Bangaluru

Bengalore has a very different feel from all our other stops on this trip. It has a cosmopolitan ingredient added to the mix. Things like streetlights, motorcycle helmets, modern urban transportation, brew pubs.

Our Parklane Hotel tuktuk driver, Noor, got us a car returning to Bengaluru which made for a low cost ride.

Driver watched a movie even when actively driving. Only watched in stalled traffic after I spoke to him. Thank you.

Good metro; road signs more frequent; the opera house.

Cubben Park

Beautiful central Park, closed to traffic on Sundays when we were fortunate enough to visit. Sir Mark Cubbon was a British commissioner who set up a lot of the infrastructure for city and state.

Cubbon park grounds; bandstand ( cast iron from Glasgow) with State Karnataka High Court, red, in background; Queen Victoria.

A visit to The National Museum of Modern Art was a highlight as multimedia artist Haren Thakur from the state of Jharkhand was exhibiting his work and was there in person.

Mr Thakur stops us to chat.

Within 24 hours, bliss was finding first Starbucks on trip (Bengaluru); then after a night bus, landing at a perfect, low- key beach (Om) near Gokarna, with perfect place to stay, Shantidham Cafe.

Brew Hopping and ended at jazz spot, bFlat, with visiting Thomas Stronen, a Norwegian who brings international musicians together to make innovative jazz.