Tamil Courses/Learning Tamil

deej

Hi,

I am due to start a month long intenstive Tamil course at the Institute of Asian Studies in January. The Institute have offered me accomodation which I am inclined to accept to avoid communting, and I am waiting for some details about it (cost etc).

Ravi, if you are reading, how was the accomodation you stayed in at the Institute? Were meals available at the campus or did you have to go out to get these? Would you say the accomodation, and location generally was suitable for a young female traveller alone? (I understand you travelled with your wife and are male so this may be hard to comment on!). My main concern is feeling safe in the evening and nightime, and having opportunties to meet and talk with other students (either foreign visitors or the full-time local students) so I am not all alone in the evenings.

Many thanks.

snooks

Hi Deej

I am doing the course at the institute at the moment though I am commuting in from Mamallapuram daily. This is not too bad - there is a great AC bus that leaves at about 930 which gets you to the institute in time and getting home takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on the buses. There are many many hostels etc in Mamalla, which is quite touristy, and all the facilities you could want; though prices may be a bit higher in Jan though you could probably find somewhere for a month. I live outside the town as i am here long term.....

There was a girl staying at the institute during my first month - I will message her and try to get her to share her experiences. But in case that doesn't work, here is what I know....

She had a air-con room on campus with a bathroom, though not directly accessed from the room. She had to order all her meals in - one of the watchmen would go and get them for her. She did not have any facilities to prepare her own food/drinks etc. They advised that she did not go out of the campus after 7pm. Now, I walk through the local area every day and it is a nice, fairly wealthy, family housed area but there is virtually nothing in the way of food outlets or even shops nearby.

She was staying on her own and, once the staff left at 5.30, she was on campus alone except for the nightwatchman. I know she felt safe but was fairly bored! She tended to go away every weekend to have a break.

I feel I should point out that there are not many students there to interact with. In fact, at the moment there are only 3 of us with a Japanese PHD student who pops in every so often. There certainly isn't a huge social scene! It is a small institute with about 10 members of staff. Having said that, the course is certainly beneficial.

If you want to ask more, please do ask......

Take care

Pip

deej

Hi Pip,

Thanks that's really helpful. I have just had an email reply from Dr. Samuel at the Institute saying that he fears I may find the on-campus accommodation a little lonely - I guess I had an image of a uni campus with halls of residence which is clearly not the set up here.

Mamallapuram sounds like a great option which I hadn't previously considered but will definately look into now. This will be my first solo trip and the longest I've spent away from my husband and family, so I think a chance to socilaise and chat to people in the evenings is a must to avoid depression setting in!

Will you still be doing the course in January by the way?

Thanks again,
Demelza

deej

Hi Pip,

Sorry a couple more questions...

Do your classes start at 10:30, so the bus from Mamallapuram gets you there ok for this?

Can you always get on it? (I have been on very crowded buses in India before!)

Does the bus depart from the main stand on East Raja Street, near the temple, and does it drop you off reasonably close to the institutue?

Thanks so much

Nick-H

I can see the attraction of Mamallapuram, but Chennai would be a lot closer!

snooks

HI Demelza

Yes - Nick is right in that some parts of Chennai are closer! There is a girl commuting in from Besant Nagar as she is staying with a friend there. She links up with the college staff bus at start/end of the day though this means she has to leave earlier and stay later for this. There is also a young lad coming in from T Nagar in Chennai(which is quite a way) and he is always late. Cant work out if that is traffic or something else....

As for Mamallapuram, the buses do leave from the East Raja Street bus stand. I get on one at about 9.20 and get to Chemencherry bus stop easily in time for a short 10 minute walk to college. This bus always has space because I splash out a few extra rupees for the luxury of an AC bus (only in the morning - I get to college fresh/frozen and have time to study on the bus) Otherwise there is an air-cooled (as in windows open!) direct bus that leaves just after 9 or so and again gets you to college in time. As it starts in Mamalla, you can always get a seat though it gets crowded on the way. SO the journey there takes about an hour.

Coming back is, admittedly, a little longer but is between an hour and an hour and a half. Depending on the timings, I sometimes catch a direct bus back - again there is not problem with seats from Chemencherry. Usually though, the journey involves a bus to Kelambakkam (there are loads) and having to change there. The most I have had ot wait is 20 minutes on a very bad day. While changing here is easy, the bus from Kelembakkam is usually crowded though I have learnt to stop being so englishly polite and barge on in. I usually get a seat along the way. Over the months, I have come to actually like the journey - it is typically indian! The AC bus does pass through Chemencherry on the way back at about 4.30 but this is a bit of a lottery.

As for costs; Getting the AC bus in and 2 buses home costs me 53 rupees maximum a day. You can get a return ticket for certain non-AC buses for 30 rupees. Apparently you can also get a monthly pass for certain buses though this does not include the AC bus. I think this is around 600 rupees.

Of course, the choice is yours. I have lived near Mamallapuram for the best part of 4 years (on and off) so know it well but I do not know Chennai past the odd emergency shopping trip. It is the choice between largem scruffy city and a small, slightly scruffy seaside town!

Mrs Samuel mentioned that you were starting the course when I last saw her and I passed on my personal email address so if you have that and wish do, do send me a mail.

I am not doing the course in January (finish at the end of this month) though will be still in Mamalla. If you do chose to stay here, I am happy to help you in whatever way I can.

Hope this helps on the transport front and do ask whatever you need to.

Take care

Nick-H

The whole of Chennai is closer. You would have to go to the far North of the City to get further.

The trip to Mahabalipuram might be a pleasant one to do, but every day? I wouldn't fancy it!

deej

Hi Nick and Pip,

Pip, thanks for all the information on transport - is is super helpful.

I am undecided between Chennai and Mamallapuram, and am waiting for some info on transport / accomodation options in Chennai before making my decision. Dr Samuel is enquring about homestays within reach of the Institutue for me, as I think a homestay would be a wonderful chance to meet local people and practice what I am learning, but this sctor doesn't seem to be as commomplace in Tamil Nadu as in Kerala where I had a great time in a homestay before. I have found homestays in Mamallapuram but none so far in the right areas of Chennai for easy journeys to the Institute (Adyar / Besant Nagar).

Will keep you posted on my decision!

Thanks again

snooks

Sorry Nick - was talking time wise as the other people coming in from Chennai take about as long as i do, if not longer if the traffic is particularly bad. I've done the trip every day for 2 months now and survived - maybe working in London gave me better preparation than I thought!!!

Good luck with the decision Deej - the right place for you will turn up.

Take care

Nick-H

There is as much outward commuting as inward, perhaps even more, in that part of the world, with people heading for the BPO and Software businesses in that direction.

sanni

I am the girl commuting from Besant Nagar every day and I agree with Pip that traveling from further away in Chennai will be a pain. I am taking about 45 to an hour every day. My friend drops me to the tall gate from where the institute's shuttle picks me up. I have to be there between 9.15 and 9.30 to catch the shuttle. and then classes finish at 4 and the shuttle leaves at 5 which is fine since I need to do some research there itself but it is a long day for 4 classes a day. don't stay further than besant nagar otherwise it is not worth it. the traffic can be quite killing going there at times.

regarding the room there, if you decide to stay there, be aware of the cost. the austrian girl that staid there was charged Rs. 7500 but an indian friend of mine was told the room is Rs. 6000, so make sure you don't pay than you should. i am finishing my second month course there on november 13 but will still be in chennai, so let me know when you get here and if you need any help.

Nick-H

Welcome to the forum

deej

Hi Sanni,

Thanks for the info. I must say I am leaning towards Mamallapuram, then moving to Chennai for final week after the course has finished as originally planned.

Advice on this site (on both threads) has been invaluable and has made me feel so much calmer about the whole trip - so thank you all