Quick note to self from an internet cafe in Bangalore.

Do not leave travel book at home when going to a new city for the day (ie Bangalore).

Do not assume that the bus driver/rickshaw driver will know the area that you’re planning on going to.

Do not assume the rickshaw driver will actually drop you off on the street you requested to be dropped off at.

Do not assume that simply because there are ‘internet’ signs every 10 store fronts that there actually is functioning internet all over town. In fact, assume instead that at least 50% are closed because it’s a Sunday, an additional 20% are out of power, 20% have no currently functioning computers and the last 10% are sketchy (ie very sleazy neighbourhood with no good connection).

Last of all do not assume that street people will leave you alone even after you’ve told them repeatedly that you’re not interested.

Evy and I are currently seated in a very warm, very cheap internet cafe 2 stories above a stench that I have yet to be able to decipher. At first it looked like a corpse lying on the ground, but once we got a little closer what had looked like the skull was in reality a mangled coconut… Oh the joys of Bangalore. Finally I understand what people say regarding tiring quickly of the clamour of India. We hadn’t experienced clamour until the constant street harassment we’ve had the joy to receive every couple of steps here in Bangalore, we seem to attract everyone like beacons - from rickshaw drivers to amputees to small children. I’m kind of excited to go back to the quiet of Shanti Bhavan, even though the phones are currently out, the power has been malfunctioning regularly and we have no internet. Compared to this day, it’s been bliss.