Tour By Taxi

According to our driver, if a person learns how to drive the streets of Bangalore then they can drive just about anywhere in the world.  I fully believe this statement after observing Raju (our driver) in action throughout this past week in south India. 

As I thought about what it would be like for me to be behind the wheel, I concluded that after I got used to driving on the other side of the road (no small feat in and of itself), my next lesson would have to be ignoring the dotted lines on roads.  In essence, there are no lanes on the streets in India and the sooner I understand this, the better chance I'll have of surviving!  Much like the Indy 500, if a driver spots an opening in traffic then he is entitled to it.  Half the fun of traveling the streets of India is observing the various modes of transportation co-existing within three lanes of traffic -- from cars, trucks, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, cows, goats and everything else imaginable.

In addition to simple survival, one of the best reasons for hiring a personal driver in places like Bangalore is contact with one who knows the area and where to go.  Raju had more suggestions of places to visit than we had energy but, in the end, I believe we saw the highlights of the city and can save the remaining attractions for another time. And let's just say there were no shortage of retail shops as we traveled from one attraction to another, each hoping we leave our Rupees with them in exchange for pillow shams, wooden carvings and scarves.

In addition to learning about Bangalore, complete with its government, retail and industrial districts, Ginny and I were able to visit some of the parks that provide green space and sanity for tourists and city residents alike. From palm trees to bamboo gardens to providing places to spit, the parks of Bangalore seemed to have it all and were wonderful pit stops!

I won't forget how we westerners were constantly stopped by others who wanted to take our picture. It's kind of funny to think how many people will end up looking at us when our new-found friends show their pictures to family and friends back home. From what I recall, we'll be in pictures from Delhi to Nepal to Turkey. Wonderfully friendly people most everywhere we traveled!

Sari Safari

I've heard a lot about African safaris but very little about Indian safaris. Hence, when our driver Raju asked if we were interested in visiting a local park on the outskirts of Bangalore, called Bannerghatta National Park, I was willing and ready to see what an Indian-flavored safari had to offer.

After walking the grounds of this zoological reserve, home to rhinoceros, leopards, deer and monkeys running wild, Ginny and I boarded a tour bus to see other animals native to India such as the Bannerghatta Tiger, lions and bears in their natural habitat. Turns out this 25,000 acre safari provided lots for the visitor to see!

Indians sure value tourists and demonstrate this by offering them special treatment almost anywhere they go. Sure enough, upon boarding the bus, Ginny and I were escorted to the front seats giving us prime viewing of the safari and, hence, prime picture-taking opportunities. Turns out the tour guides took pictures with our cameras from the driver window when the animals were visible from that side of the bus. This special service came at a cost, however, when the tour ended and tips were expected. Fortunately, our driver Raju told us to expect this special treatment and coached us on how much to tip.

I'm so glad Raju recommended we go on the safari. It turned out to be a great way to not only experience an Indian-style animal reserve but a wonderful chance to get close-up shots of creatures in the wild.