Jes' Pubbin' around
Walk down the famed Brigade Road anytime after 7 pm. Or venture further down to Residency Road. It'll take you a while ofcourse to jostle your way through the humongous crowd. And if you're unlucky enough to be in a four wheeler hopefully you wont get stuck in pub hour traffic.
Welcome to Bangalore. Pubber's Paradise. Where that tantalising mixture of barley water and herbs flows like a river in monsoon. And where the river of humanity flows with the same intensity. Right into the countless pubs that have made Bangalore the Beer Barrel of this ancient land. At the heart of this golden culture, resting on it's alcoholic laurels is the United Breweries. Better known as UB. It's beer the, hot or should we say, cold favourite amongst the beer imbibing band of Bangalore.
Most Pubs in Bangalore carry on the Democratic tradition of this great country. Drop in on any weekend. Caste no bar, colour no bar, creed no bar... in fact its just BARS all the way. Men, women, students, closet queens... humanity at it's most colourful. At it's noisiest. At it's happiest. At it's most inebriated.
Here's a typical evening.
Step into any pub. Wait for a couple of hours till you find a place to sit. Maybe all evening...Beckon the bartender. He'll arrive smiling(you have to admire his spirit) bearing the menu. You peer at it in the dim light and give up. 'Gimme a tap,' you say. Smiling he disappears into the crowd. To reappear a long time later. 'What will it be sir?' When your drink does arrive you sip it gratefully. And nestle back into your chair to watch the proceedings. Young college boys tossing their long hair in the hope of attracting the attention of the set of young college girls who are busy giving the older(and more affluent looking) men the eye. Who in turn are...oh well, let's not get into that. Anyhow ,tis' time to move on. You ask for your bill. It's there in a flash. Glance at it and pass out.
And as you struggle out into the cool night air you ask yourself, 'Was it worth it?' And that little inner voice says yes. YES! yes! As the clouds clear from your beer befuddled head you notice the old man at the parking lot shaking his head sadly. 'Trinking Bad for Healthu.' he says pulling out a bottle from his pocket. And as you watch him swig at it in the streetlight you notice the label. It says UB.Throbbing music
GOING WITH THE FLOW
All pubs are equal. After all! They all serve the same brew. But ask any Banglorean. And you'll find some pubs are more equal than others. If you're the touristy type and don't know where to go. Just ask anybody on the road which pub to head for. The answer will invariably be PUB WORLD or NASA'S. Should you take their advice, and if you're among those fortunate few who find a place to sit there ... well! This is what you'll find on a typical weekend.
Pub World quenches both your thirst and your wanderlust. Roam, or more aptly, squeeze your way through a Belgian corner(no bald men with funny accents) or check out the Keller if you think you belong to a super race. Or drop by for a Manhatten at Manhatten. Ofcourse for the gun toting and lasso slinging type there's always the Wild West. Park it on a log and drink to deforestation. And when you're finished with your round the world trip you'll discover there's no place like home. Which is back at Pub World The very next day.
And if you're a Trekkie, Nasa's the place to be. The name says it all. Step into the 21st century. Or maybe the 22nd...who knows. Anyway you'll be pardoned for expecting a tall man with pointed ears to step up and and press down rather hard on your shoulder. Incredible. The word aptly describes this pub. Huge friezes of space(naturally)adorn the walls of this...spaceship. And massive grey semicircular arches segment the tables. While the bar could well pass as the helm of the Starship Enterprise. Great food, terrific beer, all given space age names...and Nasa's speciality...a mind blowing laser show. It all adds up to an experience that's way out. So if you're in Bangalore and expect the moon. Make for Nasa's. At escape velocity.
And that's it for this time. Now you know where to go. Nasa's or Pub World. The sure cure for whatever ales you.
