Living in a hostel nestled in a chain of mountains is a dream come true. During the fog-filled mornings, the next building is hardly visible and jumping-out-of-your-bed every morning is unpopular in this scenic region. I am referring to the beautiful campus of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore where I completed two years of my studies in 1994. It was a great life. The biggest worry was to prepare for multiple seminars and execute multiple projects. Every weekend, it would be a crime not to pay our respects to a popular chaat-joint downtown. I am yet to taste a better chaat. No kidding. This is the best. And then, we would religiously visit Sampoorna (Fish curry) and Annapoorna (coffee). This was life and we were supremely confident that life would be far more better in the corporate world. I guess, everyone knows the answer for that.
I had to visit Coimbatore last month and I was mysteriously excited as it had been fourteen years since I visited Coimbatore, the last time. To cut to the chase, the trip was wonderful. I wanted to experience the same simple way of life (during those days), which was very gratifying. No AC-trains, no cabs, no fancy hotels etc.,. With a spoilt-lifestyle that I (we all) have embraced so easily and conveniently, this one day trip would have costed me Rs. 5k all included. However, it costed me just Rs. 2k all included. It was a great feeling taking the bus. The bus experience was just the same except for the blunt stare that the co-passengers give you (not rude though). I visited the University, the professors etc., and I was amazed at the beautiful campus where I lived for two years. I was requested to bore the students with my lecture for one hour which I did. Poor guys...
Now that my work at the University was done, I was excited to check out the chaat-joint that I was not sure if it existed after fourteen years. My memory and passion for such things are fairly accurate. I walked the streets and tracked the chaat-joint. I could not believe that the taste was immaculately same. Amazingly, I could remember the taste. hmm....I am not sure if that is even good english, but that is how best I could portray my experience.
For the benefit of folks-like-me (who would take the time to smell the roses), I have given the location of the chaat-joint and some recommendations....
RK Chaat
10th street (off cross cut road - lane opposite to Patmos Prayer house)
Take the first left and it is the second shop on your left
Try Cutlet chaat, bhel puri.....trust me....it is worth the trek.
