Friday, January 8, 2010

Madras

pic courtesy - Indian Backpacker
Happy New year! :D

2010. This is a big year for me. There are lots of things set to happen on many fronts. One of the 'happenings' is the India trip. I fly out to India next week. I am visiting Madras after seven years. 7 years. Long time. Over the past few days, memories from my childhood & early teenage, images of Coimbatore and Madras of 1990s have been swirling in my mind. A quiet excitement is bubbling within me. When I booked the flight tickets in May I told myself not to daydream about the India trip as the trip is far away. Now, with the D-day only a few days away, it is yet to sink in that I am actually going back home. The trip seems so surreal.

The 4 week trip is packed with events, rituals (for my late Grandma) and meetings with rellies/friends over many cups of filter coffee, lunches and dinners. I am really looking forward to it. However, I am also a bit nervous, a little anxious as to what to expect. 7 years may not be a very long time to be away from a place. However, with Madras, it seems like an eternity to me. "Lots of things have changed", they say. "Dei. This place is not as you knew it. Neeye vandhu paaru". Time changes many things. From the look of the place to the outlook of people. The question is to what extent I can identify & relate the present Madras to the Madras I knew from 1999. Once I do that, the extent of changes my friends were talking about will start to hit me.


Yea, whatever. As long Saravana Bhavan serves crispy Masala Dosai, the waves still foam up the shores of Elliots beach, North Mada Street is still as crowded as it used to be, Grand Snacks still makes kick-ass poli, we are able to play Street cricket without Visu Mama growling at us, and I do all the things that I planned to do, I am a happy chappie!

Madras, here I come :D

17 comments:

  1. Changes in people or places are inevitable with time! I am sure you'll notice that. I am glad the excitement is bubbling sriram :D I hope this trip proves to be one with a lot of smiles, discoveries and crazy times. Wish you all the best and have a safe trip home and back :D can't wait to hear all those stories. take care of yourself and I pray for your good health because I want you to get the most out of this long awaited experience!

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  2. mukund, :)

    pearl, thanks for your wishes! :) ill have a great time. tc.

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  3. Rock On.I just love Madras man and there is something very magical about it. I might not meet you this time as i am out of station but perhaps we should meet sometime later.

    In Minnale..maddy would say "Madras madiri varumma..."

    Enjoy Maddy :) and Reema Sen ;) ?? (just kidding!!)

    Have a fantastic vacation!!!
    Waiting for Madras based Blogs!!

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  4. Hearty Welcome:-), SRiram.

    7 years, lol...really, long time!

    Madras has become Chennai:-)!

    Apart from Saravana Bhavan, Murugan Idlis & frolicking in the beach, do go for a drive in ECR:-).

    The old garment export companies & defunct manufacturing cos hv been replaced by SEZ/STPI:-).

    Multiplexes are something u should chk out too:-).

    The cultural face of Chn, is very much alive & active! But enna, the streets of mylapore & triplicane are filled with talks of silicon valley:-).

    Enjoy ur stay @ Madras over a cuppa filter kapi.

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  5. Welcome ! As long as its just the coffee that gets filtered and you have unhindered fun...madras is a fine place to be in !!!

    Enjoy !

    :)

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  6. Oh gr8 man !!
    welcome to my city ;)uh ..er . .welcome back !!
    we will wait with thara thappata in meenambakkam when u come ..
    eai .. dan danaka ..

    Cheers !! :D

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  7. 7 years? You would have shock..I felt it in my brief stay in chennai after just a year away..Scores of IT company buses, unbearable (even to chennai's standards) heat, dangerous share autos that defy laws of gravity..metro rail that hardly fits its name..trees that no longer fill the avenues of besi and adyar..

    The city is still brimming (or atleast till I left it a year back)with good food, plenty of beach and broad roads by the side...

    Enjoy the changing city!

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  8. First-time here!!

    Going back home?! How nice.. For one, Madras is now Chennai .. ;-)I'm from Chennai too.. & last I visited , Saravana Bhavan masala dosa was getting better than before (if that's even possible)!

    Have fun. Very nice post.

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  9. nirmal, thanks :) it's a shame we cant meet this time. next time!

    viji, hehe. kandippa. the cousins are gonna take me around to all the sights.

    kavi, thanks! :)

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  10. wtf, you online today? poi pongala pongu maapi..

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  11. witsy, lol. and ill walk outta immigration doing a dappankuthu. lol. thanks man!

    ashwin, yep :) thanks!

    lostworld, welcome here! yes, cant beat masala dosai at saravanas.

    kumz, pongal nalvazhthukal mapla!

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  12. Hi sriram, enjoyed your company in Mumbai. enjoyed reading your blog. Hope to see a fresh blog regarding your india trip complete with all the traffic scenario :) would love to read your thoughts on that. Have a great trip to Chennai,enjoy the idli-vada and kaapi..take care

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  13. oh would like to meet someone else who likes making fun of federer, if you are in north mada street/mylapore. :)

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  14. Deepa Chithi, Reflections & Archana,

    thanks!

    Anjana,

    Thank God Roger didnt cry, otherwise I wouldve lost a bet with my cuz. I am back to Aus now. We should meet next time I am in Mds :)

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