The UN-Convention Centre was abuzz with activity as delegates from over 150 countries got together at one platform to discuss the ways of preserving biodiversity of the planet. Most of them were happy to be in Hyderabad, notwithstanding Sunday’s Telangana March.
Keen on exploring local culture, several delegates exchanged notes with their Indian counterparts on Hyderabad, its cuisine, and of course, the local tourist spots.
In fact, most seemed unaware of the Telangana stir as they either landed early on Monday or stayed put at hotels far away from the heart of the city. One such delegate from Canada, Conor Dobson from GIC, a corporate firm, said he loved the weather in the city.
“I guess this is a perfect time to visit the city. Though, it’s been just a couple of days, we visited ICRISAT, and I must tell you, the research facilites are amazing.”
His friend, Key Khoo, a delegate from Australia, also a part of GIC, agreed, “The people here are warm and hospitable. Our stay has been quite memorable. We are looking forward to exploring the city.”
The Telangana stir might have gone unnoticed, but the huge queue of Ganesh idols for immersion did attract their attention. Bereano, a professor at the University of Washington, got stuck at a traffic junction. “It was crazy and chaotic this time. It took me quite some time to get out of the traffic,” he said