Walk along…

Monsoon has cooled down the city and is averaging around 20-24 deg C, a good morning walk around few roads is quiet a relaxing experience. The climate is just wonderful!!

Vellai Appams…

Vellai or Vella Appams getting ready in the special cast iron chatty (the mould) in a roadside eatery. It is indeed a fun fast food to make at home or relish it on the move. Made with the rice batter with different ingredients and with sweet (dessert) and khara (spicy) options it remains one of my top favorite foods. Finding its origin is difficult as besides being a typical Karnataka recipe it is also made in neighboring states like Tamilnadu, Kerala etc…

Heritage Galore..

Old parts of the city such as Shivaji nagar do reflect some historical insights and artistic touches to old buildings and mosques. One must wonder along walking from these busy areas to catch such glimpses or visiting these areas early mornings before crowd sets in…

Chai, Malai Marke!!

“Do Chai, Malai Marke” (Two cup of Tea with Cream) was the order me and my friend places in a small tea stall just behind Russell market. The tea was typical Hyderabad kind, where tea and milk are boiled separately. First in a empty glass malai ( cream) is added then goes hot milk with sugar and the finally the hot tea concoction which adds a different taste and retains flavor of the milk in the “Chai” …always served with a glass of water to rinse your mouth before you drink the tea…

The “Buddha” Serial…

On the front desk of my favorite book shop “Bookworm” this series caught my attention with a good sense of design effect when stacked together ( just missed the part 2, can safely assume fast selling of all as it was out of stock) giving a perfect one-ness to series…

Outside a Tea Stall...

Out in the narrow lanes behind Russell Market, early morning just before the crowd picks up few early visitors take to a "wait state" at a tea stall… few are for the morning tea, few are waiting for the markets to open, few job seekers are awaiting with job enquiries ( daily wages)… a lot will happen over a cup of tea!!

Street Bargains…

Most satisfying experience of the buyer is perhaps a successful bargain, mostly on street sales of veggies and fruits. While mangos and lemons are no exception to this bargain on a market street..

Namma-Metro update…

It can be safely say that the most of the Metro work on MG Road is almost ready, major work seen where the girdles are places. The viaduct works are currently under way and 17 spans have been erected on the elevated stretch from Trinity Circle towards the Chinnaswamy cricket stadium. Work is currently under progress on the stretch between Adarsha Junction and Trinity Circle (S V Road).

Bangalore Biking…

Not an unusual sighting on the city roads, yet more probable on weekend mornings that the power bikers are seen in their full attire, attitude and aspirations amidst not so busy roads thundering eardrums of the city….

Russell Market @Morning....

Built in 1927 and busy since then, epitomizing the old-world legacy of Bangalore. Russell Market is one of the famous and oldest markets in the city. With meat, fish and poultry produce fruits, fresh fruits, and vegetables with great bargains for wholesale and retail businesses make it a favorite destination to entire city….

Only Taste @Bobby Da Dhaba, Adj. Gurudwara, Ulsoor..

It’s more than a decade that I know of this Dhaba and the wonderful experience of authentic Punjabi food it serves with thousands of patrons keep it busy any season and ignoring challenging ambience (or absence of it) the truth is about basic service and consistent taste for ages…

Dad, Buy me somei!!

Roaming in the garden along with her father this young girl is making him buy some kharapuri, There are such moments in everyone’s life from their childhood about making parents buy something while out… took me back memory lane few decades.

From the veggie market..

Visit to the vegetable market gives a snapshot of what’s on the menu of most of the bangaloreans. I guess looking at good brinjals we can safely guess vangi-bhat (puliogere) must be something on the menu for many ..

Father of Indian Horticulture…

The Statue of Dr. M.H. Marigowda in lalbagh, honored with a title “Jewel of Horticulture” who by revolutionizing the crop development made Karnataka, a model state in this field. He advocated Dry Land Horticulture and the principals and practices of these technologies were demonstrated in most of the farms started by him. It is said that this actually inspired most of the state the farmers to practice Dry Land Horticulture on vast dry and drought prone tracts of the state, which was a transformation...

Now Reading…

Street shot of the books I use to track who is reading what! Most of these are the cheap / pirated copies but tends to give an idea about which books are in demand, compared to last snapshot in Jan 09 and April 09 looks like some titles are here is stay…

@The Market Street…

There are pedestrians, there are autos, there is noise, there are goods, there is a need, there is energy, there are street vendors, there are bargains, and there is business. This is Shivaji Nagar Market in action!!

Mary's Basilica @Shivaji Nagar

This is the oldest church in Bangalore, built as a small chapel in 1818 and is the only church in the state that has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica. A grant and glorious Gothic-style church has stately arches supported by stained glass windows and multiple columns built in a rich Corinthian style.
In September each year St. Mary's Feast which celebrates the birth of Mother Mary is the most important festival celebrated in the basilica and is attended by thousands of people. The festivities go on for 10 days culminating in a grand chariot procession on the last day. A Novena is held on the first nine days from August 30 to September 7.

Flavor Memoire…

Three flavors that made our evening y’day are kept in the tray, single scoops of Orange Tang, Mango and Vanilla with choco chips from corner house . The young visitor to the city was enjoying almost all of them, a good taste he would ride on his memories for the city…

Drums n Beats…

Fascinating drum beats have always memorized many, this roadside seller perhaps knows this magical pull and converts it into a business opportunity selling various drums on a market street..

Crave for Brownie …

Perhaps the popular vote would swing in the favor of brownies, mine too…!! With a big sweet tooth with almost every street having some or the other kind of bakeries everyone keeps an eye for brownies as off the shelf they seem to disappear in shortest possible time when it comes to daily bread outlets in the city..

Chicken story…

Taken from a local chicken shop selling live chickens, the broilers (white feathered) are caged or tied together while the neighborhood hens (Country chickens also known as ‘Nati koli’) freely move around in and outside the shop… a real life contrast!!

Bengaluru Central…

The colorful entrance façade of the Bengaluru city railway station taken from the parking lot.. After quite along time that I visited the station I find it is equally crowded yet cleaner and more passenger friendly in terms of proactive signage, well lit inside and on the platforms and parking facilities for the visitors..

Cane Artifacts@Street sale

Roadside sales are the only option for these cane artisans. Using a bicycle to load the items and carry them to the nearest market place. After a good bargain, they might be able to sell entire lot over just one weekend due to great demand for bamboo items and affordable pricing to consumers….

Colored trends…

Catching trends is not easy but knowing it required a visit to Commercial Street for sure. The street shop displays say it all, what’s in and what’s on!!

Mungphali Munchin!!

Total time pass! The roasted peanuts ( Mungphali) are a great fun to munch! Many prefer this quick munching snack sold by many vendors on streets, some sold in bamboo baskets like this one….

Range of Indian Mangos & Jackfruits..

Lalbagh is housing mango and jackfruit festival till 15th June 09, number of varieties of mangos and even jackfruits( I never knew there exist varieties in jackfruits until I visited) the famous glass house there are quite a few stalls sampling the mangos and selling them at an affordable price…I was glad to see ( and taste few of ) the varieties like Langra , Nekkare, Arka Puneeth, Arka Arun, Totapuri, Amrapali, Sendhuri, Dashehari , Kesar, Rasapuri to name the few along with popular Badami & Alphonso…

Signatures of trees…

Fascinated by the trees, I continue to like observing patterns each tree portrays, this one in lalbagh was such a delight while it closes its leaves just before dusk leaving a nice canopy pattern …

Dosa artisans…

Making Dosa is an art, and quite a few had made it a point to master that in the city. Perhaps the street food vendors top the charts for faster, consistant yet tastier varieties..

Price points of Groceries…

Despite lower inflation indicator, groceries continue to maintain the higher price tags, with good monsoon forecast housewife’s are expecting some relief there…interestingly if you compare this older post in Nov 2008 few items like sugar has moved up over 30%...

Pickled Senses…

For any typical local restaurant serving meal, the pickles, chutneys are a must. They provide additional taste and flavor to the main course. Seen here are the containers kept in the center of the table with two different pickles (Lemon and Mango) and two dry chutneys along with sugar which is used to sweeten the curds served taken at the end of the meal…