Helmet worn for convenience...

Some people just don't care about safety even when they carry a helmet! Check this rider out! He doesn't strap on his helmet though he is carrying one. He is wearing it but how?!! Surely not a safe thing to do given the numerous accidents and deaths on two wheelers in Bangalore.

A few years back we lost a team mate to a cruel accident on a bike. He probably would have survived if he had a helmet on. Sad, one never takes things seriously sometimes till something really goes wrong.

If you are reading this, please ensure you and your friends wear a helmet and wear it right when you ride a bike!

Growth comes with caveats!

Yes, we are growing at break neck speed. So fast that it scares many! There is so much migration to the city in the quest of job opportunities from all over the country and even overseas. This is all great since the city becomes more cosmopolitan.

Along with this growth, comes a bunch of problem that we are not managing well... Inflation, Social divide (the haves and the have nots), Crime and many more issues.... The poster campaign calling for a meeting reflects that very challenge....

We got to do something serious about balanced growth soon. Else we will be caught napping ...

Gardner's fortress

In the middle of a busy 80 feet road at R.T Nagar (one of the busier residential localities) at Bangalore, this vendor selling pots and garden plants has a set up in style.

A walled fortress with pots and a tent pitched in the middle with an expanse of space within under the shade of a large tree.

This is as good as it gets!

Precariously carrying LPG gas cylinders

This van was carrying LPG cylinders precariously. Notice how the cylinders are fasted to the van. I saw the cylinders jostling and moving as the van moved through the steet. Gave me the creeps. Consider the lethal content they carry. Surely there is a better way to transport these around town....

Green Bangalore - Traffic signals dont get greener than this!!!

Where else in the country can one find such green cover in the downtown area at traffic signal. It got to be only Bangalore (Bengaluru).

The hungry camel...

Wonder if these poor beats are fed. The camel was too greedy and literally polished off the green cover on this tree, leaving only the branches!

Mango mania attacks the city

City of contradictions - Super Villas and Slums galore

The contradictions in the city don't get scarier than this.

If only pedestrians had a voice.... this wouldnt happen...

Traffic as far as the eye can see...

There are only two ways you can react to this. Get really mad and frustrated. Alternatively take it in your stride and .... make a call to catch up with a friend or listen to some music on the FM.

We are going to war.... against poverty!

This was an odd sight. I could visualize a Bofors Howitzer gun when I saw this sight. It is just a new kind of war we are waging... an economic one... the economic boom is surely help address the poverty problem a bit.

Mobile invasion!

Mobiles have invaded our life styles in a manner that was simply unthinkable a few years back. We are so compelled to respond to a call no matter where we are... on the road... in a meeting or even in the loo! The madness has to stop somewhere.

Street food at Bangalore

Steet food may be banned in New Delhi by the Supreme court. This picture would clearly show you it is an organized ecosystem and many people depend on it.

Fisherman trawl Hebbal lake

A regular sight at Hebbal lake. Fisherman trawl Hebbal lake with nets to get some catch!

Killers on the road... Slow but Steady...

I was so cross when I saw this lorry polluting the road at a traffic signal. I could so enraged at what this lorry was doing. I was on a bike and I really could experience the dense smoke from the lorry (cough! cough!) that it appeared like someone had just tear gassed us for a moment. The smoke from the lorry was so dense that it affected visibility for a few feet. I literally tracked this driver down to his parking yard.

Another irresponsible business that ignores the environment out of disregard and simply greed!

We need to bring these guys to book! And wake up the Karnataka Pollution Control Board and the government.

All vehicles stop at the signal - even horses!

All vehicles stop at the signal - even horses!

Road repairs - the truly unique way!

I was heading to work and I saw this man scurrying back and forth from the side walk to the center of the road with a buck of dirt in his hand. This really caught my attention and I was compelled to stop and shoot him in action. He would empty the bucket of dirt in the pot hole and run back between traffic signals to avoid the traffic. His colleague was busy digging near the sidewalk to help re-fill the bucket with dirt.

I know these pot holes out here really need attention. But I was not sure whether to appreciate their quick fix or get angry about the shoddy approach. I ended of smiling and in splits. I was laughing out loud uncontrollably at the state of things.

No equipment. No gear. No boots. No hats for protection. No traffic alert signs. It is high time we got some structure around these things. Granted this is not the norm, but still...

Midnight masala @ Imperial on church street

Waiters mob the cashier for bills for their clients at Imperial. This is way past midnight. Imperial is so busy at that time of the day (oops Night).... Imperial is surely an essential pit stop for a Bangalore party animal.

I bend my back to reach out to protect you

At Chalukya circle near the governor's Bungalow. This tree really stretches put of the way to provide green cover for those waiting at the signal in the sun. How often, we take these small mercies for granted.

When waiting at a traffic signal is FUN!!!

You would never think that stopping at a signal can be fun. It sure is at the cubbon road signal. If this greenery and color doesn't excite you what wil

Religion or Beggary?

Always wondered if this was religion or emotional exploitation through religion. But surely a sophisticated form of beggary.

Growing the greens...

Growing the greens, literally! It was an interesting sight to see the way Bangalore traffic dividers get watered. Picture this... a slow tractor pulling a water tank with a man sitting atop it and spraying with a water hose as he moves by slowly. See how he is perched!!! Doesn't it look like he is sitting on a hippopotamus lazily and spraying water lazily as he is passing by. It did make me smile! Did you too? Do I hear you getting even more creative?!! :-)

Exquiste weekend dine out options at Bangalore...

Weekends pose great dine out options at Bangalore. Bangalore is very cosmopolitan. Bangalore offers great options for every palate, pocket and party. Great ambiance in most restaurants and dine outs. Some are pricey too and make a hole in your pocket! But its worth the fun and the experience. This one was taken from my phone camera (explains the picture quality) at one of my favorites - "Little Italy".

Wouldn't you die to work here?

This is no resort. I promise! This is the view from the roof top of my work place. And of course no guess, I work in Bangalore. Wouldn't you love to work here? I do! The view from here simple relaxes my senses in my coffee breaks!

Two wheelers jostle for space on the roads

The two-wheelers on the road are increasing with every year in Bangalore city and everyone seems to want independence from public transport - the BMTC buses. The first thing one does after arriving in the city is to get oneself a two wheeler or a 4 wheeler depending on one's afford-ability. This has got to stop, we need to build more public confidence in the public transport. London is a great example for efficient public transport.

The upside of the two wheeler boom is a growth by 8.55% during the year 2005-06 (source). Sales crossing 7 million two wheelers at 7,600,801 during the year 2005-06. Two Wheelers exports in 2004-05 crossed 300,000 mark at 366,724 and recorded a growth rate of plus 38% over the previous year (source). The Bajajs and the Munjals must be smiling! These numbers pale in comparison to China's numbers - they produce around 12 million 2 wheelers a year! (source).

The down side of all this is the cluttered streets with over 2,009,081 two wheelers on Bangalore streets (source), chaotic traffic, hours of waiting on the roads, accidents (majority affected / casualties are two wheeler drivers) and high pollution. If we have 2,400,000 passengers handled daily by BMTC buses and and and almost equal number of two wheelers (2,009,081) we know where the problem is!!! Remember the New Delhi experience and two-wheeler riders dying from lung cancer? We sure need to strike a balance somewhere.

Magical skies at dusk over Hebbal

What a sight! It doesnt get better than this. And this is the best my camera phone could do to capture the magical skies at dusk over Hebbal (in Bangalore). The dark clouds waiting for the moment on the right over the high rises. A downpour breaking through on the left with sun light creeping through all this drama.... What a sight!