Newest #1 Attraction at the Hyderabad Zoo

Today, Allison, Page and I visited the zoo in Hyderabad aka the Nehru Zoological Park. The zoo is huge, laid out over almost 400 acres. So large in fact you can purchase tickets to ride through in your car. We first saw a huge tortoise and some amazing macaques, then it was off to see the cats. It was at this point we discovered the #1 attraction at the zoo.....us! Before leaving the cats, bears, and aviaries, we were asked again and again to take photos with the other zoo visitors. I am frankly amazed our driver, Khaleel, was able to contain his laughter as we started cracking jokes about being the top draw at the zoo that day. The young guys seemed especially interested in getting individual shots next to the girls.
The Safari ride was great, getting to see the animals up close and experiencing Indian driving at it's wildest.

After the zoo, we moved on to a different sort of wildlife, the cattle, water buffalo and goats that live in the city. While waiting for Allison to cash her traveler cheques, Page and I fell in love with the cutest goat. Hum mm.... Wonder what Charlie, Rev and Macy would think of sharing the loft with a bottomless pit? Oh, yeah, wait. We already have that, it's called Chase.

Indian Potluck

This blog is being posted for the sole reason to make all of my coworkers in Omaha jealous.....and hungry.  Today, the CSC KieCore Team hosted a potluck.  And while the pictures do speak for themselves, I would just like to go on record as saying......"Yum", it was delicious! 

The team spent a great hour chatting and getting to know others.  I had the pleasure of talking with the women on the CSC Team.  I can only hope their husbands never find out the source of the discussions/advice we shared.......I'm learning wives and husbands are the same the world around.

Musings After Two Weeks

The whiny side of me:

• Who knew it would take 5-10 minutes for the water to get hot.....a cold shower it was.
• After 50 mosquito bites, have I given my yearly quota of blood?
• If I repeat myself for the tenth time, will the shopkeeper understand me then?
• Why am I expected to go get cash when your store has lost electricity and you can't swipe my credit card?
• Who knew a hole in the floor was considered a toilet, made me miss the outhouse on Grandma's farm!  And we won't even discuss the lack of toilet paper.

The "in awe" side of me:

• The traffic, I just love being driven around in the traffic!
• The graciousness of the Indian people.
• The great difference between the have and have nots, and the absolute dignity all maintain.
• The shopping.........I'm almost scared to see the damage Page will do.
• Did I mention the traffic?!
• The food, my family will never believe how spicy of food I eat.  So delicious!
• The absolute beauty of this country.

Did you know?

• A power strip is call an electrical extension board with spike?
• Most tea and coffee is drank with a very healthy dose of milk.....they brew it very strong.
• Vendors won't accept currency with a tear, you have to exchange it at a bank.
• The newest song craze is "Why This Kolaveri Di", go watch it on uTube, it will be stuck in your head for days!

Final musings, not once have I regretted my decision to come to India.  Each day I look forward to learning more about India and her people.  I can't wait for each adventure ahead, this is truly the gift of a lifetime!