Hyderabad

From Kolkata we flew south to Hyderadad. We arrived at a beautiful modern airport that has only been opened for two months. The climate is very tropical, but dry. Hyderadad is a growing city that is nicknamed “cyberabad” as many I.T. companies have made their home bases here. Sitting next to us in a restaurant one night were a group of about ten young American men in their early twenties. They were living here for one year to teach Indians proper pronunciation of the English language. This is a necessary skill if you want to complete in a global market. Our hotel is posh and businessmen from all over the world meet to discuss their trades. This city is much cleaner and is less congested than Delhi or Kolkata.

We visited a city market where women in bursas shopped for trinkets, shoes and small household goods. In the back alleyways shop owners sewed sparkles on fabric and embroidered cloth with treadle sewing machines. The mosque is the center of the market and calls many to prayer throughout the day. There is much more of a Muslim influence here and it is startling to see so many women dressed from head to toe in black. I want so badly to ask them if they are happy with this life or if they long to be free from the traditions and laws that force them to hide behind a veil.