Chennai, a sensory adventure!
This week, a slightly different article. A more pictorial one. Wish I could have brought you the other senses too – the sounds and aromas. Last week I was in Chennai for 2 days to deliver a keynote talk for a client.
It had been a few years since I was last in Chennai, so I was excited and curious to reconnect with her. I was keen to see what had changed. Even before I stepped out of my flight my senses were stimulated.
There was a tour group on my flight that was visiting Chennai for the first time. There was excitement in the cabin. They caught every possible view of Chennai from the sky. The couple next to me were taking videos of the clouds. I didn’t ask but I think it was the wife’s first voyage by plane. I marvelled at her excitement. I was trying to recollect the last time I felt a similar sensation. I made a mental note to try something new on my trip. Just to have that dopamine hit!
Chennai airport looked different. I found out later that it went through a renovation recently. I could tell. There were many immigration counters, queues were short and I was out in record time. I always remember being welcomed by a statue of Lord Ganesh on arrival. ‘He’ was still there. Refurbished too it seems. Welcoming visitors in all his glory.
As I stepped out of the airport, I realised the renovation was not complete. The area outside arrival seemed like it was still a work in progress. Chennai has had a wet ‘winter’. With the continuous rain, everything was wet. Taxis and private cars are not allowed at the arrival hall, so I had to walk about 150 metres to my hotel car that was parked in the car park. The car park has a food court hosting most of the international chains.
My drive to the hotel brought back memories. The constant buzz of sounds. Everyone uses their horns to warn how close they are to each other. Every available inch on the road is used. Though there are lanes marked on the road, no one adheres to them! I had to smile when the bus in front of my car had the words, ‘sound horn’ on the back. This, for me, is quintessentially India!
I had an early dinner at the hotel’s South Indian restaurant. What I loved about the restaurant was it had a traditional Indian welcome – a (lit) lamp, holy ash, and watered turmeric in 2 separate pots. The holy ash symbolises dissolving of the ego and turmeric symbolises purification, protection, and prosperity.
What was unique about this restaurant was they had the traditional tools used to make classical Indian dishes on display. The traditional stone ‘grinder’ to make chutney, the crusher to crush lentils, and the Indian pancake, ‘tosai’, maker. These have all been replaced by modern gadgets now. But I remember seeing these in my relatives’ homes in my early years.
On the long table from far left - chutney maker, lentil grinder next to it and tosai maker on the far right
I wanted to try something new, and I did! I told the head waiter that I wanted a light meal and he suggested ‘sour yogurt kebabs.’ That sounded intriguing and he told me they were unique. I went with his suggestion, and I was not disappointed. They were delicious.
Breakfast the next morning was equally delightful to the senses. Though the hotel had a full spread of Western and Asian, I stuck with the Indian corner. Just the array of chutneys made me want to have a vada (Indian savoury doughnut), idly (Indian steamed rice cake) and tosai (Indian pancake). It was an explosion of flavours. It certainly got me ready for my day.
I had a good meeting with my client. My flight was a red eye the same night and I had an eventful time trying to leave the country. The security guards at the airport made sure I had a memorable departure! More in another article.
For now, it was great to relive, through writing this article, the wonderful Chennai sensory adventure.
As always, you can reach me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com