hyderabad as a whole

as a whole, my first trip to india was a very tiring and educational one. 

it was tiring for the fact that the program was packed back to back and we had to squeeze so many things into the short 3 days there. it didn't help that the weather was hot and that my mind was also so pre-occupied with my work. it didn't help that i had a chaperon who was too overzealous and wanted us to experience all things indian. on one hand, i appreciated his intentions, on the other hand, i really wished he would give us more leeway to shape the plans. then again, i think it could also be in part due to the cultural difference between india and singapore. for all i know, he could be thinking we were too courteous when we rejected his arrangements and pushed it further. whatever...

i also found the trip a hugely educational one. i had studied the history of india and i had read quite a bit about indian culture. and it was altogether another thing to be able to be there physically to see how the indians organise and live their lives according to their indian philosophies, their religions, their history, i was awe-struck by the whole experience.  so, will i go back to india again, i would say yes, but i will also want to qualify that i will do so provided i have guides or if i were to travel in groups. it is after all still a country that i am not too familiar with.

:-)