Big C Does Hyderabad

Big C has had a very busy day! He went around touring Hyderabad with C and his friend Ameer. He is worn out this evening, but he had much fun!

The day started in the heart of the market area around Charminar monument. Big C went shopping for bangles, the brightly colored bracelets the area is famous for. There is a street in the market area where all the shops are selling nothing but bangles.

So many to choose from!

He had to try some on!

The shop owners were happy to help Big C pick out his bangles, and Ameer helped negotiate the prices.

After shopping, Ameer took C and Big C to Barbecue Nation, to grill some kabobs. Mmmmmm... good!

Big C stopped by a store called Big C mobile phone sales to visit with the sales staff.

Everyone enjoyed visiting and the sales staff gave him a souvenir bag!

Well, it is Sunday and tomorrow is church, so Big C needs to go to bed. Good night, everyone!

Saturday in Hyderabad

I went out and about in Hyderabad today with Ameer, one of the DST associates here. He will be leading the QA's in the new TRAC group. We visited a Hindu temple, drank tea at one of the most famous tea shops in town, shopped for bangles, and ate kebabs. A good day!

Inside the temple grounds.

The building is very impressive with wonderful carvings.

Very intricate craftsmanship.

After the temple visit, we went to have tea at one of the most famous tea shops in town. (Hyderabad is famous for its tea.) The place is so popular you can only order the tea at the counter and stand out in front sipping your tea. It WAS good. Very creamy and sweet, served in a very small plastic cup. Note the name of the shop.

The competition located directly across the street, stole their name!!!

We headed back to the markets located around Charminar, the huge monument in the center of the city.

Big C's Day at Work

Now that Vera, my boss is gone, it is just me and Big C doing the training in the Hyderabad office. He is putting in long days.

Checking the paper before heading in to work.

Waiting for his taxi ride to work.

Facilitating group discussions.

Encouraging the associates to share and participate.

At the hotel bar, unwinding after a long hard day at the office.

Yes, I really am in India

People have accused me of sending Big C to India and staying back at my condo while they post his photos. Here, then, is photographic proof I really am working (sort of) this week.

Kishore, the project manager for the TRAC team in Hyderabad. Great guy and much fun to work with.

Teaching TRAC Nightly.

Is it my imagination or is the girl sitting right in front of me yawning?

Reviewing what they have learned.

A fun activity to help the group stay awake.

Big C - the Heart Breaker

That didn't take long! Big C has a fan club. Some of the ladies have really fallen for the little fella.

Vera, my boss, helps the class figure net asset value for mutual funds. She will teach one more day as I assist, and tonight, she will fly home and I will teach solo for a week and a half.

Big C's First Day In Class

Big C enjoyed his first day helping train the associates in Hyderabad. The associates there are quite nice and it was a good day.

Showering and getting himself ready for the day ahead.

Listening in as Vera teaches about stocks and bonds.

The boss, teaching.

Big C LOVES being the center of attention! The Hyderabad associates love him, too!

The Adventure Continues - Day 1

After a good night's sleep, we went exploring today with a couple of guides from the DST office.

Big C rests by the side of the Hussain Sager Lake, with a huge stone Buddha in the background.

The stone Buddha is made of a single piece of stone.

Big C checked out a huge Hindu Temple, made entirely of marble. It sits on top of a mountain and overlooks the whole city. Unfortunately, cameras are not allowed, so we can not share the amazing view.

Big C in front of Charminar, the most famous tourist attraction in Hyderabad. It is a huge monument, built in 1591. Charminar means 'four columns,' and it was named for obvious reasons.

Charminar is also considered the center of the city...

Big C's India Adventure - Day 1

As I was getting things tidied up around my desk in Bangkok before leaving for two weeks in Hyderabad, India, I noticed my Bear, Big C, on the book shelf behind my desk, and he looked so eager to get away for a while। I decided he needed to go with me to India। I will keep everyone updated on his adventures throughout the trip.

Checking in and getting his boarding pass.

Enjoying the flight on Thai Airways.

Big C felt like a big businessman, sitting next to Vera, the boss!


Checking in at ISTA Hotel in "IT City" in Hybderabad.

Ready for sleep after a long flight! Busy day tomorrow, visiting local markets.

Last Day in the Slums This Year?

Most of you know by now that I am headed to India soon. I leave a week from next Saturday. I will be spending a lot of time away from Bangkok between now and the first of the year. I'll be in our office in Hyderabad, India October 2 - 25. In November, I will make a return trip to Kansas City for a couple of weeks, from November 12-29. A week after my return, I will be off to India again until December 23. On the 24th, I will speak at church at our Christmas Eve service, and Christmas Day, I will join a team going to Khao Lak in southern Thailand for a week, doing Christmas parties for children in that area.

Because I will be gone so much, this was my last day in the slums... possibly until the first of the year, so I wanted to get some more photos and update the blog for everyone one last time.

The day started great, with church. My Young Leaders Group put together an amazing version of the song, Who Am I. Please take a moment to check them out at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFghnLkx1zU

There are big changes taking place in JaRurat. The government has given a subsidy to allow the community to enclose the area where we have been working with the kids, to use it as a kindergarten/preschool. This is wonderful, but we are being displaced. Fortunately, they also have funds included to build a smaller area nearby that we will be able to use. Today, we had to go to the rear of the community, where there is a small dirt play area used by the children.

Little girls did not know what to make of the big farang. We has several new kids, because we were in a different area of the community, closer to their homes.

We go to two communities... JaRurat and Wisiwa. Usually we drive from one to the other, which can take twenty minutes with traffic, when the reality is the two communities are barely a hundred meters apart. The rear of the JaRurat community backs up to a big overpass and some railroad tracks. Cross both and you enter the rear of Wisiwa. Because we were already at the rear of JaRurat today, we just walked over to Wisiwa.

This is what the walkways between houses look like in most places.

Both communities are like mazes and until you get used to the place, you don't want to go in alone or you may be lost for hours.

Coming out into the area where we always meet with the Wisiwa kids.

The kids have come to adore Ting. He is our rock star.

And role model.

A good photo to close my 2010 slum adventures with. I appreciate your prayers for my time traveling around for work in the upcoming months. c