Old City Weekend

I spent the morning at the gym. My first 6 mile effort! After a full week of regular work outs, I've attracted the attention of the personal trainer stationed here daily. Because he was unaware that I am actually following a training schedule for a Disney half-marathon, he concluded that I was "running too much." (So cute.) Even so, he has recommended that I add weight training to my treadmill / elliptical rotation. Not only is variety the spice of life, but my uncle - himself a veteran of several halves - had also advised the same. OK, I'm game. More later.

On Saturday, just before lunch time, Om, Danny, Katie and I left for Old City. (Deloitte provides us with a driver and our own SUV for the weekends SWEET!) Though just a short distance, Old City is a "world away" from the skyscraper environment of HitTec City. There are so many more people and very clear evidence of the Muslim influence in the area.

Charminar was the object of our quest this afternoon. Built in 1591 CE,(Common or Christian Era) Charminar is a monument and mosque which has become a global icon in Hyderabad, listed among the most recognized structures of India. The English name is a transliteration and combination of the Urdu words Chār and Minar, translating to "Four Towers." The towers are minarets (tall spires with an onion-shaped or conical crowns) attached and supported by four grand arches.

We climbed the Charminar and then spent some time walking around the market.

Both locals and tourist populate the area and walking the streets here is certainly an adventure. Selling at the market stalls is much more aggressive. We poked our heads in a pearl shop and Katie made some purchases. I'm still waiting until I see more before I decide to buy. Om will be a great help to us, as he speaks the language. It may just be my imagination, but he seems to have a calming affect on merchants!

 

 

 

 

Afterward, we went back to In-Orbit Mall for lunch and I had my first international Pizza Hut experience. The menu was much more elaborate and varied significantly from the US, but it was still a welcome taste of home.

In case you haven't noticed, Om is the official photographer for the group.

We went to a Hypercity, while in the mall. It's pretty much the Indian version of Walmart. We stocked up on essentials - mostly snacks! Notice that check out is VERY familiar. Do you have a Rewards Card? Tempting, but I think not.

On returning to the hotel, we had an hour or so before dinner. Our new friend from work, Suchi, took us to one of her favorite places, 10 Downing Street. They claim to be the "oldest and most iconic chain" of British pubs in India. It includes a restaurant, bar and night club. Brands at the bar are extensive and familiar to any American. There's even a doorman. Unfortunately, his uniform does not include the British bearskin cap! The food and drink were great. We all had a nice time getting to know each other before the club music started pumping and we hit the dance floor. Fortunately for me, places here don't stay open as late as in the States, so we were home by 11:30pm!

On Sunday, I'm pretty sure that we all enjoyed sleeping in before joining up at noon in the lobby. Another new coworker, friend, Ankita, came to meet us and be our guide to Golconda Fort.

Golkonda, also known as Golconda or Golla konda (meaning Shepherd's Hill), a ruined city of Southern India, was once capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda (1518–1687). It's about 10 miles west of Hyderabad. The region is universally famous for mines that have produced the world's most famous and coveted gems, including The Hope Diamond.

The fortress of Golkonda, was originally built for defense from invading Mughals from the north. A unique feature of the fort is its perfect acoustical system, which allows a single hand clap sounded at the fort's main gates to be heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a 300-foot granite hill. Take that Mr. Bose!

It was an impressive structure and we had to climb LOTS of steps in the heat and sun, but it was worth it for the excellent view of the city at the top!

Afterward, we drove back towards the Hussain Sagar Lake and ate lunch right near the water. The breeze made for a lovely afternoon, and we even indulged in some of the unique ice cream flavors that can be found here. For the record, honey-fig ice cream is AMAZING!

When we dropped Ankita off after lunch, she invited us up to see her flat. We were excited that already in our second weekend here, we're getting to see what life is really like for our USI Deloitte counterparts! Her flat was very spacious AND she promised to have us over for dinner soon.

Back at the hotel, I took some time to relax with a book by the pool. (NO, that is not me in the pool!)

The guys and I finished up with movie time and local delivery for dinner in my room. What a great second weekend!

Lights, Camera, Action?

I suppose now is as good a time as any to bring this up .... Remember that 700 page guide we received before departing? There was a section just for women, which included good advice on staying safe and well while in India. It suggested that we should be prepared for stares and perhaps a few "colorful" comments. Well, there have been stares, not only for us women, but for Danny as well! It turns out that "white" Americans are very much a novelty in this part of India.

It doesn't take Sherlock Homes to figure out that people are taking pictures of us. Some are a little more obvious, outgoing and friendlier than others. Those are the ones that actually want to have their pictures taken WITH US! We feel like movie stars - almost. Just between you and me, I use my sunglasses to watch them watch me, without letting them know that I am watching them watch me. Follow?

It takes a little getting used to, but so far it seems to be working to our advantage. One morning while walking to work, a motorist actually stopped and waived us across the road. Om almost fell over. To his knowledge, such a thing has NEVER happened in India. Here, motorist have the right of way all the time!

 

One of about a dozen "by request" so far.

 

Devil in the Details

About those VISAS that I wrote about earlier, .... two items of note:

ONE - Jon and Kalie, who were scheduled to join us, have yet to be cleared for work VISAS. They are still "on the beach" as we say, in the United States.

TWO - This year's Immersion Program was intended to be based in Bangalore, but when logistics became muddled it was moved back to Hyderabad. Our VISA applications were approved for Bangalore. We've discovered that foreign workers in India must register for work (usually within 14 days of arrival) in the city where authorized. So now, our VISAS must be amended. Fortunately, folks here at Deloitte USI are arranging appointments for us at the local Consultant and the 14 day window has been extended.

Stephanie is missing in action from our "fivesome" this weekend, because she is going to Bangalore. A friend of hers, working in Bangalore, has an expired VISA, and now cannot get clearance to leave the country - a delay that works to her advantage - at least.

LESSONS?

ONE - Get your paperwork done early AND correctly. TWO - Triple check it with anyone even remotely involved. THREE - Always pay attention to times, dates and stamps that appear on your VISA!

Heed Well This Warning!

As it turns out, drinking water is THE major daily health concern while in India.

Top flight hotels do a good job of providing safe, bottled water and many triple filter water as it comes into the facility.

Two moments easily overlooked take place during ones daily morning routine. Do. not swallow water while showering. Use bottled water for tooth brushing. THESE ARE CRITICAL HABITS TO DEVELOP.

Always check the seal on "bottled" water you buy on the streets. Some vendors refill bottles with tap or well water to pass off as safe, filtered water. Avoid eating raw foods in India, especially vegetables, since they have probably been cleaned with unfiltered water or have absorbed contaminated water in the fields.

UPDATE:

At first, most of us were extra careful. We did eventually drink water poured from pitchers at our Lemon Tree Hotel without consequences. But some in our group didn't follow these safeguards while on weekend excursions. Let's just say consequences were suffered and leave it at that.

Also, on our Goa Trek, we simply could not carry all the water we needed to stay hydrated. We employed my water purification tablets with good but starling success. The first of the two tablets turned the water a murky brown color. The second turned it clear. Ever dependable Danny volunteered to drink the first sip. No iodine taste. No upset. Be sure to take some water purification tablets with you AND use them if necessary.

Be vigilant! The natives build up anti-bodies to the bacteria and other germs carried in the water. Though not intending any harm, sometimes they can forget that Americans have no such immunity. Be careful not to follow their leads when it comes to food and drink. Always go for COOKED and FILTERED.  

Cash or Credit?

Be advised that in India, cash is preferred and definitely required by most merchants and restaurants, unless you are in a hotel or shopping mall. The ATM, seemingly in every nook and cranny, on every street corner in the US, is much less a fixture of life in Hyderabad. Here, the machines are most always found attached to their sponsoring banks.

A pair of machines are located in our Deloitte complex in HiTec City. They are right near the cafeteria, so convenient cash is always within reach.

The long and the short of it is that you have to that you must be a little more attentive to money management. Frequently, you'll not be able to use a credit card. Small merchants may not have quick change for big bills, so keeping small denominations on hand at all times is the rule for spontaneous purchases.

And Just How Do We Handle Laundry?

The sink and /or bucket are your best buddies here. It's certainly the least expensive option for delicate and unmentionable things - as long as you stay on top of it, and don't plan on doing a "week's load" in a single night.

Buy detergent and bucket at the local "Wal-Mart" here, called "HyperCity." Familiar brands are available. Use detergent sparingly and leave plenty of time for drying!

Danny found a Laundromat about twenty minutes drive from the hotel and had good success there. Our driver "has a friend" who does washing. A couple of our group are "giving him the business." See what I did there? The rates seem very reasonable, especially given the convenience.

Our hotel has daily pick up and delivery for dry cleaning and a laundry service. It's on the expensive side, as things go in India. Regarding dry cleaning, we did notice several web site reviews that reported occasional dissatisfaction with treatment of delicate items. So far, though, none of us have experienced any problems.

First Day!!!!!

I CANNOT believe I might just become a morning person! Perhaps it was just anticipation ... Even so, I was up early this morning. I hit a treadmill in our exercise room, grabbed a great breakfast and read in the lobby until the rest of our "fearless fivesome" arrived. We decided to retrace the walk to work that we had taken on Sunday. Two things: A computer tote gets heavier the longer you tote it, but after all I did get to park right next to the building in Hanover. More importantly, there are no leash laws in India. Stray dogs populate the streets here. Not a fan.

We got a quick tour of the building and met with the leadership team. In addition to getting staffed with a US corporate client and teaming with our counterparts here in India, a MAJOR focus of the program is SAP training. YES!

Our regular work day will run from 11am-8pm here in India, giving us a "live time" window with our US clients from about 8-10:30am EST. To accommodate SAP training we'll have a classroom experience several times a week, from 9-11am, our time. I'm not going to let a little thing like an "evaluation" on Friday, "just to see where the group is" scare me - that wouldn't be fearless.

After work we had dinner at the hotel, followed by a little "professional development" in the lounge. From left to right, it's Om, Emily, Stephanie, Danny and Katie.

From the upper left and moving clockwise: Danny, Emily, Om (The Hustler) and Katie.

First Weekend

Our hotel home is fabulous. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Our rooms are large and simply furnished. The shower is the best part!

There are several attractive of food and drink options in the building. We tried the Indian buffet restaurant first. The curried rice is very SPICY. I'll have to work my way up to having it as a main dish. The Japanese Noodle bar is fantastic and I am sure that our Deloitte gang will be spending lots of time in both the Cafe and Lounge. To compensate for all of this, the modest gym has everything I need. While I haven't made it to the roof top pool yet, maybe I'll be inspired enough to make a late night dip part of a semi-regular routine.

On Sunday, we had a preliminary meeting with our Deloitte hosts. We walked from the hotel to check out our future office location. I had heard a rumor that the Lemon Tree was within walking distance to our work site, but sidewalks are in short supply here and apparently so are driving rules. Luckily, transportation will be provided by Deloitte for daily pick up and return.

In the afternoon, Katie, Danny - who had arrived from Philadelphia - and I took a taxi tour of Hyderabad and did some shopping at the nearby mall. There are plenty of American brands available, even some that made me homesick for my team in Hanover! Contrary to what I had read, the weekend crowd was pretty much like a busy weekend in the States.

The most impressive part of the tour was Lumbini Park and Hussain Sagar Lake. The 58 foot tall statue of Gautama Buddah was commissioned by N. T. Rama Rao, who served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in the 198os. Apparently, he was inspired by the the Statue of Liberty on a visit to New York. (I see what he did there.)

Second Leg to Hyderabad

After a restless night for me, Katie, Stephanie and I made our way back to Heathrow without difficulty. We were in time for a lunch stop at another favorite place of mine - Wagamama, a British chain of high quality, fast food, Japanese restaurants. Our meal was a feast for both eye and palate! If you are lucky enough to live in Boston, check them out!

The weather was good, but the flight was delayed about an hour. It's still about 10 hours plus to Hyderabad from here, so we hoped to "touch down" around 6 AM local time. The sun was just coming up. Light rain was forecast but none were in sight.

Heathrow is the world's busiest international airport - 65 million passengers in 2011. Rajiv Gandhi International handles just under 9 million, so it's a little smaller than Reagan in DC or Midway in Chicago and a little more than 20 miles from our hotel.

Our hosts at Deloitte had arranged for a car to meet us upon arrival to take us to our new "home away from home," the Lemon Tree Hotel in HiTec City. Upon arrival, security is simultaneously ominous and reassuring. An auto trunk check, luggage scanners and metal detectors are part of the routine, all before you reach a magnificent lobby.

And just so you know, HiTec City actually stands for Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City. There will be a quiz in December.

Philly to London

The first leg on British Airways was on time and mostly uneventful. Since I'll only be here overnight, I decided to rent a locker at Heathrow for my checked bag, so that I can avoid lugging it onto the train, into the hotel and back again.

One of the things I like best about London is the great public transit system. Even the topographically challenged can find their way to London without difficulty using the train and the tube. It's also a great way to stay out of the rain! (I take the Underground Piccadilly Line rather than the Express. It's cheaper and the ride isn't much longer.)

My lovely hotel was just a short walk from Gloucester Road Tube Station, which made getting from the airport quick and easy, without need of intermediate ground transportation. The room was a little more expensive than I planned. You absolutely MUST book rooms in London as soon as possible. Prices double, even triple the closer you get to your arrival date. To avoid big charges for cancellation or change of plans, CHOOSE ONLY hotels that have no such penalties.

South Kensington was my home for my study abroad semester, so recalling the lay of the land and finding my way to a few of my favorite spots was a snap. Pret A Manger is always closed on weekends in New York and there are none in Philly. I have to come to London for my favorite sandwich shop! What's up with that?

Although we had hoped for a "meeting of the whole" and more time together in London, Katie from Cleveland and Stephanie from Houston arrived on Tuesday. They were already soaking in the local culture and had taken in the aforementioned Chelsea match! We met up for dinner at All One Bar. Katie had arranged for the two of us to see The Mousetrap in the West End, while Stephaine took in the musuems and did a little shopping. Did I mention that theater is one of my favorite things? I've seen thirteen productions in London. FYI - you haven't seen Les Mis, until you've seen it here!

And I'm Off

Saying good-bye at the curb of any airport terminal is difficult. This episode was a little more so. Twelve weeks is a really long time and India will certainly be a little more daunting than any previous destination.

I gave myself two hours lead time, but evening check-in was a breeze. I was well prepared with a book (Yes, a real paper book!) and all of the now customary electronic devices to help the wait go quickly. So ... I'm off and can't wait to join Katie and Stephanie, who are already in London.

Good News - Bad News

The good news is that my VISA is in the mail. The bad news is that even though they plan "overnight" delivery, we can't be certain that I'll have it on Monday - my previously planned departure date.

We're rebooking my flight for Wednesday.

Others in the group are still waiting for word about their own paperwork. Looks like it will be every man and women for himself/herself. Turns out that this is our first lesson in managing an international project! Juggling communication with the Philadelphia coordinator, the Deloitte Travel Center and Deloitte USI is no easy trick. Respond quickly. Be persistent. Don't forget time zone differences. Check and double check details.

I'll be able to keep an overnight in London and meet up with a couple of India-bound BTAs, before flying together into Hyderabad. Hope everyone else will manage well. See you there!

Best Laid Plans?

As of this morning, only one of seven in our team has received passport and VISA documentation.

Most of us are developing a plan B for travel, which may well require scrapping our plans for a group stop over in London. Well, there's always return travel in December.

The name of the game in consulting is definitely FLEXIBILITY, and the Brits really do say it best!

A Little Light Reading?

In today's mail I received not my passport and VISA yet, but 700 pages of reading material from Deloitte. No pocket guide, Fodor's is a veritable encyclopedia - soup to nuts - on everything India.

Nightly dinners scheduled with friends and family all week. Final shopping list almost complete. Suitcase open, but not quite packed.

Yes, this IS really happening! I can hardly wait.

Two by Two + One

Seven BTAs have signed on for the upcoming immersion program, slated to begin work in India on September 23rd. There's a pair from Philadelphia, a pair from Atlanta, another pair from the Houston office and a single brave soul from Cleveland. Three of us are beginning our second year with Deloitte. Four are "first years." Even in such a large corporation, it really can be a small world after all. Everyone knows at least one or two team members. Our paths have crossed during training in Dallas or Minneapolis. And one very valuable member is originally from India. What luck!!!

Direct travel to Hyderabad from the east coast takes at least 22 hours. (Guess who won't be coming home for the weekend? Sorry, Mom.) We've been encouraged to leave early and plan a short stop on the way over. After a little on-line collaboration, it looks like most roads will lead to LONDON first - maybe my absolute favorite city in the whole world. Champions League fixture Chelsea v. Basel is on the agenda for Wednesday. There's the London Eye and the Crown Jewels, Waterstone's and Harrods. West End for the theatre anyone?