Bangalore and Me

First, CAN YOU FREAKING BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN IN INDIA FOR 3 MONTHS????!!!! Some days, it seems as though I just got here, and I know nothing about where I am, why I'm here, or what I'm supposed to do. Some days, it feels like I've been here too long and Bangalore, India has chewed me up, swallowed me, and violently regurgitated me. Most days, it seems as though I have been here for three months, that I have my bearings somewhat, and that I'm ok. There are often days when "I'm ok" evolves into happiness.

I've made some wonderful friends. You've read of a few here in Wonderland. I've spend the last few weeks since my last entry getting to know this wondrous city and my new friends better.

Nadia, with whom I traveled to Hampi, has shown me around parts of Bangalore I probably wouldn't have ventured to otherwise. Commercial Street is the most overwhelming place I've ever been. It is full of shops and slightly aggressive shop-keepers. Saris, Western clothes, jewelry, linens, souvenirs, shoes, street food, McDonalds, silks, bags, leather. From flea market to high end, anything you want, you get on Commercial Street. The first time Nadia took me there, I said I would never go back. I've been back every single weekend since. I'm going again on Saturday. Commercial Street has abducted a piece of my soul, and I have to go back and look for it periodically (often). Nadia can navigate the streets of Bangalore better than I can navigate the streets in my subdivision in Flower Mound. She's walked me from Commercial Street to MG Road. We shopped the government sponsored emporiums. These are WONDERFUL shops full of goods and wares from all over India with set prices. Everything you can get on Commercial Street in air-conditioned semi-comfort with no haggling. Also overwhelming, but what fun! We went to Garuda Mall which quickly became my favorite not-so-Indian place here. Christian Dior lives there. I'll have to go back and visit him. If you remember, Nadia is from London. Her assignment here ended last week, and I was very sad to see her off. She was such a gift. She taught me to cross the busiest streets you've ever witnessed or dared to step onto, catch the metro in this crazy city, where to shop, what to eat, how to navigate and where to find Christian Dior. Yep. I miss her.

Jean. The lovely Texan. My guardian angel. She has such style and grace. Her heart is so full of love, and you see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice and feel it in her presence. Jean has brought me to church, into her home and to Commercial Street. She led me to Sunday school where for the past three weeks I have had the honor and joy of sharing time with the most wonderful kids. Jean and her husband, Chip, run ProVision Asia, a charity for the "differently abled". They have lived in India since the 80s. The have such a passion for this place and the people here. The Kingerys are the most precious people I've ever met. Jean has shown me such kindness. She prays for me and with me. She's taken me into her home and introduced me to her lovely family. Keturah, her daughter, is the most skilled negotiator Commercial Street has ever seen. Keturah's twin 18 month old daughters are in my heart forever. I am forever grateful for Jean and to Jean for the gift she is and the gifts she's provided.

Joyce is here on assignment, and she's from New York. Jean put Joyce and me together, and I couldn't be more grateful. I love spending time with her. Joyce has an infectious laugh that will cure anything that ails you. The entire staff at our HiltonHome is like her family. They absolutely adore her, and so do I. She's organized a cooking class with the head chef here on Sunday. We will trek to Commercial Street this weekend, too. She inspired me to purchase Indian clothing. I started slowly with kurtas and churidars (tunics and leggings). Joyce and I shop, eat and laugh. She has an adventurous spirit, and I wish we could find a way to take a trip before her assignment ends. We would have so much fun. I have absolutely no doubt, but her assignment ends in mid-September, and our weekends are all booked up as it stands now.

Melissa is a woman I met online via www.journeywoman.com. This website has a feature where they pair you with a "mentor" in the country to which you are traveling. I figured it could go either way and be perfect or be really scary. Thankfully this match turned out to be the former. Melissa is Indian, and she has totally taken me under her wing. I'm sure I mentioned in an earlier post that her husband is in a band called Ministry of Blues. They play American rock, blues rock and blues. They only play live, no recordings, no CDs. Purists. They are really great, and they can rock a crowd! A few weekends ago, Melissa and Vinoo took me took me to their friend's home to just hang out for a jam session. As it turns out, this jam session included members of MOB as well as some other musicians from some very well-known Indian rock/blues bands. Our host, Rajeev, and his band, Thermal and a Quarter, are from Bangalore, and they have several albums and have toured in the US, including Dallas. You need to check them out. There was so much talent in that house that night. I was humbled. The wives of the band members were so lovely to me. I didn't feel uneasy or unwelcome or judged for one second. We talked about music, careers, kids and cats. These have been some of the most sincere and lovely people I have ever met. After the music and drinks, we went downstairs and were served a full Indian meal. It was almost midnight already, but we ate and drank and talked and laughed some more. We all hugged goodbye and I thanked them, but they will never know how grateful I will forever be for that memory. Melissa is involved in arts and with artists here. She acts in an advisory capacity to A Hundred Hands, a non-profit helping craftsmen and women. She took me to an event last weekend, and the art and crafts and people and food were all so amazing. We went to another arts and crafts bazaar at a convention center where there were even more beautiful items mostly made by craftsmen and women from the North. Melissa has invited me to Goa in a few weeks to just chill by the ocean for girls weekend. I'm very much looking forward to that. Melissa is another angel sent to take care of me. I'm so grateful.

So, yes. I'm ok. I've made friends. Some are still here, some have left and some are leaving soon. Some will remain after I've gone home. I'm enjoying my time here. I have struggles at work, but we all do sometimes. I have fun. I have a lot of fun. I experience this place and what it has to offer. I'm ok. But, I miss my family. My angels here in India are filling me with laughter and showing me things and places and people and experiences. But, I miss my family. I miss my kid and his beautiful face. I miss his hugs and hearing him call me "mama". I miss my cat. Snotty, fat, hairy, snuggly, Patty. I miss Japen. Japen takes care of me. He's my human valium. He's my sanity. He's my heart, the source of my joy. And, he's coming to see me. He will be here in 50 hours. Just in time. Thank. God.

Check out the bands:

Ministry of Blues: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ministry-Of-Blues/109651810841

Thermal and a Quarter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1SVki_Kqz4

Some city pics from my last few weeks.

Hand Made Shoes - So beautiful

Singing Artist telling his story through paint and song. It was lovely.

Tribal woman at craft bazaar

Beautiful dancers

This man makes gorgeous shoes, and his wife has the most beautiful smile. I would too, if Japen made me shoes!

All of this woman's art is from melting wax with the heat from the iron an dusing the iron itself as her paint brush

I was so sad there weren't more people here to enjoy and buy the beauty and craftsmanship

​​A rare break in traffic on the way to MG road - so we run across

​​ Beat box artist at Garuda mall (where Christian Dior lives)

Early morning on Commercial Street

Commercial Street

MG Road & Brigade Rd - This is the green light. We crossed at this point.

I think this is Indiranagar just off the metro. As you can see, there is shopping everywhere.

Some kind of bread/carb and rose offering on the sidewalk

Walking from Commercial Street to MG Road

Street artists at the police station. I assume they had permission

Pre Metro Selfie

The Pink Bangalore Metro. I think there are a total of 4 stops. Maybe 5.

Rosy bullet

Metro costs 14 rupees = $0.21

Street vendor with Jack Fruit. Weird texture. Not my fave

Just outstide the Indiranagar metro station

Nadia crossing 100 Feet Rd on her last day in Bangalore (sad face). I went shopping to feel better.

While shopping, this guy and I played that little dancing game you do in the hall when you and the other person (or cow) aren't sure which side of the wall to hug as you pass by.

I hope you enjoyed reading about and seeing Bangalore as much as I have these past few weeks. xoxo Ang