Chennai Newcomer

oleen · Oct 3rd, 2009, 23:13

Hi,
I've recently moved to Chennai on a six month project. Being a South Indian from Karnataka, I thought I wouldn't have much difficulty adapting to Chennai. How wrong I was! My first obstacle was language, although I can understand a few words of Tamil, it was increasingly frustrating when I couldn't communicate what I had to. Public transport was another ordeal. Having driven my own car in a city without much traffic, traveling in the crowded buses was a nightmare. And to top all my problems I couldn't find a place to stay. From my personal experience, people who advertised a house for rent suddenly refused to give to me when they learnt I was a single female. I finally had a friend living abroad to volunteer her apartment.

After one month of living in Chennai, I've surprisingly begun to like Chennai much to everyone's amazement. Traveling is a new adventure. Figuring out places is a puzzle. I still haven't found a place to stay but I'm happy where I am at the moment.

I'd like to see as much of Chennai as I can during my weekends here and I hope IM can help me. I'm still a little nervous traveling on my own, and I research every new area I have to visit online before I venture out on my own. I prefer using the public transport as much as possible as I feel safer. So far I've visited Spencer Plaza, Citi Center and San Thomas Basilica. Would love to know of more places within Chennai that I could visit on a Saturday/Sunday evening.

Oleen

Nick-H · Oct 3rd, 2009, 23:36

Welcome to the site, and welcome to Chennai! It's amazing to hear how challenging Chennai has been for you, as an Indian. In many situations, you are probably better off talking English, rather than trying Kannada, although part of being here, for Indians, seems to be the radar that seeks out their own kind (mothertongue), and Snap! No more communication problems!

You can visit the temples of Mylapore and Triplicane (to name but two), shop in T Nagar (to name but one); you can wander in the tranquil gardens of the Theosophical Society (subject to slightly odd opening hours). You can, should you like it, go to Carnatic music, or Bharatnatyam performances. You can come to IM Meetups!

Lots of threads on Chennai... do browse them for more hints

rsk11584 · Oct 4th, 2009, 05:38

Hi Oleen,

Even me being south indian from tamilnadu had problems in relocating in chennai, but now all adjusted, with time have to adjust to everything.
You can buy freeads and browse the classifieds for rent. Better take some PG, which you can get very easily, within a day or so, but I think you must be peculiar about flat.

Hi Nick,

Can you tell me where this tranquil gardens of the Theosophical Society is situated, and is there any membership to get in the garden, because the name society indicates it must be for certain group of people. Ok I googled it out and found it is in Adyar, but can you explain what to do in the garden, I mean do they do some prayer daily there??

Nick-H · Oct 4th, 2009, 15:59

I've only been there about four or five times. There is a bookshop, just inside the gate (which is on the left just after crossing Adyar bridge, stay to left and avoid flyover). There are lectures, a library, facilities for members, and I think they do courses. As far as I know, the gardens are just for walking.

Raghu.Kumar · Oct 5th, 2009, 15:35

Hi Oleen,

Welcome to Chennai. Dont worry to step out in Chennai alone as it is relatively a safer city than most metros. You would need to be cautious while walking on dim lit streets away from the crowd after 10 PM, otherwise it is fine.

Glad you are liking the place. What kind of places you would like to visit, in the sense what are your interests and accordingly we can suggest.

You can also take the Hop on hop off bus either on a Sat or a sunday and go to ECR to see Muutukadu Boating, Dakshina Chitra , Crocodile Bank, Tiger caves and Mamamallapuram.

Raghu

Quote:

Originally Posted by oleen

Hi,
I've recently moved to Chennai on a six month project. Being a South Indian from Karnataka, I thought I wouldn't have much difficulty adapting to Chennai. How wrong I was! My first obstacle was language, although I can understand a few words of Tamil, it was increasingly frustrating when I couldn't communicate what I had to. Public transport was another ordeal. Having driven my own car in a city without much traffic, traveling in the crowded buses was a nightmare. And to top all my problems I couldn't find a place to stay. From my personal experience, people who advertised a house for rent suddenly refused to give to me when they learnt I was a single female. I finally had a friend living abroad to volunteer her apartment.

After one month of living in Chennai, I've surprisingly begun to like Chennai much to everyone's amazement. Traveling is a new adventure. Figuring out places is a puzzle. I still haven't found a place to stay but I'm happy where I am at the moment.

I'd like to see as much of Chennai as I can during my weekends here and I hope IM can help me. I'm still a little nervous traveling on my own, and I research every new area I have to visit online before I venture out on my own. I prefer using the public transport as much as possible as I feel safer. So far I've visited Spencer Plaza, Citi Center and San Thomas Basilica. Would love to know of more places within Chennai that I could visit on a Saturday/Sunday evening.

Oleen

oleen · Oct 6th, 2009, 00:37

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the warm welcome and suggestions. I'm not crazy about shopping or visiting malls although I do end up there eventually because it's the most convenient. Personally, I would prefer visiting places of cultural significance. I read a few recommendations about the hop on, hop off tour. I'll probably take the tour over the weekend.

I know I have IM to answer all my queries promptly!

thejag · Oct 9th, 2009, 16:18

Welcome to IM and chennai Oleen....

I really should wander outside the subscribed threads folder more often....

I hope i dont encounter the language barrier at pune.... mumbai was easy... a combination of hindi, english and surprisingly enough tamil helped...

Oddly enough i havent had much trouble with communicating in tamil at bangalore and i guess a few minutes at hyderabad station earlier this week... While my mother tongue is punjabi i tend to drift into tamil when speaking to people when i am out and about.... it sounds decidedly odd in delhi and mumbai....

Oct 3rd, 2009, 23:13	#1
oleen Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4	Chennai Newcomer Hi, I've recently moved to Chennai on a six month project. Being a South Indian from Karnataka, I thought I wouldn't have much difficulty adapting to Chennai. How wrong I was! My first obstacle was language, although I can understand a few words of Tamil, it was increasingly frustrating when I couldn't communicate what I had to. Public transport was another ordeal. Having driven my own car in a city without much traffic, traveling in the crowded buses was a nightmare. And to top all my problems I couldn't find a place to stay. From my personal experience, people who advertised a house for rent suddenly refused to give to me when they learnt I was a single female. I finally had a friend living abroad to volunteer her apartment. After one month of living in Chennai, I've surprisingly begun to like Chennai much to everyone's amazement. Traveling is a new adventure. Figuring out places is a puzzle. I still haven't found a place to stay but I'm happy where I am at the moment. I'd like to see as much of Chennai as I can during my weekends here and I hope IM can help me. I'm still a little nervous traveling on my own, and I research every new area I have to visit online before I venture out on my own. I prefer using the public transport as much as possible as I feel safer. So far I've visited Spencer Plaza, Citi Center and San Thomas Basilica. Would love to know of more places within Chennai that I could visit on a Saturday/Sunday evening. Oleen

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Oct 3rd, 2009, 23:36	#2
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,225	Welcome to the site, and welcome to Chennai! It's amazing to hear how challenging Chennai has been for you, as an Indian. In many situations, you are probably better off talking English, rather than trying Kannada, although part of being here, for Indians, seems to be the radar that seeks out their own kind (mothertongue), and Snap! No more communication problems! You can visit the temples of Mylapore and Triplicane (to name but two), shop in T Nagar (to name but one); you can wander in the tranquil gardens of the Theosophical Society (subject to slightly odd opening hours). You can, should you like it, go to Carnatic music, or Bharatnatyam performances. You can come to IM Meetups! Lots of threads on Chennai... do browse them for more hints

Oct 4th, 2009, 05:38	#3
rsk11584 CBCID ;-) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: then Aurangabad / now Chennai Posts: 265	Hi Oleen, Even me being south indian from tamilnadu had problems in relocating in chennai, but now all adjusted, with time have to adjust to everything. You can buy freeads and browse the classifieds for rent. Better take some PG, which you can get very easily, within a day or so, but I think you must be peculiar about flat. Hi Nick, Can you tell me where this tranquil gardens of the Theosophical Society is situated, and is there any membership to get in the garden, because the name society indicates it must be for certain group of people. Ok I googled it out and found it is in Adyar, but can you explain what to do in the garden, I mean do they do some prayer daily there??

Oct 4th, 2009, 15:59	#4
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,225	I've only been there about four or five times. There is a bookshop, just inside the gate (which is on the left just after crossing Adyar bridge, stay to left and avoid flyover). There are lectures, a library, facilities for members, and I think they do courses. As far as I know, the gardens are just for walking.

Oct 6th, 2009, 00:37	#6
oleen Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4	Thanks guys! I really appreciate the warm welcome and suggestions. I'm not crazy about shopping or visiting malls although I do end up there eventually because it's the most convenient. Personally, I would prefer visiting places of cultural significance. I read a few recommendations about the hop on, hop off tour. I'll probably take the tour over the weekend. I know I have IM to answer all my queries promptly!

Oct 9th, 2009, 16:18	#7
thejag has arrived Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 842	Welcome to IM and chennai Oleen.... I really should wander outside the subscribed threads folder more often.... I hope i dont encounter the language barrier at pune.... mumbai was easy... a combination of hindi, english and surprisingly enough tamil helped... Oddly enough i havent had much trouble with communicating in tamil at bangalore and i guess a few minutes at hyderabad station earlier this week... While my mother tongue is punjabi i tend to drift into tamil when speaking to people when i am out and about.... it sounds decidedly odd in delhi and mumbai....