Journey to chennai for german visa + Google maps + Airtel – ‘i dont know tamil’ = Turned out to be a better experience

When i told my friends i would be visiting chennai for the visa interview.  i was poured with lots of concerns and information, i was listening keenly considering it was my first time.  I was soo overwhelmed with information, it was like travelling abroad.  On a sunday night i took a bus to chennai.  As i arrived on the next day at 6:00 am in “chennai central”, person at the station was kind enough to converse with me in english conveying his best “You won’t get any hotlel’s left side of the station.” . I had the interview to attend @ 9.00 am stared, as soon as i came out started walking towards right of the station. Came across a huge white colonial building with a huge sign board reading “Corporation of chennai (COC)”.  Beyond the COC the road is known as “Poonamallee Road”, quickly checked into a hotel in that street.

I was ready for the interview by 7.00 am, i just suffered from the “travellers information block” i had to reach “Boat Club Road” by 8.00 am; where the hell is this road now?  Just remebered about Google Maps installed in cell phone.  Opened the maps, it centered automatically in the location i was checked in. i Guess Google Maps uses the Coordinates of the tower my cell is connected with.  searched for German Consulate, clicked on “Get Directions” and mode of transport was “Public Transport”. I was amazed the Chennai’s Local Train timings was displayed in the map.

Chennai Central to German Consulate

I had a train @ 7:20 am from “Chennai Park Town”, asked for directoins to station from  reciptionist.  Once i reached the station took ticket for “Velachery” (8 Rs only, cool).  Train reached 7:21am  sharp in the platform, after boarding the train pulled out the cell and looked at the screen (all along i had maps running, Airtle GPRS was feeding in the data), i could see the “My Location” getting updated as the train rolled along the track.  I could reach the Consulate in time i was there by 7:50am.

I finished my interview, consulate guys asked my to submit a revised Visa fee DD from the VFS guys since the exchange rate between Euros & INR had changed that day.Ccame out of Consulate ITS RAINING,  “wow am looking for more adventures, come on throw them at me” kept running in my mind. this time i did not hesitate to search for Driving directions to “VFS Global, chennai” . Voila !! i was updated with a map.

German Consulate to VFS Global

Took an autorickshaw, managed to convey him the location i need to go.
me:” Cenotaph Road, Gowtami centre Pollam !!”
AutoRickshawdriver:”40 Rs”.
I just hoped he got the place right, since the price was negotiated i didn’t bother how he took me there. once we reached cenotaph road, he asked a passerby or two for “Gowthami Centre”. One of them gave him directions in tamil, it didn’t make any sense to me. Autorickshaw guy started to drive, at the moment i saw “VFS Global board” i told him “nila nila”, paid him and left into the building.  got the DD exchanged and had to go back to consulate.Luckily, The same rickshaw was standing outside waiting for a passenger. he took me back to consulte.

After submiting the DD i had to travel back to “Chennai Central”, yes right back to the hotel. Google to the rescue again:

Consulate to Central

reched Central by local train.  I had a train back to bangalore at 9:30pm, Spent time at the hotel and roamed around the location a bit.

Google Maps + Airtel GPRS in roaming, they just churned out the data i just needed.

Advertisement