The journey didn’t start off too well. The flight from Pune ended up delayed by an hour. The prepaid taxi didn’t really know where to go and then when we started, broke down very quickly. A rickshaw driver helped out (though of course, expected an inane sum of money for it). I eventually found the place I was staying at – a serviced apartment not quite being the thing that I expected – I thought it would be some sort of 3-star hotel. It’s just a place to stay.

We’ll see how tomorrow goes with a prepaid vehicle driving me to Mahallapuram.

I avoid catching a rickshaw tonight. It’s easy enough to call out MG road – it’s the getting back bit that I’m worried about.

Walking around the local neighbourhood of Mylapore ended up very interesting. It seems there’s a number of schools and colleges hosting students around the area – with a whole heap of them coming up to have their photo taken by me. I stumbled across, what looked like, a political rally – though for all I know, it could have been some sort of community celebration with Christmas coming up and all. People crowded the streets trying to get closer, and the rows and rows of plastic chairs setup remained full by the time I walked past. Turning up and down one lane, putting the directions into my consciousness to later backtrack, I find what looks like the jewellery street. Some of the stores actively clean and refine their metallic wares on the doorsteps, with the rest of their already polished wares beckoning the street-weary traveller into the doors. I manage to resist somehow.

My belly rumbles, reminding me that it was at least nine hours ago since I’d fed it and was about time to have dinner. Biryani stores line the street – some of them look busy enough that the food is guaranteed fresh and yet I hesitate. I find what looks like a very popular and happening joint – I don’t mind that it has a “chain veg restaurant” from the outside. The crowds and the smell attract me in. I find a free seat next to a couple and after scanning the menu, ended up with a thali-like order. Funnily they even have three outlets in London (I’ll definitely have to try it when I get back).

Initial thoughts on Chennai – it’s definitely less dusty than Pune, definitely better roads than Bangalore. It has the humidity of what I expected from Mumbai – I’m not sure if I’m really going to enjoy the day tomorrow, so I’m hoping that taxi manages to turn up in the morning. The people seem very crowded and perhaps it’s the period close to Christmas, I notice many, many churches everywhere – probably a side effect from the days of the British rule.