bangalore’s 21-degree curse and why i’m still here
i woke up to a ceiling fan spinning at half speed and a mini thunderstorm outside my window. not the kind you hear on nature documentaries. this was just my ac unit wheezing along with the monsoon. the weather here? 21.16 degrees, feels like 21.37. i checked three times. same number, just more humid. 78% humidity. imagine sweating while your clothes already feel like they’re made of wet wool. didn’t even unpack my laptop bag yet.
this city has a way of reminding you it’s not tropical. it’s like if someone took a desert and sprayed it with a mister. the skyline’s still there, all glass and concrete, but the air? it’s holding its breath. i’ve seen people here carry fans everywhere, but mine was broken. i resorted to blowing on my arms. not efficient, but hey, desperate times.
neighbors? let’s just say they’re all in on the heat. one old man next door was shouting at his mango tree like it owed him money. another family was wearing saris and using everything under the sun as a fan. if you ask them why they’re doing it, they’ll just say, ‘it’s tradition.’ i heard that from some drunk guy at a chai stall last night. probably a lie.
reviews? oh, the reviews. i overheard a couple arguing at a bus stop about how ‘the udipi restaurant here is actually terrible, but everyone lies about it.’ another person told me the metro here smells like old sincere after rain. not a place you’d want to vacuum. i heard that from someone who clearly missed the point of underground transport.
i found a map online though.
. it shows where i’m currently trapped. 19.17,83.42. zone 12. it’s not a specific place. it’s bangalore’s version of a vague address.
photos? i took three.
. the first is my laptop bag melting in the sun. the second? a vendor selling dosa while pretending it’s not just a flat piece of rice. the third is a lake that’s clearly a mirage.
links? check out the udipi place on tripadvisor. some say it’s the best dosa in the city. others say it’s a government experiment. yelp has a review from a guy who called it ‘the kind of place where you question life choices.’ i’m not sure which is true. but there’s a local board on yelp where someone posted a pic of a rat riding a scooter. probably fake. probably not.
here’s the deal. if you get bored, ludhiana is just a short drive away. not a vacation. more like a mandatory therapy session. the city’s a weird mix of chaos and consistency. the weather hates you, the neighbors vibe with it, and the reviews? they’re just gossip dressed up as advice.
bottom line? 21 degrees is not a dealbreaker. it’s just another layer of this city’s identity. like how you start hating your job but still show up. or how you realize the cat’s your only friend. maybe that’s why i’m still here. writing this under a fan that’s 50% air and 50% regret.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/fitness-and-wellness-the-best-gyms-and-yoga-studios-in-hamburg-according-to-a-slightly-sleepdeprived-soul
- https://votoris.com/post/coding-in-san-jose-can-you-afford-the-wifi-and-the-ramen
- https://votoris.com/post/seasonal-weather-in-jalingo-what-to-expect-throughout-the-year-a-totally-unfiltered-look
- https://votoris.com/post/gaziantep-the-city-that-doesnt-do-vintage-vibes-but-has-history-for-days
- https://votoris.com/post/edmonton-vs-ottawa-where-can-a-diy-busker-actually-afford-to-exist