Friday, January 23rd, Hyderabad

Days pass differently here in India, especially for one on vacation. The idle life's beckoning finger proves too powerful a force to resist in this place. One can be exhausted following a hearty breakfast even though nary a finger was lifted for meal preparation. Naps are frequent, although perhaps this is a consequence of the daily awakenings forced upon the average citizen by the beautiful, but extremely loud, singing at 0530 each morning by the local imam, calling his flock to prayer. Still, one feels compelled to resemble a human more than a moderately lethargic sloth as a matter of pride, prompting an excruciatingly wearisome journey to the local salon via hired driver. There, I handed over the princely sum of Rs. 450 (~$9) for a pedicure with foot massage which lasted the paltry period of just under one hour.

How I must now be despised.

Let me provide an emoticon to cushion the blow.

:-)

Following the above tediously draining affair, my mother-in-law and wife returned to collect me and we traveled to a construction site. We entered a beautiful "planned community," where many houses showed sign of recent renovation. The driver stopped in front of wonder-of-design in progress: my sister-in-law's recently-purchased home. The entrance lawn is being built with style in mind--a gracefully cut section in the ground for a meandering pond conjures future memories of further times of idle, tea-cup in hand. The total area of the house in perhaps 2,200 square feet, and includes several suites (not bedrooms), a large kitchen, and a tiny side-apartment for the servants' quarters. Many homes in India have at least a small section for servant's living areas, either attached to or within the house itself, or as separate entities on the grounds. There are several verandas, one off each suite, as well as roof access, which provides an excellent view of greater Hyderabad.

Later Friday evening, we all ventured to Hotel Kakatiya for dinner. We had some of the most excellent lamb I've ever tasted in one of the ground-floor restaurants, and the cooking staff treated us to some naan-making (a giant flatbread, some 20 inches in diameter) festivities via the see-through window into the kitchen.