[IN; 2019] Solo Series | Chennai

Yes, Chennai! (I never imagine travelling there, so thankful that work brought me there) Sharing some places I went while work-travelling & it was my first time stepping into India!

Accommodation

Hablis Hotel, https://www.hablis.com/;
No.19, GST Rd, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032, India

Clean & spacious room for me to throw all my stuffs around. If you are a first timer to Chennai, please go for the airport transfer (some rooms do have the transfer bundled up at very reasonable prices). The facilities were not the top-notch, but reasonable enough to stay for the couple of nights.

Chennai Streets

There was this morning I wanted to go for a pokemon-go walk, so I explored around the hotel. The weather was nice in August! 

The main big streets were clean!

Big signage which I have no idea what does it means - but they look cool.

Small food stalls randomly around some small streets - it was breakfast time!

This street was next to some bus interchange, plenty of bus zooming past, it was crazy busy.

Small marts along the streets - I do not have any INR with me otherwise I should like to grab some snacks back. Really old school vibe.

Place of Interest - Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple

There was some time before my flight back, so I decided to head to a more localised temple recommended by my Chennai counterparts. It was easy to travel around Chennai with Uber! And what surprises me, Uber actually cares for the safety of women taking private cars, they rolled out this Gender Sensitization Programme for Women Safety with Manas Foundation. This initiative makes drivers to pledge to create safer and equal public spaces for women! I'm lucky to meet an Uber driver that pledges to do so!

The temple is located next to the beach - but such a pity it was raining so I can't stroll along the beaches. Apparently you have to pay an entrance fee entering the temple, but the signage was unclear so I ended up entering for free. But I did repay back by donating more.

The beach from far! 

The temple do have some small stalls selling flowers and books.

So I did read online that you have to remove your shoes before entering the temple, and pay around 10~50INR for shoe safekeeping. Tip: Bring a bag to keep your own shoe. But I forgot about bringing my own bag so I had to use the service with a florist, but she did not mentioned the price and I gave her a token of 20INR (I think!). It was a nice chat with her while waiting for my uber driver to arrive. She even extended help to communicate with the uber driver! May her daughters grow up well and treat her good - amazing women / mum in Chennai!

If you happen to visit the temple, please get some flowers to support her! Or use her shoe safekeeping service! (:

Food 

Had a batch of dessert treats in Chennai - it was super sinful!

And also visited a fine dinning vegetarian restaurant at a highly rated hotel in Chennai - Royal Vega!

Jasmine flowers as welcome gift!

A palace interior design - feels like a royalty for the night!

Royal Vega, https://www.itchotels.in/hotels/chennai/itcgrandchola/dining/royal-vega.html;
ITC Grand Chola Hotel, Little Mount, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032, India

Was greeted with lots of delicious vegetarian dishes, oh my, it was superb duper nice! Highly recommended! It only costed SGD$40/pax for all these royalty like treatment.

Last but not least, snacks I got from the airport! Yummy and nice packaging to give out as gift! I keep telling everyone I want to import these snacks to Singapore!

Timios, https://mytimios.com/

FAQ

1. How was it like travelling India? How was India? (& all similar questions)

A: India was true-to-picture, whatever you see on videos, articles - the country looks the same from those visual materials.

2. Did you felt uncomfortable walking down the streets alone as an Asian female? How safe is India for females?

A: I won't deny - locals were curious. You will receive some stares at you but it wasn't something scary to the extend that will make you run away. Just be natural. Don't wear clothes which are too revealing to get unwanted attention - why not wear some India vibe clothes instead! Take Uber if you feel uncomfortable taking public transport. As mentioned in my post, Uber identify drivers that pledge to create safer and equal public spaces for women. And you can share your Uber trip and being tracked by GPS. (How I wish Uber can have the option to select drivers who have pledged - it will make females feeling more rest assured!)

3. Any tips for travelling India?

A: Whether you are thinking of travelling India as single, couple or group - I will recommend booking 4-5 stars hotel. Book transport via the hotel or Uber app. Eat in places with good reviews, try localised food in bites, you won't want to have a serious upset tummy during the trip (their food contains lots of spices and sugar which may not be suitable for some, so take it slowly),.

4. Travelling India never cross my mind!

A: Why not!? Just try it and you may like it. The locals were friendly with foreigners and I'm sure you will quickly meet nice local to help you somehow.

5. Do they speak English?

A: Yes of course! Though some may not be very skilful in speaking English, but generally happy to speak English with you.