For anyone who is in need of traversing the spinal cord of Chennai, the suburban electric units are the way to travel. Ripping past the toughest traffic -epicenters of the city and the suburbs, these trains can take you to the terminals from where you can efficiently shift to different modes of transport. As a matter of fact, I am writing this post, sitting in one of them, comfortably beside the window.

These trains cover a wide area encompassing different zones. From Melmaruvathur in the South to Arakkonam in the West, and from Sulurpeta in the North (it’s not even in Tamil Nadu) and Velacherry in the East. The important stations include Chengalpattu, Tambaram, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Beach, Chennai Central and Thirumalpur. It’s one of the best-networked and best-maintained suburban railway systems in the country, and but for the trains, the entire world. Many of you might not even be aware that the second railway line in India was opened in this circle, from Royapuram to Arakkonam.

Until six years before, the Chennai network was full of meter-gauge trains that had been in service even before Independence. In the time they were decommissioned, they were the only active meter-gauge units in the world. No wonder, it has been the flagship of Southern Railways, almost like how the Concorde was to the British Airways.

Now the entire circuit operates on broad-gauge, much to the disappointment of the ‘fans’ of the meter-gauge unit. I could not believe when people were clicking photographs and wearing black dresses on the day of its decommissioning. However, broad-gauge trains proved to be an efficient option because of its capacity, and universality in usage.

There are level-crossings (yes… sad) that lay across the hottest highways in here, and there are times when people feel, if the railways weren’t there, things would be so much easier. It is true to a good extent. So many constructive projects can e completed in Chennai if the crucial piece of land had no rail tracks. But if the trains stop for one day, I will not be exaggerating if I say that the life in Chennai will almost come to a standstill.

The Railway stations and the rail lines are important landmarks in Chennai. Most of the areas in Chennai that are bifurcated as East and West, like Tambaram and Mambalam, is with respect to these railway lines and stations. It was an important factor in influencing industries and commerce, and even to this day, the proximity to a railhead determines the popularity of a business. No wonder, Chennai Beach and Velacherry are preferred office locations and Ranganathan Street near Mambalam Railway station still continues to be an undisputed choice of the middle class, and the rural population that comes to Chennai for shopping.

Electric unit trains will continue to be a preferred mode of transport for office goers, students and people commuting from suburban locations. And as long as these classes of people continue to use them, there is always a green-signal for Chennai to see drastic improvements in the railways system, like the upcoming metro rail project.

Who cares? I was gonna  be with my parents all through the trip, and I did not need an interpreter for any communication whatsoever. Certain sign languages are universal to the entire nation, irrespective of the region or the language background. Like showing a finger…. No no, I do not mean the middle one, but the pinkie. So, based on these thoughts of survival instincts, I was comforting myself.

I reached Agra Cantt. and to my surprise, I discovered that Hindi, or North India as a whole, was not just a different language or a region; it is a different way of life. No more idly and dosas in roadside shops, just rotis all around. Everything around there, from the way they treat their kids, to the way they behave socially.

But I had better things eclipsing this fear. Bill Clinton, on this visit to India, said, “The world can be divided in to two classes of people:  Those who have seen Taj Mahal, and the ones who have not seen it.” So my priority now was to visit the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. We had arranged for our own mode of transport there, and if you have your own car or van, you still have all the fun, without being intrigued by some Hindi-speaking specimens (no offence meant).

Taj Mahal’s walls have been brilliantly constructed – you can never get a peek view of the monument from outside; I doubt if Mumtaz Mahal would have been so shy even when she was alive. The way to the Mahal is through the streets, with a local flavor of the town, which would have been nothing but for the Taj Mahal. But this white-marbled wonder does not fail to leave anyone wide-eyed.

Once you enter, you are teleported to Utopia, but for the humans around. The domes, the minarets, and the River Yamuna that winds through the back yard of the Mahal, add more and more romantic flavor to the place. The waters in the front-lying fountains, the landscaping and the meadows look as if they have been given a privilege to be flanking this eternally-living, dead lady. It’s every couple’s dream to have their photograph, with the Mahal in the background. No wonder, this has been a favorite location for many a director, in Indian movies.

The Agra Fort – I always loved the moat around forts. The Vellore fort has a fantastic moat around it, and it sure looks like a security measure. However, the Agra Fort had a moat too, that looked like an abandoned ditch of the Moghal Era, which was still used as a contingency measure for local drainage. And this put me off, big time. I entered the fort with disinterest, and so I can assure you that the fort was surely more interesting than what I thought it was. I have only a vague memory of what I say in the fort, but I still remember the place where Shah Jahan was imprisoned, and the place where a diamond was said to have been hidden beneath the wall, and the spot from where a mirror exactly reflects the Taj Mahal.

Fatehpur Sikri – I’ve never heard the name of the place before. I thought it was another monument in the vicinity. I came to know that it was a totally different place altogether, scripted with its own history in its own language of flair. The hype that was created about this place, on the way there, was more than enough to get me visualizing the place. I reached there to see a place more grand than the Mahal or the Fort. I still feel that Fatehpur Sikri is like Ringo Starr’s drumming – clean, classic, simple, orderly, no unwanted protrusions, systematic, blending, and in spite of all this, brutally under-rated.

The fort speaks of the Moghals’ prowess in construction. It is not a box-office block buster, but a critically acclaimed masterpiece, a class apart from the rest. The tombs, the mosques, the giant Dharwaza and everything around them, have been brilliantly constructed. The very fact that the architecture here is an inspiration to so many interior designers and architects around here, is a resounding testimony of its distinction.

Jaipur – the pink city they say. I did not know much about this place, and every other building looked similar to me. In spite of this monotony, there were to things that reflected the photons that stimulated my visual senses: Jantar Mantar, and the camels. I was fond of science – every child, at least for once in a life time, has an ambition to become an astronaut or a fighter pilot, and I chose the former first. And an observatory built some 400 years before, even now, leaves me with a mouth gulp. That was the first time I saw a shadow visibly move because of the sun’s position. The sun dial, being the largest in the world, will surely leave people awe-struck as long as time prevails, both literally and figuratively.  I had seen camels only in books until then. Man! That creature is bigger than I thought. I still remember the first camel ride I enjoyed.

Digressing a little bit, I also would like to talk about their local transport, known as the PutPut (sounding so similar to the ‘TukTuk’ in SouthEast Asia. It looked like an under-evolved from of auto-rickshaws, crudely shaped, slow speed, minimal comfort and a great seating capacity. In short, it is built for a bill.

Delhi – the National Capital Territory. It is an integral part of our history books, and perhaps one of the first general knowledge questions an Indian child learns. We reached Delhi cantt., and one would not be faulty of the beauty and the landscaping of the city was underestimated by the looks of the station. Delhi is a great and a wholesome tourist destination. There are theme parks, historic places, pilgrimage attractions, shopping malls, roadside joints, signature shopping and food, amusement parks, memorials… (okay, no hill stations and water bodies). We arrived at Delhi and the first item on the agenda was Appu Ghar, a theme park based on the Asian Games mascot.

It was a bit more than the theme parks that I had discussed earlier: I was going with my parents and not my uncle. The theme park was vast and the rides were set so apart from each other that, in the evening climate, changing rides would mean a pleasant walk. After a few nice rides in the dashing car and the cup and saucer, we returned to our accommodation.  The next day was totally around history and civics. We were in the Parliament house for some time, and after that came the unforgettable, and absolutely fantabulous pani puri, that was bing sold by some old man in the lawns. The biggest mistake that we did for the day was, to plan to visit the Rajghat on Gandhi Jayanti. But I did not care for Gandhi..not for Jayanti either.

We boarded the city tour bus and started on traveling to the so-called attractions of Delhi – I remember Jama Masjid and the Supreme Court were there in the list. The bus came to halt at the railway station, and we boarded the Tamil Nadu Express bound for Chennai. I couldn’t believe that I survived in a land of language unknown, for more than a week – memorable experience that I will never be able to get again. I mean it, because, now, I know Hindi. Thanks to the two years’ Hyderabad experience, Loveena, Shimona and Joe, who were instrumental in making me learn Hindi, and I spare the details here.

I must dedicate this paragraph to tell you about the perils of not knowing a regional language. Which side I mean, you decide at the end. I was sitting on a window seat in my bus, and there were glass windows, that the open space had to be partitioned between me and the person in the seat beside me. Those people were s engaged in Antakshari, so I pushed the window glass away from me, so I get a wider frame. Minutes after it happened, the people behind got an enlightenment that the window was pushed. So they turned to me, and opened an incessant fire of ‘Gaali’s, that lasted for some five minutes. Fully aware that my image was totally damaged, and panting for breath, he was staring at me. I shot him back in the best Hindi I knew: Mujhe Hindi Nahin Maalum.

The train was supposed to leave at 2215 hrs. We were all in the platform having our dinner, waiting for the train to arrive. I was so used to the meter-gauge units between Chengalpattu (that’s my hometown) and Chennai Beach, and that was the only image of a ‘train’ that I had. I was expecting something of that standard, it a but wider form, because it was broad-gauge.

I was so astonished to see hideous red monsters of bogeys approaching. We were traveling only be Second Sleeper Class, and it was so nice to see bunker-beds-kind-of set up of berths. I will surely say that, one who designed the berths of these coaches, is a real genius when it comes to space-optimization. I got in to the train, and I secured my from-then-until-now favorite side-lower berth. I got my first glimpse of the industrial face of North Chennai – The Manali Refinery, The Ennore Power Plant and The Royal Enfield motors.

The next morning, I woke up in Andhra Pradesh, just after crossing Krishna River (that bag-bang sound was too loud for me to sleep), enjoying everything that was happening around. However, the happiness was short-lived when I was victimized by the morning loo-rush. Once bitten, twice shy they say. I was an early bird from the next day on.

The entire journey was as if I was living on wheels, the dynamic backdrop against the windows, were too cool for the first time. Having enthusiastic people around was adding tabasco to my Virgin Mary. Jumping from bay to bay like trapeze artistes, and imitating the vendors selling ‘Chai… garma garam chai’, ‘kaapi kaapi… les kaapi’ and ‘aaaiees krame’ and making weird noises when crossing tunnels.

Silver-foil packaged lunches -  they looked as if some alien spaceship landed a few packs of those, on the platforms. However, after tasting them, I understood the meaning of the proverb: never a judge a book by its cover. But it was a nice break, and a bitter way to learn that mom’s food tastes the best in the world. Even if the lunch/dinner is pathetic,  the cutlets and samosas that grace the coaches from the pantry, do a great job in buffering the effect, and there is a Vijayawada/Itarsi for every breakfast or lunch or dinner.

Books, walkman, games and talking to the person next, are good time-passes, especially when you and the person next to you have something niche, yet common, to talk about. I was, then, talking to one stranger about how I don’t know any Hindi, and I was going to Delhi. Even of any of these three do not work, just stare out of the window, and you will surely cherish those frames for the rest of your life.

The pandemonium created when people go to sleep, is funny to watch if it happens to someone else, and a pain whe it happens to you. I still can’t figure out what is the difference between the upper berths on either sides. Funny isn’t it? People are ready to die for a berth.

This is actually about the journey, and the journey alone. I will surely write about my trip to the north, in the lands of unknown language, in my subsequent post.

A cocktail of all these, with spicy side-dishes like mom and dad’s controls, panic while using the vestibule, haunting by eunuchs, and so many other things, made the train journey a very memorable one. The first-time of everything is memorable. The rhythm of the wheels adds timing to the spectrum of thoughts. Trains make you feel so much at home; maybe you don’t have the TV, but there are motion pictures on every window, and it’s an ethnic fashion parade in the bogeys, or a step higher if you have  a college party. Couckes that mildly swing to-and-fro, to give a cradle effect, and the breezr that kisses your face when you are on the window. What more do you need to make your journey memorable? Just another bunch of fellow-travelers who can factor all the other auxilary fun, and for me it’s both my family and friends.

Ever since then, the train, and the second class sleeper, in particular, has been my favorite mode of transport.

Now to give a briefing about this MGM Dizzee world, it was the newest theme park then and the reviews for the theme park was such the it was better than any other theme park in the locales. Also, it was then a new concept to make a bulk payment at the gates and enjoy every ride more than once. All these features made MGM Dizzee World, the cynosure of every eye that seeks a theme park.

That morning was so full of excitement since I was doing things that I have never done before-packing for a picnic. Petty essentials like hand towels, chips, biscuits, some cassettes and my personal cassette player (those were the days when CDs were in its infancy), and water bottles. The total cost of the tour was Rs. 150 plus the cash of Rs. 100 I carried in my hands (can you believe it!)

We came and assembled in our school’s main lobby and there were a few teachers who were to guide us through the rides. We boarded some odd-looking bus and luckily, the vehicle had an audio system. We spent nice time in the bus dancing and singing along. All this was very new to me since until then, all what I saw about those teachers was their hands longing to lay their wooden scales on some student who would fail to write the date on the top left-hand corner of the page.

The bus finally reached its destination-a very strange looking entrance with some themed mascot for the entire park. This was all new to us since Dizzee world was mistaken to be some innocent minds to be Disney World, and that was the only park we knew to have mascots.

We entered the park with  overloaded exceitemet and lots of expectations out of the first picnic that (at least) I was going on, without my parents. It was too good to believe but true. After an hour-long wait, we cleared the security checks and finally, with a wrist band, we went in to the park. We were greeted by the weirdest of the rides and everyone’s legs could not resist hopping to get into them. Thanks to those good-old school rules like queue, height order, and all that stuff, I had a tough time getting into the ride which was a kind of a cup and saucer rotating over an inclined circular plane.

However, the visions started taking a conventional curve as we went deeper inside the park-lots of usual rides. The few things that stood out were The Rainbow-A seating bay at one end that made a dozen circles, The Ranger-A ride that takes you almost upside down and hs nice swings, the Roller-Coster- the first of our kind in our locales, and best of all, the video games which were with never-before seen degrees of graphics and animation and controls.

I will be missing a vital part of this trip if I fail to describe about the lunch we had. Generally, in school, we then did not have the habit of sharing lunches. But in this tour, I was surprised to see students whom I thought to be the introverts of the first order, were ready to break out and freak out, taking part in all the fun and even proactively taking part in making good fun of students and teachers alike.

I know far a fact that this was a totally different experience of a tour from whatever I had gone until now. Here are afew factors that made it different:

1) The first time I was traveling with out my parents. There was a sense of fear but also a great extent of freedom, even with teachers around us. It was anice learning experience.

2) Friends make great tour companions irrespective of how close you are to them. They’ll be ready to understand your excitement and cravings from your point of view.

3) Tour starts the very moment you start traveling out of home. There is an air of change in everyone and everything. You can sing an dance on the way, and even if you can’t, just enjoy the nature on the way.

4) Video games are great temptations. They can get you in to a different world which you never even imagined you can be in.

5) Theme parks are not great destinations to be a part of a long-tour agenda but definitely, a nice place to have a day out from your strenuous schedule. (Please remember, I mean it even when I was in my 5th grade).

With these take-aways, I came home with a sense of having had a pleasurable experience-of having had an experience that will be a factor that would influence my future tours without my parents.

The first destination was Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram is a nice place to chill out in the cool tropical water, if you are looking to get away from Chennai City’s crowd. It is an hour’s drive fron the city and well connected by buses that ply the scenic East Coast Road – Chennai’s very own beach driveway, and also buses that take the Chengalpattu, Thirukkazhukkundram route.  If you wish to taste rural India, the latter is better, and that was the one which we took. A single-lane road that winds through a lush of green paddy and sugarcane fields, dark-blue mountains and some villages that show a tinge of human inhabitance – these are the typical features of the route. 

Mahabalipuram welcomes you with ruins of this once-great Pallava trade center, that lie in the outskirts of the town. However, the town is not all about that. There are so-called roadside hotels that look like mere cottages but can serve you with almost authentic continental food. A vast stretch of shops along the road to the beach sell almost anything from locally-made toffees to digital cameras. 

The shore temples are another attraction in there. The architectural intricacy is the only factor, apart from its position, that makes these temples so famous as to be featured in the Tamil Nadu Tourism Logo and Indian Government postage stamps and also to be declared as a UNESCO heritage site. 

The beach is not so crowded and is ideal for families who are looking for a day out. Though there are warning boards that swimming is dangerous, I do not find the waves worth it. There are a few shops on the sands that sell fried fishes, boiled spicy peas and a few other local delicacies.

The Rathas (chariots) stand as a testimony to the Pallavas’ mastery over art and architecture. All the five rathas were carved out of a single boulder. There are a lot of other sculptures around the rathas strewn around and are worth a watch. Mahabalipuram is a must-to-be in the agenda if you are touring Chennai or Kancheepuram or Pondicherry. 

The crocodile farm is nothing beyond the name but the name does carry much with it. The crocodile farm houses almost every variety of crocodile in this planet – even the Giant Salt water croc of the Pacific. You rarely see them move-you can see occasional movement of jaws and suddenly a huge sea lizard ambling towards the other end of the man-made marsh.  The best attraction in the whole sanctuary was the King Cobra-one of the rarest reptiles to be caged. This majestic cobra can raise its hood to as high as two feet and is one of the deadliest of its kind. 

The Muttukkadu boat house is one of the best maintained boat houses in Tamil Nadu with a fleet of over a 100 boats including row boats, pedal boats, motor and hi-speed boats. Muttukkadu is one of the most scenic backwaters on the east coast and the boat ride takes you to the most pictueresque spots in there.

The VGP Golden Beach, once the best amusement park in the state, was every child’ dream destination. Thanks to all that hype created by the ads then, I was, in no, way an exception. My joy knew no frontiers when I saw all those huge merry go rounds, giant wheels and bumping cars. I know I am sounding too childish but that was what I was then. After enjoying all these rides, we went to take a dip in the beach that is, as the name suggests, a part of the amusement park.

After all this fun for the day, I had a sumptuous dinner and left home – with the found memories of the first so-called picnic. I did not learn much but one great thing – it is a great thing to see new places and travelling, since then traveling is one of my greatest passions until date.