Beach - Chennai's Boon

Life has been busy and hectic and all that... this weekend was no different. Also, since I have been working from home for some time now, I really don't get to see the outside world at all! Combined with few other thoughts, I was feeling so depressed on sunday evening. I was sitting and chopping some veggie for dinner and tears started welling up my eye...

C, who was strumming his guitar saw me and probably thought 'enough is enough' and asked me to just get ready. An impromptu decision was made and off we went to the beach.

Unfortunately some 100,000 others had made that decision :-) The beach was swarming with people of all ages and sizes. Nevertheless, we managed to find a parking space and quietly walked over to the sand... the breeze was blowing over and it was appreciably cooler.. not the usual sticky feeling, but a really pleasant weather. It was just soo calming.

I did two things that I have never done before in a beach. One - Ate pieces of raw mango smeared with salt & chilli powder. Two - Ate a big paper cone full of 'Kadalai Sundal' :-))

In all my years of existence, I had never tasted the beach 'sundal'. And yesterday, when C asked me if I wanted it, I just decided to give it a try! I think he was amused that I had never eaten it.. he seems to be a veteran of beach snacks. He spotted the right shops, the right food, the right everything :-)

The steamed kadalai-pori mix with a little bit of cucumber, tomato, lot of coriander and a little bit of lemon juice for that added tangy feel - Mmmm.... it was just awesome.

Within a span of 20 minutes that we stayed there, we ate Mangoes, Roasted Corn and the kadalai-pori mix :-))

Walked all the way across the sand to watch the waves. And since it was very dark we had to remain kind of cautious...just looking to our sides and behind...

That is one of the reasons I prefer going to the beach in the mornings... just a few people going on their morning walks or kids playing beach cricket/tennicoit and the like...very relaxed atmosphere. But then the snack stalls don't operate that early ;-)

We then returned home via a slightly longish route..just riding through those nice well lit roads ... C showing me around the Santhome Church area, Mylapore, Luz Corner and few other places...

Got to see 'Rex Fashions'. Years ago, I had heard it innumerable times on Radio.. it always ended with 'Rex Fashion, Luz Corner Mylapore'.

It was such a welcome break and a much needed one for me. I felt so energized and thinking about my adventure with beach food.. I had a goofy grin for a long time.

And C, thank you - for forsaking your superbike and F1 races. You may not be very demonstrative with your affection, but I know these little things are what that show how we care about each other deeply.

Weekend Notes I

One of the things that make us happy with Chennai is the beach and sea.

We woke up early Saturday and decided impromptu to drive down to the beach. Isn't there something quite marvellous with the vast expanse of water? The best thing about visiting the ocean in the morning, I realised, is the absence of large, unmanageable crowds! It was not deserted, far from it. But it had just the right amount of crowd... people on their morning walks, exercise and the like.. a bunch of kids playing with the sand, a group of guys playing volleyball... a family of three playing tennicoit (what we call 'Ring'). It was such a pleasant sight. And not to forget the swooshing sound from the waves.. it was just so relaxing.

On Sunday, we decided to take parents along. We got ready even earlier, by 5.45 or so. But it was still a little dark and the clouds were looming large and soon it started raining. As Dad had a meeting to attend by 8, we resigned back thinking how valiant our efforts to get up that early went!

But by 6.30 or so, the rain stopped and we decided we 'have' to venture out, given all our efforts thus far. (Getting up at 5.30 on a Sunday IS a major effort!!) Dad and brother decided to stay back, so Hubby and I, bro-in-law and mom set out on two bikes. And true to the saying, more the merrier, this time the fun was doubled! Stepped on the water and had lot of fun clicking photos and laughing around. We had taken along a tennis ball and soon we started playing with it... generally challenging each other to throw it the highest, farthest and the like... After almost an hour or so, we rode back home.

After a light (or was it heavy?) breakfast of pasta that mom prepared lightning fast, we lounged around to watch some TV, around 10 or so. But soon, dozed off till noon.

We decided to go out for lunch and visited Osteria (in Deccan Plaza, Royapettah High Road). This one is a very nice Italian restaurant that serves only vegetarian cuisine! It was such a pleasant change to eat without constantly having to worry about suspicious looking ingredients! The restaurant was having a promotional offer going and we had a five course meal for Rs.250 each. It started with a Zuppa (soup, they had tomato for the day), Brushcetta, Insalata (Salad, Lettuce, Apples and Pears), Main course(Lasagne, Spirelli Pasta) and Desert (Fruit Tart).

The portions were large and it was great value for money. The main course alone costs Rs.360. We enquired with the chef and he told us that, they were specifically having this offer to promote Italian fare and to get people to try out the delicacy.

Do try out this place for a leisurely lunch or dinner. The service was prompt and the food was great as was the ambience.

That, was how our weekend was spent. A visit to the beach, a fun lunch, a even more fulfilling family get together in the evening.