The Taj West End 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 ...

... dress, and playfulness of the children. I greet my Muslim neighbours, the men at least, with as-Salamu Alaykum. And I have a letter of introduction prepared for the imam of Masjid Khadria asking the religious leader for permission to visit the beautiful mosque down the street, and to meet him and the muezzin.

As much as I am an atheist I understand religion and do not despise it. Faith is a necessary part of human existence, and it can be and is a ...

... 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 ...

... company’s grey Hyundai through late afternoon traffic effortlessly, though I could tell he was preoccupied. He was in a mood to vent over office politics and I listened and watched the passing scenery. It was dusk and the street writhed with humanity. The broad road held marvels on either side. Strings of fairy lights illuminated Hindu, Christian and Muslim shrines like carnival sideshows.

A procession of worshippers emerged from a side street beating ...

... He answered, "I'm sorry, Father. I cannot. I've been called to prayer." (At this point, I'd like to brag about my traveling family. They've been completely punctual and organized, responsible for their belongings, patient when it was called for, and enthusiastic about trying everything. At home, Miles can go months without getting to school on time. But give him a plane ticket and tell him he has to be up at 4.30am, and he pops awake like a jack-in ...

... respectful and grateful that we were there. I think that the latter is true (altho it may be hard to see at times), but they definitely had to learn how to be respectful while we're teaching. But after things sort of blew up in the middle of the week and due to some scheduling changes (more on this later), the kids have done a 180. We still come home from ...

We arrived yesterday to Bangalore. This is a quite pleasant city, full of parks and the rest of any other indian city. Lots of cars, autorickshwas, cows, motorbikes, and other apparatus with wheels. I am really surprise here everything is really clean, at least around MG road, that is like the equivalent of Oxford street. Prices are really similar to European prices in this road, specially because this city ...

... we weren't feeling so cheery! Bangalore is set apart from many other Indian cities - it has a very western feel, mixed in with a very Indian accompaniment...the IT boom has really taken off and seems set to stay. We socialised and had dinners with Pol's other family members, who were all lovely. Finally after a few days of indulgence it was time to wave goodbye to being waited on hand and food and our adopted Indian family.

... in the city centre by jeans. Accordingly hotels were more expensive than we had become used to, we ended up in Tommys Hotel at 15 pounds a night, but it was comfortable and for the first time since Mumbai we had hot water The shops and restaurants in Bangalore are excellent, after three weeks of curry we treated ourselves to a place ...