BREAK!!

I went to Chennai the previous week-end, the city which I wasn't very impressed with. My sole purpose of visit was to meet my friend V and spend sometime as we hadn't met for an year. We did not really plan anything how to spend 4 days (Thu,Fri,Sat, Sun). But I was very excited, for two reasons I can say. One was that I'm going to meet my best friend after an year. And the second was much awaited relief from the work.

I quickly completed my work, shot a mail to TL and left an hour early from office on Wednesday. I checked everything 2-3 times that I was not forgetting anything. I rushed to the station, found my berth and sat down. My co-passenger next to my berth was a real extrovert. In 5 min from start of the journey, he already knew my name, my work, my hobbies and my native place. :) It was a bit surprising for me, I being a very reserved person. I thought for a while and questioned him all the things he had posed me. The conversation went on, on and on. I was just answering his questions most of the times and sometimes asking him the same question he asked, "what about you?" :)

We had dinner, exchanging the food we brought. I was surprised listening that he eats min 7 rotis for a meal (he was yet not stout), as I can only eat 3 max :). We chatted for some more time after dinner and it was sleep time. I was happy that time passed by fast chatting with that guy. I lied down with my blanket on me, did not know when I was asleep listening to the passenger's gossips and the train's weird sounds. I got up before an hour to the scheduled arrival time. Spent that hour just peeping through the window.

Reached Chennai Central station at last. We were walking towards the exit gate, and I got call from my friend. While I stood by explaining V where I was, the guy walked off. I was a bit disappointed we didn't exchange 'bye' after a nice journey together. Kabhi Alvidha Naa Kehna? :) V arrived very soon and we went to his room remembering our meeting an year back.

We rested for sometime and then planned to have brunch and get into a theatre for a movie. Just when we were starting, I realized I forgot the 1 GB memory card of the camera, only 32MB card was present :( We had noodles at food court in Spencer's Plaza, famous shopping mall in Mount Road (it's like M.G. Road of B'lore).We stepped into a multiplex and booked tickets for the show of new Bond movie at one hour past noon (ticket was costly, 110/-, I grinned what's so special in Chennai.). I suggested getting into a book store as there was lot of time left for the show. So, we got into Landmark. We spent time checking different books and at last I bought 'The cat and the pigeons' of Agatha. It was time for the show and we went to the theatre. The bond movie was not bad and was worth watching once. It was dark already when we were out of the theatre. We then went to Spencer's Plaza and shopped some clothes. Later, we had dinner at Subway. We left for the room after dinner. Day one completed.

The second day, we had our breakfast and went to museum. Bad luck, museum is closed in Fridays. :) So for time pass, we planned to goto Anna Zoological Park. We took city train from Egmore to Tambaram. From tambaram, we went to Vandaloor by bus. We had our quick lunch at a motel and entered the zoo. I was feeling like a child going into the zoo and I was remembering the last time I came to this zoo when I was in 6th standard. There aren't many animals but one in each kind were present. I got to know the difference between Jaguar(has bigger marks on the body) and Leopard (has smaller marks on the body). All the animals were sleeping post lunch :) Different kinds of birds along with our national bird peacock were treat to watch. After taking a peek at the animals, we started for the marina beach, part of the Chennai culture. Spent the whole evening at the beach and got back home. Day two completed.

The day three started early for us in the sense that we had to get up at 4am and were in the bus station by 5:30am. We caught the bus to Puduchery or Pondichery, the journey was 3.5 hrs on East Coast Road(ECR) via Mahabalipuram or mammallapuram. The streets in Pondi were planned and the roads named in French. The houses were of French style with long and lean doors and windows. Aurobindo ashram here is a famous one with many foreigner disciples in this ashram.The ashram was well maintained and I bought couple of books written by Aurobindo. Then came the Pondichery beaches, swimming banned in the beaches here following the death of few children. The beaches were beautiful. People will not miss taking liquor here as there aren't any taxes and hence cheap, as in Goa. We spent the day visiting a vinayak temple, a church and roaming around the town. We got back home in the evening. Day three completed.

The day four was more of a rest day, woke up late. I had steam dosa in breakfast. We thought of watching a movie, but could not find a good movie. So, we went to Saravana stores at T-nagar, wherein everything is sold at price less than MRP. I bought few clothes, CD cases etc. We had lunch at one of the restaurants and got back to home.

Thinking that the four days passed by very fast, got into the return train in the evening.
This time, I didn't get any companion in the train. I read a book for sometime, had dinner and slept off.

Coming home, I had to get ready and go to work as usual, the routine started all over again :(