A few days ago, we were driving through Commercial Street and trailing this garbage truck that patiently did its clean up act. Can’t believe Commercial Street can generate so much of garbage.

Also can’t believe that one of Bangalore’s most sought after shopping destinations can have its awkward sights. A garbage truck right in the middle of your frame, with a trail of big brand signs on either side of the road.

Saw this sign the other day, in front of Thom’s Supermarket, Promenade Road. The sign is located well above eye level – at the top of a wall, that must be close to 12 feet high.  (I had to shoot this picture from across the road and crop it to make it readable.)

Easily the most boring sign I have seen in the city, but it seems to have done its job.  Wasn’t greeted with foul smells when I parked.

Saw a very unusual sign the other day, in Kodihalli – off the old airport road. Art gallery? Take-away? Restaurant?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Didn’t have the time to explore this interesting “business combo,” but will do so one of these days and add a post script.

South Indian restaurants in Bangalore can be amusing to the onlooker who actually takes the time to notices these signs. For most of us they’re blind spots.

“Kindly pay cash to cashier only.” Who else would you pay cash to?

Typically, most South Indian restaurants – the smaller ones – have a cash counter at the entrance. So you decide what you want to order and pay up in advance. What the restaurant owner doesn’t want you to do is pay the chap at the food counter by mistake. That’s when you might get what you want, but the owner doesn’t get the money.

Another sign I’ve seen at a restaurant – which I must shoot one of these days – is a sign near the wash basin, just under the mirror. It says,  “Please don’t comb your hair here.”

There’s possibly good reason why that sign’s out there. I have seen teenagers take a good 10 minutes getting their locks in place, while other people are patiently waiting to wash their hands, after a good masala dosa.

But how do you know where the wash basin is, if you’re new to the restaurant? Just look for the sign that says “HAND WASH”  with an arrow pointing you in the right direction.

This is a photo taken recently on Sadar Patrappa Road (SP Road) near the Town Hall area. In the early eighties, I used to come here to buy L-angle sections, roofing material and water pumps for overhead tanks. Basically anything in construction hardware, at close-to-wholesale prices.

I now come here for computer hardware.

For starters, you can get the latest, latest configurations on assembled systems, at sensible prices. What’s more, your machine is up and running in 30 minutes or less – with all the peripherals that you could be looking for, in terms of printers, scanners, audio plugins and gizmos that might just get your computer to warm up your coffee.

I first noticed the trend to migrate into electronics in the seventies, when I went there to pick up those huge bulbous valves for my radio set. With the advent of the two-in-one and drastically priced “Dilli sets”, SP Road became a popular haunt for anybody looking for a good deal in electronics. But the shift to computer hardware was the biggest thing to happen here, largely enabled by the enterprise of second and third generation shop owners.

Another thing you can come here for is a great second-hand market for laptops* and systems, bought by the “kilo” by smart traders who pick up stuff from companies looking to upgrade on a large scale.

Believe me, this stretch is managed by young business gurus who could give you new business models on hardware retailing. And yes, they even give you bills with taxes deducted and prompt you to think legal on start-up software – which is also available.

Worth a dekko if you have the time.

Photography Expedition to:
Agumbe Rainforest
May 30-31, 2009

GreatEscapes, in association with Pixetra Club, presents an expedition in to the heart of the Western Ghats with wildlife photographer Amoghavarsha.

Spend 2 days in the thick rainforests of Agumbe, a
King Cobra haven that receives the second highest rainfall in India.
Camp at the country’s first rainforest research station – the ARRS,
and experience Radio Telemetry Tracking of animals first hand.

The photo expedition involves trekking through pristine forests which are home to several rare and endemic species of animals, found nowhere else on the planet. Photograph these rare species in addition to beautiful waterfalls and landscapes that would leave you mesmerized.

The total cost of the expedition ex-Bangalore is Rs 8900/-,
which includes a pre-expedition workshop, travel charges to Agumbe and back,
food and accommodation, local transport and guide and tracker charges.

For further details log on to

www.greatescapes.co.in

To register, please call

Ajay: 98441 61733 / 98861 01005
or Email

info@greatescapes.co.in

Or directly contact:

Amoghavarsha:

+91 9901044344

Website:
http://amoghavarsha.com

Email:
email@amoghavarsha.com

Janet has done some great tireless work for Bangalore’s green cover. With all the threat the trees are facing with the metro work, especially in Nanda Road and Lalbagh, we need to be more grateful that there are people like Janet around.

It’s no mean achievement but under the umbrella of her organisation treeforfree.org, Janet has planted as many as 11,550 trees! In her own words: “We’ve been busy doing what we do best- planting trees that cool the globe and heal the earth.”

She continues: “We know this number is a humble statistic when compared to the number of trees that have been chopped and are slated to go under the axe, to make way for “development”.) But every leaf that sprouts on every new tree that is planted brings back hope.

A reassuring sign in these dreary times.

It’s a mad race of tree cutters versus tree planters. And you just have to look around to see who’s in the lead.

But hey, remember the tortoise and the hare?

We’re getting there. One tree at a time.

So relax, and enjoy your long weekend in a place far from the madding concrete jungle.”

If you are interested to plant a tree, gift someone a tree in their name (it makes for a great gift, you’d agree I am sure) or even volunteer to help Janet, do get in touch with her.

http://www.treesforfree.org

http://treesforfree.blogspot.com/

Sign the petition to save Lalbagh trees

“The merits gained by planting trees for the benefit of others last forever.” – Buddha

Served on a banana leaf the north kanara meals are a pleasure to enjoy. This meal is popular for soft and tasty Jowar (Sorghum) roti served with a brinjal curry, cucumber and onion raita (salad) in Curd, greens & lentils curry.
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The central business district is encircled b y these new HOHO (Hop on Hop off) bus routes, I manage to stand in front of one HOHO point near UB city and took this map for all….haven’t’ you tried hopping on one!!

Interesting to see election posters in Bangalore, with the face that moved America.
As far as my memory goes, I haven’t seen any political icon beyond our shores gracing
an election backdrop in terms of face value.

There’s more.

My investment broker was talking to me about property prices in Bangalore and how things
would steady, now that Obama had taken over as President. At a coffee shop, I eaves-
dropped to hear another amazing take on Obama’s capabilities; how he could single-handedly
take India out of recession. I have seen school children fighting bullies with the ultimate
threat : Obama will come and beat you guys up!

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a small Obama temple springing up somewhere in the city.
And people actually stopping by on the way to office – to say a small prayer …
make a small wish.