Out Walking

I decided it was such a lovely day today I had to get out for a walk. It must have been about 30c--that's 86F for those of you in the US. It was a bit warm in the sun, but in the shade, just balmy and lovely. I chose to go to the same park where I had been before with Isha, but took a slightly different route. This time I went a bit more through the neighborhoods as opposed to on the main roads. On the way there, I got a number of stares. Obviously people weren't entirely comfortable with my being there. I also got a lot of smiles from people when I smiled at them and did the head bobble thing.

Once in the park, I sat and enjoyed the warm weather from a shady bench. What struck me was how few people were enjoying this beautiful park in the 'middle' of Bangalore. Most of the benches were empty. There were a few couples and families that came strolling by, but not many. Maybe it was because it was still the hot part of the day, but certainly it wasn't uncomfortable. I did wander around to the more tree covered parts of the park, mostly on the north side, and found this is where there were several couples sitting on park benches in the shade. This is not a common sight in Bangalore, but it seems the parks are one place couples can get away for a bit of 'privacy'. I also saw several groups of young people where it was pretty obvious there were some interested couples who were being chaperoned by others, usually brothers or sisters I would guess by age.

On my walk through the park I said hello to one elderly gentleman, and he stopped me to ask where he was from. When I told him I was from California, he immediately started telling me about his nephew, Vivek, who was top of his class and was working in CA now. His nephew is very spiritual, and went to Iscon with him several times. When I asked what city his nephew lives in, he couldn't tell me, nor what company, but he did tell me his nephew is a Chemical engineer. I almost felt like he thougth I should know his nephew. Then he proceeded to tell me that his nephew's brother, vikram, also was in California for a temporary assignment. After all of this he bid me a good day, telling me he would remember me often.

Then as I walked back through the neighborhood, I wondered if I would get a different reaction from people if I took of my sunglasses. So I did. I got a more pleasant reaction from most, and I presume it was that and not because it was my second walk down the same roads. Could have been the latter though I guess. Then I was stopped by an Auto driver. I was concerned he was going to hassle me to take a ride, but he just asked where I was from--California, USA-- and then he introduced himself and his friend, asked where I lived and when I pointed over the drainage ditch and in the neighborhood, he bid me farewell.

So I had two more very friendly and pleasant interactions with total strangers today, something I would never expect to happen in Silicon Valley.