Around Bangalore

I have been in Bngalore for the past few days.  Whenever I come to a new city I like to explore the tourist attractions, but also to try and get a feel for what daily life is for the locals.  I spent my first day at a local market.  I had heard the fish and meat part of it is incredible.  I ventured out in search of it and had my rickshaw drop me at the beginning of the market.  I didn’t know it was a Muslim dominated area, so it was me, with my blindingly white skin and t-shirt, amidst women in their black burkas bustling around doing daily errands.   I had been dropped in the clothing area and fought my way through narrow alleys filled with trash, motorcycles pushing their way through crowds, and puddles enveloping large portions of the street from the previous night’s rain.  The sun was blazing down, and I was overwhelmed after just ten minutes of walking.  I pressed on, determined to find the fish market.  After two hours of jumping over trash and puddles and weaving through narrow alleys with pushy vendors grabbing at me, I gave up on finding the fish market.  It was an experience, and even though I didn’t find what I was looking for, I had fun being pushed about with the locals as they carried on with their days.

I have been going out at night with Jeremy and his friends.  The bars in Bangalore are high-end and fancy, not what I expected.  We were out the other night and one of the girls started dancing to the music.  Immediately the others around her told her to stop.  I was curious, and was told that dancing is illegal in Bangalore.  Illegal!  Bars must close at 11:30 every night and dancing is strictly prohibited all over the city.  There had been a few incidents of girls being harassed at clubs for the way they were dressed and dancing.  Last night we were at a bar and this group of friends got up and started dancing, they were immediately told to stop.  It’s an interesting prohibition, and we laugh about it whenever we see someone swaying to the music or moving in any ay that resembles dancing, but I cant imagine living here and not being able to dance, anywhere.

I was sitting at a café the other day and heard chanting and yelling from down the road.  A few minutes later a huge group of protesters passed by the café on motorcycles, waving flags and chanting Hindi versions of “Hail Mother India” and “down with corruption.”  They are protesting against corruption and for Anna Hazare, an activist who went on a hunger strike until an anti-corruption bill is passed.  He was arrested and jailed, and followers all over India have been protesting.  Below is a video of the protest as it passed me on the street. 

I leave for Pondicherry on an overnight bus tonight.  I will be spending a few days by myself (hopefully near the beach!) before coming back to Jeremy for my last few days in Bangalore.   I fly out of Bangalore on the 25^th to Delhi, where I will spend a few days before my parents arrive!