Warangal Part 2

After a bit of driving about, we finally found our way to Warangal Fort.  While the structures that are still standing are spectacular, what is particularly amazing is the massive amounts of carvings that are just littering the grounds.

Here's N with a headless bird.  Notice the bits of broken sculptures all over the ground behind her.

We had to pose with Ganesh, because it was the weekend of his big holiday, Ganesh Chaturthi.

Elephants guard the entrance to the old fort.

While the fort itself is fenced off, once you pay a small entrance fee you are free to roam about the entire complex.  There is very little signage and no one telling you where you can't go.  Total freedom for our kids who seem to enjoy exploring and imagining a place outside the bounds of more organized tourist locations. 

I wish we could have lugged this home with us.  No one would have noticed it missing.

12th century rangoli.  We see these same patterns created in colorful chalk and rice powder on our neighbors driveways. 

We have an enormous number of photos of elephant carvings.  It's hard to edit.

We scrambled over rocks, hills and walls to make our way to this tiny ancient temple. 

It was getting to be a pretty hot day, so we enjoyed the cool shade provided by the temple.  It's kind of hard to see in this photo, but the floors were covered in beautiful curling script.  We wondered if uncle Ian could read it.

And just look at that blue door!

H & N like to wear hats when we go out exploring.  It detracts from the blond hair -- a little bit. 

Then, it was back into the city of Warangal, for one last temple visit.  Stay tuned for Part 3!

Warangal Part I

We took a Saturday two weeks ago and drove to Warangal.  It's about a three hour drive from Hyderabad, but the children were content with various electronic gadgets, naps, and snacks, and us grown-ups enjoyed being able to see the area outside of the city.

About an hour into our drive, we passed Bonghir.

  It has now been added to our list of places to visit.  We'll make it a "kids-free" trip, since a hike like that isn't quite their cup of tea.

After a longer stretch of driving, we entered the town of Ghanpur.  From what we had read, Ghanpur is about 60 km outside of Warangal, and home to an interesting group of temples and archaelogical site.  Our driver pulled over to ask where the temples were and we were met with blank stares.  Temples?  Oh, you want to go to Warangal for temples.  Nothing like that here.  Confused, we gave up our hopes of seeing the Ghanpur temples, and continued on to Warangal.  Upon returning home we realized there is another Ghanpur 60 km in the other direction from Warangal.  We wonder of Ghanpur means "60 km from Warangal" in Telugu. 

We finally arrived in Warangal and after a couple of wrong turns found our way to the Thousand Pillared Temple.  That's nearly a pillar for every year of its current age.

The kids favorite part was the Nandi sculpture in front.

Then it was on to Warangal Fort.  More on that in our next post....

The Kids Favorite Commercial - Cheers to Man Hair

India has some weird commercials.  The kids have this one memorized.



We should spend more time blogging and less time watching tv.  Our current favorites: Big Bang Theory, Pawn Stars, and Doctor Who via Netflix.

And this one too.

Travel Goals for the New School Year

 One of the problems we found over the years we were living in New York was that it was easy to get  complacent about the amazing place we lived in.  We never saw Shakespeare in the Park or went to the US Open.  Unacceptable!  It was hard in the stage of life we were in to find the time and childcare needed to really make the most of New York. 

Now, we are in a much more mobile stage.  Our kids are all good travelers, and ready explorers.  In an effort to motivate ourselves to take advantage of living in India, on the Sunday before school started, we sat down and made a list of our top 10 travel goals for the year.  Some are local and easy, some are loftier.  So, here they are.

1.  Visit the Seven Tombs -- Hyderabad -- DONE!  See THIS post.
2.  Go the Hyderabad Zoo -- Hyderabad
3.  Have "high-tea" at Falaknuma Palace -- Hyderabad 
4.  Tour Ramoji Film City -- Hyderabad  -- Tickets in hand for Sept 14th.  Can't wait to see the movie magic!
5.   Find the Paigah Tombs -- Hyderabad  (Our driver, Mustafa, has never been, so it will be an adventure for all of us.)
6.  Visit Warangal -- day trip
7.  See the Taj Mahal -- We're going over the Christmas Holiday!
8.  Take the train to Hampi -- New Year's?
9.  Explore the Ajanta & Ellora Caves --
10.  Take the kids to 2 new countries -- We have a trip to Sri Lanka booked for October and are trying to decide where else to go.  We have a really cool map where you can scratch off a country once you've visited it.  Our kids can't wait to scratch off new places.
 
So, here's my question for all of you.  If you could go anywhere, where would it be? 

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Fighting Third World Customer Service for a First World Internet Connection

Monday, July 29: Arrival in Hyderabad.  One last stay in the old Aparna apartment with an internet connection to announce our safe arrival and catch up on emails/facebook.

Tuesday: Move to Indu Fortune Fields villa.  No internet connection.

Wednesday: Visit Indu office for list of approved vendors.  Called provided Airtel number about five times.  No English. 

No internet connection.

Thursday: Mustafa (our driver) tries the number and finds out that the other end was as confused as me: wrong number.  Mustafa tracks down the right number and we schedule Airtel to arrive later in the day.

Airtel arrives at villa.  They demand multiple pieces of paperwork and try to run off with Nadia's passport.  They ask for a six month deposit and leave to process paperwork.  They return and say no deposit necessary and explain that the team will come tomorrow to instal the connection.

Still no internet connection

Friday: Airtel calls to tell us they can't send the installation team until we have paid our six month deposit.  "Fine, we'll pay a six month service deposit."  They promise to come to the villa and collect in one hour.

One hour later....nobody there.

I call to ask where they are: "we are waiting for you to confirm that you will pay the deposit."  I tell them that Nadia is leaving the villa and they need to come to school for the deposit.  I text directions and wait.  I wait some more and then get a phone call for directions.  I give the phone to security who explains the directions and soon two men with no paperwork, receipt or any information show up for the deposit.  I remember "this is India" and I give them the money anyway.  They promise installation the next morning.

Still no internet. 

Saturday:
Nobody shows up in the morning.

I call the Airtel rep again and he says they are coming.  An hour later the Airtel rep shows up, in person, to tell us the installation team is coming.  He realizes I'm an American and decides I'm a perfect target for his new venture: QNET.
"What's QNET?"
"You work for me and have people work for you and we make lots of money"
"Okay, but what service or product do we provide?"
"It's a business."
"Yes, but what does it sell?"
"I'm at the top but you can get others to work for you and make lets of money."
"I understand that part, but what does QNET sell?"
"Uh, you should look at the website."
"I don't have internet!"
"That's okay, I promise you the installation team will come this afternoon."

Feigning interest as an effort to keep him engaged in his effort to get my internet, I tell him I'll look it up later (they sell a number of products including the "Amezuca Chi Pendant" that protect ones organs from elecrosmog while also supplying endless energy). 

We waited all day and the installation team finally showed up.  After a nearly two-hour installation process (it was dark when they left) we finally had internet and a landline phone, which we didn't want.  They called someone on the phone to tell me my number, explain my plan, and ask me to confirm.  That person then passes me to somebody else who repeats the same information and asks me to confirm.  They than pass me to a third person who confirms that the first two had been kind in their confirmation of my information.  "Yes, very kind."

Internet!

7 days of blissful internet joy:  Netflix, Facebook, Minecraft, AppleTV, MLSlive, etc...

Saturday, August 10: An email warns that we have used 80% of our allotted MB for the month.  Really? I asked multiple people about our usage and the plan they offered.  They all said we would be fine.

I then purchase additional "smartbytes" online to maintain our speed.

Friday, August 16: Another email: "You have already consumed 100% of your built in limit..."

Meanwhile, we start getting the calls and texts to let us know that we have also reached our credit limit on the account.  So, I look up the account and we owe over 9,000 rupees!

Saturday: More account credit warnings.  I call the rep and ask why our six-month deposit is not showing up on our account.  He must be wearing his Amezuca Chi Pendant because I'm not happy, at all, and he is pretty chill about the whole thing.  He replies by text: "Sure i will get ths chkd n wil get back to you on this" 

I explain, via text, that as far as I can tell he sent two friends on a motorcycle to steal over 7,000 rupees and that I'll be reporting such to the Indu management and Airtel. 

Sunday: No internet

Monday: After a few calls and texts: "It will taje some time sir."

Internet returns in the evening.  No change in my billing.

Thursday:  Text: "Good morning sir. Payment of Rs. 7555 has been updated in ur account now."

So that's where we stand.  Internet as back and everyone is happy but I suspect my adventures will continue. 

Qutb Shahi Tombs -- aka WE'RE BACK!

We've been back in India for a few weeks; moving in to our new house, battling the local internet company, and getting ready for a new school year.

This morning however, we put all the boring stuff aside, piled into our (new!) car, and took a trip over to the Qutb Shahi Tombs.  They are also referred to as the Seven Tombs, because of the seven main tombs.  (Some of favorites ended up being the "lesser" tombs.) 

It was a beautiful, sunny day -- something that has been in short supply during the last few months of monsoon season.

The first of the tombs was built by Sultan Quli Qutub Shah, who is generally considered the "father" of Hyderabad, and is responsible for the building of Golconda Fort. 

We broke down and hired a guide, who was a very enthusiastic photographer.

After we ditched the guide, we enjoyed a lovely stroll around the beautiful gardens, explored dark corners and basked in the sunshine.

It felt great to take a few hours to enjoy and appreciate this amazing place we get to call home.

(Oh, and of course, we had to take the obligatory cannon photo.)