On Our Own In Chennai - Part 1

It was the Chennai I always dreaded. I had bad experiences in my previous visits. I could just feel it the moment we got down from the KPN Travels Hi Tech bus in T Nagar.

We were on our own. It was decided from the start. My buddy Anish (orkut link. log in to view) and me.

We didn't want to answer mother nature on the road side and throw muck on an already dirty Chennai. we checked into Rohini International in GN Chetty Street (thanks to anish's infy friend for suggesting this place, we didn't have to run around looking for a place to stay).

The original plan was that we would be accompanied by people who knew Chennai better than the both of us. (anish's first visit, mine too can be considered as the first visit). The original plan remained a plan. and as I said, we were left on our own.

Hunger, desire for authentic tamil food and Murugan Idli Shop (Opp Rohini International) stared at us at the same time... and we jumped at the opportunity. At the end of the 30 minute silence and reckless hogging, we were presented with a bill which said we had to pay for the idlis, dosas, vadas, pongals and coffee, until which point, we didn't realize we had eaten so much. We mutually decided there can be no better idli shop as this and in one of those exhilirating moments of ecstasy, we messaged our buddies in bangalore, just the brand name. We got good smilies in return. (good smiles -> :o), you know)

Then we wandered aimlessly (mainly because we didn't know what was what) until an idea struck us that we should purchase a map. Little did we know that the leo publishers' ALL DISTRICTS ROAD ATLAS OF TAMILNADU would be our friend, companion, confidante, guide and god for the rest of the stay in Chennai.

Having done that, we quickly logged on to www.kiruba.com in search of more insights into the place. (more about that later)

Since we were on our own, we just walked and walked and walked. Anish says we've walked 6 kms and I say 8 kms. We just decided to stay in disagreement in numbers. Life had suddenly come to a grinding halt. We cursed ourselves for coming to Chennai. (In frustration, I must've slapped about 4 people. Anish broke 3 glasses and 4 and half window panes. Again we differ here. Anish's numbers are entirely different. You may check with him)

It is at this point of time, that I would like to use the phrase life comes calling when my handset happily started off s(r)inging its zandu balm ring tone. Help came in the form of my very good friend who is the sales manager in the number one (thats what she claims, anyway) insurance covering company in India.

She just asked one question: where are you right now?

I turned here, there read out all the english name boards and still couldn't figure out. Anish rushed to the traffic cop near by and asked him where we were, he gave the 'don't bother me, i m on duty' look and said, i-don't-know!!!! wtf! he just said he doesn't know the place we were in! gawd. Chennai!

My friend asked us to board the next autorickshaw we see and go to Cenotaph road. We did the same, without turning back.We went to the Cenotaph road, via Chamier's road and Venkatanarayana Road (ya, the street names we can never forget, thanks to Leo Publishers) and our good ol' friend treated us to cool refreshing fruit juice. It was so good that we had to stop ourselves from ordering the third one.

More Coming. Stay Tuned.