Renewing X Visa in Bangalore

Hello friends and readers. First of all, apologies for the lack of updated stories on this blog. As some of you may have heard, I’ve been busy getting married (more on that later). I know what’s going through your mind right now – I have no right to this blog title anymore or that I should change it to something like 30s, married in India, but I disagree and you can’t make me change it!

This blog post I hope is more helpful than not to some foreigners residing in Bangalore on X visas. Or if you’re not in that category and can’t relate, maybe you can um, enjoy it anyway. ☺

Nobody told me that it was going to be this painful getting my X visa renewed in Bangalore. If I haven’t convinced you by the end of this post, then maybe I’m just a whiner. But seriously, if you have a choice to renew your visas in your own country, do it! But if you don’t, and want to experience “Amazing Race” Bangalore-style, this is what you have to do (the procedure below is of course, subject to change at any given time). I’ve also included suggestions on how to keep your sanity “normal”.

1. Drop by the FRRO office to pick-up the latest forms and checklist of requirements.
Note: Requirements on the checklist may not be up to date, so make sure to ask if they have any new rules.

2. New Rule (also depend on whether or not your visa has expired). Visit your local police station to get a piece of printed WORD document indicating you have no criminal records. If you go during teatime, the police officer might offer you a little plastic cup of (overly sweetened but delicious) chai.
Bring along: photocopies of your registration paper, passport, spouse’s passport & PAN card and a passport size photo of yourself.

3. Old Rule but New Venue. Visit one of the bigger post offices to get a non-judicial stamp paper (aka e-stamp). Pick up the form from the post office and on the form fill out Party #1 as you, and Party #2 as the FRRO. The stamp paper is worth Rs100 (plus a Rs10 fee) and the whole purpose of this exercise is so your promise to the FRRO to not take any jobs or do any businesses in India while you’re on an X visa is stated on piece of paper. Why and how the postal people are going to enforce this promise of yours, I don’t know.

Post office. Note: According to the postal person, the new way of making an e-stamp is through a website which is only available on weekdays between 9am-2pm but keep in mind it's lunchtime between 1pm-1:30pm, so to avoid standing on a queue that wraps around the block, go at 9am.

4. Photocopy all your documents. If you’re unsure if you should include a certain document, include it anyway. I’m on an X visa because I’m married to an Indian so I had to bring copies of my husband’s passport, his PAN card, my FIL’s PAN card, and the list goes on). Organize your documents in order of the checklist or they’ll make you do it at the Scrutinized Counter (this will make more sense later).

5. Submission of Application.

• Step One: Wake up bright and early (because the officers have lunch at exactly 1:30 pm-2 pm and you want to try to get through as many officers as possible before lunchtime). Have a big, healthy (and happy) breakfast. Before you leave home, look over your checklist and docs to make sure you have all your copies (and originals). Bring a bottle of water, a good book to read and your passport.
• Step Two: Go to the FRRO and get a token. Wait.
• Step Three: When your token number is called, go up to the counter and get your documents checked. You may proceed to the level above. Wait.
• Step Four: Wait at close to the Scrutinized Counter (While you’re waiting, feel free to walk up to the scrutinizer officer once in a while and ask when is your number going to be called. I noticed many people jumping queue and the officers were more than willing to scrutinize them first before you, even though their numbers were much higher and should come after you. I’m not suggesting you should jump queue, I’m asking you to remind the officers, who seems to forget, they should be following the numbers as well.) When your token number is called, walk up to the counter with your documents.
• Step Five: You can now proceed to the lady sitting under the “IO/ISH” sign so your documents can be checked/scrutinized for the third time.
• Step Six: Go over to the Immigration Service Centers (other side of the room from the “IO/ISH” lady) so someone can receive your scrutinized documents and hand you your next assignment.
• Step Seven: Go to the nearest bank to get a Demand Draft (DD). Make sure to make the draft in favor of the exact name on the small piece of paper that was handed to you on Step Six. My father-in-law wrote a check to get me the DD, so I’m unsure here if you can pay cash. Make a copy of the DD.
• Step Eight: Back to the FRRO. Drop off your DD at Counter 1 and the photocopy of the DD at Counter 2 or 3. Wait (this time, someone will tell you how long your wait will be). When your time is up, your passport with an X Visa extension stamp as well as your Registration Paper should be ready for collection.

Good luck!

The FRRO in Indiranagar

Yamini's Bharatanatyam Recital

Yamini is my beloved yoga teacher. I've been learning from her since I landed in India about 2 years ago and I think I'm only as good as I am in my practice today because of her guidance (that should earn my some brownie points!).

Yamini also teaches Bharatanatyam and dances it professionally. Just in case you are unfamiliar, Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form originating in Tamil Nadu, India. Read more about it here. As much as I want to learn this dance form, I think I'm a little overaged. I heard that most people start at 4 years old.

A couple months ago, I went to one of Yamini's recitals and it was simply beautiful!

Backstage with Yamini







The Performance






Naturally, it is only fair that some yoga asanas have to be incorporated into the recital.

The dance was super awesome! What surprises me about classical Indian dances is despite the techniques and beauty of the dance, it is so under appreciated, even in India. I wish the younger generation would spend less time watching MTV and more time exploring local arts.

Glass Cutting

If you think my life is all about hobbies, you're not too far off ;-)

My friend Anj told me about Uncle Patel's glass-cutting class and at first, I was apprehensive but when I found out that Tiffany's lamps were made out of cut stained glasses, I signed-up right away.

Mr. Patel run his little "school" on his balcony, which is also where he does gardening. He'll give you a little history on the glass cutting industry but the hands-on teaching is actually done by his assistant, Murli.

Sure I've cut my hands numerous times but according to Mr. Patel, it's baptism and everyone goes through it at least once. Glass cutting is not all you will learn at Mr. Patel's but it is the most important skill. After cutting, the sides of the glass are made blunt with a grinding stone and then covered with thin strips of foil. Finally, soldering is done to stick 'em all together.


Soldering.

Here's Anj happily soldering her window glass with Murli watching attentively.


What did I say about "watching attentively"?


It's no Tiffany's lampshade but it's a lampshade I made, with Murli's help of course.

Glass Cutting Info:
Uncle Patel
Phone: 080-25260035

Bangalore's Day Off

I woke up to a strange day today. Dadi's (A's grandmother) nurse and our driver were missing, there were no fresh eggs in the kitchen (because the market was closed) and the strangest thing of all was the lack of noise - traffic noise.

I found out soon enough there was a strike today - a fuel price hike strike organized by the BJP (opposition political party, which happens to be quite influential in the city). And apparently, when there is a strike, the whole city, yes, I meant the whole entire city, shuts down.


MG Road at 12:30pm on Monday July 5th, 2010 - NO TRAFFIC!


St. Mark's Road usually bumper-to-bumper in daylight but today, you could actually see the trees!

I thought it was quite amazing that one political party can have so much influence in the whole city. I mean the city must've lost a few billion dollars! "A" said it's really not so much that the people were supporting the strike but more like they are trying to protect themselves and their property from being destroyed by some hoodlums, hence closing down their business for the day saves them more money.

The Collection, UB City - a luxury mall nicely protected by nettings to prevent damage from stone-throwing.

The Collection, UB City.

Another building covered in net.

We had to drive into town to see my orthodontist because I swallowed one of my brace studs. Mama B told us to avoid small roads because apparently people get violent sometimes during strikes like burning tyres and damaging running vehicles.

Violence, I didn't see. What I did see everywhere were people making full use of their day off (and the lack of traffic) playing cricket in the middle of the streets.

Spanish Cookout at Caperberry

I attended another unlikely-to-happen-in-India-event last weekend - a Spanish cooking class.

Capperberry has always been one of my favorite restaurants in Bangalore so when Mama B asked if we wanted to participate in the cooking class, I signed-up right away! Caperberry head chef, Abhijit Saha must be by now, one of the most famous chefs in Bangalore. He's literally bringing Bangalore's gastronomical scene up to world standards. I think by collaborating with Food Lovers' magazine, and offering cooking classes in the Capperberry kitchen itself, he's luring people like me to come back for more!

The class started at 10 a.m. on a Saturday. Participants were divided into groups of 8 people.

First dish - Vegetable Empanadas


Filling empanadas dough with grilled chopped vegetables.


Everyone had a chance to make their own empanadas.


(sorry, shaky hands make blurry photos) Empanadas served with Romesco which is a dip made of bell peppers, almond, bread and a bunch of other things.

Second dish - Chicken Al Ajillo


This is a super simple dish with only 4 ingredients but taste absolutely delish!

Third dish - Crumb Fried Goat Cheese


Mixing goat cheese ingredients.


Forming cheese patties before dipping into batter and then into the fryer.


Ingredients for spicy tomato sauce.


Crumb fried goat cheese with spicy tomato sauce.

Fourth dish - Minted Lamb Chops with Red Wine


Here's one thing I've learned that would be helpful to you cooks out there. The chef added a big spoonful of mashed papaya into the marinade to tenderize the meat.


One of the bestest lamb chops I've ever eaten!

Fifth dish - Catalonian Style Spinach, Raisin and Pine Nut Filo Triangles


Chef "A" stuffing filo triangles.


The one on the far left is mine!


Filo triangles with alioli, a form of aioli.

Sixth dish - Fried Calamari


Calamari is soaked in milk then dusted with seasoned flour before dipping into the hot fryer for 40 seconds.


A fairly simple dish to make and only perfect when eaten right off the fryer.

The whole class took about four hours but we got to eat everything we made. After the class, Chef Abhijit served us a full meal, some of the dishes served were the same ones we had just learnt. So, you can imagine how stuffed I was by the time I left the restaurant.

Happy Chefs.

Read about what Chef Abhijit served us for lunch on my other blog.

Sunfeast 10K Run

I was never a runner. Running 20 minutes on a treadmill is like pulling teeth; too painful and I can't wait for it to be over. Last weekend, some way or another "A" convinced me to run the Sunfeast 10K with him. I didn't put up too much of a fight, since after all, if I wasn't running, I'd be waiting around in the stadium for an hour for him to reach the finish line. And besides, I could always walk the 10 kilometers and yes, it would take 2 hours or more, but that's what I "could" do.

For a few weeks, I'd been reading articles in Bangalore Times on how to prepare for the 10K, and of course we hadn't done crap (the last time I ran long distance, specifically 5km was a year ago). So, "A" and I just decided to go for it. The plan was to have a big plate of pasta and sleep early the night before the run. That would've been a good plan but unfortunately, social obligations kicked in and we went out with friends for a spicy andhra meal instead.

Next morning, we woke up at 6:00 a.m, had 2 bananas and drove off to the stadium where the run would begin. While warming up, my stomach started to act up from the andhra food. I paced back and forth and tried to ignore the pain, which was only getting worse by the second. Of all the days I could've forgotten to bring tissues! Under normal circumstances, I would have held it in and waited till I got home to use the toilet, but I know running would only make it worse. I had to go. I found a porta-potty and thankfully, there was a small toilet paper roll in it. It was by no means clean or stench-free but I couldn't care less at that point. Note to self; NO spicy andhra food before any runs next time.


At the Kanteerva Stadium, waiting for our turn to run. There were about ten thousand participants.

While I was running, there were many, many times where I promised myself I could stop and walk for a few minutes at the next corner, but when I reached the next corner, I would see an old auntie or an overweight person running in front of me and I couldn't justify slowing down if they were still running.

Finally it took me 1 hour and 26 minutes to finish, but I did it! I completed a 10K run without stopping!



I caught a bug the day before the run, hence I was as sick and non-functional for a good four days after the run. Good excuse to be bedridden and a great way to recover.

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa

There is Indian Idol and then there is Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, which is the Indian equivalent of "do re mi fa so" and is also a television singing competition.

Sid, a TV show/movie producer and "A"'s bff, was helping with the production of the Karnataka finals (the state where Bangalore is located) for Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, and he invited us over for the shoot. Of course, none of us understood Kannada (the official language of Karnataka), but we thought it would've made an interesting evening anyway.

To convince Sid's bosses and clients that we were not just some random people off the street, "A" and his parents were posing as local musicians and producers and I was to be a popular singer from China, which is funny considering how I have never been to China and the only phrase I know in Mandarin is "woh pu huey jiang hua yu", which translates to "I don't know how to speak Mandarin".

The event was held at one of Bangalore University's halls. Sid gave us a tour of the production room backstage.

Contestants prepping for the contest.

View from backstage

The audience. We were seated on the first row from the stage.

The host started the show off with a song. We later found out she was lip-syncing.

One of the contestants. Check out the four drummers and their drum sets. Pretty elaborate, huh?

The experience: too shockingly loud both from the volume of the music and the random firecracker explosions in front of the stage. Two hours later, after the fifth and final contestant had sung, I thought it would be a good time to leave. On our way out, Sid said that that was only Round 1 out of 5 for each contestant for the night. I think you have to be a fanatic to stick around for that long. I'll leave that to the local Kannadigas to enjoy the show. It was interesting to see the "other side" of Bangalore though.

Hessaraghatta

It was the weekend and "A" noticed instantly that I was getting ants in my pants. He suggested we take a short trip out of town to a place called Hessaraghatta, which is about 30 Km from Bangalore and is well known for its Indian classical dance village (or school) Nrityagram. Unfortunately, when we got there, the dance school was closed for a few months because the whole company is on tour. Note to self: always call before the start of a road trip.

Just opposite of the school is the Taj Kuteeram, a rustic and charming lodge, once owned by Nrityagram but has now been turned into a high-end hotel by the Taj.





Buildings are surrounded by trees and flowers.


Yoga building - depending on where you stand in this room, you can hear sounds in different tones.


Rooms at the Taj Kuteeram


About 3 km away, across a vast empty field (“A” called this The End of the World), is Our Native Village.





Our Native Village is entirely ecofriendly. The resort generates its own power using solar panels, harvests rainwater and reuses all its waste.


The "natural" pool at Our Native Village - combo of a swimming pool and a pond. The pond part of the pool naturally cleanse and filters the water. No chlorine added.


Rooms at Our Native Village. Paintings on the wall is done by local artists. In fact, everything in this resort is done by a local someone.


Every brick used to build this place is made of the soil that has been dug from the land below it. I think the whole concept of this place is very cool except there is a lack of design in everything, so the place looks a bit bare and a tad hospital-like.


They also offer bullock cart driving lessons, if you are a guest at the hotel.

It would’ve been nice to spend a night at the Taj Kuteeram and then a night at Our Native Village except I didn’t bring my toiletries so went back to Bangalore instead.