Virendra's Blog

I recently moved to Bangalore for sometime. It was a welcome change from dusty, dirty and hot weather of Delhi to damp, dirty and cool weather. Atleast one aspect was better and me being a very content guy was, well to say, “very contented”.
Actually it was my wish to visit the so called Silicon Valley of India. I had been hearing a lot from my friends who work here or have made the city their home. Also, I was tired of living in same old Delhi for past so many years. A welcome change I thought. Till the time I touched down.
Airport is huge and modern and soooo far from city. With no public transport (apart from buses that run hourly), I can understand how cab drivers could afford better jackets than what I was wearing.
Then I could see the construction boom throughout the way to my destination in city – unorganised roads, apartment blocks and flyovers everywhere. Then when I started commuting to office, I realised another great aspect – not even a 10 meter stretch of road will have a smooth footpath. Highly uneven stone blocks lying over drains are footpath. If they are continuous, bikes will be running on them, if they are missing a block here and there, you might be missing some of your teeth or foot here and there. I heard there is a Metro that boasts of WiFi rather than route length or low fare.
The less we talk about cooking gas and potable water supply, the better. I also came to know that if you intend to purchase a house here – your unit is crore rupees and not lakh rupees as in most part of our country. The other day I went to buy vegetables I found out all sort of “imported” vegetables but could not find simple desi subzis. The kaamwalis demand 3 times what a baai would ever manage in Delhi. I guess it will take time to get used to living amongst rich guys. I heard this is home city of Mr. Mallya of Kingfisher fame (the beer and calendar, not the airlines, silly).
Before closing, let me just assure you all – despite all the things I said and wrote earlier and the fact that my image of Silicon Valley of India taking such a bad beating, I am absolutely in love with the city. (For I have spent many years in Assam, Arunachal and Meghalaya and I know people from that part of country are very well like d here.)