Reached Chennai at 9.00 pm after a very uneventful flight from Pune, on a 4-day part-official, part-personal visit. While Madhavi will be at Cogni for 2 days, I will be visiting BPCL for some meetings regarding a new proposal we are chasing with them, and then on Saturday, we are off to Mahabalipuram for the weekend.
While I have been here more than a decade back, I remember nothing of this city... so here are my "first impressions" during the drive from the airport to our hotel:
1) Ambassadors still rule the roads here... and you thought the Ambi was dead?
2) Lungis too, are very much in fashion - though pants have won a lot of market share!
3) Roadside eateries serving piping hot sambhar are everywhere
4) The Chennai police are pretty sexy - including very upmarket patrol cars. 108 is alive and kicking here
5) Bus stops are essentially very tall poles with advertising hoardings on the top. Very little by way of protection from the elements, I must say!
6) Power seems to be in abundance here, if one goes by the number of electrified advertising hoardings lining all the main roads
And of course,
7) You can talk to your taxi wallah in English! Hindi..? Naah!
3 comments:
Do visit the "Shore Temple" if possible, its beautiful, visited the place few months back when Manoj had to stay in Chennai for almost a month for official purpose. And be aware of the hard water especially while taking bath (chances of losing hair)
Given the amount we are splurging on the Temple Bay Resort for the weekend, it better be much better than boring Chennai!
Oh yes !! Definately boring !! My Chinnaswami (Manoj) was seriosly considering the idea of settling there for good few months back but had to forget it as we, mother & son were totally against it :)
Post a Comment