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My Family Moves to India

An American family moves to Chennai

Palace #2

Monday, 2. November 2009, 13:08:05

The Lalitha Mahal was originally built to house visiting dignitaries. It nestles in the foothills on the outskirts of town, and, from afar, looks remarkably like the White House. Today it is still in the hosting business - as a five-star hotel. We took an autorickshaw there to sample the lunch menu, and got an informal tour of the most famous rooms. According to our guide (one of the custodial staff, I believe), we saw the "King's room" which housed Steven Seagall and Princess Diana, as well as a couple of Nehrus; and also the "Princess's room". Like everything else in India they are in need of some minor repairs, but splendiforous even in their run-down state. All antiques and ginormous rooms, with canopy beds and flat-screen TVs.

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Chennai blogs I read regularly:

Friend's blogs:

  • A Whole New World blog

    A very, very insightful look into special needs parenting.

  • On Krista's Mind

    A very special woman who has brain cancer takes the time to uplift us all.

  • Chinese Starfish

    This outstanding woman gave up a good career to start her own orphanage in Xian, China, for special needs orphans. My heroine!!

  • Pam in Henan, China

    You have to read the story of how she saved her Chinese daughter's life....and has spent 4 years living in China trying to adopt her.

  • Cherilyn's blog

    Neat family who adopted from Kazakhstan, and unbelievably, lived around the corner from us in IL.

  • Barbara & Wayne's blog

    Read all about their travels! Barbara is one of my oldest and dearest friends.

  • Danie's blog

    Lots of moving around here!

  • Lynn and family

    Moving back to the US - we will miss you!

  • Marsha

    Sadly, tragedy struck and they too have moved back to the US.

  • Jennifer's blog

    Yes, they too are moving back! So sad.

  • Donna's site

    Moving, moving, everyone is moving....sniff.

Favorite Furniture Stores

  • Collections Unique, 110 ECR (below "Mermaid Swimming Pools")

    antique and repro furniture, pricey but nice

  • The Treasure, #170/2 ALM Complex, opp. Prarthana Theatre, Injambakkam, ECR

    same quality as Collections but better prices

  • Timber, Old No. 6 Rutland Gate, 4th St, Nungambakkam; also a showroom in Kilpauk

    beautiful imported teak furniture from Indonesia

  • Centuar Furniture, 18, 3rd Cross Road, Raja Annamalai Puram
  • Grand Teak, 19 (Old no. 10) II Main Rd, R.A. Puram

    solid wood imports from Indonesia

  • Tulsi Arterior, Nungambakkam

    made-to-order furniture and lots of nice ready-made peices. Custom upholstering.

  • Teak Heirlooms, New 19, 1st Cross St, Sterling Rd, Nungambakkam

    outdoor teak furniture as well as coconut wood furniture

  • Rani Arts and Teak, No. 8, Harrington Rd, Chetpet

    widest variety of all-Indian furniture and artifacts - but very pricey!

  • Mani's - New #31, Old #17 Royapettah High Road, 044 28133078

    GREAT PRICES on used furniture. He will polish it up and it will look like new.

  • Aurorachana Export Antiques and Furniture, Hope, Auroville, Tamil Nadu 9443220174

    I've saved the very best for last. This place is run by two Germans who've lived here 30 years. They do an outstanding job restoring and refinishing old furniture, as well as custom-make just about anything you'd want to buy.

Weather in Chennai