Idli Vadai Crave....

Idli Vadai with chutney's (white and red) and sambar served hot on banana leaf….

An ideal breakfast choice… not everyday but more often over the weekend we wonder around Bangalore fast food joints to try out …. it's rare to find the shop which does not offer this menu when it comes to light refreshements and snacks...

The taste differs based on chutneys and sambar not to mention the idli dove preparations also make lot of difference…what a great option to start you day with…and end along too!!

Looking Back...

Bangalore Daily Photo completes one year!!

Visits > Average per Day ................ 211

An important milestone for all of us who read and share their thoughts, views and opinions on, about and for Bangalore... Here is the opportunity to share the same location and same jacaranda tree, The first post a year ago and started the BDP...

For me it re-enforces the consistency and unlimited joy of observing and sharing this beautiful city.. Sincerely thanking the patronage I receive from all my readers and visitors...

Thank you, you keep me Going!!

Feeling Hot Hot Hot!!

It's been quite hot for last few days, the old timers in Bangalore murmer this to be the hottest summer they have experienced in last 10 years with mercury rising to 36-38 deg Celcius in parts of the city... last week the humidity dropped to 14-15% making it more difficult...

Bangalore for sure is craving for rains!!

No man's Kite...

This snaps brings back my childhood memories of kite flying... can't forget those days, when we use to make kites, fly them and compete with friends and wait for claiming these kind of 'no man's' kites when they are lost in air due to the glass studded threads cut each other..and are owned by those who could grab them after they decent to ground...

Namsake Security...

The old man looks so tired that he is catching up with sleep early morning on the door step of his establishement, perhaps his reliever has not reached and he is expected to run the show till then...

Telecom Needs...

Busy STD/ISD ( long distance) telephone booth at CBS ( Central bus Stand), used by thousands who communicate with distant friends or relatives before starting the journey ...interestingly here is an overview of exiting journey of indian telecom...

The Indian telecom industry has changed significantly over the last decade as all its segments have now been opened up to competition. The country's telecom market is growing rapidly and by 2010, telecom is expected to be a US$38 billion sector, contributing 5.4% to India 's GDP. Teledensity has increased four-fold in the last five years and service tariffs have gone down substantially. The last five years have witnessed the number of phones more than triple, taking the total number to 140.3 million at the end of March 2006. Total telecom penetration has increased from 2.9% in 2002 to 12.8% at the end of 1Q 2006, a growth mainly generated by the mobile and private sectors. Refer recent TRAI annual report..

Call of Duty....

While temperatures soar post 33-24 degree Celsius mid noon with humidity as low as 13%, spotted this person in a small shade of a tree on the pavement.

Perhaps he is one of the many drivers who are engaged to ferry staffers from BPO ot ITES firmes working in the night shift. He is thus catching up with his sleep after a night shift as a driver for some BPO firm and preparing himself for another night duty. Sometimes these drivers stay on job for more than 12-14 hours and stay away from home/family for 2-3 days till they are relieved by some other driver…

The success of IT revolution in the city is supported by all such devotees who despite getting exploited in the name of duty support the round the clock operations making other’s successful….

Crossposted on Metblogs

Jalebi's ...on street!!

Street food is inevitable part of Indian life, if one can discount hygiene factors over the taste it can be explored vividly… Here is a snack seller on Avenue road, keeping Jalebi's ready along with breakfast or brunch…

Jalebi’s , this sweet is a hot favourite on any special occasion be it a birthday, wedding or festival or even without such reasons… Jalebi’s though mostly eaten by themselves, can also be soaked in warm milk.

Here is the recipe …

Varieties of Rice...

The varieties of Rice offered at a wholesale grains trader in the local market, there were more than 20 varieties he had to offer, not to mention quite a few more.

Rice has been feeding mankind for more than 5,000 years. Almost two-thirds of the world's population servives because of Rice.. God Shiva called rice Vrihi, in Sanskrit.

India is one of the original centres of rice cultivation. The rice harvesting area in India is the world's largest. Indian rice cultivation is found in all states, but West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar are the major producing states. More..

Cricket Forever...

Cricket fans gather outside showrooms to enjoy the world cup live telecast, the scene is common throughout india ... Most of the showrooms will encourage this fever by putting up larger screen's on their display's...the cheering crowds wncourage others stop by and catch some glimpses while on the move and keep updated on latest scores ...

Old timers

Tailoring is an age old tradition, an occupation that seems to have survived centuries…I spotted this old tailor in his old shop representing the same. There are many families here which for generations have their own trailers managing their customized clothing needs with long lasting relationships…

Road over bridge...

A quick snap from the city center, early morning on a weekend ...

The sunshine, movie posters, waiting auto's.... few wonderers already on street before the crowd swallows the roads...

Ugadi, The New year...

Flower sales surge on account of Ugadi, (Telugu: ఉగాది, Kannada: ಉಗಾದಿ) (literally - the start of an era) is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa.

Ugadi is celebrated on different day every year because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar calendar. The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March/April) and the Ugadi mark the first day of the new year for people who follow the southern Indian lunar calendar, pervasively adhered to in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

This calendar reckons dates based on the Salivahana era (Salivahana Saka), which begins its count from the supposed date of the founding of the Empire by the legendary hero Salivahana. The Satavahana king Shalivahana (also identified as Gautamiputra Satakarni) is credited with the initiation of this era known as Shalivahana. The Salivahana era begins its count of years from the year corresponding to 78 AD of the Gregorian calendar. Thus, the year 2000 AD corresponds to the year 1922 of the Salivahana Era.

Cricket Fever....

The World Cup 2007 Cricket fever seems to have caught up in the city, shopkeeprs are cheering the crowd with displays and encash the entusiasum selling their goods...

Mango's are here!!

Summer brings along another gift, the food of gods, the Mango...Many mango trees are seen bearing fruits across the city, the young boys clout arond the trees to lay their hands on the immature fruit called 'kaccha aam' ( raw mango) in hindi...

Reference to mangos as the "food of the gods" can be found in the Hindu Vedas and the leaves are ritually used for floral decorations at Hindu marriages and religious ceromonies...

Clay collection...

Here is a nice display of clay articles kept for sale on roadside, the varieties and the range is tempts commuters to stop by and shop... compared with few earlier posts on clay, this collection seems to have more varieties ...

Blooming Jacaranda...

Jacaranda bloom, the summer time city is witnessing this beautiful bloom on most of its gardens and roads, the purple magic continues to cherish the spirit of garden city…

The Blue Jacaranda, more often known simply as the "Jacaranda", is a sub-tropical tree native to South America that has been widely planted elsewhere because of its beautiful and long-lasting blue flowers.

Water Coolers, the Nature way!!

Summer coming, the local market shows up this innovative water bottles. These are the made up of PET bottles left over from softdrinks or packagaed drinking waters wrapped in dry banana leaves to help maintain the water cooler than the outside temparature. Useful for those who work in the sun or on the move the most of the day...

Pink, Color of the week

Pink is inn... the varieties of pink transformed into the various indianwares displayed at this shop to catch in every opportunity possible to keep his customers shopping fever!!

Yelhanka Bus Station....

Street shot outside yelhanka bus station, one of the fastest growing suburb of Bangalore ude to it's close proximity for new Bangalore International Airport proposed to start it's operation from next year.. besides autorickshaws this is the only option commuters prefer to commute back and forth from city center...

The Samosa...

Perhaps this crispy snack is so popular in india that the may not not require an introduction... Samosa comes with diffrent stuffing's generally with potato or peas, this one which we tasted at Bhagatram on Commercial street was good and tempting...

here is the recipe, if you wish to try your hands on...

Adda, The Semi-urban Business Center..

A comoon scene in and around many semiurban localities, a small tea/coffee stall works as a 'business center' perse enabling networking, snacks, phone facility and even a free newspaper for regulars. Commonly called as 'adda' in the neighbourhood...

Blank Noise @Bangalore

"When did you become an Action Hero?" ask yourself....

The concept of the world's bloggers getting together to say NO to bullying, eve teasing and other assorted perils that affects an average Indian woman on a regular basis.

share. talk. inspire. understand. tell. speak. hear. be heard. narrate. voice. throw open.

Over 100+ women took to the street and marched famous Brigade road and M G Road y’day evening… wearing the ‘Arrow’ to celebrate the spirit of womanhood, and so is the Blank Noise Project.

More Photo's here..

Changing Face of Empowerment & Self Reliance!!

- On Women’s day!! Here is to salute to the true spirit of independent & empowered women of Bangalore.

I picked up this photo in a BMTC Volvo and there she was, confident and sharp lady conductor. She was all the way kind enough to answer all our queries gently, while we did a round trip from CBS to Yelhanka and back just to feel the Volvo journey and enjoy the ride…

This face helps us relate to break the social paradigms set for centuries. It demonstrates that more and more aspects, avenues and opportunities for growth, prosperity and self reliance are opening up and available to women.

Crossposted on Metblogs..

The Battery works...

Battery, becoming an inavitable part of our life day by day. Here is a snap of a shop opened for business early morning and staff yet to get into the services...somewhere is sheshadripuram locality...

Changing Times @CBS

A quick snap/look at the central bus stand. Changing times have introducted Airconditioned buses admist the old ones, crowd selectively chooses the destinations and carriers, busy Central Bus Stand (CBS) now accomodated both pradigms...

Holi, The fun and play...

being kids, holi brings out the best of Masti, fun and relate life with frolic of colors with friends, the parents being done that in their childhood live through the fun seeing children happy...

being grown ups the colors redefine friendship and freedom, wondering the streets, watching 'big boys' play and mimicing the same with own friends ...

for the young the festival becomes one more great event to play with colors, networking with neighbouring youth circles ...

Water Charity...

In continuation from the previous post on 'Summer Coming' here is another perspective from sheshadri puram locality, which provides free drinking water to beat the thirst. Significantly such service if free and supported locally by volunteering.
The earthen pots used to store the water are called 'matka' and is an ancient way to store water and regulate the water temperature below normal temperature.

Summer Coming!!

In reality for any Bangalorean no reason is required for ice-creams. Anytime is icecream time any day, any season. As the mercury soars into 30+ celcius, that becomes all the more convincing to slurrp....

"Holi Hai"

Holi the joyful Colurs are here, an annual and popular festival,It takes place over two days in the later part of February or early March. As per the Hindu calendar, it falls on the Phalgun Purnima (or Pooranmashi, Full Moon). It is also called the Festival of Colours.

Shops deck up for the new pitchkari’s and colors, and the market loads up additional sweets to fulfill the need …
On the first day, a bonfire is lit at night to signify burning Holika. On the second day, known as Dhulandi, people go around until afternoon throwing colored powder and water at each other saying "Holi Hai". People invite each other to their houses for feasts and celebrations later in the evening. Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colors.

Gulab Jamun @ MTR

For avarage indian this delicacy is unique, and MTR with their mastery over the south indian food add more magic into them!! I tried the same with my few metblogger friends and was a fun time!!

Gulab jamun (gul-aab jaa-mun) is a popular Indian sweet dish comprised of fried dough (made of condensed milk solid and very little flour) in a sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom seeds and rosewater or saffron. It may have originated from eastern India (Orissa and Bengal).

here is the recipe for those who wish to try this at home...