Photo Adventures with Curiosity and Learning

During 1993-1994 academic year, Ellen and I lived in Madras. The Congress party was voted out, the BJP party was voted in and after some time, the name was changed to Chennai.

It is situated on a street - looking to the right

and looking to the left

At the end of the street is a small Hindu temple, with the gate locked

and along the street are all the conveniences - an ironing service

and a tailoring service

Transportation is humorous, unless you are driving. Here is a typical multi-passenger motorcycle

Near Raj's home is the new IT City (Tidal Park)

The road even has marked lanes (I'll try to find a photo of this road before lanes)

There is a new train station to town

There are signs indicating how to get there

There are even signs indicating that the road has been extended around a tree. Chennai's contribution to keeping South India clean and green

Here is the flyover in front of IIT

and here we are driving along one of the roads inside the IIT campus. Note the trees. The temperature within the IIT campus is typically 3 - 5 C cooler than in town (either Chennai or Adyar)

We went to visit Suseela who helped us keep our apartment clean when we were there (1993-1994)

and here is Suseela. She has two daughters, Devi and Radha. Devi is now married with two small children (1 and 2 years old) and Radha is making her own path, with additional education and hard work.

Here is Suseela with one of the neighboring kids

The IIT Fountain - the first time I have seen it spurting water (typically there is such a water shortage that this never gets activated)

This is D-2, where Ellen and I lived for a year

Then outside IIT, the is the typical traffic while driving into Adyar. If you spend any time in India, you will hear continuous horn blowing. This is not an accident. It is encouraged by almost everyone - as seen from the sign on the left side of this water truck. Experience the 2nd Horn Concerto by Sri Rangakrishnan Cacophony. (3.7 MB mpg)

Note the sign to the right - requesting drivers to avoid mobile phones (I suspect that many fall out of cars while driving and because they are so expensive, it is helpful if drivers avoid running over them)

The main stop light in Adyar

Fresh fruit along the street

and new homes where there used to be only thatched huts

C. Frank Starmer

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