Adventures in Hyderabad

Yesterday I started my journey with Mass at 7am (as we start every day, usually). I ate a quick breakfast and one of the sisters (Sister Lucia) drove me on the bike down to the bus stop for my great adventure to Hyderabad! I got on the bus and got a ticket to the last stop: The Mahatma Gandhi Bus Stop. The bus ride was fairly uneventful, except when it became crowded. I was sitting alone most of the way (since there were mostly male passengers and they do not sit next to women, not even their wives). At one point one woman sat next to me, it was a tight fit. We were touching arms and legs, normal way of travelling in India. She left and two more women decided to squeeze in. One woman was completely on my leg. I laughed silently and just thought to myself “It’s India!” This is a common phrase that I think to myself. Well, I made it safely to the M.G.B.S. and got in an autorikshaw (little three wheeled taxi, see picture below) and a half an hour later we made it to the Taj Krishna Hotel. I met up with Steve (our family friend who is travelling in India for business) and we grabbed lunch, I had some pasta and pizza and ICE CREAM! I was very content with that. Afterwards I checked into my hotel (Taj Deccan) which was like an oasis in the middle of Hyderabad. It was gorgeous. Steve and I then grabbed another rik to go to Charminar, a famous spot in Hyderabad. It was extremely busy – and then it started to DOWNPOUR. We quickly went into one of the little shops – funny thing was everyone else had that idea too. It was pretty chaotic but we survived. It is Ramadan right now and being the Hyderabad is 90% Muslim, 10% Hindu, many, many Muslims were out buying from the fruit vendors since they only eat before sunrise and after sundown. There were women covered in black – with only their eyes showing everywhere. It is very interesting to be in a place that is so predominantly Muslim or Hindu. We learn about these religions maybe freshman year of high school and then forget about it – it is cool to witness first-hand how these people live and I find it interesting to learn about the different gods and festivals. I saw my first camel! Just being led down the street completely normal…I am used to the cows and goats ALLLLL over the place, but seeing a camel was new and exciting! We then went to one of the old forts of Hyderabad which was built in the 1400s. We learned the history and whatnot – that was pretty neat too. Then we ate and the day was over!


I have realized that I will trust any cab driver in NYC that is Indian – because if they can survive driving in India, you will definitely be safe and sound in NYC. They have lines on the road but for all I know, the lines are there for decoration because no one pays any attention to the lines. Cars, autorikshaws, cabs, trucks, bikes…any vehicle just goes where it can fit. Families of 5 all ride on a motorbike together – no one wearing a helmet. We saw a mother with a baby that was no older than 6 months – the baby was sound asleep on the mother’s lap – the mother just held the child with one arm…there are infants on the bikes, it seems so crazy to me, but this is completely normal for them.

I have begun to really just accept and go with the Indian lifestyle. Of course thing surprise me and I smile and laugh to myself but I am getting less and less surprised at what I see.

I will never again complain about a crowded subway in the city! This morning I travelled from my hotel to the MGBS and got on a bus to a town called Nalgonda. At Nalgonda I was the ONLY non-Indian. And I was the only one who spoke English. I figured out where the bus to Chandur was and waited. Some people who knew a little English came up to me and talked to me which was nice. I had to fight my way on to the bus once it came. We were PACKED in that bus like something I have NEVER seen before. There was no room anywhere it was crammed with people. I was standing close to the front right near the door so I was very happy to at least have some breeze. The lack of deodorant use in this country was a struggle this morning. The bus ride was 90 minutes long. I literally could not move for 50 minutes. Then the bus finally started to empty out. But I was pressed up against multiple people for at least 50 minutes. So, as I mentioned before, I will never complain about a crowded subway ever again. Also! The bus was pulling away and people were hanging on the side of the bus!! And they stayed like that until their stop! I could not believe it. They were literally hanging from the windows. It was completely nuts.

BUT I made it safely back to Chandur! I got off the bus and I was so happy to be home! The hotel was nice, sleeping on a mattress that was thicker than 3 inches and showering in a real shower instead of using a measuring cup to pour water over my head from a bucket was nice…but I was happy to be home. There are so many luxuries that are very nice – but I have realized that I do not NEED them. I am happy here with so little. I appreciate air conditioning and a hot shower and sleeping underneath the covers – but I am happy to be back here. I have found a comfort zone in India :)

Since the men can urinate whenever and wherever they please, I found this amusing.  Painted on the wall "Do Not Pass Urine Here"

Trusty Autorikshaw "rik" for short

These are ALL OVER the cities