Blogs from Andhra Pradesh, India, Asia - page 2

Yes, I’ve dropped into another world. I’ve experienced similar places in India: people weaving across busy streets, through streams of cars, motorcycles, auto rickshaws; endless honking, people spitting everywhere, pools of spittle, some tinged with red betelnut, women clad in dark draperies, eyes peering from a human mask. How beautiful those women must be—but I see their eyes only, darting, staring at me, then withdrawing their gaze, clutching a toddler’s hand, comforting a crying baby. The noise, oh the noise, swelling voices, arguing, calling, discussing prices in the market, crowing, the creak of the wheels of portable stalls, rumble of motors, honking, endless honking. What’s different about Hyderabad? A city of over 5 million, crammed with movement, the drone of the call to prayer early in the morning and several more times throughout the day, men ... read more

Domenica, 15.1.2017 - Impiego tutta la mattina per trovare l'entrata principale del porto, sviato malamente dalle mappe di Google (il Mercante ha accettato la tecnologia) che mi spediscono ripetutamente nella zona industriale, tra nastri trasportatori, polvere nera e grossi cumuli di carbone, indispensabile per il funzionamento delle immense acciaierie che danno a Visakhapatnam l'orgoglioso soprannome di "Citta' dell' acciaio" dell'India; in realta' l'ingresso e' poco distante dalla stazione ferroviaria, anche se poi da qui inizia una vera e propria citta' nella citta' in cui districarsi autonomamente sembra impossibile. Sfinito, ricorro al servizio di un autoriscio' che paghero' salatamente ma anche inutilmente, dato che la biglietteria ha chiuso da poco, alle 11.30, essendo oggi uno dei tanti giorni festivi del calendario indiano: Makar Sankranti in questo caso. Dal mare, come per inca... read more

Our new home in Tenali was a 3-story building, and our living quarters were on the 3rd floor. The whole building belonged to Harvest India, and I believe the 1st floor housed a family who looked after the place. There were 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on the 3rd floor. Us girls had 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom in the main part of the 3rd floor, and the 2 guys had the other bedroom and bathroom that were sort of separate. Lisa and I roomed together, Ruth and Jessica shared the other room, and there was a bathroom in between our rooms that all of us girls shared. There was no central air and heat, but each of the rooms had an air conditioning unit which kept it comfortable. The only other room on the 3rdfloor ... read more

On Thursday, September 30, the 6 of us (me, Lisa, Shawn, Hemantha, Jessica, and our trip leader, Ruth) left on the 8,000+ mile trip to India! Lisa met me at my house that morning at 5AM. I gathered my luggage and tried to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything. It was lightly raining, and my mom drove us both to the airport in Phoenix. The 6 of us were meeting at the airport at 6AM, in order to catch our 7:45 AM flight. We had all packed toiletries to give to people at the elderly homes we would visit, as well as toys to hand out to kids at the children’s homes that were on our itinerary. I remember when I bought the toys at the store, and the cashier had asked if I was having ... read more

Our guide helped with the directions in the impossible traffic. A new metro system is being built which clogs everything up even more. Our first stop was at the Charminar (four minarets). This is the symbol and historical heart of Hyderabad. It was not too busy because we arrived before the crowds. We climbed up one of the minarets for a view over some of Hyderabad and also of the decorative detail of the building. on the left we could see the Jamma mosque. This is the second largest mosque in India. We shopped for bangles in a street that sells nothing except bangles. Hyderabad is famous for its jewellry especially pearls and bangles. There was also a shop selling old Indian coins, including coins from the imperialist era. We have visited very few museums on ... read more