Sunday, June 14, 2009

TN 01

Few weeks back I tried the facebook app quiz "Are you fit to live in Chennai?" I fared moderately in it (Result: You will do better in coming days!). But only now I realise that reality is more traumatic.

We boarded the train to Chennai on a cool Tuesday evening. The train reached our destination at the unearthly hours of 4:10 AM. A sudden warmth in the air when it's supposed to be the coldest time of the day. Still keeping that aside we had a small nap after reaching home. A friend of mine texted me, "Welcome to singaara chennai" I didn't know it had to be read as "Welcome to sudaana chennai"

Couple during the wedding reception

After breakfast, I started alone to T-Nagar to meet a friend for a quick lunch. Boarded the local bus and I was warned it was going to be a one hour ride into the city. I got the window seat happily and started reading name boards to know which area I'm currently in. It was 12 noon and the heat wave started blowing .Sigh! After getting down in a wrong stop, I ran to a near by shop to get a cold water bottle and quench the thirst. (tip: Never travel across Chennai without a water bottle)


The Wedding. It was a beautiful wedding I should say! They took good care of the guests. A perfect setting for a wedding in Chennai summer. The food was excellent -a full 5/5 for the food. They were co-operative enough to pack the food for some of them who wanted to start early. Full recommendation for this caterer. Then later that night we decided to take a walk to Residency towers for podi dosa and coffee at 2 AM. As usual I understood less on the complex ceremonies in the wedding podium. I was along with Arun for the photo shoot and got some nice clicks. Then had to skip lunch for unforeseen reasons ;) to land at the movie "Pasanga".

Couple during the wedding (Photo credit: Arun)

A visit to Chennai is not fulfilled without a trip to its beaches and tasting the junk food there. So yeah next stop was Marina beach (Still they have not decided to sell it, Madhu). Nice breeze and few clicks here and there! Back to 21 degree Celsius at my friend's home.

It started getting hotter and hotter. We entered the third day of our vacation. The heat had not even reduced a bit. Next destination was Poonamallee for my senior's wedding. Christ it was so hot that I could not find a time when I stopped sweating. A friend of mine who was a resident from Ooty (Thuud!) woke up at 3 AM and decided to take a walk, unable to sleep. I got up at 5 AM and joined him. :)


Interestingly I took the last photo in the wedding hall. It was a idol placed in flowing water. A fat, dark gentleman came to me and started speaking in fast Tamil. I did not follow for few minutes until he asked if I have permission to take photos here. He introduced himself as special police security officer in charge for the wedding. He asked, "What if you keep a bomb and go?Show me your ID card, I'm showing mine right". So I did. I told him that I was a guest of the bridegroom, but he did not listen. Then he asked me to take some photos, telling that it should come in the press the next day. He posed with a Mickey Mouse mascot who was standing in the entrance. Only then I found he was under the influence of alcohol.

This was one interesting part of the trip. Two photographers left with nothing to do, can turn up such interesting stuff. Will write more about in the next post. Also below was an frantic effort to shoot a group of squirrel. Photographing squirrels was quite a challenge. I stripped them in a single collage.


After getting burnt, roasted for 4days and getting sun burns, I was very much unsure of how I'm carry myself again on the 5th day. Also I had plans to visit some of my friends, but then everyone are placed in corners of the city. So I had to skip them all and cut short my vacation by a day and boarded a volvo and reached Bangalore. (Reports said: It has rained heavily in Bangalore for the last 4 days :( ) Back in Bangalore a stranger asked us, "Are you guys back from chennai? Is it raining there, did you bring the umbrella back?". I looked at my friend and burst out laughing.

In simple I'm yet not ready for Chennai Summer!

7 comments:

Karthik said...

It was a great wedding indeed!!! And thank god, I didnt stay over the weekend :)

Could you please brief the "unforseen reasons"? ;)

Vijesh said...

yeah sure karthi.. I unforseen reasons were,

Firstly I was not hungy, since I had a heavy late breakfast. ;)

Next when I went for lunch the green leaves ran out of stock and they were waitin for it to arrive :D

Isn't this convencing enough.

Nikanth Karthikesan said...

hehe :-)
btw what was your average speed during intra-city transits? I mean the traffic?

Vijesh said...

@Nikanth
The govt bus at the max reached 40kms/hr at peek traffic.

Late in the night it was faster.

Maggi said...

The deal has to be closed soon, already deadline has elapsed. It is best to finish deal now, as it will be rock bottom price. TOO HOT NO ONE CAN HANDLE

The Gori Wife said...

Love the pictures!

Vijesh said...

@madhu
you want to lease the marina beach? Sure I have wrote a letter to the poetic politician. Expecting reply soon.

@TheGoriWife
Welcome here and Thanks.