Staying in Chennai - Tips for first-time visitors

My Personal Travel Notes as a first-time Visitor to Chennai

What was my first impression of Chennai on my very first visit? Well, I was too busy wiping off beads of sweat the minute I exited from the Chennai domestic airport to even register anything! I had been warned that it is sizzling hot during the month of May, but boasted how I loved hot summers and that I could take the heat. So there I was, walking to the car from the airport, already feeling the ‘summer' seeping through my clothes. I have always hated air-conditioned vehicles and prefer to keep the windows down and enjoy the breeze. It was in Chennai that I realized the advantage of an air conditioned car! In fact, I considered myself really really lucky to have my relative's car (with driver)available for my entire stay.

From my personal experience, here are a few simple tips for first-time visitors to tackle the heat:
* Take along an umbrella or wear a cap and don sunglasses each and every time you step out.
* Carry a bottle of water in your handbag. It is totally pointless leaving a bottle of water in the car with the thought of quenching your thirst when you return from your wanderings. When you reach out for that bottle in the car, you will cry out aloud, as within a few minutes of being left in the car the bottle and its contents get sizzling hot!
* Take along sufficient clothes. It gets so hot that your clothes literally STICK to your skin and you will want to change your clothes the minute you return from touring around. This is the case even with simple cotton garments. You are likely to be having two or more baths a day to cool off!
* If the heat is really getting to you while you are walking around, just duck in for a while into the nearest shop for a few minutes. It doesn't matter if you are not planning to buy anything – the staff in every shop is so helpful and kind that they won't be rude to you even if you simply look around the merchandise.
* Eat the local curd rice - it provides a very good cooling effect.

To avoid the heat completely, visit Chennai in late November to early February. They are the cooler months of the year and December is when there are a whole lot of cultural programmes and festivals, some of them free. Also, find out during which months of the year there are likely to be sales and exhibitions. You can pick up some really good bargains for very good quality clothes and handicraft items.

Even if you do visit during the hot months, you can really enjoy yourselves in this city of smiling, helpful people. One problem, though, is that unless you speak the local Tamil language, you will find it difficult to communicate. This is especially the case with the local auto drivers who are determined to fleece you and charge fares not by the meter but as per their own whims. So, if possible, have someone knowing Tamil to accompany you on you when moving around the city.

Have A Nice Trip!

See also:http://vibgyorhopes.blogspot.com/2008/10/chennai-impressions.html