Biking diaries

Melting pot

It has been a little over two years since software professionals Prateek Baliga and wife Princy Jain from Mumbai made Bengaluru their home. Prateek works with ATOS while Princy is with Deloitte.

 The couple have grown to love this place and found their own interests here. Prateek, especially, admits to falling in love with the biking culture here.

Prateek was born and raised in Kalyan, Mumbai and lived in Pune for a whole before relocating to Bengaluru. “I am originally from Mangaluru but I have never lived there. I have always longed to move to Karnataka. A frantic job hunt and two years later, here I am,” he says.

Princy, on the hand, is a native of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh and has worked in Mysuru for a while before moving to Bengaluru.

Settling down in a new place was indeed a big challenge for the couple. In fact, they spent a lot of time hunting for the right house. “Initially, we spent a lot of time looking for a place on rent. Here, we feel, the ‘independent house’ culture is predominant than the apartment culture,” Prateek notes.

“But Facebook groups are useful in helping newcomers like us find almost everything ---  a house to stay, supermarkets etc,” Princy chips in. Bengaluru, she says, easily embraces people from across the country.

 “I am an avid biker and love exploring new places. So, I found the motorcycling culture in the South pretty good with Bengaluru being the strongest contender. I have also noticed that a lot of youngsters here value vintage vehicles. I have a liking for anything that is antique, and I found people who share my interests here,” adds Prateek.

The couple easily made friends here which is why weekend rides, breakfast meetings and get-togethers are now an important part of their weekend plans.

“My weekends are generally spent at Konark restaurant and Kanteerava Stadium where different biking groups meet over breakfast on Sundays. I never miss these occasions,” he says.

When it comes to their food exploration, their favourite joint is Suryawanshi in Whitefield which serves authentic Maharashtrian food. “We are also regulars at Corner House,”
he adds.

That apart, they hang out at Phoenix MarketCity and VR Mall in Whitefield for the entertainment they provide. Some weekends are also reserved for riding or driving to places in and around the city such as Lalbagh, Nandi Hills and B R Hills. Both Prateek and Princy find these shorts trips very relaxing after a hectic week at work.

The couple have adapted to the work culture here pretty well. “Being an IT professional in an IT city, there isn’t much to complain. People come here for work from all corners of the country, so it feels good to be part of a multicultural workforce,” says Prateek. “However, I’ve noticed that people also tend to stretch work hours at the cost of their personal time,” he adds.

Princy has a different take though. “The work culture is nice. We go for outings, have parties and potluck in office whenever we get a chance,” she says.

While Bengaluru remains a popular destination for the young, there are a few things that the couple desires -- better traffic and garbage management and reclaiming green spaces. Prateek says, “I wish we could do more to revive the lakes in the city. Most of them have been either encroached upon or are slowly drying up.”

“There are heaps of garbage everywhere and everybody knows the stories of froth in lakes. If people and industries become a little more responsible with waste management, Bengaluru could be a much better place to live in,” adds Princy.