tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351920842024-03-12T17:39:27.764-07:00Rediscovering ChennaiLiving and eating in this beloved cityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-9986090552822838692015-01-22T23:11:00.003-08:002015-01-22T23:11:48.915-08:00Saving LivesGoing to the Apollo Main Hospital is like going to a railway station. Its absolutely crowded and smelly and hot.<br />
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First you walk through these main doors that have a security scan (like in an airport). Everyone just walks through. The machine is beeping like crazy, but no one cares, not even the security guard who is stationed at the scanner!<br />
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And you enter mayhem. There's no better way to describe it. There are people everywhere. Sitting on chairs, sitting on the floor, leaning on walls, walking, standing - just everywhere. And the noise level is tremendous. Are hospitals supposed to be quiet zones?<br />
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I went upstairs where there's a long room filled with row upon row of chairs and people everywhere again. Patients being wheeled around, children crying, people everywhere talking loudly. And there's signs everywhere saying Quiet Zone - Please do not disturb the Patients. What?<br />
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A nurse first saw me and her lethargy was just unbelievable. She looked most disgruntled and irritated that she had to do this. And grunted as she asked questions. While she was questioning me, a lady came in and looked like she was going to faint - she asked if there was somewhere she could lie down because she was in so much pain. The lady looked at her and said "There's no place like that, Sorry". The poor girl went away.<br />
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And then I tried to find a seat. There were about 75 people in a 200 sq ft space. And lots of people don't wear deodorant. And they were loud. And there were absolutely no seats free, so I stood for about 2 1/2 hours waiting for the doctor, who was in surgery. No one offered me a seat. Infact no one offered anyone a seat. There were pregnant ladies, ladies holding infants, old ladies and gentlemen. Even a man holding a cane, but no one offered anyone a seat at all.<br />
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I had to go to the restroom and it was just plain scary. Why are public restrooms always wet and smelly? Sorry to be so graphic! But really, in a hospital, wouldn't you expect hygienic restrooms?<br />
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I thought it was very cool that they offered translators in 37 different languages. And here I have to say, that's what gave away how popular the hospital is. There are people traveling from all over the world to visit doctors here. And that's pretty cool. Wouldn't it be nice if they came to a haven rather than a train station?<br />
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The thing is that I wouldn't go anywhere else in Chennai. Or India for that matter. I love love love my doctor. And they have some of the best doctors consulting there. They offer care and expertise that are not found in most places in the rest of India. They are the leaders in the health care industry. So I will keep going back.<br />
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But let's be clear, I go back because of my doctor and because I can rely on the best care given. I'm not so sure about cleanliness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-81460722064530062982015-01-22T23:08:00.003-08:002015-01-22T23:08:51.120-08:00Its been way too long. Happy New Year.Sorry its been way way too long. No excuses. Just fell off the planet for a bit. But will try to be back now. Not that anyone is reading this anymore.<br />
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Recently my husband and I had a chance to move away and live somewhere other than Chennai. Or at least we coulda sometime in the future, mighta-sorta had an opportunity. I've always wanted to move away and live somewhere else. Except... when the opportunity was presented to me, I hesitated and then said no. I cannot imagine living somewhere else. Atleast not right now. That reaction from me was a surprise to me as well.<br />
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I guess Chennai kinda grows on you. Very very slowly. But it does. After a while you can't really imagine living somewhere else. At least not for now.<br />
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Happy new year all of you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-12150001407550730572009-07-23T00:34:00.000-07:002009-07-23T00:56:34.029-07:00McDonald'sThe first McDonald's restaurant opened in Chennai, in Anna Nagar. Though there has always been an outlet in the Ascendas Complex, this was the first stand-alone restaurant.<br /><br />And a HUGE deal was made of the opening. I mean, newspapers, TV ads, flyers... everywhere you would possibly look! And it was in Anna Nagar, which is fast becoming a little city of its own.<br /><br />Now I know the West (esp the United States) is making a huge fuss over the fat content and general unhealthiness of a McDonald's diet. The fact that absolutely nothing there is actually healthy - no, not even the salads. But give India a chance. This is the first time we have a McDonald's and people see it as a integral part of the Western world! So the place is ALWAYS packed with people. Here's a view of the line that actually went out the door!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SmgXiB36lqI/AAAAAAAAL88/-Kv6R2jT5d0/s1600-h/IMG00352-20090712-1234.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SmgXiB36lqI/AAAAAAAAL88/-Kv6R2jT5d0/s400/IMG00352-20090712-1234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361561229770528418" border="0" /></a><br />The menu is very very different from the typical one in the US. It has Indian-ized versions of their products, such as a spicy paneer salsa wrap, and several (actually, almost half) the menu choices are vegetarian. I was on a recent holiday in the US and we went to McDonald's a few times when we were on long drives and nothing on the menu was vegetarian except the french fries (and I'm not sure what oil they use for frying the potatoes either).<br /><br />Here, everything is 100% guaranteed to be made in vegetable oil. And they do not use beef products at all. So there's fish and chicken... and vegetarian options like the McVeggie Burger or the McAloo Tikki! And the Big Mac? Its the Chicken Maharaja Mac! :)<br /><br />We brought home the food and I would give it 2 stars (out of a possible 5). There was no flavour, and everything looked old and sad. But I'm also not a huge fast food fan, so maybe I'm prejudiced.<br /><br />On another note, a friend who is pregnant went to a KFC outlet in Chennai and ordered fried chicken. They said their policy states they cannot serve their chicken to pregnant women because it is not safe!!! It leads you to ask, so why are you letting children eat it? Or anyone else for that matter? Is it a big leap to maybe start distrusting any food from KFC? Or from any fast food place in Chennai? Hmm. It really does make you wonder.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-88304247877586600572009-04-07T00:12:00.000-07:002009-04-07T22:52:31.732-07:00Surreal Conversation"I can't believe this is happening in this day and age" - have you ever heard someone say that? I guess it means that when we have progressed in so many many areas, it's difficult to fathom how some things never change. I had one such conversation today<br /><br />S: I wanted to talk to you. I might have to take some time off from work<br /><br />Me: Is everything ok?<br /><br />S: Well, I got my daughter married to a "nice boy" last year and had a very grand wedding, as you know <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I went for the wedding. It was indeed "grand")</span></span>. Everything was fine for a while. And then my daughter's mother-in-law <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I'm calling her MIL from here on)</span></span>, started abusing my daughter.<br /><br />Me: What? What kind of abuse? <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I was thinking does it matter?)</span></span><br /><br />S: What else? Dowry, only. I gave so much and I also spent so much on the wedding. But still MIL was very rude and shouting at my daughter and said I have to give her property and whatnot.<br /><br />Me: You should report her to the police.<br /><br />S: What's the use? If I do, and she and her son are put in jail for 7 years, then it's my daughter who will suffer. I spoke to the lawyer who said not to do that now.<br /><br />Me: Hmm.<br /><br />S: I think if they have a baby everything will be solved. But MIL will not let them. She calls her son correctly at 7.30 pm when he is just come from work and keeps him on the phone. Sometimes she asks him to come to visit her late in the night, and says she has some problem. She says she will throw my daughter out if she comes between her and her son.<br /><br />(long pause)<br /><br />S: MIL hit her so much that my daughter had to be taken to the hospital. Whenever the son is at work, MIL beats up my daughter and makes her do demeaning things.<br /><br />Me: What about the boy's father? What does he say?<br /><br />S: He's just a "dummy". He just sits there - just a namesake father.<br /><br />Me: I still think you should report to the police. If more people thought about the crime, maybe it wouldn't happen. When you are scared that they will take their anger out on your daughter, its difficult to see the crime taking place.<br /><br />S: Anyway. My health is suffering. I wish she will get pregnant then everything will be okay. I hope she does not send my daughter home.<br /><br /><br />The conflict. Doing the right thing vs. the well-being of your daughter. I can't believe this is an actual conversation I had this morning. S is a high-grade manager, making a decent amount of money, educated. Daughter is educated (with an MBA), and married to a successful banker.<br /><br />Are you shocked? Or are you saying "Yea Yea This Happens Everywhere"?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-62462713325774610252009-01-06T03:12:00.000-08:002009-01-06T03:25:45.825-08:00Defending IndiaWarning: This is a rant. Hey, it's my blog and I'll rant if I want to.<br /><br />I'm tired of people dissing India. Constantly. Oh Indian politicians suck. Indian roads suck. Indian behavior sucks. And let me tell you, hypocrisy sucks.<br /><br />If you are going to sit in your nice comfortable well-furnished apartment in London or New York City or wherever and continue complaining about how "you just can't spend more than two weeks in India because the pollution and lack of cleanliness is getting to you", this is what I have to say "Don't Come!!". We didn't invite you in the first place.<br /><br />I don't get it. I understand India is dirty, its even downright filthy in places. But let me tell you, Indians want it to be clean too. With 50 people on an average using a hospital restroom in ONE HOUR, vs 1.5 people in 2 hours in the US, yes, the restrooms are going to be dirtier.<br /><br />And please don't even for a single moment imagine that you are "in touch" with India just because you read The Hindu online version and watch NDTV and Sun TV. You're not. If you don't live in India, you're not in touch with the country. And you're definitely not helping.<br /><br />So stop with the complaining because your white shirt got a little yellow because the water in India is so bad. Or you got a little bit of Delhi Belly eating from the five star restaurant. Or that train travel "just isn't what it used to be when we were growing up". Stop the pretense. You left India because you wanted to - not to make India proud or to give back to India. You wanted a better life for yourself, which is exactly how it should be. So don't start pretending now.<br /><br />As I said, it's a rant. One more thing - if you don't like it, don't come. I think those who live here are trying to do the best we can to make India better, and we don't need you to come here just to tell us how bad it is.<br /><br />Thanks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-66539143511595952392008-10-08T20:17:00.000-07:002008-10-08T20:47:30.273-07:00Wire LessI lost Internet connectivity on Sunday night at about 10.30 pm. Well, the fixer guy came by Monday and told me that someone had <span style="font-weight: bold;">cut the wires and stolen the copper wiring on the inside</span>! This was the case the previous dozen times I lost connectivity too. And, he says, its very common. The thieves steal the copper wires, melt them all together and sell the copper!<br /><br />I went to see the wire and we found a <span style="font-weight: bold;">cow settled down by the pavement chewing on the plastic outer casing</span>! It was almost completely gone! Only In India, I thought!!<br /><br />I walked down the block and suddenly realized that there were tons of wires lying everywhere - on the road, sidewalk, on trees, on walls - all exposed wires that had no right being left unattended. I have been oblivious to the many wires lying exposed EVERYWHERE! Here are some really scary photos:<br /><br />A cut wire:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17eHY7o8I/AAAAAAAAJMg/IHwcCzT7CFA/s1600-h/IMG_5699.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17eHY7o8I/AAAAAAAAJMg/IHwcCzT7CFA/s400/IMG_5699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254992097521148866" border="0" /></a><br />Open wires on the pavement:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17d-9O7qI/AAAAAAAAJMI/LQ_VSqTZL40/s1600-h/IMG_5691.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17d-9O7qI/AAAAAAAAJMI/LQ_VSqTZL40/s400/IMG_5691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254992095257489058" border="0" /></a><br />The maze of wires from various houses:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO174QabvUI/AAAAAAAAJMo/Zp7WT6qFTdo/s1600-h/IMG_5701.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO174QabvUI/AAAAAAAAJMo/Zp7WT6qFTdo/s400/IMG_5701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254992546619964738" border="0" /></a><br />An open box:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17dyEKV0I/AAAAAAAAJMA/uvDC5XaZVYY/s1600-h/IMG_5690.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17dyEKV0I/AAAAAAAAJMA/uvDC5XaZVYY/s400/IMG_5690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254992091796887362" border="0" /></a>And another:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17d_iLIQI/AAAAAAAAJMQ/Btei3db936M/s1600-h/IMG_5692.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17d_iLIQI/AAAAAAAAJMQ/Btei3db936M/s400/IMG_5692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254992095412429058" border="0" /></a>And if the wires didn't get you, maybe the pieces of glass will:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17d-mqOfI/AAAAAAAAJMY/9uIj00xAfgc/s1600-h/IMG_5696.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SO17d-mqOfI/AAAAAAAAJMY/9uIj00xAfgc/s400/IMG_5696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254992095162808818" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-31478988204990786132008-09-23T23:03:00.000-07:002008-09-23T23:33:00.494-07:00Returning to IndiaEvery once in a while, I'm asked whether I'm happy I returned to India. I vary my answers based on who is asking the question. If it's an old friend from the US asking me, I say "Yes, I'm happy though I miss a lot about my old life". If its someone from India, I say " Yes, I'm very happy - who wouldn't be?". The common thread I find that I say is "Yes, I'm very happy". Is that the truth? I'm not sure.<br /><br />Recently someone I know who had moved here around the time we had, has decided she just can't live here anymore. She has tried to fit back in, she has tried very hard, but says she just can't do it, and doesn't want to try anymore. And they are moving back.<br /><br />I find that things aren't so black and white for me. There are several things about India that I love. I love that my daughter has so much family around her - that she gets to grow up with grandparents and cousins, aunts and uncles. I love that they want to spend time with her and love to be with her - that I don't have to pay someone to spend 2 hours with my daughter while I have dinner. I love that people are genuinely willing and wanting to help at any time if you need them.<br /><br />But I desperately miss personal space. I miss sidewalks. I miss parks. I miss open spaces with no one in sight. I miss being able to go to a grocery store and being confronted with a shelf of choices.<br /><br />A close friend is moving back here. I've known him forever and when he genuinely asked me, "So would you recommend I move back?", I was only able to give him the pros and cons. It works for me, but I can understand when it doesn't work for someone else. Its a very personal decision. And there's no way to plan for it.<br /><br />I found that everyone - and I really mean every single person I know - asked me "why did you move back?". It seemed like people moved back only for a reason - lost their job, not enough money, terribly homesick, enough money to retire - but none, like us, who had no reason at all. We still ask ourselves sometimes What prompted us to move back? And still there is no answer - we just always thought that we would.<br /><br />Some people need 6 months just to adjust to the idea of moving back and another year to plan it out - career options, living options etc. For some, like us, you just book the ticket, don't think about it too much - pretty much jump into the water and learn how to swim again. And sometimes, the pool will be filled with water, and other times, it might be cleaning day, and you might hit hard concrete! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-80028299976674915692008-08-05T03:19:00.001-07:002008-08-05T03:26:11.127-07:00KnivesSome of the benefits of living in Chennai you start taking for granted. We can have veggies and fish delivered fresh to the door everyday! Doctors (some of them) make house calls. And when you call a doctor, you don't have to talk to a nurse first.<br /><br />And you can get your knives sharpened professionally for Rs. 100 (about $2) for an unlimited number of knives, scissors and blender blades! And the man comes home and does it for you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SJgqDQv7ELI/AAAAAAAAHhg/Iq847aMPNGM/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SJgqDQv7ELI/AAAAAAAAHhg/Iq847aMPNGM/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230977202714775730" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-15640630457099666462008-06-18T02:53:00.000-07:002008-06-18T02:57:38.469-07:00Whoa!!Spotted: A Lamborghini in Chennai! Yeah, you heard me... Here it is!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegtkBhLUcPtN3KVd1IAkgFnkKThwqwlwKX8N8a6zAu7PezdCmMbcgpDjyTvz79jpSD4IEWvBHnOZK8EhfIduu9mU0Cmvd_dM5v3fkN5iVq9pOFQVysDrRZtjmv-417OZ5hqqSVQ/s1600-h/IMG00626.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegtkBhLUcPtN3KVd1IAkgFnkKThwqwlwKX8N8a6zAu7PezdCmMbcgpDjyTvz79jpSD4IEWvBHnOZK8EhfIduu9mU0Cmvd_dM5v3fkN5iVq9pOFQVysDrRZtjmv-417OZ5hqqSVQ/s400/IMG00626.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213157889890031730" border="0" /></a><br />I blocked out those little voices of reason that said <span style="font-style: italic;">"Who would want to drive that on the Chennai roads and potholes!"</span> and just enjoyed the lovely machine!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-14346076221808687442008-06-03T03:20:00.000-07:002008-06-03T03:45:11.657-07:00La Boulangerie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SEUfGACBH9I/AAAAAAAAGBw/3JrLrFpFEbg/s1600-h/IMG_0086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SEUfGACBH9I/AAAAAAAAGBw/3JrLrFpFEbg/s400/IMG_0086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207602732071985106" border="0" /></a><br />La Boulangerie is a French bakery/cafe that is tucked away in a little corner of Anna Nagar. Opened by a young Frenchman, Alexis de Ducla, it began as a noble NGO. Mr. de Ducla began La Boulangerie to help young adults from underprivileged backgrounds, get a career going by teaching them to bake and manage a bakery. Foodstuff from the bakery was sold to the cafes at Amethyst, the Park hotel, Amma Naana and Maison de Gourmet.<br /><br />He then opened his own little cafe/bakery. After reading a lot of press about the cafe, we decided to give it a test run. So on Sunday afternoon, we set off there, to have some "coffee and cake".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SEUfFgCBH7I/AAAAAAAAGBg/IQ55ITyQJoc/s1600-h/IMG_0084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SEUfFgCBH7I/AAAAAAAAGBg/IQ55ITyQJoc/s400/IMG_0084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207602723482050482" border="0" /></a><br />The ambience is very nice. They have a little outdoor terrace with seating, and in-door furniture (for those not brave enough to weather the Chennai heat). There is a selection of croissants, bagels (yes, the first time I've seen bagels anywhere in Chennai), flavored breads, cakes and pastries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SEUfFwCBH8I/AAAAAAAAGBo/z_URUmQPRYY/s1600-h/IMG_0085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SEUfFwCBH8I/AAAAAAAAGBo/z_URUmQPRYY/s400/IMG_0085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207602727777017794" border="0" /></a><br />The less said about the bread, the better! It all sounded very good, but tasted ... disappointing. I sampled a mushroom quiche was "ok". The only thing that was very good was the little tea cakes that came with the cappuccino we ordered.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SEUfGQCBH-I/AAAAAAAAGB4/d6ujeBAi9Lo/s1600-h/IMG_0087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SEUfGQCBH-I/AAAAAAAAGB4/d6ujeBAi9Lo/s400/IMG_0087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207602736366952418" border="0" /></a><br />I think they have a long way to go before their food resembles, in taste, a Parisienne cafe. I wish them good luck - god knows Chennai needs a great bakery/ cafe.<br /><br />Contact information and address on their <a href="http://laboulangerieindia.com/_mgxroot/page_10770.html">website</a>. (the site is under construction, but the basic address and phone numbers are there).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-12096506506953860732008-05-26T10:15:00.000-07:002008-05-26T10:31:47.074-07:00The Samosa Factory<a href="http://www.thesamosafactory.in/types.htm">The Samosa Factory</a> is a relatively new store that has opened in Anna Nagar. Its a little - and I mean tiny - desk! on the sidewalk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SDrzEq9XLVI/AAAAAAAAFtI/Dj4JpmceX00/s1600-h/IMG00594.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SDrzEq9XLVI/AAAAAAAAFtI/Dj4JpmceX00/s400/IMG00594.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204739580956716370" border="0" /></a><br />You order something and they have it pre-packaged in little bags. If they're out, the lady at the desk, runs upstairs (where the kitchen is) and brings some down - hot, fresh fabulous mini samosas. You could alternatively eat there, and they have a microwave to heat it up for you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SDrzOa9XLWI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/j1eTPr2sagw/s1600-h/IMG00595.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SDrzOa9XLWI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/j1eTPr2sagw/s400/IMG00595.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204739748460440930" border="0" /></a><br />They have 4 kinds - Indian, Chinese, Potato and Jain. I really like the Chinese - its unique (carrot, beans, potatoes, cabbage sauteed in a chilli-soy sauce. The Indian and Potato ones are almost identical (the lady wasn't too sure either what the difference was). And the Jain...well, its a Jain samosa (no root vegetables - onion, garlic, potato...).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SDry4a9XLUI/AAAAAAAAFtA/chjv75lNzLw/s1600-h/IMG_3560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SDry4a9XLUI/AAAAAAAAFtA/chjv75lNzLw/s400/IMG_3560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204739370503318850" border="0" /></a><br />You get a package of 12 mini samosas for Rs. 20. I thought that was extremely reasonable. And it was delicious. Perfect to pick-up as appetizers for a last-minute party!<br /><br />Address and phone numbers on their <a href="http://www.thesamosafactory.in/types.htm">website</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-13915616002522598742008-05-26T10:10:00.000-07:002008-05-26T10:15:35.826-07:00Congratulations!I just realized this was my 100th post. Damn - I'm really impressed with myself - I stuck it out for 2 years and now I've done 100 posts on Chennai! Not bad, huh?<br /><br />I want to thank my friends for visiting here and following this blog. I've really enjoyed it and hope to keep going. There are lots of changes to Chennai everyday and I enjoy blogging about it. Hope to see all of you visit often...<br /><br />Cheers! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-77630486193789786342008-05-25T09:24:00.000-07:002008-05-25T09:34:51.857-07:00Bay LeafFor the best Kathi Rolls in Chennai, try Bay Leaf. They have a huge menu with north Indian, Bengali and Chinese food, but their Kathi Rolls are really superb.<br /><br />If you like paneer, try the Achari Paneer Roll. And the mutton and chicken egg rolls are also supposedly superb.<br /><br />The restaurant is pretty old - they did close down for a few months, but are back up and running now. They have a simple restaurant with modest decor and clean tables - but I always end up doing take-out/ delivery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SDmUl69XLGI/AAAAAAAAFp0/DcBg2it_I7o/s1600-h/IMG_2847.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SDmUl69XLGI/AAAAAAAAFp0/DcBg2it_I7o/s400/IMG_2847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204354223606017122" border="0" /></a><br />Give it a try. Its really the best kathi rolls I've had in Chennai (ok maybe tied with Tic Tac).<br /><br /><div class="adr"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size:-1;"><span class="extended-address">Bay Leaf<br />14</span></span><span dir="ltr" style="font-size:-1;"> Gopalapuram, <span class="locality"><br />Chennai</span><span class="region"></span><span class="postal-code"></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:-1;"><div><span><nobr class="tel">+91 44 28114558</nobr></span></div></span><span style="font-size:-1;"><div><span><nobr class="tel">+91 44 28114557</nobr></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-47500595817490375232008-05-17T19:51:00.000-07:002008-05-17T19:53:05.051-07:00Kochi!Cochin - who would guess? It is so beautiful. This is my first time there and I was blown away at how lovely the city is. These are photos of the Docks, and where the Vembanad Lake meets the Arabian Sea. We even managed to see dolphins! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC-YsPCg0WI/AAAAAAAAFJg/bA4npe5x3HQ/s1600-h/IMG_0096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC-YsPCg0WI/AAAAAAAAFJg/bA4npe5x3HQ/s400/IMG_0096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201543980354949474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC-YcfCg0VI/AAAAAAAAFJY/l55gq0rMFmA/s1600-h/IMG_0093.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC-YcfCg0VI/AAAAAAAAFJY/l55gq0rMFmA/s400/IMG_0093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201543709772009810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC-YMfCg0UI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/ykmSm50myGc/s1600-h/IMG_0077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC-YMfCg0UI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/ykmSm50myGc/s400/IMG_0077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201543434894102850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC9AbPCg0TI/AAAAAAAAFIw/DRm14ZVBedE/s1600-h/IMG_0082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC9AbPCg0TI/AAAAAAAAFIw/DRm14ZVBedE/s400/IMG_0082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201446931273929010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC-Y3PCg0XI/AAAAAAAAFJo/j_4gPk36VxM/s1600-h/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SC-Y3PCg0XI/AAAAAAAAFJo/j_4gPk36VxM/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201544169333510514" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-10847419639921391672008-04-25T12:36:00.000-07:002008-04-26T06:07:32.767-07:00Madras, Nalla Madras!The Chennai Corporation has finally decided to beautify the city and build infrastructure before it gets out of hand. <br /><br />They have done some amazing things already. Though everyone complains (and will continue to do so) non-stop, we are soon going to be thankful for all the flyovers being built. Especially when the traffic is intense. Flyovers ease traffic congestions, so be happy folks. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBIzEXiKNMI/AAAAAAAADxA/7Kec1f-_mKs/s1600-h/IMG00513.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBIzEXiKNMI/AAAAAAAADxA/7Kec1f-_mKs/s400/IMG00513.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193269470441387202" /></a><br /><br />Another wonderful thing they are doing is removing all illegal billboards! I really didn't think I would ever see this in my lifetime. Chennai is looking cleaner and greener already. They work at nights and remove the boards and hoardings. And then people complained that the signs had brought extra lighting to the roads, so they installed lights (in the Gemini Circle alone, they have spent 13 crores on lighting!). And now it looks amazing. Clean. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBIzRniKNNI/AAAAAAAADxI/7Le3XO5UTGs/s1600-h/IMG00514.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBIzRniKNNI/AAAAAAAADxI/7Le3XO5UTGs/s400/IMG00514.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193269698074653906" /></a><br /><br />They have also decided to BROADEN roads! Can you believe that where they have found they cannot deal with the traffic congestion any other way, they've decided to just move all walls bordering the road by 5 feet. I think that's amazing - and every single person has complied. The roads are already more navigable. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBIziHiKNOI/AAAAAAAADxQ/Oa97wa-94qY/s1600-h/IMG00538.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBIziHiKNOI/AAAAAAAADxQ/Oa97wa-94qY/s400/IMG00538.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193269981542495458" /></a><br /><br />I'm so happy that I get to see and enjoy all these improvements. My congratulations - everyone really is trying. Madras, Nalla Madras <span style="font-style:italic;">(Madras, Nice Madras)</span>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-60305581894971218882008-04-24T03:40:00.000-07:002008-04-24T04:46:29.662-07:00Go Chennai SuperKings!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBBxkHiKM9I/AAAAAAAADt4/GUGp7S9OQ5I/s1600-h/kkbl9v9d4aw4qnsnu5ma.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBBxkHiKM9I/AAAAAAAADt4/GUGp7S9OQ5I/s400/kkbl9v9d4aw4qnsnu5ma.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192775235669734354" /></a><br /><br />The much-awaited <a href="http://premierleaguecricket.in/">IPL (Indian Premier League)</a> 20-20 cricket tournament had its huge opening on April 18th. With about 60 matches spread over a 1 1/2 month period, there is no dearth of exciting cricket lined up. <br /><br />The IPL is similar to the National Basketball League (NBA) in the US. Each team is owned on a franchise basis by businessmen/ celebrities. The players can be traded and bought in an auction, and they will play for their cities. <br /><br />The 8 teams and their franchisees in the league are:<br /><br /><a href="http://premierleaguecricket.in/articles/ipl-teams-chennai-super-kings/">Chennai Super Kings</a> - by India Cements<br />Delhi Daredevils - by GMR Holdings<br /><a href="http://premierleaguecricket.in/articles/ipl-mumbai-indians/">Mumbai Indians</a> - by Reliance<br /><a href="http://premierleaguecricket.in/articles/ipl-bangalore-royal-challengers/">Bangalore Royal Challengers</a> - by Vijay Mallya<br />Deccan Chargers - Hyderabad - by Deccan Chronicle<br />Rajasthan Royals - By Emerging Media Group<br />Kolkata Knight Riders - by Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla<br />Kings XI Punjab - by Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia<br /><br />You can access the <a href="http://premierleaguecricket.in/ipl-schedule/">IPL tournament schedule here</a>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBByVHiKM_I/AAAAAAAADuI/I4JLMih1Tnw/s1600-h/IMG00535.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SBByVHiKM_I/AAAAAAAADuI/I4JLMih1Tnw/s400/IMG00535.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192776077483324402" /></a><br /><br />In a nail-biting match last night (as you can see in the picture above, the Mumbai Indians needed 8 runs in 2 balls!), Chennai Super Kings beat the Mumbai Indians in the last few balls of the match. It was nerve-racking to watch!! But we won! Go CSK!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-79814825770087015182008-04-23T05:32:00.000-07:002008-04-23T05:52:12.701-07:00Restaurant Review: LotusI've eaten at <a href="http://chennai.theparkhotels.com/chennai_rest_lot.html">Lotus</a> numerous times. So much, infact, that my usual dining companion and I have a special sauce there that they bring out only when we dine there!! I couldn't believe that I hadn't reviewed it here. <a href="http://arundathi-rediscovery.blogspot.com/2006/10/steamed-wontons-and-pahd-thai-granted.html">I did mention it briefly,</a> but not nearly enough. <br /><br />Lotus, located at The Park Hotel, has the best Thai food in Chennai. And maybe in south India. A cozy restaurant with ample plush seating, the ambience invites you to linger over your food and have 3 hour lunches with a good friend. <br /><br />Now to the exciting food. We always start with the Vietnamese spring rolls that are fresh and crunchy and served with a special dipping sauce that is incredible. The must order salads are the Mango Salad and the ever popular raw Papaya salad. They also have a Banana Blossoms salad that we tried recently which is very nice. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8wTXiKMuI/AAAAAAAADrU/ZN4wAeym_DE/s1600-h/IMG00518.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8wTXiKMuI/AAAAAAAADrU/ZN4wAeym_DE/s400/IMG00518.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192422004674409186" /></a><br /><br />Then comes the Thai spicy fried rice, Pahd Thai, honey glazed crunchy vegetables, chicken satay and a vegetarian green curry. I must say here that every single one of those dishes is Excellent. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8wcXiKMvI/AAAAAAAADrc/mD_KkHOad0Y/s1600-h/IMG00519.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8wcXiKMvI/AAAAAAAADrc/mD_KkHOad0Y/s400/IMG00519.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192422159293231858" /></a><br /><br />We usually end with the black sticky rice pudding, which is tremendous. I've been angling to get the recipe for a year now, and haven't managed to! One order might be enough for about 4 people - its really really rich. <br /><br />If you love Thai food, head to Lotus for a delectable meal. <br /><br />Lotus Thai<br />Park Hotel<br />601, Anna Salai<br />Chennai<br /><br />Phone - (044) 4214 4000 for reservationsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-73870823654269203872008-04-23T04:09:00.000-07:002008-04-23T05:26:52.586-07:00Restaurant Review: Somethin' Fishy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8qeXiKMrI/AAAAAAAADq8/ufvdHEBndbw/s1600-h/IMG00507.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8qeXiKMrI/AAAAAAAADq8/ufvdHEBndbw/s400/IMG00507.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192415596583203506" /></a><br /><br />Though everyone seems to love Somethin' Fishy, I was a little skeptical, being vegetarian. I understand they have great seafood, but did they have good veggie food? Well, I tried it out, and though they don't have a huge selection for a veggie, the food was quite good. <br /><br />Located on the rooftop of a hotel on busy Mount Road, the only major drawback of the restaurant was that there was no air-conditioning. In Chennai, that's a huge deterrent, and with all the fans and a thatch roof, it was still very hot. The ambience is non-fussy with wrought iron furniture, fish nets, shells and plain wood tables. On a Saturday night, I was surprised that the restaurant was empty the entire time we were there! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8qoXiKMsI/AAAAAAAADrE/LR1P_sUnCMk/s1600-h/IMG00510.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8qoXiKMsI/AAAAAAAADrE/LR1P_sUnCMk/s400/IMG00510.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192415768381895362" /></a><br /><br />The owner and chef, Kadir, and his wife, Nimmi, are so nice that they accommodate most requests. My friend had grilled fish skewers, and I had a "mixed vegetables in spicy sauce". The sauce, which was super, turned out to be an unusual avocado sauce. It was definitely something I'd order again. <br /><br />But the biggest hit of the evening was the Chocolate Mousse. Please order it if you remotely enjoy chocolate. Good Stuff! <br /><br />Somethin' Fishy<br />Inn Chennai<br />578, Anna Salai <br />open for dinner only from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. <br /><br />Phone # 9884110113 for details or reservations.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-35467348145640089152008-04-23T03:51:00.000-07:002008-04-23T04:09:03.045-07:00Vandalur Zoo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8YBHiKMqI/AAAAAAAADq0/tbAH__MmkA4/s1600-h/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8YBHiKMqI/AAAAAAAADq0/tbAH__MmkA4/s400/IMG_0045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192395302862729890" /></a><br /><br />Chennai's zoo is located about an hour outside the city (past the airport and Tambaram). I've been wanting to go see it for many years, but hadn't heard very good things, so kept finding an excuse not to go. <br /><br />Well, this past week I decided to go and take a whole lot of kids too. I was very pleasantly surprised. They've done a tremendous job. You can either hire a tram to drive around, or you could walk. They have lots and lots to see. And its very green. They also have little shaded areas where people can rest and re-energize. <br /><br />Apart from the usual tigers, lions, hippos, monkeys, deer, giraffes, we saw some really unusual animals too: <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Cassowary Bird </span><span style="font-style:italic;">(native to Australia)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8XcniKMnI/AAAAAAAADqc/N5D5Qf0osQM/s1600-h/IMG_0020-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8XcniKMnI/AAAAAAAADqc/N5D5Qf0osQM/s400/IMG_0020-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192394675797504626" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The White Siberian Tiger</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">(I later learnt that its an albino form of a regular tiger, not a different species of tiger)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8XoXiKMoI/AAAAAAAADqk/A3btK6MVivU/s1600-h/IMG_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8XoXiKMoI/AAAAAAAADqk/A3btK6MVivU/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192394877660967554" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Zebras!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8X0niKMpI/AAAAAAAADqs/7ndzEEpTCTY/s1600-h/IMG_0038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SA8X0niKMpI/AAAAAAAADqs/7ndzEEpTCTY/s400/IMG_0038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192395088114365074" /></a><br /><br />They even have a kangaroo! But he wouldn't come out from his little hideout, so we couldn't see him. <br /><br />I heard the sad tale of the rhino that had just died a month earlier. When they did a post-mortem, they found soda cans, plastic bottles and packets of chips inside his stomach from all the food that was being fed to him by visitors. Although there are signs everywhere telling you not to feed the animals, the officials claim that no one listens. <br /><br />They also organize a lion "safari" where you go in jeeps inside an almost-Jurassic Park-looking enclosure and see lions up close. Quite cool!<br /><br />I recommend a visit to the zoo - its a really nice way to spend a 1/2 day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-45902402207776366132008-04-16T12:16:00.000-07:002008-04-16T12:34:09.098-07:00Beat the Heat<span style="font-weight:bold;">Coconut Water Salesman:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZRpspY08I/AAAAAAAADgU/2a0oupUCAzE/s1600-h/IMG00490.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZRpspY08I/AAAAAAAADgU/2a0oupUCAzE/s400/IMG00490.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189925397392315330" /></a><br /><br />Chennaiites sure know how to beat the heat. Its been 36 deg C/ 95 deg F!! Absolutely too too hot!! Some enterprising vendors have brought their wares to the street. What a cool way to beat the heat! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fresh Sugarcane juice:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZR7cpY09I/AAAAAAAADgc/Mz1IeyqJc7U/s1600-h/IMG00493.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZR7cpY09I/AAAAAAAADgc/Mz1IeyqJc7U/s400/IMG00493.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189925702334993362" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">This woman was selling "slurpies" - crushed ice with different flavors!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZTD8pY0_I/AAAAAAAADgs/y5dyGOStnZA/s1600-h/IMG00495.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZTD8pY0_I/AAAAAAAADgs/y5dyGOStnZA/s400/IMG00495.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189926947875509234" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Poms </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZTYcpY1AI/AAAAAAAADg0/7bTM0zYFW2U/s1600-h/IMG00496.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZTYcpY1AI/AAAAAAAADg0/7bTM0zYFW2U/s400/IMG00496.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189927300062827522" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Watermelons</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZTjspY1BI/AAAAAAAADg8/Sw4-hrxlYIo/s1600-h/IMG00497.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZTjspY1BI/AAAAAAAADg8/Sw4-hrxlYIo/s400/IMG00497.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189927493336355858" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tiny, tender cucumbers, served with salt and/or chilli powder</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZUBspY1CI/AAAAAAAADhE/GtZBDxcDWgI/s1600-h/IMG00498.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAZUBspY1CI/AAAAAAAADhE/GtZBDxcDWgI/s400/IMG00498.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189928008732431394" /></a><br /><br />There were also several vendors selling sunglasses, hats and bandanas. And, at lunch time, every single vendor had a long line of customers!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-38754827165038034312008-04-15T02:29:00.001-07:002008-04-15T02:41:13.817-07:00Times of IndiaTimes of India, which has been a national newspaper for decades in the rest of India, has finally made its entry into Chennai. A great time to enter the city, in my opinion. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAR3uMpY00I/AAAAAAAADek/UStbjbGY6BM/s1600-h/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SAR3uMpY00I/AAAAAAAADek/UStbjbGY6BM/s400/IMG_0025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189404306190160706" /></a><br /><br />Chennai has always had two major newspapers - The Hindu and Indian Express. For some reason, Indian Express started losing steam and readership over the last few years. Last year, a new entrant to the newspaper business in Chennai, Deccan Chronicle. DC suddenly became very popular - its a "fun" newspaper that the next generation enjoys reading. Their most popular section was the Page 3 Society section - people were talking about that page all over the city. This was, I think, only because Chennai lacks a public society magazine or newspaper round-up. <br /><br />The Hindu, has been overheard to have become "boring". The coverage is still fantastic on the political front, and for International news. But the writing has become less "catchy". <br /><br />Good time for Times of India to make an entrance. When I bought the first issue yesterday I was quite excited. It's not everyday that you get to hold the first edition of a major newspaper in your city! Good Luck TOI and Welcome to Chennai...finally!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-43651903839161198912008-04-14T06:14:00.000-07:002008-04-15T02:24:01.297-07:00Tangerine: Restaurant Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SARzsMpY0xI/AAAAAAAADdc/4PkeFt57fH0/s1600-h/IMG00468.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SARzsMpY0xI/AAAAAAAADdc/4PkeFt57fH0/s400/IMG00468.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189399873783911186" /></a><br /><br />Though this restaurant is right around the corner from us, we never managed to make it there for a while. This past weekend, we finally drove by and decided to stop for lunch. The decor is very stark and not a lot of fuss. The restaurant is known for its sizzlers, and sure enough, they had a menu that boasted about 15-20 kinds of sizzlers. <br /><br />We ordered some bruschetta with garlic bread and crab bisque for our appetizers. The bruschetta was fabulous. Tomatoes were fresh and there was just a hint of basil and the garlic bread alone might get us to come back to this restaurant. My husband didn't enjoy his bisque at all. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ACboReMLIV1lpb4ctWqb1sCVKqulvzLDJlFozxB666ylaRtjkA2h0TBUVrcmlZRcMoJ68JHLJGslD6fhAMP2QBXmX3Z5ycfAXx-1OAVqxsBg8g3wpe5TNjP5GHgw3eCyx0lucg/s1600-h/IMG00465.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ACboReMLIV1lpb4ctWqb1sCVKqulvzLDJlFozxB666ylaRtjkA2h0TBUVrcmlZRcMoJ68JHLJGslD6fhAMP2QBXmX3Z5ycfAXx-1OAVqxsBg8g3wpe5TNjP5GHgw3eCyx0lucg/s400/IMG00465.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189399706280186626" /></a><br /><br />For our entrees, I ordered a vegetarian Creole sizzler which wasn't pretty to look at but quite tasty. It didn't taste of anything Creole, but overall was still good. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SARz0MpY0yI/AAAAAAAADdk/oMmpQKDapSE/s1600-h/IMG00466.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/SARz0MpY0yI/AAAAAAAADdk/oMmpQKDapSE/s400/IMG00466.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189400011222864674" /></a><br /><br />At about Rs.100/ a head, I thought it was a good deal for a quick lunch. Not bad for a restaurant around the corner. <br /><br />5, Murray's Gate Road, <br />Alwarpet, <br />Chennai<br />Phone: (044) 42038800Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-85737502390639618862008-04-10T22:06:00.000-07:002008-04-10T22:47:04.031-07:00What I'm Reading<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_7y2DEbtnI/AAAAAAAADTw/XpobRWpYz78/s1600-h/IMG00449.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_7y2DEbtnI/AAAAAAAADTw/XpobRWpYz78/s400/IMG00449.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187850831128147570" /></a><br /><br />A dear friend recently gave me this book - a New York Times Bestseller - and swore it worked for her. Since we have toddlers the same age, I was happy to give it a try. <br /><br />This fun book is filled with exercises, little scenarios and cartoons. It is definitely not a "How To" guide on raising children, but more a way to understanding your children better. What works for you might not work for me. Since each situation is so personal, one has to truly adapt the book to the relationship and not the other way around. <br /><br />I have seen a huge improvement just in the last 48 hours. Here's a typical scenario between my daughter and me:<br /><br />K: I don't want the yogurt. It's spicy. <br />Me: It's not spicy. You mean its sweet. <br />K: No, its spicy. <br />Me: It can't be. Yogurt isn't spicy. Let me try it. See, its not spicy. <br />K: It is. It is. <br />Me: No its not and you are going to sit here till you finish it. <br />K: Nooooooo!!! <span style="font-style:italic;">(crying)<br /></span><br />After reading this book, our lunch yesterday went like this:<br /><br />K: I don't want the yogurt. It's spicy. <br />Me: Do you find it spicy?<br />K: Hmmm. Not really spicy. Sour. <br />Me: Wait - let me try it. Yes, it is quite sour. <span style="font-style:italic;">(Made a funny "sourpuss" face. She started to giggle. Continued making faces. More giggling)</span><br />K: Can I have it less sour?<br />Me: Sure <span style="font-style:italic;">(and added a teaspoon of sugar)</span><br />K: Thanks. Its yummy. <span style="font-style:italic;">(Still giggling)</span><br /><br />There was a huge difference. Both in my attitude and hers. The last 2 days have been ones of pure self-discovery. I didn't imagine we could go for 48 hours without a tantrum, and we have. <br /><br />I've only read the first two chapters - which teach how to approach a situation with empathy and how to identify what your child is feeling. I've learned so much already. <br /><br />Thank you for the book. I'm sure my daughter would thank you too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-52326326830179915242008-04-06T03:43:00.000-07:002008-04-07T23:24:23.577-07:00Travel File: Bandhavghar National Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j3XF_dt3I/AAAAAAAADDA/dLlBp3OWE1s/s1600-h/IMG_0170.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j3XF_dt3I/AAAAAAAADDA/dLlBp3OWE1s/s320/IMG_0170.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186166947034543986" /></a><br /><br />When they say that Madhya Pradesh is the heart of India, I didn't pay attention. I hardly knew anything about Madhya Pradesh before I visited Bandhavghar National Park. We flew to Delhi and then to Jabalpur and then drove 4 hours to the Park. We stayed in a lovely hotel, Mahua Kothi, which is a joint venture between the Taj Hotels and CC Africa. The hotel is lovely and located bang in the middle of acres of forest and grassland - typical tiger country. It was my first stay inside a forest and my first safari, so I was quite excited. <br /><br />Madhya Pradesh has the largest number of national parks in the country and the largest concentration of tigers. Its a beautiful country! <br /><br />We left early the next morning (5 am) and saw a lovely sunrise, while keeping our eyes peeled for tigers. We saw lots and lots of langurs, deer and many varieties of birds and plant life. We never did see the tigers that first day! This sign just about summed up our experience!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j38l_dt4I/AAAAAAAADDI/d1Z2oQxc-_Q/s1600-h/IMG_0036.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j38l_dt4I/AAAAAAAADDI/d1Z2oQxc-_Q/s320/IMG_0036.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186167591279638402" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j4U1_dt5I/AAAAAAAADDQ/QZvC5xBO538/s1600-h/IMG_0016.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j4U1_dt5I/AAAAAAAADDQ/QZvC5xBO538/s320/IMG_0016.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186168007891466130" /></a><br /><br />Everyday, we'd head off for 4 hours in the morning, having lavish picnics on the road. Return for lunch and then head out for a 4 hour drive in the evening, returning by sunset. The forest, at night, is an amazing place to be. The tables are definitely turned. A tiger has unparalleled night vision and we can't see 2 feet in front of us! It gave us chills just to walk from dinner back to our rooms.<br /><br />The food, made from fresh local ingredients, was simply superb. Simple and elegant. They also offered splendid massages right in the verandah of our rooms. Each room was like a little upscale hut, with its lovely local craft and woodwork. The highlight of the day would be when you return from the drive and a bath had been drawn filled with sweet smelling petals. It was exactly what you needed after a long, bumpy drive inside the forest. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Massage:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j42F_dt6I/AAAAAAAADDY/cKt1diMCAH0/s1600-h/IMG_0073.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j42F_dt6I/AAAAAAAADDY/cKt1diMCAH0/s320/IMG_0073.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186168579122116514" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Bath:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_jTXl_dtxI/AAAAAAAADB8/xbMqNfVjjjY/s1600-h/IMG_0184.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_jTXl_dtxI/AAAAAAAADB8/xbMqNfVjjjY/s320/IMG_0184.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186127373205878546" /></a><br /><br />The forest is a serene place and for once, I saw no trash anywhere, and everyone was always quiet, being careful not to disturb the animals in their natural environment. One day we heard that there was a tigress who comes down to the stream to drink water between 5.15 and 5.30 every evening. We brushed away the story as another way to keep our hopes up. Especially since we hadn't seen a tiger for 1.5 days, we were starting to feel a little disappointed. So we took the chance and showed up at 5 to wait for the punctual tigress. And she did come - at exactly 5.20! And she walked right through the waiting safari jeeps. No one made a single noise - the feeling was almost spiritual to see a tiger in the wild, in its own habitat. It walked right through the waiting jeeps and clicking cameras and standing, hardly-breathing people! It barely gave us an acknowledgement. It seriously couldn't care who we were or what we were doing there. It headed straight for the tall grass and the water on the other side and lay down in the tall grass and she was gone as fast as she had appeared. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Our Beautiful Tigress:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j5bF_dt7I/AAAAAAAADDg/t6CX8Lent9Q/s1600-h/IMG_0152.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j5bF_dt7I/AAAAAAAADDg/t6CX8Lent9Q/s320/IMG_0152.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186169214777276338" /></a><br /><br />We saw several other tigers while we were but the first one was the most memorable. We also saw lots of beautiful birds - vultures, hawks, eagles, owls, rollers, kingfishers. And lots of lovely foliage - most notably the bright green Sal trees and the lovely Mahua trees with their yellow intoxicating fruit. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mahua Flowers</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j7A1_duAI/AAAAAAAADEI/wupFaRBbTzc/s1600-h/IMG_0054.JPG(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j7A1_duAI/AAAAAAAADEI/wupFaRBbTzc/s320/IMG_0054.JPG(2).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186170962828965890" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elephant and Mahoot</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j6wl_dt_I/AAAAAAAADEA/ai6eTC3pKLY/s1600-h/IMG_0113.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j6wl_dt_I/AAAAAAAADEA/ai6eTC3pKLY/s320/IMG_0113.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186170683656091634" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Deer</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j6bV_dt-I/AAAAAAAADD4/ySolFbtC0ZY/s1600-h/DSC00103.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j6bV_dt-I/AAAAAAAADD4/ySolFbtC0ZY/s320/DSC00103.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186170318583871458" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Langurs</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j6L1_dt9I/AAAAAAAADDw/B1H9OzpUXDg/s1600-h/DSC00051.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j6L1_dt9I/AAAAAAAADDw/B1H9OzpUXDg/s320/DSC00051.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186170052295899090" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Kingfisher</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j6Bl_dt8I/AAAAAAAADDo/BzTEQBCCkCU/s1600-h/DSC00050.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_j6Bl_dt8I/AAAAAAAADDo/BzTEQBCCkCU/s320/DSC00050.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186169876202239938" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Red Headed Vulture</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_sPKl_duRI/AAAAAAAADJw/ER7ov2GVvdE/s1600-h/Red+Headed+Vulture+(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_sPKl_duRI/AAAAAAAADJw/ER7ov2GVvdE/s320/Red+Headed+Vulture+(2).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186756070518667538" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Brown Fish Owl</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_sO2l_duQI/AAAAAAAADJo/Z5czMJM6XOY/s1600-h/Brown+Fish+Owl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R_sO2l_duQI/AAAAAAAADJo/Z5czMJM6XOY/s320/Brown+Fish+Owl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186755726921283842" /></a><br /><br />I highly recommend Bandhavgarh and Madhya Pradesh to everyone who is remotely interested in nature. We are now addicted!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35192084.post-48933554960689020592008-03-24T22:19:00.000-07:002008-03-24T22:37:37.557-07:00Life's a BeachThe nicest part of Chennai is the beach. A mini-getaway. A break from the hustle and bustle of the city. And this weekend, the storm clouds provided a great backdrop!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iMvV_dp5I/AAAAAAAACV0/Kh6AYiWW1kQ/s1600-h/IMG00388.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iMvV_dp5I/AAAAAAAACV0/Kh6AYiWW1kQ/s320/IMG00388.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181546116274825106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iMoF_dp4I/AAAAAAAACVs/7tl3Al1FhKY/s1600-h/IMG00395.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iMoF_dp4I/AAAAAAAACVs/7tl3Al1FhKY/s320/IMG00395.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181545991720773506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iMbl_dp3I/AAAAAAAACVk/NnQDk9c3_aE/s1600-h/IMG00391.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iMbl_dp3I/AAAAAAAACVk/NnQDk9c3_aE/s320/IMG00391.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181545776972408690" /></a><br /><br />It also happened to be Holi weekend. And Good Friday. And Navroz. There were tons of people on the beach playing Holi.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iNJ1_dp6I/AAAAAAAACV8/nr7Ejo84hfY/s1600-h/IMG00396.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iNJ1_dp6I/AAAAAAAACV8/nr7Ejo84hfY/s320/IMG00396.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181546571541358498" /></a><br /><br />Its sad to see the condition of the beach though. Please do your part and don't litter!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iN-l_dp8I/AAAAAAAACWM/6Ym2Ss72duY/s1600-h/IMG00398.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iN-l_dp8I/AAAAAAAACWM/6Ym2Ss72duY/s320/IMG00398.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181547477779457986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iN5l_dp7I/AAAAAAAACWE/-oYCx_nj2OU/s1600-h/IMG00397.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iN5l_dp7I/AAAAAAAACWE/-oYCx_nj2OU/s320/IMG00397.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181547391880112050" /></a><br /><br />Let's keep the beaches lovely! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iMV1_dp2I/AAAAAAAACVc/1VyJx9qb7FU/s1600-h/IMG00387.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_asmWSF5Mt3M/R-iMV1_dp2I/AAAAAAAACVc/1VyJx9qb7FU/s320/IMG00387.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181545678188160866" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5