Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
You know chinese ..well, cantonese rather? I did get to be quite decent in chinglish but not much cantonese beyond "kung hei fat choy" (and you'll hear that a lot with chinese new year coming up in a couple of weeks) :) Vinit B [12/01/09 17:06 +0530]: Late to the "reply" queue, but was enjoying localizing myself in Hong Kong and Shenzhen for the last 2 weeks. So, I guess I have more thoughts ... Each time I go to a properly modern city (HK, London, NYC) I quickly feel at home. I know that all the basics I need are available: food I like, entertainment I like, people I know, safety of law enforcement, language I know, etc To be fair, I would live in any decently modern city without too much cribbing. But home is home. - Vinit -Original Message- From: silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net [mailto:silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net] On Behalf Of Venkat Mangudi Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:39 AM To: silklist@lists.hserus.net Subject: Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka > I appreciate your enthusiasm but what is it that draws you back? As an > "outsider" not raised in Indian culture (but appreciates the variety > of experiences the world has to offer) it seems to me that Singapore > or Munich would be preferable. > I came back because I feel I belong here. Everywhere else, I am a foreigner. You'll be surprised how people can change if your skin is a different color. The worst experience was in a mall in Fremont, CA. Somebody once told me CA was the most broadminded state. All that is nonsense. Kentucky treated me better, I think. But I digress. Before I get back to the mainstream discussion, let me state for the record that some of my best friends are not Indian and hence I am not biased against non Indians. I came back because I told myself even before I left India over a decade ago, that I would come back. I totally loved it in Munich and Darmstadt (I lived there for a while as well). Singapore was very
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Late to the "reply" queue, but was enjoying localizing myself in Hong Kong and Shenzhen for the last 2 weeks. So, I guess I have more thoughts ... Each time I go to a properly modern city (HK, London, NYC) I quickly feel at home. I know that all the basics I need are available: food I like, entertainment I like, people I know, safety of law enforcement, language I know, etc To be fair, I would live in any decently modern city without too much cribbing. But home is home. - Vinit > -Original Message- > From: silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net > [mailto:silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net] On > Behalf Of Venkat Mangudi > Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:39 AM > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Subject: Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on > Karnataka > > > I appreciate your enthusiasm but what is it that draws you back? As > an > > "outsider" not raised in Indian culture (but appreciates the variety > > of experiences the world has to offer) it seems to me that Singapore > > or Munich would be preferable. > > > I came back because I feel I belong here. Everywhere else, I am a > foreigner. You'll be surprised how people can change if your skin is a > different color. The worst experience was in a mall in Fremont, CA. > Somebody once told me CA was the most broadminded state. All that is > nonsense. Kentucky treated me better, I think. But I digress. Before I > get back to the mainstream discussion, let me state for the record that > some of my best friends are not Indian and hence I am not biased > against non Indians. > > I came back because I told myself even before I left India over a > decade ago, that I would come back. I totally loved it in Munich and > Darmstadt (I lived there for a while as well). Singapore was very
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 8:41 AM, Thaths wrote: > > Interestingly, I have been treated worse in India by people who > thought I could not speak their language (because I had long hair, ear > piercings, dressed and carried myself differently, etc.) than in > deepest Dixieland. Recently at music class one of the parents of another kid who learns music asked my teacher "Why does that Christian girl not attend class anymore?" which confused the teacher so they explained "The one with short hair". Quantum leap of faith that !! Over the decades I'm used to the (funny) situations where someone is passing a lewd/derogatory comment thinking I cant understand the language, thereby giving me a chance to show the depth and breath of cuss words in the local dialects and mood permitting in Sanskrit, a veritable storehouse in this regard. -- .
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Addiing another data point to this discussion. On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 10:39 AM, Venkat Mangudi wrote: > I came back because I feel I belong here. Everywhere else, I am a > foreigner. I feel I do not belong anywhere, at the same time, feel at home everywhere. > You'll be surprised how people can change if your skin is a > different color. The worst experience was in a mall in Fremont, CA. > Somebody once told me CA was the most broadminded state. All that is > nonsense. Kentucky treated me better, I think. Interestingly, I have been treated worse in India by people who thought I could not speak their language (because I had long hair, ear piercings, dressed and carried myself differently, etc.) than in deepest Dixieland. > But I digress. Before I > get back to the mainstream discussion, let me state for the record that > some of my best friends are not Indian and hence I am not biased against > non Indians. Even though I live in some country for the moment and travel to others for reasons of leisure, work and family, I feel at home in all of them. When I was working in Bangalore a few years ago, the reasons for my (temporary) return to that particular city were: * Access to some of the western comforts I had gotten used to - food, culture. * Relatively ease in travelling within the city using auto rickshaws. * Ability to travel through a state I had not travelled widely through in the past. Thaths PS: Aawara Hoon -- "Silly Indians. Our God made their God" -- Homer J. Simpson
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
On Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 9:09 PM, Venkat Mangudi wrote: The worst experience was in a mall in Fremont, CA. > Somebody once told me CA was the most broadminded state. All that is > nonsense. Kentucky treated me better, I think. But I digress. Before I > get back to the mainstream discussion, let me state for the record that > some of my best friends are not Indian and hence I am not biased against > non Indians. > > Just for the record...I'm white (and female) and none too comfortable in Fremont, CA. Middle of the US is even worse. I'm much more comfortable in India than I am in Ohio...but prefer San Francisco to everywhere else in the world. No, I wasn't born here. Danese
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Charles Haynes wrote: > [My first post using the gmail client on my android phone. It appears to > force me to top post and I can't seem to trim. Sigh. Time to submit a bug > report] > Same thing with Gmail on my bberry. Somebody should tell the Product Managers at Google. ;) > I appreciate your enthusiasm but what is it that draws you back? As an > "outsider" not raised in Indian culture (but appreciates the variety of > experiences the world has to offer) it seems to me that Singapore or Munich > would be preferable. > I came back because I feel I belong here. Everywhere else, I am a foreigner. You'll be surprised how people can change if your skin is a different color. The worst experience was in a mall in Fremont, CA. Somebody once told me CA was the most broadminded state. All that is nonsense. Kentucky treated me better, I think. But I digress. Before I get back to the mainstream discussion, let me state for the record that some of my best friends are not Indian and hence I am not biased against non Indians. I came back because I told myself even before I left India over a decade ago, that I would come back. I totally loved it in Munich and Darmstadt (I lived there for a while as well). Singapore was very nice, for a short while. Too small, I should say. Seoul was ok, but I could not hold an intelligent conversation with a warm body 80% of the time. We used to run away to Itaewon to "talk" during the weekends. Drinking was just a by product of those meetings. And don't get me started on the garlic. Germany was a pleasure, but the undertones of xenophobia is very evident. Both the East and West coast of the US of A was very good for work. Social life was nonexistent and a support system was missing in our lives. Moreover, we did not want our children to miss out on family. We decided to head back when our daughter was ready for first grade, and we did it slightly ahead of schedule. Why first grade? I think it is about the right time for my kid to have some memories of her early childhood, but not drawn to it so much to spurn her new country of residence. > Are you just indulging in a hyperbolic reaction or can you try to explain it > in a way a non-Indian could understand? Is it family? Culture? Cuisine? > Familiarity? Something else? > Hopefully what I said was non-hyperbolic and made sense to the non-Indians. --Venkat
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Charles Haynes [27/12/08 09:52 +1100]: I appreciate your enthusiasm but what is it that draws you back? As an "outsider" not raised in Indian culture (but appreciates the variety of experiences the world has to offer) it seems to me that Singapore or Munich would be preferable. Lived in India and Hong Kong, worn out 4 passports in 6 years traveling around the world. Singapore is fun except that it has dictatorial laws against a lot of things we indians take for granted .. speeding, jaywalking, whatever :) Munich? I like pork sausages but my family is entirely vegetarian (and my wife didnt particularly like the smell of boiling pork in hong kong .. sure, and while I've eaten camel and ostrich in saudi arabia and kangaroo steaks in australia, I dont know why but I dont like boiling pork either, roast tastes just fine) Are you just indulging in a hyperbolic reaction or can you try to explain it in a way a non-Indian could understand? Is it family? Culture? Cuisine? Familiarity? Something else? Combination? srs
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
[My first post using the gmail client on my android phone. It appears to force me to top post and I can't seem to trim. Sigh. Time to submit a bug report] I appreciate your enthusiasm but what is it that draws you back? As an "outsider" not raised in Indian culture (but appreciates the variety of experiences the world has to offer) it seems to me that Singapore or Munich would be preferable. Are you just indulging in a hyperbolic reaction or can you try to explain it in a way a non-Indian could understand? Is it family? Culture? Cuisine? Familiarity? Something else? -- Charles On Dec 27, 2008 5:03 AM, "Venkat Mangudi" wrote: Vinit B wrote: > Here is my official email declaring this as "what rot". > Born and bought up here. ... +1 We'll get there eventually, I think. --Venkat (who is of the firm opinion that coming back home to Bangalore is better than living in Seoul, Munich, Singapore, Piscataway, Fremont-CA or Woodbridge-NJ)
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Vinit B wrote: > Here is my official email declaring this as "what rot". > Born and bought up here. Of course I'm biased, dammit. > +1 We'll get there eventually, I think. --Venkat (who is of the firm opinion that coming back home to Bangalore is better than living in Seoul, Munich, Singapore, Piscataway, Fremont-CA or Woodbridge-NJ)
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Perry, Bought up NYC (and Lincoln tunnel) specifically because I've spent multiple years in Newark, NJ. That's one way to be familiar with the crowd going *to* NYC during rush hour!! --- About the private companies ... India is currently in the midst of a PPV (Public-Private-Partnership) boom right now. Basically, many infrastructure projects are being taken up by private companies with Govt. backing (and guarantees, as far as toll collection, land acquisition, etc are concerned) Few examples: DND Toll Road in Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad Airports, N.I.C.E. Ring road in Bangalore. They are doing well for now. But I can see how a few decades down the line, some lame-ass ministry decides that these should be handled by the Govt. and not by private companies. The bigger problem I see here is that slowly, private companies are going towards running defense contracts and not infrastructure projects. That's the real risk people should worry about. - Vinit > -Original Message- > From: silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net > [mailto:silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net] On > Behalf Of Perry E. Metzger > Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:54 AM > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Subject: Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on > Karnataka > > > "Vinit B" writes: > > Here is my official email declaring this as "what rot". > > Born and bought up here. Of course I'm biased, dammit. > > > > Next time anyone has problems with Bangalore traffic, I'm going to > get > > them lined up outside the Lincoln tunnel going into NYC on Monday > > morning at 9am in the cash-only toll-lane. > > Not that you meant to bring up New York specifically, but as I live > here... > > Infrastructure in New York has been disintegrating for decades. Sadly, > so long as central planning and subsidized services are the main > mechanisms by which infrastructure will be managed, it will continue to > get worse. > > For example, the city's subways were a wonderful innovation. They were > built by private companies and made money. They were then driven into > the ground when the government limited on the fares they could charge > to below the cost of operation, following which they were bankrupted > and subsequently taken over by the state. Were entrepreneurs free to > address the city's traffic issues, doubtless numerous ways could be > found to improve them, but that was taken off the table decades ago. > > Right now, because the subways lose money on every passenger, success > makes them more and more economically unstable. Because the subways > have attracted record ridership for several years, they're on the verge > of financial collapse. Contrast this with what would happen if you had > a store and had a record number of customers -- you would be thinking > about ways to expand. > > Lest anyone think I believe there was a golden age in the past here, it > corruption and government meddling has been at the heart of the > management of New York City for around two hundred years. > Unfortunately, there is no end in sight. The majority of the local > population believe very firmly that capitalism is evil and private > organizations must not be allowed to manage infrastructure. So long as > that continues, politicians will have cover to continue mismanaging > everything in sight. > > Perry
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
"Vinit B" writes: > Here is my official email declaring this as "what rot". > Born and bought up here. Of course I'm biased, dammit. > > Next time anyone has problems with Bangalore traffic, I'm going to get them > lined up outside the Lincoln tunnel going into NYC on Monday morning at 9am > in the cash-only toll-lane. Not that you meant to bring up New York specifically, but as I live here... Infrastructure in New York has been disintegrating for decades. Sadly, so long as central planning and subsidized services are the main mechanisms by which infrastructure will be managed, it will continue to get worse. For example, the city's subways were a wonderful innovation. They were built by private companies and made money. They were then driven into the ground when the government limited on the fares they could charge to below the cost of operation, following which they were bankrupted and subsequently taken over by the state. Were entrepreneurs free to address the city's traffic issues, doubtless numerous ways could be found to improve them, but that was taken off the table decades ago. Right now, because the subways lose money on every passenger, success makes them more and more economically unstable. Because the subways have attracted record ridership for several years, they're on the verge of financial collapse. Contrast this with what would happen if you had a store and had a record number of customers -- you would be thinking about ways to expand. Lest anyone think I believe there was a golden age in the past here, it corruption and government meddling has been at the heart of the management of New York City for around two hundred years. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight. The majority of the local population believe very firmly that capitalism is evil and private organizations must not be allowed to manage infrastructure. So long as that continues, politicians will have cover to continue mismanaging everything in sight. Perry
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Ouch. I must be remembering that week when it was inaugurated with the Rs. 11.1428571 (insert your favourite random whole number here) toll wherein they expected exact change and I was stuck for over 3 hours, on 3 separate days. My bad. See, just as how Gurgaon's miseries are forgotten in a few months, so will Bangalore's, in a few months or years! And it would be a better argument if you used the Delhi Metro as an example. I'm a fan. BTW. - Vinit > -Original Message- > From: silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net > [mailto:silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net] On > Behalf Of Priyanka Sachar > Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:15 AM > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Subject: Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on > Karnataka > > And as someone who drives twice a day up and down the Delhi-Gurgaon > "elevated" road with an average speed of at least 100kmph (with 130kmph > at > times) - I can safely tell u that the delhi-gur expressway can not be > compared to bangalore's traffic at all. :) > > > > > Next time anyone has problems with Bangalore traffic, I'm going to > > > get > > them > > > lined up outside the Lincoln tunnel going into NYC on Monday > morning > > > at > > 9am > > > in the cash-only toll-lane. > > > > > > Or, closer home, driving from Bandra to Worli (before the sea-link) > > during > > > rush-hour. > > > Or, driving from Delhi to Gurgaon on the "new elevated road" > > > >
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Danese, What you say about giving "Bangalore the miss" is well taken. For the longest time (even before the present mess), I've thought of Bangalore to just be a stop-over on the way to Mysore, Goa, Kerala or other more wonderful south Indian destinations. For the tourists. My problem is when people call Bangalore a bad place to "live". At the end of the day, we still have climate on our side. And *that* cannot be manufactured or constructed elsewhere easily. (I know, using the awesome Bangalorean climate as an example is a cheap trick, but we gotta use what we have!) Though, I appreciate your comparing Bangalore to Noida. And not Gurgaon. Whew! ;) - Vinit > -Original Message- > From: silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net > [mailto:silklist-bounces+vinit=bhansalimail@lists.hserus.net] On > Behalf Of Danese Cooper > Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:05 AM > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Subject: Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on > Karnataka > > Must admit (as a business tourist and not a local), I wouldn't visit if > there wasn't an interesting event happening. I don't care about the > infrastructure issues (grew up in LA...and you forgot to mention > gridlock in Beijing, Bangkok, the airport road into Hanoi...your city > doesn't actually have the worst infrastructure I've ever seen, but...). > Compared to visiting most Indian cities, Bangalore is like one big > Indian-themed mall. > Culturally, its akin to visiting Noida. > > As I say, I grew up in LA, and for the longest time I suffered when > people knocked my city...the poor air quality for instance. My > standard response was "Hey, if you can't see the air you're breathing, > how do you know it's even there?". The callowness of the inhabitants. > Even people I grew up with thought I belonged in Berkeley ;-). So I > understand your loyalty, Vinit...but have to break it to you that the > article isn't so far off the mark as I see it. > > There are many people I love in Bangalore, but the place??...its a > sadly sanitized and oddly westernized version of India. I routinely > recommend that people give it a miss if they can possibly do so. > > Danese > > On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 9:16 AM, Vinit B > wrote: > > > Here is my official email declaring this as "what rot". > > Born and bought up here. Of course I'm biased, dammit. > > > > Next time anyone has problems with Bangalore traffic, I'm going to > get > > them lined up outside the Lincoln tunnel going into NYC on Monday > > morning at 9am in the cash-only toll-lane. > > > > Or, closer home, driving from Bandra to Worli (before the sea-link) > > during rush-hour. > > Or, driving from Delhi to Gurgaon on the "new elevated road" > > > > The phrase "Infrastructure problems" was not coined just for > > Bangalore, and won't be disused post-Bangalore. > > > > --- > > Taken in a lighter vein, of course no-one expects accolades in a book > > titled > > "101 places not to visit". > > > > - Vinit > > > > > -Original Message- > > > Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 2:42 PM > > > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > > > Subject: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on > > > Karnataka > > > > > > Found this on another mailing list, and I don't > agreeentirely > > > > > > From one who grew up in Bangalore: > > > > > > Heaven knows that Bangalore has problems spilling out of its back > > > pockets. > > > But when the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) showcases a book titled > > > '101 places not to visit< > > > http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Places-Not-Visit- > > > Destinations/dp/1861058586>' > > > by *Adam Russ*, with Bangalore securing the pride of place in the > > > India section, it's time to sit up and cry. > > > > > > > > > > >
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
And as someone who drives twice a day up and down the Delhi-Gurgaon "elevated" road with an average speed of at least 100kmph (with 130kmph at times) - I can safely tell u that the delhi-gur expressway can not be compared to bangalore's traffic at all. :) > > Next time anyone has problems with Bangalore traffic, I'm going to get > them > > lined up outside the Lincoln tunnel going into NYC on Monday morning at > 9am > > in the cash-only toll-lane. > > > > Or, closer home, driving from Bandra to Worli (before the sea-link) > during > > rush-hour. > > Or, driving from Delhi to Gurgaon on the "new elevated road" > >
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Must admit (as a business tourist and not a local), I wouldn't visit if there wasn't an interesting event happening. I don't care about the infrastructure issues (grew up in LA...and you forgot to mention gridlock in Beijing, Bangkok, the airport road into Hanoi...your city doesn't actually have the worst infrastructure I've ever seen, but...). Compared to visiting most Indian cities, Bangalore is like one big Indian-themed mall. Culturally, its akin to visiting Noida. As I say, I grew up in LA, and for the longest time I suffered when people knocked my city...the poor air quality for instance. My standard response was "Hey, if you can't see the air you're breathing, how do you know it's even there?". The callowness of the inhabitants. Even people I grew up with thought I belonged in Berkeley ;-). So I understand your loyalty, Vinit...but have to break it to you that the article isn't so far off the mark as I see it. There are many people I love in Bangalore, but the place??...its a sadly sanitized and oddly westernized version of India. I routinely recommend that people give it a miss if they can possibly do so. Danese On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 9:16 AM, Vinit B wrote: > Here is my official email declaring this as "what rot". > Born and bought up here. Of course I'm biased, dammit. > > Next time anyone has problems with Bangalore traffic, I'm going to get them > lined up outside the Lincoln tunnel going into NYC on Monday morning at 9am > in the cash-only toll-lane. > > Or, closer home, driving from Bandra to Worli (before the sea-link) during > rush-hour. > Or, driving from Delhi to Gurgaon on the "new elevated road" > > The phrase "Infrastructure problems" was not coined just for Bangalore, and > won't be disused post-Bangalore. > > --- > Taken in a lighter vein, of course no-one expects accolades in a book > titled > "101 places not to visit". > > - Vinit > > > -----Original Message- > > Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 2:42 PM > > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > > Subject: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on > > Karnataka > > > > Found this on another mailing list, and I don't agreeentirely > > > > From one who grew up in Bangalore: > > > > Heaven knows that Bangalore has problems spilling out of its back > > pockets. > > But when the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) showcases a book titled '101 > > places not to visit< http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Places-Not-Visit- > > Destinations/dp/1861058586>' > > by *Adam Russ*, with Bangalore securing the pride of place in the India > > section, it's time to sit up and cry. > > > > > >
Re: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Here is my official email declaring this as "what rot". Born and bought up here. Of course I'm biased, dammit. Next time anyone has problems with Bangalore traffic, I'm going to get them lined up outside the Lincoln tunnel going into NYC on Monday morning at 9am in the cash-only toll-lane. Or, closer home, driving from Bandra to Worli (before the sea-link) during rush-hour. Or, driving from Delhi to Gurgaon on the "new elevated road" The phrase "Infrastructure problems" was not coined just for Bangalore, and won't be disused post-Bangalore. --- Taken in a lighter vein, of course no-one expects accolades in a book titled "101 places not to visit". - Vinit > -Original Message- > Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 2:42 PM > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net > Subject: [silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on > Karnataka > > Found this on another mailing list, and I don't agreeentirely > > From one who grew up in Bangalore: > > Heaven knows that Bangalore has problems spilling out of its back > pockets. > But when the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) showcases a book titled '101 > places not to visit< http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Places-Not-Visit- > Destinations/dp/1861058586>' > by *Adam Russ*, with Bangalore securing the pride of place in the India > section, it's time to sit up and cry. >
[silk] who killed bangalore? from the "churumuri" blog on Karnataka
Found this on another mailing list, and I don't agreeentirely >From one who grew up in Bangalore: Heaven knows that Bangalore has problems spilling out of its back pockets. But when the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) showcases a book titled '101 places not to visit< http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Places-Not-Visit-Destinations/dp/1861058586>' by *Adam Russ*, with Bangalore securing the pride of place in the India section, it's time to sit up and cry. The introduction to Bangalore reads: "In the heart of a country of incredible sensory richness lies a town with all the life-loving vibrancy of a chicken battery farm" And through nine short paragraphs, the 192-page "essential guide to the world's most miserable, ugly, boring and inbred destinations" (published by Robson Books) tears into Bangalore's food, bars, museums, and everybody's favourite whipping boy, infrastructure. Admittedly, its flippant tone—"tongue-in-cheek, laugh-out-loud humour (that) outlines all the not so attractive elements"—will not meet everyone's OK, but Russ does really shows how the light has gone out in Silicon Halli. And how little we have tried to preserve our own. *HISTORY*: Nicknamed the "town of boiled beans" after the staple diet of most of the town's population until about ten years ago, Bangalore is the capital of the state of Karnataka state and has been a vital fortress town and administrative centre since the 16th century. The Indian government's awarding of numerous defences and telecommunications contracts to companies in the region led to a period of remarkable growth in the 1960s, until problems with the infrastructure became apparent, namely the fact that there was a limit to the number of plug adapters you culd run off a single socket. *CULTURE*: As cultures go, India is as rich and diverse as they come. Tour the country and whereever you go you will be greeted by majestic vistas, earthly smells and people as rich in diversity as they are in debt to the World Bank. Except, that is, in Bangalore, a city whose soul has been clinically removed in the name of corporate efficiency. The arrival of the major banks, telecom companies, and the other super-villains in the city drawn by the lure of first-rate graduates happy to sit for long hours in cubicles and be abused by Western consumers—has altered the city and its people irreparably. Everything about the host culture has been watered down, westernised, or otherwise screwed up. Family life in India is dominated by conversation in India, and families do a lot of talking in Bangalore—just not to each other. This is because families don't just get to see each other. They're too busy explaining to you why the ATM just ate your card. To maintain family life in Bangalore, parents have to work split shifts on different time cycles. This means that someone is always home to make sure the kids get their introduction to telephone customer service homework in on time, *ATTRACTIONS*: Unless you are planning a guide to the world's largest call centres or have a fascination with theme bars so fake there are indigenous tribes in the Amazonian rainforests that wouldn't be taken in by them, Bangalore is a city to be avoided at all costs. The government museum is on *Kasturba Gandhi *road and is worthing spending a rupee on if you're a museum curator and want to feel good about the way you display your exhibits back home. *EATING AND DRINKING*: The clash of cultures has resulted in some interesting recipes appearing on Bangalore's menus. Many of these "fusion" dishes work surprisingly well. Most, however, do not. In particular, the Dixie Fried Reclaimed Meat Thali with Kannada Chicken Bone Fries should be avoided by humands—or any other animals with fewer than six stomachs. *EAST BECOMES WEST*: The arrival of American frims in Bangalore in the 1980s has had an undeniable impact on local culture, with vegetarian restaurants gradually being replaced by Pizza Hut and Baskin-Robbins. And the city authorities' decision to host the Miss World contest in 1996 showed that they were out of touch not only with the rest of India, but probably with the rest of the world as well.
