blogsJam : Chennai Life

My Grocery store at villivakkam, funny The second line should have contained this word “parcel”. This sakthi store is at villivakkam, Annachi is a very friendly guy, but cannot help you with delivery, only parcel. Technorati Tags: chennai, grocery store, store, funny, city read full article »

Chinmaya Vidyalaya, P&T colony junction, traffic jam Chinmaya Vidyalaya, P&T colony junction, traffic jam This event is near belly area of AnnaNagar, this morning 8:30 AM, Chinmaya Vidyala school and P&T quarters, One side of the road has been completely dug till the end of the road to .. read full article »

Click on the Photos for a larger version. Enjoy the slice of velachery, chennai taken at different periods of time. So I keep varying about the subject. So kindly bear with me. Topic 1: From Vijaynagar bus stand to Velachery Railway station you will be amused to see the number of shops propping .. read full article »

click on the images for a larger view. You must be hearing people screaming over the microphone on most parts of the Chennai city, the Chennai corporation is helping people to get patta, water connection, complain about street light not working etc etc. Now chennai corporation is making life .. read full article »

Spotted: A Lamborghini in Chennai! Yeah, you heard me... Here it is!I blocked out those little voices of reason that said "Who would want to drive that on the Chennai roads and potholes!" and just enjoyed the lovely machine! read full article »

La Boulangerie is a French bakery/cafe that is tucked away in a little corner of Anna Nagar. Opened by a young Frenchman, Alexis de Ducla, it began as a noble NGO. Mr. de Ducla began La Boulangerie to help young adults from underprivileged backgrounds, get a career going by teaching them to bake .. read full article »

The Samosa Factory is a relatively new store that has opened in Anna Nagar. Its a little - and I mean tiny - desk! on the sidewalk.You order something and they have it pre-packaged in little bags. If they're out, the lady at the desk, runs upstairs (where the kitchen is) and brings some down - .. read full article »

I just realized this was my 100th post. Damn - I'm really impressed with myself - I stuck it out for 2 years and now I've done 100 posts on Chennai! Not bad, huh?I want to thank my friends for visiting here and following this blog. I've really enjoyed it and hope to keep going. There are lots of .. read full article »

For the best Kathi Rolls in Chennai, try Bay Leaf. They have a huge menu with north Indian, Bengali and Chinese food, but their Kathi Rolls are really superb.If you like paneer, try the Achari Paneer Roll. And the mutton and chicken egg rolls are also supposedly superb.The restaurant is pretty .. read full article »

There were numerous times when I have felt hungry late night say after midnight or so and all that i could find was some snacks at home.. How I wish I had those yummy Tandoori dishes or Noodles or burgers and what not all from the comfort of my home.. Ya, I'm one lazy goose. But, now my prayers .. read full article »

Click on the Photo for a larger version The above image is at a famous hospital in Chennai. All places are well marked for people on how to interact with the space. It happens that if you use any of the subways in Chennai, especially the one to reach Chennai Central, people move randomly .. read full article »

Cochin - who would guess? It is so beautiful. This is my first time there and I was blown away at how lovely the city is. These are photos of the Docks, and where the Vembanad Lake meets the Arabian Sea. We even managed to see dolphins! :) read full article »

The Chennai Corporation has finally decided to beautify the city and build infrastructure before it gets out of hand. They have done some amazing things already. Though everyone complains (and will continue to do so) non-stop, we are soon going to be thankful for all the flyovers being built. .. read full article »

The much-awaited IPL (Indian Premier League) 20-20 cricket tournament had its huge opening on April 18th. With about 60 matches spread over a 1 1/2 month period, there is no dearth of exciting cricket lined up. The IPL is similar to the National Basketball League (NBA) in the US. Each team is .. read full article »

Well buying an A/C is simple, it is about some thing like buying an Elephant, and worrying about maintaining it. Here are few things about our A/C servicing guys in Chennai during AMC - Annual Maintanance Contract usually happens to be free for the 1st year when you buy an A/C. You need to renew .. read full article »

I've eaten at Lotus numerous times. So much, infact, that my usual dining companion and I have a special sauce there that they bring out only when we dine there!! I couldn't believe that I hadn't reviewed it here. I did mention it briefly, but not nearly enough. Lotus, located at The Park Hotel, .. read full article »

Though everyone seems to love Somethin' Fishy, I was a little skeptical, being vegetarian. I understand they have great seafood, but did they have good veggie food? Well, I tried it out, and though they don't have a huge selection for a veggie, the food was quite good. Located on the rooftop of .. read full article »

Chennai's zoo is located about an hour outside the city (past the airport and Tambaram). I've been wanting to go see it for many years, but hadn't heard very good things, so kept finding an excuse not to go. Well, this past week I decided to go and take a whole lot of kids too. I was very .. read full article »

The above photo is the one on the Shathi Colony, AnnaNagar, after a left turn takes you to the main road which leads to Koyambedu Main road. I have seen this chennai traffic police barricade for months, the on going traffic leads to safety of people who take the left turn, some time bikes skid .. read full article »

A lot has been happening in Chennai lately and so is it with me.. Sorry for the lame excuse, I will take all efforts i can to post regularly at this blog space..The much hyped Indian premier league has started and the storm is to hit Chennai on 23rd April.. To catch the action at M.A Chidambaram .. read full article »

Coconut Water Salesman:Chennaiites sure know how to beat the heat. Its been 36 deg C/ 95 deg F!! Absolutely too too hot!! Some enterprising vendors have brought their wares to the street. What a cool way to beat the heat! Fresh Sugarcane juice:This woman was selling "slurpies" - crushed ice with .. read full article »

Times of India, which has been a national newspaper for decades in the rest of India, has finally made its entry into Chennai. A great time to enter the city, in my opinion. Chennai has always had two major newspapers - The Hindu and Indian Express. For some reason, Indian Express started losing .. read full article »

Though this restaurant is right around the corner from us, we never managed to make it there for a while. This past weekend, we finally drove by and decided to stop for lunch. The decor is very stark and not a lot of fuss. The restaurant is known for its sizzlers, and sure enough, they had a .. read full article »

A dear friend recently gave me this book - a New York Times Bestseller - and swore it worked for her. Since we have toddlers the same age, I was happy to give it a try. This fun book is filled with exercises, little scenarios and cartoons. It is definitely not a "How To" guide on raising .. read full article »

A dear friend recently gave me this book - a New York Times Bestseller - and swore it worked for her. Since we have toddlers the same age, I was happy to give it a try. This fun book is filled with exercises, little scenarios and cartoons. It is definitely not a "How To" guide on raising .. read full article »

When they say that Madhya Pradesh is the heart of India, I didn't pay attention. I hardly knew anything about Madhya Pradesh before I visited Bandhavghar National Park. We flew to Delhi and then to Jabalpur and then drove 4 hours to the Park. We stayed in a lovely hotel, Mahua Kothi, which is a .. read full article »

When they say that Madhya Pradesh is the heart of India, I didn't pay attention. I hardly knew anything about Madhya Pradesh before I visited Bandhavghar National Park. We flew to Delhi and then to Jabalpur and then drove 4 hours to the Park. We stayed in a lovely hotel, Mahua Kothi, which is a .. read full article »

The nicest part of Chennai is the beach. A mini-getaway. A break from the hustle and bustle of the city. And this weekend, the storm clouds provided a great backdrop!It also happened to be Holi weekend. And Good Friday. And Navroz. There were tons of people on the beach playing Holi.Its sad to .. read full article »

The nicest part of Chennai is the beach. A mini-getaway. A break from the hustle and bustle of the city. And this weekend, the storm clouds provided a great backdrop!It also happened to be Holi weekend. And Good Friday. And Navroz. There were tons of people on the beach playing Holi.Its sad to .. read full article »

After working here for a year or so, I have come to find such glaring differences in the work cultures between the US and India. I never noticed it when I first worked here some 10-15 years ago. But after having worked in the US, I notice it more. I don't write about the IT/Software/Call Center .. read full article »

After working here for a year or so, I have come to find such glaring differences in the work cultures between the US and India. I never noticed it when I first worked here some 10-15 years ago. But after having worked in the US, I notice it more. I don't write about the IT/Software/Call Center .. read full article »

Thank God for the rains in Chennai! Beautiful, dark, thundery pouring rain to take away the heat!! Thank you!! read full article »

Thank God for the rains in Chennai! Beautiful, dark, thundery pouring rain to take away the heat!! Thank you!! read full article »

There's been a lot of press lately about a new restaurant in town called BBQ Nation at a little hotel called Sri Devi Park in T Nagar. We simply had to try it out and we went last night. The hotel is in some remote little corner of T Nagar, but once you get into the restaurant, its a pleasant .. read full article »

There's been a lot of press lately about a new restaurant in town called BBQ Nation at a little hotel called Sri Devi Park in T Nagar. We simply had to try it out and we went last night. The hotel is in some remote little corner of T Nagar, but once you get into the restaurant, its a pleasant .. read full article »

Sigh. I miss California. Here's one of my favorite Crepe places, Crepevine in Burlingame. My friend and I had a scrumptious (and way too filling) lunch there. We started with Cornbread and Jalapeno Jelly. Followed by a Meditteranean crepe (filled with spinach, goat cheese and almond slivers). .. read full article »

In continuation of the airline comparison, I found that United Air's Business Class is fabulous! The seats were ultra comfortable, the food was quite good and the service was very efficient. The movies they showed were also fantastic and there was a great selection, almost all were 2008 Oscar .. read full article »

Sigh. I miss California. Here's one of my favorite Crepe places, Crepevine in Burlingame. My friend and I had a scrumptious (and way too filling) lunch there. We started with Cornbread and Jalapeno Jelly. Followed by a Meditteranean crepe (filled with spinach, goat cheese and almond slivers). .. read full article »

In continuation of the airline comparison, I found that United Air's Business Class is fabulous! The seats were ultra comfortable, the food was quite good and the service was very efficient. The movies they showed were also fantastic and there was a great selection, almost all were 2008 Oscar .. read full article »

Venue: Valluvar Kottam Till 3rd March 2007If you like the bright colored ribbons and flowers, this could be the right place. If you would like to see some more photos of the trade expo, here is the link http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=29404&l=90d69&id=711946575 read full article »

Some time ago I promised to post photos of the Madras Club pool, which was recently renovated. Its beautiful. Well, here it is. And it was taken just as the sun was setting - the light was great. Not sure how great the photos look though taken with my phone's little camera... read full article »

Some time ago I promised to post photos of the Madras Club pool, which was recently renovated. Its beautiful. Well, here it is. And it was taken just as the sun was setting - the light was great. Not sure how great the photos look though taken with my phone's little camera... read full article »

Landmark used to be a little haven for book enthusiasts. I remember going to the Nungambakkam High Road Landmark underground and just browsing through tons of books on the shelves and tons of magazines on the racks. Everything was neatly organized and they always had a great collection. Then .. read full article »

Landmark used to be a little haven for book enthusiasts. I remember going to the Nungambakkam High Road Landmark underground and just browsing through tons of books on the shelves and tons of magazines on the racks. Everything was neatly organized and they always had a great collection. Then .. read full article »

If you are in the craving for a fast and good roti's, and if you can pardon the ambiance and the service, then Tandoor Express in the food court at Spencer Plaza Phase I is worth a visit. Since my office is in the building, i do have the luxury of strolling around and deciding on a place to eat. .. read full article »

We went to Tirupati this past weekend and I'm continually amazed at how efficient it is. I've been to Tirupati about 6-7 times so far and every single time it has a huge impact on me. Driving up, you start feeling a sense of excitement. When you get to Tirumala, there is a celebratory air over .. read full article »

We went to Tirupati this past weekend and I'm continually amazed at how efficient it is. I've been to Tirupati about 6-7 times so far and every single time it has a huge impact on me. Driving up, you start feeling a sense of excitement. When you get to Tirumala, there is a celebratory air over .. read full article »

After a long, tiring weekend, we were on our way back from Kerala to Chennai. And it was exactly at lunch time too. My daughter was hungry, sleepy and tired. I was absolutely dreading the flight back knowing the last thing she needed was to be made to sit in her seat with a seatbelt and nothing .. read full article »

After a long, tiring weekend, we were on our way back from Kerala to Chennai. And it was exactly at lunch time too. My daughter was hungry, sleepy and tired. I was absolutely dreading the flight back knowing the last thing she needed was to be made to sit in her seat with a seatbelt and nothing .. read full article »

I feel compelled to write this, just to get my thoughts in order. Its almost a note to myself. As I've mentioned before, I was born and grew up in Chennai and went to school, high school, undergraduate and graduate school here. I only changed school once after my 10th grade, and even then I .. read full article »