The humble thali is one of the world’s perfect foods.  Served on a banana leaf or a stainless steel plate, eaten with the hands, it’s sambar, vegetable, chutney, dahl, pickle, curd, rice, sometimes chapatti, papadum and refills on everything until you’re happy.

Russell Market is where the British used to shop.  I saw it this time on a Sunday afternoon and so not at full steam.  The area is predominantly Muslim but with a large cathedral across the street and not far from large commercial buildings including a major real estate developer.

Every Indian city has its MG Road, this one right across from a huge military ground that has remained undeveloped for … well since the British.  Bangalore is making a metro, the MG Road portion of which will be elevated.

Paan is a digestif, very nice to chew after a spicy meal.  It’s a soft leaf with betel nut and pastes and sometimes fruit that give a sweet little buzz.

In Koramangala and Richmond Town and pretty well every neighborhood in Bangalore, the ground floor is made for shops.  They’re small and everywhere and use every inch of space.  I met some Americans at a party who were in Bangalore working for Target.  Apparently the big box American retailers are setting up offices in Indian cities doing administrative stuff for home offices and biding their time until Indian law lets them in to set up shop and change the face of small owner capitalism.  Thankfully, Manmohan Singh and his finance minister are pro-business and won’t allow the monopoly based shops in.  Not yet, at least.

I took a ride to see a foot doctor in this neighborhood.  I don’t ever remember being in this place when younger, and based on its beauty, would love to spend more time here looking around.  It’s an old neighborhood in the northwest sector of the city.