Thursday, August 27, 2009

T-Nagar.... :)

I got the following thing in an e-mail which said it was an excerpt from a blog- Below this is my version of the same blog entry..


Where is this T.Nagar?
Nobody knows accurately. It is just this lovely place in Chennai, which if you decide to visit for the second time, you get a free seasonal pass for a window-side bed in Kilpauk hospital.

Sounds like a holiday package..what if I manage a third visit?
You get one year free admission at Yervadi, next to Sethu Vikram. Cost of chain included in the package.

Oh! You said it's a lovely place. Do people go there for sight-seeing?
Kinda yeah, it is Chennai's own version of "Suicide Point"

Can we shop there?
There are just two things you can do at T.Nagar. One,shop and two,die. The former is optional though.

My wife wants some good silk sarees. Where do I take her?
Push her into Pothys and run. This is your best chance to live with some self respect in future.

What if I stay?
You automatically qualify for Bihar elections.

What if I go in too?
If you are Gopi, you'll come out as Gopi 65.

I heard gold is pretty cheap at some place there?
Very cheap yeah, not just the rate. I guess you are talking about Ranganathan Street, Annachi shop.

Ya ya. How do I go there?
You just need to stand at the start of that street. Close your eyes. Open your eyes. You are inside Annachi shop, courtesy : fellow shoppers.

Can I take my vehicle?
Shut up! Even Laloo wouldn't do that!

Oh is it very crowded?
Yeah, by the time you count the number of people around you, they can telecast Junoon twice.

Junoon?? What's that?
Kadavule! Paathathu illiya Junoon neenga? Periya athu megaserial. Pesuvaanga maathi maathi thamizh athula.

Oh! By the way, do men shop in T.Nagar?
Wise men stay away. Married men do shop.

I heard there are lots of platform shops?
There is no platform. Only shops.

Whatever, how good are they?
Very good infact. You get all sortsa brands including Nykee, Ribok and Adeedas. At cheap rates that too!

Hey isn't that phony? The spellings are all messed up!!
Naah. They have been changed according to numerology, that's all.

Fine. Is there any good restaurant there?
Ya, Saravana Bhavan.

Wow! What would I get there for, say 50 rupees?
Quite a lot. Half a dosa, 5 ml Sambhar and some pebbles.

Pebbles? Why??
Huh, you are dumber than a crow! To raise the level of sambhar ofcourse.

That's bad. But I heard there's a hot chips too?
You'll be a hot chip yourself once you step into Ranganathan Street.

How is the air pollution level in T.Nagar?
One deep breath and you'll die on the spot, money back guarantee.

So many issues, eh? Finally, what's the best thing about T.Nagar?
Variety. So many shops, so many dresses and so many accessories. Even if you escape death by other mean, you'll be confused to death!









Where is this T.Nagar?
Nobody knows accurately, but there are autos everywhere to help u out. It is just this lovely place in the loveliest Chennai, which if you visit for the first time, u would surelyy decide to visit for the second time.. :)

Sounds like a holiday package..what if I manage a third visit?
wat do u mean wat if i manage a third visit? Guarenteed, U will visit.. Its a haven of shopping/crowd/feelin real!!

Oh! You said it's a lovely place. Do people go there for sight-seeing?
Kinda yeah, for ppl who ve lived in US and know how nice it feels to c ppl all around, it is Chennai's hotspot!!

Can we shop there?
There are just two things you can do at T.Nagar. One,shop and two,window shop. The former is optional though.

My wife wants some good silk sarees. Where do I take her?
Push her into Pothys and run. This is your best chance to see the buzzz of the city witout the buzz of ur wife :P.

What if I stay?
It means u r not able to stand the heat out and need some AC, with an ulterior motive of controlling ur wife from exceeding the limit!!.

What if I go in too?
If you are Gopi, you'll come out as Fool-Gopi , succumbing to ur wife's shopping desires, unable to resist the variety.

I heard gold is pretty cheap at some place there?
Very cheap yeah, not just the rate. I guess you are talking about Ranganathan Street, Annachi shop. Not everyone really wants to buy 24-Carat gold in Chennai. Specially if ur a kanjoos and its jus to show off for a 3 hour function..

Ya ya. How do I go there?
You just need to stand at the start of that street. Close your eyes. Open your eyes. You are inside Annachi shop, courtesy : fellow shoppers. This probably answers ur next Q too!!

Can I take my vehicle?
If u dont mind parking it abt 2 kms away, comon , would u take ur vehicle inside MGM or Kishkinta or for that matter even Universal studios to roam abt??!

Oh is it very crowded?
Are u even asking this question after I answered 6 questions?!! U need a place in Kilpauk even if u werent visiting T-nagar.

Junoon?? What's that?
Kadavule! Paathathu illiya Junoon neenga? Periya athu megaserial. Pesuvaanga maathi maathi thamizh athula. T-nagar maadri areas ku poi real life paaka pudikaadhavanga veetla panra vetti kaaryam la onnu..

Oh! By the way, do men shop in T.Nagar?
Wise men stay away. Married men do shop.Cos wise unmarried men think shopping the same stuff from Shopper's Stop or Spencer Plaza adds to their GETHU.

I heard there are lots of platform shops?
There is no platform. Only shops. Cos ppl choose to walk in the middle of the road.

Whatever, how good are they?
Very good infact. You get all sortsa brands including Nykee, Ribok and Adeedas. At cheap rates that too! Everyone cant be well off enuf to shop NIKE, REEBOK, ADIDAS.. And everyone may wanna buy these.. This is the Optimal Solution!!

Hey isn't that phony? The spellings are all messed up!!
Naah. They have been changed to avoid the WISE MEN i mentioned in one of the prev Q to quit their habits and raid these shops, that's all. So that the MARRIED MEN get to buy these.

Fine. Is there any good restaurant there?
Ya, Saravana Bhavan ( 2 branches), Hot Chips, Gangotree, Ratna Cafe, Geetanjali ( sum ppl still do prefer this)..

Wow! What would I get there for, say 50 rupees?
Quite a lot. Depends on the place u go to. Enuf fud to keep u full for 3 hours.

Pebbles? Why??
Huh, we prefer using that instead of paper weights ( in many shops arnd chennai).

That's bad. But I heard there's a hot chips too?
You'll be a hot chip yourself once you step into Ranganathan Street. Or for that matter, anywhere, cos tats how the weather is. U r REALLY dumber than a crow!!

How is the air pollution level in T.Nagar?
One deep breath and you'll die on the spot though there's no space for vehicles and even laloo cannot bring it in, money back guarantee. BUT dont think if u breathe elsewhere u can live for 100 yrs.. Its the same issue everywhere in India..

So many issues, eh? Finally, what's the best thing about T.Nagar?
Variety ( u CAN very well afford to not enter annachi shop and still shop to ur heart's content). Buzz. The cheap prices. The maanga/pineapple shops. Kumaran/Nalli where ppl still hold their sentiments abt wedding saris, its the only place on earth where economically mosttt backward and forward ppl can shop without qualms!! So many shops, so many dresses and so many accessories. Even if you escape death by other mean, you'll be confused to death! If ur a shop-aholic, u wud prefer dying that way, wont u???!!!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday morning Blues...

Friday morning, Supposed to be in the best of moods, but the weather is spoiling it all..

Cloudy dark skies, chill wind, Perfect time for snuggling in a bed, eating some hot molaga bajji/onion pakoda with the aroma of coffee coming from the kitchen ( implies that someone is making it for me) and watching an old Tamil Kamal film. MMMMMMM.. And here I am, coding in Verilog-A .Yuckkkk..

Wait a minute, I am not too involved or anything, the linux screen is open infront of my eyes and I am dreaming of a business venture with Starbucks. I can make pakodas/bajjis/bonda's and start supplying to them. Slowly, I'd form a huge fan base for my pakodas and Starbucks will expand the business with me (note- its no more me with starbucks). I will then start giving them suggestions to improve their customer inflow. "Why not hang a number of magazines and newspaper above the coffee vending area?" And they would hang them, in a 45 degree angle on a rope, under my supervision. Then I would get rid of the stylish coffee makers and replace them with a stove and some aluminium pans and educate them about the traditional coffee-aathifying with the coffee and davara at a distance of 10 metres from each other.Then I ll bring in some banana solai's in the shop. Finally, I ll change the name to ---- tea/coffee stall(let them choose the name, i think they deserve to do it)..if they can sell "Chaai" on their menu, y not?? this might happen one day.. SNAP..Email- "Job completed"- Hmm..Varen varen..

Dreams apart, I did one good thing today. Margaret is the cafeteria worker here. She loves to talk to me ( ok ok, dont wonder why, i know its absurd :( ). We were talking of Indian food some weeks back and she mentioned she hadnt tasted it. I decided it was time to make her feel good. Since am moving out of my apartment this weekend and wouldnt get to cook for another 10 days, by which my internship would end (yayyyy!!), I cooked for her today and took it 30 mins back. Damn, she was soooo happy and gave me a tight hug :) The little joys in life!! Making a person smile genuinely :)!! ( Probably she would regret after tasting it.. Is that what ur thinking?? Screw u)

Its Madras Day eve today. Get ready to celebrate!!!!!!

I think its time I stop this vetti velai and do something worthwhile. Hmm, may be take a short nap? C u soon.. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Friday, August 14, 2009

MADRAS nalla MADRAS!!!!!

1 year up!!

Is it disbelief or satisfaction or worry or eagerness that 365 days have run by so fast?

Well I donno.. Called amma in the morning..She was walking on 100 feet road, oh my..heard the pom-pom of autos and screeching of buses and a racket from the ppl on road..It feels like there is real world on the other side of the..phone (?!) I almost feel like I am leaving Chennai now..My mind is set to Aug 13-14 2008. The number of (tasty)food items amma made that day- molagu kozhambu, more kozhambu, beans paruppusili, potato, sweet blah blah blah ( she (thot she)rightly judged I wasnt going to get good food for a while, but, let me show her my culinary skills :P). I wasnt able to swallow anything though, a huge lump in my throat. Fear, lack of confidence, paranoia about already-decided stuff- all these are a part of leaving home 1st time ( maybe even second time, I shall write after my chennai trip). With 15 of my people waiting for me at the airport to call after my security check, my mind was thinking of something else, something I thnik of everyday, a larger perspective- CHENNAI- The amazing feel that comes on seeing Central station board as the train enters, after a trip away from Chennai, The Bessi beach balloon shooting and dirty unhygenic molaga bajji, not to forget maanga ( who cared??), The half built kathipara junction that would get on my nerve everytime I was driving in a hurry( i m always in a hurry + kathipara is fully built now), The numerous power cuts, The "good" old words that you hear/say when you/others jump signals ( jump siganls is an understatement, 30 seconds after ur signal is red definitely doesn classify as jumping, I can almost hear saavugraaki now in a familiar automan's voice), The school holidays if it rains overnight ( here they don declare anythin wen its snowing like shit), Venkatramana poli stall's 2 rs samosa, Panneer soda, squashing ptc bus rides ( mmmmmmmm!!, i can smell the sweat now, but i don mind it anymore ), our very own mount road, vetti walking in citi center ( i doubt if i can afford anythin there except in the 5th floor any day of my life), MRTS ride from thiruvanmiyur to beach station, the amazing weather ( I think the heat is a "gethu" for chennai. Like showing the domination, power, brightness, buzzz of it over other cities), a drive on the ECR ( after neelangarai that is), T-nagar shopping, the ease of transport using autos( don mind the price, there has to be a compromise, who else wud go wrong side on a one way to drop u on time?)the 20 min bargain to get a discount of 5 rs in pondy bazaar, panteon road, Sarada kovil, the queue during the Petrol Crisis ( oh my i waited so much to get my car tank filled)..and 1000 other things that make Chennai what it is.

If listening to Madras ah suthi paaka porennn (wat lyrics, wow.."Madras in geetham adhu auto auto satham dhan"..aweosme!!) and santhippoma from E20U18, which shows u all major spots of our very own chennai makes me feel a level more happier, truly, Chennai deserves a huge tribute from my side, for being a part of my bloooood!!

"Onnnu Maamiaar thollai illa mugamoodi kollai aana ismail um ibrahim um onna serndhu vaazhum ooru!!!!!!!!!!"

Can there be a better place on earth???????????? Chennai Wins, HANDS DOWN!!!!