Things I dont like in Hyderabad (India)

High temperature and Low humidity
Temperature around 42C and very low humidity makes the skin so dry that we cannot live without skin moisturizer and lip balm. I happend to have a bath every night to have a fair sleep (I did not have a good sleep unless it is a rainy cold day). One good thing was it took only 2-3 hours to dry any cloth after washing.

In Hyderabad water is a very expensive scarce resource in May-June months (most dry season). I wonder how poor people afford to consume water. No wonder why many poor people stink during these period. Probably they cannot afford to have at least one bath a week. I have seen people bathing and washing cloths in the very badly poluted reservoir "Hussain Sagar". White cloths become yellow after washing.

Lift crashes
Sevaral times the lift in the office building crashed while we were inside it. But Indians dont seem to panic when it happens. Probably this kind of failures are frequent and they are used to it. Luckily the exhaust fans were working and we could breath without difficulty. Came out of the lift safely after some 5-10 minutes.

Power failures
Power failures are frequent in Hyderabad. But nobody seem to worry about it. May be people are used to this too.

Passing ur.. at roadside
Men passing urine along roadside is a very frequently observed ugly scene in Hyderabad. This habit of people can be seen even in public places like bus stands, railway stations, children parks etc.

Damn cheap labor... Real exploitation
I talked to many workers in Hyderabad and came to know the level of labor exploitation. Mainly in construction sites women workers are paid 35 Indian rupees a day. A male worker is given 40-45 rupees a day. Lots of poor families have come to Hyderabad from very far away remote areas of India to work in these new construction sites. Usually they build small hut like thatched temporary houses in a barron dry polluted and stinking land closer to the construction site and live there in the duration of construction. Once the construction is over they move over to another site. Moving from place to place in 3-6 months.
The children of those people are living in a very sad situation. They have been deprived of education, freedom and childhood. When both parents are at work there is no one to take care of the children other than the elder children. Basically these children too are going to do the same thing in the future as their parents. Slavery continues to generations....


Excessive polythene usage and Environment pollutionYou can see big humps of garbage full of polythene everywhere in Hyderabad. It seems people too dont care for a jot about this polythene menace.

Things I like about Hyderabad (India)

Locally made stuff
India promotes the use of locally made equipment everywhere. They minimize importing ready made products from outside the country. Hence giving maximum opportunity to locall manufacturers and investors. However one of the biggest advantage in india is that small industries can sell products to the local market to servive.

Rapid development of infrastructure
Hyderabad is in a state of rapid infrastructure develpment. Lots of new buildings being constructed everywhere. Roads, Electricity and water supply systems too are rapidly expanded. Moreover India seems to have one of the most used and distributed railway network in the world.

No communal riots, robbers & thugs
During my stay in Hyderabad I did not see and communal riots, robbers or thugs. I felt very safe even at night.

Self desciplined people
People seem to be self desciplined. This is anyway not because of their understanding of "How to live". But because of fear or respect.

Safty at night
I have seen even girls walking safely walking in the streets at midnight.

Charminar and Salar Jung Museum

Went to see Chaminar. But unfortunately it is close for some vibration analysis studies. So could not go in. But got an outer look.

Chaminar

Then went to Salar Jung Museum which had a lot of marvelous to see. Oh.. We are not allowed to take cameras in as usual.

Salar Jung Museum

Transport in Hyderabad

The primary means of short distance travelling is Motor bicycles. You can find a tree wheeler (called Auto) in each and every junction. There are two modes of payment when you travel by these "Auto" s. "Pay by meter" and "by pre-agreement". For short distances less than about 3 km "Pay by meter" mode is cheaper. For extended distances "by pre-agreement" would be cheap.

It seems for motor cycling the helmet is not mandatory. It is odd to see that if a women sitting behind the rider sits with both legs hanging to left side. But when a women is riding she site in the usual way.

Long distance travelling by public transport saves a lot. But remember to get in to the buses from the correct door :) . As a convention the front door is reserved for women and rear is for men. But if there is one door ? ;) . Use it \:D/

Fun in Mahashivaratri holiday

Went to Lumbini Park and iMax Theatre.


In front of Prasads

At iMax Theatre we watched the 3D animated film "POLAR EXPRESS" . Wow ... I was surprised to see it. Its almost real 3D. The entertainment here is worth the price and time.

Cliff climbing is another event I loved to do. mm.. I felt not that physically fit to take the challage. But I will next time (Will I take the surprise gift ;) ... or fall down :( ).


The Largest Monolith Buddha Statue in India


Buddha Carvings Similar to those in Sri Lanka 


Buddha Carvings Similar to those in Sri Lanka 

The Buddha statue here in the middle of ... Sagar is said to be the largest Monolithic (Single crystal) Buddha statue in India (probably in the world - after those statues in Afganistan were destroyed). We took a boat ride to see the statue.

Para-sailing .. ?? \:D/ (Will I be afraid to fly about 100 feet above the sagar ?). Lets see next time.

At Virtusa Hyderabad ATC

In front of MyHome Tycoon

Came to Virtusa Hyderabad ATC. Nice calm place. Had indian food served at Virtusa for lunch. mmm .. not bad even if the taste is different. I remember Kishor saying "You have to slowly get used to the indian food ........". Yes he is correct.

Snacks in the evening ... mmmm. Never had that taste before ... it is called "Curd Vada" ? . Some kind of Vade~ soaked in Curd.

Had a relatively ;) expensive dinner at Haveli in LifeStyle Building.

Flying to Hyderabad

I flew to Hyderabad on 06th March 2005 by Sri Lankan Airline UL 175 and landed to Hyderabad in early morning 9.00 am. Unfortunately I did not get a seat closer to a window to see below clearly :( .
We reached the apartment by 9.30 am. Relaxed. Happened to wolk some 2 km to find a better place for lunch. Though the food is cheaper there is no much hotels like in Sri Lanka.
Travelling by ThreeWheelers is the most convenient. "Pay By Meter" costs less. Meter starts at 8 rupees and can go about 2 km for 8 rupees.