Battling it out in Bangalore

Yet another post to the Mumbai vs Bangalore blog. This post comes on a sad note. will figure it out why ?

well i was waiting very eagerly for my SA visa. Finally the visa arrived on 27th June 2012 and i was so happy that i cannot wait any long in bangalore. I just wanted to pack my bags, move to mumbai and then joberg. But things are never simple with me.The life always plays a trick with me before giving away anything.

30th June was supposed to be my last day at PG. I was so happy that i did not have to search for another PG. The owner of the PG wanted to give the PG on rent to a single party. We all were asked to vacate the PG.I somehow asked the owner to extend my stay for a week. Once i get a clear picture on my travel I will leave or find another PG. The owner agreed and extended my stay for a week. Boring weekend arrived after being disappointed with the news that i may have to stay in bangalore for some more time. Not sure how much. On the same weekend sunday, I caught fever and something was terribly wrong.The fever did not come down till monday morning. Somehow i reached office. By noon, my fever increased and i was in no mood to stay back in bangalore. No one to take care and food issues forced me to ask for leaves and I got a 4 day leave with a condition that if travel need arised, i will have to fly from mumbai. I was happy to hear that.

I went to the PG. Packed my bags and left for Mumbai with a hope that i will not have to come to bangalore again.

I caught the National travels volvo bus in no time and left for mumbai. The journey was troublesome as I had fever. I worn 3 tshirts one on one to protect myself from cold and fever. Somehow i reached mumbai after 16 hr long journey. I was pleased
to see my parents and my family. They were also very happy. I straight away moved to my family doctor and got the required medicines. After over 2 days, things did not improve. I went again and got my blood tests done. Unluckily i was diagonised
with Malaria. I took all the treatment and called up office for 1 more weeks leave. Hardly I could eat anything and i turned very week.Could hardly stand for a minute or so.

After completing the medical course, things improved a bit. Fever did not come again. My health and eating conditions were improving. In about 2 weeks i hardly moved out from my building. Took as much rest as i can. Finally 2 weeks passed by like anything. I did not receive any intimation from my office on SA travel. So I had to return to Bangalore. I was very sad. This time around I was weak, with no place to stay in bangalore. I had to get down in bangalore and search for PG to stay.

Luckily I had a number of a PG which I had inquired earlier. I called up that PG guy and enquired about the vacancy. He told me to come to his place and check once I am in bangalore.

I took the volvo bus on saturday night which will drop me in bangalore next day at around 4.00 PM. The bus dropped me at a circle which was the last stop. There was a majestic bus stop some 1 km away. I had to carry my laptop bag and my suitcase to that place walking all the way. No rickshaw was willing to come for such a small distance. I walked all the way in the rains. Was very tired and weak. Finally after a long struggle i reached the majestic bus stand. I had to take a bus to Koramangala. I took the bus and arrived at koramangala bus depot. I had to go to a nearby place called Ejipura where i had enquired about the PG. I caught a rickshaw and he dropped me to that place. I finalized the PG within no time as i did not have any other option. I did not had money also so I told the PG owner that I will pay tomorrow and he agreed. I dropped my luggage, took a bath and finally went to the Bed tired with a bit of weakness with mild fever. I ate theplas and went to sleep.

Next day I resumed the office and came to know that the travel plan is not yet finalized. I am now worried whether they will send me or not. Eagerly waiting to leave bangalore and reach joberg via Mumbai.

I will never forget this struggle in bangalore. I am passing by each day like a year. Hope some information on travel comes soon.

This is how life treated me. This was one of the toughest struggle of my life. Still struggling in bangalore with a hint of weakness. Hope everything goes fine from here on.

Transition from Mumbai to Bangalore.

Well I always knew that the transition from Mumbai to Bangalore was always going to be challenging specially after spending 26 years in Mumbai. It was that one onsite chance that made me to stick to this decision.

Still initially I rejected the offer from the Bangalore firm. Then the HR called me up and explained everything regarding the opportunity. It was this call that turned up my mind somehow and I agreed to the offer. Only one week was left in my notice period. So everything happened in that one week.

The company was going to provide me with the initial accommodation and the travel arrangements. All of these details came just one day before the travel day.

It was one of the toughest decisions of my life to leave Mumbai, My family; my friends etc.....Will see how it works.......

I was not sure whether I will be able to survive in Bangalore or not. So I had a backup offer in hand in Mumbai, in case I fail to survive in Bangalore and come back.

Everything was set. I took off the Indigo flight and reached Bangalore in an hour and 45 mins or so. This was my first travel in flight. I had one when I was 2-3 years old so I don’t remember anything.

It was a nice experience of going through the check-in process, security checks, airport buses and finally the flight. To my surprise, I met one of my engineering friends in the flight.

We got down together and decided to board a common taxi and share the expense. Finding a taxi from Bangalore airport is another major task. People quote anything that comes to their mind.
Finally we boarded a Meru Taxi for 1000 Rs which will drop me to Koramangala first and then take my friend to his destination.

I arrived at my Service apartment arranged by the firm. The apartment was clean, neat and tidy. So I had to live here for another 15 days and then search for my own accommodation.

I would like to Thanks Google Maps for the awesome application and the details that it provides. I had done my entire research on the places around my office and accomodation.Whatever was shown in the Maps appeared to be absolutely correct.

On the first day, I went out in the evening to check out the company location and places to eat around. I also met one of my best engineering friends over here on the same day. We had a long chat.

The following hotels and shops served me for one and a half month and I was able to survive being a Jain in Bangalore.

- ShantiSagar restaurant : This was my lifeline in Bangalore. It was a veg hotel that served me Idly, Dosa, Pav Bhaji, Punjabi, fried rice, noodles, sandwiches etc.
- Uday sweets : This shop was a marwadi shop famous for Samosas. Almost every 3 days I took a samosa from this guy.
- Madurai Idli shop : Again a small hotel serving Idly, Dosa etc.
- Coconut vendors / Juice vendors: Coconuts and fresh juices are very cheap in Bangalore.
- Shree Thali : A small restaurant serving Thalis with vegetables, Kadhi, Papad and hot home like Rotis. I do not eat onions and garlic so I always ask the waiter to replace all my vegetable with Kadhi. I use to have this every 2 or 3 days.
- Roadside Dosa and Idlis.

I had almost roamed around the entire Koramangala area. The above places were the best bets for food and also economical.
I also found a Hanuman temple and a Ganesha temple nearby. Whenever I had no work, I moved to these temples. They were very quiet and peaceful.

After around a week in Bangalore I started to look for the PG. I saw almost around 5-6 PG in worse condition and too costly. Finally I finalized a PG for 3000/- per month and without food. It was a apartment where the owner was living on the ground floor, and the rest of the 2 floors were on rent and PG. This is one of the best businesses that I have seen so far. Almost 70-80K rent in a month.

During these days, I made a lot of friends. One of my good friends name was Krishnamoorthy. He was from my firm Icreate. A simple person who has a simple lifestyle. He always gave me a company for food and travel. He used to first ask whether you will get a Jain food or not. He was a bit slow but had a good brain and knowledge of things around the world. He always used to say "I have a 8085 processor". So I told him that with me around it will convert to a dual core processor.

After around 15 days My Visa docs got submitted and I am waiting for the SA visa to come as quickly as possible so that I return to Mumbai back and then travel to SA.

It has been a month in Bangalore. One of the things that I have missed the most is my Mom, my home food and my nephew Rushabh who is 1 and a 1/2 year old. Almost most of the days I try talking to him with little success. I felt this was the best time to play with him but again opportunities might not strike your door every day.

So far so good. Let’s see when the Visa arrives and when do I depart for SA.

This blog will come handy after few years to refresh the memories of my first real struggle with life. Life is always peaceful when you are at home. It turns out to be a battlefield when you are not at home.

Mumbai Skyscrapers vs Bangalore Apartments

Mumbai Skyscrapers vs Bangalore Apartments

Well, Full marks to bangalore on this point. I hardly found any skyscrapers in Koramangala bangalore.

Hope the situation is same in rest of the bangalore.

The apartments are beautiful with spacious balconies, lovely terrace, parking space etc.

Most of the people own cars and 2 wheelers. Nice garden in front of the house. They all have solar heaters so problems of the electricity spent on Geysers.

Whereas the situation in Mumbai is worse. No apartments at all. All 4 level buildings going for redevelopment to get to 7 levels.
Under new construction no buildings less than 11 floors. You have to fight for the parking space in buildings and pay for it as well. Not much trees around.

Well in one line I would say, Mumbai Skyscrapers look preety but you can live a better life only in Apartments. Love you Bangalore for this.

Mumbai Vs Bangalore Auto Rickshaws

Well....starting with the blog i would say that it has been only a month in bangalore vs 26 years in Amchi mumbai, both the cities have its own positives and negatives.

I would love to describe them with this blog of mine.

- Experience with Auto Rickshaws in bangalore

This is the first thing that came to mind when I started this blog so let me proceed with this.
When I was in mumbai I use to hate auto drivers because they refused to come at many places.

But now when i m in Bangalore I love them.

Simply because they charge on meter and autos here in bangalore charge anything that comes to thier mind.Also refusal is a common thing.
In around 3 weeks time, I just took the auto once.

I had to move from my accomodation to a new PG so i had some luggage with me. The distance was a mere less than a kilometer.

I got an auto after 15 mins. Initially he asked for 50Rs. Somehow after bargain, We had fixed the deal at 30 Rs.

I sat and went on. Due to too many 1 way roads we had to roam around. So when I got down he again asked for 50 Rs. I refused.

Then he said atleast 40 dedo sir. I gave him and he left. Thereafter I decided, NEVER use the auto again unless required in emergency.

This is how it goes in Bangalore. I would rate Mumbai with 9/10 ratings with this regards. Love you Mumbai.