Thursday, June 19, 2008

Chennai means....



frolicking endlessly on hot summer days in the inflatable pool in thatha's backyard...



Playing silly games with cousins in the morning without even having to brush your teeth....



Playing gully cricket with a very patient, indulgent much-older cousin anna holding a bat that is bigger than me.

For amma, Chennai meant shopping. Her own personal shopper in the form of appa's cousin, a self-confessed shopaholic who is recognised by her face and is called personally by the proprietors themselves whenever fresh stocks are in.

Chennai means pattu mamis and jasmine flowers and Saravana Bhavan. It means jostling crowds at Ranganathan Street and brightly lit stores at Panagal Park. It means the beautiful, ancient temples of Mylapore and Triplicane. It means little girls running around in pattu pavadais. It means sun rising at the crack of dawns and mamis from every household drawing HUGE rangolis in front of their homes. It means warm, balmy evenings in Besant nagar beach while you sit looking at the endless sea munching on hot corn. It means posh hotels and Kaiyendhi bhavans. It means the ultra hip generation and the kacheri going ultra-traditional youngsters.

Chennai means loads and loads of family and extended family milling around the house all day.

And finally as we pulled into the parking lot of our Bangalore apartment, it meant throwing a king-sized tantrum with a full war-cry of 'Chennai polam!'. 'I want go Chennai.'


So do I, baby. So do I.

9 comments:

Swati said...

Nice post :) Good to see Kuttan:) So what did u buy ?

Poppins said...

That was a nice post BM, glad you had a super time..

Poppins said...

Glad you had such a good time BM!

aargee said...

Nice post! I too miss Chennai atleast for the shopping and eating out part. You get the feel of shopping only there. And no other restaurant can beat Saravana Bhavan anytime for the food quality. Wish Chennai had been even more closer to Bangalore :)

Mama - Mia said...

seems like so much packed in one l'il holiday!!

perfect!! :) touchwood!! and me got glimpse of Kuttan too! :)

cheers!

abha

Collection Of Stars said...

Glad you guys had such a great time :)
I have been to Saravana Bhavan once and loved the place.

WhatsInAName said...

awwww... if wishes were horses....
:)
I wish you a chennai-vacation soon again!

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Primitive Lyric said...

A Chennai-ite in Bangalore, I loved this post of yours:) Luckily I'm going next week, or else I'd have been very homesick!:)