Traffic

Saw this cover story in the latest Businessweek. The article was jointly written by a person in the USA and one in Mumbai, about Bangalore. So, I am sure there will be debates on the post.

After my recent experience in India, I have started proof reading my posts. Just to make sure that anything that I write that has even a slight tinge of negativity is explained fully in context!

While I was in India, I had mentioned the traffic jam caused by a dead body procession during peak time (5:30 PM!). Had also promised the video clip as part of a long video of the entire India experience. Have to disappoint the readers on that mega video. I recently changed jobs and it has been a very busy month. Posting photoblogs takes only a few minutes but editing 60 or so video clips and making a mini movie is a time consuming exercise. Hope it will happen sometime next month!

So here is the video of the traffic jam by itself:

I wanted to post this because, we typically blame Politician's motorcades, public utilities digging up roads or religious gatherings for Traffic problems. This is a tricky one though! You have to get the dead body out and it has to be at a certain time (after consulting the stars etc.) and the guys have to carry it on their shoulders! That means they need a pedestrian route that does not impact traffic!!

There is a pedestrian walkway on either side of this subway, but it is not wide enough for four guys carrying a body. Guess this is one thing the city planning guys have to take into consideration as part of their overpass (flyover) building strategy!!

Normally, I would have been very pissed off with the whole proceedings, while sitting in that auto, were it not for Jr.'s questions for which I didnt have any answers!

Tasty treats..

One of the highlights of visiting West Mambalam was the local Idiappam (which we call Sevai).

The sevai is sold in front of a house in Station road. People just stop by on their way home from work and eat (or take home). The roadside stall opens at 4 and closes as soon as it gets dark.

For 15 rupees you get a box of plain Sevai (incidentally this is the same aluminum container in which the airlines serve their main course!). For 18 rupees you get coconut and lemon flavoured sevai.

They also sell Kozhukkattai (sweet dumplings)..

The sevai is freshly made and is yummmmmy as can be. I was dreaming of the sevai on my return flight, when I saw that container..Why couldn't I have had Sevai on the in-flight menu ? What if that dude started a branch where we live ? He could call it "Drive by Sevai".. etc. etc.

hmmmmmmmmm...yummmmmmmmy..just thinking about it makes my mouth water again!