Old Faithful

When you want to take a shower in Bangalore, you turn on the geyser ... then wait.

The geyser is a small, water heater found in each bathroom that gives you JUST enough water for a shower. When you get out of bed in the morning, one of the first things you do is switch it on. After 20-30 minutes, you can take a shower.

This means a change in your morning routine. Previously, I'd take a shower first, shave, then eat breakfast. Now, I eat breakfast while the geyser warms up my bathwater.

You don't want to take too much time in the shower. If you do, the water will turn cold before you're done. This is not as bad as it may sound. The climate is tropical, and what would be miserable in London or New York is merely a small discomfort in Bangalore.

In the States, we tend to go for big water heaters that keep water hot all the time. In Britain, they have on-demand heaters that produce hot water only when needed. The Indian approach is sort of a compromise.