Snapshots from Chennai

Last month, the whole fam took off for a mini-break to Chennai to see my parents. It was all a little last-minute. The kids had holidays, I had a relatively free couple of days, and so I just turned to K and said we should take off.

And just like that we did, and had the most fabulous time. Now, I go to Chennai more for bonding with the family and stuffing myself with my mom’s delicious cooking. But the kids get somewhat restless and so I have to take them a little around town.

Since we have been to Chennai several times before, there’s usually nothing new to see. We tend to do the regular rounds – shopping at T.Nagar, or Phoenix mall. A visit to the Crocodile Park is mandatory, and maybe dinner at one of the many eating joints that are popping up all over Besant Nagar in Chennai. So, most trips are same ole, same ole.

This time however, there was one new attraction – a new aquarium had opened up on East Coast Road, and it was rumored to have sharks. So, of course we had to go 🙂 .

VGP Marine Kingdom is a great place to spend a pleasant couple of hours. It’s quite a small aquarium, but it’s well maintained, reasonably priced (buy tickets online, it’s much cheaper than the venue), and most importantly cool inside.

And yes, there were sharks. I tried desperately to embed my Insta video here, but stupid WordPress is playing tricks with me. Click this link to see a black tipped shark swimming peacefully. The aquarium has an underwater tunnel, and Piglet was in absolute bliss never having experienced something like this before.

Apart from the aquarium, we also did our usual run of driving up to Radisson Blu resort in Mahabalipuram to spend a day at the pool and beach.

It was such a beautiful sunny day!

These two are currently at the super lovey-dovey stage, and I love photographing the two of them together. All their earlier competitiveness and petty jealousies are gone, they are just best friends. I really want this stage to go on for as long as possible.

We also did a fair amount of shopping. Snubnose is now at the awkward age where children’s clothing no longer fit her, adult clothes just look too adult, and it’s so bloody hard finding comfortable casuals in her size.

I find the H&M store in Phoenix Market City in Chennai simply amazing. Simple track pants, leggings, T-shirts, and sweatshirts available in her size. I just scooped up a whole bunch of basics to stock up. I wish the Bangalore H&M was better, but they seem to stock only party style clothes and everything is sequinned and/or glittery, or cheap poly blends.

We also got some Indian formals for Diwali.

All-in-all, it was a pretty eye-wateringly expensive trip to Chennai. So much fun though!