*sound of knuckles cracking*
Hello boys and girls! It's been really long...

Well I don't have an interesting story to tell. But I didn't know what else to do. (got bored of xkcd)

Anyways, here’s a narrative of how I went to Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) yesterday.

It was decided after classes got over at 8.30 PM that we (Sintoo, Fatty, NIILS and I) should go out of station. By 9.30 I was on my way to pack my bag and meet just Sintoo at the bus stand. The others couldn’t make it. (We're trying to be cool by saying we went on an 'impulsive' trip.....to a temple among the hills).

Anyways, we went! This trip was pretty much similar to our last trip (to Vizag, again in Andhra Pradesh).

The characteristic sight of beautiful hills is a constant reminder of the terrain you're on. (The hills in Vizag saved this port town from the Tsunami that last hit South  Asia ).

In Tirupati, the characteristic sight of bald men/women/children walking around normally almost creeps you out at first, but you get used to it...(or maybe not)

The most significant part of the trip i remember is that people in that state still can't make North Indian food, which might be excused. But even South Indian food that is edible is a near impossibility.

We went to India Coffee House in Tirumala (which you reach after driving up a hill in Tirupati) and obviously expected the excellent coffee and dosa that is characteristic of the Indian Coffee House at M.G. Road, Bangalore.
It would suffice to say that the only good edible things available in and around the famous temple are the prashad/laddoos that you can possibly not refuse.

The 30 odd hours we spent in that state almost made us cry for good coffee too! (Even in Indian Coffee House!!!!)

So, you can’t find any Indian food there. But what you can find is CHINESE food! Yes. We have makeshift cooks who can make so-called Chinese dishes better than Indian ones!

A dish that is an invention of Andhra Pradesh is “Gobi Fried Rice”, which is effectively Gobi Manchurian and Fried Rice cooked together. This dish, for better or for worse, is the only good roadside cooked dish I have had in my trips to Tirupati and Vizag.

All things aside, the best part of this state has to be its people. They are very friendly. They do not look down upon you just because you do not know their local language and will not come in your way of a good experience. I am sure there is no need to mention names of states in our own country where the opposite treatment is meted out to local as well as, sadly, international tourists.

Heck, the bus drivers stop in the middle of the road at the slightest wave of the hand.
(Ok, maybe that’s irresponsible, but the people don’t seem to mind). Also, I hear from Sintoo who has lived in this state for many years, the people are also very hard working. The shops and marketplace are open and alive even before 5 AM! (No worries of strikes here, eh?)


Alright, that’s it. With that I sign out. Forgive my rusting writing skills. This is probably not the best article you’ve read. So don't feel obliged to comment.

Almost forgot, a highlight of the trip was the 5-6 km walk from the bus stand to Sintoo’s home at 4AM today morning after returning. If you aren’t scared of being mugged/raped/murdered, and love walking, this is a splendid experience. 

Ta.