Placida

Trek on.....

by lubna-s

Since Hyderabad is famous for its Deccan Plateau, you will find lots of rocks and small mountains on the outskirts of the city that you can trek on. An outing with both family and friends is an ideal way to chill out.
Adventure Tourism Activities Promoters (ATAP) offer planned trips in and around Hyderabad. Sports like trekking, rappelling, rock climbing, river crossing are held one day at weekends.

Golconda Fort

by ak10848

The Golconda Fort is a monument which is integral to the history of Hyderabad.Visit the fort in the afternoon and stay on for the son et lumiere(sound & light) show held in the early evening, which encapsulates the history of this city beautifully.Check to find out which show has the commentary in English.

Birla Mandir

by vpas

Built at a height of 280 feet on Kala pahad,this temple of Lord Venkateswara is known as Birla Mandir.It is built in white marble and is a blend of north and south indian architecture.
Timings --
7.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Cameras and mobile phones are not allowed inside

...And They Took My Lighter !

by coceng

Photo above : Hyderabad Airport; Taken when I went out for a smoke...Arrived at the airport.
At about 7 pm.
There were police loitering around.

Wanted to check in.
Tired of dragging my luggage.
Not heavy but dragging it here, there & everywhere.
No.

Tried to go inside the terminal.
Stopped by the police.
He asked for my ticket.
I showed him.
He said my flight would be at 1 am.
Still too early.
I said I wanted to check in.
He said not possible.
He said I must wait.
Sent me to a waiting room.
Okay.
Nice air-cond room.
With a TV & chairs.
A few people were also sitting in there.
Bored.

In the waiting room.
I asked if I could eat ?
The police said okay.
I took out my mango, the last one...out from my backpack.
Saw a drinking tap in the room.
Washed it.

Started to munch it.
This was one of the mangoes that I bought before entering Golconda Fort on that day.
The one where I also ate the skin of the mango.
Really enjoying it !

Then, a police saw me & smiled.
I smiled back.
He said that's not the way to eat a mango.
Whatever.
I loved it.
And it's my mango !
Not yours !

He then, suddenly went to a passenger & talked something.
He came to me & handed a good riped mango to me !
We both laughed !
I said I would keep his given mango for later.
Now, I just wanted to enjoy MY mango.
The one that I could eat the skin...
He left me.

At 8, I wanted to smoke.
Asked the police if I could smoke.
He said outside.
I could leave my luggage to him.
Walked outside, under a footbridge.
Puffed away...
felt so good.
It was kinda breezy.
I was sweating anyway.
The feeling that made me so uncomfortable, throughout India.
Came back to the terminal.

Ate the 2nd mango.
The one which was given to me bu the police.
This mango, I didn't eat the skin.
Not that nice.
Not as nice as my mango previously.
I didn't really like riped mango.
All would be goo-ey in my hands.

Because of this, my hands were really messy.
Some even dripped to the floor.
Some passengers were eyeing on me.
Like they had never seen a man eating a mango before.
Whatever.
Anybody made any comment...
I would stand up & fight back !
HARD !

Nobody said anything though...
Good.
Better not !

At about 8.30 pm, I thought I'd better check if I could enter the terminal to check in.
Walked out from the waiting room.
Allowed to check in.

First, had to scan my luggage.
No problem.

Then, walked to MAS (Malaysian Airlines) & checked in.
Simple.
I went back to check-in counter if I could change to a window seat.
The guy said possible but only when I get on the flight.
Just ask the stewards.
Actually, he's too lazy to do it himself !
I said okay, with a sigh.

I saw the sign, that once we checked in, we couldn't go out anymore.
That's okay.
I had enough of smoking.
The flight would be like 5 hours away.
Add 4 more hours flight home.
I could wait, till my next cigarette break.

Cleared the custom.

Then, they scanned by luggage again.
Had to take everything out from my pockets.
This old policeman suddenly said to me, "No lighter !"

I said I didn't know.
He said that I should know.
I repeated, no I didn't.
I also said that it's my souvenir from India, with a torchlight at the end of the lighter.
He freaking ignored me.
He took the lighter.
Like I wanted to burn the whole airport using that lighter.
Pah !
Stupid !

Slowly, I found a seat.

On that day, I read about some Indian workers at the airport were on strike or something.
Maybe not in Hyderabad.
I was wrong !

My flight was 2 hours late !
There's no announcement about it but we, the passengers had to keep on asking the authority WHEN our flight would arrive or WHEN we could go onboard.

At 3 am, finally, we could go boarding the flight.
What happened was, as the workers were on strike, so all the airports throughout India were short of manpower.

My flight was full !
So, no chance for me to change to a window seat.
I did approach a stewardess about it.
She said wait till all the passengers had come in.

We got on the flight at 3 am, but only at 4 am, the flight started the engine & flew away !

There's nothing much to say on the flight although I watched GURU (Ashwarya Rai with her real hubby) in it.
Had a meal.
Dozed off...
Only to be woken up by the pilot as we were approaching KL International Airport pretty soon.
Yeah !

Arrived at about 8 am or so.
Bought a bottle of mineral water.
Went outside & smoked !
Had to borrow somebody's lighter to light was cigarette !
My lighter had been confiscated, remember ?!

Then, right away...took the commuter to KL Central.
At KL Central, bought a packet of cigarette, tired of inhaling (cheap) Indian cigarette !
Oh yes ! I bought a new lighter as well !
You thought I would forget that, didn't you ?

Got a taxi, straight back to my room.
And sleep !
Sleep !
Sleep !
4 days later, I was still not entered for work !
Too lazy !
Ha ! Ha !

END OF JOURNEY...