One of the places that typifies Pondy Bazar, in Theagaraya Nagar (no one EVER calls it that, it's only referred to as T.Nagar! More about initial names for areas later)....is

Sri Balaji Bhavan

...there's been a restaurant (in Tamil Nadu we call them "hotels") around on this spot for as long as I can remember.

( more about Balaji Bhavan..and do you want the police on your doorstep? )

Just as one gets tired of the relentless crowds and the enervating effort of shopping in an impossibly crowded thoroughfare, where the pavements have been encroached upon by thousands of vendors and pedestrians have to jostle and push to move even a few inches ( Read more... )

It would have to be a VERY hot day in Hell before I become thirsty enough to drink
Sri Lala's juices....


( Read more... )

The first prerequisite to enjoy oneself in Chennai is that it should be a holiday so that the regular traffic is missing; the second, that it is cloudy and cool as the regular heat and humidity turn me into an air-conditioned-room-occupying slothful creature, barely able to lift a hand to click the remote or the keyboard ( Read more... )