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Morning walks in chennai

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I introduce myself

A Kerala Brahmin,now retired,age 73 years,staying with family in Chennai. I would say "Hi" to all the members and would like to post my first blog as under;

MORNING STREET WALKING!!(SORRY)MORNING WALKS IN CHENNAI DURING THE RAINY SEASON

As a compulsive morning walker for long long years,in places like Palghat,Kolkatta,
Bangalore, and now in Chennai for the last 8 years, during all seasons, I have found walking on the streets during Rainy Season,the most satisfying and exhilarating experience. As a matter of practice,I always like to walk the streets,(rather than use the parks) and explore the various places and important buildings,shopping malls,cinema theatres,vegetable markets,etc., situated on the streets,.You will be amazed to know the number of banks in CP Ramaswamy Road,where I stay.Starting from down TTK bridge to CPR Road,you have,Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank,Canara Bank,HDFC Bank,IDBI Bank,City Bank,State Bank of Mysore,Punjab National Bank,Indian Bank,ICICI Bank,and State bank of India.

In Chennai,during my younger days,(I have seen 73 summers in this world)we were staying in Nungambakkam Lake area,and I used to jog from lake area to the beach and back(a matter of 18 to 20 kilometers I suppose),starting from Lake area,through Nungambakkam high road, on to Gemini flyover,through RK Salai,straight to the beach and back. During the last 8 years we have been staying in Abhiramapuram,and as age caught up with me,I had to reduce the duration of my morning walks,and drastically that too,during the last one year as I had an angioplasty done in 2008,and my cardiologist restricted my walking hours to maximum 45 to 60 minutes a day.

Before my angioplasty,from R.A.puram I used to walk to the beach(not jog)through
Ab”puram 3rd street,turn to Warren road,then to Dr.Ranga road, then to RK Mutt road,cut across to Mada street,round the temple to Kutchery Road,Santhome High Road, then to beach road,upto Anna Square.From this Junction I used to catch a 21G bus back home, and get down at Kaliappa hospital and back to my house.But now my sojourn takes me from CP R.road,RApuram,Mandevli,
RK Mutt road,Lus Corner,Nageswara Rao park, East Abhiramapuram,DR.Ranga road and back to 3rd street.Sometimes I go straight from CPR road,to Kamarajar
Street,Greenways road,come to RA puram main road,visit boat club road, and then back to my house.
Somehow walking on the foot paths of Parks,I feel stifled,and less enthusiastic,
particularly in Nageswara Rao park,where the attendance is maximum during morning hours. Here you are restricted in your speed while walking,that too when a group of 4 or 5 friends walk abreast on the limited space available on the footpath in their leisurely pace!! One way which I have found to avoid this bottleneck,is to walk anti- clock-wise in the park,as almost 99% of the walkers do their steps clockwise.There is also an advantage in walking anti-clock-wise as you can see the expressions in the faces of various walkers and a mind reader can have a field day looking and studying their faces.Since I walk alone,I always hum my favourite hindi/tamil/kannada film songs and enjoy my walks.

Now talking about walk through rainy days,last 4 or 5 days have given me the maximum joy and satisfaction during my morning walks.When I start in the early morning, always there is incessant light to heavy rains,and with an umbrella,and rubber slippers(I use Bata slippers with bubbles),(avoid using jogging shoes during rains)which enables you to get a good footing and balance while your feet splashes on the watery road,it is amazing to see how wide awake Chennai is even during the early morning(compared to Bangalore).During the last 4 rainy days our milk maid has delivered the aavin satchets early morning, I have got my paper in time,our watchman has marked his attendance early in the morning(of course the perennial problem with absentee servant maid continues).On the roads the tea stalls are open,you see cyclists going on their duties with one hand on the handlebar and the other one holding the umbrella,the two wheeler riders with pillion riders holding the umbrella to get as much protection as possible for self and driver,you can also see the sight of the umbrella held by the pillion rider opening outward against the wind,and the rider loosing his balance,which at times may prove dangerous.Invariably the pillion riders are the wives or girl friends,and during such acrobatic movements they are advised to take care of their valets,bags and gold chains.I know during the early morning rains,where I can get an hardware item or paint,an electric bulb or wire,medicines,snacks,tea,coffee,vegetables etc.,in and around RA puram,Mylapore areas,as the shops and traders are awake in such early hours,even when it rains cats and dogs!
I feel the following guidelines might be of use to pedestrians while walking on the roads:
1.I always walk on the right hand side of the road(instead the thumb rule of “keep to the left”).This enables one to see the on coming traffic,and save yourself from any untoward happenings.While walking on the left hand side,you don’t know what traffic is coming behind you.I have seen many a buses and other vehicles,overtaking a pedestrian or cyclyist,dangerously close.Pedestrians can avoid this by walking on the right hand side of the road.
2.I see many people particularly young girls,walking on the road immersed in talk with their friends on their mobiles,blissfully ignorant of the traffic behind them.This is very very dangerous.Mobile talkers should stand somewhere on the road and finish their talk and proceed.Of course we know the young girls like to have their private talks freely avoiding the watchful eyes of their elders in their houses,and what better times for these sweet talks, than while they are proceeding to their destinations!! Of course I don”t grudge the sight of these young lassies talking sweet nothings on to their beloved ones through the mobile,as I AM A ROMANTIST IN MY HEART!!.

3.Ladies,and young girls with their mobile phones,while walking on the streets are easy targets for chain and purse snatchers.Please beware of these anti social elements.

4.When you walk with your child on the roads,make it a point to walk the child on to your left side(if you are walking on the left side of the road),or to your right side(if you are walking on the right side of the road),so that they get protection from the ongoing traffic.

5.While walking on the streets,beware of the snapped cables on the foot paths.You don’t know whether they are live electric cables, or the tv cables.In particular during rainy season,electric cable snapping is very very common.Last week I read in the papers a Laundry owner ,because of the rains,closed the shop,and went to inform his employee about the holiday,and while climbing the stairs of the house,his wet umbrella touched a snapped live wire,and the poor man lost his life.

6.While walking on the roads,avoid foot paths where multi storied residential buildings are situated,because our” CIVIC SENSE IS SUCH THAT’ the residents of these buildings might drop any thing from their balconies on to the roads and target you as the proverbial dust bin!

 
An interesting read

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic. Of particular interest is the way you have described the routes you used to take for your Chennai walks. As a member who lived in Calcutta for 15 years, I would be very keen to know if you used to go for your walks there too...and if yes, could you pls. describe your routes and experiences there? Would I be wrong in assuming (as a default) that you used to visit the Lake in South Calcutta for your walks?

Thanks, and pls. keep writing.

~ Raghu Sankaran
 
ebsman,

welcome to the forum. what a delightful post, loved every sentence of it.

may i add a caution here before anything else: keep at least in two different pockets, away from your purse, piece of paper, clearly stating your name, address, phone numbers.

these are for emergency in case you get hit or anything else happens.

my father had parkinsons and went for a walk and forgot where he was. he hailed an auto, and spend two hours trying to find our house. the auto was an angel in his patience.

meanwhile, you can imagine the panic and desperation at home.

so, please ensure you have this pieces of paper separately from your money purse. purses get snatched but papers remain.

back to your post.

i love walking in madras. used to study in guindy. a evening of relaxation meant walking through guindy to saidapet, all along mount road past siet, gemini, thousand lights, to shanthi theatre.

watch a movie at shanthi, devi or casino.

there used to be a hotel ramaprasad where we used to have food in the a/c room, feel generous and great, as one of the few customers who left a tip, and bussed back to guindy college.

used to do it regularly in the early 70s, and still remember fondly the company of one or two friends, resolving all the problems of the world (!) and feeling nary a drop of tiredness. only invogoration.

your advice re walking and cell phone is to be heeded. where i live in toronto, it is banned to drive while using the cell phone. it is a problem with pedestrains too, as they do not hear the traffic and at hazard to themselves.

walking against the traffic is a must. nothing like hit from behind to realize how easily this could be avoided.

your note on garbage thrown from high rises is rather sad. these high rise residents are supposed to be among the better educated. oh well, it is all ஏட்டு சுரக்காய் stuff. :(

also timely, especially now, is your warning re live wires. lost a classmate due to that in the 60s when cyclones were a regular feature annually.

finally, i could not but smile when you wrote at the start of your note ' I have found walking on the streets ..... the most satisfying and exhilarating experience.'

just another instance of the different use of english language..'walking the street', here in canada, usually means being employed in the world's oldest profession :) .. hope you get a chuckle out of this.

looking forward to hearing more from you..

btw i am 59 years old, away from india since 1973, visit regularly though.. only chennai.. to give you a perspective of what i am saying..
 
in thiruvanmiyur, chennai....my mother lives in beach road...
they have BEACH WALKERS ASSOCIATION IN THIRUVANMIYUR..
im in USA ....i left chennai in the 80's...still i visit thiruvanmiyur
and enjoy morning quiet beach walking........i used to walk
from mylapore to triplicane/ sometimes mylapore to mambalam
with friends...we used to go to movie in mount road on weekends
by walk from mylapore to shanti/devi complex....walking is
good in chennai with friends....

regards
tbs
 
We have several parks in Annanagar, Chennai and both in the morning and evening people walk regularly.
 
ebsman,


your note on garbage thrown from high rises is rather sad. these high rise residents are supposed to be among the better educated. oh well, it is all ஏட்டு சுரக்காய் stuff. :( "

Those who throw feel that " all world is dirt except my house"
 
chennai morning walk

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic. Of particular interest is the way you have described the routes you used to take for your Chennai walks. As a member who lived in Calcutta for 15 years, I would be very keen to know if you used to go for your walks there too...and if yes, could you pls. describe your routes and experiences there? Would I be wrong in assuming (as a default) that you used to visit the Lake in South Calcutta for your walks?

Thanks, and pls. keep writing.

~ Raghu Sankaran
DEAR SHRI RAGHU SANKARAN
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.TALKING OF CALCUTTA,I HAVE ONLY FOND REMEMBERANCE OF THE TIME I SPENT THERE FROM 1954 TO 1975. I WENT THERE AFTER SCHOOLING IN 1954 WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS.BEING FROM A VILLAGE IN KERALA,THE FIRST SIGHT OF THE MAGESTIC HOWRAH BRIDGE WHEN THE TRAIN WAS NEARING HOWRAH WAS AWE INSPIRING!! THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE IN THE STATION MADE ME FEEL LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER.THE DOUBLE DECKER BUSES, THE TRAMS,AND THE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC THOSE DAYS THOUGH NO MATCH FOR CURRENT CALCUTTA SCENES,WAS,FOR A NOVICE LIKE ME AT THAT TIME,A NEW WORLD IN ITSELF.DURING MY STAY I HAD LIVED FIRST IN BHOWANIPORE,THEN BALLYGUNGE,AND FINALLY IN TOLLYGUNGE AREA.
YES DURING THOSE DAYS ALSO I USED TO DO MY MORNING WALKS,
DEPENDING ON THE PLACE OF MY ABODE,AS UNDER:

1) FROM BHOWANIPORE TO KALIGHAT,RASHBEHARI AVENUE, GARIAHAT AND THEN TAKE A TRAM BACK TO BHOWANIPORE.

2)IN BALLYGUNE I WAS STAYING NEAR LANSDOWN ROAD/HAZRA ROAD CROSSING,FROM WHERE I USED TO WALK WITH MY DOG TO DESHAPRIYA PARK,AND MAKE A FEW ROUNDS OF THE PARK AND THEN BACK TO MY HOUSE.

3)WHILE IN TOLLYGUNGE,YES THE LAKES WAS A DEFINITE VISIT DAILY AND I USEED TO JOG AROUND LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE FAMOUS LAKE VERY OFTEN.

TO TALK AND WRITE ABOUT MY LIFE IN CALCUTTA,WOULD TAKE MANY MANY HOURS AND INTERNET TIME,BUT I WOULD SAY THAT I SPENT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE IN CALCUTTA,AND I WILL NEVER NEVER FORGET THE FRIENDLINESS AND HAPPINESS WHCIH I GOT FROM VARIOUS BENGALI FAMILIES AND FRIENDS DURING MY STAY THERE!!
GOOD DAY AND BEST WISHES.
elapuli balki subramaniam/0444210877/(mo)9790750436
 
morning walk in chennai

ebsman,

welcome to the forum. what a delightful post, loved every sentence of it.

may i add a caution here before anything else: keep at least in two different pockets, away from your purse, piece of paper, clearly stating your name, address, phone numbers.

these are for emergency in case you get hit or anything else happens.

my father had parkinsons and went for a walk and forgot where he was. he hailed an auto, and spend two hours trying to find our house. the auto was an angel in his patience.

meanwhile, you can imagine the panic and desperation at home.

so, please ensure you have this pieces of paper separately from your money purse. purses get snatched but papers remain.

back to your post.

i love walking in madras. used to study in guindy. a evening of relaxation meant walking through guindy to saidapet, all along mount road past siet, gemini, thousand lights, to shanthi theatre.

watch a movie at shanthi, devi or casino.

there used to be a hotel ramaprasad where we used to have food in the a/c room, feel generous and great, as one of the few customers who left a tip, and bussed back to guindy college.

used to do it regularly in the early 70s, and still remember fondly the company of one or two friends, resolving all the problems of the world (!) and feeling nary a drop of tiredness. only invogoration.

your advice re walking and cell phone is to be heeded. where i live in toronto, it is banned to drive while using the cell phone. it is a problem with pedestrains too, as they do not hear the traffic and at hazard to themselves.

walking against the traffic is a must. nothing like hit from behind to realize how easily this could be avoided.

your note on garbage thrown from high rises is rather sad. these high rise residents are supposed to be among the better educated. oh well, it is all ஏட்டு சுரக்காய் stuff. :(

also timely, especially now, is your warning re live wires. lost a classmate due to that in the 60s when cyclones were a regular feature annually.

finally, i could not but smile when you wrote at the start of your note ' I have found walking on the streets ..... the most satisfying and exhilarating experience.'

just another instance of the different use of english language..'walking the street', here in canada, usually means being employed in the world's oldest profession :) .. hope you get a chuckle out of this.

looking forward to hearing more from you..

btw i am 59 years old, away from india since 1973, visit regularly though.. only chennai.. to give you a perspective of what i am saying..

dear shri kunjuppu,
MORNING STREET WALKING!!(SORRY)MORNING WALKS IN CHENNAI DURING THE RAINY SEASOn

In the title itself I said sorry for using the words'street walking'! / and rephrased it as 'morning walks in chernnai'

thank you for your advice re carrying my id details while morning walks.In fact I carry my mobile,few rupees,my address and contact no,also a couple of tablets of 'isordil'(subsequent to my angioplasty last year) as a precaution.If I don't turn up within 60 to 90 minutes,my mobile would ring,and the voice of one of my grand children or son would demand about my whereabouts!!

I am sorry to hear about your father"s parkinson disease.One of my uncles was also affected like this,and always my cousine would accompany him during his outings.Yes there are also auto drivers with a human touch!
It is a pleasant surprise to know about your walking sojourns in
chennai during your younger years.

Talking about hotels,I visit Rayars' mess in kutchery road,mylapore for breakfast.Also there is a small joint on the crossing of Agraharam road(saibaba temple) and rk mutt road
in Mylapore where you get very tasty vadai,pongal,poori masal,with sambar,two chutneys.Very tasty indeed.:couch2:
Let us keep in touch and do contact me when u are in india next.regards.
elapuli balki subramaniam
91 044 42108777 (mobile)91 9790750436

 
Oh, Kolkata...

Dear Shri Subramaniam -- it made me so nostalgic to read about your calcutta days. I can relive all the routes that you mentioned. My father moved to Kolkata from Kumbakonam around the same year as you did, and lived there (of course, that included us, his family) till 1979. Did you, by any chance, ever attend/participate in Barathi Tamil Sangam programs and events? My father was an active member (and later, Secretary) there (right next to Deshpriya Park). He was also an active member of the Murugan Koil construction committee (Lake Gardens), as I hear from him.

We used to live in, first, Prince Anwar Shah Rd (Lake Gardens) and later moved to Ballygunj (Dover Lane).

Loved reading your post on Kolkata days. Thanks and namaskarams.
 
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ebsman,

thank you for your kind note. i hope to see you here in this forum very often.

i love rayars. they are an institution in mylapore. also karpagambal mess, on those days when my parents left me and went out of town.

where is this new joint exactly? on the main road itself? what is it called?

also when you go for walks, it is good to carry a walking stick. if not anything else, it gets you respect (!).

recently i broke my ankle, and had to come to india after the cast was removed. even though i was limping, i could walk only slowly.

so i carried a stick. it was a deterrence against people pushing me as that was my greatest fear. a man limping with a walking stick keeps people at a distance.

especially in india where there is crowds always.

thank you.
 
ebsman,

thank you for your kind note. i hope to see you here in this forum very often.

i love rayars. they are an institution in mylapore. also karpagambal mess, on those days when my parents left me and went out of town.

where is this new joint exactly? on the main road itself? what is it called?

also when you go for walks, it is good to carry a walking stick. if not anything else, it gets you respect (!).

recently i broke my ankle, and had to come to india after the cast was removed. even though i was limping, i could walk only slowly.

so i carried a stick. it was a deterrence against people pushing me as that was my greatest fear. a man limping with a walking stick keeps people at a distance.

especially in india where there is crowds always.

thank you.
Rayar"s Mess on most of the mornings,you don"t get even a foot hold to stand!The limited sitting capacity in the small room is always occupied.The North Indian crowd is amazing!They luv the sambar,chatni and molaga podi etc., so much,they use the idli,pongal,vada etc., AS SIDE DISH for these items!!Last sunday morning there was heavy rain and I returned dis-appointed seeing the crowd.One north indian gentleman was telling his friend that he took as many as 15 vadas in the joint once!That is the popularity of Rayar Mess on Arundale Street,(off Katcheri Road.)

Recently Karpagambal mess has been renovated.Though the menu is very good and tasty here,the cost is very prohibitive.Breakfast of
two idlis,pongal,vada and coffee would cost anything upto Rs.100,and another 10 to 20% more if you occupy the a/c room.Of this is not much to a person living in Canada!
The joint on RK Mutt Road,is a small one with a wooden structure.From Venkateswara Agraharam street(Sai baba temple road)you turn right at the junction of RkK Mutt road,and walk a few steps,the joint is situated on the right hand side of RK Mutt road.
The items are very tasty here and will not pinch your purse too much.1 plate pongal Rs.14/, vada Rs.4.50 each,idli 2 rs.8/-and so on.

Recently there was a Pongal/Vada contest organized by Times of India group newspapers,and they selected 10 hotels/Restaurants.
Perhaps you might have read about it,if not let me know I will give details.
Good day/ ebsmanibalki
 
Last edited:
ebsman,

thank you for your kind note. i hope to see you here in this forum very often.

i love rayars. they are an institution in mylapore. also karpagambal mess, on those days when my parents left me and went out of town.

where is this new joint exactly? on the main road itself? what is it called?

also when you go for walks, it is good to carry a walking stick. if not anything else, it gets you respect (!).

recently i broke my ankle, and had to come to india after the cast was removed. even though i was limping, i could walk only slowly.

so i carried a stick. it was a deterrence against people pushing me as that was my greatest fear. a man limping with a walking stick keeps people at a distance.

especially in india where there is crowds always.

thank you.
hi kunjuppu sir,
i was in mylapore more than 2 decades...im a regular visitor
to rayar's mess as bachelor...i like YMIA mess in royapettah road
near sanskrit college...i was staying opposite to sanskrit college..
near valluvar silai....opp to thanni thurai market in luz corner...
im familiar evey stone in and around sanskrit college mylapore..
sri ramar temple/sri appar swami temple...it was golden period..
kadantha kaala ninaiuvugal...ever grenn memories....

regards
tbs
 
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