Things I Learned on My First Visit to Bangalore

Even though I had never thought about living in Bangalore, life took me there in the beginning of 2018, and it was a mix of sweet and sour memories. The best part about this city is that Bangalore is full of vigor and joyful people. On the other hand, the worst part is that you cannot bear the traffic situation here. The roads are too narrow to bear the huge number of vehicles on the road.

Thankfully, I had to spend only a month in Bangalore, so I used to take everything in a happy stride and be cheerful about things. Having said that, I cannot blame people for cribbing about a few things about their metropolitan life in Bangalore because they were absolutely right in their place. I, being a traveler, understand that problems tend to magnify when you have to face them again and again.

Since I am quite comfortable in the English language, I did not face any problem in communicating with people. A few people that I had met while traveling, though had a problem with the locals never speaking in Hindi. The local residents here speak either English or Kannad, their mother tongue.

Once, I had to go to the Cubbon Park, which was a few kilometers of distance from the mall where I was. So I tried to board an auto-rickshaw, but could not find one. I asked a guy standing beside me waiting for an auto as well; he responded that finding an auto in Bangalore is sheer luck. Sometimes, they come and at other times, they would just never cross your way. It was a brilliant thought for my mind, and I thought that it is better not to rely on the auto-rickshaw drivers for traveling.

I asked the same man about the alternatives to traveling around, to which he said that I should hire a cab or a car rental Bangalore, the latter of which is the better option because I did not have to depend on a driver to come. I cannot thank that guy enough for his valuable suggestion because having a car ready to drive anywhere I wanted saved a lot of time, even though I had to bear the traffic at times. But at least, I did not have to wait forever for a cab or an auto-rickshaw to come.

In my short stint in Bangalore, I visited the old places like Bangalore Palace, Vidhana Souda, Cubbon Park, and Lalbagh to witness the glory of olden times. Additionally, I visited the new constructions such as unique restaurants, high-end hotels, IT companies, and multiplexes. It was certainly an interesting vacation plus work stint in Bangalore, about which I have fond memories.

I also went to Coorg, which is just a few kilometers from Bangalore, and it was a mesmerizing vacation for sure. I got to know a lot about coffee plantations, and I can never thank the polite locals of Coorg. I think I would go to Bangalore again, given a chance because there is a lot more left to explore around this city.

New Forms of Scams around the World

The world has changed for sure, at some places for better, and at the other sites for worse. Pickpocketing sounds like an age-old practice that the crooks would resort to when they did not have the brains to do anything else. Nowadays, the goons have become so smart that they would steal your money right from under your nose, and you would realize it only when it is too late. The old tactics of stealing money have taken new forms, and it is easy to fall prey to them.

Pickpocketing

Imagine you are watching things and people at a crowded place like the Gateway of India in Mumbai, or New York’s Times Square. Suddenly, you hear loud voices coming from your back, and you turn around to find two people exchanging heated arguments. In no time, they start fighting with each other. Rather than asking them to calm down, people prefer to stay away. Many people, including you, even begin recording the ongoing event to upload it on YouTube later. As soon as the scuffle gets over, you start watching the video you just recorded. However, you realize in a few seconds that someone stole your wallet as you were watching and recording the fight. Doesn’t it teach you to stay away from brewing dramas in every country and walk away? Yes, you should do that.

Fragile items

Most scams require more than one person to run the act successfully. Whenever you go to a shop that sells fragile things, they would clearly mark it not to touch the products unless you want to buy them. However, the shop of a scammer operates in a different manner. The shopkeeper would place every item in your hands while telling you about their qualities and how rare they are. In reality, they are just fragile junk products that are meant to break in your hands. As soon as something breaks, the seller will raise his not-so-sweet voice, and demand a huge payment for the antique product, which was actually waste.

The shopkeeper often calls the attention of other customers in the shop, who are actually his companions in the scam. A couple of people would pose against you, but one of them would be in your favor to act as a kind person. Now this kind person would be the one who would persuade you to pay the money to avoid any problem in a new city. Even if you plan to call the police, you might find that the police is involved with the crooks.

Do not feel scared

Whether it is in Bangalore, Mumbai, or New York; you have to be cautious of the events happening around you. The age-old scams have just acquired new faces. Use your intuition to judge whether something is right or wrong. If your inner voice asks you to step back, do not hesitate to do so. You have all the rights in the world to raise your voice and call the attention of other people whenever you fear that someone is trying to coax you into paying a bribe.

While renting Self Drive Cars Bangalore or buying souvenirs in Cuba, do not pay attention to anything that seems too reasonable to be true. Research well about the place you plan to visit, find out the current scams going on at the site, join online forums, and grab as much information as you can. You may not know everything about every city before visiting, but it will give you a fair idea about how you should conduct yourself on foreign land.