Had recently been to Hyderabad on a short trip, due to a series of unfortunate events(wait for a another blog).
My last visit to this place was some ten years ago. I didn't have sweet memories about it. Maybe I didn't see the good part of it. Or maybe it never had a good one.
At around 7:30 AM on a Thursday morning was woken up by a guy saying "Ameerpur osthi". I deciphered that my destination had arrived. Got down from the APSRTC bus which I boarded from Pune. Was invited by a swarm of ric drivers who were trying to get a "boni" (no ill meanings please !!!). Brushed apart their offers, so that I could while-away some time.
Had a flight at 11:45 AM.
Slowing started walking down the road which looked like a bit posh. Was searching for an ATM.
To my surprise all I could find was cyber centres !!! Cyber centres everywhere but not a single ATM. Anyways did come across one after a brisk walk.
Well to say about the city... Wow !!! It has developed amazingly. We used to tease people who had an acquaintance with this place. They would justify that its not the same, as we thought it was. Guess they were right..Kudos to the guys who have made this possible.
When some one talks about Hyderabad, all we think about is the filth and dirt of Golconda fort or the Charminar area or people who speak caustic. Clearly a prejudice. No wonder the Titans of the software world were impressed. Leaving apart the climate (nothing less than that of a desert) there is nothing to complain about this place.
Learnt I was in the Secunderabad part (correct me if I am wrong). Clean roads. Not a spec of dirt. Looked very impressive. Spoke in broken Telugu with some localites, enquiring about the location of the airport. Surprisingly they sounded friendly. I could figure out the route from some key words used by them. I didn't continue the conversation, clearly at loss of words (pun not intended).
Boarded a public bus, which actually was a bit clean. My yardstick had reduced after looking at the PMT buses. Reached the airport in no time.
As I was boarding the flight to Chennai, I sent a silent apology to all the people who were trying glorify Hyderabad. How I had literally shunned them off when they were trying to describe about the place.
Now, it does seem, that the Biriyani comes in different flavours...
Note : Another apology to all the Hyderabadis, if I have missed the others greats of the city. This is what I could capture in a short span of time.
