Red flowers in the sun

We arrive in Vijayawada for the last days of Dussehra, the city is full of pilgrims dressed in red. We find a friendly group of men, ready to throw light at the puzzling sights around us. They say that the pilgrims have kept a diksha for 40 days (as per the explanation we receive, eating only vegetables, sleeping on the floor, telling the truth and not committing sins).

Once the diksha is over, the pilgrims get into the Krishna river, discharge the red clothes and their hair, emerging pure and empowered.

It seems that some people are gathering the discharged clothes, dry them in the sun, and what happens after I have no idea…

 

 

Dancing with the wind

The bus from Vijayawada to Amaravathi stops numerous times at small villages, one of those stops delights me with the view of washed colourful clothes dancing with the wind.

 

I am Indian!

I am waiting in the morning at the bus stop, a bit later than usually, the traffic is already very crazy, and people run enthusiastically back and forth, trying to escape vehicles or to jump in a bus.

A man in white comes to me and starts to speak (as far as I can say, in fluent Telugu). I understand nothing, look blank at him, then look back at the traffic. He is persistent though. This time I catch ….. “Secunderabad”…..

I am so shocked I cannot react – obviously he is asking me for directions, and wants to reach Secunderabad.

Imagine, he is asking me, the only foreigner in kilometers around, for directions! I must have become an Indian!

 

A building dressed up

This is the first thing I see when we get off the bus from Vijayawada to Amaravathi – a building dressed up, for the last day of Dussehra, most probably. Charming!

 

All is green

Once we are outside of the city, everything is green, just as I have always imagined paradise. I enjoy taking those photos from the bus window on our way from Vijayawada to Amaravathi.

We had to wait a bit in order to sit, but the waiting is rewarded with a window seat – and the opportunity to get fully absorbed in the view which has nothing to do with our everyday environment in the city.

 

Really refreshing – and healthy!

A fruit juice seller with a huge smile in Vijayawada – adds friendliness to the refreshing drinks we get from him.

 

Meeting with a map seller

In India it is more than usual to meet on the sidewalks of the streets and roads numerous people trying to sell you all imaginable and non-imaginable things. You learn quite fast to ignore them, as it is impossible to reject all individual offers and still reach your destination approximately on time. Not to mention that if you stop to reject the offer that is considered a sign of interest (even a glance in the direction of the seller is considered a sign of interest), and the seller gets immensely enthusiastic about closing the deal.

This morning on my way to the office I see a view which is not that usual for Hyderabad – on the sidewalk of Raj Bhavan Road is staying a guy selling maps – he is showing the passers-by a map of India and a map of the world. I do the usual – I ignore him. When I pass by him I hear the following:

- Madam, maps? No, thanks.

He had the two sides of the conversation by himself. Maybe I learned too fast and apply too often the art of ignoring, maybe… Anyway, at least it seems that in his head I was polite to him, I even thanked him…

 

A plain dosa

Time to refill the batteries at a stop on the way from Hyderabad to Vijayawada – a plain dosa with coconut chutney, yummy!

 

Sunset

At the barrage at Krishna river in Vijayawada.

 

Traffic police

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