This week, I've been enjoying my first trip to Bangalore, India.   Our global engineering organisation has quite a presence here, including our folks.

While my Indian peers and others who have already visited were able to give me a lot of information about India ahead of time, nothing really quite prepared me completely for this trip.   And that is a good thing.   Discovering is a fun part of life.

Bangalore strikes me as a city that has one foot in the 1800's (or earlier) and another well into the new millenium.   While oxen pull carts on the main roads, Internet cables are laced from building to building across tree limbs.   Tired cement buildings stand next to shiny new glass & metal office buildings.   Pot-holed roads with dusty sidewalks, barefoot peddlars, and stray dogs, have bright billboards shining above them.

Bangalore feels like a city of contrasts.

But what seems to be consistent are the smiles.   In the office, on the streets, in the restaurants, in the hotels, people smile.   The positive energy in our department in the Sun office is remarkable.   I have sometimes found myself smiling... for no reason.   And that is nice.

Bill Gates is here this week as well.   His promise of a 1.7 billion dollar investment over the next 4 years in India is being splashed all over the news and newspapers.   In one interview I saw on TV, he pointed out what my fellow managers already agreed....   India needs to build their Manufacturing Sector.   Jobs for the masses.   IT alone is not enough.

Bangalore is forging ahead...   And Sun is there.

I'll be heading home soon, but have no doubts that I'll return in 2006.   And I will recharge my smile.