A few packed days in Chennai; goodbye India, hello Thailand
Internet Himalaya
Triplicane High Road, Chennai, India
A few packed days in Chennai; goodbye India, hello Thailand
The budget travellers in Chennai are coming out of the woodwork. Since the rickshaw driver that took me to the hotel lied and told me he was taking me to Hotel Himalaya instead of Hotel White House where I ended up, there are no other budget travellers in my hotel. (Of course, anyone in my particular hotel should qualify as a budget traveller by definition. Let me say there are no foreign budget travellers here.)
Wandering up Triplicane High Road, I have seen budget travellers trickling from the hotels recommended in Lonely Planet.
The past few days have been busy. I packed in my last days in India by doing last-chance shopping in Chennai. Today I need to mail the stuff. Luckily the post office is allegedly open today.
In Adyar I met the parents of my world travel consultant Karthik last night for dinner. They cooked up delicious masala dosas with the best coconut chutney and sambar that I have had. They are very congenial people.
I also met Karthik's cousin for coffee. He showed me around the market by Fort St. George where I picked up some little baubles.
Today I just need to go to the post office and then get ready for my 12.15 am flight to Bangkok. Since it will be Christmas morning, I will be looking alertly out my plane window and expect to see Santa making his deliveries.
I also went to the Leather Bar at the Park Hotel. While I was there I also had them show me a room. For 250 US dollars I can get a deluxe single room. (Presidential suite US $900 per night.) It has a very, very soft mattress, flat screen television, wifi access (for an extra 700 rupees a day -- $16 -- you'd think they could include that in the $250), mood "moon" lighting, massage shower, "rain shower", goose feather duvet and pillows, fresh flowers, beechwood flooring, baby-sitting, secretarial services, exclusive nightclub, rooftop poolside cafe, Thai restaurant, luxury day spa and salon, gym, original Tamil film posters in every room, and complimentary newspaper.
I'll stay here my next visit. When someone else is paying.
A mix of young foreigners and young Indians wandered in and out of the hotel. I wondered how many of them were having someone else foot the bill.
Indians of all beliefs are now celebrating Christmas in India. I suppose Indians are always up for having another holiday, another ritual, and another excuse to get together for a party. They celebrate it for about five days here, as opposed to the month we celebrate it in the U.S. I have seen the occasional miniature artificial tree for sale on the street. I think the celebration amounts to this: when you invite people over on a date near December 25th, you tell them it's a Christmas party.
Goodbye India, hello Thailand: I'm hoping for a contrast in food and people on the Thai Airway flight tonight.
A few packed days in Chennai; goodbye India, hello Thailand
