The past 2 weeks--Pune and Hyderabad

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So, earlier today I was in Big Bazaar (the Indian version of Walmart), listening to the entire Bryan Adams Gold Collection over the loud speaker when I realized that I have not written a blog in a while. Why was I in Big Bazaar you ask? Well...my freagin brand new digital camera I bought (specifically for this trip) just quit working out of the blue a week ago!! Minorly irritating. I took it somewhere and they said it would have to be sent back the factory. SOOO....that is why this blog has no pictures.

Pune--the New India

After BombayI took a short train to Pune (poo na) a couple hundred kilometers to the SE. The landscape changed dramatically to really lush green rolling hills, waterfalls, mist, palm trees...it was like a tropical jungle land or something. Also, for some reason Pune is several degrees cooler than the rest of the country. It is a different city entirely than the rest that I have seen. It's billed as the New India by some because the population is well-educated, the city is much better planned and manicured, there are cafes and bars and foriegners and lots of students. It happens to be one of the most populated cities in India, but it still maintains a small town feel.....this would be my first choice if I were to live here. I didn't do much in Pune besides relax and go on a couple of appointments for work. But, nontheless it was a nice pit stop.

Hyderabad

As for Hyderabad...I can't say the same. This city (also known as Cyderabad for the immense IT industry here) is growing too fast. Concrete buildings, rubble, traffic, and pollution are the first things I think of. Granted I haven't done much sight seeing here, but honestly there is not much to do or see. I do plan though to visit this Buddhist monastary at the top of a hill overlooking the city. Apparently the monks offer medidation session at dusk and sunrise everyday.

I have been in Hyderabad for several days and will stay till the end of the week. I had 4 meetings already for the project and am trying to secure one more before I leave. I plan to travel on Friday night into the field...a small town named Nellore that has two MFIs I want to meet with on Sat. After that, it's on to Chennai in the south for a few days. Luckily Zobair contacted a couple of friends of his that live in Chennai and work for the CDC. They have offered to put me up while I am there, which is an offer too good to pass up. At this point I am so sick of budget hotels. I'll have hot water and A/C -hurah!

Still planning my next move from there, but will write in Chennai. Namaste!!

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Comments

[jay]

Tamil
You should have learnt some Tamil from me before you left! Now that you are so close to Kerala you should visit it too! Keep us posted!