Well it is 10.30 PM Bangalore time and I am sitting in a cyber café with Indian music just CRANKED.  Everywhere here they play the music LOUD.

Bangalore, and India, are great places to visit.

Since my wonderful guide had to return home I am on my own now I played the typical tourist.  First off, I didn’t even get out of the parking area of the hotel before I was hit up by an auto-rickshaw (hereafter known as an auto) to be taken wherever.  In 3 minutes I was hit up 3 times.  When I had little miss someone with me, they stayed away.  I guess they figured that with an Indian at my side, I either lived here or that she wouldn’t let them try anything.  But a western man walking alone, boy they want your attention.

So I ended up getting an auto for 10 rupees (it takes 40 rupees to make $1) to go anywhere downtown but…the catch…before I get to my destination “I show you Emporium, good stuff, you look, you like you buy.” Ummm sure. He offered me his services for the rest of the day for Rs (rupees) 100 ($2.50)  so I said sure.  He waited the first time I came to the cyber café, waited while I went back to the hotel etc.  He took me around town to the tourist sites.  Later I will do a good and proper travelogue but basically the museum, the High Court and Parliament buildings, botanical gardens and the Bangalore Palace (rip off don’t bother Rs 200 to get in, they tried to charge me Rs 500 to take pictures and it wasn’t worth it).  Oh and two more stops at shops that he must get a kickback from.  No I am not paying Rs 2000 for a scarf for wife/girlfriend/sister/mother when I can get it for like Rs. 50 on Commercial Road where the locals shop.  Thank you little miss someone for that hint.

Ok, now for some travel tips.

Number ONE – CARGO PANTS ROCK when traveling through 3 countries over 24 hours.  Many pockets but they must have buttons for security.  I had passport in one pocket, money in another and tickets in another, all buttoned up.  Also on days like today, I could slip my digi cam in the cargo pocket so I don’t walk around with it in my hand.

Survival in Bangalore

The first thing you have to know about Bangalore is the traffic.  Holy shit the traffic.  Now I didn’t see anywhere where you can rent a car or motorbike, but in case there is, and you consider it…DO NOT!!!!  YOU WILL DIE!!!!  Do not attempt.  You know how they joke about in Montreal the lines on the road or merely suggestions?  You haven’t seen nutin baby.  They just go wherever they can fit, honking horns and weaving in and out of traffic.

Speaking of traffic – how to cross a road in Bangalore.  Basically get downstream of traffic from a local, stand close to them, and when they move, you move.  Don’t bother waiting for all lanes to be clear, just go.  They usually stop or swerve around pedestrians.

When walking always look down.  You never know when they sidewalk will drop into a 2 foot hole or the concrete block will rise up 3 feet.  Not to mention you really don’t want to step in something.  And NEVER step in a puddle.  Just don’t.  Most Indians here wear sandals or open toed shoes.  Again I say DO NOT.  Bad idea.  Also, don’t be surprised if you go around a parked car or pass an alley and see a huge cow trot out in front of you.  Cows roam the streets freely here since Hinduism considers them sacred animals.  By the way – most places don’t serve beef.

Beggars.  You WILL be approached by beggars.  It’s not so bad when you are in the auto and they come up to you when you are stopped.  Autos are open on both sides (little covered three wheeled motorized rickshaws).  But walking down the street you will be accosted.  They range from elderly women (you never see old men begging) to 3 year old children.  My special guide advised me never to give to children, women or those with bandages on their hands because odds are it’s a scam.  If the person is a leper, you will definitely know it.  No matter how compassionate you are, no matter how soft hearted you are, harden.  You will go broke.  If you don’t respond after their first few entreaties, they will reach out and touch you.  I had a little girl no higher than my waist follow me halfway down the street tugging on my pant leg.  It really is a different feeling to reach down and brush off a kid’s hand.  But you have to. One way to keep them from following you is head into a store, or just up the steps to one.

Next to beggars as a pain in the ass are street vendors and the callers for shops.  No I don’t want to buy a plastic helicopter. No I don’t want a wooden cobra.  You can be polite at first but they will keep at you and in the end a firm “NO” with a touch of anger will keep them at bay.  One guy almost ended up with my elbow in his chops. We were walking down the street and a guy approaches us:

“Want to see beautiful paintings?”

“No thanks.”

“Come just look”

“No, I don’t want paintings”

Then he starts getting annoyed, and as we approach the entrance to the shop he takes a step in front of me and nearly body checks me in the store “But it’s free to look”

“NO!”

But the best way to get around Bangalore?  A great personal guide.

Bangalore is a really interesting city with some great sites, shops, places to eat. We had dinner at one place, on a rooftop patio with a nighttime view of the city which was incredible.  Most places aren’t too expensive – dinner for two, coffee and desert cost about $20, a meal which in Canada, at a restaurant like that is minimum $50 or $60.  One place steak dinner for three was less than $20.

I didn’t believe it when my friend told me, but people here are fascinated by me, by westerners in general.  At the botanical gardens a man says something to my guide (being western I automatically get a guide, not free though) then walks over to say hello and shake my hand.  Again in the gardens, two young men walking look at me, smile and say hello.  I get stared at a lot.  I just had a long chat with a security guard outside wanting to know where I was from.