Getting Around

from Jeff

We were struck by just how many people live in India. One billion people on about 1/3 the land size of the US. So, you can imagine just how crowded the country seemed to us. People were everywhere, going somewhere.

It was not uncommon to see a family of four or five squeezed onto a tiny scooter, or a group of 10 or so crammed into a three wheeled taxi.

Our first day in Hyderabad, Stephen and a friend took us to several sites. This arch is named Char Minar located in a strongly Muslim part of the city.

He we are taking a stroll through Hyderabad looking for an internet spot to make contact with home. At 10 rupees per hour (roughly 25 cents), the internet service was quite a deal.

Overall the prices are favorable to our dollar (roughly $1 = 40 INR). However, the spots where Americans go tend to be just a pricey there as here. Our hotel in Delhi, for example, cost about what it would have here.

Getting around during our visit was an adventure. Litter and rubble were often piled on the sides of streets. Hyderabad is trying to develop its infrastructure by widening its main road. This means condemning and demolishing many buildings. The rubble from these projects lined the highways.

Traffic was insane with so many people. Honestly, though, their system works for them. We rarely had to stop because of traffic problems. If they had our system of lights and signs, there would be constant gridlock.