Journey into the past

When I first set foot in Chennai decades ago, I stayed near Egmore Station. On my recent return, I decided to venture back to see if there was anything I recognized from all those years ago.

Around Chennai

Chennai had stately old buildings but unfortunately, many stood in stained neglect. I idled on busy corners to uncover their past glory while crowds dodged by .

Chennai’s Fort St George

I sat in the women’s section of a train that rattled to Fort St George. This was the only place where I enjoyed a real footpath that skirted the circumference of the fort. There were no crumpled sections or potholes.

People of Chennai

Even though Chennai’s traffic was daunting and it was difficult to walk on a level footpath if there was one at all, I met a number of friendly people.

Chennai alleyway street food

After catching ae bus, then another from Mamallapurum to southern Chennai, I idled in alleyways; anything to avoid the roar of traffic on the main road.

Mamallapuram visit

I wandered for several hours through the main heritage site. It was a Friday and filled with more local adventurers than foreigners.

Puducherry

I bussed south from Chennai and passed walled plots of coconut plantations, pine trees, an occasional rice paddy field and gained a taste of the old India. But resorts were encroaching on this farmland to the point where some farmers had signs plastered on boundary walls, “This property isn’t for sale.”

Chennai gems

While I was in the midst of endless traffic and tooting horns I came across two gems in Chennai’s back streets.

Chennai beach walk

 

I stayed in the southern end of Chennai and walked to the closest beach, Foreshore Estate.

I passed under tall shady trees, dilapidated footpaths and cows searching for something to eat before I arrived at a long, wide stretch of beach. This sandy coastline would have been a joy to visit before the invention of plastic. Fishing boats nestled in the sand. Fishers idled in the shade of their boats or untangled their nets.

Tamil Nadu return

It had been forty years since I set foot in India. I landed in the same city that was my original introduction to the country, Chennai (Madras back then).

Some aspects didn’t appear to have changed after all those decades: the wonky footpaths; the constant tooting of horns; the delicious South Indian food; local people friendly and helpful; men still with sarongs doubled up like mini skirts (though now more wore trousers); women in saris (though many had gone to the Punjabi style of dress).