Bangalore Life
India is a colourful, fascinating, intense and vast country – and I only saw a pindrop of it. I absolutely loved the madness of it and was enthralled with it all. Cars, bikes, tuk tuks, trucks, everything. Everywhere. It’s a LOT.
I love travelling and have been to countries similar in respect to volume and crowd, so it was not a shock for me. But I can totally understand how overwhelming it would be to those who have never experienced anything like it.
My best advice for anyone heading to India – don’t fight the chaos! Go with the flow. Enjoy it as much as you can. We have a lot to learn from India and it’s people.
Accommodation
As you can imagine the accommodation options are endless. I nominated the hotel I stayed at for various reasons, but the biggest pro for me was having other patients there. They provided invaluable, essential support and I made some very special friendships as a result (Plus you get adventure buddies for when you feel good). It was very comfortable, the staff were awesome, and the rooms were massive.
You can read my blog entry about the hotel I nominated here:
Previous patients have also recommended:
and
My dream is to see a network of Australians, all coming together to share and support while undergoing treatment – before, during and after the journey. Just like the other patients I met.
Having a community of people who truly understand what you are going through is so comforting and bonding. Plus shared rides, meals, household items help keep costs down…and you adventuring together.
For me, having such a community overshadowed the hard parts. By far. The whole experience restored my faith in humanity and I hope one day to see more communities like this worldwide. It doesn’t have to be a daunting experience.
Getting around
Prior to arriving, I was given the contact number of a driver named Raja who has a few drivers working with him. He is familiar with Dr Bhat’s patients and provides transport to and from the clinic, as well as anywhere else patients need to go. He provided me with a SIM which was great and stress free. Raja can also help with currency exchange and probably many other things! His prices are a bit higher than Uber, but he or his driver will wait for patients at the clinic to take them back to their accommodation. His number should anyone require it: +91 88847 59187.
Uber is safe, reliable and cheap. A one way drive to the clinic was about $7AUD roughly and as I was staying at the same place as other patients, we would ride together and share the price. This is crazy cheap compared to home where a 30 minute drive would be about $50!
Tuk tuks are even cheaper but can be a bumpy ride. They are super fun and definitely handy especially for shorter rides. You can use the Uber app to book a tuk tuk, but there is no need as they are everywhere. Be aware to negotiate a price prior to jumping in. Also, there are many drivers that will offer to take you shopping to local places and whatnot. Be firm and decline or you will go on a wild goose chase and end up forking out more money.
There are trains and buses, but I have not tested them out.
Food
Amazing! BUT this is the country of spice and since treatment requires you not have spice, it can prove a difficult thing. ‘Zero spice’ was common in our vocabulary, but not always successful. Remember that the locals’ version of no spice is vastly different to most other countries. So it’s pretty much inevitable that you will have spicy meals. The restaurant at the hotel is aware (for the most part) of patient’s requirements and accommodate the no spice factor. It takes some getting used to but eventually you will get the hang of where to eat/how to manage the spice.
As you can imagine there are a plethora of options for food and from all over the world. Most meals are far cheaper than Australian prices.
Cooking of course is an option and groceries are insanely cheap. There are many excellent apps such as Blinkit, Swiggy, Big Basket, Zomato. You can order and receive groceries and other items to your door within 20 minutes, cash on delivery. It’s impressive. (Amazon India is also cheaper than other countries, and efficient)
Also, no drinking tap water. Always drink and brush teeth with bottled water.
Weather
I started my journey in the winter season (October) and it’s perfect. Bangalore is warm all year round, but winter is the most comfortable time I found. The temperature sits between 26-28 degrees and is ideal for day-to-day trips to and from the clinic and exploring.
The weather is very consistent (unlike Melbourne) and the temperature rose a couple of degrees as the seasons changed – and stayed that way! I was there from October – June and it did get pretty humid as the months progressed.
People
Most people you meet are just beautiful! Lovely and kind and helpful. It amazes me how, in a city FULL to the brim of people, the locals are so patient. SO very patient. It’s truly inspiring. As I’ve mentioned in my blog, things don’t work out as you think – quite often actually, and this patience is vital in helping you to cope with that.
Don’t be scared to say no. You will be hounded by tuk tuk drivers, or vendors, or beggars…it’s ok to say no! Sometimes you have to be firm in your response. Sometimes you just ignore and eventually they will cease.
Also tipping. I struggled with his one as I want to tip everyone!! Being away for so long it may not be necessarily sustainable. But of course, each to their own.
