Chennai - Soaking Up the Atmosphere

This year we met Patrick Suzeau, an American choreographer who was on sabbatical in KL. He mentioned that he was coming to Chennai in December for an Indian dance festival. We checked Air Asia fares and decided "why not." So acting on Patrick's advice we explored music and dance in south Chennai. We listened to music at Chennai's Music Academy and went to dance performances at Kartik Fine Arts.

Saloon or Salon? Count on a hair cut
No alcohol in this hotel

Patrick's excellent advice started when he suggested the New Woodlands Hotel. A perfect choice - affordable, clean, and vibrant. The hotel and its courtyard are impossible to capture in photos; it is a 1950's hotel set in India. In addition to the "saloon" there is a "house of beauty" for "ladies only" and a shoe sign shop.

We started eating our meals at Krishna, the hotel's south India restaurant. We later switched to Vrandana, which included north Indian, Chinese, and Italian food. Both restaurants were at full capacity and humming at meal times.

Dec 24 - Hyderabad vegetables (recommended),
macaroni/cheese/vegetables

24 Dec - Vrindavan Special - ice cream, sauces, fruit pieces and nuts

A typical breakfast buffet with corn flakes at the end of the table

The beach is about 1 km from the hotel - walkable as long as one navigates the pavement carefully. We passed an HSBC, the "Life Style Mall," the state legislative building and evidence of abject poverty.

People live in  shacks along the banks (barely visible in this phot0)

And just a little further on (no long strips of High End Shops

)

                      

At the beach we turned left - if we had gone to the right we would have passed a densely populated area where many fishermen live and work.

The beginning of a long line of businesses (perpendicular to the water)

I

A different picture will emerge when I read that chaat originated

on Mumbai's beaches

Fishing boats and nets at the end of the day

We got around Chennai by walking or taking an auto rickshaw. Although each rickshaw had a meter, no one can remember when they were last used. Since rickshaws are so commonly used locals may be willing to give an estimate of a fair fare. Some drivers look as foreigners as money pits, so starting with a reasonable fare in mind is wise. Raju who worked outside New Woodlands gave us a reasonable rate and his phone number for follow up trips.

      A typical side street - note the uneven payment, interspersion of walkers and riders, lack of helmets

                                                            A universal invitation to park?

Walking requires alertness to avoid mishaps and to enjoy the vibrant city life.

                                                        One way to sell produce - such carts seems to sell only one

                                                        or two items

                                                       A more common way to sell produce

                                           "Pharmaceuticals Distributors" - See Doug's 27 Dec post on Indian drugs

After Googling Atomic Donuts - I regretted that we stopped
at taking this picture

 A billboard being put up

Note - he is actually painting the fan

Christmas at KL malls was over the top with decorations. Chennai's decorations were calmer. Santa was the most common figure. He even stood outside St Thomas' Basilica. More curious to us the two churches we went into did not have creches or votive candles. One did have a figure of the Infant Jesus devotees lined up to touch - it felt more Hindu than Christian.

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