[aabidansari]

Count me in for the next drive. Ofcourse I shall bring family along as always.....

[hserus]

Originally Posted by RSUDARSANAN

Not sure if +3 meant family or friends. If not the latter, bring family.

Our drive meets are a genial mix of family, couples and singles.

Wife and two kids. The only consideration is that my daughters school reopens on the 5th so I don't want to tire her out the day before

[Rags Rocks]

Now that all the year end trips are done and the whole world is back to its desk, Can we start discussion on any mini meet / mega meet / lunch outing / day drives / overnight stay for Chennai BHPians..

[hserus]

Do go ahead. I couldn't make chittoor - and knowing how [censored] the highway upto chittoor is, mostly 2 lane and bumpy, from chennai, I am half glad actually.

Can we go to pondy this time - http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Revi...ndicherry.html

[tilt]

Originally Posted by hserus

Do go ahead. I couldn't make chittoor - and knowing how [censored] the highway upto chittoor is, mostly 2 lane and bumpy, from chennai, I am half glad actually.

Can we go to pondy this time - http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Revi...ndicherry.html

Er... I do BLR-MAA on the Chittoor route around once a month, and my opinion of that route is a little different from yours.

The highway from Poonamallee to the Walajahpet turn-off (the multi-lane GQ portion) is indeed terrible and absolutely miserable to drive on. But, once you make that turn into Walajahpet, though it is a two-laner, the surface is not as bad as you think it is.

There is one slightly bumpy portion just before the railway crossing, and the rest is pretty good to drive on.

Now, if you're talking traffic, I might agree with you - there is much more traffic on that route than on the GQ, but in my case that's what makes the drive more fun for me - overtaking all those vehicles and driving as fast as I can.

Is it possible that it has been some time since you drove on that route, hserus?

Cheers

[hserus]

The only time I've driven on that road is upto the Thirumazhisai temple (and well before that, to my office in the DLF IT park).

It is bumpy and crowded till then - and anyway I have a personal rule not to take my car over 80 on a highway, regardless of whether its 4 laned and absolutely smooth and empty. So, I have little or no appetite for that route, thank you

ps: I have taken buses up and down that route before, and always ended up with a backache, compared to those that ply on the GQ. Still don't find much cause to revise my opinion of that route. I am sure there are stretches there that are less worse than upto wallajahpet.

[hyper-VTEC]

Guys, can we meet 17th January morning. Since 15th is Pongal, i believe lot of people will be busy on that day. Anywhere around south Chennai? Or CCD Mahabs?

[hserus]

Lets do pondy? A slightly longer drive than just mahabs. Or maybe muttukadu on the ecr as there's boating there

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by hserus

Lets do pondy? A slightly longer drive than just mahabs. Or maybe muttukadu on the ecr as there's boating there

I am ready for Muttukadu ( not that I want to do boating in this hot sun). Count me in for this meet.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by Prowler

I am ready for Muttukadu ( not that I want to do boating in this hot sun). Count me in for this meet.

It is actually quite cool on the water, believe it or not. Worth a try, I would say. For food, some options -

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Restaurant...amil_Nadu.html (literally farm fresh ingredients)

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Restaurant...amil_Nadu.html (excellent mediterranean style)

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Restaurant...amil_Nadu.html (iranian food)

These are none too cheap - if people want cheaper alternatives there's hot chips, a2b etc aplenty around the area.

[hyper-VTEC]

Originally Posted by hserus

Lets do pondy? A slightly longer drive than just mahabs. Or maybe muttukadu on the ecr as there's boating there

Pondy will be long one for a day drive (for me). Muttukadu should be fine. I am in.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by hserus

It is actually quite cool on the water, believe it or not. Worth a try, I would say. For food, some options -

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Restaurant...amil_Nadu.html (literally farm fresh ingredients)

Thanks Hserus. I have heard a lot about the Farm but never been there yet. You sound like a Foodie. Even when it came to the Shastrinagar Speed garage, you gave the option of nearby restaurants. We must meet surely.

I am in Besant nagar and always complain that Madras doesn't have many options for food - Veg or Non-veg.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by Prowler

Thanks Hserus. I have heard a lot about the Farm but never been there yet. You sound like a Foodie. Even when it came to the Shastrinagar Speed garage, you gave the option of nearby restaurants. We must meet surely.

I am in Besant nagar and always complain that Madras doesn't have many options for food - Veg or Non-veg.

I live in Indira Nagar so those two places I recommended in the speed motors thread are walking distance from my house, and they're where I grab food on the occasions that I have to eat out.

As for the Muttukadu restaurants - tripadvisor is a great place to find good ones. I've only driven past there, I don't think I ate anywhere nearby though, just got home for lunch. And yes, I am a foodie.

If you want non veg food near besant nagar, come down to Adyar - Maqs Barbecue and Biryani opposite the HDFC bank (just past the adyar depot / periyapalayathamman temple) serves authentic hyderabadi biryani. I know for sure it is authentic because I spent over 15 years in Hyderabad. Also, Hotel Topsee next to the Adyar Depot bus stop has pretty decent kerala style non veg, including a "special biryani" that is essentially made with chicken 65 pieces.

And then (all these are near my office) - right next to the Music Academy, on the road that runs next to its side wall going towards Royapettah (go straight forward at the TTK Road / Cathedral Road signal), there's this joint called "Kalpaka" that serves the best kerala style non veg including beef porotta. Excellent and cheap (rs.80 or 90 last time I ate there) veg meals too. Near there (in the right that goes towards Gopalapuram) is Bay Leaf which serves bengali and lucknowi style food.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by hserus

I live in Indira Nagar so those two places I recommended in the speed motors thread are walking distance from my house, and they're where I grab food on the occasions that I have to eat out.


If you want non veg food near besant nagar, come down to Adyar - Maqs Barbecue and Biryani opposite the HDFC bank (just past the adyar depot / periyapalayathamman temple) serves authentic hyderabadi biryani. I know for sure it is authentic because I spent over 15 years in Hyderabad. Also, Hotel Topsee next to the Adyar Depot bus stop has pretty decent kerala style non veg, including a "special biryani" that is essentially made with chicken 65 pieces.

Thanks again. I will try these joints this week itself.

[srinath.s]

Guys, if you're planning a meet, please make sure the place is not very expensive, so that it's within the reach of most. Around Rs. 500 per head should be ideal.