Hyderabad-Days 1 & 2

February 27, Wednesday
Flew to Hyderabad, where after checking into a hotel we headed to Rumoji: Film City. We’re meeting Tim Keirn tomorrow, and we didn’t think he’ll be too disappointed to miss this cheesy attraction…2,000 square acres of land, of which a portion is dedicated to sets and another portion is a sort of film theme park…apparently a very popular middle class family event. Really, it’s quite an amazing feat—several live shows with dancers, acrobatic clowns and hullahoop girls, and another cowboy show where a Jackie Chan character saves the helpless cowgirls from the harassing cowboys. There was a haunted house, some small rides for kids and great French fries…it was like an Indian Pleasantville.



February 28, Thursday
Tim, Norbert and I walked for hours today through the city. It doesn’t seem that many white people do this, as we got a lot of stares. Children would peak around corners and grown men would stop and stare. I am beginning to wonder if tourists are more likely to hire a car (which includes a driver) and get to know the city from the comfort of a car. The sidewalks here, when they exist, are full of vendors. Though in Hyderabad they do not harass you much, like we’ve experienced in Kolkata and Rajistan. Walking is really the best way to feel Indian cities and get to know its personality a bit, but it’s not easy. It’s hot here—90 today?—and you have to cover up. Most women dress very conservatively-saris or fully covered.

There are no street signs, so navigating is a challenge and crossing the road is maddening. We in fact were convinced at one point that we would be eternally stuck on a one foot median, as we could just not get across because of all the traffic. Still, I love seeing what vendors have to sell and interacting with people a bit. We saw the gorgeous Chowmohallah Palace and the raised Char Minar with amazing views of downtown, the Mecca Masjid (possibly the largest mosque in India) and the Salarjung Museum, where a oddly large number of parents pushed their children toward me to shake my hand and in one case gathered round me for a picture—kids with white lady. This a picture of one family. After I posed with their little ones, I asked if I could take a picture of them. I've noticed that it's not customary for people to smile in photos.