Chennai

Chennai is India's metro on the south of the peninsula. I've been traveling a bit now, and am a little less receptive to the subtleties of a place. Basically what I feel in Chennai is a faint familiarity. I've grown up around Tamilians, and know them to be warm and courteous people. The minute you step into Chennai, the power of cinema becomes immediately apparent. Tamilians are known to idolize their movie stars, and banners, posters and hoardings of these deities can be found all over Chennai. Auto rickshaws sport blaring music, next to the bicyclist pedalling around with a tape recorder taped to his handlebars. In addition to the film culture, Chennai is also a city that respects women. Women, like any place on Earth are sought after, but in Chennai, they seem to be less objectified.

When I came through Chennai airport, I was so tired, I hardly noticed it. Now that I think of it, that is probably a good thing. The airport wasn't built to be memorable - just a place to make transit easier. There were no complaints and no hassles encountered, and that I think makes the airport pretty good in my dictionary.

My trip to Chennai was because of a visit I needed to make to the American consulate. Even that seemed to go by without much thought on my part. I seem to remember being more anxious the first time I went there. Maybe with the passing of time, I take things more and more for granted. Maybe the only definite upside of the business at the consulate was that while I was waiting in line, I met a friend I had known since school.

Having completed my business in Chennai, it was time to move on.