I have been totally enjoying the rains for the last 2 days in Bangalore. On both the days I got out, walking to Jayanagar and had my favourite filter coffee at Dosa Camp. It is great fun walking in the rain and getting wet. I would have loved to be in a remote place sipping tea, but Bangalore coffee has it own special taste. The Gulmohars and other flowering trees on either sides of the road look fresh. I even saw Purple bauhinia (Bauhinia purpurea) flowering along the river. The flowers were spread all over the footpath :)

I have updated the RSS feed for my blog as

URL: http://anushshetty.com/journal
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During the last 2 visits to Nandi Hills, I have found this bird hopping around in the nursery area. They are so restless. They don’t seem to be bothered by people around. They continue with their business while we sit and watch them at work.

Indian Blue Robin (Female)

I think the best way to explore any city is either by walking,cycling or by public transport. Some cities are so far away from getting their public transport right. In Bangalore, even though there are not footpaths to walk around and cycling seems quite scary, public bus transport has improved a lot in the last couple of years. I agree that commuting by bus is time-consuming, but when you have some time to spare it is the best mode of transport to go around. I find travelling by bus in and around the city so peaceful and nice. The hep Volvo buses are so nice to go around. I strongly feel that the posh air-conditioned buses have the potential to encourage the car owners to try out commuting by bus.

I think cities should actively promote public transport system. Giving an option to people really works. Last weekend when I was in Goa, I kept asking around if there are buses running from X to Y and all of them had nothing nice to talk about it. All the buses I saw on the road there looked totally retro. Actually it reminded me of the bus in the final scene from Graduate when Benjamin is running away with Elaine.I think Goa is one place where the Govt should be actively promoting bus transport for its tourists.

It is amazing how even those silly things around never fail to fascinate us. We are already watching something or the other. A hawker who sits outside a restaurant I go has something interesting everyday which fascinates everybody who is around sipping coffee. He has these small plastic toys which are not very different from what we see around. His dolls can dance and the birds can sing. The dools dance together. The music is crappy but it feels like an orchestra ( a bad one). But that doesn’t stop fascinating them. He puts up a show for all of us who visit the restaurant. I don’t think he manages to sell any of his toys, but still it is fun

It hurts me when I read such news. An influential rapist who had raped a 14yr Old girl which also led to her suicide is being sentenced only for 6 months and ordered to pay a fine of 1,000 rupees. Don’t know what the hell is going on here. I am shocked.