Day 18-22: Bengaluru — A Pause in the Journey

Slowing Down

After the long drive from Gokarna, the next few days in Bengaluru were meant to slow the journey down a little.

The car stayed parked most of the time. The body needed the rest and so did the mind after many consecutive days on the road. These were days without early alarms, long drives, or a map waiting to be followed.

Meeting People

Bengaluru also became a chance to meet people along the way.

Some meetings were planned, some happened over coffee or conversations that stretched longer than expected. The city has a way of allowing that. It moves fast in parts, yet always seems to make space for slow conversations.

Those few days were less about places and more about people. Catching up and meeting few face to face who I have only conversed on phone or over zoom meetings for a few years.

Design and Ideas

One of the visits was to Design Barn by Spread, an interesting creative space that brings together ideas, design thinking and collaborative work. it was great to catch up with my mentors as I had completed a course from there during covid times - 2020-21.

Another stop was the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP). Walking through the gallery offered a very different pace compared to the road outside. After days of landscapes and highways, spending time with art, photography and curated spaces felt like a shift in perspective.

Cities often offer that contrast during long journeys.

Reset Before the Road

The rest of the time was spent doing the simple things that long travel eventually demands.

Resting. Catching up on small errands. Letting the body recover from the miles already covered. Bengaluru became less of a destination and more of a pause between two stretches of road.

And soon enough, the map opened again.