The Grand Ashok Bangalore

... ve seen since being here. The city is referred to as the “U.S.’s back office” because of the number of technological call centers here. Many computer and software companies from the UK and the States outsource their call centers here. If you’re talking to someone from India they are most likely in Bangalore. Over the past years the city has experienced a pretty mild climate change. This ...

... she gets sick of them and currently she is not slowing down. We had amazing paneer and dosas there too.

9. City Market (KR Market): very interesting place. It is a full Indian market and due to the rains and garbage piles, not the best smelling. We went there in search of spices and vegetables and there were vendors from all over just sitting there selling fruits. Some of the kids were fascinated with Sara and even ran up and waved and shaked her hand ...

... light up and play music⎯of many Hindu gods but also of Jesus. A local artist was in the newspaper for crafting a scene of the last supper in leather. Shrines to Virgin are rare but festooned with lights and fabric.

Muslims of course are much more subtle, and there are any of them in Bangalore. The city is intermixed as much as is possible in India, and known for a certain harmony that can be missing elsewhere. I revel in the call to prayer, the dignified ...

... and was an essential part of the larger celebration of Dasara nation-wide. The British encountered pandals and illustrated them in exotic lithographs. The festival’s prominence grew during the British Raj, especially in Bengal, and the seat of colonial power, Calcutta. But India’s Hindu reformists saw Durga as an embodiment of their struggle for independence. The community puja was an ideal way for reformists to promote their cause. And since ...

... Polluted waterways and birds pushed to extinction are not ideal byproducts of religious fervour, and the EducationWorld office puja was nowhere near as epic. Ours was lead by Viji, in marketing, whose last name is Lakshmi, and office manager, Sarawati, both auspicious names of the gods. They lit the diyas and incense and passed the smoking lamps on a plate over the offerings and portrait of the gods. Even Christian Prem joined in the festivities, though ...

... After lunch we noticed that we had taken our halt below a tamarind tree. We plucked some tamarind and resumed our journey at 4:00 pm. After reaching Kolar we took a left turn and took the highway. I saw another opportunity and took the wheel again when I noticed an empty stretch of smooth road. I drove the car till we reached Hoskote and handed over the car to Praveen after seeing the heavy traffic. We reached home at 6:00 pm. See you back after our next trip. Cheerio !!!

... city limits. I was struck by how familiar a lot of it looked: much like the poorer parts of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, but just SO much more crowded. Even at 5:30 am on a Sunday morning the roads were bustling with bikes, rickshaws, cars and people on foot. Cows and goats everywhere, even in the sprawl of downtown. We moved into our (very sparse) rooms at the Jesuit hostel/monastery; I roomed with a girl named Nora who goes to Wesleyan. 'Breakfast ...

... ha. I hate monotony, esp in my food) but Bridget and Lauren are my heros and got me peanut butter (imoorted from the states), bread and jam so now I get to eat food! I havn't been eating much. The thought of Indian food kinda makes sick, and the actuall eating of food definately makes me sick. Havn't been to hungry, but then a I woof down a PB&J (which I wouldn't touch at home) and realize that oh, maybe food is good for my. huh. Who's a ...

... built, a bullock cart just standing there while two men shovelled on builder's rubble. - Ooh! Some parakeets just flew squawking, overhead. - And what are the large birds with huge wingspans coasting lazily high in the sky? *Answer - eagles. Wildlife census for the day, in no particular order Sacred cows, ordinary cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, chickens, chipmunks, dogs by the thousand, monkeys, parakeets, eagles.