Home life in Hyderabad

Of course getting around in India isn’t always easy.  I remember buying my plane ticket to Hyderabad in Delhi at the Indian Airlines ticket counter as the lady held my passport in hand copying down all the info she needed to issue me a ticket.  She copied away and then looked up at me, passport in hand, and with no sarcastic intent asked “what country are you from?”.  I believe she also moonlighted with several IT call centers, but that’s neither here nor there.  It was one of those moments I remember so distinctly.  One of those are you serious? moments.  And that’s the other thing about India.  Just when you think you’re getting somewhere, you’re really not.  You’re right where you are at that moment.  With great patience I ultimately walked out with a ticket in hand and flew off shortly to one of India’s sophisticated cities.

Now this was a very special part of my trip.  My friend from Germany, Ravi, arranged for me to stay with his parents in Hyderabad because I wanted to see Hyderabad and I had heard so much about his family there.  They were absolutely lovely.  His parents took me all around the city visiting the Hyderabad markets, various monuments, a mosque and an ancient fort.  They spoiled me completely rotten and I had by far the best food of my trip there.  Ravi’s mom was an amazing cook with fantastic chutneys, biryani and vegetarian dishes.  I can’t give them enough thanks for their amazing hospitality.

One of the things they arranged was for me to have my hands painted which was done by a muslim woman (some judgment intended in the religious association – muslims and hindus aren’t yet kum bay ya’ing together).  Woman being 17 and married.  She was absolutely gorgeous with her lively green eyes and delicate features.  Amazing to think she was married at 17, and I don’t actually know how young she married.

All good things must come to an end and I had to get my ticket to fly from Hyderabad to Mumbai to catch my flight to Durban, SA (where upon my arrival my polite friends informed me a prompt shower would be best).  Yes, you know what that means.  But this time instead of going into an office, Ravi’s parents helped me purchase the ticket through their travel agent friend.  I honestly couldn’t tell you how many phone calls it took – a lot! – to accomplish this task.  I was surprised when the day before the flight I actually got the ticket.  Things happen in a whole different way there, even local to local.