Old times, revisited
9pm Saturday night and I am getting ready to watch the Red Devils battle their way back to the top of the Premiership table. The phone rings... its Sudhir, perhaps my oldest friend -- old in terms of the number of years we've known each other. Sudhir is now settled in the United States and is visiting here after a gap of almost 6 years.
(Sudhir and I first met in 1984, when studying 2nd grade. Sudhir's maternal grandparents lived in the next street. At the time, there were, probably, all of 7-8 houses in our neighbourhood and it was but natural that we ended up meeting each other and our friendship is 25 years young).
Sudhir asks if I am game for a trip to MG Road and Brigade Road Sunday. I cross Brigade Road every day heading to work, but its been close to 7 years since I've been to (what used to be) the favourite haunts of new entrants to Bangalore. Given my boredom on weekends, I jumped on the idea. So we set out at 3:15pm Sunday.
As old time Bangaloreans, the first thing that struck us was how much MG Road had changed, for the worse :-( No hustle, not many pavement hawkers, in short, not much activity at all! During our student days, the place would be bustling with so many people that walking on the footpath would be a major exercise. Kinda sad to see such an iconic boulevard losing its identity to 'development'. After lazing around for a couple of hours, including a fruitful book buying/browsing session at Blossoms, we headed back.
But, both of us are suckers for the 'old' Bangalore. How can we head home when Food Street beckons? Involuntarily we end up near Sajjan Rao Circle.
All ye swanky hotel yearners, you know not what you're missing. Take it from me -- Street food still tastes the best! Economies of scale ensure that any food you choose will be heavy on your tummy, but light on your pocket ;-) After a sumptuous assortment of choicest Masala Dosa, Onion Dosa, Bondas and Masala Soda, we head home.
Sudhir is game for more such escapedes before he gets back to Uncle Sam. "No place like Home", he says, I wholeheartedly agree. We make an appointment to drive down Mysore Road to another old haunt.
All in all, a Sunday well spent, after a really long time!
(Sudhir and I first met in 1984, when studying 2nd grade. Sudhir's maternal grandparents lived in the next street. At the time, there were, probably, all of 7-8 houses in our neighbourhood and it was but natural that we ended up meeting each other and our friendship is 25 years young).
Sudhir asks if I am game for a trip to MG Road and Brigade Road Sunday. I cross Brigade Road every day heading to work, but its been close to 7 years since I've been to (what used to be) the favourite haunts of new entrants to Bangalore. Given my boredom on weekends, I jumped on the idea. So we set out at 3:15pm Sunday.
As old time Bangaloreans, the first thing that struck us was how much MG Road had changed, for the worse :-( No hustle, not many pavement hawkers, in short, not much activity at all! During our student days, the place would be bustling with so many people that walking on the footpath would be a major exercise. Kinda sad to see such an iconic boulevard losing its identity to 'development'. After lazing around for a couple of hours, including a fruitful book buying/browsing session at Blossoms, we headed back.
But, both of us are suckers for the 'old' Bangalore. How can we head home when Food Street beckons? Involuntarily we end up near Sajjan Rao Circle.
All ye swanky hotel yearners, you know not what you're missing. Take it from me -- Street food still tastes the best! Economies of scale ensure that any food you choose will be heavy on your tummy, but light on your pocket ;-) After a sumptuous assortment of choicest Masala Dosa, Onion Dosa, Bondas and Masala Soda, we head home.
Sudhir is game for more such escapedes before he gets back to Uncle Sam. "No place like Home", he says, I wholeheartedly agree. We make an appointment to drive down Mysore Road to another old haunt.
All in all, a Sunday well spent, after a really long time!
posted by Ananth Narayan at
9:32 PM
2 Comments
