Moving to Bangalore: Experiences and Observations

Moving to Bangalore

Recently I moved to Bangalore for my studies. Here I'm staying in a co-living facility in the edge of the city. Being my first time in the city, many a thing amazed me. 

Travel

My travel began early in the morning, from the CCU airport. As it was my first flight, and that too amidst the lockdown and its guidelines, anxiety was like a shadow, ever following me in every step. But the entire process of boarding was hassle-free regardless. If the internet had taught me anything, it was to choose the window seat in a flight, although other than a few good pictures, I could see no other benefits.

Checking-in

Upon arrival, I checked into the co-living facility I intend to stay in for the next three years. The key things to test out in any new home are the WiFi-speed, toilet, and comfort of the bed: in that order.

WiFi didn't disappoint

The view from the roof didn't disappoint either:

Food

Wherever you go in this world, food is a constant. The preparations vary from place to place, and even the list of ingredients may change, but food is universal. 

Bangalore might as well be called the food capital of India, as all kinds of dishes, from North, South, East, and West, are available here. The PG offers both South and North Indian dishes. In the two weeks I am here, I've found several food shops and restaurants in walking distance (and this is in the outskirts of the city). Most days the food served was vegetarian, and I am accustomed to having chicken twice a day * seven days a week. The transition from protein to carbs was hard, but I still have many a food shops nearby to fulfill my daily protein intake. The food served here would typically be like these: 

But a bachelor's stomach is filled less by these and more by snacks and street food. I was able to find supermarkets and local shops nearby for almost everything I needed.

       

Shopping

The first few days of a move are the most hectic. Those are the days you have to buy a thousand things for your new home. Fortunately I had some help the first few days. We had to buy many day-to-day things, as well as some furniture like a table and a chair. The building provides many facilities like washing machine, lift, etc. Here almost every shop (that too in the edge of the main city) has UPI payment QR codes on their front-desks. I have seldom needed to take out my wallet in this city, as most payments could be done using UPI apps.

Transport

Unlike Kolkata (and like most other cities), autos here travel on meter and not on sharing. Thus you can hire an auto and go anywhere you want (theoretically; most auto-walas would refuse to go anywhere they dont want to go). The fare, therefore, is also higher here. I haven't rode autos alot, but they are definitely more expensive. Due to the meter nature of autos here, autos can also be booked through the Uber app. The entire process is more-or-less similar to booking a normal Uber cab, except that the car will be an auto-rickshaw. Riding autos through app based services is better in my opinion as there is no direct cash transaction between the rider and the driver, hence he cant ask for extra amount. Here auto-walas would ask for extra even if travelling on meter (and things like 'double meter' also exist). Most of my travelling has been on foot as most amenities and shops are in walking distance anyway.

Weather

The weather here (in the two weeks I've been here) is very pleasant. Its always windy wherever you are. The sun sets an hour later than Kolkata. The full range of weather can be commented on after observing it for at-least a year.

Lifestyle

This would be my first time staying away from home in a foreign city, and for that Bangalore seems to be a good choice. Everything is available everywhere, weather is awesome, people are nice. Once the college starts physical classes, it would be less lonely here as the college mates would also move here. Till then, I'll attend online classes and do competitive programming to pass the time. I may also write more blogs if I get the inspiration.

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Sayan

2020⋅11⋅29