Exploring the 'Sunday Sante'- Bangalore

My first 'Sunday Sante' it was a lovely experience..the 'Sunday Sate' has all sorts of people coming together in Bangalore' s Palace grounds to showcase their creativity and stuff..the exhibits ranged from hand painted cushion covers, to exotic plants, to paintings, to hand made shoes..the works

( Pic on left below), Tibetian artefacts, interesting stuf..I like the man's lush growth of moustache better! Pic on right Coloured glass paintings..lovely!

A girl, was selling silk the cushion covers they are lovely. Priced @ 150, 250 & 300 bucks..they really are good. Im the proud owner of two :) The picture on the right shows these antique finsh clock stall. The man claimed theyr were made in 1700's when I popped my eyes & said really? He said a bit here & there ;))

My first 'Sunday Sante' it was a lovely experience, fun crowds, bizzare woman out to catch eyeballs, creative people..all having a great time.

An African young man managed this stall. He told me he made these himself. Very creative paints in the saucers & some on canvas too. Priced at around 1250, these are really good.

The pictures above ( the one on the right) is that of bottle art. Wonderful pieces. They are a treat to the eye. slightly costly but wondahful! The picture on the right was one of my fav stalls. Dressed like a gypsy, the lady makes shoes as well as these knick knacks in jwelerry and other artefacts. I loved the way she presented the whole thing. Each item was decorated with flowers & the Buddh picture in the corner had a bowl of blue petals gracing it..very bohemian yet calm..wo!

These paintings were priced at 8-10,000. Thats the artist you see arranging them. When I asked her the price, she quoted 10,000 and said you can bargain. When i broke into peals of laughter, she gave me a disgusted look! ;)).....The picture on the right showcases a stall that had these cute shoes..all hand printed..they at least looked amazing!!

The flower walk

It's Spring time in Bangalore like anywhwere else..out on my morning walk I suddenly chanced upon this wonderful scene..it took my breath away...in sheer ecstacy & reverence I took off my shoes & felt the tingle of spring on my feet...Bliss is perhaps this!

Masti ki Pathshallah

While cycling on the roads of Bangalore I often see, so much of the city dug up & constructions happening all over. I also notice that there are so many kids hanging around these constructions. not only are they unguarded but they have to fend for themselves under the circumstances. This was one such scene..was actually delighted to see all the kids reading a book amongst themselves and indulging in a kind of story telling session. Life is of course a bigger & better teacher for these little grown ups on the road.

Lady on the road

Nothing as interesting as watching people on the road..they always fascinate me by their earthly charm. This lady sweeps a road close to my house. Dedication to her work is something prominent about her. Decked in her finery and usually armed with a smile, she was excited at my capture. She wanted to open her bandanna for the camera, but I thought she looked cute in it :) Full of childlike innocence..this one's for you..lady on the road!

A garden full of flowers

It's bloom time in my garden in Bangalore, where I am the Modrun Mali. I believe gardening is the most rewarding of hobbies. On the right are red lillies ( the bud gives 4 flowers at a time). The picture below shows my Adeniums, they are Scarlet in colour, an absolute prize this! They are so delicate & absolutely beautiful. The picture on the top is that of Geraniums Baby pink & Scarlet. The flowers are not ONLY due to my passion for gardening, I believe they are more for the terrific Bangalore weather & environment. My flowers & my garden are a tribute to my beautiful city!

Strange Berries

Spotted these Berries on a creeper hanging on a tree near my house. Thge young ones are green and the older ones are red..forrms a lovely combination on the brown bark. Does anyone have any idea what they are called?

A little store calle Mecca! Make your pilgrimage today

'Mecca Lifestyle', is a store I discovered on one of my jaunts to Commercial street. Tukled away in one of the gallis of this huge market. This is an absolute delight. Delicately named, the shop carries flavours of an exotic world, in the small knick knacks it sells & above all because of the small but lovely collection of second hand books that it has. The shop is tiny but extremely charming. Check it out!

Beautifully coloured cups, printed motifs on saucers & little kettles will steal your heart away

True to its' name, the store exhibits accesories that have an Arabian touch to them. Coloured glassed, little pots and pans, flower vase's & so many other knick knacks..an absolute delight.

The little shop has plenty of the classics like 'Gone with the Wind'..types. Good for those who like Romantic novels, Daniel Steele, Mills & Boons, John Grisham, etc..they books are in good shape. But what really STRUCK me about the store & why it features here is the enviable collection of original Enid Blyton books that have all but dissapeared form the book stores today and even if they are, they are so costly it really makes you see red! Don't expect great quality here..but yes you can expect all your Secret Seven, 'Famous Fives', 'Hardy Boys', 'Malory Towers', 'Naughtiest Girl in School' series etc. What an absolute delight!! was transported back to the childhood days and you know what the little scribbles of the children who had read these books, a face here, a cartoon there..somehow made the books feel like they had been well loved, well read & lovingly parted with..not just thrown away into some dusty corner. I brought a huge bundle for my daughter & ended up reading 4 comics on the way :)

The shop sells some lovely children's magazines like MAD, Asterisk's, Tintin, Tinkle, Amar Chitra Katha, etty & Veronica( though I am of the traditional mould & don't fancy kids reading them). Like all other books, the magazines are a mix of new as well as old. The old ones ( mostly bound editions of two ot thre...even four at times come at a price of Rs 60, I haggled got it less for ten bucks less....stupid of me told him about thhis post later or might just have got a better discount ;) ..) Old Tintin's are around 225 while the new ones are in the range of Rs 300. Besides the reading, they add so much colour to the little shop. I could spend hours just leafing through them.

Dekha jo tujhe yaar man mein baji guitar

'Dekha jo tujhe yaar man mein baji guitar..tan ta na tan"...So goes the hearts of the men of Bangalore as their women floor them with their flower power..this time in yet another charming way!

Bangalore Queered!

This shot was taken at the 'Queer Film festival' held @ the Alliance Francaise recently. This film was called 'Bus' directed by Tracy Smith. This was the 4 th film I had seen during the day. The gentleman in the red cap, kept getting up every now and then....A girl next to me whispered, " True love is when you can dig your nose in front of your partner"..I decided I had enough Queerness for the day & promptly exited.

Tagged, Gagged & sealed

We are all Tagged, Gagged & Sealed..they seem to say...these days 80% of Bangaloreans look like this. But is it really necessary to wear that tag to the fish market also?..oh well..The bigger your tags credentials the bigger the Fish I guess! It's time someone told them your local departmental store is not on Google dude..get out of that comp & those HTML tags!

Of Hot pants and Bangalore

Ok, so this isn't exactly Hot pants..all you fashionistas would scream! Fair enough, as long as it got your attention I'd say :))) Walk into any corridor of Bangalore and these charming girls from the North East will instantly catch you attention. Their dedication towards make up, hanging outside the college & absolutely fab dressing sense does more for Bangalore tourism than anything else could. They are far more appealing to the eyes( in their hot pants) YES this time I got it right..and never ending stock of Bangkok surplus dresses and will convincingly sweet talk you into anything with a sweet smile & elfin charm. Mostly found in pubs, beauty parlours, outside college gates, they have my vote over the TAGGED..clone looking IT fraternity any day.

( Incidentally I was doing research on Onions & their price rise & what other vegetables have the probability of gaining in price while clicking the picture..this is for those who might want to know how this picture was clicked)

An enchanting little Cafe'

Cafe' 'The Sanctuary is off Banswadi main road, on your way from Ulsoor. One one of my walks..my walk of introspection i call it..I discovered this tiny little cafe nestled on the main road & yet affording guests a quiet and laid back zone. Lovingly & aesthetically designed interiors, 'The Sanctuary is a delight for anyone who loves a bit of the old world charm allied with pretty things over a cup of coffee.

They sell these blue mugs & other porcelain stuff along with hand made gloves, clothes, napkins, photo frames, little pottery sets & paintings by local artists..among many other things.

To my delight I discovered a tiny little spiral stairway( see pic right) that leads to a reading room on the 2nd floor...and a portico overlooking it, where you can sit relax..do nothing & read perhaps or even meditate if you please :)

Loved this little settee, on the first floor, set in a colorful ambiance, it gives you a view of the entire room ..ideal perhaps for spending hours on a chess board.

A look at the interiors of the cafe on the ground floor ( where they take your orders) very homely ambiance) I was told that they have bands coming in on weekends. Though food here is mostly limited to coffee(its good) & snacks. They can arrange for lunch too

with a little prior notice. I wouldn't suggest this place if you are a great foodie..go there for charm & the laid back feel of doing nothing. Interiors are very tastefully done up in red & earth colours.


The cuppa you see on the table outside( black) is what I had ( was way to enthusiastic to sit in one place & relax) you see I had to write this post & click pictures :))) But make the most of this smallish front yard. The tiny hanging pots in myriad shapes, make for a delightful ambiance & you can stare into space & compose that poem you've been thinking about since ages! I scribbled ;)

All in all a wonderful tiny little whale of a relaxed experience.

White picket fences & Old world charm

Continuing with my err shall we name it 'walk the house' series..I loved this old styled windows wala( kind) of house ..the little bit of a courtyard and oh..do notice the garden statue there, complete with the in bloom Anthurums( the pink blooms) and also the water pot. I couldn't quite make out from a distance if it had a water plant but, well it looks so serene anyway. And if you are thinking how I managed this shot..you are right..I don't sleep the afternoons ;)

blame it on sleepy afternoons.

This one with the white gates..aww..what is it about white gates that remind you of falling leaves & Autumn in the English countryside..OR maybe I've just read too many of those Enid Blyton books. I also love the gush of colour in the flowering pots, the old style car shade..though it would have been perfect had it been an Austin parked there..oh well another time..another place I guess :)

Walk the house

Like I've said before I love walking and whenever I walk I take detours on the little 'oft explored lanes that often bring forth wonderful delights. Look at what I found while rummaging through some parts of Frazer town & Hill street, Cook's town off Banswadi road. These beautiful houses so painstakingly maintained by their owners showcase the true Bangalore that the city once used to be. Full of old world charm, enticing greens and a carelessly woven attitude in these houses almost invites you in to take a peak at the tales they have to tell. On sleepy afternoons, when trees hug these delicate fossils called homes, our little Bangalore of yore seems to cry out..Bring 'em back the old days!

Road Side Beauties

The Karnataka Government's endevour to beautify the city's wall is rather endearing. Teaching the children and passer by's alike a thing or two about the nation, it's culture, its history, flora & fauna through paintings is a good initiative. This shot was take close to Queen's road, Bangalore. One only wishes that the paintings done so painstakingly by the artists had been better maintained. Not only children, but for joggers, pedestrians & tourist's, it offers a great opportunity to mingle with our heritage once more in a ather engaging way. Must say it adds beauty & dimension to the city walls too. Way to go!

Slice of Calcutta in Bangalore!- 'Calcutta Victoria Chat'

Calcutta Victoria Chat is a relatively new phenomenon in Bangalore. It's a boon for all the Bong influx in the city. As anyone would know, the Bongs love their evening snacks. If not Jhal Muri, 'Calcutta Victoria Chat' offers them their familiar taste of Calcutta they have left behind. So what if the taste of Singara is not as yummy, it's quite chalta hai ..in fact better than that. The Aloo tikki is probably the best in town. Other stuff like bhel puri, papri chat on the menu brings out the Bong in every IT guy away from home. Replete with Bihari bhaiyya who serves you the Fuchka in small platters in leaves, Calcutta Victoria Chat has struck just the right note. This shot was taken on a week day morning but during evenings they are mostly full, so dash in for your hot & spicy plate before they are all sold out!

Bangalore -flower power

If you are a regular walker like me, the first thing that strikes you when you come to Bangalore is the little flower shops that greet you on the corner of almost every road. From Roses to Carnations, to exotic lillies & even orchids, you name it they have it and yes sometimes they even sell teddies. So if you are in a hurry and don't know what to gift your girl friend on that already late date, just pick up a bunch of flowers & i fthey have soft toys, you are in luck!

From where I buy my flowers ( in the tiny shop above) flowers come not only in bouquets, they also sell them in bunches..and you know what if you smile sweetly at the guy in charge, he'll give you a discount too. Later on you can tell him, "Kannada Gotilla!" ( Means I don't know Kannada)..say it with an accent and he'll be maha amused too. I buy a bunch every day for 50 bucks..but then if you are smart you'll grow them. But hey don't the streets look pretty :)