We're off to Tollywood!

---

Well you can't come to Hyderabad and not pay a visit to the enormous Ramoji Film City. Ramoji is apparently the biggest film studio in India (it takes up about 2000 acres in all) and we certainly had a fun day of it!

Razzak, Nicole and I left the apartment bright and early (ok, it was 9am) and rocked along to the sound track to Dhoom 2 and other Bollywood movies until we arrived at Ramoji about an hour and a half later. We opted for the 'Royal' package - which meant we got to skip all the lines and have lunch in the 5 star hotel, and believe me, when we saw the lines, the exra few dollars seemed well worth the investment! We managed to convince Razzak to come in with us too, so the three of us set out to explore the 'city' together.

First item on the Ramoji tour agenda was a visit to the 'Movie Magic' show - where they got a couple of people from the audience to act in and then do sound effects on a short bit of a move. The Indian lady who was pretending to be driving a chariot was hilarious, not sure if I can upload video to show you her efforts, but if not be sure and check it out when I get home!

After Movie Magic we toured around the lot, looking at some of the gardens and the sets. One building was a hospital from one side, then a church from another side, and an airport from a third side! By this stage though, we were hot and hungry and just wanted some a/c and lunch.

Once those needs had been met, it was back to the lot to check out Fundustan, where we came across what looked like a fountain....except that there was loud music being played near the fountain, and people (other tourists) dancing in it! This was honestly the funniest part of the whole day. One guy started out in a jeans, a shirt and a baseball cap, and by the end was down to a singlet and undies (he got told by some officials to put his pants back on pretty quickly). It was such a fun atmosphere though, the crowd were laughing along with the guys doing the dancing. Nicole and I tried to convince Razzak to get in and have a go, but he wasn't too keen on the idea.

Anyway, after we dragged ourselves away from the fountain dancing arena and checked out the 'Wild West' show (where the cowboys seemd to be using kung-fu) we were thankful to climb into the airconditioned car and let Razzak whisk us back to Hyderabad. The plan was to make a quick side trip to aquire the elusive ethernet cable I need to be able to use skype...

After trying half a dozen shops in this side street Razzak found for us, we eventually got to a shop that had boxes and boxes of the cable I needed. Unfortunately I'd have had to buy 305 metres of it, and it wouldnt have had any connecters on it (ie, a long yet useless chunk of wire). To buy a mere 5 or 10 metres, apparently I have to get someone to come over to the house, give official approval, and then install it. Nothing is easy in India! Plan B is to have one of Nicole's workmates bring me some cable from Australia when he visits next week...

Although we left without any cable, I did manage to get my favourite photo of the trip so far in the side ally. A couple of women with a little boy were standing outside their home, just looking and pointing us out to the kid, probably not too many foreigners turn up just outside their door! We waved and they were really keen for us to take a photo of them, and we were more than happy to oblige - definately a worthwhile side trip.

We finished the day with a cup of chai from what Razzak assured us was the best chai shop in the city. Apparently women don't go there and we'd have attracted some unwelcome attention, so Razzak kindly delivered it to us in the car! It was strange sitting in the car, sipping tea from proper cups and saucers, but a nice ending to the day all the same.

---

Photos

Family Portrait
I love this photo, these guys were so happy to pose for this picture

Streetscape
Some of the buildings in the street the family portrait photo was taken in

Waiting for the tour bus
Razzak and Nicole waiting for the bus to take us around Ramoji

Buffalo
Part of the 'round the world' ride at Ramoji, I thought this was cute

Cranky Kangaroo
I'm pretty sure this is supposed to be a kangaroo, but it's the crankiest looking kangaroo I've seen in a while!

It's a big job
There are a lot of paths to be swept at Ramoji, and it's all done like this

Comments

[observer]

It is not a Kangaroo,its a wild rabbit and it looks like it.

[mum]

cranky kangaroo
sounds like you have had some time out and enjoyed yourself. is it a kangaroo or a giant bunny? odin is scratching his head at that one. good to see your story and photos.

[shells_india]

Ahhh, a wild rabbit hey? I guess that would make a little more sense. Either way this one made me laugh