just sweeping the lawn

the front lawn of the Radha Hometel was more immaculate due to the work of two lads who swept the lawn with long, thin bunches of
what looked like dried blackboy quills, which of course they weren't, but similar...it sure was nicer than hearing those infernal
leaf blowers that have become ubiquitous in Australia...and it is indicative of the sheer number of people over here to do work...
there are people doing work in the hotel round the clock, all manner of cleaners, restaurant workers...then you visit one of the
IT parks and there are at least 10 people on security on the front gate, then 5 on reception at the office you're visiting...i visited
Atos Origin India - an IT services firm, about 20 of their staff were in training to skill up to take over support of an offshore
Business Intelligence system, it was 2 months worth of training for these guys. This capacity is mindblowing and Atos isn't one of the
bigger IT services firms around these parts. If you extrapolate this to any service offering and offshoring services suddenly
becomes very attractive. Also, from the meeting I had with the guys, they realise there's allowances needed for cultural differences,
the lesson's been learnt the hard way, but these guys sure do learn quickly!

The other attitude I picked up today, while signing up for a mobile phone, typically there's an attitude of getting a result..
I was helped by Tharun and Shilpa, both colleagues from when I was working on a project in Sydney and they were providing development
work from Bangalore for SAP. Our confrontation (that's all I can call it) with the girl at the Vodafone shop was typical of the
attitude...the options for signing up for a mobile were very numerous, some were plans, some prepaid, some deals weren't available
any more, some phones weren't available any more...there was a lot of ID required and so on. It would have taken me most of the day
to understand what was going on, but Tharun and Shilpa perservered until the deal was done and wouldn't give an inch on bargaining
or asking questions.

So, the attitude seems to be keep pushing and pushing and take any route to get there...very similar to on the roads - there's
no rules except that whatever type of road user you are - just move in the general direction you want to go and let people
know that you're there - most times with the horn. so, the pedestrian is the bottom of the food chain in this scenario.

Tharun, Shilpa and I then went to a cafe and then Tharun and I walked down to SAP Labs, Tharun proudly exclaiming that it is the
biggest campus in Bangalore (in terms of area at least), home to 3000 employees, 300 Custom Development team members...all of whom
are provided free lunch and dinner and snacks...and buses. I think Tharun likes working there :)

I've just been out for my first real walk around the neighbourhood. No footpaths, plenty of dust and haze, loads and loads of people,
buses ferrying workers to and fro, came across truckloads of girls who were being picked up from their sewing shop/ factory.
Turns out the street I'm on runs East/ West, I walked West into the setting sun. Such mild and balmy weather - plants going
crazy everywhere, such lush growing conditions...and loads of stray dogs cruising round

Off to Mysore, planning to leave at 6am tomorrow morning (Easter Friday) with Tharun and his wife in his tiny Suzuki.

My knees are feeling a bit creaky, so I think it'll be a slow entry into practising down there...with plenty of Graeme
exercises to pump up the quads and take the pressure of those precious knees.

Keen to get on the road and see some of the countryside.