Chennai
Shaun and Olene braved the morning sun at the Chennai Moor Market Complex, singing as they made their way to the elevator that people used to cross over from the Moor Market railway station to Chennai Park Town. Shaun was playing a mandolin-like instrument; a bagpiper cap that he had in front of him held a few 10-rupee notes. They were collecting alms for sure, but to make the scenario look more palatable to Chennaiites, they were busking to finance the rest of their trip.
The French couple left their moderately paying jobs to set out on a tour of Asia. “We do not have much money; so we are singing in public to get some money to continue travelling,” the couple told DT Next . The morning office-going crowd looked at them curiously, with only a few coming forward with cash to donate. “It is shocking to see a white couple asking for alms,” said Raghuraman, a commuter.
Shaun and Olene, who arrived in Chennai on Sunday, have already travelled through Sri Lanka. Now they will raise money to go around India in the same way. They do not think it is demeaning to perform and ask for money. “We are passionate about travelling and seek public help wherever we go. Only those who wish to, come forward to help us — and we are happy about it,” they said.
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