A few people have asked about what our gated community, Palm Meadows, is like. So here goes.
Ozone
The Main Gate
The footpath just outside Palm Meadows - luckily you don't have 'smell-cam' !! YUK !!
There are a number of gated communities in the area called Whitefield - not sure if that is supposed to have some meaning for us expats 'white-field'? They have some great names:
Ozone
Bougainvillea
Windmills of Your Mind
Laughing Waters
Palm Meadows is located about 45 minutes from the central city - but that depends on traffic (as does everything in Bangalore). It has 570 properties, mostly 3,4, or 5 bedroom villas. Most of the properties are occupied by expats but there are lots of locals too, mainly locals who have repatriated back to India or have retired. (Hence all of the 'walkers' on my early morning runs). We have come across a number of Swedes, lots of Germans and even a couple of Aussie accents have been heard.
The houses are all of a similar type - cream stone houses with marble floors, tile roofs, and open plan interiors. Garden size depends on the location within the community, and the option of having a garage seems to be random.
There are security guards at the front gate that is strictly monitored - only tenants, owners, staff and invited/arranged persons are allowed through the front gate. Security guards are everywhere but I am yet to see them say NO to anyone. They also stop any stray dogs and cows from wandering in to the community. Mike has a theory that if you ignore the guards or yell at them that will get you by and they will back down.
After you have entered the gates, the Indian experience disappears ! It is like you step into another world of palm trees and manicured lawns. There are an army of workers with scissors in hands who are cutting the common lawn areas (yes, with scissors !!), and there are women with reed brooms sweeping the roads (yep roads) and the grass, they seem to forget the footpaths.
Within the community there is a clubhouse which consists of 2 tennis courts, 4 pools, a spa, badminton hall, card room (yes you read correctly) and gymnasium. We are about an 8 minute walk to the clubhouse, which is great and the boys are fairly happy to scooter from house to pool :) There is also a small playground just 20 metres from our house, and in the other direction from the house is a small supermarket. It is good for 'essentials but not much else.
About a 15 minute walk from the house, outside the main gate is a shop called Natures Basket which stocks quite a few western foods and fruit and vegies. It is ok, you just have to be very careful with expiry dates and also with things that may have melted or defrosted. As refrigeration is a luxury in India, it is a real concern to buy anything that may have defrosted in transit - in particular meat, as it is NOT refrigerated in the trucks. Oh, and we don't get milk as we know milk, it's all UHT long-life milk - eek. Otherwise, its about a 15 minute drive (again depending on traffic) to a big Supermarket - think Aldi, but sells everything and nothing all at the same time.
Hopefully we will be moving in to our house this week, cross fingers.
Miss you all
Sus xxxx
One of the main streets in Palm Meadows
The slide into the pool - the boys love it !
Within the community there is a clubhouse which consists of 2 tennis courts, 4 pools, a spa, badminton hall, card room (yes you read correctly) and gymnasium. We are about an 8 minute walk to the clubhouse, which is great and the boys are fairly happy to scooter from house to pool :) There is also a small playground just 20 metres from our house, and in the other direction from the house is a small supermarket. It is good for 'essentials but not much else.
About a 15 minute walk from the house, outside the main gate is a shop called Natures Basket which stocks quite a few western foods and fruit and vegies. It is ok, you just have to be very careful with expiry dates and also with things that may have melted or defrosted. As refrigeration is a luxury in India, it is a real concern to buy anything that may have defrosted in transit - in particular meat, as it is NOT refrigerated in the trucks. Oh, and we don't get milk as we know milk, it's all UHT long-life milk - eek. Otherwise, its about a 15 minute drive (again depending on traffic) to a big Supermarket - think Aldi, but sells everything and nothing all at the same time.
Hopefully we will be moving in to our house this week, cross fingers.
Miss you all
Sus xxxx
One of the main streets in Palm Meadows
Typical Palm Meadows
The playground near our house
The little supermarket near our house
Grass Cutting
The view right outside the gate of Palm Meadows to show the contrast - under the tarps are homes....
The footpath just outside Palm Meadows - luckily you don't have 'smell-cam' !! YUK !!
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