Preethi’s Polambalgal: Somewhere Between Chennai and Melbourne

Buckle up for chaos, cocoa, and cold toes as I take you on our 4-hour road trip from Melbourne to Mt Buller — with two kids, one over-packed car, and zero chill (literally). From foggy mountain mornings that looked like a scene from a horror movie, to unexpected animal crossings and the endless "Are we there yet?" soundtrack, this trip had it all. We survived: ❄️ Tantrums at 110km/hr ⛄...

“Food Polambalgal” Ever tried to make upma and ended up with edible cement? Struggled flipping dosais that defy gravity? In this episode of Food Polambalgal , I vent the daily chaos of South Indian cooking — the burns, the lumps, the never-ending kitchen clean-ups — all served with a side of gratitude. But this isn’t just about culinary blunders. It’s a heartfelt reflection on privilege: being abl...

In today’s episode, Preethi finally swaps her home uniform (a.k.a. oversized T-shirt and pajama pants) for something that actually zips! It’s Office Day in Melbourne—a rare event that feels like a mix of freedom, fashion show, and identity crisis. She puts on her best jacket, spritzes a little too much perfume (because freedom smells amazing), and even dusts off those long-forgotten heels. The tra...

In this episode, Preethi takes you on her desperate (and slightly dramatic) mission to spot another Tamil soul in the wild streets of Melbourne—whether it's someone saying "vanakkam" at Coles or playing Ilaiyaraaja in the parking lot. All she wants is one good Thamizh friend to share filter coffee and complaints with! But there’s a twist—her ever-logical husband keeps whispering, “Pl...