Blogs from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, Asia

MINI CHRONIQUES INDIENNES Y’A PAS DE PQ… Pas de place dans le train de nuit. J’opte pour l’avion. Me voici à Hyderabad. L’aéroport de Visakhapatnam (d’où je viens) et celui d’Hyderabad (où j’arrive) sont parfaitement organisés, sortes de bulles aseptisées dans le capharnaüm indien. Le taxi (au compteur) fait un grand détour, mais comme je suis le trajet avec mon navigateur, je lui indique que, par mégarde, il se trompe de chemin. Ça va être moins facile d’arnaquer les touristes naïfs puisqu’ils ont maintenant la possibilité de savoir où ils sont et où ils vont ! Je remets le taxi dans le droit chemin, carte à l’appui, bien qu’il n’en fasse tout de même qu’à sa tête. La circulation est particulièrement dense (et bruyante). Nous arrivons enfin à l’hôtel, le FabHotel Arastu (les Fabhotels sont une ... read more

Woolly says – In the attempt to avoid the dust and fumes for one journey at least, we decided to try out Zoe’s uber app for the first time in India, as if by magic she put in our location and the destination details and a car pulled up beside us, we sat in comfort as we headed through the city and towards the outskirts. Today was a day that had I really been looking forward to and just hoped that my army of men were up to the challenge….. who am I kidding of course there not! Golconda fort was once the capital of the medieval sultanate of the Qutb Shahi dynasty from 1518 until 1687, the city and fortress were built on a granite hill that is 120 metres (390 ft) high and is ... read more

Woolly says – We were quietly proud of ourselves having found our overnight bus tucked down the back streets of Hampi, having stored the big backpacks and climbed into our double bunk we settled down for what we hoped would be a good night’s sleep. The speed at which the driver left the town behind meant us all being thrown around like rag dolls, trying to doze while part of your body is constantly leaving the mattress is tricky. As hour after hour passed and I could hear not just my own teeth rattling but everyone else’s as we sped over bump after bump, it was painful to keep landing on my trunk! The girls lay watching the cars go past and trying to not fall out of the bunk, until Zoe had a desperate need ... read more

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

Nothing special to add, just another turnaround. / Nie mam nic specjalnego do dodania, kolejny turnaround.... read more