5 and Finding Nemo - Australia has a far reaching impact!!! It was good catching up with them! They live in a new area where sooooooooooooo many new apartments are being built! Major growth area!

I still haven't seen Minch or Tejas, they have been busy with exams and work respectively. I saw Picku the other day at Village watching Harry Potter - but didn't talk to her. Hopefully I'll get to see them all either tonight, or tomorrow night. I think we are organising a dinner or something!

Catch up with ya'll soon!

Incredible India!

Well here I am in India - and what are my thoughts? Firstly, the weather is wonderful! I don't think I've ever seen it like this - overcast with the threat of rain. It has really kept the temps comfortable. The daily max is around 30 C - but the houses are built of thick concrete so you don't fel that hot inside. In fact, 30 C here feels cooler than 25 C in Melbourne!!!

Secondly, it is as crowded as ever! People are hustling and bustling everywhere and it's easy to see why my cousin thought Australia was deserted when he visited Perth last year!! My grandparents live two house away from the busiest shopping district in Chennai - think of it as Chadstone and Chapel St combined! There are so many shops within walking distance - ranging from platform shops selling things under Rs 100 ($3) to gigantic multilevel Myers style shops. These shops are generally open from 8.30 am to 9 pm. Another thing you notice is the excess of personnel everywhere. In Australia I am used to walking into Myers and finding a few staff only at the coounters. But here, there are staff everywhere. When you ask someone for help, there's usually two or three sales people coming to your assistance since they have nothing to do! Recently we went to a store to buy a gift, and I was really surprised that they gave us all some free coffee while we were browsing - and I thought that Indians were cheap!

Even the petrol station is not short of staff - one person at every bowser. Whne we wanted to fill our tyres with air, there were two men waiting to help!

(Next section is for family - so you may not understand!)

Anyway, as I told you on the phone, I saw VVS at Bharath's college. He seemed very happy to see me and elly wants to get in touch with you, Dad. He was teling me how you never used to let Chittapa play because he was a 'chota boy'! I gave him your email and he asked me to ask you to email him some photos of us! (I don't know why he wants our photos!!) He's into biotechnology and is working with plastics as well so he started taliking about Chem eng. I was worried he'll ask me something technical and I wouldn't understand but he didn't!
I videotaped Bharath's college for you Shweta - and we sort of got nto trouble because we weren't allowed to take it inside!!! But Bharath lied and said that we had permission!!!

Sanjay came home today and said that he had a good Darshan. He's relly busy thogh and has to start working for Ma'am straight away. This evening we are going to Dolly Athai's house. Patti is coming also because she wants to see Tuffey! (Na innu parkeve illai. Sandhay o Viji o bike li ay pora. So yena ashind e po maata. Yenaku thania auto la po pudikardu - so nee yena ashind poriyi a?)

They are all missing you Shweta, and want you to come aftr your exams. good luck by the way. Tiger is really friendly and keeps wanting me to pat it. But it gets so ferocious when strangers come! I'm glad it remembered / recognised me straight away. it's really amazing!!!

Anyway, that's it for now - keep in touch!

New Trip

Ok I'm off on my next adventure! Travelling to India by myself, then going to Singapore and meeting some friends from Australia before heading of to China!

I'm really looking forward to this - should be fun!

Anyway, just at Singapore now - had an alright flight - slept or watched TV. The really cool thing about Singapore Airlines is that they have TV and Movies on Demand. This means you can choose whatever you want whenever you want - don't have to wait for the cycle to start each time like in other air lines!

Seeya!