Episode 374 : Hyderabad blues
For once, Hyderabad did not suck.
Even though I had included Hyderabad in my grand plan of touring Orissa, and was keen to see Golkonda again, I was always unsure how it would go considering my previous two experiences there.
How did I not go postal after enduring a day of driving in that city! In Bangalore, one has to switch off the engine and wait for the lights to change from red, to green, to red, and back to green before you move a few feet forward.
In Hyderabad, one has to constantly look with an enhanced peripheral vision that will make sure the person behind you overtakes you safely from the left as you grapple with a slow-moving car on the right, while avoiding two motorcycles that cut in between without any indication that they want to stop in front of you!
'Life is much better here', a friend said while recounting his experience of moving out of Bangalore. 'The traffic was getting to me, and a 3 hour drive each day was hellish. It came to a point where I was desperate to just get out of there'. It was sad to hear that from a native Bangalorean, but how more patient can one be?
'But driving here is scary', he admitted. 'Everyone is out to prove he is an alpha male; it is a wonder they don't end up driving into each other.'
I couldn't help but recall the cars that were rear-ended on Hyderabad's outer ring road where speeds of 120kmph is the norm.
'Look Ed, the speed limit is 120. Not even the 100 that we saw on the highway', Anna exclaimed. I sniggered: I was crossing 140 at that moment. Driving on the highway to Hyderabad, and on its outer ring road is infinitely times more fun than driving in the city.
Meanwhile Anna is enamoured of a city she last visited around two decades ago, and by the idea of having 'authentic Andhra meals' on a regular basis. She feels we could think of moving to Hyderabad- because the North and the North-East is a day closer from there.
However, when I look back at those two years in the mid 80s, and the experiences so far, I wonder if it is good idea. Back in December 2005, I swore I would move to any city other than Bangalore because the traffic of Brigade Road on December 31st put me off, but I found myself moving 4 months later.
I echoed the sentiment in December 2016. Who knows what will happen in 2017.
Even though I had included Hyderabad in my grand plan of touring Orissa, and was keen to see Golkonda again, I was always unsure how it would go considering my previous two experiences there.
How did I not go postal after enduring a day of driving in that city! In Bangalore, one has to switch off the engine and wait for the lights to change from red, to green, to red, and back to green before you move a few feet forward.
In Hyderabad, one has to constantly look with an enhanced peripheral vision that will make sure the person behind you overtakes you safely from the left as you grapple with a slow-moving car on the right, while avoiding two motorcycles that cut in between without any indication that they want to stop in front of you!
'Life is much better here', a friend said while recounting his experience of moving out of Bangalore. 'The traffic was getting to me, and a 3 hour drive each day was hellish. It came to a point where I was desperate to just get out of there'. It was sad to hear that from a native Bangalorean, but how more patient can one be?
'But driving here is scary', he admitted. 'Everyone is out to prove he is an alpha male; it is a wonder they don't end up driving into each other.'
I couldn't help but recall the cars that were rear-ended on Hyderabad's outer ring road where speeds of 120kmph is the norm.
'Look Ed, the speed limit is 120. Not even the 100 that we saw on the highway', Anna exclaimed. I sniggered: I was crossing 140 at that moment. Driving on the highway to Hyderabad, and on its outer ring road is infinitely times more fun than driving in the city.
Meanwhile Anna is enamoured of a city she last visited around two decades ago, and by the idea of having 'authentic Andhra meals' on a regular basis. She feels we could think of moving to Hyderabad- because the North and the North-East is a day closer from there.
However, when I look back at those two years in the mid 80s, and the experiences so far, I wonder if it is good idea. Back in December 2005, I swore I would move to any city other than Bangalore because the traffic of Brigade Road on December 31st put me off, but I found myself moving 4 months later.
I echoed the sentiment in December 2016. Who knows what will happen in 2017.
Aired at 1/14/2017 02:54:00 am
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