Chennai (Madras)

We arrived here after a 36 hour train journey from New Delhi station. Two nights in AC3 (air con 3 tier sleeper) with mice running around the floors and the odd cockroach climbing up the walls, well this is India! We shared our compartment with 2 students on their way back to College in Chennai and 2 business men. All spoke English so it was interesting to chat to them. As it turned out, one of the men owned a teddy bear factory and was going to Chennai to sell more teddy bears. After we had had a look at all his teddy bears, we got Fred out and he gave him a good going over inspecting all his seams before finally declaring Fred was “good quality”. But we knew that anyway didn’t we. After a night of showing them our photos from Mongolia, England and Canada then answering a million questions about how much things cost in England it was time for them to get their food out. Once again, out comes a huge holdall packed full of food. The wives had packed tiffin boxes full of curry and homemade chapatis for them which they insisted upon sharing with us. We love train travel in India :-) Central Chennai station, like any other Indian station, was full of people, but seemed a little cleaner than other Indian stations, there was no horrible smell of wee and there wern’t any cows wandering around either. We are far south now and it is raining, nobody told us it was rainy season in Southern India! Everyone in the North said November was the best time to visit the south! Coming to the south after one month in India already, is a bit like moving on to the next country (as they speak a different language) but bringing all the worst bits of the previous country with you - the smells, the horrid indian squat toilets, the humidity etc. Next lets go and explore what Chennai has to offer! We found a touring bus company that cost 150 rp each for a trip around Chennai starting at 2pm so we jumped on it. The first hour was picking up everyone from their hotels, then we were off. First stop the museum, which we did not go in, as we’re not really in to museums so we sat in a cafe over the road and had a coffee with an American girl also opting out. Next stop the snake park. A horrid, poorly kept zoo full of snakes, crocodiles, and other reptiles. Small enclosures all looking very dirty. They obviously really needed the rupees from these bus tours. What was really strange about the place though were all the tame deer wandering around the car park. Were they crocodile food??? Then the bus broke down, after 90 minutes of them trying to fix it they finally arranged tuk tuks to take us the rest of the journey. Next stop the beach, it was dark when we got there as it was so late and all we could see was the many vendors selling food so it was about time to eat something. First we tried some vegetable fritters, they were so yummy, then some samosas with a madras sauce even yummier. The sauce was not only hot but full of flavour. Follow all this up with an ice-cream and this made the perfect combination for a lovely beachside meal. Costing between us about 100 rp (£1.30). Bargain!!! Up bright and early the next morning, well 9 o’clock, and Bryan went for a run and what a run! There is nothing quite like going for a run along the beach front, being able to look out over the sea, the blue skies, with a smooth sea road to run along. All perfect for getting the fitness back up and going again. Chennai really doesn’t have much to offer but we only spent two days here and we are glad we came. Paradise Guest House Room rating: 3/10 - Very cheap (500rp or £7) no top sheets, no towels and a smelly Indian squat toilet. uurrgghh!! Location: 5/10 - Not much to see in Chennai Staff: 7/10 - Always smiling Value for Money: 8/10 - Budget time again Other comments: No hot water, unable to sleep. Stay again? what do you think? !!! Overall area experience: 4/10 - Chennai does have a great tasting curry