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Saturday, May 19, 2007

Salsa and Other Latin Dances In Hyderabad

Unlike the usual misconception Salsa dance does exist in Hyderabad. I came to know about some interesting dance parties from the blog by Jeremy.
1) BnC's Cuban Nights:
Afro-Cuban/Latin Rythms from 7pm - 10pm, Open floor
Salsa Workshop 8pm - 9.30pm
April 22 - May 20, Sunday nights
Bottles and Chimney, Begumpet, Hyderabad
(Across the road from the airport)
2) Latino Nights at Ahala (feat. Tony from Goa):
Salsa Workshop 8pm - 9.30pm
Starting April 27, Friday nights
The Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills, Rd. 1, Hyderabad

There is also a mention of the class at Studio9. Look at the blog for detail. There are some other options too I guess, just they are not very popular. Do check out some good videos for these dances at Google Video, specially ones from "Addicted to Salsa".

There are Salsa + other latin dance lessons at Cyber Pearls by Chandra and his colleagues. A very good option for ppl in and around Madhapur.

Currently there doesn't seem to be great interest/awareness for Rueda (Cuban) dance around here, we will be trying to start it soon probably in the Cyber Pearls lessons (after the class hours). Do let Chandra or me know if you want to join in.

With many ppl getting access to Salsa lessons and workshops social dancing is poised to become popular like Bangalore and Bombay.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

The most troubling part for the US trip: Immigration @ India (Hyderabad)

Yes, you read it right. Problems at immigration at US stands no where close to the problems at immigrating back to your own country.
For the presence of some electronic items in my cabin baggage, they marked the baggage and I had to "verify" at the Red Channel.
The person (No, I can't call him officer) at the Red Channel won't agree to the fact that my belongings were within the limit of 25,000 + 1 laptop. He wouldn't care for that. The fact that I had some electronic items and laptop suggests to him that I should pay him some money (not using the right word here but its obvious).
There were other ppl who were stopped there and everyone seemed to end up giving some money else this person would start arguing uselessly for e.g I heard him saying to a person that all you clothes and etc also count in that limit of 25000, Our Indian economy is affected when u bring this item to India (so pay me some money to let u in).
Calling the higher officer didn't help. He would say in low voice, "you are violating the law by bringing two laptop doesn't matter if one is you company's owned". Basically saying I can't say anything you have to pay him money.
The form for immigration clearly leaves the terms to be read and interpreted and abused by these buggers as they want. It says "One laptop is allowed". Doesn't talk about the allowed laptop to be the one that was bought in US. The laptop you carried from India can be counted in that too. He would want to detain my personal laptop and also frighten me of putting some complaints about my not helping me in his tasks or "mis-declaring". Would pretend that I lost my customs slip (when he had it with him).

I am sure many ppl go through this pain (atleast 5-10 went thru in front of me). When the whole office is working together how can you escape ?