It gets a little hard to breathe sometimes when you are just so nervous. How do I calm my fears? I am feeling a little stressed out already. Its Friday and my mom arrives tomorrow and before I know it, it's time for me to go. How do I tell myself that everything is going to be just fine? I will really miss Portland, my family in Southern California and especially Brandon.

Messages from Bangalore

Sharing some emails from pen pals in Bangalore :) My new friends are very sweet! (un-edited)

Hi Cecilia,
Thank you very much for your e mail.
At the moment, Bangalore has a very pleasant weather and, I am sure that you will enjoy it, which probably will suit you anyway!

Southern India almost always has a much better weather and less polluted when compared to the likes of North India. However, I do not know whether you have visited India before. If this is your very first visit to India, for a start, you might find it culturally shocking, and also the sea of people...! But, you will surely get to know of the various traditions, practices etc being followed here. Of course, you will also love the spiritualistic part of life here..I am sure!

And, what about the food here...its gorgeous, you will love all the authentic Indian Spicy Food! and you can enjoy your Beer as well... :)

You will never be among strangers here. Bangalore is one of those cities in India where you are treated in a very homely manner, people are quite hospitable and will go out of their way to please others, especially westerners just like you. I hope to tell you more once you reach Bangalore!

Activities, you can do whatever you want to, like long-walks, visiting places (there are lots of historical, ecological places that you could visit)based from Bangalore, and of course, you are surely invited to visit my own home for some sumptuous south Indian Food.

I work as an Associate Consultant for a UK based software company called RebusIS that recently opened their branch office in Bangalore.Previously I was based near New Delhi.
I will obviously look forward to having our first "Masala Chai" !

I wish you a pleasant journey to India and once again, extend you a very warm welcome.
PS. once you arrive at the Bangalore International Terminal, please do not worry about the huge crowd at the Customs/Immigration counters...There are not too many, anyway you will be glad to know that there are no mosquitos anymore :) The Airport has now been re-furbished and quite nice too, although a bit small for an international Airport.


Have a good day.

Regards,
Gopal

Hi Cecille,

Thanks for your reply and good to know that you will be in Bangalore very soon. Intel is a very good and well known company in Bangalore and is one of the top MNC's in Bangalore. India itself is a beautiful place with diverse cultures, religions and languages. The languages spoken in Bangalore are hindi, kannada, tamil and english.

Bangalore is now becoming too crowded, especially the traffic. It has got a good weather and now a days it is raining quite bit. Bangalore is known as the garden city as it has got a lot of nice gardens. Bangalore is also called the pub city as there are a lot of pubs in bangalore. Bangalore is also known for different kinds of hotels and restaurants, mainly chinese, thai, indian, mugalai, andhra you name it you find it here including the KFC and the pizza hut.

New comers like you should be careful while travelling after 9 in the evening and should avoid travelling alone. The auto or taxi drivers will try to fleece you when they know you are new to the city. By the way where will you stay in Bangalore ? Otherwise the people are very friendly and will help and assist you when ever you need it.

My sister lives in Portland but don't know where exactly as I have not been there and my other sister lives in Dallas. She too is coming to india next week. I would like the idea to share a cup of "chai" with you and exchange cultures. My sisters name in Portland is Jennifer and the other is Matilda who stays in Dallas. Good to know that you are from Philippines as I had a friend too who was from Philippines.

Take care and hope to see you. If you need any help in Bangalore you can contact me on 98440-15737 and I work for a mobile service provider company called Spice Telecom.

Bye for now,
Best wishes,
Richard

New beginning's for everyone in my life.......

This year has proven itself to be a new beginning for everyone close in my life. My father's wife Amy, my step mom, is going to have a baby girl! Can you believe that??? - I will be at least 26 years older than my new sibling. WOW! My mom and Johnny bought a beautiful house in Bakersfield, CA. And they have two cute little rat terrier dogs. Brandon just moved back up to Portland and started a new job. Then there's me, in less than a week I will be in Bangalore, India! What in the world will I be doing there??? Have I ever been there? No. Do I know anyone there? No. Oh well...I hope the food will be good. More later....But congratulations to everyone's new beginning!

Good Times in Vancouver, BC

Gingers - Vancouver, BC

Gingers is a must see club! It's right below the Ramada Inn on Granville St. As you immediately walk in you know that you just entered the land of beautiful people. The wait staff was gorgeous and there was plenty of eye candy walking around. The music was fabulous and everyone looked like they were having an awesome time! We were here for a "holiday" called Irf Day. Silly Brandon and friends get together once a year, at a different location, to celebrate and party for a friend of their's named Irfaan. Irfaan is an interesting fellow who doesn't smoke, drink, or do anything that is against his religion. So, what a better excuse for his friends to do all that for him? :)


Cecilia, Surbhi (our new friend), and Brandon at Gingers in Vancouver, BC. Very cool place, lots of cute people and yummy drinks.