An unplanned visit to Chennai

The alarm rang at 4.00 AM, and the cab was on time when I got ready after having a nice cup of tea in the early morning. Left from home at 4.45AM, as expected reached well before time to bengaluru international airport. There was KIOSK machine, and it was my first time to use that machine, without much problem I checked in for both the flights and got windows seats. I usually prefer aisle seats in international flights but here since the distance is very less I prefer window seats. I came inside to the gate after the security check.

I was thinking of having breakfast in Chennai somewhere near the consulate. But since the morning tea had made me feel very hungry, I went to the Taste of India near the gate, I was shocked to see the Idly and chutney priced 79 exclusive of tax, that comes to about 90 bucks for Idly. Anyways, I was hungry and I had very little choice, so I took idly, it was very tasty and I found it not waste of money. I was happy about one thing that foreigner gets a better taste of India than us inside, because I have never had such a nice idly and chutney inside Bangalore in any hotel.

All were good and by the time I finish my breakfast it was time to board, quickly I was on flight and without much delay the flight took off to Chennai @ 7 as scheduled. No worries till I landed in Chennai.

I know things are going to hit its worse in this place of the world and it started, I took a prepaid taxi by paying 300 bucks to go to German consulate and was shocked to see that the car driver came and took the slip and walked away. I need to rush behind him to find exactly where he has kept his car. Another shock, I see a car seemed to be made of wreckage after accident, a 1920 ambassador; the seats are an impossible year old sofa. I just cursed ma luck. I could have stayed away from prepaid taxi. I advice everyone coming here (I wish you don’t come here, but if at all you come) to avoid this prepaid taxi service (even though I don’t know how other services would be, but I think it cannot go worse than this). It’s totally useless.

He took another fellow along and started to German consulate. I wondered if he would drop me safely. Finally I managed to reach the consulate in that wreckage. I was all very nice in the consulate, very green place, nice surrounding in the boat club road. I think it must be a very posh locality in Chennai, I can see lot of well maintained bungalows nearby, and rich people going on walk in the morning.

I finished my interview before the scheduled time, Again the worry started to come back to the airport. One good thing I did was having breakfast in Bangalore, there was no breakfast or snacks in the flight (wonder if jet airways in running in loss) and no place to eat near the consulate. I could not find a taxi anywhere nearby, so I took an auto, he too is not a kind person; he took here and there and got some receipt from some taxi fellow. When I boarded he said 250, and later after giving the bill he stated, I have to pay 350!!, what the f***, I said, I am not going to come with you. Then he said, “Ok, ok, 250!” what a cultureless a***ole. Somehow I was very irritated with that fellow, and I was cursing my luck to be in that auto when company pays for a luxury taxi. He dropped me about 100 meters away from the departure gate saying that autos are not allowed inside. Somehow I reached the airport. I was thinking I will have some nice lunch and take rest in the airport.

I was at airport at 12.30 and my flight ticket was at 5.30, fortunately they allowed me inside airport, may be because I was already holding the boarding pass as I already checked in the flight in Bangalore. Good, I was saved, because outside the temperature is running 32 degrees plus. There was one burger shop and a Maggie shop if you want to eat and there is nothing else. I had to search to find a place to buy drinking water from. I had a chicken burger and some juice. I could have bought something from Bangalore if I knew this is going to happen to me in Chennai. I did not even have any books to read, so that wait till 5.00 turned out to be the worst waits of my life in that shouting crowd inside the airport. Now writing this note of my trip to kill ma time and anger.

I would never come unplanned for taxi to Chennai ever again; else you will get robbed for terrible service. I wish there should be some taxi service like Meru in Chennai too.