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Hey folks - I'm in Chennai, India for a week. Just arrived this evening (early afternoon US time zones). There are motorcycles everywhere! It takes guts to ride one as there are hardly any markers on the pavement and even if there are they seem to be ignored. Given the British legacy, everyone drives on the left side of the way in the direction they're traveling. People honk all the time to make their presence known, especially motorcyclists. Lots of very small CC Japanese bikes, like 100cc's.

Besides business matters, I'm looking forward to seeing how people live here. The city, like the rest of the country, is undergoing a massive economic boom. Exploring the country by motorcycle has got to be an adventure. Hmmmm. That gives me an idea for the future. A GS would be perfect for these environs.

Just wondering...Do they have 7/11's there..Do they have Americans working in them..

DJ

Good one DJ! LMAO

Good to hear from you Yong. Enjoy your visit, and being of Korean descent you probably don't have to be warned of the hot mango with chili pickle stuff they have there.

LOL DJ. But no, I haven't seen any 7-Elevens. I have seen some westerners and a few east Asians. But none of them manning convenience store fronts.

It's cool to be out of the western world for a bit to sample a different culture. I'm eager to try the real native cuisine. Chennai/Madras is right next to the Bay of Bengal, so I'll look forward to at least dipping my foot in the water. I've never seen the Indian Ocean before.

Indians are of course, clammering to rise up out of their historic poverty into the western-style good life. This city evidently is a manufacturing hub as well as a growing port. Many auto manufacturers from the West and Orient have set up factories here. The traffic in Chennai is what you would expect in a crowded 3rd world country. Few traffic marking and the ignoring of what little exist. Cars are tiny and there are a lot of motorcycles buzzing about in a way that makes me nervous given the lack of obvious organization on the road that many of us westerners are used to.

We need a ride report!

wncbmw wrote:We need a ride report!

I forgot to mention - no helmet laws!

I think even the most die hard members of the no-helmet law crowd would think twice before riding around in this traffic without a brain bucket!

And no Vann - as big of a risk taker I can be, I don't think I'll hop on a bike or be a passenger in this kind of traffic. At least not until I get used to how people drive around here which will take longer than the week I have to spend in India this time around.

I take that back, sort of. In Coimbatore later in the week, I will get a chance to ride a motorcycle. Coimbatore is a smaller, less busy city, so it will be less risky to ride there. So I'll try to have pics along with the report! Woo hoo!

that will be awesome! can't wait. did you bring a camera?


edit- duh, i just saw that you are planning pics.