Short.Smart.Overgrown
Bangalore the city of technology. We where only staying in the city for a short time but I was excited to see the city that has gained the reputation of the silicon valley of India. We arrived at 6AM off another painfully sleepless coach journey (we were again punished for lack of planning regarding trains) however our first task was to head to central station to guarantee us a seat on the train from Kerala to Chennai ensuring we catch our flight.
Having milled around for an hour waiting for the booth to open we secured our sleeper seats and headed off into the city. Days when you are forced to carry fully loaded rucksacks around with you can be tough at times, so you have to be resigned to getting a tuk for journeys that you would usually walk (especially for the hours around noon) or you risk expending all your energy and melting into a human coloured blob on the pavement. We asked to be taken to MG road thinking this would be the best shout for some early morning munch, but it was 8:30 and almost nothing in India is open that early. In the end we walked around for half an hour and settled for the only thing we saw open. Indian Mcbreakfast finished we found a friendly tuk tuk driver who offered us a sight seeing tour for 50rs. Despite being taken into three different handicraft stores (the driver gets fuel paid for for bringing them custom) it was well worth the effort as we were taken around Bangalores impressive range of monuments and architecture. Highlights included the colossal Vidhana Soudha, the legislative assembly of Karnataka and the rather pretty if not unusual in style Bangalore Palace with its climbing ivy and beautiful gardens.
I got my space fix in the form of science and technology museum, I think its fair to say I was more pleased to be there than Sarah and it did at times feel like we were the oldest people there but it was fun nonetheless. We spent the rest of the day trying different teas and cakes in a lovely little cafe called infini-tea on Cunningham Road, killing some time before our journey onwards to Kochi in Kerala.
Photos here:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/127744759@N08/5K67H