Mrack's Summer: June 2011

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Last Day in Chennai

For our last day in Chennai Chandra and I had a huge to do list. I wanted to get gifts for people, get a sari, mehndi done, and that night we were meeting up with Chandra’s friends for a last meal before I left. We powered through the day and got everything done!! First we went to a jewelry store to get bangles for my sister and mom. I ended up finding the perfect bangle for my sister and mom J they loved them!!

After jewelry shopping we headed out to the fruit shop for a milk shake break. We had Jug Heads which are sooo good, and then headed out to buy a Sari. We had a hard time finding a Sari that I liked. But then we saw some women who looked like they knew what they were doing. We followed them around a little and ended up finding one that they turned down and I liked. We then realized I needed to find a top that went with it we went to two different stores but then found one that matched and fit.

After Sari shopping we took a lunch break. We went to Saravana Bhavan which is a chain restaurant that we had went to in NYC. At Saravana Bhavan we got my favorite Masala Dosas. After having lunch we went to a sweet shop called adyar anandabhavan to sample some sweets and decide on what I wanted to bring home to my family to try. We ended up deciding on Gulab Jamun which I call soggy donuts, a cashew sweet called Kaju Katli, a buttery shortbread called Mysore Pak, and a wafery sweet called Son Papdi. My family had a lot of fun trying out the sweets.

After picking out the sweets we went to a hair salon so I could get mehndi done before I left. It was an interesting experience. We had to wait forever for them to be ready. Chandra and I joked it was because they were looking up how to do mehndi online, which after I got it done we were fairly certain they had no idea what they were doing. It took them a very long time to prepare and then to actually do it. I decided to get black mehndi and thought that it would look good and last longer. They said it would last a month but it started to wear off a few days later. It was defiantly an experience J and I decided I am going to have a mehndi party at my apartment when I get back.

The sign of the pizza place

Chandra and I outside of the Pizza place :) Being tourists :)

Sri :)

Sak and Gautam

All of us! My last meal in Chennai

Me being a giant with Chandra's Aunt

Flight to Chennai

Chandra and I had an early morning flight back to Chennai. Chandra’s mom woke up with us and cooked us breakfast. I ended up getting sick while I was in Bombay so I was let off the hook and got to have toast with jam for breakfast J. Chandra’s whole family went out of their way to take care of me while I was sick and make sure I was okay. Uma also woke up to say a final good bye. It was sad to leave Bombay, Chandra and I had a wonderful time with his family and getting to know the city!

Chandra and I took a taxi back to the airport. We had too much luggage so my suitcase went on the roof. I got crazy bug bites while we were in Bombay and could not stop inching them so I took anti itch medication which knocked me out for the whole flight and the ride back to Chandra’s house in Chennai!!

Last Day in Bombay

For our last day in Bombay Chandra’s mom made us Masala Dosas for breakfast! Chandra told her how much I loved them so she decided to make us homemade ones. It was really nice of Chandra’s mom and fun to eat for breakfast.

After eating breakfast with Chandra and Uma we hung out around the house and then got ready and went to the mall. At the mall Chandra and Uma helped me pick out some outfits to try on. It was nice to have help picking things out and getting their opinions. I ended up deciding on an outfit Chandra picked out.

After shopping Chandra Uma and I headed to Indigo a really cute restaurant with amazing food. Chandra and Uma ordered omelets and I ordered a ruben. The food was incredible! The ruben was the best I have ever had!!

After eating Chandra Uma and I headed back to their place. Chandra and I went to the Hard Rock Café for drinks. Uma met up with us later that night to eat. We had nachos and mac and cheese but it wasn’t very good. Our waiter was also really strange. He kept hanging out on the back of our booth and talked us into getting way more food then we needed. It was fun to see what the Hard Rock Café was like in Bombay, it was way cooler then the ones I have been to the in the States. It was also really nice to have our last meal with Uma. I had a lot of fun getting to know Uma during our time in Bombay. She went out of her way to make sure we had a lot of fun.