Day 2 - Hyderabad - Holi Ki Jhappi

There is so much I want to write, so many details that I do not have time to put down into this blog.  I will go back each time I sign in to add little bits and pieces to previous entries so please scan back every once in a while as I will add  photos and additional information.

Before I go on to write about day two, I must note that Amy and Sean are THE ABSOLUTELY BESTEST HOSTESS AND HOST EVER.  We've been having meals at their house made by Amy and her housekeeper Shoba (am I spelling her name right Amy?).  Oh...and we've had Sean's special sauces too!  The  food has been delish!!  Thank you for making our stay in Hyderabad such a great experience.

The photo above is a typical street highway scene in India.  Also a regular sight are 5 people (3 kids and 2 adults) squeezed onto a motorbike and only one has a helmet on....the driver.

Day two started out with a trip to a special temple.  It's the temple that Sean describes as the visa temple  and what Amy refers to as the "big" temple, where people go to pray for "big" important things.  At the temple, one cannot wear their shoes.  We found out that you also can't carry them into the temple.  You must leave them outside in the piles and piles of slippers and sandals outside the temple gates - next to the fast talking coconut seller and the beggars.  Amy was adamant that we do not leave our shoes out there.  She said they will not be there when we come back out.  I believe her.  We had Sean go back to the car and put our shoes there.  :)

The temple was a little chaotic.  The ground was rocky and filled with pebbles and bits of coconut shells.  It was also VERY HOT from the sun.  We didn't stay too long in the temple as it was crowded and people were doing their 100 laps around the temple while chanting and it was crowded and people were pushing past you.  We went out the back way to the little stalls (which were a bit claustrophobic also and was somewhat known for a bit of pick pocketing) which sold beads and prayer necklaces and such.

There was quite a bit of a walk to go back around to the front of the temple to their car afterwards and we were still barefoot.  Gee...I was ready to offer $5 to the beggar lady on the street for her slippers...my virgin feet were unused to walking uncovered down an unpaved street.  :)  I'm so spoiled.

We did a lot today.  March 1st was also Holi, the Festival of Colors.  We visited with Shoba's family and they were so nice and welcoming.  We went with the intent to photograph locals and I wanted to do a portrait series.  Shoba's extended family and her neighbors were my willing models.  Thank you for being so patient with us and allowing us a peek into your home and your lives.  Here are some of the results of our visit and of Holi: