Bangalore is probably among my favourite cities in the world. I love the weather, I love the trees (even though so many have been cut), and most of all, I love the mood of the city. As a child, I used to spend every summer there, at my grandparents'. Now, I continue to go there at least once a year, sometimes more.This year, I went for my great-aunt's 80th birthday. For a long time, my great aunt and great uncle have been asking us to perform at the senior citizens' residency where they live, and we finally did! It was lovely, absolutely lovely.They last saw us perform when we did our Arangetram - over 15 years ago. To their minds, we had just continued. We performed and all of that, but I don't think they expected us to be professional dancers. They were overwhelmed, and that's what makes me feel that a performance was possibly the best gift we could have given my great aunt for her … [Read more...]
Planetarium and Science Park, Bengaluru
Every year since I was born, I've visited Bangalore, or Bengaluru, if you prefer. Yet, I've barely done any touristy things there. Last year, I went to Cubbon Park, which was lovely. That opened my eyes to everything else I could do in the city!So, this year, we went beyond Corner House and all the other usual eating things, and visited the planetarium and Science Park. I didn't even know Bangalore had a planetarium! It does, with shows right through the day in English and Kannada. It is nice and easy to access by metro - the closest metro station is Vidhan Soudha. Entry to the planetarium is 60 rupees per adult, and the Science Park, which is just outside, is free and very well worth a visit.My first visit to the planetarium was when I was ten. If I remember right, the tickets were about 20 rupees each, maybe even less. I wrote a story for Kid-Day, the children's … [Read more...]
Day One: Reading Workshop at Atta Galatta
It's wonderful to have a dear childhood friend attend a workshop of mine and diligently take pictures! I had a delightful morning at my reading workshop at Atta Galatta, Bangalore. … [Read more...]
Bangalore in a Nutshell
It rained when I didn't expect it too. It didn't rain when I did.I read five and a half books.I met a classmate from school. I probably haven't seen her for a decade and when I saw her, I was utterly disoriented for a few seconds. "Am I really in Bangalore? Really?"I heard hundreds of stories from my grandparents. One about alleged cannibals (and my grandfather's escape from them). One about how my uncle aged four cheerfully went and reported to his parents (my grandparents) that my mother sounded like an engine. She had an asthma attack and was unable to breathe. One about how my aunt threw water on my mother when she fainted and my uncle thought it was a grand game. Many, many, many.I stayed up playing Uno till - what? - 2 in the morning.My train back home was 8 hours late. But I'm back. … [Read more...]