What once started as a dream, became a wish, grew into an obsession is no longer a dream. Pudhu ooru, pudhu vela.
So finally I have let god be in his own paradise and come to live in not-so-paradise place. Bangalore – thats where I have ended up now. My first week in Bangalore where I know I will be here 3 weeks from now, unlike the last time I was in Bangalore when I joined 3 years earlier when I knew I was going to be in Bangalore only for 3 weeks.
Having brought my luggage with me on the bus, I only had to worry about getting my bike. The place where I am put up, not so well known location called Konunakunte. Reaching majestic didn’t require much effort. I only had to find the bus route number and enjoy the long ride. Having no idea which way to go, I took the wrong turn at majestic and ended up going around the bus stand to reach the railway station. The one disturbing factor was I hadnt found any petrol bunks any place nearby, atleast in my bus route. I didnt want to push my bike around Bangalore on my first day there with no sense of direction. Bangalore, very much like Kochi and Hyderabad has roads which are never level – they are always rising or falling – pushing a bike would be an very tiring task.
After asking a lot of people, I finally found out that parcel office was at the other end of platform 1. On reaching there, the platform tapered until it was only 2 feet across and finally ended at the parcel office. After giving Rs 10,20,50 and 20 respectively for various people, one with bill and rest for service charges, I finally got my bike and a 100 ml of petrol. The last person who gave me the 100ml of petrol also told me directions to the nearest petrol bunk. At the petrol bunk, I had to ask directions to reach home. With lots of petrol, I was not worried about going in circles. His directions were very simple too – take right at the second signal, then take the first left and go straight it will take you to Banashankari. I didnt reach my destination, but I reached an area I knew was closer to home. After many wrong turns, and multiple directions from many helpful souls, I finally reached home at last, 4 hours after I started from home and 2 hours after I got my bike.
My longest ride in an unknown teritorry, with a blind faith in my sense of direction. Though it was definitely not ‘scary’ it wasn’t fun either. For most part it was irritating with all the one-ways in Bangalore I had run round and round around them hoping that I am still on the right path.
The only fun part was riding on the very empty looking Bull temple road. Empty because rain gods followed me from cochin.
Having accomplished such a challenging act I took a much needed rest. 2 hours later I was back on the road again in search of a new place only this time, I had find that place and also come back home. My first day in bengaluru was filled with challenges.
I had never faced such challenges on the road in cochin, we never had to ‘find’ our way home. Ya, the only challenge was avoiding the ‘red-devil’ buses there!!
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