Hyderabad Yet Again

Isn't it funny that my last travel post was also about Hyderabad? Somewhat like 3 years ago. So now, here once again I'm wiriting about it but this time it's going to be short.

It was an overnight layover. The total excitement was there because I haven't been to India for about a year. My last India flight was Cochin and like in any other destination I still managed to enjoy. 

Now on to Hyderabad, my excitement turned out to be as short as my stay. I was in high hopes I could tour around, see new sights, and whatnots but nope I ended up with mall arrest instead.

😟

The country is facing a monetary crisis right now. Cash is hard to possess and even banks are running short of it. ATM's are placarded with "No Money" (?!) so as the money changers in the airport. Even the hotel itself ran out of cash! Sounds crazy I know. This has been going on for several months now and I was expecting that upon my arrival in Hyderabad things will already be fine, but n-o-p-e.

However instead of wallowing deeper with my dismay, I just decided to hit the malls. Here are a few photos, for more photos of the hotel and such, please refer to my previous entry.

Here's le moi. 3 kg down, a few more to go 😊

Here's my room. Looks good, cozy, and comfy but it needs a facelift 

My makeup haul!!! Yeay! Been itching for so long to do some makeup shopping in Hyderabad, and viola! Accomplished! The Garnier Bb cream tubes are for my sissy and bro, the Garnier men line are for him, too. Mom got those Maybelline kajal eyeliner and 2 tubes of lipsticks, 1 red and 1 brick red both from Colorbar. While the rest are mine!!! Yeah!!! 😋😋😋 Hoping on my next blog entry I could post a review on these. I bought 3 tubes of Loreal liquid eyeliner because my previous two 

got lost and got dried after losing the cover. I was in the middle of series of flights when the last one happened. With. No. Spare. In. Hand. How awful! From then on I learned to always carry extra eyeliner and browliner as well.

Lastly here's my look before heading back to Jeddah. I know I need more practice. But I'm realy exerting effort to get it better each time, especially my eyebrows. Anyhoo, I used the new metallic Colorbar lipstick which I bought here. It's a shimmery brown, similar to that of Nyx. I so love it! It doesn't fade off easily and I got compliments with it. Yeay! I used Victoria's Secret for my eyes. Too bad I didn't have my highlighter with me.

Here's a funny thought. Whilst lying in my bed, I couldn't help but think how things twisted this time. From operating Embraer for four years now it's Airbus 330 - flying to 8 Indian destinations. That said, expect me to be in India monthly! I used to collect coats, jackets, hoodies, blazers, and cardigans of all colors. Name it, I have it. I fly to the US and Europe monthly, with long Toronto, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Johannesburg layovers every so often. Now... I need to collect long sleeves!!! The least thing I want to wear! 

😂😭😂😭😂😭😎😎😎

Beating the Red Lights in Hyderabad, India

This is my third time in one of the progressive cities in India. I love it here especially the hotel - Taj Krishna Hotel - as it's near to two high-end, modern malls with all the brands I love: Mango, Levi's, Benetton, etc. As for the hotel  itself, it looks so elegant, more of a palace, as one Malaysian crew said. 

We arrived around 9 in the morning which gave me ample time to take a breakfast, have a good rest, and get ready for another fun-filled day. OR so I thought. What I expected turned out to be a disappointment. I ended up paying a lot to the tuktuk driver for nothing. We just went round and round but he couldn't get me to places I want to see, or at least to any architectural places. He speaks a little English and obviously is not good at handling tourists. Boo-hoo. Here's a round up of how my day had been:

Selfie at the tuktuk :P #camwhore

I wore a Kurta. :D A traditional Indian blouse. My last Hyderabad mall experience gave me goosebumps. I was wearing "normal" clothes then several men started chasing after me at mall. Call it flattering, but it's not! I'm not saying that I'm sooo beautiful that men lurk after me, I just look different, exotic actually. Lol.

Alright so while doing some shopping, one DOM approached me and said, "Are you a Filipina?" Obviously he's trying to "buy" me. Another group (!!!) of black men sent feelers. Then the scariest of them all, an Indian man probably in his 30's started chasing me at all sections of the mall! He was where I was no matter which floor and it started to terrify me. I couldn't concentrate on shopping then all of a sudden he went across my way and whispered something to my ear. I got so scaaared! It's his country, if I'm going to scream he can tell all lies at their own language. The safest thing I did was to stand beside a mall guard, and off he left. Good riddance! So from then on, I decided that each time I go malling in Hyderabad, or in any Indian destination for that matter, I definitely have to wear their traditional clothes for safety reasons. Surprisingly it worked. 

  

Hotel lobby

Lobby

Hallway

the bar

Another part of the lobby

It's a nice park but you need to remove your shoes to step inside. So i ditched it on my list.

Here's how crazy it was on their road!

1st - 5 people on a motorcycle! I was not able to capture the total headcount but there were really 5ive of them!

2nd - it's like a sea of motorists

3rd - see how close we are to each to other!? My goodness. 

The last point of my so-called tour: The Charminar - built in 1591, a monument and a mosque. All I thought it's really a majestic place since it's the main tourist attraction here.  

But the crowd is just shocking! There were vendors of all sorts and the people were so close with the vehicles, so crazily close! I did not even dare to step down the tuktuk I was riding at. OMG. I can't believe my sissy dared to step here, even thrice! OMGEEEE!!!

Sarees of all colors. Seeing all these now made me realize that I should have bought one, too. 

So since I'm running out of options of tourist places I should go, I just decided to hit the malls, those I mentioned near the hotel. 

Everything's on sale!!! Yeay!!! :D  

McDo for snacks - haven't eaten since I boarded the aircraft till I finished my tour!

After several rounds of shopping, I bumped accidentally with my Malaysian co-worker. She was also looking for me so we decided to have some dinner together. We opted for Chinese cuisine. Yummm!

The Aroma of China - they have a very cozy and awesome ambiance.

And I need to commend their delicious selection of dishes. :)

Plus my loot of course! A Puma bag, two dresses for me and sissy, a blouse for madear, some scarves, socks, cosmetics, and lots of BB cream (sorry forgot to include in the pic). I got them all at a bargain!!! :D

Thanks for the crazy but fun experience, Hyderabad. Till next time. :)