Time to say goodbye

The day has finally arrived for me to bid Bangalore “Goodbye”. It has been 76 days in Incredible India.

I arrived in November 17^th 2007, as a service provider to Accenture Bangalore IDC. Today… tonight… I am taking back beautiful memories of times spent with my new found friends – Shikha, Madhuri, Shambhavi, Parul, Nava, Siddarth, Amaresh, Manish, JP, Naveen, the two Saurabhs and all in Project Quoin; lovely time spent with my neighbours – Satya, Gayathri and Balu – who had been looking after me and given me lots of home-cooked meals; times spent with my bummie who came to visit me for Xmas and NY, challenging work experiences and many more.

My Farewell lunch at Civet, The Bay – Eco Space, Marathalli.

Myself, Santhosh (my Manager) & SriKrishna who is leaving Accenture.(left)
Hiri presented me with a gift! (right)

I would like to express my gratitude to Satya and Gayathri who have been fantastic to me, not just in managing my apartment – but they have evolved to be more of my close friends; making sure I have food, making sure I get what I need and making sure I am safe and happy throughout my stay.

Picture taken during my farewell dinner - Gayathri's home cooked meals.

(Thanks Satya, Gayathri and Balu!)

Selvar who had been my driver for the last one month has been a great help too! I am going to miss those times where I get into backseat of the car, greeted “Morning Madamme” with newspaper handed over to me. Hee hee… Selvar has also brought me sight-seeing around in Bangalore, Kolar Gold Field and also Mysore!

Selvar on the far right. Picture taken in Selvar’s house at Kolar.

Believe it or not, he has enjoyed being my driver and also the time spent with bummie when she was here. Hee hee… He actually framed up our picture taken together in his house.

Selvar… selvar… I gonna miss the time when I have to tell you – “Evening coming, backside Whitefield shopping go!”

Thank you to my company, BAG Networks for this opportunity. Thank you my lovely neighbours, Thank you to my lovely team-mates for working hand-in-hand with me towards the success of the project. Thank you all for making my stay a memorable one! I have to thank those too who has been accompanying me via MSNs, chats, SMS and also phone calls!

Ehhh.. bah.. better stop. It is getting to feel like I won a grammy award! Hohoho…

*Caryn is humming… “I’m leaving… on a jetplane… donno when I’ll be back again…”*

See you soon! And finally…

" N A M A S T E "

Signing off from Bangalore with BangaLOVE!

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I wrote the above blog early this morning - taking a break after some packings.
Sitting at my apartment's balcony now, I am having mixed feelings. I am happy and excited as I will be meeting my closest friends and family. Yet, I am sad to leave.

This morning Satya and Gayathri came by to see if I needed help with packings and told me to have my last dinner over at their apartment. Selvar's sister called me up to say goodbye and wishing me all the best in my future. I received loads of emails showing appreciation of my effort for the project and thanking me for being a part of the team. Santhosh came over to have a chat with me before I leave. My heart sank when I have to bid farewell to my project mates. I wrote them an email saying that I hate to say goodbye, hence, I've said... "Till we meet again.."
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Mehndi

What are some of the things that I should do before I leave? Hmmm..

Indian clothes - saree & salwaar kameez- CHECKED!
Indian food - CHECKED!
Indian accessories - CHECKED!
Hmm... what about Henna Tattoo?

A quick search on wiki and I found the below.

"Mehndi (or Henna) is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin, with which the colorant of henna enters a permanent bind.

Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called "henna tattoos". This term isn't accurate, because tattoos are defined as permanent surgical insertion of pigments underneath the skin, as opposed to pigments resting on the surface."

Ah-har! So henna tattoo is a wrong use of terminology. It is called "Mehndi"!

In South India, it is typically used for special occasions, particularly weddings. The brides usually have Mehndi done on both hands up to 3/4 of their arms. Others as fashion will have Mehndi done (from palm to not beyond elbow) either on both hands or just one.

Gayathri has arranged for Catherine - my masseur to send her gal over for Mehndi. Catherine and her gals have been giving me massages and she is good! This is one other thing that I will really miss in Bangalore. I found out that the Mehndi gal is actually Catherine's sister Fatimma. Catherine is a very capable woman who owns a beauty parlour that does massage, facial, pedicure, manicure, bridal make-up, mehndi,etc etc. And, she also owns a boutique! I found that all up chatting with her while Fatimma patiently decorated my hand. Hee Hee..

Catherine & Fatimma (left) Fatimma in action (right)

The completed artwork! My beautiful left hand! Hee... hee...

After removing the henna...

Hmm.. I wonder how long will this last? Ohh.. And, I found out over lunch today that the darker the designed on my palm is... the more my other half loves me. Hmm.. So please turn darker!! hee hee hee....

Counting days...

2 more days to leaving Bangalore
3 more days to meeting my best friends in Singapore
5 more days to be back in Brunei with my chillout buddies, colleagues and wonderful friends
8 more days to seeing my family in Malaysia
9 more days to our first family trip in 2008

I just can't wait...!

Meanwhile, I am chilling out here till the time comes...

Cheers with my Emerald Ice slurpee from Java Green (at the cafetaria la...!) Hee hee...

Rest & Relax...

Sunday was a very lazy day for me. I woke up early... but decided to not do anything... feeling much relax without the project "baggage" on my shoulder, I dig into my blanket and decided to just watch TV. Night of the Museum was showing and I think it was my fifth time watching it! Hee hee

Feeling hungry after the movie, I decided to cook most of the stuff that I've got left. I opened the fridge, ahhh.. pasta sauce. So pasta it is! But no chicken! Bird flu remember? Hmm.. then I found a can of tuna ... ahhhh... Spaghetti Napoleone with Tuna, mushroom and cherry tomatoes...!

Wahh.. Can I eat so much or not? Did I finish it? Of course they are not all for me! Hee hee... I've made some of my lovely neighbours. This time round, what are their reactions?

Satya: Tremendous tastes! (Hohohoho... I will cook everyday if i get comments like this!)
Gayathri: It's really nice.
Balu: The pasta is really good!

Now I am shy.... Hee hee...

Season Finale...

It has come to the last few episodes of my life in Bangalore...

This morning my project has gone live successfully. I am happy, relieved... but also very very sleepy! I woke up at 5am on Friday... too stress and excited over the project timeline.

View from my balcony at 5am

Then, worked till 9.30pm... got home and continued work till 3am.

With only 3 hrs sleep, I continued till I heard the good news from my project mates in Australia that the project has been signed off! Sealed "Up & Running"!

Gayathri rang, dropped by and must be shocked to see how I look like a mad woman with sleep deprived. She kindly got her girl to make me a glass of hot coffee... Ahhhh.. the tastes and caffeine made me feel better... more awake...!

Happy that the project has gone well, I am also excited to make full use of the rest of my time today... S-L-E-E-P...! But what about meals? Well, haven't you read my previous posts? The lovely neighbours remember?

I napped for about an hour, woke up and just 5 minutes after I woke up the door bell rang. I got to the toilet to check my hair - don't want to scare my neighbours with the "just-woke-up-look". Hee hee... I opened the door, and there stand Balu with big plate on his hand. He handed the plate over to me and said, "Food".

Wow! I felt so pampered! Got a hot glass of really needed coffee this morning, got my nap and then... FOOD...! I felt like a happy little fish swimming around blowing happy bubbles out from my mouth. Hee hee..

What have Gayathri prepared for lunch today? Here it comes....!

Fried fish fillets, vegetables, fries, dhaal and basmasti rice.


I love eating the dhaal on basmasti rice. YUMMY! (left) The after-math...! BURP...! hee hee(right)

To make some of my colleagues jealous - who are working in Brunei on Saturdays, I webcam them to show them the food. Here are their reactions...

Webcam with Pete:
Pete: Howddy
Me: Wanna see wut my apartment manager's wife just made for me for lunch?
Pete: How would i do that?
Me: webcam laaaaaaaaa
(after seeing the food)
Pete: No wonder u look so much better!
Pete: no longer the skinny you!
Pete: u hv cheek bones now
Me: Haha.. fine...! I wanna eat now... and grow fat...! :P

Webcam with Ping:
The man of few words as usual - short and sweet...
Ping: make me hungry nia
Ping: Good for you!

Hee hee...

I am scheduled to leave Bangalore 31st Jan. One thing I know, I am going to miss this apartment, the neighbours and the Gayathri's cookings.

With a full stomach now... it is time to continue my nap. Hohoho..! Namaste.

Fresh Prawns Curry!

What's boiling? What's cooking? I can smell.... FRESH PRAWNS CURRY....!


It was all after my Mysore day trip. I decided to drop by Satya's apartment and pay him and his family a visit. We chatted over some coffee and then Satya just mentioned to Gayathri (her lovely wife), "Do one thing, I'll go get some fresh prawns and you prepare some dosa." And, obviously these friendliest neighbours in town had asked me to stay put for dinner.

So there I go, had another wonderful home-cooked dinner!

The yummiest curry - I can still tastes the sweetness of the prawns!

Yummy onion dosa prepared by Gayathri.
She had asked us to eat first while she's still cooking! The dosa are best eat while hot.

Thank you Satya & Gayathri for the wonderful dinner
&
to Balu for the ever-friendly company.

Heritage City of Karnataka

*Alarm rang*

Me with eyes half-open, stopped the alarm and checked the time. It is freaking 6am! On a SUNDAY morning…! My Gawddddd…. What was I thinking to wake up that early on a Sunday when there is NO diving in Bangalore…!

I crawled down the bed… struggled to open the door and off to the kitchen; made myself a cup of hot coffee. Ahhh... I am feeling a lil' bit more awake. Then off to the shower and it was cold early in the winter morning.

Not long after I got ready, Selvar missed call me. It is time to my lil' adventure to the Heritage City of Karnataka - Mysore.

I was greeted by Pravi the driver / owner of Toyota Qualis - my ride to Mysore. Selvar was there who took leave to accompany me. One of the best driver you can get in town!

After I got in the car...

Pravi asked, "Madamme, you like Jackie Chan?"

I replied, "Huh? Jackie Chan? Of cos! Errm.. why?"

Pravi then said, "Ok, Madamme. I play Police Story."

What the...?? Play Police Story. For a moment I thought he was going to play the role of Jackie Chan and Selvar as the bad guy! Then, he took out a DVD, slide it into the player and clicked a button and there comes the screen in the car! Ho ho ho... I didn't know I get to enjoy a movie on the way to Mysore. Is that a bonus or what? Hee....

Upon arrival, here are the list of places that I've visited.

Srirangapatna
A town in theMandya district. The entire town is enclosed by the Cauvery River. I visited the temple and took a ride on the cute little ermm.. I donno how to call it - a round 'sampan' (boat)? Hee Hee..

Mausoleum housing Tippu's tomb
Sultan Fateh Ali Tippu, also known as the "Tiger of Mysore" was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. Tiger of Mysore? WHY?? I wikipedia-ed Tippu and found out the below story.

"He was called the Tiger of Mysore because of the following story. Once, while hunting in the forest with a French friend Tippu Sultan came face to face with a tiger. His gun did not work, and his dagger fell to the ground as the tiger jumped on him. He reached for the dagger, picked it up, and killed the tiger with it. That earned him the name "the Tiger of Mysore". He had the image of a tiger on his flag."

Tippu Sultan and his parents tombs (left) Tippu Sultan's relatives tombs (right)

Tippu Sultan's Summer Palace (left) Beautiful paintings on the wall (right)

Tippu's Death Place
Well, as shown in the pictures below... (which is the correct spelling? Tipu or Tippu?)

Watergate
At this next stop, Selvar kept having a smile on his face and asked me to come down from the car. I was excited thought there will be something interesting. Then he kept smiling and said, "Madamme...! This is a prison! We are standing in a prison!" Hmm....... right..........

Chamundi Hill
According to wiki, legend has it that that the demon Mahishasura, the king of Mysore, was killed by the Goddess Chamundeswari (also Chamundi) after a fierce battle. The hills hence got their name and a temple of the goddess was built on the top.

Nandi Temple (Bull Temple)
The temple is exclusively for the worship of the sacred Hindu demi-god, the bull Nandi, Lord Shiva's vahana (vehicle / ride)

Sidharta Resort & Restaurant
Beautiful restaurant in the resort surrounded by a man-made lake. I ordered a glass of Cranberry juice, had the chef recommended Spinach & Mushroom soup, grilled fish with boiled vegetables & chips. It was so satisfying! YUMMY!

Mysore Palace
This beautiful palace is an official residence of the former royal family of Mysore, and also housed the durbar (royal offices). See wikipedia to find out more.

SHOPPING!
I bought the famous Mysore Saree, shawls, some accessories and decorative items. Spent BND500 here in one shop. I need to control my spendings! Boo-hoo-hoooo...

St. Philomena's church
This church built in the honour of St. Philomena and was constructed in 1956.

Brindavan Garden
This show garden has a beautiful botanical park, full of fountains, as well as boat rides beneath the dam. It also has a musical fountain!

As an end to a very worth-spent day trip, I watched Baazigar a Bollywood movie starring... the famous Shakrukh Khan..!

For more pictures visit the links below:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27263&l=d1da8&id=645189594
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27267&l=d95e6&id=645189594

Thank you for reading... Namaste.