Saturday, March 28, 2009

Madras suththi paakuh ponaen!

I finally visited Chennai and thanks to the unending friendship of someone close, I ended up staying in hotels all through. Good for me. I got to see more of the city this way. As bad as the trip was, Chennai appeals to me and so here’s my list of why Chennai rocks and why it doesn’t. I’ve further added a comparison to Hyderabad, my least favourite city in South India for now, just to make comparisons more interesting!

What I like about Chennai:
1) The quaint white bridges, everywhere!
2) The super cool radio stations that always play my kinda music
3) Road names that speak volumes.
4) The central looking Central Station
5) The green. (It’s a myth that Chennai is not green enough!)
6) The friendly auto drivers, always willing to help.
7) The bus services that seem to run the city.
8) The stretches of beautiful beaches, finally looked after.
9) The street food – Yummy!
10) The fact that whatever happens, the city will always remain heavily Tamizh.

What I hate about Chennai:
1) The fact that every area looks the same! How!
2) That cable TV translates into well… 20 Tamizh channels.
3) The weather!!!!!!!
4) The lack of a Central shopping district/entertainment district.
5) The seeming lack of water.
6) The exorbitant auto rates and the fact that they don’t use the metres.
7) The ancient buses (Sorry! If Bangalore can afford a new fleet, so can Chennai!)
8) The lack of proper restaurants to eat at or the lack of choice thereof.
9) The superb ability of the city to make you feel useless.
10) The madness called life, where anyone can get lost.

Chennai V/S Hyderabad
1) Chennai has a local train system, Hyderabad has a metro rail system that runs on the same tracks but is extremely affordable and efficient – Metro wins
2) Chennai has amazing roads and the dust always seems settled, Hyderabad is a dusty paradise where breathing can become difficult if you’re not used to it – Chennai wins
3) I do not see garbage in Chennai, Hyderabad stinks of garbage – Chennai wins
4) Chennai has the Koovam, Hyderabad has the Moosi – Hyderabad wins even though they both stink terribly
5) Chennai offers more to do all over the city, Hyderabad has too few and all concentrated in a very unappealing area – Neither win! Bangalore wins.

Simply put – Bangalore rocks! :)

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I miss Chennai. It has it's own beauty. Bangalore certainly is a home but Chennai too is nostalgic for me. Nice comparision btw Chen n Hyd.

«AM» said...

I beg to disagree with points 1, 3, 4, 8 of Section 2.

A lack of taste for local food, is unfortunate on your part. Entertainment is also called going to the beach and needn't be restricted to a disco party. The weather... It's special.

This may be harsh, but Madras will always remain the Englishman's Madras.

Istar Rómestámo said...

@Omi...
hey I love the city too :P
just that this particular trip was bad... and I felt the need to vent :P
@Charlie..
Local food is delicious... read the previous section, I have said street food is yummy! the restaurants are however too few... compared to Bangalore that is, where we've got resteraunts at every corner, and good ones too :)
I like going to the beach and entertainment to me doesnt equate partying! I don't party!
I meant the fact that the multiplexes are so far apart and things like that...
sorry me a city slicker in a city, would do city like things in a city and town like things in a town, so multiplexes need to be accesible!
Madras to me is now just a feeling in few areas... Funnily Purusaiwalkam and Vepery give me a old english feeling...
Adyar threw me off!

vimal said...

i think Madras would have been better - u know - like in the old days - u know - maharaja times - u know. Ok - actually, i don't know.
But yeah like any city you hate/love it.
Still Chennai is kinda sad. Hyderabad too.
Whateva.
yes, ur rite. Whateva.

«AM» said...

@narc/neme:
I challenge you to identify how far into history you want to go to identify Madras with a 'Maharaja' period.

Istar Rómestámo said...

goodness...
cut it out charlieness!

vimal said...

charlie
i don't accept your challenge
on nationalistic grounds.
but thank you for noticing.
:-D

Princess Selene said...

hahahahhahahaha!!