Some days it is a fine spray , other days it is a brisk, thick downpour and sometimes even a hailstorm - evenings in Bangalore have been an event to look forward to and enjoyed. Only, if only, you stay indoors. If you are on the roads during and after the rains it is just impossible - the traffic snarls, the water logging and there is hardly any place to take shelter. The trees have become extremely unsafe to stand under and in any case half the roadblocks are caused by the trees uprooted by the rains.
During the past few days, close to 30 trees have fallen in several parts of the city. The Hindu today carries an article on the root cause of trees falling. You can read it here.

A LoC (line of control) has been drawn at the Bangalore University. A brutal attack on a group of women students in the English department on May 2, has prompted its Syndicate, the highest decision-making body, to pass a resolution: not to let boys and girls sit together during classes!

–TOI: Bangalore, 18th May 2006

Not the first thing you would expect to see on your morning newspaper. Raises too many questions, and well, TOI wasn’t supposed to do that anyway, or were they? Read the full article here.

I was having this conversation yesterday evening with my sister (who studies in a medical college in Kolkata) on a somewhat similar topic. She was telling me that this classmate of hers who was sitting beside her was leaning across such that it was a little uncomfortable for her. So she had asked him (rather politely at first) to straighten up. The guy had made a face, and then did straighten up. In about 15 minutes, though, he was back to the old posture, literally falling on to her. My sister, then, rather casually mentioned to him that if he does not straighten up in the next 5 seconds, “even though you are a classmate, I would not care about your career, your future etc, and will go and complain to the director”. The guy had straightened up thereafter.
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This is for all you quizzing enthusiasts over there. The Karnataka Quiz Association (KQA), one of the city institutions all Bangaloreans should be proud of, will hold the second edition of Mahaquizzer, the annual solo quiz contest, in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and New Delhi on Sunday, the 21st of May, 2006.
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A previous post sharing the heartening news about awarding contracts to re-lay arterial roads on international standards in a World Bank funded project did not elicit much response. Perhaps my enthusiasm did not quite overcome the all pervading cynicism. I’m now forced to accept the reality.

Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K. Jairaj made a surprise visit to the World Bank-assisted Magadi Road project on Tuesday following complaints of poor quality of asphalting….Two senior engineers were served show-cause notices and an Assistant Executive Engineer was placed under suspension by the Commissioner

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Yup, the grass was literally greener on the other side. Much more of it has grown too since my school days when it - Coles Park - next door, was considered a ‘no-go’ zone where all sorts of shady activities took place. Teachers would give stern looks & warnings to students who were suspected of visiting the park.

Today, of course, it has turned a new leaf and is a much loved place by residents of the area. Called Freedom Fighters Park, Coles Park was named years ago after the Resident of Mysore, Mr. A.H. Coles.

My early morning stroll over there last Sunday resulted in these pics. Enjoy!
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As all of you know Lokayukta. Justice N Venkatachala’s term is ending. Venkatachala has done a great work until now. I think its good for the people of Karnataka ( as well Bangalore) for him to continue in the same post. There are discussions going on to give Lokayukta more power too.
Karnataka state human rights council is collecting public opinion about Venkatachala. They are going to submit the same to CM.
Support him
Source: Vijaya Karnataka

I’m getting bored of the usual weekends Bangaloreans are offered:

Pub, Disco, Shopping, Movies, Week-end getaway to so-and-so place, etc.

Apart from capturing creative ideas of people, I wanted this post to show investors that there is a lot more investment ideas and potential in Bangalore city.

Pub:
Why don’t we come-up with Karaoke Bars? This will change the usual pubbing routine. Be your own DJ and artist while sipping your drink!

Movies:
We badly need an iMax Theatre. Every movie will be an experience in itself!

Shopping:
Folks like WALMART, COSTCO, etc. should open outlets soon. One day is not enough for a tireless and enjoyable shopping experience and after purchasing tons of goodies you’ll not get shocked by the price-tags.

Weekend Get-aways:
Bungee jumping, Sky diving, etc.

So, what is your idea to change the conventional style of entertainment in Bangalore?

Keshava Temple @ Somnathapura. The 3rd of the 3 most ornate temples built between 10th and 15th centuries by the Hoysala dynasty. The most well preserved of the 3 temples - Belur, Halebid and Somnathapura. One of the most unique architectural styles on display. The adjectives offered by English language are not enough to describe the beauty of this architecture.

Keshava Temple @ Somnathapura, view from the main entrance

This was my second visit to the monument. And I will want to return there again and see it. Everytime I go there, I see something new. The beauty of it all reveals itself more as we watch it.
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Do you know where this building is? This building would skip anybody’s attention unless someone noticed its oddity.

Hint:
1. This is old Bangalore.
2. Fellow Metblogger blogged about this place.
3. Thousands of people converge here daily, generating enormous business.
4. One of the few places in Bangalore where you will certainly find the Mangalorean sweet preparation “Chiroti”.

PS: Pics clicked in 640×480 resolution from cellphone. Panorama pic made in trial version software “Omnistitcher”. That’s why you see the “Pixtra” watermark all over the image. Please excuse.

at Cake Walk. Drop some sweet velvet nothings into the ears of your sugar-daddy or your honey-pie!

Spotted on Indiranagar, 100 ft. Road, close to the Old Madras Road junction. Me can’t wait to go there on a liesurely note and lick some cream clean!

;)