Wednesday, June 6, 2012

My Chennai Sojourn


Some amusing, some sweet anecdotes from my first six months in India in Chennai adapted from an older post for The South Reports.

For example:
"How do you know there is a festival in Chennai? By jasmine flowers. The number of women wearing jasmine flowers in their hair in a crowded Chennai bus is directly proportional to the presence and significance of a festival to most of the community. So there was a festival in Chennai today…"

Please do read more at http://tsr.net.co/2012/06/my-chennai-sojourn/4756

(Note: You do need to sign in as a registered user at The South Reports to be able to comment. But you can read without any registration! Those of you who are bloggers this website showcases the best blogs and blogposts on South India and has a very good SEO. So you may just want to register:)

And those who find it inconvenient,  I apologize. The registration process in this news site aims to build a community of responsible readers and writers who will constructively dialogue on issues and to not allow folks to simply comment and scoot as in larger and popular news sites. Registration is a simple couple of minutes process!)


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68 comments:

  1. AshJune 6, 2012 at 1:41 PM

    Chennai is one of my favourite cities! I spent a year there way back in 2004-05 :) used to love walking on besant nagar neach!

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    1. BhavanaJune 6, 2012 at 3:17 PM

      It is still a lovely walk near that beach:)

      Delete
  2. BikramJune 6, 2012 at 2:26 PM

    But all those jasmine flowers i bet the aroma in the air would be wow tooo

    Bikram's

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    1. BikramJune 6, 2012 at 2:28 PM

      Cant put a comment there as I am not registered or something ..

      I like the idea or the reason on why to get thinner :)

      and “please do not wash your vessels here.” made me burst out loud laughing ... you shud have taken a pic and posted it too he he he he

      Bikram's

      Delete
    2. BhavanaJune 6, 2012 at 3:19 PM

      Bikram, thank you for your graciousness!!! That is so much of effort to go to another site and then return and comment here--I am touched!! Thank you!

      Yes, I would have loved to take a pic but in US consulate no cameras or mobile phones are allowed :(

      Delete
    3. BhavanaJune 6, 2012 at 3:20 PM

      And yes, the jasmine aroma is wow. Every now and then I trail a woman wearing jasmine to keep whiffing that scent and refreshing my senses. It is a different thing that she gets spooked:)

      Delete
    4. AlexandraJune 7, 2012 at 2:07 AM

      Bhavana...so glad you posted this, and Bickramjet commented...I'd forgotten....I was in the bathroom at the Runnels Building in Santa Fe, just as you described the arrangement, from the stalls to the disposal bin, and the posted sign "Do not wash your dishes here".....we're not so far away after all..

      Delete
    5. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 2:40 PM

      Hahaha, Alex! In btw, was it an Indian-dominated place in SF?? But glad for the reminder..:)

      Delete
    6. BikramJune 12, 2012 at 2:39 PM

      I wonder what will happen if i plan to sniff it behind a woman , I will probably get thrashed .. he he he rather then she getting spooked :)


      Bikram's

      Delete
  3. magiceyeJune 6, 2012 at 4:29 PM

    been there done that(register/comment) :)

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  4. DJune 6, 2012 at 6:32 PM

    haha.. will definitely read :) in between that girl in the picture is PRIYA MANI :P
    and also nowadays not much of girls do this :(
    i miss jasmine smell :D

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    1. BhavanaJune 6, 2012 at 10:16 PM

      Who Priya Mani? Chennai is full jasmine-wearing women...although college-going girls dont like it as much :) Jasmine smell is so addictive!

      Delete
  5. Danny SimonJune 6, 2012 at 7:31 PM

    Jasmine flowers is one thing you see! Another sight we saw mostly on the buses were the number of women who wear turmeric on their faces! I had a friend with me once and she thought that they were jaundiced ;)

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    1. BhavanaJune 6, 2012 at 10:17 PM

      Hahaha, turmeric? Yes, I notice them too! It is a great antiseptic!

      Delete
  6. umashankarJune 6, 2012 at 8:57 PM

    You owe me something for creating an account on that crazy site! They wanted me to give them a Bio ('Is that short for Biology?' -I promptly asked them!) and worse, they wanted me to give a speech! ('Friends, Romans, countrymen...!'). They reserved the punch for the close: What was the old name of Chennai? What did they expect me to tell, man! Madras? Chennaipatnam? I said 'Albuquerque'! they made me fill the form all over....

    Is that what Chennai is all about?

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    1. BhavanaJune 6, 2012 at 10:20 PM

      USP, what can I give you? A sapling? Promise to write your book review?
      No, I will tell you what--the last few weeks of reading your works closely and intensely makes me feel so close to you, as if you are my family. And in India, families don't say thank you or owe each other:):)

      Delete
    2. umashankarJune 7, 2012 at 8:57 PM

      Wow! Am I happy to have found you!

      Delete
    3. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 9:38 PM

      Me too...I am realizing this is the best part of blogging--the human relationships and the sense of community:)

      Delete
  7. abhinavrJune 6, 2012 at 10:16 PM

    Read it there and it was nice, but didn't register/comment, I am thinking of registering :)

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    1. BhavanaJune 6, 2012 at 10:21 PM

      Thanks, Abhinav for taking the time. I really appreciate it!

      Delete
  8. Anu RussellJune 6, 2012 at 11:25 PM

    This time when I went to chennai I made sure that I had malligai in mine and my daughter's hair every evening :)...so Chennai...

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    1. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 12:49 PM

      Yes, so very Chennai:)

      Delete
    2. VetirmagalJune 7, 2012 at 3:58 PM

      It is so very cheap too, No other Indian city it costs so less, except Madurai , may be :-)

      But our Hdyerabadi jasmines smell better. ( due to the heat, the fragrance is more) :-)

      Delete
    3. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 9:38 PM

      I am coming to Hyderabad--let me smell for myself:):)

      Delete
  9. D.NambiarJune 7, 2012 at 6:02 AM

    That post made me smile. It was a window to Chennai. You created interesting pictures with your words and wit. All the best for many more posts there.
    There's an ex-colleague of mine who also writes for South Reports.

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    1. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 12:50 PM

      She does? I am finding that site to be very interesting and is leading me to some very interesting writers! Thanks, D:)

      Delete
  10. RajeshJune 7, 2012 at 9:25 AM

    Wonderful experience, including the bus journey as pillar of support.

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    1. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 12:51 PM

      hahaha...I have not yet written of the time I became a motherhen in the bus protecting chicks under my wing...

      Delete
  11. Rahul BhatiaJune 7, 2012 at 10:06 AM

    Just trying to catch up while on vacations, Bhavana:)

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    1. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 12:51 PM

      Rahulji, you are the best. I hope you are having the best of vacations!

      Delete
  12. Mr.MiglaniJune 7, 2012 at 10:11 AM

    awesome

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  13. debajyotiJune 7, 2012 at 10:33 AM

    an amazing read Bhavana. at times it made me laugh and at times it made me smile. loved that auto guy; isn't he cool?

    got confused with the links yesterday :D

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    1. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 12:52 PM

      Deb got confused with links? Were you drawing cartoons:)
      And thanks--glad a writer from a similar genre liked it!

      Delete
  14. Jayashree SrivatsanJune 7, 2012 at 2:52 PM

    Hi Bhavana

    Interesting especially since its about my home-city :)
    Have left comments on the South Reports as Jayashree Srivatsan. :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 9:39 PM

      Hey thanks buddy!!! Glad you were not offended:)

      Delete
  15. RachnaJune 7, 2012 at 3:44 PM

    Kitne details fill karwate hain yeh log! I registered only for you. Ask them to pay you royalty for getting people to register ;-). But, the article as always was good. You are a great brand ambassador for Chennai.

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    1. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 9:42 PM

      Muah, Rachna:):) Royalty vasuli karna hi hai...dheere dheere:)
      Brand ambassador of Chennai--hahaha!!! Dang that sounds good...(drifting of to a dreamland....)

      Delete
  16. LipsyJune 7, 2012 at 7:05 PM

    Aww this is such a beautiful post...I loved to fact of Jasmne flowers which I was unaware of and loved your mathematical correlation !!

    A Pearl Collar Necklace, Bangs and Life Lately!!

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    1. BhavanaJune 7, 2012 at 9:43 PM

      Hahaha, Lipsy..that is the only mathematics I know--correlation and proportionality:)

      Delete
  17. wanderfoolJune 8, 2012 at 1:34 AM

    Very interesting :) Lived in Chennai for a couple of months and really enjoyed myself!

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    1. BhavanaJune 8, 2012 at 8:43 AM

      Glad u did have fun. My first 6 months I was tossing most uneasily:)

      Delete
  18. UnknownJune 8, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    Bhavana....Been here and still doing all that u wrote....I guess these experiences are universal to any outsider in Chennai :)

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    1. BhavanaJune 8, 2012 at 8:12 PM

      Yes, they are, aren't they? Thanks for the confirmation:)

      Delete
  19. sibiJune 8, 2012 at 2:57 PM

    I wonder how and why many ladies who work as daily wagers spend substantial part of their earnings for buying jasmine flowers. Even if they can't afford a good meal, they would use their last rupee for buying jasmine!

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    1. BhavanaJune 8, 2012 at 8:13 PM

      So true, Sibi. But thats what Jasmine is about--the sense of feeling good. It is like alcohol for some women here--but a nice, sweet, fragrant and positive addiction:)

      Delete
  20. UmaJune 8, 2012 at 4:48 PM

    hey, I loved that post but for some reason am unable to register on the site.

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    1. BhavanaJune 8, 2012 at 8:14 PM

      Thanks so much, Uma and thank you for taking the trouble to register and then letting me know. Thats a lot of time and I so appreciate it!

      Delete
  21. Someone is SpecialJune 8, 2012 at 9:54 PM

    I love your post and Chennai - the best.. PS: It's my home town..

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    1. BhavanaJune 9, 2012 at 10:56 AM

      Someone is Special, so not only you but your hometown is also special huh?

      Delete
  22. AnonymousJune 9, 2012 at 10:07 AM

    Loved the post!!! Perfect post on namma chennai!! Especially the auto driver!! You interested in writing guest posts for my blog? I just started one.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. BhavanaJune 9, 2012 at 10:57 AM

      Thanks Karthic! Will you inbox me? My email bhavana.upadhyaya at gmail dot com

      Delete
  23. UnknownJune 9, 2012 at 11:09 AM

    Loved the post! It's true that Chennai is known for this along with the famous music and dance scene. Reminded me of some ancient nostalgia :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. BhavanaJune 9, 2012 at 11:15 AM

      I bet it is nostalgic--Chennai is fragrantly funny and memorable...:)

      Delete
  24. The Solitary WriterJune 10, 2012 at 9:00 AM

    Actually I was in Chennai for one day and I can't tell you how much I loved that place.Its funny that although my ancestory belongs to the same city, I still find it as a different place ... :D

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    1. BhavanaJune 10, 2012 at 9:17 AM

      I can't believe TSW actually belong to Chennai!!!! True, once we have lived in other parts, Chennai is a strange creature--but lovable nevertheless:)

      Delete
  25. PanchaliJune 10, 2012 at 11:12 AM

    Oh yes! Chennai reminds me of jasmine, kanakambrum flowers :-) I love to wear flowers...
    A beautifully fragrant post, Bhavana... !!

    Congrats on winning the Castrul Power Award...

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    1. BhavanaJune 10, 2012 at 12:23 PM

      I can see flowers on your hair, Panchali--it is as exquisite as your writings:)
      And thanks for your wishes:)

      Delete
  26. Nitin JainJune 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM

    Music, flowers and lessons in weight loss, interesting times Bhavana :)...never been to Chennai..so hope to read more from you about this fascinating town here !

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    1. BhavanaJune 10, 2012 at 12:25 PM

      We do live in interesting times, Nitin, don't we? This town is mysteriously alluring--not in the usual way, but in its own mysterious way. I have not been able to place my finger as yet--but will get there someday:)

      Delete
  27. CITYHYDJune 10, 2012 at 1:00 PM

    Chennai has its very own special culture..And yes, Jasmine flowers pretty much signifies any festival over there. Glad that we are born in India, not just to witness the Chennai Sojourn, but so many other cities...Vastly enriching !!

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    1. BhavanaJune 10, 2012 at 1:19 PM

      True, CityHyd!!! And I will be in your city next week:):) Let us see how Hyd feels:)

      Delete
  28. MakJune 10, 2012 at 3:02 PM

    Bhavana, you reminded me of my stay in chennai for 2 years. The things we learn in crowded busses, share autos and the people is amasing. I loved Chennai.
    Awesome post Bhavana.

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    1. BhavanaJune 10, 2012 at 6:31 PM

      You did? You did not pull your hair and scream in frustration? I am yet to love Chennai--I am just checking him out still:)

      Delete
  29. T F CarthickJune 10, 2012 at 8:40 PM

    Will check it out. Incidentally I am just back from a week in Chennai.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Online Bus BookingOctober 19, 2012 at 3:53 PM

    Now you can book your bus ticket through TicketGoose.com within south india to anywhere.

    Rathimeena Travels

    ReplyDelete
  31. Country FloraDecember 4, 2012 at 5:10 PM

    flowers are good and important in any festival.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to read through this post. Would love to hear back from you:):)

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