The weekend of September 15, 2012 we tried another staycation at the ITC Hyderabad since the last one at the Westin didn't work out so well because Mikey was sick. This staycation was very nice and relaxing, but the ITC is an older hotel and it wasn't as nearly as nice as the Westin. I know, I am getting spoiled. Once night Steve joined us for dinner and the same night Manjusha's son Jai stayed with us at the hotel. Mikey loved it!!!!
One of the places we would eat regularly was Chili's at Inorbit Mall. Mikey and I would come into town often to meet Robert and Steve (you can see them in the picture in the background) for lunch. I tried to take the picture with the sign in Hindu in the background, guess I'm not a great photographer :)
The running joke at Chili's was that the entire time we were in Hyderabad, Chili's was out of chips for the salsa because apparently their shipment was stuck at customs in Mumbai..... for months!!! I hope when they showed up eventually that they were discarded. I cannot imagine customs at mumbai being very sanitary for food :)
On September 28, WaveCrest had their annual party at The Regenta Hotel. A new hotel where Steve had been staying for weeks. Since Robert had a free night at the hotel, we decided to stay overnight as well. I know, it seems that we stayed in more hotels than in our condo. We just love hotels :)
Since we stayed at the hotel, Mikey and I kind of crashed the party. Mikey hung out with Robert and Steve and I took pictures of the party. Mikey had the BEST time!!!
The common photo opp: Robert with Mikey on his shoulders :)
Naveen (who had stayed with us in the US in July) was having a great time
Even Robert joined in on the dancing :)
Steve had a great time too. Mikey wouldn't leave him alone!!! Mikey loved it when Steve would make him jump real high!!!
Steve jumped him up so much that Mikey was upside down!!!!! HE LOVED IT!!!!
It was a fun party and another fun staycation at The Regenta.
On September 29 we decided (like many other weekends) to take a little driving trip. Robert would drive and we would just end up where we end up. We saw some really interesting places by our little outings :)
During this outing we sprung upon a place called 'Songs of Earth'. It was very interesting. They had several different apartments and this apparently was a team building place. We got a tour and couldn't believe we found this in the middle of nowhere!!!!
I had to go to the bathroom for a minute and in the meantime Robert and Steve were 'playing' with my new camera :) This is what you get guys: I post the pics!!!! ha ha!!!!
Later that day we kept driving and all over town there were the celebrations of the Ganesha festival. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
The festival lasts for 10 days. On the 11th day (the day we took our driving trip) the clay statue is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing and fanfare to be immersed in a river or sea. Hindus worship idols, or statues, of their gods because it gives them a visible form to pray to. They also recognize that the universe is in a constant state of change. Form eventually gives away to formlessness. However, the energy still remains. The immersion of the Ganesha statue in a body of water, and subsequent destruction of them serves as a reminder of this belief.
Another fun day in Hyderabad!!!
The next day we drove back into town because one of the women on the Hyderabad mums page invited all Jewish families to come to her house to celebrate Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. We met Julie and her children and her mom who was visiting from the US (unfortunately her husband was out of town). And we met Laura and Phil and their 3 wonderful children. It was such a fun afternoon, we didn't want to go back to the hotel for the rest of our staycation.
One of the places we would eat regularly was Chili's at Inorbit Mall. Mikey and I would come into town often to meet Robert and Steve (you can see them in the picture in the background) for lunch. I tried to take the picture with the sign in Hindu in the background, guess I'm not a great photographer :)
The running joke at Chili's was that the entire time we were in Hyderabad, Chili's was out of chips for the salsa because apparently their shipment was stuck at customs in Mumbai..... for months!!! I hope when they showed up eventually that they were discarded. I cannot imagine customs at mumbai being very sanitary for food :)
On September 28, WaveCrest had their annual party at The Regenta Hotel. A new hotel where Steve had been staying for weeks. Since Robert had a free night at the hotel, we decided to stay overnight as well. I know, it seems that we stayed in more hotels than in our condo. We just love hotels :)
Since we stayed at the hotel, Mikey and I kind of crashed the party. Mikey hung out with Robert and Steve and I took pictures of the party. Mikey had the BEST time!!!
The common photo opp: Robert with Mikey on his shoulders :)
Naveen (who had stayed with us in the US in July) was having a great time
Even Robert joined in on the dancing :)
Steve had a great time too. Mikey wouldn't leave him alone!!! Mikey loved it when Steve would make him jump real high!!!
Steve jumped him up so much that Mikey was upside down!!!!! HE LOVED IT!!!!
It was a fun party and another fun staycation at The Regenta.
On September 29 we decided (like many other weekends) to take a little driving trip. Robert would drive and we would just end up where we end up. We saw some really interesting places by our little outings :)
During this outing we sprung upon a place called 'Songs of Earth'. It was very interesting. They had several different apartments and this apparently was a team building place. We got a tour and couldn't believe we found this in the middle of nowhere!!!!
I had to go to the bathroom for a minute and in the meantime Robert and Steve were 'playing' with my new camera :) This is what you get guys: I post the pics!!!! ha ha!!!!
Later that day we kept driving and all over town there were the celebrations of the Ganesha festival. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
The festival lasts for 10 days. On the 11th day (the day we took our driving trip) the clay statue is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing and fanfare to be immersed in a river or sea. Hindus worship idols, or statues, of their gods because it gives them a visible form to pray to. They also recognize that the universe is in a constant state of change. Form eventually gives away to formlessness. However, the energy still remains. The immersion of the Ganesha statue in a body of water, and subsequent destruction of them serves as a reminder of this belief.
We saw some happy people and parties on the way!!!!
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