Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Random Daily Adventures

I just don't have it in me to do much with the creative writing at present. I have been in a bit of a downer mood the last couple of days... felling a bit lonely for home as well as being a bit bored. The creativity is coming though and I hope to have a more interesting post in a couple of days, but in the meantime I do have some sights I would like to share with you...

So as you travel around town, sometimes you are just struck by how different things are. There are the signs:

Observance of one of India's major religions:

That would be watching cricket...

Everyday sources for traffic problems:

Leak on Vittal Mallya Road

And then there is the shopping, I always spot something different that catches my eye...

You know you've got market share:

Vegetarian China...

A different kind of green beans:

Those would be coffee beans!

I also found a local store that carries absolutely everything that I have been driving all over the city to find. Everything. A few blocks away. It is one of those stores that you walk by and don't take much notice of because it looks small from the outside. I should have been clued in by the quantity of people that are usually in the area though. The store is MUCH larger than it looks, has every imaginable thing, including the ever elusive vanilla extract (or "essence" as they call it here). They even have lettuce and basil! (I can in no way communicate how incredibly exciting this is!) I took some shots in the second floor so that you can get a sense of what I am talking about...

Looking left

Looking right

I really wish I had discovered this store sooner. I will chalk it up to newcomer blindness.

And finally some sights from around the neighborhood...

Bees

Cow

Heading home...

18 comments:

Kathy in San Jose said...

Gotta love a store that has more than one story to it - especially when it has all the stuff you need!

Anonymous said...

Which reminds me, have you been caught out on the first floor, ground floor thing yet?

How's the hooking going so far?

And what were your adventures with the "silk" yarn?

Is that enough questions yet?

Anonymous said...

*hugs* We're still thinking of you back here. And I am going to come visit once ticket prices and free time start cooperating.

margene said...

Wow! It's like daily culture shock! You're on quite the adventure.

Lori said...

Thanks for the picture-tour! It's neat to see "every-day" stuff from 1/2 way around the world.

Bogie said...

"Safety First Speed Next"
I'd vote to plaster the Bay Area freeways with those words, but the drivers wouldn't get it.

Thanks for sharing the sights--any way to share the sights and sounds through a YouTube video?

Maya said...

I don't know if it helps any, but I do tend to think wistfully of the free time you have & the quiet house... aaaaahhhhh... ;-)

But I do know that in a way, you have the toughest transition to make, because you don't have school or work to fill your time and create a circle of acquaintances. Does the OWC have any projects that one can actually volunteer on, not just donate money? Around here, at least, it's really easy to alleviate boredom by volunteering - in fact, it takes over your life if you don't watch out!

Hugs from all of us,
Maya

Abigail said...

Green coffee beans?? Are you going to start roasting your own coffee? :)

Anonymous said...

aww i miss you and love you so much! can't wait to come visit...

Anonymous said...

I just love how everything's in English but yet still so foreign!

We really miss you here and think about you all the time.

Maya said...

Vegetarian China makes sense! Though as a vegetarian who wears leather, I have to say I've never worried about my china. But there is such a thing as "bone china" - with bone ground into the clay/porcelain.

I feel so clever figuring that out! ;-)

Then I looked it up!

Debbie Ann said...

I am sorry I am not there! it will get better. and tell me what to bring from the US. what is the name of the store that has everything?

I said to some people that I miss the idea of Bangalore, not sure if I miss the reality. at first it was so hard - a driver, but nowhere I wanted to go-which is depressing. and the household chores like shopping were depressing. have you been to the british library? have you been back to that art college?

also - maybe if you like massage - go get a massage at spa.ce on cunningham rd, very relaxing. be good to yourself!

Jean said...

I'm sorry you're feeling kind of blah. If it's any consolation, it doesn't show. You always do such a good job of showing the local color in all it's fascinating and charming glory.

spinnity said...

Oooh, lettuce! That's a positive sign, for sure. Also -- SOCK MADNESS is coming! You definitely need "jobs" to do, gal. Can't go from Casa de Teenagers to woman of leisure all in one go!

Debbie Ann said...

oh also another place for you to check out:

active canvas

http://www.activecanvas.in/Default.aspx

Helen Bratko said...

Cindy, thanks for the photo tour. :-) Sorry you are feeling a bit blue - totally normal, I'm sure.

I agree with your friends advice - try doing some volunteering.

Sending this off with a prayer.

((Hugs))

Rima said...

Very cool photos! I hope you are feeling better today. Just got back from Goa, and hope you see you on Sunday.

Also, I mentioned you in my today's blog post because...

cindy said...

Wow...................quite a bee swarm there in that tree. You must have been just soooooo happy to find a store with vanilla and basil.The things we take for granted.

Hope you've got something interesting on the needles to counteract boredom and homesickness.

Thanks for the Cindy Ravelry invite!