Chennai Traffic going to Pondy Bazaar

I have previously mentiond that the traffic is one of the first things you can't help but notice in Chennai. I found this video on youtube that is pretty typical of an auto rickshaw trip in moderate traffic, much like Char's commute to school every day. Of course, video is nothing like being in it with horns blaring all around you and the occasional cow or 2 wheeler (motorcyle) coming at you the wrong way. Bear in mind also if there are lines on the road, they are totally ignored with people darting into the tiniest openings. Note the women often ride sidesaddle and miraculously manage to stay on their perch most of the time. It's amazing what we see on the small motorcyles. There are often 4 or even 5 family members on one bike, with the next to youngest on the tank, holding onto the mirrors and the baby squished between her mother and sister, sound asleep.  We also see motorcyle drivers or passengers carrying all sort of objects from TV's to ladders.  When it rains, the passenger is often holding and umbrella over their heads.  A lot of chickens also get delivered, dead or alive, to market hanging and stacked on all sides of a 2 wheeler.
The amazing thing is that it all works somehow, flowing along most of the time about 20-25 MPH, faster on the better arterials. The #1 rule I have learned is, don't look back, grab every inch of space you can and just keep moving.
By the way Char and I both wear helmets!

Diwali and a near miss by Cyclone Jal

We first started hearing the fireworks a week ago, and I don't mean the little firecrackers and sparklers we see in the states.  These were M-80's and major pyrotechnics that you see at organized fireworks shows that anyone could buy at the many fireworks stands that had sprung up on the streets.  People were gearing up for Diwali.  By the 4th day of the holiday the firecrackers were nonstop all day starting at 5:30 AM.  When night fell on the city, it literally exploded with people setting off major fireworks from every street and rooftop in this city of millions.  The next day and night were a repeat, but incredibly even more intense.  We began to get a sense of what it must be like to be in a city under siege. 

Of the many Indian holidays Diwali is probably the most celebrated in South India.  People take the day off and visit family, exchange presents and light clay candles around the house.  Diwali marks the start of the Indian lunar calender new year and it also celebrates the return of the legendary prince Rama to Ayodhya.  His story is one of many that is interwoven into the Hindu religion.  Char and I are currently reading a recently rewritten version of the Ramayana (Rama's story) by Ashok Banker, which is a great read, very much like reading a Tolkien story, complete with monsters, gurus and witches.  Be warned though, the whole story occupies 6 volumes.

After the 5th day when the fireworks had finally died down to a trickle we heard of Cyclone Jal which was heading straight for Chennai.  Fortunately by the time it hit it had lost most of it's strength so not much happened here other than a few broken branches and some fairly heavy rains.  But this morning is beautiful, even cool (75F), cool for here that is!  The other good thing to come of the storm is they cancelled school, anticipating the worse, so Char gets the day off!