Hyderabad - Day 1 (Rest)

Well, not truly restful, but getting there at least.

Naveen's dad, Sai Babu, came at around 10 (after I'd had about 3 hours with my breakfast and newspaper) and we went around booking tours, bus tickets, and train tickets. He looked at me while I made decisions, we sat down and had tea while I thought. It was quite pleasant.

After all my tickets were bought and everything was planned, we went down to Hussain Sagar, the lake with the giant Buddah that was rescued from the bottom. He bought me a superspicy snack that was too much for me, then had to take off to supervise the construction going on at his house.

About Naveen's parents: they seem oh so nice. They've been very kind to me and are worried like crazy about me. Krishna (mom) doesn't seem to want me to leave the room without escort (which I don't have, so sorry on that one). Sai Babu (dad) speaks slowly and repeats everything at least twice. It's nice to be treated like a child, but not - they're very nice and since it's very temporary I'll let it work for now. I was surprised to learn that Sai Babu smokes and rides a scooter - just didn't seem like the things someone with his education would do ;). But it means I got to ride sidesaddle again on a scooter (silly skirts) - first time in India though - scary.

So he dropped me, I enjoyed a leisurely meal, then went in search of internet. Crazily hard to find here and less and less people speak English. So a nice polite man told me where it was... then offered me a ride. Hmmmm. Oh well. Yes, please. 'Twas actually working - he took me right to the internet place, asking only a few questions on the way, no illicit comments, no trying to touch me, nothing. I was happy. I smiled too soon. He escorted me into the place, got me a computer, I smiled. Here's where the light went off in his head *wait you can't let the white girl go without harrassing her first* "Oh you're so beautiful. Can I kiss you? No? Please can i kiss you?" ...sigh. no. go away. thank you. He was cooperative - yay for public places - but came back bringing me his number and email address and begging me to contact him. whatever. bugger off now.

I enjoyed my internet world for a long while and then it was late, more importantly dark. I hopped into a rickshaw but it seems I chose the wrong driver. His accent was so strong that I didn't understand his requests for a kiss until we had arrived and he made hand signs. I didn't immediately get out because it's my habit to pay before I get out, where I can see the meter and don't have to handle money in the street. Mistake here. His hand found its way to my chest and was immediately removed and i hopped out. Without an immediate request for money I started to walk away only to have him yell after me to give him money. I stopped and asked him how much. 100 rupees. Negative. I was not in the mood to be molested and outrageously cheated in the same 30 seconds. "I do not." Full defensive posture, hands on hips, yelling, with the whole street watching, I demand he checks his meter and tells me what I owe. The meter is off, he demands 50. Not my desire to stand around and chit-chat with him, I just paid it and walked away. Maybe don't give me a gun; surely there'd be a string of Indian men in my wake at this point.

Called to check it. Back to guesthouse. Shower.
Sigh. Not the most restful of days.