Well, this post has nothing to do with boiled beans, but apparently that's what Bangalore means!
My camera has been relatively inactive since reaching here, but I did manage to take a few pictures in the last couple days. So much has happened in the last week it would be nearly impossible for me to try capture it all, with that being said, here is a summary of a summary :).
If I had to do it in three words... I'd say FOOD, HOUSING, and KANNAN.
Food:
Is downright delicious. The typical south Indian style meal is called aThali, this consists of a bread which is in the middle of your plate... usually a few pieces, or rice! Then your plate is surrounded with little bowls of curry! So good! My favorite so far is the green one on the right. It's Palak, or spinach. Mmmmmmm... I had a big bowl of that today as well :) Of course this is just the normal meal, you can get hundreds of variations and different types of currys. Can't wait to try them all. Surprisingly enough, I haven't been out-spiced here, I enjoy the spicy foods that I've had thus far... even though more than a few times my nose has run!
HOUSING:
Shoot me. This has been the biggest adventure/disaster of them all. Bevan, Eliza and I have been non-stop trekking around this city, looking at place after place. Just when we think we have found the one, something falls through. It has happened to us twice already, I even brought my luggage to one of the places! Yet, still no beans. (pun intended)... We have comeacross another place that we have put an offer in, we'll know sometime in the morning tomorrow... keep your fingers crossed!
KANNAN:
A local fabric shop owner! This guy is the best! His whole family works in the shop, and his entire family (around 300 people I'm told) has 8 or 9 Sari/Shirt/Silk shops around Bangalore and India. He is probably the most friendly and genuine person I have met here! We have all taken quite a liking to him. In fact, when the housing crisis was happening, I called him up and he set us up with one of his friends, who is a relator. This guy has actually been showing us the places that we have made offers on but something seems to happen last second. Hopefully we'll be able to seal the deal tomorrow!
............
Traffic:
What a nightmare. This is one of the only downfalls of Bangalore. Lots and lots of traffic if you are anywhere near city-center, which, unfortunately, NIMHANS is located! Yikes! Talk about air pollution... it's pretty grim. I'm going to invest in a bandana, taking it old cowboy Western, or gangsta, you're choice.
Language:
English is spoken by most people here. At least a little bit, brokenly. I've been learning Kannada the last week, which is the local language, and it has gotten me far. You start speaking Kannada, and the people immediately become friendly to you. Cool deal, eh? Howdhu! (yes)
Rice & Beans:
Cricket:
This has to be the most popular sport in India, you can see it being played where ever there is open space. It's pretty cool, I will learn one of these days... this guy totally missed the ball if you can zoom in and see it, bahah ;).
Political movements:
I'm not sure how close any of you are following Indian news. But there is a giant anti-corruption movement happening right now. Spurred by Anna, who was using fasting as his vehicle. There have been hundreds and thousands of people in the streets, chanting with flags and candles, against corruption in the government. Today as we were leaving dinner, we stopped behind a small group of 100 to observe. Immediately we were handed candles, and before we knew it there were at least 3 cameras snapping pictures of us. So when morning rolls over... we're either appearing on the front page of the Daily Hindi, or getting arrested by Interpol.
On a brighter note. I'm finally going to get some sleep!
PEACE
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