going to india after 6 years whooohooooo! what's madras like

[kannuma]

nowadays?
would i be totally out of place to get my dresses etc?

[Surya]

It's great!! :D Warning: Koovam! Other than that, it's great! :D Have a great trip!! :thumbsup:

[scorpio]

Hi Kannuma,

Do you really expect a city to change within a period of 6 years?? I'm sure Chennai will be what it was when you left 6 years ago. Probably, you'll see more buildings, more flyovers and more traffic. Welcome back!

[Badri]

Scorpio Akka: You couldnt be farther from the truth! When I came back after just one year, Chennai had changed so much...Annanagar for instance. The new buildings I saw were spectacular. Staying in the same place, even I didnt notice the difference. But when I went away for a while and returned, voila, it was so different

[Akash]

Hi kannuma,

Welcome back!! there are differences!! you can find young professionals all over.... more crowds in shopping complex and in joints!!

But sad you r coming in summer :lol: :lol: !! Don't worry now old mahaballiburam road has an alternative, ECR... good road.... can rash to mahabs or to pondy, just like that!! ECR beaches are good.....

Welcome to Chennai!!

[scorpio]

Hi kannuma,

Welcome back!! there are differences!! you can find young professionals all over.... more crowds in shopping complex and in joints!!

Welcome to Chennai!!

Akash,

Ithuku per-thaan suya puraanam (self-advertisement). :lol:

Badri,

I fail to understand. Do you mean concrete buildings is all that that constitutes a city?? If you see new buildings, does that mean the city has changed? I thought people make a city appealing or otherwise. Well, at first sight, probably that catches more attention, I guess!

[Akash]

Akash,

Ithuku per-thaan suya puraanam (self-advertisement). :lol:


Oh, i just ment to say there are more IT, BPO, Call center, Bank staff, Tele marketing, etc ppl around.... not just Dr. and Engg. like b4 6 yrs.

I really wonder, how you can ever think in other angle! :x

[Badri]

I really wonder, how scorpio can ever think in other angle

Thambi Aakasu, athu onnum illa pa...nee young professionals nnu sonniya, athu rendume (young and professional) akkaku porunthala...athunaala thaan suya puranam nu sonna...so she is complimenting you that you are both young and a professional!

Avvalavu thaan! :lol:

[scorpio]

Kanna Badri,

Beware! JG Vanthathum adutha 'roasting' unakkuthaan.. :twisted:

[kannuma]

Hi Kannuma,

Do you really expect a city to change within a period of 6 years?? I'm sure Chennai will be what it was when you left 6 years ago. Probably, you'll see more buildings, more flyovers and more traffic. Welcome back!

:D im so excited to go. ITS BEEN 6 YEARS! but what i was getting at was what people wear etc. usualy when i go to india(long time ago) i only wear salwars, wear bindi, flowers in my hair blabla. except now everyones telling me madras has changed and id be somewhat of a fish out of water if i did that(although i want to wear all my salwars). and my friends tell me that madras HAS CHANGED. i just want to brace myself for the culture shock.
thanx guys for your help :D SOOOOOO excited. i just booked the tickets. go me :D

[Cinefan]

Kanna Badri,

Beware! JG Vanthathum adutha 'roasting' unakkuthaan.. :twisted:

Meendum JG uuh,varuvaara :?

[scorpio]

Enpa Cinefan, intha weekend cricket vilayaadalaliya??

Atleast, ungalukku Kalyana Pathrikkai-yaavathu vanthatha??

[Cinefan]

Enpa Cinefan, intha weekend cricket vilayaadalaliya??

Atleast, ungalukku Kalyana Pathrikkai-yaavathu vanthatha??

Scorpio,the unfortunate thing is that from the first time Jai called me to play cricket different things like a seminar,a trip to tirupati,a close relative falling ill,a picnic with family came up&I missed out.I have just spoken to him very briefly on phone a couple of times&the saturday which passed by was the first time I was free to play but couldn't get him on mobile.I have sent a SMS which never got delivered&a E-mail for which there is no reply.I have no idea why he has become invisible.If possible will go to the ground the following Sat&check out if everything's Ok.

[blahblah]

See what happens when people get married? Let come back and we will offer him another week's roasting,OK? :wink:

[kannuma]

could someone answer my question as to how people dress there nowadays! am planning what to pack already :D

[Mad Max]

could someone answer my question as to how people dress there nowadays! am planning what to pack already :D

You can wear Jeans/T-Shirts or Salwar, or Sari or Pavadai-Thavani (if you are a young gal). If you have any of these, just pack them. Dont worry too much! Hope you have a pleasant stay here and enjoy our city.

Note: If you are an old mami, Madisar pudavai is probably good :), just kiddin'

[Cygnus]

kannuma,

I think in any place, it is more important to feel comfortable as a person, based on your disposition and your reception of others' opinion of what the 'norm' is than based on how you look.

Chennai was still at heart the same city I know and love, when I went there about 3 years ago (after a gap of more than 4 years). It was the same in terms of my friends and relatives being their same old, lovable selves. If you can have fun regardless of how in tune you are with the current fashions, wouldn't that be the most important thing for you? Besides, you can always update your wardrobe in a couple of days of your arrival, by going for a fun trip of shopping!!! Have a safe journey! :wave:

[rajraj]

Kannuma,
I was in Madras in December 2004. What caught my attention was the traffic and pollution. The number of restaurants has increased considerably and the prices too. You can wear anything you like. Hope you have a lot of cotton. Bon Voyage ! :)

[kannuma]

kannuma,

I think in any place, it is more important to feel comfortable as a person, based on your disposition and your reception of others' opinion of what the 'norm' is than based on how you look.

Chennai was still at heart the same city I know and love, when I went there about 3 years ago (after a gap of more than 4 years). It was the same in terms of my friends and relatives being their same old, lovable selves. If you can have fun regardless of how in tune you are with the current fashions, wouldn't that be the most important thing for you? Besides, you can always update your wardrobe in a couple of days of your arrival, by going for a fun trip of shopping!!! Have a safe journey! :wave:

it's not that, i am so excited. want to look my best :D thats all(i love dressing up but there's hardly any chance to do that at uni, cept maybe to wow my bf). im going to do a hella lotta shopping. im still very young btw.

[lordstanher]

Hi Kannuma,

Do you really expect a city to change within a period of 6 years?? I'm sure Chennai will be what it was when you left 6 years ago. Probably, you'll see more buildings, more flyovers and more traffic. Welcome back!

Well, atleast they've improved the airport there! :wink:

[Hemant Trived1]

Hello kannuma ,

Medras Nalla Medras.......has lost its charm.

I remember following lines,
Anne Anne ..Sipai Anne,
Enga Oor Nalla OOr,
Ippo Rumbo Kattupochi ne....

[Sudhaama]

"kannuma"

//could someone answer my question as to how people dress there nowadays! am planning what to pack already//

Nothing to be worried about.... You can feel free better than your previous visit 6 years back...

Because... India on the whole especially the Ex Madras ... present Chennai... is far different progressing(!!??) in the Galloping speed...

... with American- mania (Not the Best of America .. .by Scientific- Advancement nor Human-mutual- respect... nor Dignified behaviour... Educational- Standards etc.) ...

... but by... Taminglish speech with the American-Slang... Pitza.. Pre-marital relations .. .Shocking Concepts of Latest Tamil-Cinemas.. etc..

About Dress...? No matter what you wear or don't wear... Madras is different now. You can see more and more Mad Mad Ladies there than ever before....

Young pretty Damsels wearing Tights and Tee-Shirts with printed words on the CHEST

..."THESE ARE NOT MEANT FOR YOU "..... Don't get shocked... ..

They are yet to realize.... "Nenju-Porukkudhillaiyae Yindha Nilai ketta..."

"Yikkaraikku Akkarai Pachchai"...... "Kaniyiruppa Kaay Kavarndhatru..."

"India, Indians and Indian-Culture in No way INFERIOR to others "

... Were !!!!!! ... Are !... and... Will be ???????

[jaiganes]

Kannuma !
Dont get scared. Madras hasn't gone all that mad. as far as dress goes, since u are coming in the summer(is there any other season?), get a lot of cotton, light coloured dresses. The culture of the city hasn't changed much (neither have the auto drivers). You certainly wouldn't look out of place in a chudidhar or salwar. Still majority of the women are traditional and haven't gone the 'Bangalore- way'. Only difference you may find is that city buses are overflowing with more people and certain one-ways have come into place since u last saw the gateway to south india. Also what might strike you straight away is the omniscience of mobile phones and ads about them. The movie halls also have changed their faces inside the city and have become more glitzy. Pizza hut has opened up shops while everyone is more glued to FM than they did 6 years before.

[kannuma]

ooo im so excited. thanx guys for your answers. im going to pack all my traditional stuff. what places are nice to go out? as in clubbing, or movies etc. and can i go to marina beach now?

[Shekhar]

Anu,

Get some sun screen lotion. Not much.. A five litre can will do.. :) :)

[kannuma]

Anu,

Get some sun screen lotion. Not much.. A five litre can will do.. :) :)
i always wear sunscreen(im all for cancer prevention)
but y do u say that(i should bring sunscreen)?

[lordstanher]

India on the whole especially the Ex Madras ... present Chennai... is far different progressing(!!??) in the Galloping speed...... with American- mania (Not the Best of America .. .by Scientific- Advancement nor Human-mutual- respect... nor Dignified behaviour... Educational- Standards etc.) ... ... but by... Taminglish speech with the American-Slang... Pitza.. Pre-marital relations .. .Shocking Concepts of Latest Tamil-Cinemas.. etc..

Tats cent % rite! :wink: And um....also add internet pornography, prosti. in sum beauty/massage parlours to the list :evil:
And as 4 pre-mat relations, nothing exclusive in Madras tho....its all over India...in all the cities atleast :(
But abt the 'shocking concepts' of Tam. cinemas.....um....wat kind exactly?? :? I thot they r still based on 'traditional' concepts as opposed to Bollywood ones! Hmm...... :?


About Dress...? No matter what you wear or don't wear... Madras is different now. You can see more and more Mad Mad Ladies there than ever before....

Hmm.....actually I dunno how 'observational' I must've been but when I visited Madras last July, I noticed tat nearly all the women (married women atleast!) were clad in Sarees- even those driving 2-wheelers! & most had the familiar jasmine flower clusters in their hair.....(of course college gals were all mixtures of Salwars & Jeans/T-shirts)....nevrtheless I was there only for 2 days and travelled just between Nanganallur (where I stayed w/ my mama), T.Nagar & Chintadripet (besides the airpot)......maybe most of these areas r the ones tat r still trad....? :wink:


Young pretty Damsels wearing Tights and Tee-Shirts with printed words on the CHEST ..."THESE ARE NOT MEANT FOR YOU "..... Don't get shocked...

Hmm...well....atleast they r displaying messages of decency there! :wink: I once heard from one of my friends here tat he saw this Malay (Malaysian-race) girl here who was quite um- plump but wearing a tight Tee w/ these words across the chest- "MILKSHAKE FOR 10 CENTS" :lol:


They are yet to realize.... "India, Indians and Indian-Culture in No way INFERIOR to others "... Were !!!!!! ... Are !... and... Will be ???????

Yea my sentiments exactly.....all this sumtimes makes me wish I didn't belong to 'gen. X'....*sigh* :(

[Sudhaama]

Ms Kannuma,

I have not said that the Sari-culture has disappeared .... nor has become the Minority case now...

but I had only pointed out the present noteworthy TREND... on the latest Dress- fashion at Madras... a change just within the past 5 years.

The present weather there is Hot... highly in CONTRAST with the current SNOW-FALL weather in US... which you are used. to...!!!

Beware !! Sudden change of weather... of high contrast... but... Do not get alarmed off... because you have already got accustomed to... and also born with.... unlike a stranger American.

So ... you can wear any light-cotton variety clothes... like Sari, Churidhar etc, which wil make you comfortable in sultry weather of .. Perspiration. .!!!

Further... there is acute Water-Scarcity there...being Summer... so the Corporation water is not reliable for a Visitor... either by Quanity nor QUALITY !!...It is OK for the locals... who are born with...

...As is the case of the Slum-dwellers residing at the Banks of famous Cooum...River... the Artery of the City.... which affects only the Stranger....

"Cooum Manhakkiradhu..". Said Mr. Karunanidhi,,, about 20 years back... .... You can judge the fact now.

So ... you have to make sure of purified treated water for drinking.

And what you can find PLEASING now... after your last visit... before 6 yrs. ...are...

(1) Better-looking Roads.... cleaner.

(2) Marina is more Beautiful Now ... because of Cleanliness and Orderliness as a Worthy- Beach.

(3) TNagar has become the Parrys of Yester-years.

(4) Saravana-Bhavan, Dasaprakash, Woodlands, Krishna-Sweets...etc.

One Great Thing ... you must NOT MISS now there... is ... "YILHANI"... (Tender- Cocanut- water)... after 6 years...which is Not available in USA .. and the Best and Apt... for Madras Summer... the Purest Food. on sale.. . there.

With Best Wishes.... Good-Luck... Bon Voyage !!!
Sudhaama.

[hehehewalrus]

Saravana-Bhavan, Dasaprakash, Woodlands, Krishna-Sweets...etc.


hmmm----Saravana Bhavan has learnt a lot from autodrivers - shameless thieves both!! you should see the quantity of chutney/sambar they serve...Though lunch has different curries, they dump a sackful of rice on ur plate...not even a chappathi to go with...and GROSS part is the people eating it - roll the rice into a ball, smear it all over the palm and toss it up and catch it...ewwwww! u might feel like running out asap.

Dont spend one penny on either autodrivers or Saravana Bhavan :D

As for Krishna Sweets - :clap: :clap: :clap: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Surya]

Yes. I was terribly dissappointed with the food in SB. If u want to go to tSB in Delhi go for it!! It's the best. But in Chennai, uh...no, not worth it.

[Hemant Trived1]

On my recent trip to MEDRAS NALLA MEDRAS, I went all the way to Sarvana Bhavan Egmore from my hotel with my wife for dinner.

My experience was one of horror and tears. :x
Horror because the rice was rock hard and Appalam was soggy. :(

Tearful it was because , unlike Sarvana Bhavan of yore, the food was very very KAARAM. :(

We had to leave unconsumed food on the banana leaf itself.

So Sarvana Bhavan has become another CENTRAL STATION PLATFORM Unavu kiosk.

[hehehewalrus]

Tearful it was because , unlike Sarvana Bhavan of yore, the food was very very KAARAM. :(


Not that spices are necessary to make one sweat while taking an SB lunch - the congested atmosphere inside the hotel, the steam effusively rising from the huge vats of sambar, curry, poriyal carried by swarming waiters, the rush for seats, the thirst-whetting madras water(and 3 strangers on your table gulping morsels in uncouth fashion)....it's enough to get you all sweaty.

Its my fervent wish that no first time visitor to chennai enters SB.



So Sarvana Bhavan has become another CENTRAL STATION PLATFORM Unavu kiosk.
They've got an SB and Adayar Anandha Bhavan facing each other in Central - whooo, both compete with each other in fleecing the travellers - Rs.16 for a sambar rice, that contains barely 7-8 morsels served in paper place and you need to fight for a place to stand and eat!

[Hemant Trived1]

My obituary to .....


Here lies my regrds
For Decent food in Madras.

-Amen :cry:

[nirosha sen]

Guys, - Is Saravana Bhavan's the same as Saravanas which I tried at Pondy Bazaar?? Are they the same people who serve you 24 different kattories to go with your lunch meal, Pa????

[Hemant Trived1]

"24 different katthis " would be more appropriate statement. :evil:

Now I remember where I had tasted MSG in kirais and Sambars.. :twisted:

[hehehewalrus]

Guys, - Is Saravana Bhavan's the same as Saravanas which I tried at Pondy Bazaar?? Are they the same people who serve you 24 different kattories to go with your lunch meal, Pa????

SB definitely wont give you 24 kattories, unless they were all empty :D

[lordstanher]

Yes. I was terribly dissappointed with the food in SB. If u want to go to tSB in Delhi go for it!! It's the best. But in Chennai, uh...no, not worth it.

Hmm....I rem. visiting one Saravana Bhavan on my visit to Madras in 2002.....had my breakfast there (Idli/Vada....)....twas quite good then......or there obv. must be more than 1.......or perhaps it was still quite early in the morning tat day so not many ppl. around....esp. the ones w/ the pathetic eating habits! :wink:
Incidentally, therez one even here in Singapore......and also Komala Vilas, which I heard, is actually a cheap-ish restaurant in Madras frequented by ppl. like drivers etc....but its quite famous here as Sing's first veg. restaurant and even foreign tourists actually like to go eat there :lol: