Summer already?

Well whaddya know... It’s here and with a vengeance... It is already scorching hot and getting hotter with each passing day!

The most interesting thing is that the weather almost changed overnight, or so it seems, without even a warning or a hint, tch tch... Not that we could do have done anything about it but still!! At least, I could have prepared myself not just for the heat but also for the wonderful method with which the Govt chooses to make our lives even more miserable, the power cuts :-(

Yes dear Bangaloreans, brace yourselves up for hotter days and many more hours of agonising power cuts; they are here to stay. The day the weather changed, almost the very same say the power cuts also began – so far it’s only 4 hrs a day but I am 100% certain it is only going to increase along with the heat waves... Kudos to our Govt; they are punctual and prompt in this matter at least!

I never liked summer season which is quite contrary to my upbringing - born in the hot month of June in a desert (Rajasthan) and later spent 15 long years in Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu); summer and heat isn’t new to me but I have always hated it! Weather was the one thing that I liked about Bangalore but guess that’s changing as well, all thanks to the global warming... And guess what, the husband, brought up in Delhi and Bangalore, doesn’t mind the heat... A match made in heaven I swear!

And while I am crying here, the husband is facing one of the craziest blizzard ever in the US! I believe this year has been the worst ever in terms of snowfall... Phew... Talk about irony!!!

Now the only solution I have here is first to install a UPS. So far I never thought of that as something important but since the time I changed my work status from a working wife to a homemaker, I can tell you that this has become a necessity now. Well the second task is to get air-conditioning fixed, I know it might sound absurd for people living in Bangalore but times are changing and so is the weather... The only relief is rains and only God knows when and Oh I forgot the husband's consent for all these – after all it will come out of his pocket!!!!!!

Eating out

I know can be risky to health if done on a regular basis but I guess it’s ok to indulge in that sometimes esp. in my case where I have to do all the cooking no matter what time of the day it is!!!

Not that I cannot hire a cook but the main problem is because of the irregular timing that both of us get home making it almost impossible for any human being to adjust to it!!!

Therefore the question of an easier option (eating out, what else??) springs up automatically leading us to the various small food joints all over Bangalore… One such joint that I happened to visit last week is Ganesh Darshan, enroute from Sundru’s workplace to home... This is in Jayanagar 3rd block (very close to Jayanagar shopping complex)...

That's me with the so called Famous coffee!!!

Why it's getting featured on my blog is because of its yummy akki rotis and the amazing masala dosas (which is supposedly one of the best in town) attracting crowds no matter what time of the day it is. Also famous is its coffee though am afraid it didn't really score very high on my list of best coffees in Blore... The ultimate coffee choice for me is Brahmins (Basavangudi) and no other place is very close to it right now!!!

As far as eating out is concerned, I guess that’s inevitable sometimes; unless I find a cook who can cater to our diverse taste buds (both Marwadi and Iyer Cuisine).

IPL Fever – Semifinals

Continuing with the IPL fever, we decided to meet up at the 8th floor (Shaatz &Dia’s place) to watch the second semi-final between RCB & CSK yesterday.. With some light drinks and some light Chinese stuff for dinner, we had a ball of a time watching the match… And obviously the victory of B’lore was the icing on the cake… Though some of us (incl me) didn’t want them to win but what the heck, the best team won at the end!!!

It turned out to be an eventful evening with Chiins and Shaatz cheering Dr. Mallya’s Bengalooru guys while Sundru just bummed on losing again (his bet was on CSK)… Well, actually it’s like this - whichever team he chooses the always ends up on the losing side… So much for luck huh!!! So the next time you bet, you know whom to call up ;)

All I can is it was one helluva night and whatta match – can you believe it!!! The 7th and the 8th teams of last year’s IPL season in this year finals… Phew!!!! Is that a coincidence or what! Though Dia and my dad have a different story to tell (giving a match fixing angle to it) but I honestly think that’s definitely not the reason for their success… They have done all the hard work and I can definitely say that Kumble will be extremely happy that the numerological twist from Sanjay Jumani did work for sure and looking at the way these guys are playing, I wouldn’t be surprised they take the cup!!! B’lore is definitely on a roll!!!!!

Am leaving you guys with some snapshots of last night’s get-together while I catch up with the spicy match that’s currently on, Kumble is on a roll… Don’t wanna miss this ;)

People at UB city – watch out for Mallya’s free pitcher of beer for everyone in the building after B’lore’s victory on Sunday ;))) High hopes for sure!!!
That's Chiins, Sundru, Moa and Dia with breezers and Vodka

Shaatz, Chiins and Sundru celebrating B'lore win!

Dia and I posing while the husband peep!

That's Chiins, Sundru (drunk) me and Shaatz...

A trip down memory lane

Is what I’d call my day out with my nephew today… First time, just Sunil, me and the kiddo… The day was packed with fun, heat, crowd and badly maintained public places and children spaces. Having said that, I won’t argue on the fact that my nephew enjoyed, I think the smile on his face said it all. :)

Let’s get into the details now – Our first stop today was the Nehru Planetarium here in Bangalore. So poor and badly maintained I should say; we did manage to book our tickets for the Solar System show at 12.45. Well my nephew is around 4, so I don’t think he enjoyed this bit, though it was more like a refresher course for Sunil and me… No complains there, I was always fascinated with stars and things from my childhood days :). And as far as my nephew is concerned I think I shall come back in another 4 years from now – he’ll understand constellations and Orions by then hopefully!!!

I unfortunately can’t help but compare this with the Birla Planetarium in Hyderabad, the best one that I have visited so far… The Govt there is so willing to cooperate and have managed to maintain it so well. That’s what I can remember it. This sucks!!!

Next was a trip to the Govt Aquarium on Kasturba road – stinking & smelling and packed with local crowd though… I can definitely say that the nephew had a wonderful time and so was Sunil I think, explaining all the fishes to him. ;)… I am unfortunately the impatient types and hence have no patience with children at all… The husband is crazy about kids! Suits me :)

After a quick lunch at Subway, we ventured towards Cubbon Park for the toy train ride… First and foremost, the crowd management was very poor and I think they definitely need to do something about it... So, finally after much waiting & pushing through the crowd, we finally got onto the train… Boy was that fun or what!

We then let the kiddo play for sometime in the playground / park, which, though designed for kids, was primarily occupied by elders!!! That was that… phew… it was really one tiring day I tell you!!!

And btw, time for some gyan and insight now; how I long for some change in such public places. These are places that really need maintenance and am surprised that the Govt has ignored its duty completely and isn’t doing anything. These are the things for which we pay taxes and I would like to see that being used wisely for the well-being of the people… It’s disgusting to say that our future generation will be devoid of childhood fun if things continue the same way. We need a start somewhere...

Change

Are we ready for it? I am not sure whether I am. Not when we cut down our precious trees to make way for the ingenious automotives all over the place. Where have the long speeches of global warming/ campaigns of a green world gone?

I am not sure whether I like living in Bangalore any more - the once so ever green Bangalore is suddenly transpiring into a concrete jungle day after day. Every road I take is undertaking some structural changes, am not denying that this could possibly result in a better infrastructural undertaking but why torture the greenery around?

One thing that I have noticed is that due to the average tree cuts there has been a direct impact on the climatic condition. While a few years back we would refrain from using fans even on a normal summer day/night we are now resolving to install air conditioning in our respective homes and thus resulting in larger energy consumption and obstruct the green world. It is a full cycle if you ask me.

Even before we would feel the pinch of the sun, we would be stormed by rains but alas...now we just wait for the rains and yet no sign of it. thankfully owing to the occasional depression in Bay of Bengal helps us now and then - at least sending us strong pleasant winds these days, making me just sit by my window sill or my balcony - but then again i hear from the met dept to be short lives and we can expect soaring temps in coming days. *sigh*

I am surprised that no one condemned these or acted against it, but then I don’t know why I am even waiting for them to do it. I think as good citizens we should all take a pledge to plant 10 trees for every single tree cut. Only that can save us now.

Here are some snapshots that I took shocking and disapprovingly the heartbreaking infrastructural changes on Sheshadri road, an on-route to my work place, while some are from the web and some others I happen to take from my Phone. They sure look disturbing now.