Random thoughts from my vacation...

I have always traveled in Indian Airlines between Chennai and Madurai. They serve you puli satham or keerai satham for lunch! Yuck! And they have hostesses who will remind you of your school teachers! When they greet me near the flight entrance, I will be almost tempted to say “gooodmorneeeeeeng mam” like in school days… Even though it’s barely an hour’s flight time I find it the most boring journey for such obvious reasons. The only thing that will keep me awake is the thought that Iam nearing home.
But it all changed for me this time. I took Jet airways for a change. I was skeptical when I entered the flight because of my previous experience in another private airline- Deccan where they sell food on the plane. Not even water is free. And to top it all I had my ears paining for 12 hours after I landed.
But my jet experience was really pleasant…. Excellent food and a couple of enthusiastic young hostesses who were always smiling… I can’t wait for my next trip to Madurai.


Indian Airlines is now changed to "Indian"......they say they are building a new image..Hmmm...u have to do something better than that guys! send home the teachers on retirement...


I rediscovered that Madurai is the cheapest place for ‘good food’ in the whole world. When we went to Bell Hotel for breakfast, my wife ordered “set Tiffin”.I was wondering what that was ? In a few minutes the waiter brings a platter with an idly, a big scoop of pongal, a cup of kesari, a dosai, an assortment of sambars and colorful chutneys and finally a cup of coffee….all for an unbelievable 25 rupees package! whew!
( I was content with a masala dosai as the first two items in the set Tiffin never agree with me!)


I clicked this pic as I drove past the 'Nel vaniha valaham' thats next to mattuthavani bus stand.It stood fully complete but deserted. The green tiles looked odd against the rest of the color scheme...now a days, every govt building has to have some green to please "amma" (who may not even know that such a building exists).... It has a solar paneled dome –hmmm...something interesting! But why this multi million dollar project is still standing unoccupied is a mystery we have to solve.


At SAP , Prof. Ravi used to talk hours about the influence of politics in buildings. Here is one sorry specimen for him-the High Court at Madurai. This building was started in the DMK regime and completed & opened in the present ADMK regime. The building was initially designed with elements resembling the ‘anna arivalayam’- to please 'Dr.kalaingar'. And, finally colored green to please 'amma'. sigh*...