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B - Bangalore

(I still prefer the old name, Bangalore)

B couldn't be anything else for me. Bangalore is not only my home town or the place I live. Bangalore to me is a way of life. Bangalore is my lifestyle and I'm a true blooded Bangalorean. I have always been in awe of Bangalore, but after my recent trip to the National capital, my respect for this city multiplied ten fold. This is my heaven and no matter what I shall never leave this place. I have travelled pretty much around India. I even stayed in Chennai for four whole months, thanks to my initial job training. I hated it to no end. No, not only the weather. The people, the culture, the transport and every thing else. When I went to Mumbai, the land of Bollywood, I was welcomed by slums and the cost of living there shook the living day lights out of me. The weather conditions are extreme too. 

The USP of Bangalore has always been its weather, which now is rapidly changing thanks to the IT boom and the thousands who pour in to the city everyday to make it their home. I have seen this city change right in front of my eyes. The garden city it sure was once upon a time. It still is in some parts of the city, yet, most of it has made way for an IT park or a residential haven. The cost of living has risen too, but not shot up. But more than all this, what I love the most about Bangalore is the lifestyle. I can never thank my parents enough for settling here. I have lived here for 27.8 years of my life and plan to do so till I shut my eye. People who come here for work and call themselves a Bangalorean after three or four years should go take a hike. The place you have been brought up in matters a lot. It in fact, defines you. It represents what all you have learnt in your growing up years. Like they say, you can always take a person out of his city, but you cannot take the city out of him. Yes, that.

(Bangalore International Airport)

During my training in Chennai everybody looked at me like an alien and spoke trash behind my back. Bangalore, modern, party, drinks, sex, different, were some of the words they used while talking about me. I did not care two hoots about it. Yes, Bangalore is all what they spoke about and I'm proud of it. At least what happens here happens in the open and people accept it whole heartedly. Bangalore is modern like no other place. Maybe the technology boom has somewhere helped. I have seen this city change from a fruit orchard to a shopping hub and I love it. I have seen landscapes being converted to concrete jungles and I love it. I have seen the night life extend from 10 pm to 11.30 pm and then finally to 1 am, and I love it. Everything about this city is dear to me. All of it. I have spent my childhood on every street and grown up in every lane. I know every nook and corner of the city and I'm totally proud of it.

I can recognise a Bangalorean from a mile. No, they don't have red hair or a halo around their head. Its very easy for me to spot them. The way they speak, the way they dress, the way they hold their drinks, everything. I have dated many non-Bangaloreans, of course you don't like a person just because he is from the same city. But all of it broke apart due to lifestyle issues. They did not understand why I wore modern clothes, or why I loved to drink rum. They asked me out for what I was, but later turned into a "In my city, girls are like....." kind. That's when I knew it was not working out. Thankfully I am married to a typical Bangalorean who is more Bangalorean than I am. We both just sat admiring the Bangalore International Airport on our recent trip. I mean, it felt like heaven.

(Skyye Bar at UB City)

Be it breakfast at a roadside shop or at The Monkey Bar, lunch at Airlines Hotel or Millers 46, dessert at Truffles or Berry'd Alive, we have it all. From street shopping at Commercial Street to high end shopping at UB City, from cozy cafes to high end bars and pubs, from 2BHKs to independent villas, the life in Bangalore is wonderful. We have our very own flea market too in 'Sunday Soul Sante'. Almost all the musical concerts are held here and every movie is released here. Any language, any time. We have art and theatre too. We now have the metro which will soon connect us to every part of the city. You name it, we have it. This city is paradise. 

Yes, the auto drivers and the traffic do irritate me, but it is all a small price to pay, to live in heaven.

My city my pride. Bangalore, my home for life.

~ Soumya

Comments

  1. I was not sure about any of the other alphabets, but I knew yesterday itself, M will be Mumbai. :) I know what you mean!

    I have been to most of the metropolitan cities but the only one where my stay was pleasant and vacation-y was Bangalore. Except for the rikshaw ride where the dude asked me for 500 bucks and I laughed for a good minute before I realised he was serious. :P Ouch. And my first night in Blore, my friends & I were treated to a very rare, very ID-card only, visit to the office. OMG was the only thing I could manage after walking around in the middle of the night all over the HUGE office (they had themes for each floor... one of the floors had a jungle theme and there was literally a reception desk in the middle of a forest). So. Much. Space. The only thing with this much space here is a mall lol. Fond memories of Bangalore indeed. :)

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    1. Haha, I guess we all have our city fetishes :)

      500 bucks? Why am I not surprised. I once told an auto driver I wanted a ride, and had no intention of buying his auto :P

      Space is abundant here, you should visit some malls here. They are HUGE. But I hate mall culture, so I stay away. Come back soon, this time I'll show you around!

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  2. Oh god! I wish I could say the same for Delhi :-(
    You are giving me reasons to run away from here ;-)

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  3. I love Bangalore n I miss it so much these days!

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  4. Never been to India but obviously I would have to visit Bangalore if I ever do make the trip.

    JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

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    1. Please let me know if you ever do, I'd be pleased to show you around!

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  5. I have never been there but I see people loving it like anything...wish to visit sometime

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  6. I've never been to Bangalore but your love for your city certainly shines through. Oh and I cannot call it Bengaluru. Just as I refuse to call Bombay Mumbai...

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    1. Oh I'm crazy about this city! I know Bombay sounds so much cooler right?

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  7. Oh my God, Oh my God, you are a Bangalorean, me too, me too. But, I stay in Beaverton nowadays and yes, I miss Bangalore. Monkey Bar, my sister-in-law is a big fan. :D

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    1. Come back soon then. No place like Bangalore.

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  8. hey there. i'm one of tina's minions. this was interesting. thanks for showing me such a neat snapshot of your world. :]

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    1. Hello Jenn, nice to meet you!

      You are welcome :)

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  9. So much love for the city! :) I love this city too, it's given me more and taught me more than my city ever could. I suspect Bangalore will always, always be special to me, no matter where I end up :)

    And I'm finally starting to get the hang of Kannada. About time too :)

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    1. I'm sure you will want to come back here if you end up somewhere else!

      Learnt Kannada eh? Olledhaithu :D

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  10. I was raised in Bhopal but my last 6 years were spent in Kochi and I feel the same for Kocchi like you feel for Bangalore :D
    I interned in bangalore for 2 months..and boy I did love it except for the transport system.

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    1. Ah the transport system has got much better now. Do visit soon, I'd love to meet you! :)

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  11. The city is indeed a multi-faceted one. It welcomes and encompasses all and that's what I love about Bangalore the most. It is friendly to everyone.

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    1. EXACTLY! I other cities I never see a smile on people's faces. Bangalore has been over welcoming. No wonder some people have extended their stay here :P

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  12. I was raised in Lucknow. Although it doesn't have many extraordinary facilities, it does feel awesome to be home. I've been in Bahrain for almost 5 years now and the feeling of it being a home is finally settling in. But we are nomads... don't think we will ever settle in one place :)
    Your post makes me wannna see Bangalore like right now!!!! Have 3 of my best friends living there... who knows... someday!

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    1. I think we all have that soft spot for the city we grew up in. Come down to Bangalore soon, now you have me too here! :)

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  13. I was raised in Trivandrum and married to Cochin. I was in Bangalore for around two years, and I miss it for my friends, not the place. ;-) All my Mallu friends who've been settled in Bangalore four to five years atleast , because of their IT jobs are trying every trick in the book to get out of that place..!
    I can see how much you love the place you've raised in, though!

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    1. Being a mallu I never have liked Kerala. Somehow found it backward all the time. Maybe its because I have always been in Bangalore and used to the lifestyle here. Some people find it difficult to adjust here as the life here is very fast paced. I have a lot of IT friends from other places who curse Bangalore to no end. Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion! :)

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  14. Like u are from kerala, but a bangalorean at heart..... im a bangalorean who is a nagpurian at heart having been born and brought up there....the only difference is im now back in bangalore and i can't seem to let go being a nagpurian!!!! but reading ur post from your view may soften my stand....and perhaps build a little place in my heart for this city...

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    1. You probably are one of the very few who haven't accepted Bangalore yet. It might take time, but it shall happen I know! :)

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  15. Namma Bengaluru the best :) Soumz... C for Cal right? waiting :)

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    1. Best indeed!

      C for something else. I have written enough about Cal already :P

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  16. I have lived 24 years of life in delhi....and only 3 years in bangalore....and I can tell you its my favorite-est city so far. I love love love the place. Everything you described is so true and made me so nostalgic.

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    1. Best city ever. Thanks for visiting Ghata!

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