‘Pondy Bazar?! YOU go to Pondy Bazar, and you love it too?’ This question, almost always followed by an incredulous expression is what I still hear at the mention of a market I truly love. It was love at first sight for me when I visited Pondy Bazar. Chock a block with shops selling everything, from Fresh flowers to Baubles, …
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O is for Oliver Ridley Turtles #BlogchatterA2Z
Chennai and the Sea are synonymous with each other. On one hand the Sea brought the city the terrible Tsunami and on the other hand it brings gifts that are precious. The Beaches of Chennai are one such gift. Yes, this city has more than a dozen of them. The other precious gift shared by the Sea is – Oliver …
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N is for Nungambakkam & Night Life #BlogchatterA2Z
Nungambakkam. Nung-am-bak-kam. That is how it is pronounced. Quite a mouthful, yes? You won’t forget how it is pronounced once you visit this hip and happening area of Chennai though. Nungambakkam is an upscale neighbourhood and a popular tourist attraction of the city. It has KNK High Road, shortened from its original name Khadar Nawaz Khan Road, which has all …
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M is for Mylapore #BlogchatterAtoZ
The name Mylapore comes from ‘Mayil Arparikum’ which translates to ‘The Land of the Peacock Scream’. Many years ago, Peacocks (Mayil) used to be residents too and their calls would rent the air, and that how this area got its name. This oldest residential area of the city has everything you would possibly need. From the freshest flowers and vegetables, …
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L is for LIC Building #BlogchatterA2Z
When I was looking for what to write for the alphabet ‘L’, EVERYONE I asked had only one answer, ‘LIC Building’. ‘It used to be the tallest building in Chennai.’ ‘People visiting Chennai used to come just to look at it.’ ‘It was a tourist attraction in those days.’ These lines were the ones that accompanied the LIC Building suggestion. …
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K is for Karpagambal Mess #BlogchatterA2Z
Mess : Short for a ‘Mess Hall’ , a place where food is served, and eaten. The word originated from the French Word ‘Mes’ or ‘Mets’ which meant ‘portion of food’. Karpagambal Mess, in Mylapore is a legendary stop when you’re in Chennai. Started in 1953, this mess has retained its popularity even as it fed generations of the same …
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J is for Jaya & Jasmine #BlogchatterAtoZ
Talking of Chennai and not mentioning tthe late J Jayalalitha , or Amma as she was known as, just does not seem right. The power that lady held was simply phenomenal. I remember driving into Chennai from Bangalore the first thing we would see, as we reached the outskirts of the city, would be huge cut-outs of her, in her …
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I is for, Ice Creams #BlogchatterA2Z
If you have been reading my posts every day, and all through, you’ll remember that we discussed the infamous Chennai Heat yesterday. What is my coping mechanism to counter the heat? Well, it’s Ice Cream! I often realise that if there was no ice cream in the world, or I hated it (blasphemy!) I would be as slim as my …
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H is for Higginbothams & The Heat #BlogchatterA2Z
If you are a book lover like I am, it is unlikely that you haven’t heard of Higginbothams. If you are a bibliophile and haven’t heard of this name, crawl back under that rock, you! Long before familiar sounding bookstores like Landmark made their presence felt, Higginbothams was already a 100 years old. Yes, this iconic store on Mount Road …
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G is for Grand OR Sri Krishna? #BlogchatterA2Z
‘Where could I pick up some typically Chennai sweets & savouries from?’ You would think this question was a simple one, till I realised it was not. ‘Grand Sweets!’ ‘Sri Krishna Sweets!’ Two voices. Two views. Two opinions. An eternal debate (which still hasn’t settled or concluded, btw) Grand Sweets & Snacks is the big daddy of the sweets & …