Bangalore is, without a doubt, one of the most extraordinary cities in the world. You don’t fully understand its charm until you actually live here. The moment you settle in, you start to feel a unique blend of calmness, chaos, warmth, unpredictability, and somehow… a sense of belonging. But if there’s one thing about Bangalore that truly wins hearts, it’s the weather. Crisp, dry air. Gentle sunshine. Cool breezes even in the middle of the day. Honestly, the weather is simply unbeatable.
Lately, many Japanese people hesitate to travel to India because of concerns about safety, lifestyle differences, or culture shock. So when I introduce Bangalore to them, I say something that always works:
“Imagine Hawaii… but without the ocean.”
For Japanese people, the word “Hawaii” instantly evokes images of a relaxing, resort-like paradise. Of course, if you literally compare Bangalore to Hawaii, they are nothing alike. No beaches. No palm-fringed coastline. No tropical cocktails.
But the branding works and that’s what matters.
What is true, however, is that Bangalore has a refreshing, eternal spring-summer climate that feels soothing every single day. I’ve genuinely fallen in love with this weather and with the city itself.
Well… except for one tiny detail: the absolutely ridiculous traffic. And this is where my real India journey began.
Driving in Bangalore: My Unexpected Path to Growth
When living abroad, the most important thing is to experience life the way locals do. So instead of relying on cabs or autos, I bought myself a Maruti Suzuki and decided to take on Bangalore’s notorious traffic head-on.
The moment I started driving in India, I realized something surprising I was truly adapting. Not just surviving but evolving. In fact, I’ve grown in several remarkable ways:
- I’ve mastered the horn, something I barely touched back in Japan.
- I’ve acquired the boldness needed to slide into intersections before anyone else does.
- I’ve developed superhuman reflexes, staying perfectly calm even when bikes, cars, people, or cows appear from the wrong direction.
- I’ve learned to expect the unexpected… and still remain peaceful.
These are things I never experienced in Japan, and frankly, I’m proud of these new “skills.” LOL.
The Golden Rule of Indian Roads
Through all this driving adventure, I discovered one essential truth:
In India, the horn is far more useful than the accelerator, especially in Bangalore.
The horn is your voice, your shield, your negotiation tool, your expression of intent, and sometimes even your emotional outlet. It’s basically your driving companion.
Once I embraced that, driving became fun, almost like a daily puzzle chaotic, but in an oddly satisfying way.
A City That Teaches You to Live Differently
Bangalore has taught me resilience, flexibility, instinct, patience, and the art of going with the flow. It’s a place where every day feels like a story waiting to be written.
Life here may not be perfect. It may not be predictable. But it’s always interesting, vibrant, and full of surprises. And so, my entertaining life in India goes on with beautiful weather, friendly people, and a Maruti Suzuki that has now become a symbol of my adaptation. If you ask me today whether Bangalore is the best city in the world, I’d still say: Absolutely. But you’ll only understand it once you live here.
Original Thought by: Tsuyoshi Ito
