Here are my current TOP 5 Things I Hate About Living in India so far… in case you were curious:
1. The Bank. Well, for me this is the Indian Overseas Bank. Take a peek at the photo here. Take a good look. You’ll see a withdrawal slip, a stamp from the bank inked onto the withdrawal slip, and a silver disk. This is what Angela needs at the bank to withdraw cash. So, what’s my problem? This is the procedure: Go to Window A with the completed withdrawal slip. Lady behind Window A looks up my info on computer and confirms if I indeed have money in my account, she gives me a silver disk and sends me away to Window B. Window B is located right next it, 25 centimeters away from Window A. The guy behind Window B re-checks that Window A lady didn’t mess up and then he stamps my slip and sends me away. Window C has a queue, so I go to stand in line. When I finally reach the front of the line, the lady behind Window C rechecks the computer, takes my silver disk thingy and gives me cash. OMG WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? haha I really am not an idiot, but I swear to you I looked like one the first time I went to the bank to make a cash withdrawal. I mean, seriously, who on this planet could predict that process and actually do it right the first time around? haha
2. Sidewalks. I feel soooo sorry for the little old people of India. Hell, to be honest I feel sorry for me and anyone who walks in this country with heels on. I know that I can’t really say this but … it’s as if there really are NO sidewalks. I mean, they are there, but I have never seen a single sidewalk outside of the posh commercial zone UB City that went on FLAT and uniform for more than 4 meters. Sidewalks are like a mosaic of cement and dirt that are NOT fitted to work together. I don’t have a photo but this is really a whole post topic eventually anyway so will pull together a slide show.
3. Car, Moto and Auto Rickshaw HORNS. Why, India? Why do you have to use the horn as anything other than a safety device to alert other drivers of imminent danger? Oh wait, you do. haha The crazy driving style of India definitely requires the horn blowing insanity that pollutes the tranquility in the air from early morning rush hour traffic til the middle of the night….and even then actually. In Spain, I only heard the horn sounding when a car was blocking traffic… a few times a week maybe. Here I hear a horn sounding at least every 2 to 4 seconds during the day. Crazy!! haha
4. The Geyser Switch. The first time my hotel shower didn’t have hot water I figured it was because all of the guests had just showered and I suffered through a cold shower in order to make it to work on time. The second time I actually called down to the front desk and asked WTF? Turns out that there is a switch in the bathroom labeled “Geyser” is actually the individual hot water heater switch. Who’da guessed?? haha Kind of made sense after they told me but it hadn’t really occurred to me until then. I have personally never seen this in the U.S. or Europe. Well yours truly had been efficiently turning off all the lights at night on my way out of the hotel each morning, accidentally turning off the Geyser switch along with the lights like an idiot. After that first time, it happened two more times at the hotel. And now I actually did it to myself for the first time at the new flat this morning too. Well, actually, I think the housekeeper shut it off yesterday but I never thought to check it before bed. From now on I will remember, from now on I will remember, from now on I will remember…
Toot toot, beep beep and XOXO from Bangalore
© Angela Carson, Angela’s Adventures in Bangalore blog and photos, 2011
Great blog Angie, keep em coming. Glad to see you enjoy your new life too =)
K
Thanks, V. Life is definitely different from anything I have ever known which is really fun. I could really use a party night though! haha Hope all is well with you. Was thinking about you recently because of some funny things that came up with old CEO…will try to email you later to share. xo
I’m quite surprised you didn’t mention the traffic in this one. I guess, the horns do cover a bit of it, but they’re nothing compared to the traffic jams, and the two wheelers on the side-walk…
Or maybe you didn’t want to scare everyone away from the city.. Hmmm… : :
You will eventually get used to the food and the geyser switch, though.. Maybe even the horns. The sidewalks will probably remain a pain for longer. Dunno about the bank.. :
hehe…no no no! I am from Los Angeles. Bangalore is a breeze with traffic compared to the freeways of southern California 🙂 I will never complain about traffic here, seems A-okay to me!
I have a little list of things I can make fun about though so there will definitely be a “Part 2” in the future 🙂
You are supposed to switch off the geysor once you are done with your shower. Just switch it on half an hour or so before you need to use it. If you leave it on the whole while there is a good chance of it burning out!
Argh, I wish I could do that but I basically turn the alarm clock off, roll out of bed and right into the shower. I am not a morning person so it basically has to stay on all the time. Cuz the same thing will happen when I am rushing after work to shower before dinner or happy hour. BUT, I am going to keep my fingers crossed I don’t burn it out 🙂
Hey Angela,
Its quite common in India and as we all believe the power of saving, basically a long term plan. Save more for generations to come, save electricity, save water etc etc etc….
Angela
The geyser switch is used to save power! In Europe in places where they have heating, hot water is plentiful as it is a byproduct of the heating process.
Cheers