Vanakkam Chennai

Vaango vaango......

Its been two weeks since i have set foot on the land of temples...

Chennai has been my host for my month long training schedule and the experiences have been very very interesting...

Week 1 :

The accomdation has been provided by my company and its a nice one bedroom flat fully furnished with an AC, refrigirator, microwave , TV and a washing machine..

Training started on the 1st of June...Will not bore u much with my training details because there are other interesting things to be told.

The most amazing thing about chennai is its transport system. For a guy who is comfortable with the local language buses are the best mode of transport. But imagine the fate of people like me who is well versed in broken Tamil...It is really difficult to get a bus if you do not know the local language.

That leaves me with the other mode of transport..the dreaded Chennai Auto...

Now consider this situation..My friends are waiting to meet me at Spencer Plaza

I come onto the main road looking for an auto and luckily find one..

I go to the auto driver and ask him

" anna spencers plaza "

Auto driver : ukkarungo

Me : Evlam anna

AD: 150...

Me : (wat??? it was almost like i was given a shock with a high current source)

Me: (recollecting myself)..." anna 150 rombha jasti anna"

AD: ile ile anna..traffic $&$**(#&$*$* ( cudnt understand wat he said..but could realise that he said the traffic would be more)

Me : rombha jasti anna

AD : 130 kurtinge ( smethng like tat)

Me : ile anna 120 ( as if it made a difference)

AD : ukarungo

and the expression on my face would be like i have become the second Indian to win an oscar..

And then once the auto starts u feel like u are watching a jamesbond movie...only difference is u also seem to be part of it..and then by the time u settle down in the auto u have reached your destination...

It seems a really short ride and yet have to pay him 120 bucks...

So my advice to all people planning to come to TN..learn the language...

Will continue with my experinces in Chennai in the coming blogs....

To anyone who knows a writer, never underestimate the power of your encouragement

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On the Tracks Of Life.....

Ten Years Before .....

Train journeys were something which were very eagerly awaited by everyone ( especially children). The train journeys were a way to know the world, a way to meet and understand different people with varied backgrounds. New friends were made and relationships flourished. The elderly people had lots of points on any topic of discussion and children played with each other - jumping from seat to seat- happily munching choclates and snacks given by the other "co travellers". Journeys always started on a note of expectation - of making news friends or knowing new things - and more often than not ended with a feeling of missing the people with whom we had a nice journey.

Now !!!!

In this so called age of Social Networking - well the term pretty much sounds like a one word definition for all the above experiences...But sadly the answer is a loud NO.

Todays train journey is just a journey - the act of travelling from one place to another ( defintion source : oxford dictionary) ...Journeys these days would be six strangers sitting at a place and remaining strangers till the end of the journey. The conversation would at maximum be limited to " where are you going " and " what are you doing" . Even more common sight would be an individual with his earphones plugged in " oblivious to the happenings around him'her" and a book in hand. Children are now scolded for running around in the train and playing or for eating anything given by strangers. The only set of people who still have a chat with everybody is the elder generation ( they are yet to be bitten by the generation bug i guess)...

So what about all the talk of Social Networking ..Guess its all limited to Orkut and Facebook and Late nite and weekend parties....

This blog is a result of many experiences put together..different people may have different opinions..if so..Comments are welcome..

To anyone who knows a writer, never underestimate the power of your encouragement.

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