Travelling in Chennai can be very intimidating even to the most hardened of travelers.
The problem with the city is the autos, autos and autos. For budget travelers, I would recommend avoiding autos altogether. After spending my first semester in Chennai, I came back to Mumbai and felt sorry for the honest autowallahs here that I over-paid a couple of times. Chennai autowallahs are harshly discriminatory, not just on foreigners and Hindi-speaking travelers but also on Chennaiites who aren’t familiar with a particular locality. To give you a better idea-
*Actual fare: Rs.50
Foreign tourist pays: Rs.500
North-Indian tourist pays: Rs.300
Tamil-speaking tourist pays: Rs.150
Localite (North/South Indian/expat): Rs.100
(* - All figures are indicatory)
The best way to deal with the auto menace is to be-friend an autowallah and then stick to him. If this is not possible, collect the exact details of the place you are visiting, the average cost it takes to travel by auto and then practice your bargaining and negotiating skills.
The MTC bus service is good and fairly extensive. But at peak hours, the buses overflow with passengers hanging on to every piece of metal shard available, just like the trains of Mumbai. But make sure you carry the exact change. A few conductors take advantage if you don’t have change. A number of times, conductors pretend to forget that they owe you money. Once, I handed a 100-rupee note for Rs.7 ticket, I lost both my money and my cool at the immensely brutal manner of cheating.
Chennai suburban trains are by far the most hassle-free means to travel in Chennai.. One can easily get into these trains even in peak hours. The trains also offer a chance to appreciate beautiful sights of the city. The stretch near the airport and the Thiruvanmiyur railway stations are the best.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Anyways?
‘Anyways’ - I don’t remember when I heard this first. But it seems to have caught the imagination of the Indian junta as rapidly as Rakhi Sawant’s swayamvar or the IPL. The youth who refuse to use the word or correct people for using it are usually looked down upon as un-cool and demented. The species of ‘Non-anyways’ has become highly endangered. Hunting for the ‘Non-anyways sapiens’ would be like searching for a 'needle in a haystack' (or lovelier usage- hunting for a fly in an elephant’s arse).
Even as I type all this in MS-Word, the usage of anyways doesn’t throw any red lines. The Americans are definitely covertly waging a full-scale war against Brit English. And for desis, using ‘anyways’ has become a nice way of getting back at the Brits.
To add on to the ignominy of Purists, people these days have started using more such plural forms. One fine morning, in the class of a renowned institute, one of the professors greeted the students – ‘Good mornings’. That struck me like a bolt from the blue. I am pretty sure you would have heard ‘By the ways’ too.
Will these too catch on with the hoi polloi? Well, this remains to be seen.
The bottom-line –
As the junta is going way out of the way to remove ‘way’ from the dictionaries, ‘way’ will become another archaic form. Anyways...
(Inspired by a Readers Digest article)
Even as I type all this in MS-Word, the usage of anyways doesn’t throw any red lines. The Americans are definitely covertly waging a full-scale war against Brit English. And for desis, using ‘anyways’ has become a nice way of getting back at the Brits.
To add on to the ignominy of Purists, people these days have started using more such plural forms. One fine morning, in the class of a renowned institute, one of the professors greeted the students – ‘Good mornings’. That struck me like a bolt from the blue. I am pretty sure you would have heard ‘By the ways’ too.
Will these too catch on with the hoi polloi? Well, this remains to be seen.
The bottom-line –
As the junta is going way out of the way to remove ‘way’ from the dictionaries, ‘way’ will become another archaic form. Anyways...
(Inspired by a Readers Digest article)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Story of a Mumbaikar in Chennai – Part 1!
Mumbai - A foodie haven
Mumbai has been a gastronomist’s heaven and I realized this only after I moved to Chennai for 6 years. How much I missed my Darling city!! So, when I came back to hometown after my Vanvas(period spent in a forest for penance), it was time to make up for all the lost years of hogging. 6 months on, I am still enjoying the food and the life here. What's so special in Mumbai, you might ask?
Let me list out my favorite items (No specific order of preference)
1. The Dhabeli -
The Dhabeli is a Gujarati dish which is a pav (Indian Bun-like bread) filled with a heterogeneous mixture sprinkled with groundnuts, pomegranate rubies and some coriander leaves. Make sure you tell the Dhabeliwala to fry it in Amul butter and relish the golden-baked crispy dhabeli. The spicy mixture is sweetened by the pomegranate and the groundnuts. This is really Food for the Gods.
2. The Vada Pav-
The poor man's burger is a lot more tastier than its western counterpart. But I guess it’s still remains a Mumbai thing. My friends from Delhi are unable to develop a taste for this Rs.5 ka burger. To my south-Indian friends who are unable to fathom the craze for 'bun with a potato-filling', they should taste it to believe it.
3. The Chat - Dahi Puri, Pani Puri, Sev Puri, ityaadi(etcetera)
These chat items are found in almost every nook and corner of India these days. But of course, the quality suffers as you move Southwards, though the cost increases.
The Chennai Pani puri is more often made with some packet of instant-mix that tastes more like sea-water. I have had my share of pani puris in Chennai and though my unfortunate Tamil brethren loved them, I still prefer delaying having them till I reach Mumbai. I Southies will stop tasting Chennai-made pani puris once they taste the Mumbai-made ones.
But my stay in Chennai was made easier due to a few brands like Sri Krishna sweets and Gangotree. These brands realized the need for good chats for the growing North Indian community in Chennai. But these were expensive at 3-4 times the Mumbai MRP.
4. The Lassi
Though I haven’t yet tasted Lassi in the land of its origin (Punjab), the Mumbai lassi was good enough to make me fall in love with this sweet curd topped off with a generous layer of Malai and sprinkled with pista, kesar (saffron) and some rose essence.
It was only natural that for me to go Lassi-hunting in Chennai. I was flabbergasted when I saw the state of Lassi here. The Lassi that could substitute breakfast was reduced to something like sweet buttermilk. Unfortunately the quality of Lassi remains pathetic even in the newly established North-Indian specialty restaurants in Chennai.
Many other items like the Pav Bhaji, the kachori, samosa pavs are sub-standard in Chennai restaurants. Of course, to substitute all this is the crispy dosa and the healthy idlis, but don’t we find these in Mumbai itself?
Hmm.. Maybe I will have to start a restaurant in Chennai soon!!
Mumbai has been a gastronomist’s heaven and I realized this only after I moved to Chennai for 6 years. How much I missed my Darling city!! So, when I came back to hometown after my Vanvas(period spent in a forest for penance), it was time to make up for all the lost years of hogging. 6 months on, I am still enjoying the food and the life here. What's so special in Mumbai, you might ask?
Let me list out my favorite items (No specific order of preference)
1. The Dhabeli -
The Dhabeli is a Gujarati dish which is a pav (Indian Bun-like bread) filled with a heterogeneous mixture sprinkled with groundnuts, pomegranate rubies and some coriander leaves. Make sure you tell the Dhabeliwala to fry it in Amul butter and relish the golden-baked crispy dhabeli. The spicy mixture is sweetened by the pomegranate and the groundnuts. This is really Food for the Gods.
2. The Vada Pav-
The poor man's burger is a lot more tastier than its western counterpart. But I guess it’s still remains a Mumbai thing. My friends from Delhi are unable to develop a taste for this Rs.5 ka burger. To my south-Indian friends who are unable to fathom the craze for 'bun with a potato-filling', they should taste it to believe it.
3. The Chat - Dahi Puri, Pani Puri, Sev Puri, ityaadi(etcetera)
These chat items are found in almost every nook and corner of India these days. But of course, the quality suffers as you move Southwards, though the cost increases.
The Chennai Pani puri is more often made with some packet of instant-mix that tastes more like sea-water. I have had my share of pani puris in Chennai and though my unfortunate Tamil brethren loved them, I still prefer delaying having them till I reach Mumbai. I Southies will stop tasting Chennai-made pani puris once they taste the Mumbai-made ones.
But my stay in Chennai was made easier due to a few brands like Sri Krishna sweets and Gangotree. These brands realized the need for good chats for the growing North Indian community in Chennai. But these were expensive at 3-4 times the Mumbai MRP.
4. The Lassi
Though I haven’t yet tasted Lassi in the land of its origin (Punjab), the Mumbai lassi was good enough to make me fall in love with this sweet curd topped off with a generous layer of Malai and sprinkled with pista, kesar (saffron) and some rose essence.
It was only natural that for me to go Lassi-hunting in Chennai. I was flabbergasted when I saw the state of Lassi here. The Lassi that could substitute breakfast was reduced to something like sweet buttermilk. Unfortunately the quality of Lassi remains pathetic even in the newly established North-Indian specialty restaurants in Chennai.
Many other items like the Pav Bhaji, the kachori, samosa pavs are sub-standard in Chennai restaurants. Of course, to substitute all this is the crispy dosa and the healthy idlis, but don’t we find these in Mumbai itself?
Hmm.. Maybe I will have to start a restaurant in Chennai soon!!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Lonely Planet/Globetrekker Theme music!!!
I would rush back home from school at 1pm. My lunch was supplemented with 'the Traveller's' on Discovery Channel.
In my college days, I had moved on from 'Travelers' to 'Lonely Planet' (nowadays 'Globetrekker'). The host Ian Wright peppered his tours with his charming wit and thanks to him I developed a fantastic knowledge of cultures and places. Along with it, came a sense of acceptance of different cultures and traditions and an irresistible thirst for exploration. Imagining myself as a host during my treks and travels brings the over-optimistic freak in me.
I also love the Lonely Planet theme music. Listening to it when travelling to unknown places brings out the inquisitive teenager in me and raises my spirits.
You can download this theme music for free. I assure you, you'll love it!!!
Download the Lonely Planet theme music
In my college days, I had moved on from 'Travelers' to 'Lonely Planet' (nowadays 'Globetrekker'). The host Ian Wright peppered his tours with his charming wit and thanks to him I developed a fantastic knowledge of cultures and places. Along with it, came a sense of acceptance of different cultures and traditions and an irresistible thirst for exploration. Imagining myself as a host during my treks and travels brings the over-optimistic freak in me.
I also love the Lonely Planet theme music. Listening to it when travelling to unknown places brings out the inquisitive teenager in me and raises my spirits.
You can download this theme music for free. I assure you, you'll love it!!!
Download the Lonely Planet theme music
Monday, July 27, 2009
Trek to Tungareshwar
The day before the trek
Maria calls up and says she has to go to office and won’t be able to come. Raj isn't coming too. Texts fly over the place wailing that the trip is canceled. I couldn’t let my sister down. She has been longing to see a waterfall (She’s never seen one). I call up the folks and convince them that I have an idea of the route. The plan is still on...
We get going
We got down at Vasai road station at 7 a.m. The rest of the gang assembled by 7:30. From there we took a rickshaw to the Tungareshwar sanctuary. The roads were pretty bad and it took us around 30 minutes to get to the place. We started our trek on high-spirits. The group was palpably excited on seeing the first river crossing. We crossed a couple of rivers and came across a lovely mini-waterfall. We decided to go to the top and come back later to this place. (On our return, this place was crowded; so we gave it a miss)
Some of us had some hot corn spiced with lemon and masala for breakfast. It was filling.
We went up to a point where there were a few more corn shops and an entrance that said – ‘ Way to Babaji’s Ashram’ in Marathi. It had taken an hour to get to this point and a few were already exhausted. On enquiring a corn shop guy, we were told that a waterfall was just 10 minutes away. So, with eagerness we started uphill. There was nothing special at this point. No beautiful foliage or animals. We had just seen a couple of crabs. All of us walked for nearly an hour, but there was no sign of any waterfall.. and there was no rain. It was getting humid..
After dragging on for another 15-20 minutes, we managed to sight something that resembled a waterfall but nowhere close to an actual one. The group decided to catch up on some snacks. After recharging for 10 minutes, we started again and walked for another half an hour; again with no special sights and sounds. We chanced upon an old man who said that a Dab-daba was just 15 mins away. Again the gang eagerly pulled on. After nearly 1.5 hours, there was still no dab-daba around.
Fruits of labor
A few members weren’t eager to move ahead. But I managed to pull them on. And after 15 minutes, what we saw delighted us. The beautiful waterfalls were at a distance and a feast for our sore eyes. After spending some time here, the group thought that there must still be something more ahead. We ambled on..
After an hour’s trek, the clouds started converging and it began to rain. It was delightful.
On walking further uphill, the clouds descended on us and we couldn’t see more than a few metres away. We had reached a point where there was a narrow path to the right and a straight path ahead. We decided to go straight. After 10 minutes, as the gang was totally out of energy, they decided to rest for sometime and then return back.
I volunteered to scour for some nearby places that might interest the group. On walking straight ahead, I noticed that the slope was descending and would not excite the folks. On my way back uphill, I noticed a narrow road. The narrow slippery road led to a steep cliff with a beautiful panoramic view of Vasai and nearby areas. It was awe-inspiring. I went back to the gang and they agreed to come over and were pleasantly surprised by the beauty that beheld them.
We met the old guy on our way back down. The frustrated girls asked him with some degree of restraint, the reason he had told that the falls was just 15 minutes away. He said that had he told us the actual time it would take for us to go to the place, we would never have attempted in the first place. It set a smile on our tired eyes. The walk back to the base was comparatively easier and took nearly 3 hrs.
Getting back home
On reaching the sanctuary gate, we had hoped to find an auto that would transport our tired legs back home. To our dismay we were told that we would have to walk for 10 minutes to get to the nearest auto-stand. The very mention of 10 minutes frightened us. After 5 minutes, by the grace of Providence, we managed to get an auto. 7 of us crammed into the rickshaw and the machine cranked us back to Vasai road station.
Now for some rejuvenating slumber
The best part of any such jaunt is when you get back home safely, shower quick and throw yourself in bed.. good night!!!
Maria calls up and says she has to go to office and won’t be able to come. Raj isn't coming too. Texts fly over the place wailing that the trip is canceled. I couldn’t let my sister down. She has been longing to see a waterfall (She’s never seen one). I call up the folks and convince them that I have an idea of the route. The plan is still on...
We get going
We got down at Vasai road station at 7 a.m. The rest of the gang assembled by 7:30. From there we took a rickshaw to the Tungareshwar sanctuary. The roads were pretty bad and it took us around 30 minutes to get to the place. We started our trek on high-spirits. The group was palpably excited on seeing the first river crossing. We crossed a couple of rivers and came across a lovely mini-waterfall. We decided to go to the top and come back later to this place. (On our return, this place was crowded; so we gave it a miss)
Some of us had some hot corn spiced with lemon and masala for breakfast. It was filling.
We went up to a point where there were a few more corn shops and an entrance that said – ‘ Way to Babaji’s Ashram’ in Marathi. It had taken an hour to get to this point and a few were already exhausted. On enquiring a corn shop guy, we were told that a waterfall was just 10 minutes away. So, with eagerness we started uphill. There was nothing special at this point. No beautiful foliage or animals. We had just seen a couple of crabs. All of us walked for nearly an hour, but there was no sign of any waterfall.. and there was no rain. It was getting humid..
After dragging on for another 15-20 minutes, we managed to sight something that resembled a waterfall but nowhere close to an actual one. The group decided to catch up on some snacks. After recharging for 10 minutes, we started again and walked for another half an hour; again with no special sights and sounds. We chanced upon an old man who said that a Dab-daba was just 15 mins away. Again the gang eagerly pulled on. After nearly 1.5 hours, there was still no dab-daba around.
Fruits of labor
A few members weren’t eager to move ahead. But I managed to pull them on. And after 15 minutes, what we saw delighted us. The beautiful waterfalls were at a distance and a feast for our sore eyes. After spending some time here, the group thought that there must still be something more ahead. We ambled on..
After an hour’s trek, the clouds started converging and it began to rain. It was delightful.
On walking further uphill, the clouds descended on us and we couldn’t see more than a few metres away. We had reached a point where there was a narrow path to the right and a straight path ahead. We decided to go straight. After 10 minutes, as the gang was totally out of energy, they decided to rest for sometime and then return back.
I volunteered to scour for some nearby places that might interest the group. On walking straight ahead, I noticed that the slope was descending and would not excite the folks. On my way back uphill, I noticed a narrow road. The narrow slippery road led to a steep cliff with a beautiful panoramic view of Vasai and nearby areas. It was awe-inspiring. I went back to the gang and they agreed to come over and were pleasantly surprised by the beauty that beheld them.
We met the old guy on our way back down. The frustrated girls asked him with some degree of restraint, the reason he had told that the falls was just 15 minutes away. He said that had he told us the actual time it would take for us to go to the place, we would never have attempted in the first place. It set a smile on our tired eyes. The walk back to the base was comparatively easier and took nearly 3 hrs.
Getting back home
On reaching the sanctuary gate, we had hoped to find an auto that would transport our tired legs back home. To our dismay we were told that we would have to walk for 10 minutes to get to the nearest auto-stand. The very mention of 10 minutes frightened us. After 5 minutes, by the grace of Providence, we managed to get an auto. 7 of us crammed into the rickshaw and the machine cranked us back to Vasai road station.
Now for some rejuvenating slumber
The best part of any such jaunt is when you get back home safely, shower quick and throw yourself in bed.. good night!!!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Biotech sector in India. Undergraduation in biotechnology.
"Biotechnology is the buzzword", "biotech booms","biotech-the future" ; scream the headlines in all the newspapers. But is Biotech really booming? If so, why are biotech undergrads like me reluctant to take up a masters in biotech?
Firstly, it is the age of instant gratification. And I confess I have materialistic needs too.
When freshers get 2.5-5 lacs per annum in a software company, why on earth would someone enter a biotech co where you get paid peanuts in comparison?(irrespective of whether you are a B.tech, masters or pHd) .
And scientific jobs are not abundant in the biotech sector. They are highly competitive.
Besides, in which sector of engineering are you required to pay for your internship.
The biotech boom is an illusion. So its better to chill your heels and not jump the gun in taking up a specialized course like biotech in your undergrads. A Bachelors in science would be better as it would give you an idea about your research capabilities; then you can jump into specialization and research in an area of choice.
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