Posted on: 01-12-06 18:59:50
http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/02/stories/2006120215370300.htm
CHENNAI: The Air Traffic Controllers at the Chennai Airport kept a close watch from the moment the MD-87 business jet with former United States President Bill Clinton took off from the New Delhi airport and arrived here around midnight on Thursday.
While the delayed arrival of the high-profile visitor gave anxious moments to high-ranking police personnel and State Government protocol officials, shortly after alighting from the gleaning jetliner, Mr. Clinton did not disappoint on-lookers at the airport. After getting into the waiting limousine, he was all smiles and waved all the way to those who greeted him, not minding the odd hour.
Mr. Clinton, according to airport sources, was also wonderstruck to see so many jets belonging to various private airlines parked in the bays, reminding him of the current boom witnessed in the civil aviation sector.
The former US President drove to Hotel Taj Coromandel, Nungambakkam, for a nine-hour stay in the Presidential suite. His entourage had booked 25 rooms in the luxury hotel. President Clinton had a combination of south Indian and Chinese dishes at the restaurant. According to the hotel staff, Mr. Clinton looked quite happy, mingling with the crowd even at that hour.
Prabhat Varma, General Manager, said 
Mr. Clinton remarked about the changing face of Chennai, as he openly said he ``wanted to be part of the Chennai culture.\"
After his return from the trip to tsunami rehabilitation sites at Cuddalore, the VVIP came back to Chennai in his chopper and emplaned for Phukhet around 2 p.m. on Friday.
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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....
"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"
