Anyone been to Chennai

[nownek]

I'm going next week- any hints & tips?

[Flintstone]

Don't?

[nownek]

Why?

I have no choice

[Carpmart]

I unfortunately had to take a BA flight there once as my usual Bangalore route was full. Bloody stinking hot when I go to off the plane at some ungodly hour. I then had to walk out the main 'International' terminal round the corner to the domestic one to catch a flight to BGL. Anyway, my memories of transiting Chennai are not brilliant!

[Bec]

Be careful about what brands of bottled water you drink - they are not all the same. We were told to drink Bisleri or Aqua Fina.

Hand sanitiser (that no water soap stuff) and/or anti-bacterial wipes for cleaning hands before you eat.

Generally enjoy! I've not been to Chennai before, but have just come back from 3 weeks touring Northern India and Nepal, and I'm now trying to work out when I can go back!

[Marf]

Bec said:

Be careful about what brands of bottled water you drink - they are not all the same. We were told to drink Bisleri or Aqua Fina.

Hand sanitiser (that no water soap stuff) and/or anti-bacterial wipes for cleaning hands before you eat.

Generally enjoy! I've not been to Chennai before, but have just come back from 3 weeks touring Northern India and Nepal, and I'm now trying to work out when I can go back!

Water is your biggest problem really, we have ops in India and its the single most important piece of advice my colleagues all talk about.

Only drink bottled water. If you are served bottled water that has been opened, ask for a sealed one. Ice is questionable as its usually derived from tap water. Dont inadvertantly drink the water when you are showering, use bottled water for brushing your teeth.

[Fivepercent]

nownek said:

I'm going next week- any hints & tips?

Ciprofloxacin. A single 500mg dose taken at the same time as an immodium does the job. Unless what you have is amoebic.

Don't laugh, you will definitely need it.

[nownek]

Yes- have the visa and a fairly hefty supply of (legal) drugs

I'm recruiting people for our newish shared service centre but hope to get out and about at some point. Also am scheduled to fly to Delhi at some point for a day or two.

I heard a strange story about filtering bottled beer through a glass of water (something about getting rid of some preservative) but I'm not sure if this was a wind-up....

[Popeyed]

I spent 3 months working there once; the highlight was leaving

[nownek]

Popeyed said:

I spent 3 months working there once; the highlight was leaving

Ah

[anonymous-user]

nownek said:

Yes- have the visa and a fairly hefty supply of (legal) drugs

I'm recruiting people for our newish shared service centre but hope to get out and about at some point. Also am scheduled to fly to Delhi at some point for a day or two.

Quite a lot of 'creativity' is employed when describing experience/ability both on application and in person. Ensure you've got good aptitude tests and that whatever tests you use dont make their way outside as they'll be around the place in seconds.

Dont expect many people to last with you for more than 6 months, expect rocketing wage demands and aero loyalty.

Have fun ;-)

[nownek]

wsurfa said:

Dont expect many people to last with you for more than 6 months, expect rocketing wage demands and aero loyalty.

Just like our Shared Service Centre in Glasgow then....

[Targarama]

Haha. My other half works for a big IT outfit doing outsourcing with a new facility in Chennai and has spent several 2 week sessions in Chennai. She says the Sheraton is a great hotel.

BA WILL lose you luggage. Suggest going Emirates via Dubai - the longer trip is worth it.

[anonymous-user]

nownek said:

wsurfa said:

Dont expect many people to last with you for more than 6 months, expect rocketing wage demands and zero loyalty.

Just like our Shared Service Centre in Glasgow then....

not even close on the wage front. £5ph to £7.5 to £10 to £15 type progression in very short period. Why companies go there just on a cost basis is beyond me. It never pays.

Ability to access a huge and trained workforce - that's a decent reason, but budget for the first 12-24 months to cost exactly the same as the UK

[Yuxi]

I spent about 12 weeks there last year, over 4 visits. Think of it as India "lite".

I was working there, the hotel was good (Hilton, near the airport, now has a new name)

Get a good driver, cheap but more expensive than Bangalore (£16 for a car and driver for 14 hours!) and he will look after you if you make it clear you will use him again.

The roads are very dangerous, I saw 4 dead cyclists/motorcyclists during my stays.

Traffic is very bad, if you are working outside Chennai to the West expect it to take an hour to get from the airport to the big roundabout, then another hour to reach the city centre during rush hour.

I loved Chennai, one of the easiest places I have worked. Great people, good weather, accept it for what it is and you will enjoy it.

I suggest that weekends you move south and find a good resort, cheap beach holiday type accomodation for next to no money.

In my experience the airport is very good, I have been to many that are worse. If possible get a hotel car to pick you up from the airport, if you cannot do this bargain hard at the taxi counter, one visit the hotel car was not there and the taxi counter man wanted 1200 Rupee, I paid 300 in the end but it was still 200 too many.

Y

[GreenDog]

Stay in a goog hotel and eat and drink nothing unless it comes from the hotel, not even if you recognise the brand. Drink sparkling water, its' less likely to have come from the tap. Make sure you have good insurance just in case you end up in hospital as a couple of my colleagues did recently.

HTH

[jamoor]

GreenDog said:

Stay in a goog hotel and eat and drink nothing unless it comes from the hotel, not even if you recognise the brand. Drink sparkling water, its' less likely to have come from the tap. Make sure you have good insurance just in case you end up in hospital as a couple of my colleagues did recently.

HTH

Will the hospital bill even go above the excess on your travel insurance?

I remeber I got a little ill in Malaysia, went to the Doctor, ended up with a typical GP type session, and ended up paying a fiver for a consultation and a few medicines.

[GreenDog]

jamoor said:

GreenDog said:

Stay in a goog hotel and eat and drink nothing unless it comes from the hotel, not even if you recognise the brand. Drink sparkling water, its' less likely to have come from the tap. Make sure you have good insurance just in case you end up in hospital as a couple of my colleagues did recently.

HTH

Will the hospital bill even go above the excess on your travel insurance?

I remeber I got a little ill in Malaysia, went to the Doctor, ended up with a typical GP type session, and ended up paying a fiver for a consultation and a few medicines.

Colleagues ended up staying in hospital for a few days after eating at a burger restaurant - The company insurance covered them so no excess etc to worrty about

[jamoor]

GreenDog said:

jamoor said:

GreenDog said:

Stay in a goog hotel and eat and drink nothing unless it comes from the hotel, not even if you recognise the brand. Drink sparkling water, its' less likely to have come from the tap. Make sure you have good insurance just in case you end up in hospital as a couple of my colleagues did recently.

HTH

Will the hospital bill even go above the excess on your travel insurance?

I remeber I got a little ill in Malaysia, went to the Doctor, ended up with a typical GP type session, and ended up paying a fiver for a consultation and a few medicines.

Colleagues ended up staying in hospital for a few days after eating at a burger restaurant - The company insurance covered them so no excess etc to worrty about

Was it an american chain restaurant?

I always thought that they were very safe, I have always eaten in the Ameican Chains in Pakistan (same issues food wise as India) without issue.

[welshbikerduck]

So is it safe to assume that place wont be in travel agents brochures anytime soon?