Well - It's been an action packed few days!

After an extremely busy couple of weeks at work and home I finally got packed up and flew out to Bangalore.

The flight out here was fine (I watched 3 movies - none of which were particularly amazing), and I was pleased to find a driver waiting to pick me up at the airport. It was about 6am in the morning so it was still dark, but my first impressions of Bangalore were that it is much more developed than other Indian cities. For example on the way to the apartment I didn't see any cows and only a couple of tuk tuks!!

I got to the flat and chose a room largely based on smell. The drains aren't great! It's a 3 bedroom apartment, two of which are en suite, but I chose the one without a bathroom. I will upload some photos.

After a good sleep I got up, and a few minutes later the cleaner lady turned up to introduce herself and ask if I had any questions. She seems nice - and is going to do my laundry (woo hoo!!). I also met 2 plumbers and the landlord. Half an hour later Jenny (the girl I am replacing) came around, she seems nice. She took me to the local cash point and shop.

We then went out to posh hotel for dinner down the road. Whilst we were eating one of Jenny's friends text her to ask if she wanted to go to a party. An hour later we were changed and ready to be picked up by her friend Iliad. His car was a new large black car with blacked out windows - I'm not exactly sure where he met this guy, but I think he knows everyone in Bangalore!

As it happens we were going to the after show party of a fashion show in another posh hotel just down the road (its Bangalore's fashion week). At the hotel we met up with some more of Jenny's friends who seem nice - although I didn't get a chance to speak with them much as it was so loud. It was a little tricky to get into the party (it was invitation only), but we managed eventually! It was a fun night out; especially as all the drinks were free!! It was quite an early night (for me anyway), because all bars have to close at about 11:30. I went home at about 12:30, whilst Jenny stayed out.

What I haven't said is that we were both being picked up at 7:30 in the morning to go on a work away day! Apparently the original pick up time was 6 am by bus, but Jenny had negotiated for us to go by car a bit later. So I was ready for the car at 7:30, and Jenny came down after 8 (after about 2 hours sleep) - I think she was still drunk! Ha ha!! Anyway we drove for about 3 hours and turned up at this "holiday resort" in the middle of nowhere across a lake.

Having not seen many cows in Bangalore at that point, we found that a cow festival/sale was happening in the village near the "holiday resort". I don't think I've seen so many cows before (especially with decorations on their horns, and paint around their eyes), but unfortunately I didn't have my camera.

In the "holiday resort" we found ping pong tables, badminton courts, volley ball courts, a cricket pitch and a swimming pool. Everyone seemed very happy to take part in the various games - I don't think the same would have happened if we had driven that far in the UK (the bus actually took 5 hours, also there was no alcohol. It was quite fun though. Although I have forgotten the names of most of the people I was introduced to.

At about 3:30 we decided to go home. Unfortunately we found that someone had hurt themselves, and they had been taken in the car to hospital. It turned out that the guy had dislocated his shoulder and needed to be taken to a big hospital.....so we got picked up in the car and started our search for a big hospital. It was a difficult journey as the roads were really bumpy and the guy was in so much pain. It wasn't helped also by the fact that we seemed to get lost or something (I fell asleep for an hour or two and we didn't seem to be any closer to a hospital). Eventually we stopped in a small town at a little hospital (at this point the guy was willing to try anything). The hospital was not in great shape! I had to use the toilet - it would probably be in my top 10 of smelly, dirty toilets. I was so pleased that I didn't need any treatment!

This wasn't the end - the hospital couldn't fix him, so we drove onto another. Again this hospital couldn't help (and didn't seem that much cleaner - at one point I thought I would see a baby being born in the room in front of the waiting area). So we went to a third hospital. I wouldn't have necessarily of guessed that the building was actually a hospital, however, they were able to fix his shoulder. The relief in his face was clear. I hope he isn't in too much pain now!?!

A couple of hours later we got home. I slept for about 12 hours!! When I got up I was going to have some cereal I bought the day before (Special K, although it is more like Frosties here!). Unfortunately I found that my new box of cereal had become infested with ants! From now on I think I'll keep everything in the fridge.

This afternoon we have been shopping. I have bought a sari! The top just needs to be fitted, and I need to get a petty coat then I'll be ready to go to any Indian function!

That's about it for now! Tomorrow I start work, so am having an early night.

L x