Chennai Beats

Just a month ago, I was leading this atypical suburban life in the US with my husband and our two daughters. As every American resident, I would pride on my independence and proudly state to my Indian friends about managing it all. Of course, the cookie cutter lifestyle can often dilute the unexpected in life. Needless to say, with two young kids I didn't care for such frivolity. So when my girls and I landed in Chennai, I looked forward to our vacation with some trepidation.

As I stepped out of the airport into the musty Chennai air, I felt an all too familiar stirring. The climate, the roads, the traffic had not changed much but I had undergone a sea change. My cynicism and judgmental tone precluded over the joy of being in my own home turf. The planner and routine seeker in me felt at a loss. Ironically my girls seemed to be holding up well. My older one was in awe of the changed surroundings and the younger one was blissfully unaware of the same.

The first week was the toughest on all of us especially my mother as she had to deal with my inexplicable demands. First on the list was finding a suitable school for my older one, and then came the ordeal of keeping my twin minions busy and lastly the task of satisfying the overzealous me. And to think I was the hapless mother. It was the slow hand of fate that dealt me the final blow.Slowly but surely I realized that the whole point of the vacation was to go with the flow. I had to enjoy the unexpected once again in my life. After days of cajoling, I finally warmed up to my city and the joys
it offered.

I am now seeing Chennai through the lens of my three year old daughter. The abundance of creativity and exposure to culture is unparalleled.  As she begins to take baby steps in learning Bharatanatyam, and getting a grip on Tamil, I am astounded at the opportunities the city can present to a toddler. She can dabble with theater, music, dance, sketching all in a day’s work. Of course the interaction with other kids on a daily basis is a learning experience in itself. As watch her personality bloom, I can’t help but wonder at the vitality of this city and its people.

As for me, it feels like I never left this city. While a number of new chains have spruced up the decor, my all time favorite hangouts still retain the same old world charm. Hobnobbing between plush cafes, multi-cuisine themed restaurants, destination stores; my concept of luxury travel has undergone a
metamorphosis. From the very expensive hangouts to the simple pleasures in life, my city has it all.
Add to this a dose of spirituality and culture; you get a well rounded experience. Living the life with
my family and friends I hope to take in this city in all its splendor and charms.