The center of this town is a major change from the Rajasthan and the rest of the "traditional" India I've seen, as it is the first to look somewhat clean, perhaps not like Zurich but more like Kuala Lampur! No cows, goats, pigs or other wildlife in central Hyderabad and with that comes smoother flowing traffic and fewer "landmines" on the pavement! Toured the new Hi-Tech city being constructed in the suburbs, and it looks as if the big tech companies are remaking the snake infested and dusty mountains around here into a new "silicon valley" with big mansions of the cyber-barrons appearing all over the place, and with latte places hot on their heels.

Copyright Walter Bibikow

All this sophistication still doesn't result in a more sophisticated populace, and even here I spend a good deal of time having to field most of the same questions like..."Where are you from?," "What is your country?," and today was even chased by a one legged man who wanted to know how many megapixels my cameras had! At first this was mildly amusing, but going on three weeks I'm ready to throttle most of these "friends" I make and figure that if they can't take a hint, I might as well have a bit of fun!

Actual conversation today...

?-"Excuse, Sir, Please, which your country?"

WB-"Oh, hello, I'm from Somalia, I enjoy being a Black African!"

?"Do you have a big family , Sir?"

WB-"Well I have a sister, Iman, the famous fashion model? My father, he is a chief you know, was very worried when she married that white singer, but we got used to it!"

?"Oh yes, Sir! Thank you sir!, How do you like India?"...

It seems that everybody was taught the same aggravating conversation starters by some English teacher from Hell, but most never followed up with anything else! It doesn't matter how you respond as long as you do...and so it goes!

Copyright Walter Bibikow

Thought that I would send along a mini album of snaps of Rajasthan Forts & Castles. I saw quite a few and they were all wonderful and straight out of 1001 Nights! Amber, had its incredible Elephant taxis (just don't walk behind vast numbers of elephants in a confined space!), Udaipur, a truly beautiful place with its palaces all facing a lake. I also was able to buy a ticket to have dinner with the Maharani of Udaipur (who looks a lot like Francis Ford Coppolla, BTW) last Friday due to its being Brahma's Holiday coinciding with the full moon. The dance recital offered was kind of a drag BUT seeing the big man driven into his palace in a 1938 Cadillac after his minnions threw rose petals in his path was priceless, as was seeing the City Palace inner courtyard lit up at night, which only happens once a year! And, finally, Jodhpur, a city that gave the world those funky riding breaches, is a dive BUT has a truly grand fort perched on a high hill above the town. The fort is history itself and allows views of the city, mostly painted blue (both a Brahmin color and to supposedly ward off mosquitos) that are interrupted only by the smog and fog on its horizon!

So, being here in Cyberabad I've been able to go about 500 years in five hours distance! I send you all my best wishes, and if you see my sister Iman give her my best as well and tell her that David really is much too white!

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