This evening when I tried to help...

Am I waiting for some weird, different experiences to blog out? Not sure. Came across this one in the evening and am blogging out.

Just got down in Shivajinagar from 330C. Was waiting for Big 10, G9. 5 minutes passed to find no signs of it.

There were a series of buses coming from Meenakshi Coil street and I got myself into looking for buses heading Yelahanka while an elderly gentleman, in his mid 40s tried to cross the road, couldn't at that moment coz of traffic.

In the meantime, he saw me and a smile flashed on his face. I returned it back. He probably was waiting for that I guess. Started talking to me. Conversation goes like this.

Him: Bad day. You know how to go to Jayamahal?
Me: Yeah. You get a bus here at the terminus. Go there. you'll get lotsa buses.
H: Oh Thanks. Is bus the only way? Can I get an auto as well?
M: Yeah! Many go there. fetch one right here. There is one auto passing by. (He just flew giving us no chance to enquire).
H: So good of you. I've walked from Ulsoor to Shivajinagar and I'm very tired. I'll wait for some time to get an auto, lest I shall board a bus.
M: You have one auto here. Wait, lemme ask him. (To the auto driver). ಜಯಮಹಲ್ ಬರ್ತೀಯೇನಪ್ಪ?
Auto driver: ಜಯನಗರ ನ?
M: ಜಯನಗರ ಅಲ್ಲಪ್ಪ. ಜಯಮಹಲ್ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ಲು. ವಸಂತನಗರ ಸಿಗ್ನಲ್ ದಾಟಿ ಅಂಡರ್ ಬ್ರಿಡ್ಜು ದಾಟಿ. ಹೋಟೆಲ್ಲು. ಗೊತ್ತಾಯ್ತಾ?
A: ಸರಿ ಬನ್ನಿ.
M: (To him) I've told him the route. You can go with him.
H: Why don't you come along. Please join me.
M: No please. I'll go by bus. I've lot many waiting here. You carry on.
H: It would help me find the route quicker If you come along. Please don't hesitate. Get in. Get in. Get in...
M: Okay.
A: ಸಾರ್! ಐವತ್ತ್ ರುಪಾಯಿ ಆಗತ್ತೆ.
M: (Scratching head) He's saying it costs 50 bucks.
H: Come on. Ask him to put meter. Why is he charging extra?
A: ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಯೂ ಟರ್ನ್ ಮಾಡಕ್ಕಾಗಲ್ಲ. ಸುಮಾರ್ ದೂರ ಹೋಗಿ ಯೂ ಟರ್ನ್ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕು. ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಆಗತ್ತೆ.
M: ಗುರೂ, ಇನ್ನೂ ಟೈಮ್ ೭ ಗಂಟೆ. ಆಗ್ಲೇ ಹಿಂಗಾ?
A: ನಮಗೂ ವರ್ಕ್ ಔಟ್ ಆಗ್ಬೇಕಲ್ಲಾ ಸಾರ್? ೫೦ ರುಪಾಯಿ ಕೊಡಿ. ಇಲ್ಲಾ ಇಳ್ಕೊಲ್ಲಿ.

I conveyed the same to him, to which he kinda denied. Later after some talk agreed. I asked him to go by bus which is more economical but he resisted. He was late for an appointment by 2 hours and he can't make them wait more is what he said.

H: I've walked from Ulsoor to here. Can't walk anymore. Also, I'm not sure of getting any seat in the buses. I'll go by this but ask him to leave me right at the footsteps of the hotel.
M: ನೋಡ್ರಿ... ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ಬಾಗಲ್ ತನಕ ಬಿಡ್ಬೇಕಂತೆ. ಐವತ್ತ್ ರುಪಾಯಿ ಕೊಡ್ತಾರಂತೆ. (I was like, why the hell did I get involve in this?)
A: ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ಗೇಟ್ ತನಕ ಬಿಡ್ತೀವಿ. ಅಷ್ಟೇ.
M: He says He'll leave you till the gate. Is that okay?
H: If he talks this way, I can also talk the same. What have they thought of himself? I won't give him money if he doesn't take me to the hotel. (He also conveyed the same in Hindi, thinking that the driver understands Hindi)

The driver continued driving.

Meanwhile, we spoke about him taking an auto, a taxi from Ulsoor to Jayamahal which he explains like nobody was willing to ply in that area. I asked for autos, buses, taxis Meru, Citycabs et al to find none willing to come there. One company says that it'll take 2 hours to reach Ulsoor.

All the way, he was cursing n curbing about his situation. He says he met another person at Ulsoor who explained him the scenario (dunno how true) that nobody will come to pick you up and the best way left to you is to walk your way. That person gave him company till Shivajinagar and had gone elsewhere.

Now, this person is from Mumbai, visited Bengaluru for a conference in ITC Windsor Hotel, but stayed in Jayamahal. He had another appointment with Sobha developers at Ulsoor when all this begun.

I asked him. didn't the Sobha guys arrange for transport? He said, they didn't and I didn't ask for one. There was a mean smile on his face.

All the while, there were clashes happening between the auto driver and this person. The former used to curse in Kannada while the latter used to ask me to translate it (which I didnt) and also was swearing at him in English which he probably didn't understand.

He continued to explain things in Mumbai. About Meter Jam, people trying to man-handle rickshaw drivers and all. This went on for a few minutes and He also explained that things are the same in metros.

We spoke about lots of issues in the country. Thinking of no solutions but just to discuss problems. He also discussed about Belagavi issue and supported Karnataka in this regard. He had hatred towards the politicians starting this riot.

At Vasanthnagar junction, the auto driver asked.

A: ಏಯ್ ಐವಾನ್! ಎಲ್ಲ್ ಇಳ್ಕೊತೀಯೋ?
M: ಇನ್ನೂ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋಗಪ್ಪ. ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಕಾನ್ಸತ್ತಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ.
A: ಅವ್ರಿಗೆ ಕೇಳಿ ಸಾರ್. ರೋಡ್ ದಾಟ್ತಾರೋ? ಅಥವಾ? ಯೂ ಟರ್ನ್ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊಂಡ್ ಬರಬೇಕೋ?

He asked him to take him inside the hotel for which the driver cribbed and drove ahead.

H: I don't know one thing. These people want to increase fares according to petrol hikes. We people pay it. But still they crib? I dunno the reason. They always crib.

M: Thats human tendancy. Can't help it.

By the time, we were at the gate of Jayamahal hotel. I got down bidding him goodbye and walking away. He thanked me. and asked the driver to get inside.

A: ಅದೆಲ್ಲ ಆಗಲ್ಲ. ಗೇಟ್ ಹತ್ರ ಬಿಡ್ತೀವಿ ಅಂದಿದ್ದ್ವಿ. ಗೇಟ್ ಹತ್ರ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೀವಿ. ಒಳಗೆಲ್ಲ ಬರಲ್ಲ.
H: Now, again whats his problem? Boss... If you do nakhra, we also have to take the same route. I won't give you a penny.
A: ಏನ್ ಸಾರ್ ಇವ್ರು ಹೇಳೋದು? ಹಿಂಗೆಲ್ಲ ಆಡ್ತಾರೆ?

I was in between, concoling both of them. After 10 minutes of consoling, the driver agreed to get to the hotel entrance.

I heaved a huge sigh of relief. I just wanted to get outa this mess. I bid him final goodbye for which he formally said "Meet you some time" and bid adieu.

For the help I lended, I walked from Jayamahal hotel to Jayamahal bus stop.

Big 10, Akka n Me

This saturday, myself and Akka were returning from the bank in Sahakarnagar. When we came to byats, we saw a BIG 10 bus. What followed will be said later but,

For non-Bangaloreans, (also, for those Bangaloreans who least travel in the bus, Hehe!) BIG 10 buses are BMTC buses which drop you off at a certain popular location within the city to the suburbs. Or as BTIS says,

Big10 services, connect the Central Business District with different parts of the city

These locations within the central where most buses wouldn't stop. Ex: BRV grounds to Yelahanka Puttenahalli. One might get confused where is this BRV grounds? Its on the Cubbon Road (parallel to MG Road), check it out.

We do have Kendra Saarige buses of which more could be found here.

Enough off the topic, but before diggin more into the post, just have a look at the BIG 10 logo.


Akka started off with the conversation.

Akka: ಹೇಯ್! ಈ ಬಿಗ್ ೧೦ ಅಂತ ಬರ್ದಿರೋದ್ ನೋಡು. ಅದ್ ಯಾಕ್ ಹಾಗ್ ಸೊಟ್ಟ ಬರದಿದ್ದರೆ?
Me: ಅಲ್ವಾ? fullu italics ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ.
Akka: ಅದ್ ಯಾಕ್ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಗ್ ಸೊಟ್ಟ ಬರದಿದ್ದಾರೋ??!!
Me: ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಾ? ಹೇಯ್! ಸರಿಯಾಗ್ ನೋಡು! ಅದು ಇರೋದು ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷಲ್ಲಿ.
Akka: ಏನೋ ಹೇಳ್ತೀಯಾ? ಅದ್ ಇರೋದು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ. ಕಣ್ ಬಿಟ್ಟ್ ಸರಿಯಾಗ್ ನೋಡು.
Me: ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದ್ ಯಾವ್ angle ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣ್ಸತ್ತೆ ನಿಂಗೆ? ಡೈರೆಕ್ಟ್ ಆಗಿ ನೋಡು. B I G ಅಂತ ದೊಡ್ಡದಾಗಿ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷಲ್ಲೇ ಬರ್ದಿದ್ದಾರೆ...

(Now, both of us realize that its actually in both Kannada and English)

Akka: ಹೌದಲ್ಲೋ! Direct ಆಗೇ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದ ಹಾಗ್ ಕಾಣಿಸ್ತ ಇದೆ.
Me: ನೀನ್ ಹೇಳೋದು ಕರೆಕ್ಟು. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲೂ ಇದೆ. ನಾನ್ ಇದೆ ಮೊದ್ಲು ನೋಡ್ತಾ ಇರೋದು ಈ ಥರ. ನಿಜವಾಗಲು ಈ ಲೋಗೋ ಮಾಡಿದವನಿಗೆ ಅವಾರ್ಡ್ ಕೊಡ್ಬೇಕು.

Now, lemme explain to the non-Kannada readers as to what went on in that conversation. She was seeing that logo in Kannada font and wasn't aware of the english font in it, while I was seeing the English logo and couldn't recognize the Kannada hidden in it (Some of you might swear me for this... Hehe). But we came to know about this mutually when we disclosed it.

Those who know both Kannada and English fonts, check it out. It is a beautiful logo created by BMTC (the logo creator has to be awarded to come up with such a wonderful logo).

After this incident, i realised as to why there were circles on top of the B and I characters of English font. Those were to make it also readable in Kannada.

I thank Akka in sharin the info to me in this respect, she would thank for what I shared... Nullifies... =)

since this incident, I see the Kannada font more than the English font. This pic above was taken after this incident exclusive for this post.

Were you one of us? or had you already noticed both the fonts? Share it.

Feel so good to find such minute interesting facts. Aint you?

BMTC had never been so pathetic...

Thanks to Mr. Mannina Maga, his son Mannina Mommaga and all their allies. Today was a troublesome day to many of the Bangaloreans who were commuting via BMTC.

Traffic was totally hit in the northern parts of Bangalore, public commuting totally hit (need not mention)...

Cause being the samavesha held by the JDS (Dunno for what sake was it held) People were dumped in buses and were heading to Palace Grounds. They had rented more than half of the buses of BMTC for the so called communion all heading to Palace Grounds. Why the heck did BMTC grant so many buses? Didnt it foresee the problems that would occur?

What big decision was taken there? To roll down the current state government?? eh? I saw an article in Vijaya Karnataka today where Mr. DG has given an open statement saying "I've never seen a pathetic government than this!" What was your government at 1996? What was your government at the centre?

I'm not supporting the present government at the state. It might be pathetic which includes puppets like Mr. BSY and master of puppets like Mr. JR. What right does Mr. DG has to comment on the present government? I see none.

People who used to return home by 1 returned by 6. This was common. You could have seen people who would fit in a minimum of 6 buses in every bus stand while Mr. DG was busy sleepin at his communion.

One of my uncle had come from Kota and he couldn't return coz he didnt get any bus. I could have dropped him which he clearly denied, but what about the commoners?

We waited in the bus stand for almost two hours to find handful of buses jam packed. What happened in the samavesha? I should wait till tomorrow morning to get the news coz I hardly watch TV.

Many such communion have taken place but the commuting was never being hit so bad. Some of the instances being 'Benny Hinn coming to Jakkur Aerodrome to conduct his stupid evangelical drama for four continuous days', 'Sometimes when Mrs. Sonia Gandhi comes to deliver a speech'

Poor thing was that those buses which hadnt been taken by them took lengthy routes to avoid Palace Grounds and were fumbling to find the destination in the traffic jam all over the city. Traffic Police inside the city must have gone out of their minds.

Hope to not see such a thing in the future.

No Reservation in BMTC...

If you're in Bangalore and you have travelled in BMTC, you would have guessed what I'm talking about. Yes. Its the reservation they try in the city buses. If you're a regular traveller as me(also, arrogant), you would have seriously quarelled with atleast 10 people by now.

Here is one such conversation:

(After boarding a bus in a heavily crowded bus terminus, you see a seat just three steps from the door. You run towards it to find a person reserving it for his friend, I just go there and sit.)

He: Bhaisaab! Hamaara friend bus 5 minite me aayega! idhar hee gaya he!
Me: Idhar reservation, giservation nahi chalta he! Sideg hogayyo!
He: Abe ye kya mazaak he kya? Mera friend aayega! Woh bolega?
Me: Kya badnekaayi bolega? Usko aane de! Mai baat karoonga! (Ellellindano bandbidthaare! Namge aawaaz haakthaare, thagad nann makklu)
He: (Grumbles... and sits shuttin everything)

These are things you usually see in either Majestic or Market. This is pretty common. People who try to reserve are majorly from North India. I dunno whether its a custom over there. I see lot many people doing that.

Not that others wont but comparitively less.

Among those, few will quietly leave space for the person entering. Few will quarrel a bit, and if the second party is strong enough, shuts his mouth as in the afore mentioned conversation. Few like whom I mention now, will just keep their bags on the seat and quarrel as if its their inherent property. Here was the conversation what happened when I was carrying two hefty bags from K.R. Market while a marawadi family had placed a plastic bag on both the seats and had gone to have tea nearby, keeping an eye on their baggage through the window. I just went to the bus to find only that seat vacant, kept the bag of window seat beside and sat. By this time, one among those idiotic marwadi who had spent his considerable amount of life here came and started swearing right near the window.

Marwadi: Abe tu saale! Kya diktha nahi? waha par bag rakha tha!
Sandesh: Illi reservation illa! muchkond hogu!
M: Kya bak raha hai? dikta nahi kya? waha par bag rakha hua tha!
S: Kannada baralva nimge?
M: Saale kya Kannad, vannad bol rahe ho?
S: T#!k@ muchkond hogolo B*w@r$!! Ellellindo band ninge isht gaanchali irbekandre ille huttiro nangesht irbeda!
[Not that he was not able to understand me, he continued speaking in Hindi]
H: Saale! Ab tum bahar niklega ya nahi?
S: Naan yaako horg hogli? kiththogiro nann makkla neeve horg hogi saayri!
[Enter a female inside the bus and she asked me to get up, I denied, after which she called her husband, who is not the first marwadi and even he had the same attitude]
M2: Abe humne reserve kiya tha! Aap utiye! [ A Bit sober ]
S: Naan yaakri elli? Bekaadre conductor na keli.
[M2 starts speaking in Kannada]
M2: Nodi saar! Namdu illi ondh bag iththu. Naavu illi nimgintha munchene bandbittiddvi.
S: Haag helakk hodre naanu ee bussalli ninne ne koothidde! Adakken heltheera?
M2: Sumne eli saar!
S: Eega hogtheero? Illa conductor na kareebeko?
[He knew that it was his fault, meanwhile M1 continued cursing from below, I didnt budge. After the humiliation, M2 and his wife started getting down and went down, with their luggage.]

After 5 minutes, bus started moving. M1 took this as opportunity to curse with his whole heart and started cursing! While I reverted back with Kannada counterparts! The bus moved and that was the end of the story. You might not like me being so rude but one should be for such idiots. I simply can't help it.

These are one such people who will never change their attitude. One big whole bunch of idiots.

All I gotta say to those who reserve is :

If you want your friend/relative/whoever it is and you've boarded a seat in the bus, instead of reserving one more seat, leave your seat to them and you better stand.

Say what?

Have you come across any such situations? Let me know! What do you feel abt reservation in BMTC or any other metropolitan transport service? Post your thoughts. I know travelling in such systems, you should have atleast one such case!

A monologue in the bus.

Had just got a seat near Tin factory. 7:40 pm, It was a bit crowded, less of light, couldn't open the book to read. Was just sitting idle.

Five minutes passed while a person behind me gets a call. Here goes the conversation. (Monologue for me, as I couldn't hear the other side.)

Note here that based his replies, i would frame my own questions from the other side that would have been probably asked.

Other person : Whats up dude?? how are you doin?

Person : Right now in a pathetic condition. In a third grade bus. Sweating like hell. What will a person get working in a big MNC get? ( Dunno why he told that way)

O : Why what happened?

P : Now what else will a 'kin Indian get?? (Tell me what to do with this Idiot)

O : Again, what happened? Whats wrong with you?

P : Dude, I'm &*cked up with this &*ckin job!

(This person is suffering from slangs like 'Dude, &*ck,...'. They think they are great if they use those words)

He continued the jargon of hating his job, cursing it to the fullest extent. I thought of posting the full conversation here but It would just lengthen the post and add no value to it.

Here is the gist. This person is one among those who not just hate their job but also their country. They just want everything on their side no matter what happens to the rest. He was curbing that he travels 70 kms everyday in bus and he is sick of that. He hates BMTC, Bangalore, Traffic, his job, India everything. People around were just staring at him. No one daring not daring to speak to him. He comes somewhere from Mayuri near Sanjaynagar and his office is somewhere near silkboard. Stupid guy, takes ring road while he can take a route inside the city to shorten it. Or if he is so bugged up, why shouldn't he shift?

The person on the other side should also be blamed. He should not have allowed him to speak like this. By his accent, I could make out that he is a malayali. I'm not blaming the whole of malayali gang with this but the outsiders are the major ones for the condition here in Bangalore. Just for their sake, rising population, we are sacrificing many things here and they don't care a damn for it. Once again, here I'm not blaming all of the outsiders but the majority of them.

The government has acquired land for widening of roads after Hebbal flyover towarsd BIA. Now, they have decided to acquire more land for Metro. What should the people there do?? where should they go? They cut down trees, imbalance the environment of Bangalore. Sparrows flew outside Bangalore for the mobile revolution here in the city. Bangalore is getting more and more barren. For Whose sake????

Well, I thought of blogging out about that person, but it is heading in a direction which i didn't intend. Will blog out the original content some other day. Cya.

One more feather to add onto the Cap of BMTC!!

Look at this pic! Though it was taken from my mobile @ 7:30 late in the evening, I hope you know which place it is.

Yes! It is our BMTC, Majestic, Subhashnagara. I was amazed to see a screen probably an LCD screen( a glowing screen which you can see atop, I'll post a pic taken in daytime asap.) on the bridge connecting KSRTC and BMTC. Its a display showing ads, along with instructions to the commuters. BMTC has gone one step ahead! Such things would ease the passenger more.

Not only that! They've also installed small displays on possibly every platform in the bus stand. Now, you can watch songs even in BMTC bus stand(KSRTC had this much before, say10-15 years back)



Commuters can pass their time by watching these things instead of just waiting for the bus.

Hope they get more such ideas and make the customer more happy!