Bangalore

The question I get asked most since coming back to India is: “Has it changed much in the past 12 years?” I’ll admit that something is different. I haven’t been able to put my finger on what as of yet; it’s still chaotic, raw, and mind blowing. There’s still random livestock wandering the streets, colourful women, interesting smells, and intense culinary experiences.

Perhaps it’s different because I’m in the Diamond District — a gated community with guards, barbed wire, and security passes. Or perhaps it’s because of the purpose of my trip: I’m not travelling from place to place daily. I see familiar faces and have a lot in common with the other ThoughtWorkers.

At lunch today we left the walls of the compound and ventured out into the busy, hot streets for food. There was a little bit more of the India I was expecting to see again — with that thing missing that I haven’t been able to pin down.