A REGULAR WEEK IN BANGALORE. Ahhhhhhh.
DECEMBER 15-21, 2025 😎
A different floor of the office that I don't typically sit in but DID one day as it was warmer. 😎 There were others there when I was, but I went back to take the above pic when, in the early morning, nobody else was there, as always.
​
BELOW: Repaying Bhanu for his hospitality w/a happy hour lunch and send-off for Christmas at home in Delhi (he's a Hindu). His shirt made us fast friends.
​
He took me to two more excellent local spots with primo food.
Beer is hardly a focus of my life but a cold one on a warm day -- and it's all warm days here -- is sometimes what's called for! A) Other than nightlife places, I see very few places to sit down at a bar, have a beer and a bite, maybe even a fun conversation with someone, and go. B) And by very few places I mean zero, which prompted this outing in the first place. The place is massive and we actually sat at a bar, truly one of my happy places when the stars are all aligned. Not to mention, the food was EXCELLENT. Every single thing is so flavorful and everywhere I go, White Man that I am, I'm warned about spice, which has never once been "too much." Not even close.
Agency people! I used to be one. 😂 I met the kid at the first networking event I attended, he sparked to what I'm doing SW-wise, spent about 3 hrs with me at the office a few days later, wrote a proposal and wanted me to meet the owners of his agency, this Muslim couple...and I really liked all of them. As I kept trying to tell the kid, Saai, it didn't feel like the time was right for what they offer and what I need -- and I was right. But they were very gracious, listened a lot, and now some very plugged in ppl know me and what I'm looking for. Basic, everyday stuff I can't do in Idyllwild...and why I'm here.
It took a while, but now I can be like every Indian and be cashless and pay for EVERYTHING with a UPI (Unified Payments Interface, I looked it up). That means scanning the QR code and tapping a few buttons on one's phone and you're done! Nothing new, of course, but the whole country is on it and I've never done ApplePay or anything like it at home because I can't stand having to have my phone with me all the time. This is happening now only because I discovered an app that makes this possible for foreigners, which none of the zillion of other UPI's allowed. After the usual onboarding/loading of credit card, payment of one-time fee, the process of being fully hooked up ended with a physical verification. Someone showed up where I'm living to check my passport, and visa, which I actually appreciated. So I've got to spend what I loaded on there before I leave India or before my visa expires, whichever comes first.
(Out of order) Same person w/scooter who took me to that local place for "regular" Indian food couple wks ago, Thu eve at a more upscale version of the exact same thing. Food was definitely better, but still a deep-fried carbo load. Standing tables and people standing also on the sidewalk, eating, or on a bench (like we did) or on the rim of a planter with a big tree. I still can't quite get used to standing on the sidewalk and having a meal, but that's just me.
​
After dinner, we scooted to her house and I walked 3 minutes home from there...at 11pm. Whaaaaah?!?!
Saturday afternoon outing with Aravind, first office friend, not an entrepreneur. Works remotely, we've had big spirituality convos as he's all into it, and he wanted to take me to a particular bookstore. Traveled two stops on metro from office and first had a local lunch. His rice soaks up all manner of 5 different sauce-y things, the puffy wheat things, too, and it's all mushed up and eaten with fingers. All the restaurants have wash sinks for after dining. Still hard to get used to. I went for the grilled veggie sandwich. Did it have to be 3 layers? I say no, but alas. 😂
NETWORKING AND AFTER NETWORKING ON SUNDAY
SETTING: The 4th or 5th floor outdoor terrace of Draper House, a hostel for entrepreneurs. I don't believe there are private rooms. It's co-working at home...co-living! If I were 30 yrs younger...
​
Still, a great event and this pic does not do justice in the least. This was early on and there were prob more than 75 people there when we got underway. Good format. Of these 3 guys I hung with afterward, I continued on with one of them (on his two-wheeler with a helmet I purchased on the way) for a couple hours and have plans with another for later this week.
P.S. In yet another nod to city life, networking, and phone phone phone, I have relented to doing some Instagramming this month. If you hang out there, check out @spiritualworkoutonline.
