Mango fest

Mango time.. Mango stalls at Lal Bagh permises. It's tasty treat for mango lovers. Different varitie in each stall.

journey of life continues..

After landing in Lal Bagh, I ventured around looking for a spot to rest my back. I moved more inside the sprawling park, I saw the line of stalls filled with jucy, luxious looking mangoes.. All shapes, sizes, flavour, colors.....

First I thought of skipping my temptation due to less dough in my wallet, but then I stopped by at one of the stalls. I asked the rates, it was nominal rates around Rs 25/-, etc..
Bought around 4 kilo of mango from different creeds, and tastes as promised by these fellas..

Reached home to a juicy day, slurping time at home...

Sojourn at Lalbagh

It's, the nursery at Lal Bagh, Bangalore. It hosts wide varieties of flowering, ornamental, indoor, bonsai, palm and all kinds of plants for your garden. How I landed here. I attended the seminar conducted by siliconIndia at NIMHANS auditorim. Since I didn't attend any of the high-tech seminar, I had plenty of time to spare. From the venue, I darted on the one way road, not knowing where it will lead... Further, I went along with the traffic, only to come to Lal Bagh junction. Now, it was clear where I was.

Soon, I found myself buying a ticket. Parked my vechile next to the nursery and walked it. I had no intention of buying any plants but my green instintcs took over me. I bought two plants. One ornamental and the other ivy kind.

Lal Bagh Nursery

Paid at the counter, where a bean counter did type in the details. Bought a tea from the next door counter and walked out with little hopes of a greeny future.

Scilicon india meet

Silicon India organized this meet of techocratcs, startups in Bangalore.. I registered for this event and dashed to reach there early on Saturday..

I lazied around the stalls.. many of it was just getting ready for the act. Stoped at few.. and then breezed after most of them.

Lonely?

Imagine spending a weekend with no single activity to pursue.... your wife/girl friends/friends away, or they are preoccupied!

yes, this similar situation haunted me for couple of weekends and I'm now dent on finding a way to kill my isolation chamber.

Lonely in Bangalore?
So far I've tried out different ways to find a activity partner in this city full of strangers, but it's not working the way I had envisaged. I traveled to off-beat country routes, I went to flea markets to hunt down souvenir, went to used book stores to buy couple of fiction titles, and went to near by club to play T.T ... so on...

But in-spite of my attempt to find a real passion to unwind a fruitful weekend left we with half-hearted success. When I look back I wonder what I lacked.

The sudden emptiness caused with the departure of my wife ( on work project ) took unexpected jolt on my otherwise busy weekend activity. One thing is sure, I had no back-up activities, I depended entirely on one person to full-fill all my life's plans.


Coming days will be a testing time on how I can reach out to similar people, lock on to do or start a lively relationship. Sure, there are lonely people like me looking out to experiment, or expand their life beyond their existing realm....

Here's a link on how well you can start talking to a stranger....

Time keepers - a fading business

I've a freaky attraction towards small "watch repair" shops. Don't know when I started this fancy towards the "men" in glass boxes. Probably, it starts with my fancy to collect used watches.

What's unusual about their biz. Their work area is mostly littered heaping scrapes of dead watches of all imaginable shapes and sizes. In these no frill walls you can see the framed watch mechanic with his inseparable gadget - one eyed magnifying glasses. Most often these shops are run by second generation of repair folks who has inherited the skill and booty from his father.

Looking back, my fancy towards this biz started with my crazy idea of buying used watches from these shops.

It started my habit form the shops in Trivandrum. There was one shop run by man who is well past seventy . This frail looking man with a charming smile had his small shop in a small one room title shop adjoining a hotel. Every day on my way to work I pass by his shop. One day I stopped at his shop repair one of many dead watches.

He promptly did this repair work and in our regular deals I asked him for a used watch. I told him my kind of watch, something with a big dial, three button etc... He showed me few from his collection...

I choose one watch, brand "Tower". It had a very big dial and it instantly catches anyone's attention. Only the outer shell was the original, the engine was replaced by a cheap automated one.

I had pretty long dealings with his man, till I moved to a new work place. Later I saw that the shop was raised down for road expansion and later I came to know that he passed away..

Years passed on and recently I met another watch repair fellow. This time in Bangalore. He is relatively young, but he too has a tale to tell. He too has his glass box full of bits and pieces of watches of all shapes and sizes. Something that tells of his long tenure in this business. Probably he inherited this skill from his father...

I took a chance to capture a snap of him while he was repairing my watch.

More stories on my later blog...

Vechile insurance - Indira nagar

Last Saturday, I ventured to the near by haven of vehicle agents, driving school at Indira Nagar. I had started my four wheeler driving class in one of the driving school and I wanted to get the tax renewal for my Thunderbird.

I had contacted few agents and the prices quoted started from Rs 550 to Rs 800 for a two wheeler. Somehow, I wanted to find a direct way to pay this tax. After going around the Indira Nagar BDA complex, I asked one shopkeeper who showed me the building at the old side.

This dull looking building behind the petrol pump was the office of new India Assurance. It was Saturday as was promptly closed for business. With no business in hand, I shot two pics from my Cannon S5IS. At least I can share this bit of info with other people who look to save a bit of money in this hard times...

New India Assurance ( Indira Nagar, opposite to BDA complex, Above Punjab Bank )

Timings

Monday to Thursday 10:00 - 5:30
cash counter open - 10:00 to 1:00 & 2:00 to 4:00

Saturday and Sunday holiday

Recession sales in Bangalore

One of the vegetable vendor at Domlur market place

Gone are the good old days of frenzy shopping spree in the gleaming Foodworld’s Spenser’s or big Bazaar’s in Bangalore. Recession, layoff news, frozen appraisal has culled my usage of plastic cards. The compulsive shopper in me is all set for a long winter hibernation.

Reason for fewer trips to the mall
Apart from the bad economic signs, the poor customer service has prompted me to take a hasty retreat from these product aisles. As a customer, big Food World or Spenser’s or Big Bazaar’s offer no stimulus to shop or to repeat my shopping.

I used to be a frequent customer at the Food World store at Cambridge Layout, but there are no friendly nods from the busy shop attendants. Forget familiarly factor, but where is feel good factor during my visit in these glassy shops?

Discount signs every where in Bangalore
These days DISCOUNT signs are the only apparent signs at all shopping stores. I feel it’s a poor way to attract repeat business. Even though you get wide product choices, the soul of purchase in not about choice or savings; it’s also about feeling good about shopping and giving a better shopping experience.

I used to think that I’m alone to feel like this. But when I heard from an employee at an open forum in office, I felt that I’m not alone. He said he now prefers to shop from small time street vendors instead of the shopping blocks.

New shopping experience
Yes, that’s what exactly I’m doing now. I’m happy to buy from the ladies who sell vegetables from their wooden trolley or push carts. They are all happy to service you and very happy when you purchase more than Rs 20/-. (A similar amount spent at any shopping mall will get you a curious look from counter staff)

When I spend my hard earned dough at these small time vendors, I go with the happy feeling that it directly feeds her family and contributes to her little wealth.

Customer is the King
So, what are you waiting for? Now is the time for you demand better service and not treat you as one of kind in the store.

For these big Daddy brands, it’s time to take a change the defunct way of treating their customers. It's better they try out ways to better shopping experience or else this recession phase is going to hit bad on the cash register.

Cambridge Layout - Map

http://www.mycitybuddy.com/map.do?l=area&id=60





http://wiki.worldflicks.org/cambridge_layout.html#

Cambridge Layout views

Picture of Sai Baba temple, Cambridge Layout. This is a famous landmark in this layout. Most often when I get into the auto I say this as a point to make it clear to the auto fellas. In spite of this, these auto guys used to take me around and charge for the round about fare.



Thursday is the most important day for SaiBaba temple. Devotees flock to this temple on this day and the whole area wears a busy look.



Chappal stand @ SaiBaba Temple

A Diamond is Forever

Recently I was preparing a trivia question for my team and I came upon this slogan, " A Diamond is Forever".

Going deep about this De Beers ad, I found that it was Created by N.W. Ayer & Sons, Inc. and tis slogan has been in use since 1948.

"A Diamond is Forever" stood in time for De Beers, ever since Frances Gerety, a young copywriter, dreamed up the famous line in her sleep. Further this line has etched in our memory with the James Bond flick, "Diamonds are for ever".

And taking of Diamonds, I've a promise to fulfill. I've promised my better half a diamond and by the way recession is heading, I fear for the worst.

Ezekiel 25:17 - memorized

When was the last time you memorized a passage or a note or a poem. Well, for me It's been ages.

Last week, Star movies showed "Pulp Fiction". In that movie this passage , " Ezekiel 25:17 " from Bible was told by the protagonist. The character had memorized it and that part took me think about memorizing this passage.


" "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee. And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them." ".

I started to repeat it loudly and now I can recite it half way through. Great, but I like to memorize it fully.. Once in a while its good for you to commit something to memory, at least the gray cells will have something to think of ...

Indian coffee house

Last weekend I went to the famed Coffee House at M.G road Bangalore. It’s one of the oldest and finest place to have good quality coffee with conversation at the cheapest price.

This Coffee house is in a building which is as tattered like the framed old coffee campaigns hung inside the room. This shop has two floors. The lower floor in this coffee house is mostly filled with the floating crowd and the one above has the more regular crowd.

Death kneel to Coffee house

Recently in Times of India there was a small column written about his Coffee house. It traced back the long service of this idyllic coffee house and how it had brewed fine coffee and conversation. It says that this place is likely to be shifted to some other location and I think for sure, this building is going to go under the rubble.

This article got me to photography the coffee ambience and the old pictures. I feel the best time to take pictures would be in the morning when the crowd is thin and I go ga-ga with my Camera. S5IS.

More pictures and news later ….

I’m yours in Coffee

Size does matter!

Often wonder all the numerals and sub categories that go behind the perfect cup. Oh, I'm taking about the bra size which goes like 34, 38, a, b, c, etc...

I'm not the right one to talk about something personal with women, but a write up "Times of India" prompted me. The article is about "wrong bra size " which came in the newspaper made to write my version of the story.

Those readers who haven't read this article, they can zoom in and read it's brass points. I've also searched google to find more informative links about this topic. These two links will take you to more information and let you to guage your best fit.... how to measure your bra size and also bra size calculator.

Apart from what's written, from my personal observation I've noticed that many women get along wearing wrong sized bras. This wrong choice often makes their breasts either looking menacingly sturdy or too saggy. while the appearances can be deceptive, it can also bring out adverse effects and in some cases cause permanent disfigurement of their mammary gland.

Recently a friend of mine went to a bra store and as per their advice she went to a more fitting bra which held her inner decks in the right place. Yes, I would suggest that you too follow suit, and adorn the most comfortable ones. Yes, it get you noticed for the right reason and you can ward off unwanted attention!!

Heavy discount lure Bangalore Buyers

@ Garuda Mall

Luring buyers with all creative discount offers

It's a buyers market, thanks to recession exported from U S of A. Businesses are down, pink slips are flying around and the average citizen has culled the shopping budgets.

First signs of bad economy came from reality markets and now it has spawned to our gleaming shopping malls.

Many shopping places are devoid of buyers. I pass everyday by Oasis shopping mall( Sony world junction, koramangala) and most of the time I find only hand full of customers walking it. Such numbers can hardly contain the overheads.

While the fear of loosing the job has made all of us tighten our budgets, stopped using our credit cards and kept away from the glassy bazzar's.

Until the time the economy show some sign of recovery, this trendis going to linger. I wonder if it become worse that this, and until such time, sellers has to come with new marketing tricks to pull the elusive shopper to their cash registers.

This is the time to showcase exemplary customer service and tactfull marketing. Sadly, customer service is badly dealt by the average seller, and now I would like to see some changes on the faces of people at the other side of the counter.

While Cambridge Layout sleeps….

What are your thoughts you think of your neighborhood? Well, I'm sure that you would think of it as a larger extension of your home. A place you can be at ease, topped with warm inviting and friendly people who protects and considers you as one among them.

But these days, when I think of my locality in Cambridge Layout Bangalore, I get mixed treat of emotions. As for me, the emotional pendulum swings from attachment to detachment.

Reason to be attached with Cambridge extension
It is close to all the happening place in Bangalore. Commercial Street, M.G Road, Koramangala etc. Moreover, it's near to Church street where I hang aroud during weekends - for beer to second hand books.

Facilities
Other facilities around this residential area are

Hospital - Cambridge Hosptial, Shymala Clinic
Restaurant -
Fitness Centers -
Beauty Parlour - Fa Madria,
Temples -
Church -
Grounds -
Parks -
Juice stalls -
Sports shop -
Fish stores
Handicraft - Jute Cottage,
Coffee Joint

Missing part in Cambridge Layout
But, in spite of all these facilities at Cambridge Layout, I still feel disconnected with the people, the residents or with my neighbors. This sort of individual existence often disturbs me, but as anyone, I move on in life.

Old ways of Bangalore as Pensioners paradise or the Garden city has become a misnomer in the face of rapid change. People with plastic money and wealth from overseas assignments has swelled the place with greed and overshot ego in every ones mind.

Yes, it has given people with plush job, fat pay, more credit cards, more EMI’s, upbeat apts, big fat cars, flashy wife’s & girl friends, exquisite restaurants, and so forth.

But is this life’s all about? Where is old charm of life, when friends meet over a cup of coffee, when neighbors used be friends. I don’t care attitude of life has gotten every single soul, from kids to Grand parents.

Yesterday, while returning from work (late at night), I just passed through the desolate, cold houses that adjoined Polo Bar. Only sign of life was from the light coming from houses and the parked cars greeted with cold affection. As I sped on, I thought of the residents who stay in this place.

" Are they happy in their life"? Do they think the way I do or am I getting these thoughts from my aging soul and spirit. I don’t think I can ever find answer; nevertheless I can give it a try. Maybe, I can dare to meet few strangers around here and share my thoughts: " over a coffee or beer". : )

Wish you a beautiful xmas

It's Xmas day, a day that comes with tons of sweet rememberences. Every time we celeberate Xmas it has evoked different vibes. This time, it's again special.

Today, I'm lucky to spend my Xmas with my family and in my hometown. Today, we both have taken over the kitchen. Ladies are taking rest and I'm happy to this job in cleaning, cutting and giving all assitance to her.

What else do Xmas recount. Many, many tales, many faded events and people who had left me ..
One event that often comes to my mind is the carols. The small team that used to go around singing carols.... Yes, it seems so far away, and these xmas songs from the streaming site brings me back those sweet little moments goneby.

Recession fever in Bangalore

Bangalore and recession

Recession a fancy term that happened to U S of A has turned it's bitter face to Indian shores. Every day in the newspaper headlines of pink slips from companies far and wide. From the big giants to the small biz, this virus is fast crippling biz results in Bangalore. No doubt that the outsourcing capital, “Bangalore” is badly struck with the gloomy weather of recession.

I came to read news of recession some 8-9 months back and at that time I just fancied that it will never hurt our biz. But now all those dreaded illusions has come to our backyard.

Recession in Bangalore

From my keen observation in the life around Bangalore I've seen define change in the buzzling malls. Yes, more than shopping malls the recession bug had hit in a big way at the reality Industry.

But recession is not all that bad news to me. Often I have cribbed about the rising apartment rates and rental charges in Bangalore. And now I find some solace in the news that reality sector is hit and I'm glad that I'm not a property dealer. This credit crunch has put on brakes on the spiraling reality prices which Bangalore has witness over the past 5 years. A good pause of growth is fine for a any sector and to put slight brakes on rising greed in our citizens.

Along with the stalled prices of real estate I would like to see lower rates for rent. This is something which is yet to come in a big way. Even now these shady brokers insist that apartment rates are still on the highs. A two bedroom house in Koramangala still fetches across 10K and even a single bedroom dingy houses owners expect a good 6 or 7 K.

Another visible sign of recession in Bangalore is lower attendance in the new age coffee joints. Thin crowds of cuppochino cowboys and girls is another index to go by about the lower spending from these yuppie crowd.

Opportunity does exist in recession:

All is not lost for companies that work to serve for global economies. Recession is a good time for more small business to provide vital biz saving services at a lower cost. It's also time for Indian business to look closely at customer's satisfaction as a key matrices to jingle their cash registers.

AIDS Awareness - Poster

Received an interesting poster and thought I share it with fellow bloggers. It's all about protection and all well pictured in here. Yes, it's in your hands, carry it around.

Janis Joplin Mercedes Benz

Janis Joplin - Mercedez Benz

Janis Joplin - Mercedes Benz

From Wikipedia I learnt that Joplin's with Michael McClure wrote "Mercedes Benz", as a critical social commentary on how people relate happiness to money and material possessions. The opinion I had differed from the real version.

This song is purported as a negative commentary about materialistic individuals who place too much value on items like a Mercedes-Benz. Truly, it bespoke on Joplin's view of what she saw as a materialistic world.

Now with a new realization, I come to love this song more than ever. More so for the reason I hold towards this luxurious car. For me this swanky Benz is neither on my agenda nor do I aspire for one.

“Mercedes Benz” Woodstock version

I never thought that I could have this song in my hard drive. This is one song which I like listening from my Friday binge at Purple Haze. I should thank the person who had uploaded it in youtube.

Friday night

It's Friday night, a day of redemption from the work and the chaotic life. My usual sortiies on Friday night takes me to some popular joints around Koramnagala. The pub that I frequent are Purple Haze or Legends of Rock or I drive all the way to "Tavern "at Church street.

While at these joints, I have the usual cup of barley water and sync with the music of the house. Purple haze is more vibrant with young group and I stand near the DJ and watch the song tracks in their flat screens. These folks go by the regular set of numbers.

The songs that I like to hear on a Friday night from Purple Haze are: Janis Joplin " Mercedes Benz", Queen | I Want To Break Free, R.e.m. - Loosing My Religion, THE DOORS - L.A. WOMAN .

Tavern Inn
One good thing of "Tavern" pub is about the crowd and ambiance. From my regular visits I know couple of folks here and I get some consideration as a regular. A friendly nod and good service : ). From what I infer about regulars in Purple Haze, I get a feeling that most of the freaks are into some creative job like mine...

Smoking and women - Pub breeds in Bangalore
The fairer sex who land in Tavern with their cowboy's tend to look more matured. I liked them most when they smoke. Before the ban on smoking came, Tavern was a heaven for smokers. In my visits to Tavern, I stand next to the bar counter and watch how the ladies puff the smoke out of their system.

I'm one of the kind of a kinky voyeur when it comes to watching women while they smoke. Yes, I do like to see women smoke. Sometimes I wonder if they are making a bold statement or just they are just copy cats!! Very few of my female friends smoke and I don't have a smoking partner to go for a pub date. Bad. I wish I had one!!

Time is hovering around 11:00 and I'm too late to hit any pubs. Thanks to the 11:00 deadline imposed by our elected and idotic politicians.

Now it's time to take off from work and head for my home, sweet home. It's the only place I know of, that can take care of my aching body and tired soul.

I look forward to a fruitful weekend.

Fish curry in the making

Another milestone in my cooking. This time I've made fishy curry with coconut . No small feat, considering the fact that most of the guys' wouldn't dare such attempts, neither they would inclined to commit time and effort.

My love for fish curry is the primary motivating factor and second I'm left alone to fend for myself. With no other go, I've decided to break the convention and went ahead to make fish curry instead of the usual fish fry.

My regular fish is Sardine, which Docs says is very good. It cost Rs 40/- a kg and around 20 nos of Sardine comes in a Killo.

Fish vendors in Domlur

There are two fish stalls near to Domlur. One is NLP fish stall and the other Anand fish stall. NLP fish stall folks don't clean the scaly Sardines but Anand fellow does. For this reason I frequent this place.

After an exhausting cooking, it was time to have a sip of white wine in the background of some rocking music. What a day it was and I hope I have such adventurous cuisine trips in future.

I'll put my recipe in the coming blogs. Men rise from the couch, use from recipe and surprise your spouse with your culinary skills.

Too young to die - Balandur lake

It's a all familiar ugly side of Bangalore's at Balandur lake. This wide expanse of water which seemingly look very serene is teeming with all known toxic waste. The lake flows out at two points and at these two side bore the tell tale signs of the level of pollution.

Every day on my way to work and back, our cab cross this route to avoid the traffic at Marathahalli. It’s at the crossing we get to know the stench emanating from this lake. Two things are evident; the foul odor and the frothy water.

At one side of the bridge where it flows out, the water looks as if someone has sprayed detergent. There is white lather at the sides of the water. I wonder how it comes like this

What went wrong? Why has this beautiful looking lake turned out to an urban dump yard of sewage? A lake so large, it can be used for recreation for the citizens but for the unregulated sewage gushing in to.

Blame game can fall on residents and factories run by people like you and me. Bangalore has swelled in size, in population, in prosperity and rampant corruption. No one cares to clean up the waste and it finds its way to such unregulated spots. While many authorities has stake in this mess, everyone will have ample reason to stay away from the blame.

Small wish

My only wish is to see a clean Balandur lake, where ordinary citizens can spend some quite moments with family and friends and cherish the beauty as they ride along in life.

Go Tatkal -

Finally another successful Tatkal ticket booking. Today I reached Indira Nagar BDA office by 6:20. When I climbed the stairs leading to the booking office my heart sang a little when I saw the line of around 25 people. I stood at the tail end and the fellow in front of me gave me a friendly grin....

The shutter here open around 7: 00 and all the people get a chance to be in the booking hall around that time. Probably there are around 30 seats and all folks sit in waiting for the 8:00 on the clock.

The railway official in charge of these counter are seen very punctual and open the curtains at the strike of 8:00. Today 4 counters were open, and as the first set of people move in, people sitting in the chairs move forward.... It's funny to see this happening. Sometimes I stand and wait instead of sitting down and again moving few seats ....

This time I have reserved for Kochuveli Train and I got the middle berth. The lower berth got over. Luckly got in the counter which accepts credit card and happily paid on credit.

I'm happy to travel by train, with those endless coffees instead of sitting tight in a bus with a faceless stranger. In train people are more friendly, talk more, share more and I get to see how India is changing. This time I'm armed with my new Canon S5IS.

Holiday time travel- B'lore to Tvm

It's just few more days for Deepavali . As always I made up my mind in the last minute to visit Trivandrum. Weekend and a Deepavali holidy means all pvt buses towards Kerala will be filled up very early. I called up the usual places, Kalada, KPN, and few others for tickets. It didn't surprise me to get cold No from these high flying Gods.

Called ABT Travels for a ticket to Nagercoil. Again the reply was Friday, Saturday & Sunday booked. Too bad..

My hope of geting a Talkal railway ticket too dashed when I reached the BDA counter by 6:30 .. only to find a long winding queue. Thought I can try booking Tatkal through net. A big No for any one thinking of such foolish adventure. When the booking starts by 8:00 don't ever think of getting a steady connection to the sit.. No amount of refresh made me through the first page....

FYI

ABT Travels ,
MAS Residency Compound,
Hosur Main Road
Phone ( 080) 65305672
Mobile 994569311

www.abtxtravels.com

Sleepy thoughts

Time is past midnight, and I'm weary. The weekend had unfolded new events and for which I'm happy. Yes, experiences maketh a life and each little dots in the life take on to make the complete impression.

I'm leaving for my bed, to dream, to labor on the thoughts of today.. Goodnight friends...

words maketh a sale?

For those who live by communicating with words, words takes a larger than role in life. Yes, I'm talking of folks like me why wrestle with words to express those thoughts.

Reading, writing and it's endless maze all comes in throes to guild a writer as a master story teller. It's painfully slow and I wonder how many seasons it will take for me to get to that wonderful horizon.

Chilled only till 11

Pubs and beer culture in Bangalore is one lively stuff I love of this fast life . But recently political leaders are trying to clamp on these spirited live with a midnight curfew. The top orders are strictly followed by the high handed cops. Joints close by 11:00.

No doubt it's archaic law and what really stuck me is the way it is religiously followed . While returning from work, I pass through many small time joints and most often I see Cowboy cops standing in front of these joints to ensure it's closure.

I wonder how they get so strict about maintaining this part of their job, while you can see total inefficiencies in their day- today administration. I think it's quite useless to write of these issues, as every day we see write up about in Times of India. In spite of all these public upheavals, these high handed creeps who lead us are just blind to some basic facets of individual freedom ... Can't blame them for we have had chosen them ....

All in all it's a reflection of Indian democracy.....

Cowboys of Bangalore

White Enfield, the power behind Bangalore Traffic Cops. Initially I was drawn by their looks.. White cowboy caps and those images are replaced by their not not good shader tales of corruption & ineffectiveness...

Can't blame them entirely. Banagalore has gone for a spiral growth and with it the population of two wheeler and four wheeler...

Traffic is a mess, and the attitude of drivers is even worse. At any unmanned junction, you can see how drivers try to overtake each other.. .it resembles no less than the nature of the beast ....

At times I wonder if it b'cos of the rampant growth or the new culture of competition on the roads. People honk at every point. I'm a kind who hardly honks, for I think it hardly makes a difference. What annoys me is to see people honking even when the traffic is dead slow or just when the signal has turned green..

Wonder if the commuters are driving with so much of tension that they can hardly wait or just they are venting out the frustration through high decibel honks..

Often I hear reports in newspaper of action taken to reduce honking, but on the street it hardly makes a difference... I don't see any immediate hope for people like me who detest honking.. only think I can do is to get drive away from this mess or If I was a tad richer I can buy a four wheeler: with windows shut, it will a little less on my ear drums..

Beemapalli : Teasure trove of classic DVD's

All familiar payment side store. Sale of pirate DVD's and CD's is done in broad street light..
The price of DVD's goes around Rs 40 - Rs 50. After I bought a DVD, one of my first purchase was from a street vendor. I bought Indiana Johnes collection, Batman collection.. 4 movie in 1 DVD.

But my initial enthusiasm dried out as soon I saw the movies.. The image quality of these CD is very low and it robbed me the dough I spend and my initial euphoria...

After this incident I've moved from these street side pirates to the big time pirates in Trivandrum. Beemapalli in Trivandrum a erstwhile landmark for sale of foreign goods has now embraced movie piracy in a big way.

Now most of the shops has moved to piracy CD selling and from the row of shops, one shop has a good collection of classic movies. I've purchased lots from this place.. U get all time classics to Italian, Iranian, Japanese movies in here.. I've amassed Satyajith Ray's collection and all these just for 30bucks including a plastic cover.

Of course some CD's are incomplete... One DVD, My Fair Lady doesn't have the last scenes and it's disappointing.. It's a fair chance to take, and the print quality is good. As long as I can't afford the branded one, I've to stick to the offering from the pirated CD's of Beemapali.

Next time I visit my hometown, I need to replinish my CD stock with all new stuffs... , Of course some hot stuffs in my shopping cart...

Cambridge Layout - view

Wildcraft outlet at Cambridge Layout. It's located in the same road where Sai Baba Temple is located and next to Airtel office
This shop offers a wide variety of backpacks, camping and offdoor equipment.... It's a kind of store you would love to revisit and check on the new product updates....

I'm looking to buy a backpack for a 3 day trip.. but somehow, I'm not getting to see the design in these bags... I've seen a bag with one of my friend, but now that model is not available... Well, got to revisit this shop for a new look ....