First Impressions - Bengaluru

Staying in Banglore for some days now, the one word that comes to my mind to describe this city - Leisure! May be the hard core Bangloreans would disagree but being a new entrant I really think people have lot of time in this city. The best justification for my observation would be the houses here. Most of them are independent houses and are huge....I have been to quite some places in almost a week...People here really seem to put a lot of thought into building their dream-homes, if I can call them that. Most often than not I see a new idea implemented with respect to some aspect of the house; be it the main gate, the sidewalk in the garden, etc. Coming from Mumbai, where the only houses are flats and with rates that burn your pockets this is indeed a welcome change. Pune too boasts of some areas with great bungalows but the frequency is definitely less than Banglore.

Another beautiful aspect of the city is its climate. The climate is wonderful and for a person who prefers a cooler environment this is heaven. And another impressive thing out here is that many locals can converse fluently in English. Thanks to the IT sector I guess!

But as a newcomer my top 3 glitches would be-
1) I miss not knowing the local language. All my life I was in places where I was good with the local language. Sometimes when my questions draw a blank stare I feel so lost and bad too.
2) Multiplexes are oh-so-costly. After the bad reviews for Cars 2 I didn’t dare go watch it . They should atleast drop the prices for the morning shows for stingy movie buffs like me
4) Local Trains - If you are from Mumbai you have to miss the railways yaar!

But I think the glitches are too minor and once I become the proverbial Roman in the city of Rome they would cease to exist. Cheers to that!

Etiquettes anyone?

I was travelling to Nasik in a semi luxury bus and long bus rides are something that I do not really look forward to, unless absolutely necessary. Anyway, this time I had decided to make the most of my journey and had equipped myself with some movies. My journey started and so did the first movie on my laptop. I was watching Omen - yeah the old one. "Mi pahila tar chalel na (Would you mind me watching?)" - the man sitting next to me asked. He was a villager dressed in the typical attire of white dhoti and a semi white kurta. "Mala sanagamner la utraycha aahe. laambcha prawas, tevdha picture baghitla ki kalnar nahin...chalel ka?" (I have to travel far and watching the movie would be a good timepass). I hate intruders in my book reading or movie watching sessions but the man had so earnestly asked me that I could not refuse him. "Pan tumhala sound aiku nahin yenar......", i told him showing him my headphones. He retorted, "Vanda nahin.....aamhi faqt picture baghu..."(No probs, I will just watch the movie). I was wondering how he could enjoy without the sound but I just it let it be because I didn't really have a choice. A few hours into the movie and I got bored, so I decided to change the movie. As i was about to start another one, I suddenly remembered that someone else was watching it too.....I looked at him and he signed me to go ahead and change the movie. This time I started “To kill a mocking bird" (Yeah i was in mood for some oldies).......I loved the movie and was completely immersed in it when suddenly I felt the nudge. I looked at my co-passenger and he was smiling. I put down my headphones and he said..... "Aaala sangamner...picture baghta baghta kevha aala kalalach nahin bagha.....dhanyawaad tai". (My stop has come, thanks for the movie sister). Saying so, he got down.

I kept looking at him. All through my journey I had not given him a second glance. Yet while getting down he had the etiquette to thank me.......and thank me for what...an english movie that he watched without the sound. I smiled........we spend a fortune trying to teach and learn etiquettes from our elite schools...and I wonder if we really do learn anything.

Quote

One of my all time favourite quote -

Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and then beat you with experience.

Happiness for rupees 10 ;)

He walked into the shop a little confused.

He: Perk kitne ka hain?
Shopkeeper: 10 Rs.
He: Kitkat?
Shopkeeper: 12 Rs
He: 5 ka kya kya hain? [Anything for 5 Rs?]
Shopkeeper displays him various options but he is not impressed.
He: Pepsi cola kitne ka hain?
Shopkeeper: 2 Rs.
He [with a glad smile]: 4 pepsicola dena aur 4 eclairs.
Saying so he removed a 10 rupee note and gave it to the shopkeeper. Just as he got out of the shop, 4 ultra enthusiastic kids jumped on him and finished the treat he had just bought for them.

It was just amazing to see 10 rupees giving so much pleasure to so many people.

Power of faith

It was a Saturday.She was sitting next to the Hanuman temple and selling oil in small glasses. Hordes of devotees came to her, picked the oil glass and went inside the temple to pour the oil on the deity. The payed for it and returned the glass only on their way back. There were approximately 200 devotees at any given instance, wanting to please the lord with the oil offering. She sat quietly, accepting the money; murmuring only occasionally when someone asked her the price of the oil filled glass. As I went to pay her I couldn't help but ask if people really paid her and returned her glasses. Her reply, "Do saal se yahan baithi hoon aaj tak kabhi gadbad nahin hui. Koi agar bhool gaya toh agle shaniwaar aakar paise de jaata hain" (Since past 2 years I have never had a problem with my accounts. Even if someone forgets on a Saturday they come back and pay the next time they come)

Ain't it cool in the era of 2G scams? Tightens your belief that everything is not yet wrong................

2011 World Cup is ours!!!

Not a cricket freak at all but no one can stop me from savouring the moment. India is the new cricket world champion..............The icing on the cake, as almost all the players said, we won the cup with Sachin Tendulkar in the team! He definitely deserves it, as do the billion other Indians who eat, sleep and live cricket.

Congratulations!!!!!! Let the party begin!!!!!!!

Mood Cricket

Aah! It’s great to feel the vibes of anticipation in the air. Everybody is looking forward to probably the greatest clash in sporting history. India vs Pakistan always evokes this kind of euphoria. Irrespective of the outcome it’s amazing to watch the two nations go hammer and tongs to fulfill the expectations back home.

You can't help but be affected by the mood today!!!!!!!!!!


Update:
India won this match and even the generally reserved public figures couldn’t contain their excitement. I will never forget the way Sonia Gandhi's arms flew up in the air after we won. It was heartwarming to see the always reserved leader open up a little ;)