India: Bangalore

Bangalore is a big city (8 million people) and the Indian center of IT. First thing I notice is the tuktuk drivers are even more agressive here. When we arrive at the hotel, the driver asks bluntly for more money than agreed upon. I refuse and quickly leave the cursing driver by going inside Tom's hotel. In my old Lonely Planet (2009), it's listed as a budget place, but today it has been converted to a luxerous establishment. Because it's my last stay, I agree on the high price.

So what to do in Bangalore? South of the center, there's a mosque, market, closed temple and loads of streets in bad condition. It's a bit more clean and organised as in Madurai, but still very hectic. Luckely there is a relaxing park surrounding the temple of the bull. I get my first bindi here and make it my quest to buy some stick-on-bindi's for my friends. After a looong search I find a shop and can continue to the Lal Bagh botanical gardens.

I walk and talk a little with a local software engineer and his daugther. He tells me about the corruption in many city departements, causing for example the bad state of the gardens. I also learn the lake is actually sewage water! Suddenly a violent downpour starts and I use my umberella to help people cross to a shelter. When it's over, the next destination is the very modern shopping district. This is really a different part of India, with all the big clothing and food chains. My main goal isn't shopping but the Abors Brewing Company for a couchsurfers meeting.

Couchsurfing isn't only surfing or hosting people, it's also a real community with regular events. Like bar meetings, crafting, making music, langue exchanges... Because of my tight shedule during this trip, I didn't search for couches. However I couldn't pass the opportunity to meet the big community in Bangalore. I find the bar and a very diverse group of about 20 couchsurfers. Half the people are foreigners, and the other half are Indians who have worked abroad. They all have some amazing stories, mostly about the culture differences. Then there's Raij, who worked in Belgium for a while and tells me about wild parties and his abundance of girlfriends. The bar closes at 11.30, and I can get a ride back to my hotel on Raij's bike. While I hold on for dear life, he speeds past potholes, tuktuks and red lights. We say our goodbyes and I wish him the best of luck with chosing the right girlfriend to settle down with.

My last day. I start with Cubbon Park which seems te be completely infested by crows and dogs. One of the landmark buildings is the library, which is in a dead end. When I go back, there is a loud scooter passing by. This startles 3 big sleeping dogs, who see me and start growling and approach. There is no way back. I try to walk past and ignore them, but the leader jumps to attack me. I shout 'NEE GODVERDOMME' and kick on the ground. These Dutch words confuse and stop him for one second. I walk away as quickly as I can while some Indians start shouting, further discouraging the dogs. This was one of the worst moments of the trip! If I had done anything differently I would've been severely bitten...

I make my way to Bangalore Castle. It's build in the same style as Windsor Castle and hosts a diverse collection of memorabilia from the English rulers. The articles pictures about elephant hunting are heartbreaking, and there are some gruesome trofees on display.

The only thing remaining on my to do list are some museums, the first one of which is the Indian technology center. The tuktuk driver is extremely annoying, trying to sell gas coupons, taking a detour to a souvenir shop, and finally dropping me of at the wrong place, the disappointing aeronautics museum in the other side of town... When I finally arrive at the right museum, it's closed... the reason is Diwali, the festival celebrating light's victory over darkness. This is also why kids have been throwing firecrackers all day. I do manage to visit some other museums, and then it's time to go back to the hotel for my taxi to the airport. The last hurdle is one of the main roads which I have to cross. There are no lights and the dense traffic just doesn't stop. So I breathe in and start crossing the street step by step. The cars honk but steer around me, after the longest minute of my life, I arrive at the other end and can breathe again.

It's evening and the taxi is taking me over the highway to the airport. I have a great overview of Bangalore. The Diwali celebrations are in full swing and everywhere I look there're fireworks. The perfect end of an unforgettable journey.