Back in the mid to late ’80s, I completed my first degree, a Bachelor’s in Computer Science at a university in Bengaluru, India. Now, 34 years later, about 20 of my classmates planned our second reunion in 10 years, in the city of Bengaluru. My cohorts came from many places around the world to reminisce on our experiences and enjoy one another’s company.
This series of articles is a live travelogue of the trip. I realized that there will be too many experiences in this trip that cannot be covered in a single article. This part covers the highlights of my journey from San Francisco to the new Bengaluru airport.
San Francisco International Airport
After a long drive from my home in Morgan Hill and passing through security, I indulged in a small meal at Asian Box. This is an interesting take on Asian food, a welcome change from the cookie-cutter Chinese restaurants in airports. (I have nothing against them; I continue to eat in them often. They have become very mundane, though.) This restaurant is modeled similarly to Pokie Bowl, where patrons decide on their choice of protein, base (fried or white rice/noodles), sauces, and veggies. The sauces were delicious. The old-fashioned I had at a bar in the airport was dilute and forgettable.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
After 17 hours of continuous travel on an Air India flight, I landed at Mumbai International Airport. Chhatrapati Shivaji, a great emperor of Maharashtra, who held his ground against the powerful Mughals, is celebrated in Mumbai, its capital, by naming several landmarks after him. The airport is one of them.
The airport has several eateries with a variety of cuisines. At 2 AM, hungry and jet-lagged, I tried Dosa (Indian Crepes) with spicy masala and chutney. It was delicious.
Besides the numerous eateries and varieties of food, Mumbai has renovated its airport with catchy decor. It was a mesmerizing experience taking the long walk to my gate. The gallery below exhibits a tiny fraction of the airport decor.
Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru
Finally, after a three-hour stopover in Mumbai, I landed at my intended destination: Bengaluru. Bengaluru is a city that has evolved since my college days. Some mutations are beneficial, others not so much. Of course, the Bengaluru of my past, Bangalore as it was then named, was considered the garden city of India and known for its greenery. It was also the growing Silicon Valley of India and had more IT companies than anywhere else. It still does. Over the years, the city has become more populated, more polluted, and congested, and much of the greenery has disappeared. However, it retains a lot of its charm and has added quite a few positives. This topic can be elaborated but is beyond the scope of this article.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 is a brand-new terminal that was added as an extension of Bangalore’s airport, a natural progression from the continuous, growing development of the city. Making my way to the baggage area, then through customs and finally out was a surreal experience. The decor, again, was most impressive. While completing my Engineering, I could not imagine this airport becoming a spacious, clean, and beautiful hub in my wildest dreams. The exhibits, artwork, and the stone facade are a sight to behold. It is heartwarming to see Indian airports pay so much attention, not just to expansion and cleanliness but also to their decor on the inside and the lavish greenery outside.
Strangely enough, the terminal was going to commence international operations just today. Talk about timing. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Luckily for me, I took one of the flights on Vistara, one of the three airlines that service Terminal 2, the others being Asia Air and Star Air. I leave you with a few images of the terminal.
Bay Area Bloke 