Photo of the day: Pondy Bazaar in Chennai

I suppose I am always a visitor in Madr.., er, Chennai.  Thus, a regular feature of the city that might be nothing to note about for the "locals" could easily be a fascinating item for this "non-native" ... In fact, increasingly, I recognize this issue of me looking like a native but thinking like a non-native.  A strange kind of double-life, eh!

One of those regular features of the city is Chennai's "T Nagar", which has become the retail commercial headquarters for the metropolis.  I heard more than one relative refer to this area as Chennai's downtown.  To walk around in the evening hours on any of those main roads is a an intense experience for the senses--eyes, ears, nose, touch, and taste if one indulges in any.  (Yes, walking on the roads because the sidewalks are full of vendors and the foot-traffic.)

The photo here is the series of stalls where they sell flower garlands.  An island of fantastic floral smells that suddenly masks all the pervasive odors.