Summer of 2011, the last of the vacations in an otherwise routine eat-bunk-sleep-LAN insti life. But unlike its predecessors, this had less of fun tagged to it. Reasons ranging from Internship woes to career decisions. A vetti month of May didnt help the situation. Parental advices centered only around a few words like future, jobless, buffalos etc. You get the point.
So after a rather dramatic end to the intern selections, I landed in Delhi on May 28th. After an effortless travel from the flight to the airport gate to the metro to IIT Delhi, I doubted if I landed in the right city. Turns out I was delusional. My earlier nuances about Delhi were getting shattered. So here I was. The capital. The richest city in the country. And what did a month's stay conclude? What made it different from my home city. Its for everyone to see.
The city
Delhi is a huge city with wide roads and well connected and rapid metro system. After effect of the billions spent in the CWG games. A busy Delhi road is a showcase of only cars. Not even bikes, cycles or pedestrians. Probably the summer or an endless amount of money that needs spending. Buses are modern and not crowded. However big, the city is stil congested begging for space. No wonder extensions arise every year, just to give a reason to beg for more spaces. Now from where I come from, the 2 wheelers set the rules. No matter how small the road is. Its definetely wide enough for them, especially when you include the pavement and the dividers. A glance at a chennai road is enough envy for a swarm of bees. Neither the buses nor roads have space in them to move around. Talk about a tight squeeze. Residential areas are similar in respect, with Hauz Khas and Anna Nagar competing on equal terms.
30 Days of Summer
Landlocked and probably airlocked too, this city is an oven without a door. An hour outside in the sun, and you are fried. Burns, allergies, strokes you name it. Even the air forgets it can be cool. Sun screens are indispensible. But occasional showers can give you a glimpse of the winters. Not surprisingly, Chennai isnt a paradise either. Here you wished you were naked. The humid stickiness evident. But Atleast saves you from the burns, A relatively healthy sun. But not enough water and you dehydrate.
Verdict? Worst places for summer.
The Living
Delhi is shit expensive. The living standard a little high with all the rich people here. Of course its a land invaded by the Punjabis. People with wands who weave money from thin air (no offense meant). But no mercy for people who visit. Cinemas cost a fortune. An escape level screen will rob you of atleast 300 against the 120 in Chennai. BMWs, Audis, Jaguars, even Bentleys are a common sight. High end cars like Lambos, Audi R8, BMW M3, Merc SL3 only speak to support. Chennai is more reliant on 2 wheelers but you do see an occasional BMW or Audi.
Food Fight!
Its an understatement that the entire north survives on Dal. The mess in IITD isnt an exception. Leaving out Breakfast, Its chapathi and Dal all the way. In a month, I had enough of them to race past my coll stint on the same regard. A South Indian would find it hard to adjust to this diet, and should be ready to spend bucks to retain the Southern taste. A single idli and vada is priced at 50. Back home we would call that as "Vada Poche!"
Mall-mania
One thing that Delhi isn't short of is the Malls. Whether its the huge circus at the Connaught Place or the triology at Saket, You'll never be short of a place to hangout. Keep driving around the main roads for a while, and your certain to hit atleast a dozen of em along the way. Contrary to that, Chennai's hangout woes never end. A mere 4 malls with limited shopping spots isnt a very prospecting thought. A year in chennai and you would have covered these 4 atleast so many times that you dont need an excuse to refrain from them.
The female quotient
I think its only fair that I do this topic more justice. Ironically, I dont know where to start! Well everyones aware of the reputation of the North and its culture and Its certainly evident. Fashion is a high - a tiny skirt, a low neck, a translucent T an and anything creative for an imaginative mind. Wherever you travel, a lonely city bus or a crowded metro, a deserted street or a market, There are hot girls everywhere. Its like the city's assets are being injected wherever you walk. Hard to imagine but even IITD had its share of the glamour. Malls are much more fun this way. You have a hard time keeping up with your tabs, and marking schemes no longer matter as there's hardly any loose ends (figuratively of course). For someone like me, who had to endure a drought in the city's driest colleges, the entire stay right from landing in Delhi to leaving by train via weekend trips to hill stations, parks, malls was a banquet of endless desserts. A week in the city with back to back visits to Express avenue, IITM coudnt match upto an hour on a Delhi street, The latter being the culprit for obvious reasons. Defintely the one thing i'll ever miss about Delhi.
Its Delhi in a Chennai point of view. A day or two can test your patience. The dry sun takes a toll. In a week, you'll beg for sambhar and idlis. Trust me any idli will do. But after you get the taste of the social life, you tend to change your opinions. A month and with enough familiarity of the city, you would think again of leaving the place, especially when you are leavin to a city like chennai where its only grayscale!
But whatever the faults and merits, Chennai is a place some people like to call home. A place where we grew up stitching up memories and friends and ex's. A place where you can talk your way through anything. A place where you can hog your mom's appetising food till you cry complaining about breathing problems. A place where the ringing of the local swears and curses lits up a smile. The city isn't a paradise, its not a quiet one, but its stil home. Its like they say in tamil " Chennai mathiri Varuma? "
So after a rather dramatic end to the intern selections, I landed in Delhi on May 28th. After an effortless travel from the flight to the airport gate to the metro to IIT Delhi, I doubted if I landed in the right city. Turns out I was delusional. My earlier nuances about Delhi were getting shattered. So here I was. The capital. The richest city in the country. And what did a month's stay conclude? What made it different from my home city. Its for everyone to see.
The city
Delhi is a huge city with wide roads and well connected and rapid metro system. After effect of the billions spent in the CWG games. A busy Delhi road is a showcase of only cars. Not even bikes, cycles or pedestrians. Probably the summer or an endless amount of money that needs spending. Buses are modern and not crowded. However big, the city is stil congested begging for space. No wonder extensions arise every year, just to give a reason to beg for more spaces. Now from where I come from, the 2 wheelers set the rules. No matter how small the road is. Its definetely wide enough for them, especially when you include the pavement and the dividers. A glance at a chennai road is enough envy for a swarm of bees. Neither the buses nor roads have space in them to move around. Talk about a tight squeeze. Residential areas are similar in respect, with Hauz Khas and Anna Nagar competing on equal terms.
30 Days of Summer
Landlocked and probably airlocked too, this city is an oven without a door. An hour outside in the sun, and you are fried. Burns, allergies, strokes you name it. Even the air forgets it can be cool. Sun screens are indispensible. But occasional showers can give you a glimpse of the winters. Not surprisingly, Chennai isnt a paradise either. Here you wished you were naked. The humid stickiness evident. But Atleast saves you from the burns, A relatively healthy sun. But not enough water and you dehydrate.
Verdict? Worst places for summer.
The Living
Delhi is shit expensive. The living standard a little high with all the rich people here. Of course its a land invaded by the Punjabis. People with wands who weave money from thin air (no offense meant). But no mercy for people who visit. Cinemas cost a fortune. An escape level screen will rob you of atleast 300 against the 120 in Chennai. BMWs, Audis, Jaguars, even Bentleys are a common sight. High end cars like Lambos, Audi R8, BMW M3, Merc SL3 only speak to support. Chennai is more reliant on 2 wheelers but you do see an occasional BMW or Audi.
Food Fight!
Its an understatement that the entire north survives on Dal. The mess in IITD isnt an exception. Leaving out Breakfast, Its chapathi and Dal all the way. In a month, I had enough of them to race past my coll stint on the same regard. A South Indian would find it hard to adjust to this diet, and should be ready to spend bucks to retain the Southern taste. A single idli and vada is priced at 50. Back home we would call that as "Vada Poche!"
Mall-mania
One thing that Delhi isn't short of is the Malls. Whether its the huge circus at the Connaught Place or the triology at Saket, You'll never be short of a place to hangout. Keep driving around the main roads for a while, and your certain to hit atleast a dozen of em along the way. Contrary to that, Chennai's hangout woes never end. A mere 4 malls with limited shopping spots isnt a very prospecting thought. A year in chennai and you would have covered these 4 atleast so many times that you dont need an excuse to refrain from them.
The female quotient
I think its only fair that I do this topic more justice. Ironically, I dont know where to start! Well everyones aware of the reputation of the North and its culture and Its certainly evident. Fashion is a high - a tiny skirt, a low neck, a translucent T an and anything creative for an imaginative mind. Wherever you travel, a lonely city bus or a crowded metro, a deserted street or a market, There are hot girls everywhere. Its like the city's assets are being injected wherever you walk. Hard to imagine but even IITD had its share of the glamour. Malls are much more fun this way. You have a hard time keeping up with your tabs, and marking schemes no longer matter as there's hardly any loose ends (figuratively of course). For someone like me, who had to endure a drought in the city's driest colleges, the entire stay right from landing in Delhi to leaving by train via weekend trips to hill stations, parks, malls was a banquet of endless desserts. A week in the city with back to back visits to Express avenue, IITM coudnt match upto an hour on a Delhi street, The latter being the culprit for obvious reasons. Defintely the one thing i'll ever miss about Delhi.
Its Delhi in a Chennai point of view. A day or two can test your patience. The dry sun takes a toll. In a week, you'll beg for sambhar and idlis. Trust me any idli will do. But after you get the taste of the social life, you tend to change your opinions. A month and with enough familiarity of the city, you would think again of leaving the place, especially when you are leavin to a city like chennai where its only grayscale!
But whatever the faults and merits, Chennai is a place some people like to call home. A place where we grew up stitching up memories and friends and ex's. A place where you can talk your way through anything. A place where you can hog your mom's appetising food till you cry complaining about breathing problems. A place where the ringing of the local swears and curses lits up a smile. The city isn't a paradise, its not a quiet one, but its stil home. Its like they say in tamil " Chennai mathiri Varuma? "
