Amazing Bangalore - off the beaten track

The first day we were here, we went on a bit of a 'off the beaten track' tour of Bangalore (AKA the town of boiled beans)! A quick run down of the type of things we saw:

1. Firstly a visit to the aPaulogy gallery - a series of artworks from Bangalore in the 70s onwards. Super interesting. Take a look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-fernandes/sets/72157629354105429/

2. A Hindu cemetery (which is quite unusual given that generally speaking Hindus are cremated..however there is one group of Hindus that believes in preserving the soul and buries its dead in a cemetery...sitting up!!)

Hindu Cemetery

3. A black magic temple where you can place curses and also get them removed! A couple of the crew decided to err on the side of caution...

Removing curses!

Massive clothes lines

4. Dhobi Ghat - a place where washing is done by hand on a mass scale! This is a traditional place where washing was done for lots of businesses, hotels etc en masse. Still exists today!

The large tubs where the soaking takes place

Trying my hand at slapping the clothes on the rock!

 5. Visiting a Sikh Temple! -Sikhism stemmed out of Hinduism and is a relatively 'new' religion. Sikhs are generally considered a very well educated part of Indian society and a very peaceful people (however carry a dagger with them at all times as a way of being ready to go to war at any time). Their temples are places where people gather to contemplate, but can also access free lodging and food!! We visited their massive kitchen where they feed literally hundreds of people (Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike) every day and we spoke with some of the ladies staying in their free lodging! - all very interesting

A traditional Sikh - their hair is never cut but
is washed every day. Notice the dagger!

Some pots and pans for the cooking that occurs every day

6. St. Mary's Basilica - the Catholic Church in Bangalore
Interesting how religion has cultural influences - the church had bright blue and white fairy lights as well as a statue of Mary in a Sari!!

The inside of St Mary's

Mary in a Sari!