On Sunday I took a walk on the bridge across the Adyar River. A lion-like sculpture greeted passersby on each end of the bridge. Rather early on this weekend morning, the traffic wasn't too bad yet. Another plus, the bridge had a sidewalk so I didn't have to compete for space with all the mopeds, auto rickshaws, and other crazy traffic. While the breeze was pleasant, the stench was not. It turns out that much of the city's sewage is pumped through this river, one of two rivers that winds its way through Chennai. Litter, particularly plastic, collected along the river's edges. From the middle, I had a panormic view of my neighborhood as well as the one across the 
other side. The large Malar Heart Hospital punctured the otherwise rather low skyline, consisting of apartment buildings and palm trees. Near the shore one could see small thatched huts and narrow dirt paths connecting the huts. A long cement fence blocked access to most of the river - not that I would now want to gow down and visit it. In the middle of the river a rowing team practiced its skills. Hopefully the smell was less pungent from their position. So sad, as this river emptying into the Bay of Bengal could be a beautiful walk.I fi
nd it ironic that Chennai's sister city in the US is San Antonio. With its lovely Riverwalk, downtown San Antonio is a pleasant place to go for a stroll, eat by the river, listen to concerts, shop, etc. Perhaps the sistership will provide some assistance and guidance to Chennai for revitalizing its water sources. I heard from a local that Chennai indeed is attempting (or at least talking about) to clean up the Adyar River. Money is a big issue though. Plenty of opportunities for the willing investor...
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