‘An attempt on recollecting and restoring memories’
It was a feeling of enthusiastic when my
uncle announced that we are going to Dolphin City in the evening and I was on
my way to barbershop for hair cut when hearing it, but couldn’t resist dreaming
on Dolphins actions on the Discovery Channel, sitting to the rolling chair
while scissors trim the hair. It was the time we were residing on the upper
portion of my maternal grandparent house in Thiruvanmyuir while we rebuilding
our own in Adyar – both were neighboring areas of south Chennai – the
barbershop was in the ground floor of my grandparent’s two storied building.
From the time I get to remember things, I’m
cutting hair from the same salon and even today the barber from this salon
comes home to get trim my hair and bread. The one who runs this shop for years
had become our family friend in the latter run and who sincerely care for me
and never took money to cut my hair but I’m not sure and haven’t asked my
grandfather whether he balance the pay with the rent.
It was a Sunday evening, as usual, with
close family members get together at grandparent’s house and since we sojourn from
the same building, it was more cheerful for us to stay connected throughout the
day with dear ones. In two cars we reached the Dolphin City in the early hours
of evening, which is about 43km from Chennai and 10km before Mamallapuram on
the ECR (east coast road), opposite to the then famous amusement park Little Folks, who initiated
the first on its kind of fun filled water park in the country.
We parked the cars on either side of the
ECR, adjacent to the walls of amusement park and with great excitement we
entered the park where a disappointment waits for us to learn that Dolphin show
was canceled due to illness of the species but Sea Lions show was available
alternatively. After discussing sometime our elders take the right decision and
gladly that was not to get back home but catch-up with the Sea Lions show.
With no idea of the lions I entered the
venue, which is a two storied high gallery partially enclosed and arch in shape
with a blue pool in the center looking cool at us; and after waiting few
minutes the black two lions emerged skating through the doorsteps behind the
stage and took hold the stand up like table. I remember they clapped first with
their fore flippers, following many amusing activities like playing volleyball,
pool basketball, catching rings, diving into water... are all awesome; and
their playful behavior, sharing kiss and splashing water on the audience on the
first row were looked fun and fascinating.
After a great amusement and lifetime
experience disclosed by the pool stage, we head to the artificial lake hold
within the City premises which also houses a boat jetty with small pedal boats
and water cycles for a leisure and pleasure ride. But my bad chance couldn't agree for a ride unlike my parents and uncle family took around the small islands
created amid the lake surrounded by tranquil and I had a spicy dinner with my
uncle at the restaurant located aside the lake, where cool breeze wake up to
the off shore and whisper of waves embraced.
I still remember, we had noodles and
chicken 65 sitting on one of the tables under the thatched roof restaurant
surrounded by trees and lake beside. We also had opportunity to visit the
Little Folks on the other side of road and it was already late evening and time
for closing the entry, but we managed to get tickets and like the name referred
it was a very little amusement park left with a sliding pool and few small
riders for kids. My bro and cousin tried the sliding pool and we can’t spent
much time there while there’s nothing to do and the lights were turned off we
forced to head out quickly.
Footnote:
We visited the Dolphin City in 1998, that
was nearly 15 years ago but I just inspired to write on the experience now...
after reading one of my friend’s blog post on cities. The Dolphin City and Little
Folks stopped its operation at the latter years of last decade and the dolphins were also died very soon after our visit and they continued with sea lions shows for sometime and now only the building is remain.
