10/10/2008 :Chennai ..or I must say Madras is a place which is though a metro ..has far distinct attributes .In India it has best infrastructure with well laid roads.I must say , Road planning and traffic control is so strong in chennai , that u dnt get stuck in a place.Lots of one ways make the mod moving , though in a slow space , but yes,there are rare chances of traffic blockage.For any person who is going to come to chennai ,there are some facts he or she should know.He will face problems ,but once he tackles it.he will be part of the safest kingdom built in south india.
Most important things you face problem is in language.My advices are.Use as much English as possible.If you want you can use Hindi too.Coz all auto walllas here know Hindi.though they act like they dnt know and will be waiting for you to create some stupid actions.Dnt do that.Use simple terms.like "chalo",Go."i go XXX place","kitna",How much".They will understand.So dnt underestimate them n neither let them over estimate you.Talk in simple English or hindi.If u want to test u can deny giving them money they asked for.,Then may be u can see how they understand what u speak..lol
From station,If u want to go to places best option ,as you have come first time is that of prepaid auto.If u have little bit idea,U can ask whether local train goes to ur destination.U can avail local train from PArk town which is about 500 m from the station.You can search for ur destination , book tickets and move to place.For short route travel,u can always opt for share autos.Private autos will suck about 10 times the fare.Remeber,if u dnt know tamil,u cant bargain , n u cant be on a profitable side.Loacl Buses of MTC also are available,in Ac n non AC.But to have idea of their routes u need to psend some time in chennai.They are also very comfortable n cheap means of transport.
In chennai , the style of leaving is very simple.U might not know , but the person sitting besides you in dhoti,slippers with sack bag may be a millionaire.They are simple people , eat simple food and lead a simple live.
Neraly half of People in chennai do not spend much money on their life style , as u may find in delhi ,or mumbai etc.Neither they have habits of dining outside.Even if they do,,they have selective items like Dosa,idli,and Biriyaani..no out of box...But they spend a lot of money in worship, creating beautiful temples,and ofcourse Gold and Land.
People in chennai are highly rich and self sufficient , hence the crime rate in Chennai is very very low.More over the police force is highly active too.
Things that upset me about chennai is a strong demarcation of north indian and south indian.Dnt feel astonished if u are pointed out as North Indian again and Again.Till now People here do not accept the fact that Hindi is our national language , not a regional language.They are adamant and do not speak hindi , some times i feel Tamil NAdu is another nation outside India ,where I am treated as a foriegner.
From they Day I came to chennai.About dozens of people I have met on road ,starting from Rikshawalas to common mass,to bus conductors ,with whom i talked in Hindi coz i knew they understand.They didn't had any choice coz they have to get the money out of me .But they always made it a point to remind me that i am in chennai and i should learn tamil.And i always have the same answer.."I know our national language Hindi,I know English , Beside it i know my mother tongue oriya , Bengali ? and I dnt need to learn tamil"...
Even it happened once or twice when I aksed some people whether they knew National anthem.
I wonder what central government is doing.The State government here is busy piling votes by making people understand that , tamil is the best language , tamil is the best culture and tamil is a different nation.I feel so helpless.The uneducated mass is voting them blindly.Even I remeber,There was a national level hockey match in Stadium at chennai and national anthem was not played.Only regional song was sung.This was shown on television but no one offended
No doubt the government of Chennai has done so many things for people here that no other metro can imagine of.So many software companies.So many job opportunities.So good infrastructure.Such self sufficient people.
People staying in North India do not come to chennai , beacuse of these reasons of discrimination.And result is what i find Many times The unskilled , undereducated masses,who have done there vocational trainings from some open university are placed in renowned companies.It is my sincere request to all ,who ever get a chance of a job in chennai.do come here,Chennai needs you!!
Chennai is Bad only if u dnt know of the tricks to survive.Chennai has beautiful recreational places like any other metro,hangout places like city centre,spencer plaza,asendas It park,beautiful restaurents like rain forest,delhi dhabba,dhaba express,where u get tasty north indian food,naidu hall,globus,pothys ,sarvana,Discs like dublin,Pasha,HFO,,,you name it n u get it.You have evrything in chennai
If u come to chennai and u are a very outspoken person,Prefer to stay in places like Adyar,T nagar,Nungambakkam,thiruvanmiyur.velachery,alwarpet,mylapore.IT corridor(thorai pakkam,perungudi,Kandanchavadi,)this place is full of north Indian crowd.The best colonies are gandhinagar,Indiranagarwhich are beautful places.You find a lot of trees in chennai.There is a Guindy national Park near IIT chennai and beautiful temples created nearby is worth watching.Inside the city there are endless places u can visit.
Now after living 8 months in this state,I feel i am at home,This is where i belong to , little bit concervative,but growing gradually.I belive , Chennai will change.In its mentality ,In its sophistication.But I wonder Will the simplicity of people exist as it is now?Will they be caring and concerned.Will it be safe any more.
All my anger and frustrations on chennai have ended today,after 8 months.I am in love with this place,Given a chance i wont hesitate to stay in this place.Coz after all adjustments .I feel..this is the best place in India to b in.
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