11 neighbours have shared what matters to them — in their own words.
“In our house, among the mangoes, we buy Himapasanth, Algoa, Maganapalli, and Neelam. Among these, my favorite fruits are Himapasanth and Neelam. Both of them taste good. They are delicious to eat. They are good. They are juicy. They are pulpy. They are good. Okay?”
“எங்க வீட்ல மாம்பழங்கள்ல நாங்க வாங்குறது இமப்பசந்த், அல்கோவா, மகனப்பள்ளி, நீலம். இதுல எனக்கு பிடிச்ச பழம் வந்து இமப்பசந்தும், நீலமும். அதுதான் ரெண்டுமே நல்லா டேஸ்ட்டா இருக்கும். சாப்பிடுறதுக்கு சுவையா இருக்கும். நல்லா இருக்கும். ஜூஸியா இருக்கும். பல்பியா இருக்கும். நல்லா இருக்கும். ஓகேவா”
translated from Tamil
Nearby, the main topics are dominated by environmental and economic challenges. Citizens report intense heatwaves in Chennai 🌡️, leading to increased electricity bills due to constant AC usage, restricted outdoor activities, and health concerns. Significant concerns also arise from fuel and LPG price hikes ⛽️, aggravated by shortages and the perceived impact of international conflicts, making daily budgeting and cooking extremely difficult. Many are observing reduced food portion sizes and increased travel costs. Despite these difficulties, some individuals are adopting resourceful coping strategies, like increased water intake, judicious AC use, and creatively extending fuel usage. There's also a noteworthy appreciation for local produce quality 🥭, particularly diverse and good quality mangoes, highlighting local delights amidst the broader economic pressures.
“The city I live in had a lot of heat this year. In fact, it got very hot, which wasn't seen last year. There's nothing much to do in this heat. We just drink as much water and sherbet as we can and stay in AC. Our directly”
“It's very hot in Chennai right now. Because of that, I will go out with my friends, eat ice cream, and then play pool. All of that together will bring down that heat.”
“We haven't directly been affected by LPG shortage, but the prices of travel and petrol have increased, so those are understandable.”
“Due to LPG shortage, the prices of LPG have gone up, so we can't eat much because we have to save a lot. It's very difficult because we have to save a lot. Due to this, petrol prices have also increased. Petrol prices had increased earlier, it was around ₹100 before. Now it's around ₹108. So, if someone was putting petrol for ₹300, now they have to put it for ₹400 daily. Because of that, it's very difficult for me to manage our daily life and figure out where we are going.”
“Due to this Iran war, it is very, very, very difficult. Fuel is very scarce. There's no gas. In homes, it's impossible to light a stove. We cannot cook by cutting wood and lighting it. Even if we want to use an electric stove, its price is also continuously increasing. What else can we do? It's very difficult. So, in order to save fuel, we are cooking as sparingly as possible and saving fuel. The fuel that used to last us 25 days, we are now making it last for 40 days. Okay, okay.”
“The mango I like is in Chennai. Alphonso mango. I like it. Because it's like, very small, easy to eat. So I like that too.”
“So, when I go out with friends, it's many times. So this time when we go out, the fuel charges have increased. Also, our food sizing has all reduced. In other places, the price has increased. But here, they are giving us less food itself. That's a difference I've noticed now.”
“In Tamil Nadu, if you're talking about famous mangoes, it's Sakkarakutti, Alphonse, and then Imam Pasand. Among these, the best is Imam Pasand. Why do I say Imam Pasand is good? Because it doesn't spoil quickly. It's very sweet. It doesn't give a sour or bitter taste. Even if it's unripe, it won't be sour. You can store it well and eat it.”
“The mango that is most found where I live in Chennai is Banganapalli. This year, the mangoes are of very good quality and I am seeing many types of mangoes.”
“Because it's very hot in Chennai, we can't go out anywhere. Because of that, the electricity bill is increasing a lot since everyone is at home. Also, we can't buy many grocery items anywhere outside because it's very sunny. Also, we can't go out to eat anywhere because we don't feel like eating. Because of that, the power goes out at home, and we often fall sick. So, to avoid all this, how are we? We are sitting at home with the AC on, comfortably.”
