Bangalore. Review on Bangalore

Like any other Indian city Bangalore suffers from the 4 vices

1) Roads

2) Water

3) Electricity

4) Airport

Does that mean we need to write off Bangalore ? Absolutely not!!! MOst tourists to the city complain about

1) The auto rickshaws - In my experience people in general and auto rickshaw drivers in particular, will treat you the way you treat them. The guy who is driving your auto may not make the same amount of money you do, but if you are not polite and courteous you may find yourself stuck in some lonely spot as it begins to get dark unable to get an auto to take you where you want to go.

Always let the rickshaw driver know that you ''will be paying by meter'' and that settles matters right there.Also it helps to know a few words in Kannada for moments like this, which brings me to the second loudest complaint most new comers have.

2) The language - the spoken and official language of the state of Karnataka is Kannada. Most people are not out on a personal mission to ''get you'' to speak Kannada. The bulk of people that drive your car, wash your clothes, clean your home etc. in Bangalore come from small towns and villages in and around Bangalore.This is the only language they know and speak and you would be making life a lot easier for yourself and others if you recognise that.

Besides, when in Rome live like the Romans. I dont know why people make such a big deal of the language issue. Isnt it common sense to expect that when you are in a place where you dont speak the local language, you are going to find it difficult to get things done?

3) The people - Bangloreans by nature are non aggresive. But do not mistake them for pushovers.If you complain too much or fail to always act with courtesy you may soon find yourself friendless and alone in a strange land. Bangloreans lived here long before the city became an international IT hub and they will be here long after the flashing neon lights and fancy cars are gone. This is thier city and making rude comments is akin to calling a mother's child ugly in front of her.Things do get done here albeit in thier own time and life will be sweet once you understand the culture and embrace it. Making unflattering comparisons with other cities will serve no purpose and will only hasten your own fall from grace.

Bangalore has many wonderful things to offer

1) Career opportunities - Nowhere else in the world will you be able to lose a job one day and find another similar one the same day. There are millions of opportunities and no matter what your skills are, there is bound to be a job for you.

2) The party life - Work hard, play hard is fast becoming the motto of Bangalore's hip, up and coming, ''with it'' people. There are plenty of places you could hang out, and not all of it has do with boogeying with a beer in one hand and a member of the opposite sex on the other. If like me, you are the kind that would rather spend a Friday evening in a quiet little restaurant tucked away into a corner somewhere, then I say welcome to the promised land.

3) The cost of living - Sure if you want the fancy malls and labeled name brand products, Bangalore is no better or worse than any other city anywhere in the world. But if again like me, you would rather get your veggies from the vegetable vendor round the corner, if you would rather have sugarcane / watermelon juice instead of a calorie laden soda, if you would rather have a kulfi than a double scoop sundae you will find that once your house is paid for, you can get by quite nicely on Rs.10,000 a month (not including phone,gas(petrol) and electricity bills which are pretty standard priced across the country)

4) The weather - There is a saying in Houston, ''If you dont like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change''. The same holds true for Bangalore. In terms of variety you cant beat the weather in Bangalore. Where else can you go from blazing hot to dripping wet to pleasantly cool in the same day.

5) Schools- Bangalore has some of the finest schools in the world and I dont just mean until high school. The IIM, Bangalore boasts an alumni and faculty of some of the finest corporate minds in the world. The IISc and Raman research Intitute are involved in some of the most ground breaking research projects. Even if your sights are not set quite as high, Karnataka is still one of the easiest places to get a professional degree. Some of you may not agree saying that just having an Engineering degree does not make one an engineer. Granted. But it still gets you a foot in the door of companies that otherwise would never have considered you.

To sum up, love Bangalore or hate it. It doesnt matter. But if you are here for the long haul, you need to try and fit in, or as Bangloreans love to say ''Solpa adjust maadkoli sir'' ( Sir, Please do adjust a little)