I'm in India now. sup ya'll =P

[Ns1]

90 minutes of walking and I could only find 1 bar:




Well lit alley (not the norm)





AYCE Grand Buffet for dogs.



Looks legit:


The most scandalous ad I've seen in India:

[Ns1]

Originally Posted by randomrogue

You ate Italian in India? Major foul. You have limited time and so much Indian food to try!

/facepalm

Yes I know, but I have a companion with a lower tolerance for spice. anyway, now I know what 4.5* italian food in India is like.

[RossMAN]

Call in sick, so you can snap some daytime pics.

Where are your priorities?

[randomrogue]

Originally Posted by Ns1

Yes I know, but I have a companion with a lower tolerance for spice. anyway, now I know what 4.5* italian food in India is like.

That's their problem. Have them order some mild food. Let them eat Nan all day

Indian food is not spicy hot anyways most of the time. It's spicy tasty. I realize that everyone is different but you really should be eating Indian food since that's the best part. You can take pictures of the dogs, monkeys, and shacks but that's not really what India is about. You should be focusing on the food, the smells, the sounds, the colors, the culture, and just the endless array of bizarre that is there for you to see. Everyday in India has some kind of party, parade, festival, etc with Elephants running down the street or something else out of the ordinary by our standards. If you're only hanging out in westernized places eating non-Indian food you're missing out on one of the most mazing places on the planet.

[Raghu]

Originally Posted by kranky

Well, given that you are in Bangalore, what is the reason to be cautious?

Anniversary of the Babri Mosque Demolition. Recent Events:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle4166228.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle4069993.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle4156137.ece

History : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babri_Mosque

@OP, Things to do in Hyderabad

1) Go to the Salarjung museum, Hussein Sagar lake
2) Travel by the MRT train or the bus system
3) Visit forts - Charminar (old city, go after Dec 6th), Golconda .etc.
4) Eat Briyani/other spicy food at Paradise Restaurant. Try a traditional Andhra meal, with the spicy Gongura/Avakaya pickle, lots of ghee and dal. Try the pesarattu dosa.
5) Watch a Telugu movie in an Indian theatre. You might have seen several funny clips on youtube already, heres your chance to get a full dose
5) Read a local English newspaper - "The Hindu" recommended

[Ns1]

Originally Posted by RossMAN

Call in sick, so you can snap some daytime pics.

Where are your priorities?

the company dropped 5 digits to send me over here. I don't think sick is an option LOL

Here's a few more, sorry for the shitty shots. I learned this day that I need to roll down the window to take pictures LOL

Right of way:



Typical roadside fruit vendor:


Fruit shop:


No fake trees:


Other side of the mall:





that's all for now. Gonna hit up the bazaar tonight.

[Ns1]

Originally Posted by randomrogue

That's their problem. Have them order some mild food. Let them eat Nan all day

Indian food is not spicy hot anyways most of the time. It's spicy tasty. I realize that everyone is different but you really should be eating Indian food since that's the best part. You can take pictures of the dogs, monkeys, and shacks but that's not really what India is about. You should be focusing on the food, the smells, the sounds, the colors, the culture, and just the endless array of bizarre that is there for you to see. Everyday in India has some kind of party, parade, festival, etc with Elephants running down the street or something else out of the ordinary by our standards. If you're only hanging out in westernized places eating non-Indian food you're missing out on one of the most mazing places on the planet.

If I were traveling not-on-business, my entire focus would be food. As it stands, food is but a tertiary goal here (much to my chagrin).

I don't really have that much free time - yesterday I got off work at 8. Not a lot going on after that hour, esp. in my neck of the woods.

I've been hearing about this "Paradise Restaurant" a lot, so if it's drivable I"ll try to hit it up.

3) Visit forts - Charminar (old city, go after Dec 6th), Golconda .etc.

Well I only have 2 nights left (12/5 and 12/6) so I don't have a lot of options here.

On 12/5 I was planning to drive to Charminar/Hussein Sagar lake/Necklace Road

Is 12/6 why there's netting on all the buildings covering the glass windows?

[RossMAN]

Originally Posted by Ns1

the company dropped 5 digits to send me over here. I don't think sick is an option LOL

I was just busting your balls, I wonder how much the plane ticket and hotel alone costs?

Thanks for the daytime pics!

Originally Posted by Ns1

that's all for now. Gonna hit up the bazaar tonight.

Great we look forward to it, going to sleep soon it's 10:28 PM on the west coast.

[Ns1]

Originally Posted by RossMAN

I was just busting your balls, I wonder how much the plane ticket and hotel alone costs?

Thanks for the daytime pics!

6.5k for the plane ticket, ~225us/day for the hotel (not including taxes!). It's all business peeps so we rolling with expense accounts and don't give a fuck.

Great we look forward to it, going to sleep soon it's 10:28 PM on the west coast.

WTF?

[RossMAN]

Originally Posted by Ns1

I've been hearing about this "Paradise Restaurant" a lot, so if it's drivable I"ll try to hit it up.

Is it a glorified food court or buffet?

http://paradisefoodcourt.com/gallery.htm

I'm not sure where your office is, so I used the Westin to Paradise address ... appears to be drive-able, around 16 km, Google maps directions.

Tripadvisor.com 4 out of 5 stars, ranked #12 of 189 restaurants

[Ns1]

Originally Posted by RossMAN

Is it a glorified food court or buffet?

http://paradisefoodcourt.com/gallery.htm

I'm not sure where your office is, so I used the Westin to Paradise address ... appears to be drive-able, around 16 km, Google maps directions.

Tripadvisor.com 4 out of 5 stars, ranked #12 of 189 restaurants

16km is like a 45 minute drive based on my experience on Monday. IF it's open at night then it's a maybe, since I plan to be in that area tomorrow.

The hotel I'm at has the TripAdvisor #1-4 restaurants in Hyderabad.

Prego is where I got the tasteless seared duck and foie. Colleague got the grilled lobster and beef carpaccio (also not recommended). Seasonal Tastes is where the morning buffet pics are.

I'll probably hit up Kangan tonight or tomorrow.

[randomrogue]

Well if you get one chance at least to eat real food ask the locals at your hotel for tips on where they eat. I never got a bad meal that way. If you're not sure what to order just let the waitstaff pic for you.

[Ns1]

oh yeah, for ATOT

[Anonemous]

Originally Posted by Ns1

oh yeah, for ATOT

lol, at least it's better than a water bucket for the left hand

[Ns1]

^^

for this westerner, it's still a bit disturbing as I'm doing my business and I get water spray from the stall over.

[Agent11]

Would take too many trees to make tp for that many people I guess?

Still ick.

[Raghu]

Originally Posted by Ns1

Is 12/6 why there's netting on all the buildings covering the glass windows?

Guess so. Hyderabad has been the center of agitations for one other reason too - a movement to split the state.

If you are traveling by these areas then take a short detour to visit them - Jubilee and Banjara Hills. You can find some posh restaurants/pubs/cafes in these places.

[Dominato3r]

How's the pet population? When I went 5-6 years ago there were dogs everywhere, travelling in packs of 8 to 11, malnourished to the extreme. I was in the north eastern part of the country though.

[zinfamous]

god damn it. now I have to have curry for lunch.

[slayernine]

Thanks for sharing the pics, that plane ride looked spectacular.

[vshah]

are those the restrooms at the client site?

[djnsmith7]

Better you than me. I wouldn't want to be there.

[busydude]

Hey OP if you want to taste beef biryani (also known as kalyani biryani) get a hold of a Muslim person.. It should be pretty easy as 50% of Hyderabad is Muslim.

I've lived in that city for 22 years and love every moment of it.. Hope your rest of the trip goes well.

[Ns1]

Originally Posted by vshah

are those the restrooms at the client site?

Technically we are the client and they are the consultants, but yeah those are the restrooms at their office.

Originally Posted by djnsmith7

Better you than me. I wouldn't want to be there.

I've enjoyed my experience so far!

Originally Posted by busydude

Hey OP if you want to taste beef biryani (also known as kalyani biryani) get a hold of a Muslim person.. It should be pretty easy as 50% of Hyderabad is Muslim.

I've lived in that city for 22 years and love every moment of it.. Hope your rest of the trip goes well.

Biryani overload lol

[Ns1]

Originally Posted by Dominato3r

How's the pet population? When I went 5-6 years ago there were dogs everywhere, travelling in packs of 8 to 11, malnourished to the extreme. I was in the north eastern part of the country though.

Same but the biggest pack I saw was 3. They started fighting with another dog and the fight rolled into the street. Amazing they weren't hit by cars. I have partial video I'll upload later.

I havent met an aggressive stray yet.