Tuesday, March 06, 2007

visit to the past

Wonderful trip, nostalgia, murungakka poricha kolambu, poli,rasamalai, tons of dust, tons of gossips, share auto,designer sarees, shopping,mottai maadi, ponnu parkum function, my engagement, cousin's wedding,phenoyl smell,kaapi podi aroma, kusalam visarikum act with mamis and mamas, paal cooker whistle, kolams and all.... worth waiting for 5 years!!!!!


This is with reference to my last visit to madras in 2002 vs recent visit in 2007


Things that have remained the same in Madras nalla madras

Saravana Bhavan menu and quality
I tried 2 new dishes 1) a new type of dosa with almonds, kish mish (??) it must have been soaked in 2 litres of ghee. I was given a dosa space mountain which hid the the delicious sambar and 3 chutneys (green, orange and white)inside the triangular dome.
2) Paneer spring rolls! I could have just ordered that for dinner, so good and I was so full after the 4 the roll! 16 hours of shopping, aching legs, growling stomachs, fine cuisine at Saravana Bahvan was just priceless.
hmm hmmm good! My tummy is growling and its lunch hour now!

Tnagar rush
The same road encroachment by stalls and the pori kadalai thallu vandis, the guys selling fake plastic bubbles, peacock feathers, guide books to all school/college courses. Mr.Saravanan Selva Ratnam seems to be the hot buzz in every corner, those mega structures tearing the tnagar sky, holding million dollar worth house hold items, and people just love them! Thank god! I didnt step into any of his stores, I wanted to save myself from being torn apart, people I heard literally rip off your clothes in there.

Our house in Pallavaram



thenga vazhukai+Elaneer ( tender cocunut + coconut water)
its 15 rs in anna nagar and 10 rs in mambalam, they got to live too you know, IT people down down!


drinking water of Chennai
but this is not what we drink, its called "mineral water"



the mamis in paatu Saree

waah wah! True Tamil culture !



auto rickshaw- the most talented drivers in the universe



Things that have changed


mamis with cell phones hanging around their necks which is covered by a plastic case to protect it from the dust


mufassil bus stand and police in maruti cars



saree with a pocket at kumaran stores!!!


If I can remember some more I will post more!!!


I am so glad to see the gas stations displaying 75 in Des Moines since yesterday, teh spring is finally here. Thank you Mr.Surya Bhagavan, finally you heard my kookural!!

Now I am all in the mood for Poo pookum osai and pretend to be kajol and sing it aloud from my office on 14 Th floor!! Wonder if people will perform " Harrison ford Jump" from Fugitive.
Have a happy spring people!! here I come Macy's, Jc penny, old navy and to all your bros and sisters!

2 comments:

Driver said...

Wow - saree with pocket. I wonder how they work. Do they always end up in the right area? :)

Amateur at work said...

Driver:
You can customize your saree to have a pocket "wherever" you want, see here is the indian forced culture truly depicted in the form of saree, parents dont let you be a leftie, the kids learn to be ambi dextrous if they are lefties so with that in mind, the sarees are assumed for right handed people only.

intended purpose for the pocket: cell phone storage (as shown in the picture)

extended purposes: keys, safety pins to poke perverts in the bus, scratching ( guys think we dont know why they have their hands in their pockets all the time).