Southern Bangalore Closer to the West?

This weekend, we celebrated Holi, the festival of colors where people have get togethers and throw bright colors over themselves, each other and everything else. Its no coincidence it corresponds with the beginning of spring.

With the preponderance of logo'd polo shirts and khaki pants, Banglore dresses more like Silicon Valley than any place we've been in India. Bangalore is known for having the most western, least oppressive lifestyle of anywhere in the country. And people are moving here in droves! College grads move here for opportunity, then their families follow shortly after. You can drink a beer here without enduring harsh, disapproving looks and its okay to be seen socializing with the opposite sex. Its quite a draw. However, there has been some backlash. Recently, in response to a trend toward "dirty dancing" copied from Bollywood films, the Bangalore City Council has simply outlawed dancing. Its "Footloose" in the new millenium! Maybe Kevin Bacon needs to come here and start a revolution... kick off those Sunday shoes!

We lucked out with another great Couchsurfing.com contact here in Bangalore, Manju's place is epic. Part library, part zen meditation center, its located in a busy central suburb but feels like a garden retreat. Manju grew up in Bangalore, knows the city, and was a great host. Thanks man!