Madras Week....

After a long break I return with my next blog. The reason which pushed me to do this is CHENNAI. I came across the news about the Chennai week. Being a Chennaite its my duty to pour my sweet memories about Chennai. Chennai completes its 371 years of existence on August 22^nd since it was formed as Madaraspattinam in 1639. This old city has seen lot of raise and fall but still keeps growing with the same josh like a new born child.

            Being born in this Metropolitan city I love Chennai, as every other Chennaite. I don’t remember those days when we used to call it Madras. But I guess I started calling it Chennai since my college days. And to be honest I have never realized the greatness about Chennai since I first came to UK. More than I missed my home, I missed Besant Nagar beach (of course for onion bajji), Hot chips Coffee, Spencer Plaza….and many other things. Going to Eastham made me nostalgic, where I felt like being in T.Nagar. For people who have seen Chennai only in Tamizh cinemas, the first or only thing that would come to your mind would be the Central station. But I promise there are lot many wonders apart from this, which would make you go crazy for this city.

            Marina Beach, Santhome beach, Thirumanmiyur beach, Parthasaradhi temple, Santhome Chruch, Mount road, Shopper stop, Spencer Palza, Cooum river, Vandalur zoo, Meenambakkam airport, Kannimara Library, Tidel park, OMR, Mahindra city, Adayar tree (which no more exists), Cathepara junction, Koyembedu market, Koyembedu bus stop, Egmore, Saravana bavan, Gemini flyover, LIC building, ICF, T.Nagar, Ranganathan street, Saravana stores, Pothys, Burma Bazzar, Paris(Namma ooru Paris), Valluvarkottam, Kodambakkam, Kannaki statue, Poes Garden,  Kollywood, IIT Madras, Anna University, Madras University, Raj Bhavan, Sathyam Theater, INOX, Anna Nagar, Kilpauk Medical college, Apollo hospital, SBOA, DAV school, MTC bus, Share auto, Le Meridian, Taj, Chola, Park, Music acedamy, Software Engineers with different colored tags, Engineering college buses, IT company buses, traffic constables who are always tensed with this growing number of vehicles, our Madras Tamizh (which even people from other parts of Tamil Nadu don’t understand).…… and I know this list will never end. These are few places and things that come to my mind when I think of Chennai.

            When I talk about Chennai there would be gang of my friends who would raise their hand against Chennai. The main reason for their protest would be Autos drivers, Dust and Language. But everyone would agree no place in this earth would have all positives. Other than few negatives, I think Chennai is the most beautiful place to enjoy the life. I’m sure those people who have come to Chennai from other states also would have started liking the place as days goes by. You can never forget this beautiful, fun filled city once you start living your life here.

            Giving a glance at Chennai, we would get to see the traces of many dynasties and colonies. Santhome San Thome Basilica built by Portuguese, Central railway station(which is a look alike of London Kings cross station), Ribbon building, St. George fort and few other buildings by British people, Kapaleeshwar temple built by Pallavas, would be few examples I could think of. Chennai as a whole is the place of heritage, culture, technology and many more. The city along with its growth has given lives for many people. It has given place for everyone who came in.

This city has given me my good standard of education, friends, good experience to cherish and bad experiences to learn from, good culture, and most important my husband, who still remembers Raj Bhavan hotel sambhar everyday.

I would personally wish to see this city grow more the same way it does now. Adding to all other developments, I would personally like to see our Cooum river back to us the way it was years back. Hope it turns to be Thames of Chennai soon.  Also wish to see our auto drivers use their auto meter which would have gone rusted all these days.

At this prestigious moment, we stand together to salute this great city which has taken all the geographical, social and cultural changes to itself and been a good place for us to live in. For people in Chennai enjoy your time for the fullest and for people who stay away from the city, like me, cherish those days you spent in the city until you get a chance to land in Meenambakkam airport. (In the mean time you can catch hold of any new Chennaites whom you come across and ask them this standard question “Nenga Chennai ah? Chennai la enga?”.)

CHENNAI …… this is the place where I belong.

I’m proud to be a Chennai ponnu!!!

Happy Birthday CHENNAI!!!

En Vazhkaiyil vandha Volcano

Ennoda previous post la en samayalai paththi padichirupeenga. Adhula sonna mari idhu na senja prawn oda climax. En hubby Thursday 15th Belfast ku varanum. But as you all know Iceland la Volcano vandhadhunala ella flight from to UK were cancelled. Blessing in disguise mari my hubby’s flight was the last flight from Belgium to London. So London Heathrow vandhachu.

He called me Thursday afternoon and said that his next flight to Belfast at 13.50 hrs is cancelled. Appo I didn’t realize this as such a huge problem, so night flight schedule pannuvanganu nenachen. Meantime, en hubby immigration and medical checkup ellam yeduthutu irukkum podhu, anga irundhavanga pesinadha vechi pakkum podhu flight inime next day thandra mari yengalukku purinjadhu. Already ennoda hubby ya BA kum BMI Heathrow airport alaya vechchi, kadaisiya Friday flight illa, idhoda Saturday morning 8.50 ku than next flight nu sollitu Checkin panna Suitcase um kuduthutanga.

Meantime na en friend’s kita discuss pannitu irukkum podhu, they suggested me about ferry from London to Belfast. So na en hubby kitta information desk la poyi ferry pathi kekka sonnen. Then information desk la oru punniyavan Dublin poyi angarundhu Belfast ku train la poyidunu sollirukkan. En hubby yum avan sonna vudane yenakku on the way vandhutu surprise kudukkalamnu, first phase of travel la Euston poga Tube la yeriyachu. Apparam na call pannum podhu “Na Belfast vandhutu irukennu” sonnaru. Then eppadi varanu kekkum podhu than Dublin vishayam veliya vandhadhu. Then I got shocked and said he doesn’t have visa for Dublin, as it doesn’t come under UK visa and it requires Republic of Ireland visa nu.

But andha Information desk la irundhavan Dublin transit nala ne pogalamnu solli anupitan. Apparam Euston poyi serum podhu time already 4 PM. Then anga poyi Virgin trains la kekkum podhu than ne Dublin poga mudiyadhu vevum na Glasgow poyi night stay pannitu next day Belfast poyidunu easy ya sollitan. But unfortunately my hubby didn’t carry more cash also and he was almost tired of carrying a big suitcase of 30KG and a cabin bag of 10KG. Even I lost my patience and told him not to run here and there and I would arrange some place for him to stay.

Apparam hotels ellam patha, almost ellam full and only left out with some sharing Dorms. So idhu vezhaki agadhunu, started contacting my London friends. En bad luck na yaru kandippa help pannuvanganu nenachano, avangalukku help panna mudiyadha situation. So kadasiya oru friend ku call panni keta, avanga udane vara sollitanga. Then en hubby Euston la irundhu Heathrow poyi ticket confirmation vangiyachu. Then en hubby ya en friend vetukku poga, sammadhikka vekka accommodation kandupidikka kasta patta mariye kasta puttu odhukka vechchachu.

Then Heathrow airport la irundhu oru taxi pidichi en friend vettu address sonna, avan taxi la tom tom kuda illa and taxi driver en hubby kita vazhi sollunu oru alambal. En friend ku udane phone panni vazhi solli oru vazhiya driver ku puriya vechi vettukku kutitu poyi vittachu. After he reached my friend’s place I was bit relaxed. Idhukku naduvula senja  prawn curry ya waste pannadha na Saturday vandhu sappiduren nu solliyachu. But na neraya senjadhunala sari en office la friend ku kuduthudulam nu nenachi avangala ketta, avanga vendam, nenga unga hubby kaga senjadhu, nengale sappitunganu sollitanga. Oru vela sappida bayandhu appadi solliruppangalonu apparam feel pannen. So Saturday vandhuduvarunu nenachi ennala mudinja alavukku curry ah gali pannen. But thaniya avlo effort poda mudiyala. Then Saturday News patha annaikkum flights cancel. So enna panna mudiyum? Idhu mela curry ah vechitu irundha rombha damage ayidumnu, heavy heart oda dust bin la potten.

So en first non-veg samayal for my hubby, konjam yenakkum, konjam dust bin kum poyachu L. Oru vela santhoshama irundha edho oru prawn ah piricha pavam than ippadi en vazhkaila Volcano va vandha vilayadiduchonu nenakkiren. Ippadiye Saturday, Sunday, Monday nu poyikitte irukku but flight mattum vitta mari illa. So idhoda oru special um kedayadhu, flight Belfast la land ana udane than samakka arambhikkaradhunu mudivu panniyachu. Enna panna en prawn curry sappida kuduthu vaikkala.

Indha chaos layum I’m atleast I’m happy that he is now in a safe place. Thank God that he was atleast able to reach London and I could contact him(na en intelligence use panni India trip pona appo kudutha UK Sim card, ippadu use agumnu nenakkave illa) often to know the status. If he had been caught in Belgium then there   would not have been this chance also and that would have been the most unfortunate experience of life.

Hope our friend Volcano rest in peace sooner and leave way for all the flights……

En Samayalaraiyil

Title ah pathavudane….na oru periya cook nu mudivu panni irukkalam. Illa na edho recipe solla porennu nenakkilam. But idhu ennoda recent chinna cooking experience.

My hubby was supposed to come to Belfast on Thursday April 15th. Indha “Was supposed to come” oda story thani, so adha apparam deal pannikalam. Ippo ennoda special cooking for my hubby.

This is the first time na en hubby kaga ennoda vettula samakkiradhu. So special ah yedhavadhu samakkalamnu yosichittu irukkum podhu sari avarukku prawns pidikkume adhaye panniduvomnu mudivu panniyachu. Samachchi oru surprise ah varumbodhu kuduthu asathalamnu oru excitement….

Idhula en cooking background ah pathi therinjikanumnah….. UK varadhukku minnadi kitchen pakkam plate ah sink la poda mattum than poyirukken. Adhu than nambha expertise. But inga vandha apparam slow ah pick up ayiten…because daily sappidanumnah kandippa rice avadhu vekka therinji irukkanum la….. So ippadi arambhitha en samayal payanam ippo oru step forward la poyi amogamaga munnerikkondu irukku.

So back to samayal. 3 manikke office la irundhu escape agi namma Tesco ku poyi prawns vagitu vandhu nalla ponnu mari office vandhu ukkandhuten. Apparam 5.30 ku bag ah thukkitu vettukku poyi hubby ku phone panni airport vandhachanu visarichitu irukkum podhu….. naan varadhukku enna special? Lamb try pannu nu order…. Apparam surprise ellam disclose panni naan prawn pannapora vishayatha sonnen. Adhukku parattu ketakkumnu patha “Ne ellam samaikkaradhe surprise than” nu oru comment vera. Sari nallavangala aandavan sodhipaan but kai vida mattannu….velaya arambhichen. Idhula veettula irundhu vera “mappillaikku nalla samachi vei” nu pressure.

First nambha google ah open panni “Chettinad Prawn curry” thedi, oru recipe ya kandu pidichachu. Nanum seiyiradhu rombha kastamnu nenachen. But simple ah recipe sollanumna thakkali thokku pannitu prawn ah adhula poda sollirundhanga avlove dhan….. (Thakkali thokku eppadi pannanumnu muzhikkaravanga contact me personally).

Recipe ellam pathutu cooking start panni, anaikku mattum 2 hours ah samachirukken….. enna appadi pannennah raddish sambhar, prawns curry and rice. Avlo thaan… he he. Then naane risk eduthu adha sappitum pathen(vera enna panna testing rat ketakkila inga). Paravala kalakkiten..... 

But annaikku mattum samaikkum podhu special care ellam eduthu samachen…. Because en hubby na samachu sapida pora first non-veg dish appadinu oru payam. Oru vazhiya samachi mudichi….next nalu office ku poyi ellarum hubby ku special ah enna samachanum kettum podhu perumaya PRAWN appadinu sollikitten…..

But idhoda climax innum irrukku…….wait for it.

En payanam...

Last few days I feel that I have missed all my precious youth......

Yosichi patha...may be my mind is true. But still I have not missed lot of fun.

Being a little above average student(Nijamave) from a little strict school, I was not very proactive. So school la rombha adakki than vasichen. Then entrance exam, Enigneering counselling, college admission nu days were running. After lot of enquries from all my daddy's friend kadasiya oru college ah pudicharu.

Actually yenakku konjam Physics nalla varum. Adhanalayum en Physics sir inspiration nalayum enakku ECE (Electronics and Communication Enginerring) padikkanumnu asai, but en appakku na IT padikkanumnu asai. So avaru select panna college ye counselling la select um panniyachu. Actually I should say pidichi thalliachu. Because without hearing to what I was saying also my daddy selected the college and course which I was suppose to study. So thalliyachu oru vazhiliya. Fees avaru thane katta poraru so kandipa soldradha kettu than aganum :-)

Vettukku vandhu azhudhu aarpattam ellam panni pathum vezhakki agala, so oru vazhiya college joining date kuda vandhachu. College na namma tamizh padathula ellam katura mari, periya maram, class kattadikkuradhu, mass bunk ellam irukkumnu vandha, en college la ne enginerring padikka vandhurukkanu sollama sonnanga. Eppadi theriyuma boys kuda pesa kudadhu, camera vechi monitor pannuvom appadi ippadi nu... vandha azhugaya thotachitu en appava morakka than mudinchadhu.

So September 2000 la en engineering vazhkai inedhaga thodangiyachu. Sari sendhachu ini 4 varusham otti thane aganumnu next valaya pakka arambichuten. First nal cinema actor Nagesh mari orutharu vandhu na than Prinicipal of college nu sonnaru(we could try him as his double action actually), adi yalu mari orutharu vandhu na than chairman appadinu sonnaru, sari irundhutu ponu na poyi last bench ah pudichi ukkandhuten.

First year la ella branch um ore class dhan. Actually enkita pesina yarume IT branch illanu apparam therinjadhu. First year la boys pakkam thirumbhave bayam. Yaru pesitu principal room la dhevudu kappah.....So rombha naal ippadiye pochu then January 26th 2001 la oru earth quake vandhadhu. Adhu ivlo nal en life va shake pannumnu appo nenakkala. So earth quake sakka vechchi en gang la irundha girl um first time yengayavadhu veliya pogalamnu mudivu panniyachu. Appo dhan sela boys avangalum yenga kuda varadha sonnanga(En husband um idhula included)....periya discussion ku apparam, yarum pakka mattanganu nambi avangala kutitu ponom. Onnum periya outing ellam illa chumma anna nagar tower varaikkum than. But appo adhuve perusu.

So adhaye pillayar suzhiya nenachu boys kuda nalla pesa arambhichachu. At last en college la restrictions illa na kuda appadi boys and girls pesirukka mattangadra level ku yellarum avanga avanga gang oda settle ayitanga. Indha nonstop pechu nala link ana pair yeththanai yeththanai.... Kathu nerappina balloon ah evlo hard ah thannila ammukkuromo avlo force oda veliya varum. Adhu mari than teenage um. Evlo control pandrangalo avlo arathu thanam nadakkum. Aaga motham oruvazhiya yellarum jodhi la ayikiyamayachu....

Appo dhan first year mudinji second year start achu. Ellarum gumbhaloda govindha potadhu podumnu branch vise pirichitanga. Patha enkuda irundha yarume en branch illa. So angayum last bencha oru vazhiya pidichachu. Enna polave rendu appavi jivangal rendu avanga group mates illama last bench la vendhu ukkadhudhugal. So michchamum sochamum sedhu nanga oru group ayachu. Aparam nanga 3 perum ganga yamuna saraswathi mari ayitom na pathukongalen.

Enna nadandhalum last bencha mattum enga soththu. Yarayum vida mattom. Enga area vulla varadha mari. Classukku varadhu chocolate sappuduradhu, lunchu la poyi potato fry adhigama irukka plate la ukkara sandai poduradhu, interval la avanga avanga old gang kuda arata, ippadiye konja nal pochu. Semester exam vandha baga pirivinai mari unit perichi(area ya pirichi kudukkura mari) padikkavendiyadhu apparam exam annaki vandhu knowledge sharing (?) pannikka vendiyadhu.

But oru vishyam, en appah panna nalla kariyangalula onnu yenna IT branchula sethadhu than. Because na yendha branch edukkanumnu nenacheno adhu than rombha kastamana branch. Andha class pasanga ellam eppo pathalum special class padippunu iruppanga, ana enga branch la eppovum college arampichu 1 month kazhilichi than teacher eh varuvanga. Vandhu onnum perusa torture pannida mattanga. Avangalum jodhila iyikiyamayiduvanga. Ellana pasangalum vida mattangala. So appo purinjadhu everything happens for good (nadappadhu ellam nanmaike) nu edhukku soldranganu.

Ippadiye ennoda rendu friends en life la rombha pinni penanjetangah. Class la vetti kadha, then vettukku pona udane phone call, apparom night net la chatting. Appadi enna than pesunomnu ippo sathiyama theriyala. Enga vetla phone bill ah pathu archanai vangi kuda thirundhala. But andha phone bill la nanga potta kadalai kum perum pangu undu. Enna panna adhu valibha vayasu....

Third and fourth year la potta kadalayala neraya twist and turns. But oru vazhiya ellam solve aghiduchu. Friend in need is a friend in deed nu solluvangale, adhu madhiri en nijamana friends ah appo identify pannen. Slowly I realised that avanga than en friends nu. So appo mudivu pannen life la eppovum ivangala miss panna maten nu.... ippo varaikkum kapathitu varen.

College life yizhubariya 2004 la mudinchudhu. Vazhiya vandhu vanatha villa vazhaipom, manala kayirah thiripponu kavanu kandute vandhom. But unfortunately higher studies adhu idhu nu brain ah kozhappi oru vazhiya ellathayum mootta atti vichitu vela theda arambhichom. But appo ella off campus um mudinchachu, so wait panni oru vazhiya oru software company la velakkum sedhachu. Aana andha gapula nanum en friend um neraya suthinom, nalla enjoy pannom. Andha period ah marakka mudiyadhu. Kaila kasu avvalava illatiyum nalla enjoy pannom (appah voda kasula than).

Life la struggle time na adhu than yenakku. Neraya maturity vandhadhu. Chumma college vedu nu irundha yengalukku job searching oru different experience ah irundhadhu. Neraya different people meet pannom. Ellarum ore mari kedayadhunu therinjikittom. Inspite of that we should think that God has given us time to take rest before this long run nu than yeduthukanum. Then na office vedu, weekend meetings nu settle ayiten. En friends rendu perum US (uzhavar sandhai illa United states) poyitanga. Oruthi padikkuren nu sollitu pona, ennoruthi nijamave vela panna pona.

Apparam anga suththi inga suththi nanum UK la vandhu nikkiren ippo. Innoru mukkiyamana vishayam, yenga groupula irundha ellarum love marriage than.....and ellam college mates than :-). Yeppadi? Sela peru joint agi perinji poyitanga....aga motham almost 80% kadalai varuthavanga than. Indha statistics yenga principal ku therincha rombha feel pannuvaru pavam......

As I said in the start of this page, na konjam feel pandradhu yedhu kaga nah...konjam brain ah use panni nalla padichirukkalam. Chumma mark vanga mattum nu illama konjam knowledge kuda gather pannirukkalam. Kadalai time kammi panni useful ah yedhavadhu pannirukkalamenu kosippen.....but enna panna ippo yosichi enna proyojanam. I think most of the people do this regretting in their life.

As a whole this college life has given me my most understanding friends and my lovable hubby. So its worth to relish this moments throughout my life..... Ippo oralavukku kaila kasu irukku but enna panna adha vechi en friend ku call panni than pesa mudiyum, onna meet panni oru coffee kuda kudikka mudiyathu. Becasue we three are in three different continent actually but still enga vetti kadhai innum thodarudhu(ippo enga sondha kasula than). Meendum meendum thodarum........