Another week has slipped by so thought I'd better update this blog. Since my last post the weather has definitely warmed up and over the weekend there were a couple of pretty impressive thunderstorms - both at a quarter to 7 on the dot! Went on a bit of a wander on Saturday lunchtime, I can honestly say it was the hottest walk I think I have ever been on, although quite why we chose the hottest part of the day to wander in I'm not sure! I can tell you about the never-ending traffic weaving around - how vehicles don't collide I'll never know - I can tell you about the peeling paintwork, the goats wandering around, the dirt and litter everywhere, the pavements disappearing into enormous holes - but what I can't really describe is the sheer volume of unrelenting noise, coupled with the variety of none-too-pleasant smells...it could only be India.
Speaking of walking, I decided to walk home from work last week, I was assured it would only take 20 minutes or so. Now as you can imagine from the above description, walking is not a relaxing activity in Chennai, but it's nice after a day at the office to stretch those legs so off I went. The first part of the walk takes you over the river which really has to be seen to be believed. One big rubbish dump with an aroma to boot. That first walk I ended up getting really lost, ending up in a street of bazaars that seemed to specialise in tyres and car parts...but it was interesting to discover a bit more of this city.
I've been stocking up on snacks for work today in the wonderful 'Big Bazaar' which sells literally everything. I can recommend the chilli fried chick peas. Finished off with dinner at a veggie restaurant called Dhosa for a lovely pancakey type rice thing whose name escapes me, served with sambar and gorgeous coconut chutney. Here if you order any kind of takeaway it invariably comes wrapped in a banana leaf and with little bags of coriander and coconut chutney.
Finally I must tell you about our Chennai cinema experience. For 120Rs (about £1.20) you get comfy, plush, enormous seats, aircon, a movie theatre that was so upholstered inside it resembled a padded cell, almost more adverts than film and - lots of noise! Phones were going off, babies crying, people popping out for snacks etc but to be fair most were watching the film, shrieking with laughter at both funny and not-so-funny bits, cheering, booing....it was marvellous!
More to report after the weekend, your India correspondent has to confess to spending a fair amount of the last weekend lounging by the pool, such was the weather. I almost believed I was on holiday, that was until Monday came around...
Speaking of walking, I decided to walk home from work last week, I was assured it would only take 20 minutes or so. Now as you can imagine from the above description, walking is not a relaxing activity in Chennai, but it's nice after a day at the office to stretch those legs so off I went. The first part of the walk takes you over the river which really has to be seen to be believed. One big rubbish dump with an aroma to boot. That first walk I ended up getting really lost, ending up in a street of bazaars that seemed to specialise in tyres and car parts...but it was interesting to discover a bit more of this city.
I've been stocking up on snacks for work today in the wonderful 'Big Bazaar' which sells literally everything. I can recommend the chilli fried chick peas. Finished off with dinner at a veggie restaurant called Dhosa for a lovely pancakey type rice thing whose name escapes me, served with sambar and gorgeous coconut chutney. Here if you order any kind of takeaway it invariably comes wrapped in a banana leaf and with little bags of coriander and coconut chutney.
Finally I must tell you about our Chennai cinema experience. For 120Rs (about £1.20) you get comfy, plush, enormous seats, aircon, a movie theatre that was so upholstered inside it resembled a padded cell, almost more adverts than film and - lots of noise! Phones were going off, babies crying, people popping out for snacks etc but to be fair most were watching the film, shrieking with laughter at both funny and not-so-funny bits, cheering, booing....it was marvellous!
More to report after the weekend, your India correspondent has to confess to spending a fair amount of the last weekend lounging by the pool, such was the weather. I almost believed I was on holiday, that was until Monday came around...
One more try at commenting!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, very evocative. But remind me never to go to the cinema over there. I like my cinema audiences like my Wimbledon crowds - SILENT!