Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views
Collection of Stories, Perspective and Ideas for Coffee Meets
Picture of Sai Baba temple, Cambridge Layout. This is a famous landmark in this layout. Most often when I get into the auto I say this as a point to make it clear to the auto fellas. In spite of this, these auto guys used to take me around and charge for the round about fare.
Thursday is the most important day for SaiBaba temple. Devotees flock to this temple on this day and the whole area wears a busy look.
Chappal stand @ SaiBaba Temple
What are your thoughts you think of your neighborhood? Well, I’m sure that you would think of it as a larger extension of your home. A place you can be at ease, topped with warm inviting and friendly people who protects and considers you as one among them.
But these days, when I think of my locality in Cambridge Layout Bangalore, I get mixed treat of emotions. As for me, the emotional pendulum swings from attachment to detachment.
Reason to be attached with Cambridge extension
It is close to all the happening place in Bangalore. Commercial Street, M.G Road, Koramangala etc. Moreover, it’s near to Church street where I hang aroud during weekends – for beer to second hand books.
Facilities
Other facilities around this residential area are
Hospital – Cambridge Hosptial, Shymala Clinic
Restaurant –
Fitness Centers –
Beauty Parlour – Fa Madria,
Temples –
Church –
Grounds –
Parks –
Juice stalls –
Sports shop –
Fish stores
Handicraft – Jute Cottage,
Coffee Joint
Missing part in Cambridge Layout
But, in spite of all these facilities at Cambridge Layout, I still feel disconnected with the people, the residents or with my neighbors. This sort of individual existence often disturbs me, but as anyone, I move on in life.
Old ways of Bangalore as Pensioners paradise or the Garden city has become a misnomer in the face of rapid change. People with plastic money and wealth from overseas assignments has swelled the place with greed and overshot ego in every ones mind.
Yes, it has given people with plush job, fat pay, more credit cards, more EMI’s, upbeat apts, big fat cars, flashy wife’s & girl friends, exquisite restaurants, and so forth.
But is this life’s all about? Where is old charm of life, when friends meet over a cup of coffee, when neighbors used be friends. I don’t care attitude of life has gotten every single soul, from kids to Grand parents.
Yesterday, while returning from work (late at night), I just passed through the desolate, cold houses that adjoined Polo Bar. Only sign of life was from the light coming from houses and the parked cars greeted with cold affection. As I sped on, I thought of the residents who stay in this place.
“ Are they happy in their life“? Do they think the way I do or am I getting these thoughts from my aging soul and spirit. I don’t think I can ever find answer; nevertheless I can give it a try. Maybe, I can dare to meet few strangers around here and share my thoughts: “ over a coffee or beer“. : )
Election day for Karnataka. As I left the house for my usual walk, I failed to see much frenzy as I could have seen on a election day in Kerala. Pre election campaigns too had been a low key affair. No fiery speeches and no big public pronouncements, probably b’cos, it was never crossed to see what’ happening with the politics in here or elsewhere.
After a quick walk at the park near C.M.H road, I went and bought fish ( Parava) and Idli from the lady who does biz near Polo Bar. (abt the enterprising Idli lady, it’s another small tale).
At home, I cleaned the fish and applied generous masala ( Chilli, turmeric and pepper and lastly some salt ). Surprisingly in B’lore, Parava cost very close to the red fish, “Nagara “and the common “Ayila’s price too is similarly priced. Naturally being a fish enthusiast or for anyone who knows Paravas cost in Trivandrum, going with Parava. Is an obvious choice.
Giving some time for the marinating process to sink, I fried all of it with little oil and soon enough I was over the idli and fish … Well, after 4 idlies and 4 pieces of fish, I was too full to go out. But, I dragged myself to have a hair cut.
Went to the usual Saloon on the Sai Baba temple road, and waited for my turn. Out of the four guys who does hair cut, my regular chap had his turn on my hair styling. Oh, nothing much to do with my style, the same old style and he asks if I want short or medium cut. I go for short and get takes on his job.
No soon his hands and scissors go over my head, I close my head for a quite reverie in that saloon chair. With fish and idly still intact in me, my nap was even sweeter. The occasional turn he gives to my head adds to my sleep and I enjoyed all of it… and then came the best part of the hair cut. The HEAD MASSAGE.
Oh, and yet again I just enjoyed his hands going rhythmically over my drooping head. He did all sorts of things, beating and banging on the head, and some acts were too violent that I told to leave it out. My shoulder muscles, back and even my eyebrows got a good twist with his young experienced hands….. oh, la la… and while he was closing in FM Radio played the Titanic song and again it music drained in me and the old thoughts came flooded in
Ask me the price of this lovely hair cut and head massage. Oh, I was told 70 bucks, 30 for hair cut and 40 for massage. Great price paid, for a great weekend. Again happily gave the chap 10 bucks tips and waked out to a world full of hope and fun.
Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views 