Bangalore, The Garden City

This morning we walk to 'MG Road' for a coffee (nobody seems to call it Mahatma Gandhi Road). For some bizarre reason the auto rickshaws refuse to take us there, but it is only about a 1km walk, admittedly in one of the hottest months of the year.

There have been some significant developments in our plans, but more on that later. In the mean time, Bangalore assaults us from all directions. The photo shows a serene image; the trees are in blossom and an occasional auto rickshaw tootles past.

The reality is somewhat different. On the busy roads the traffic is continuous and unrelenting. The traffic lights have countdown timers which ensure that there is a seamless flow between the phases - good if you are driving, bad if you are a pedestrian. Zebra crossings are for decoration only; you have to be a cow to get the traffic to stop for you around here.