Browse Tag

India

Diwali in Bangalore – A pictorial

Just a few shots I took on the night of Diwali outside the apartment complex I stay at. All the residents had gathered at the public park in front to burst firecrackers.

Public park Diwali celebrations Bangalore
Quite a few families had already begun with the noise
Mickey Mouse firework Diwali
Mickey doing his magic

Arkere Mico layout Diwali celebrations

Nithin Anand lighting firework
My brother (in the back) and his friend lighting a firework

Shadow firecracker on ground Diwali India

Sparkler stick closeup Diwali celebrations
Sparklers are of course, a perennial favourite. I hate the bombs – mostly because I can’t stand the noise. Sadly, with fireworks costing as much as they do come festive season, I can see why Diwali gets louder and louder each year.

Kid holding sparkler stick Diwali Bangalore

TV Tower firework Bangalore India
The names they come up with for fireworks these days. This one’s called ‘TV Tower’.
Red firework Bengaluru India
Surprisingly this one isn’t called ‘S.O.S’

Fountain fireworks Diwali in Bangalore India

Foreigners playing with fireworks Diwali Bangalore
Even visitors couldn’t resist joining in on the festivities

Fountain firework Diwali BangaloreMan walking fireworks Diwali Bengaluru IndiaSparkler fireworks spinning Deepawali India

Colourful fireworks bursting in the sky
Whereas up in the sky…

Fireworks bursting Diwali Bangalore IndiaFireworks Diwali night Bangalore IndiaFireworks night sky Diwali Bangalore

Yellow firework Diwali Bangalore
I got tired of the noise and returned home

L & T South City apartments Diwali lightsHope everyone celebrating had a prosperous, and more importantly, a safe Diwali this year!

You gotta love restaurant menus in India!

While English misspellings are common throughout the world – especially in Asia – India sure has its fair share of hilariously bad English. Last week, my friend took me to an old restaurant in Jayanagar where he claimed the food was really good and reasonably priced. And when we talk food, we’re talking mostly non-vegetarian fare.

The restaurant is Amaravathi Bar & Restaurant in Jayanager 9th Block. Although it was my first time here, the joint looked like it’s been for around a decade or two. Very middle-class (symbolic of the locality), the waiter gave us our menus. Then we had a laugh!

Okay, let’s play ‘Spot the Funny’ 🙂

Chicken dishes Amaravathi bar restaurant Bangalore
I laughed at four in this!
Mutton dishes Amaravathi bar restaurant Bangalore
Need some mutton too
Fish dishes Amaravathi bar restaurant Bangalore
I have rarely seen people spell pomfret right! 🙂

As funny as it all sounds, the chicken liver we ordered was delicious to have with roti, and so was the mutton kheema balls. Well spiced and really well done! The biriyani here was really good (both mutton and chicken) but a tad too spicey for my liking.

Still, I think I’ll update this post with every funny menu I come across in India. After all, it’s not just restaurants that have hilarious English…

Hyderabad temple bad English
There are temples…
Indian truck lorry message avoid aids
… and our good-old lorries with their words of wisdom!
CSR bar restaurant
Oh, there’s this place in Bangalore too

My hometown of Kannur: The beaches, St. Angelo’s Fort, and more

This is the last post from my travel archives. After all the posts I’ve written about my travels within India and abroad, it’s only befitting I write about my hometown. Although I was raised in Bahrain (16 years) and worked in Bangalore (8 years), I am a native of Kannur (named Cannanore by the Colonial British) in Kerala.

And although it’s one of the largest districts in Kerala by area, Kannur does not offer too much in terms of sights or attractions compared to say, Cochin, with it’s more globally marketable Jew Town and easy access to Kerala’s other famous places. That said, I’m still going to showcase whatever I can from my past visits to Kannur. Or at least the places I’ve visited anyway.

First up, St. Angelo’s Fort.

St. Angelo's Fort Kannur Kerala India
Built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India (the Portuguese were the first Europeans in India)
St. Angelo's fort tree Kannur Kerala
By the way, these photos were taken in January 2007

Continue reading “My hometown of Kannur: The beaches, St. Angelo’s Fort, and more” »