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.

One more from Mysore

 

A bit out of focus, but nice light on her face, so I'll throw it in here anyway... 

Tying garlands at the market

  

Grams and spice

 

All you need for a good dal. 

More market colors

  

Colors for sale at road-crossing market

 

Same location as the previous entry, the betel leaves. 

Betel leaves

 

At the market at the crossing in the road north of Hosakote on the way to Nandi. At this crossing you turn west to go to Devanhalli which is close to the hills. 

Location: 13°16'14.37"N 77°50'55.36"E

Holi Colors

New Mexico or Mysore?

  

Making it all look pretty

  

Flowers in the Mysore Market

  

Betel nut -- Mysore Market

 

The main ingredient in pan, and the part of the mix that turns your teeth red. I didn't know there were so many varieties and colors of the nut itself. This is where the pan vendors come to get their betel nut in bulk. 

Mysore Market, Sunday Morning

  
Sunday morning in Mysore, jump in a rickshaw to the city market. Get fleeced by the rickshaw driver (as usual) but only put up a small fight. What's 10 rupees between friends.

Enter the market and shortly find this lady sorting betel leaves. She's sitting elevated on a central platform. What I find so remarkable is the resemblance to native American women. Grey hair like this is actually not so common in India, as most people dye their hair to hide it.

She's caught up in her work, unaware of the light, the beauty around her.

Dreams for sale

  
A pile of old Lambretta scoots. Just waiting for someone to pour money into them and bring them back to life. Given that they're in India, it doesn't take a huge pile of money, just a little. The problem is then getting them to a country that will pay real money for them.

They run as little as $100 here but usually closer to $300, and require around $1000 to rebuild. Bring them to the US and they'll bring around $3000 or so depending on rarity and condition.

Dream on...

Coconuts

  

Windows for sale

  

Waiting for a rebuild

  

Pizza in a cone... I kid you not...

  
I don't think I need to comment on this... Somewhere Steve Martin is laughing his head off.

Behind Russell Market, Bangalore

  

Bangalore meat market

 
Who says they don't eat beef in India? Maybe the Hindu's don't, but the muslims sure do. 

Touring Bangalore at 2 miles an hour

  
I've been told that oxcarts have been officially banned from central Bangalore, but hey, no one follows any traffic laws in Bangalore, so why should these guys. And I kind of like it when we run into one. They seem so improbably silly. Why would you put the load so high? Why make the load-cart so small? I can understand the reason for big wheels but you can make the load lower and larger for easier loading/unloading. I guess it's all a moot point now, as no one will be building any more of these carts.

Back roads of Karnataka

  
Went out with my buddy Donny on a ride this Fathers' day morning. We cut through to old Madras road, went out to Hosakote, and then a bit north from there. My bike didn't like how fast we were riding so we took a break at a very old stone bus stop. Then in a brilliant thought we took some back roads in the area. I wouldn't have done this had I been alone, but with a buddy along, it was fine. We ran across some cool stuff I didn't get photos of, but hope to return later and get some snaps.

At one point the road made a sharp turn left, then right up onto a berm where it became this small path around some farmer's field. It was as if the big Karnataka road-building machine ran into someone who couldn't be bribed off (yet).

I gave a hearty "Namaskaara" to the lady as she passed with her load, but I think her mouth was too full of betel to reply.

I love my India

 
Enough said, I suppose. 

valuable cargo

  

Royal Enfield Bullet, 1962

 

It's not a Vincent, 1952, but it's still pretty darn cool.

Now, if I can just find a red-headed girl in black leather, I'll be living a dream... 

waiting for a train

 

Near Sai Baba center near Whitefield. The world's slowest train rumbles through, packed to the gills. Traffic is eerily quiet as everyone turns off their engines as if to show respect for the master... 

roadside tea stall

 

Just outside of Bangalore on Old Madras Road. Sunday morning, early, but not too early. Rode the Bullet out to see if there would be some countryside to see. I apparently didn't go far enough. What I would give for a GPS with an accurate map of the roads around here. I need to explore the back roads some more but don't want to get completely lost or have the bike break down in the middle of nowhere without mobile phone coverage. 

Fruit and Veg Market in Thiruvananthapuram

market in thiruvananthapuram

  

you wanna piece of this?

  

Not here you don't

  

coiled up

  

ganesha under construction

  

holi festival

Our neighborhood exploded with festivities this Tuesday night and Wednesday. It was the holiday of Holi, normally celebrated more in the north of India. But these southerners wouldn't miss an excuse to party.

I cought these local kids hamming it up for a photo on top of an oxcart.

I like his pose.....