Cab'ing It

Between work and the hotel, there is a 'shuttle'. Basically, its a car service for those that are here from the US that work at Company. It goes back and forth between the office and the hotel, 24hrs a day.

If you need a ride between the two places, and the car isn't there (there are actually a few depending on the time of day and how busy it is) you call a phone number and a car is there shortly. Longest wait is usually about 10 minutes.

If you want to take a car somewhere other than the office or hotel, you just call about an hour prior and someone will be by to pick you up and take you wherever you want.

Most days when going to work it's just me in the car along with the driver. Being that its close to 5:30 in the morning, usually a whole lot of quiet is going on.

This day, when I got in, it was different. It wasn't the usual guy, it was someone different. We started to talk, I could tell he was wide awake, and enthusiastic.

He asked if it was my first time here, I said yes. We then went on talking about how he has been a driver for Company since we started here. We'll say about 5 years. Wow. He asked questions. We talked.

He showed me a book. A business card book. He said he collected them. In this book, were over 200 business cards from folks that had come here from Company.

The next day, morning when I saw him again, I gave him my card.

Sometimes its the little things that keep us going, keep us excited. Although I probably know very few people that are excited about what they do, or collect something as simple... he reminded me that sometimes its the seemingly insignificant things that can make your day.

And although I probably have about 500 of those cards, he has now has one.

He smiled, and thanked me.

Just a reminder to me that there are times when a seemingly small effort on your part, can make a big difference in someones entire day.

California Burritos

I came here to work, essentially. To train folks, to network, to match faces with names… of people I have worked alongside ‘virtually’. And you know what? It’s pretty interesting.

There is something though, something about being ‘away’. It isn’t the same as being on a business trip somewhere in the US. I mean, when I am awake, most everyone in the US is asleep. When those in the US are asleep, I am awake. You see there? The time difference is roughly 12 hours.

Surrounded by people that aren’t from the same place, from the same culture, from a similar background.. is different. Its interesting to learn about how different cultures work… how they, are.

I wake up at about 4:45am. From the hotel to work is about a 10 minute drive, I usually get in at 5:30. I usually leave at about 3:30. Long day… but it really doesn’t seem long for some reason. Maybe because I am not really missing out on anything going on at the hotel.

Go back to the hotel, gym for an hour… rest of the night.

Rest of the night… its amazing to find yourself with the remainder of the day with… not much to do.

Visit friends… too far.

Talk to friends… asleep.

Watch tv… HBO, or the Discovery channel.

Gym… already went.

Sleep… too early.

Although I am certainly not bored, and am certainly not tired of being here, I think that when the time comes… I’ll be ready to go home.

Movie + Golconda Fort

It looks like a mall from the outside, but its really a multiple level department store with a movie theater on top

Movie we saw

I got there early to walk around outside. People were waiting for movie tickets about an hour before the counter opened. They are crazy about their movies.

Then, when it opened, they flooded in.


A family of three. All the women ride side-saddle.


Main road.


After movie, driving to fort.




This is a shuttle. The guy in the back is there to yell out where its going, so people can hop on if there is room.

Dil pasand. Delicious treat. Kinda like a croissant on the outside and coconut and delicious on the inside.

Add a Caption

They pay 5 Rs., I pay 100 Rs.


From inside the fort, the entrance is on the right.

About halfway up.









Mosque within the fort, there were several.


The top, where Qutu Shahi kings lived



The backside of the fort.

At night there was a light show, much better than the pic shows.


Dinner, everyone shares... Nan (bread, like a tortilla = yum), Paneer butter masala (red, has tofu in it, pretty good), Dal fry (brownish, wheat and oats), Vegetable magli kofta (white, a milk cream with rice)


Friends that took me there.

Smokey

Before coming here, I knew there would be some... questionable foods. Well, lets just say that some things don't exactly look all that appealing.

NOW, after saying that... I will say that I am pretty open to trying anything. For instance, when going to breakfast or lunch (which I routinely have with the 'ol co-workers) I will usually just have them pick something out that they think I would like. See? Easy enough.

Well, I am certainly not the first one to have a little visit over here... and some of the folks before me were VERY picky about what they did/didn't eat. Enough so that they brought enough food for their entire stay. Really.

Nonetheless, I kinda did the same. Well, because I usually bring my lunch to work, and usually eat pretty simple. I guess the short story is that I didn't want to feel like I HAD to eat everything that was over here.

So, in my little goodie stash I brought over, were some of those microwave popcorn deals. See for yourself, I present to you Exhibit A:
Simple right? Bring a few of these, cook 'em on up, and you have yourself a little snack.

The other day, I brought one to work. You know, a little snackie for the mid-morning. Why not?

So, I went to the kitchen at work and popped it in. The microwave started doing its thing, and what do you know... before I know it there is a little smoke coming out of the microwave.

BUT, the popcorn is still popping... so its not DONE! You know, you're supposed to wait till the popping slows almost all the way down.

I let it go, and properly waited until it was done popping. It continued to smoke a teeny tiny bit, I didn't really care. Out came the popcorn and it was rightfully delicious. Not burnt or anything.

Today I planned on doing the same thing. In went the bag of popcorn, and there it started popping. It did the little smoke thing and I didn't think anything of it. But, this time, it may have smoked a bit more. I don't know why.

Well, I pull it out this time and a plume of smoke comes out of the microwave. There are a couple of other people in the kitchen, and they're looking at me. What the heck am I supposed to do?! Well, act like its not a big deal, of course.

So I grab it, and make my way out. You know, because this is normal.

They are talking to each other though, andidontknowwhatthehecktheyaresayingbecause theyarentspeakingtheenglish.

I make it to my desk.

It's still smoking.

I sat down, and not 2 seconds after I did, I hear a beep.

I'm all paranoid now, thinking it was some fire alarm beep, so I go outside.

I have some popcorn, until it stops smoking of course.

Then I went back in, and I could totally tell everyone was looking for the source of smoke.

Me?

And no, NONE OF THE POPCORN WAS BURNT. It was quite tasty, actually.

Honest Scrap!

An award, bestowed, by none other than Accidentally Me, here.

Gracias!

The award comes with a few rules: The honorees are to:
A) first list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!
B) pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

We'll see how this goes...



1. I like pictures. To take them, whatever. In my place I have a bunch that I have taken all over the place. Actually, I pretty much only have pics I have taken up. I also find that I feel like taking pictures of something, but am apprehensive about busting the camera out.

2. Along with #1, for some reason I have a small collection of picture frames at home. A pile of them. I always have to go and look at frames at the store. I have to remind myself that I have a big pile of them sitting. Waiting for a picture to occupy them.

3. I am living abroad right now.

4. I like to drive, and have taken multiple cross-country trips. Both with family in a good 'ol minivan, and moving back and forth between coasts.

5. I don't know why, but people usually remember me. For whatever reason. I have had people that I went to grade school with recognize me and chat it up. Most of these times, I don't remember who they are.

6. The Girl, reads this.

7. I understand Spanish more than I can (or choose to) speak it. Most likely not from learning in school, but from hanging out with my dad.

8. I have one sister. She's younger by two years, and we're often mistaken for twins.

9. At home, I don't have cable, I do have internet.

10. Right now I am craving some wine.

If you'd like a reason to be honest and share a little about yourself, consider yourself tagged :)

Don't like Santa?

Warning, could lead to kids poo'ing on Santa's lap at the mall.


Buy here.

US to Frankfurt to Hyderabad

Really? Yes.

The new thing

Received message on Facebook:

"... I hear you are in India. Take tons of photos and I want to hear all about it. Are you going to have a blog? That's the new thing. ..."

Yes I am, and, I already have one.

No, I didn't actually reply with that. Silly.

What the?!?!

Nothing has changed... or has it?

Over the past few months I have been contemplating on whether I should move somewhere new. That is, move Bueno Morning... to a new home.

The thing is, I couldn't do it. I just couldn't think of a new name, a new place.

So, I am staying.

But, I am starting over.

Don't worry, old blog has been saved :)