Eating Chinese in India

For the first time since our arrival here in Bangalore, India, today my
husband John and I walked to lunch outside of the DivyaSree Chambers
building where Sun has its offices. We went to Aromas of China
(#19 Richmond Circle,
Bangalore), a good Chinese restaurant 3 blocks away. I know it does not
sound like much to walk three blocks but until now, we have eaten in the
hotel or at the DivyaSree Chambers cafeteria or hired a car and driver
to go to a restaurant. We were beginning to feel cooped up, so we
made the experiment of walking to lunch.

At home, we frequently go for long walks and we walk to lunch outside
of Sun’s campus at least once a week, but we have been a little worried about
walking around Bangalore, partly because of the wild traffic (crossing the
street can be very exciting),
and partly because of what our guide book calls touts. Touts are the
men who lurk in wait for us all-to-obvious foreign visitors to
sell us something (“Sir! Madam! Soapstone elephant – I carved it myself! – only
Rs. 100!”), show us something (“Where you from?” “What your name?” “Need
guide?”), drive us somewhere (“Where you from?” “What your name?” “Where
you going?” “Get in!”), or ask for baksheesh (money, tips, gratuities,
charitable donations). It gets very wearing to develop a small crowd of
needy people yelling at us every time we walk out of the front door or
get out of a car.

Aromas of China offered good food, a pleasant presentation, and good
service. I don’t recall going a Chinese restaurant before where the
menu was divided into Veg and Non-Veg options. We ordered the Rs. 150
lunch plates (I had Veg and John ordered Non-Veg). We selected a soup,
2 entrees, noodles or rice, and a dessert. As has often been the case
this trip, we were presented with both the bill
and a multiple-choice restaurant review form at the end of the meal.
We only had one person offer us a ride on the walk back and we managed to dodge
across several busy streets in relative safety, if not in dignity.

John and I are making arrangements to go to Delhi and Agra this weekend.
We particularly want to visit the Taj Majal and see a tiny bit of northern
India. There has been much back and forth discussion with the travel agent
and consulting of hotel listings and choices in our
Lonely
Planet guidebook (double checked against entries in
Trip Advisor). We hope to
have all of the reservations done tomorrow morning so we can fly
north Friday evening, to return Monday morning.