Namma Bengaluru-- A boring City??
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 12:39 am
So happened to be in Bangalore for two days… You can call this is my first visit to the city. Also got small glimpse of southern culture by visiting this city. Well generally they says when you visit someone's home even if you don’t like it you should appreciate. But what the hack for me it was totally boring place! I had a very different mental impression about this Silicon Valley of India-- like bustling/happening city and very lively people.
Now don’t get me wrong idea is not to bash this city. I can bash my own city much more than Bangalore. We can start from my own neighbor who has 7 German cars and now I know horn of each car without even looking at his car. That bugger entire family honk so servant can come out and pick the grocery bag, tiffin box, school bags, briefcase and what not.
But anyway primary reason for not liking this city could be can’t associate with quietness and the culture. And my observation of the city is for very limited area-JP Nagar- Jaya Nagar Mkt. And I am directly comparing this city with loud city Ahmedabad, which is approximately 60% of Bangalore.
My few random observation as an outsider for this city…
First observation while coming from Airport to main city, guys are peeing on side of the road. May be they took Swatch Bharat concept literally by watering side of the roads. I thought that’s Delhi culture. (Near ITO you will see big line). Surprised to see that in Bangalore. ( Must be NI guys)
Open Drainage!! What the hack! This city has been discussed so much by world Media and I am sure many visitors from Western county must be visiting here and I found open Drainage at many place. I have only seen open drainage in small town of Gujarat and that to many years back, so I was not expecting open drainage system in city like Bangalore.
Now this one hit me hard—Quietness. At lease place I was staying was a nice apartment which had a swimming pool, playground Gym etc. But my cousin 10 year old daughter had no one to play. ( May be all kids were busy in preparation of JEE) No one knows anyone! Once you come out of apartment on common area you have to keep your tone down. And this apartment had a mix gentry. In parking no one says high hello when you are staying in same building. Any home improvement work can be done only between 9 to 5 and no weekends. Opposite to that in Ad when I opened my wife closed apartment, entire building came to know that I have opened Apartment! And tea-coffee-snack was served by different neighbors. My guess this could be because of mix population in Bangalore and not able to established sense of community due to different cultures.
Roads are narrow. I heard lot about Bangalore traffic. But primary reason could be around this residential area is narrow roads. I found roads to be very narrow compare to Ahmedbad. And that could be the main reason for this chaos. Now compare to Bangalore Ahmedabad traffic is haphazard. But relatively wide road moves traffic and parking is not a big issue, where I can see parking in this area was a big issue. Especially Shops in middle of residential area may be creating more issue. Surprisingly road near Sri Sri Ahsram was like a small village Road. If that is an outskirt of city I was expecting at least 4 lane roads with divider.
Dull city—Now I am sure around IT park and near that Vijay Mallya (Road/Mall whatever) must be happening place. But this place was kind of dead in late evening. In Ad you go in any area you can see traffic on main road till 11.30-12.00 easily. Many eatery place are open till 3 to 4 AM. For e.g we went to some coffee shop around 10-10.30 in Blr and one was closed and second one was about to close. In Ad I went for tea around 1.30 near my home and 50 ppl were sitting at tea stall. And around 5.30 in morning you find people visiting Tea Stall-That include girls with BF- Other Friend etc). May be more good for nothing ppl in Ad compare to Blr.
Religious/ Traditional Culture. – Not criticizing but this is general observation. It appears ppl in south are much more religious. I found so many temple and in area. It appears God worship or visiting temple is part of their daily routine. So many guys were selling flowers in morning. Even Marriages are taking place in Temple. Also saw women with lots of Gold Jewelry. That tells Dowry still exist and guy in Google or Microsoft in US must be fetching good money form Girl’s Dad. Speaking of temple I think Brahmins are consider kind of Elite in this part of India. Somehow I sense that but I could be wrong. Like in temple Brahmin make and serve food, one restaurant of MTR I heard Brahmin serve food. I also so few Brahmin family in one of the MTR and you can sense they try to act little differently. I by myself is Brahmin but no one give a damn to us in Gujarat. Even someone one was cooking for me at my home was from lower caste of UP.
Also found strong sense of preserving their language and culture. Only one board at Airport I found in Hindi. I heard on Metro people objected anything to be written in Hindi. Now I don’t understand what’s a big deal about that. When city is on global print many ppl form other part of India will visit your city so at least few basic sign should be in Hindi. My mantra is If Swahili getting business then write everything in Swahili.
Now What I like in city, lots of Trees and Parks! And weather. We miss this big time in Ahmedabad. There is no concept of Public park in Ahmedbad. I also found footpath relatively empty with no street shopkeeper in undesignated area. In Ahmedabd you will find tea stall- pan Shops food stall on almost every footpath. Side walk was relatively free of this all nuisance. Safely wise I can’t comment much because Ad is probably safer than Bangalore but what I heard let’s say you forgot your bag in Cab-Scooter etc very likely it will be at same place and no one will touch that.
City is much better than any NI city. And I must say my views from very limited observation during my short visit. Though According to my cousin he failed to make good friends in local because that acceptance is not there. Ending up having friends circle of NI-Gujju guys only.
On lighter note they still consider Gujju & Marvari are same. They are not. In business Marvari beat Gujjus. Gujjus are big spenders and Marvari are not. And yes Gujjus are not always behind your money. Probably first time in Bangalore history one Gujju shell out Money for Kannada--While coming from Airport in Airport-Bus, one young girl forgot or lost her purse. Everyone in bus were busy on their laptop and phone, I always like to observe people and I saw this girl visibly tense… Came to know her situation and paid for her ticket…. That was a nice Welcome!!
I think member Rbee is visiting both cities frequently so she could shed more light on my comparison and correct me.
Anyway —Namma Bengaluru-- A good City but not for me....
Now don’t get me wrong idea is not to bash this city. I can bash my own city much more than Bangalore. We can start from my own neighbor who has 7 German cars and now I know horn of each car without even looking at his car. That bugger entire family honk so servant can come out and pick the grocery bag, tiffin box, school bags, briefcase and what not.
But anyway primary reason for not liking this city could be can’t associate with quietness and the culture. And my observation of the city is for very limited area-JP Nagar- Jaya Nagar Mkt. And I am directly comparing this city with loud city Ahmedabad, which is approximately 60% of Bangalore.
My few random observation as an outsider for this city…
First observation while coming from Airport to main city, guys are peeing on side of the road. May be they took Swatch Bharat concept literally by watering side of the roads. I thought that’s Delhi culture. (Near ITO you will see big line). Surprised to see that in Bangalore. ( Must be NI guys)
Open Drainage!! What the hack! This city has been discussed so much by world Media and I am sure many visitors from Western county must be visiting here and I found open Drainage at many place. I have only seen open drainage in small town of Gujarat and that to many years back, so I was not expecting open drainage system in city like Bangalore.
Now this one hit me hard—Quietness. At lease place I was staying was a nice apartment which had a swimming pool, playground Gym etc. But my cousin 10 year old daughter had no one to play. ( May be all kids were busy in preparation of JEE) No one knows anyone! Once you come out of apartment on common area you have to keep your tone down. And this apartment had a mix gentry. In parking no one says high hello when you are staying in same building. Any home improvement work can be done only between 9 to 5 and no weekends. Opposite to that in Ad when I opened my wife closed apartment, entire building came to know that I have opened Apartment! And tea-coffee-snack was served by different neighbors. My guess this could be because of mix population in Bangalore and not able to established sense of community due to different cultures.
Roads are narrow. I heard lot about Bangalore traffic. But primary reason could be around this residential area is narrow roads. I found roads to be very narrow compare to Ahmedbad. And that could be the main reason for this chaos. Now compare to Bangalore Ahmedabad traffic is haphazard. But relatively wide road moves traffic and parking is not a big issue, where I can see parking in this area was a big issue. Especially Shops in middle of residential area may be creating more issue. Surprisingly road near Sri Sri Ahsram was like a small village Road. If that is an outskirt of city I was expecting at least 4 lane roads with divider.
Dull city—Now I am sure around IT park and near that Vijay Mallya (Road/Mall whatever) must be happening place. But this place was kind of dead in late evening. In Ad you go in any area you can see traffic on main road till 11.30-12.00 easily. Many eatery place are open till 3 to 4 AM. For e.g we went to some coffee shop around 10-10.30 in Blr and one was closed and second one was about to close. In Ad I went for tea around 1.30 near my home and 50 ppl were sitting at tea stall. And around 5.30 in morning you find people visiting Tea Stall-That include girls with BF- Other Friend etc). May be more good for nothing ppl in Ad compare to Blr.
Religious/ Traditional Culture. – Not criticizing but this is general observation. It appears ppl in south are much more religious. I found so many temple and in area. It appears God worship or visiting temple is part of their daily routine. So many guys were selling flowers in morning. Even Marriages are taking place in Temple. Also saw women with lots of Gold Jewelry. That tells Dowry still exist and guy in Google or Microsoft in US must be fetching good money form Girl’s Dad. Speaking of temple I think Brahmins are consider kind of Elite in this part of India. Somehow I sense that but I could be wrong. Like in temple Brahmin make and serve food, one restaurant of MTR I heard Brahmin serve food. I also so few Brahmin family in one of the MTR and you can sense they try to act little differently. I by myself is Brahmin but no one give a damn to us in Gujarat. Even someone one was cooking for me at my home was from lower caste of UP.
Also found strong sense of preserving their language and culture. Only one board at Airport I found in Hindi. I heard on Metro people objected anything to be written in Hindi. Now I don’t understand what’s a big deal about that. When city is on global print many ppl form other part of India will visit your city so at least few basic sign should be in Hindi. My mantra is If Swahili getting business then write everything in Swahili.
Now What I like in city, lots of Trees and Parks! And weather. We miss this big time in Ahmedabad. There is no concept of Public park in Ahmedbad. I also found footpath relatively empty with no street shopkeeper in undesignated area. In Ahmedabd you will find tea stall- pan Shops food stall on almost every footpath. Side walk was relatively free of this all nuisance. Safely wise I can’t comment much because Ad is probably safer than Bangalore but what I heard let’s say you forgot your bag in Cab-Scooter etc very likely it will be at same place and no one will touch that.
City is much better than any NI city. And I must say my views from very limited observation during my short visit. Though According to my cousin he failed to make good friends in local because that acceptance is not there. Ending up having friends circle of NI-Gujju guys only.
On lighter note they still consider Gujju & Marvari are same. They are not. In business Marvari beat Gujjus. Gujjus are big spenders and Marvari are not. And yes Gujjus are not always behind your money. Probably first time in Bangalore history one Gujju shell out Money for Kannada--While coming from Airport in Airport-Bus, one young girl forgot or lost her purse. Everyone in bus were busy on their laptop and phone, I always like to observe people and I saw this girl visibly tense… Came to know her situation and paid for her ticket…. That was a nice Welcome!!
I think member Rbee is visiting both cities frequently so she could shed more light on my comparison and correct me.
Anyway —Namma Bengaluru-- A good City but not for me....