Staples

All the basics: Ginger, potatoes, onions, garlic.

Buck

I have never seen ears this long on a goat before. This buck was tied up on a side street behind the Russell Market. He stood nearly 4 feet tall I suspect, and those ears are easily 15" long (35cm).

Steaming hot Idly

In motion from the kitchen to the right to the customers on the left.

Miller in Shivajinagar

All around Bangalore there are traditional millers still operating their mills as a service for the neighborhood. People buy fresh grain (wheat and rice as well as grams/beans) and bring them to the miller for processing.

Sometimes they mix up a special blend of grains, add in some spices (chilies, curry leaves) and process the whole thing for a particular dish.

This man in Shivajinagar was very proud to show me his business. With the left hand he adjusts the fineness of the grind (mostly by listening to the sound of the wheels) and with the right hand he feeds the grain into the grinder.

We communicated with smiles and sign-language over the screeching of the machinery. I'm not sure we could have communicated any other way. I suspect he is deaf if not nearly deaf. The mill was so loud my ears were hurting and I was only in there for a few minutes.

A pumkin temple.

Don't ask my why. I (sadly) couldn't read the signs in Kannada.

It's located on NH207 just south of the crossing of Sarjapur Road on the east side of Bangalore.

Bangalore Beer - Part 2

Quick update...

I actually bought a bottle of Budweiser. (Shades of the 80s for me here, recalling many afternoons in front of the tele watching American football and eating junk food).

1) It's made in India, not imported

2) It actually tastes pretty good compared to Kingfisher.


So, that's the final straw. When Budweiser tastes good next to your usual brew, you're in beer hell.

Move over, Mephistophiles.

Russell Market II

Russell Market

Beer in Bangalore

The beer selection in India is pitiful.

There, I've said it. Some of you may not need to read any further.

But the selection is widening somewhat. Two years ago, it was very rare to see any imported beers except at the 5-star hotels. Now many bars carry an occasional Heineken or Corona. The latest entrant to the marketplace in Bangalore is Budweiser.

Beer connoisseurs will re-read that last paragraph and laugh. Heineken, Corona and Budweiser. That is not exactly a high-quality line-up. Matching that with the usual selection of Kingfisher and Fosters (India-brewed no less), and you have a beer list that runs the gamut from yellow to yellow. That is to say, very little variation. Sure, they taste different from each other, but they're all basically boring pilsners. And each has an aftertaste that you get tired of. Some (particularly Kingfisher) have a reputation for additives that cause hangovers.

I have yet to try the urban myth test for glycerin in Kingfisher where you turn a bottle upside down in water and see the glycerin transfer to the water side.

There are other beers available, but they are marketed like the malt-liquors in America. They "work every time". They'll get you hammered for the lowest cost.

Most recently, however, there is a stout on the market. It's called Haywards' Black.
And it's not bad. It's certainly no Guinness, but it is a welcome addition. It's made by Haywards, and their normal beers are not all that great, but with the addition of some black malt, they take on a new character.

In my house right now, however, there is a small stash of Westmalle, Achel, Duvel, Rochefort, Chimay, and Kwak. No, I'm not sharing. This is worth more than gold in India...and I'm saving it for a day when I need it.

Thanks to my friends in Belgium for this.

shoes and socks

This week, while talking with some foreigners in Bangalore I heard someone describe someone else with the phrase "he wears real socks and decent shoes" as if that were a really distinctive characteristic.

The amazing thing is that it is. In Bangalore at least.

People here have no qualms about wearing sandals to the office. Really. And I'm not talking about some really nice Nike or Keen sandals. I'm talking about your uncle's flip-flops.

Bull-temple Hill, South Bangalore

Nice eyes on this guru.

This is in a side temple on the way to the bull on Bull-temple hill.

Beet Harvesters

Just north-east of Bangalore, north of Hosakote, we found these beet harvesters closing up the bags. They had about 50 of these bags all ready to go. Behind the car was a huge stone swimming pool that they washed the beets in.

Pottery Town Kiln

One of the kilns in Pottery Town, Bangalore.

Pottery Town

Pottery Town-- or what's left of it.

We went to Pottery Town (just north of downtown Bangalore) hoping to find some vibrant pottery sites, full of activity and creativity.

What we saw was something that appeared to be dying. There just wasn't any life in this area. No one was working and no one was really selling anything interesting.

The only interesting thing was this pile of new pots drying in the sun, and the kilns (picture to come).

Maybe it was just the wrong time of year...

Cell towers everywhere

There is nothing like a cell-phone tower to ruin a good view, eh?

These things are EVERYWHERE in Bangalore, and yet phonecalls drop unexpectedly quite often...

Sky over Bangalore

As viewed from the backside of the ISKON (Krishna) temple. Gorgeous clouds as a storm rolled in.

I got to tour the animation studio onsite there where they are making an animated movie and TV show about the "life" of Krishna. I would put "life" in quotes for Jesus too, just in case you were wondering....

Old door in Shivaji Nagar

On Haines Road or Makhan Road, I can't recall...

Home-made potato chips in Whitefield

It looks like they're being cooked in motor oil, doesn't it? I think it's just the light on the oil making it look dark, since the chips actually look pretty nice. I didn't have any, however, so I can't comment.

Arch-fish.

Fish drying in the sun at Mission Beach in Chennai. This didn't smell as awful as you might imagine.

Chennai Fish Market

Iron stomach

Hot chilies straight and raw.

Mmmmmm, idly.

If Homer Simpson were Indian, he might crave softly-steamed idly instead of donuts. These are from the Madiwala market.

Outer Ring Road

Construction goes on, and on and on and on.

Lazy Dog

Caught at Madiwalla market early on a Saturday morning. Two vendors chatting, while a local dog relaxes in the sun.

Monkey Top

Here is a fine example of a Monkey Top. These used to be all the rage in Bangalore architecture.