My 1st trip to India.CHENNAI (Madras) to be exact.
Got 'hit' twice by the beggars: on the 1st nite, a kid did approach us. He was with his mom. The 2nd time was when the car was stuck @ the traffic junction,
and this kid pasted his face on my side of the car window, showing some hand gestures begging for $$$ to buy food. The driver stared sternly @ him. The roads is always full of traffic at all hours and very Noisy too! And you'll never bother to attempt crossing the road as a pedestrian. 
The indian version of 'tuk tuk' is called "auto". We felt silly haggling with the driver over INR10 = S$0.30. So, we just paid INR40 for a 10min drive from office to hotel. I mean the hotel was charging us INR320 for the car to chauffeur us from Hotel to office, so INR40 is no big deal. We'd even give tips when we have no small 
notes. The locals say we were spoiling the mkt. :P
The indian version of 'tuk tuk' is called "auto". We felt silly haggling with the driver over INR10 = S$0.30. So, we just paid INR40 for a 10min drive from office to hotel. I mean the hotel was charging us INR320 for the car to chauffeur us from Hotel to office, so INR40 is no big deal. We'd even give tips when we have no small 
notes. The locals say we were spoiling the mkt. :PAfter 3 days of searching, we could find No McDonald's!! No Starbucks!! *Gasp* (We finally asked one of the local 
staff, and got confirmation that these 2 chains do not exist in Chennai). Man, thank goodness i enjoy meals with naan and chapati!! :P Actually, the western restaurants @ the varios hotels serve pretty decent food. :) The Indian desserts are waayyy too sweet!
staff, and got confirmation that these 2 chains do not exist in Chennai). Man, thank goodness i enjoy meals with naan and chapati!! :P Actually, the western restaurants @ the varios hotels serve pretty decent food. :) The Indian desserts are waayyy too sweet!Books are Cheaper in India. Bought several books from Landmark:
- The World is Flat @ S$17 (vs S$26 @ Kinokuniya)
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass @ S$4!
- The Rules of Work @ S$8
- The World is Flat @ S$17 (vs S$26 @ Kinokuniya)
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass @ S$4!
- The Rules of Work @ S$8
Went to the Marina Beach. It's not exactly the kind of white sandy beach that you'd expect at those picturesque beach resorts. We walked past a fishing village from the Mother Mary Shrine to this Indian Temple. The kidz were very excited when they realized that I was taking pictures with my mobile phone. :P
The Spa @ the hotel looked luxurious! Was brought around to tour the spa facilities on the last day of our stay, coz i skipped the meetings and went back to hotel after lunch. I'll make it a point to try it the next time i visit in January. : )
Hope I'll get to visit other parts of this exotic country in the future : )
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