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No Pictures - Just a few Observations:

This was my first time traveling overseas.  I brought back many rich experiences and a much more profound understanding how to navigate through the many challenges that lay ahead.

We had some flight delays coming back due to storms and higher than expected headwinds (120 kts), missed our Chicago connection but finally made it home after 36 hours from arriving at the Bangalore airport.  No real way to prepare just go with the flow  - remember you'll basically traveling half way around the world.  You will be drained the next few days - period.

Jet lag takes a few days to recover - I'm still waking up at 3:00AM and finishing this blog early Monday morning.

The sights, sounds, and smells all have to be experienced personally to have the real and full effect.  India is of course has a huge population and people everywhere are just trying to survive each day.  Bangalore if filled with activity during all times of day and night. You should never be bored because people watching is fascinating.

We all have a better sense of how things work and sometimes don't work, but we also have a deeper understanding of the life experiences for those living and working in Bengaluru.  Hopefully we will have other opportunities to travel there again. 

Last Day - A Few Goodbyes

GREAT Group of Guys.
We definitely felt welcome 



A few parting gifts



A Few More Sites You'll See Around Town

Temples are numerous and scattered throughout the city.
Remember these are all hand made!



Coconuts are everywhere and are sold nearly on every corner for a quick drink.



We heard that Muslims make up around 10% of the total population within all of India.

This is everyday traffic - AMAZING it flows so well.
It took us anywhere from 40 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to commute back and forth from hotel to GTC.



Every street is lined with shops selling everything needed for daily living.




Construction of the elevated metro.  




If you look closely there are no safety harnesses nor nets!
Limited big equipment - mainly hand labor to build everything.



Last Evening on the Town

Ken and I spent our last evening with Shankar and his wife Priyos (not sure on the spelling).
Great evening to relax and reflect on last 2 weeks in Bangalore.



Ken couldn't resist a quick spin around the block.
Good thing it was late in evening and traffic was at a low.



Interesting Extension Cords

Seems to be the typical method for running power at a construction site at GTC.  Remember this is 240VAC.

101 uses for electrical tape.



Quick and Simple Plug



Bangalore Olympic Training Stadium

This is the enterence to Bangalore's Olympic Training facility.
Maybe built in the 1980's my guess.
We pass by it every day to and from work aand wanted to stop by this morning to give it a look over.
Open to the public for excerise and recreation.



Front enterence
Stadium show a little wear due to time, but is in pretty good shape.
Guessing it has never been updated since built.




Skyline of area a few taller buildings behind the stadium



Dreaming someday of being on a national cricket team - Right?

Last Weekend To Shop



Much behind the story on this picture.
Basically this person will completly refinish this furniture where he sits by hand scraping every square inch with a very small scrapper blade - Amazing.



Attempts to stay in shade throughout the day.

Every street is nearly identical to this for evening shopping.



UB Building - HQ for Kingfisher.



Kingfisher owns an airline in India.
News reported they hadn't paid thier pilots for last few weeks due to financial hardship and were close to going under - again.



Great view from a plaza area from a high end mall



Riding the Elevated Metro Train

Elevated Train just opened around 6 months ago.
Most people riding are doing so for fun and somthing new to do.
So far, they only have a few miles of track usable with only 6 stations complete.
Route covers from close to our hotel going back to the east.
Plan will eventually include having a loop around the entire city - Hopefully they won't take as long as our Kellogg expansion !



Each Station has many security people - all passengers are screened - searching for things that could be used to damage the tracks or trains - serious.
No cameras are allowed to take picutres inside the terminals therefore I have none -  so far.





Pictures can be taken once inside the cars and away from the station.
This is a vast area inside the city which has not yet been developed.
Very expensive land.




Passing by a larger than normal size temple.




Group photo opportunity




This is Bangalore's main source of rail transporation and has been around for a long time.
People can take this train to various spots around the city.
It's connnected to a central terminal where you can then switch trains and travel to differnet cities - Very common for most our people to travel around India.



Our Facility

Sreeninvas in bright and early - Good guy



The most common language in Bangalore is Kannad
What Textron looks like spelled out




After a long day in the office - Ready to go back to hotel
Textron is in this building




This is the front enterance
Texton has the first 2 floors (building on left)
Building in background just started and under construction




Across the strett all new building going up
Constuction within GTC is booming





Future building for Accenture - At least that's what we were told




Limited parking is offered on street level under building
Majority of vehicles are 2-wheelers (scooters)




Do you think this says "Wash Me"?




Almost all business buildings in GTC has the cafeteria on top floor (Roof)
Empolyees are not allowed to eat in the office areas



Looking out from the cafeteria you see Bangalore University for Engineering 



Another view from Cafeteria




Cafeteria view
Stream in background and water treatment plant offer some interesting ordors