WOW - First night in town
OK, so this will be quick because I’m keeping my driver waiting and I want to get up and get going, but I have to write about my trip from the airport to my hotel.
Coming out of baggage claim at 1 AM is how many drivers are waiting for people even at this time - there must be a hundred. I locate my driver in among all of them and we’re on our way. He’s super-polite and pretty shy, and I think on the way to the car some guys make fun of him. They say some stuff to him (oblivious to me being there and seemingly not about me - which was my first thought) and I ask later if they’re his friends and he says no.
Arriving in Hyderabad
He suggests a picture of the airport itself, since I’m taking pictures of other seemingly dumber things - good idea! I’m overwhelmed already and we haven’t gotten to the good stuff.
Rajiv Gandhi International
On the way to the airport I get my first taste of a religious festival in India. As we drive we pass big flatbed trucks lit up, decorated, and each carrying dozens of people - sometimes more than fifty - and each with a giant statue of Ganesha. Turns out it’s the last day of the festival celebrating the birth of the elephant-headed god and the celebrations include these huge trucks. We also pass a street festival that at 1:30 AM is jumping with music, revelers, and a 40-foot-tall statue of Ganesha. Cool stuff!
One of the smaller trucks celebrating the festival of Ganesha (the only one I could get a picture of)
We arrive at the hotel, and it looks great - especially the bed. Unfortunately the next hour is spent trying to get the wireless to work. First in my room, then in another room, then in the hall, and ultimately I get it to work from my iPhone standing directly under the router just to send mail to folks telling them I got in safely.