Wanderlust Again - Pondicheri

That urge to wander, to break free, to let waves wash over you , to reminisce as time goes by....
Destination Pondicherry...

Being a French language expert and spouting French at the drop of a hat,Pondicherry was the ideal destination, I should have visited long ago... Finalement I did.. I needed that long weekend off , a weekend to let the saturation and frustration out ;Partners in crime , 2 sweet girls who i know for not too long , one of whom is an awesome driver...Hats off to her driving skills . She drove us all the way and back... She rocked and I would have crashed had I been driving..
We set off at 4 in the morn on that fine Friday after our brains were literaly fried by "Saawariya". This is not a movie review ,else would have ruminated on how Sanjay Leela Bhansali got it so wrong... Well , after a satisfying coffee and midnight breakfast( is that the correct usage in space and time??) at the Royal Orchid, us adventurous ladies set out for the long drive ahead. Armed with maps and our good sense which seems to be a lil drowsy thanks to the meal !
Across tollgates and hamlets and bumps we hastened. Sunrise was at Krishnagiri at 5 :30 a.m. welcomed with do rupaiya chai... taste still lingers.. yummiest tea..these highway shacks get it right I say...
The ride then, to Chengam was a lil slow due to the bumpy road.. Then ,Gingee : alongside the fort wall went our steed..We stopped at Tiruvannamalai for breakfast at "Auro Usha". Starvation abated somewhat. With drooping eyes we pulled along Tindivanam and finally reached Aurovillle at 12:30 p.m. That was a long ride...


Crashed and woke at 5:00 p.m. to set off on a food hunt. We stayed in a Japanese guest house that had self service meaning= you hunt for your food if you aint on time for the meals.. Sigh.. What a day... hunt ended at Roma's I Kitchen where both the stomach and heart were appeased( I get pretty emotional about food, folks who know me will agree). Swtich to relax and doze mode for the rest of the night. Have to admit the place was so serene and peaceful, every breath seemed like it would break the silence.




Early next morn, we were headed to Auro Beach ( a private beach with a smattering of firangs and the most adorable kids building sandcastles). After a satisfying breakfast at Repos resort and a swing in the hammock, the sea beckoned us.. Too old to build sancastles, not too young to set myself adrift in the waves... There's a strange magic in the echo of the waves, that brings back memories from the sands of time.After some insane splashing and falling, with many thoughts we left for Pondy town. Quaint ,cobblestoned and where every street was a "Rue" , it lives up to its ex- French colony status. Lunched in 5 Star at the Promenade, we all give in to indulgences dont we? Quite heavenly, though at the end of it , it left a hole in our pocket by the beachside.


The Boutiques, the parks ,the quiet nice little town life makes you want to stay time locked indefintely.

After much ambling through the rues, we dined at a lil French place l'Hotel du Parc: exquisite Indian and continental Buffet at unbelievable prices with wonderful service.The place ,just 4 months old had won its first patrons,us ,having visited it twice in 2 days.

As we drove back in a race against time , we passed by the hamlets and rivulets and the sunset. Life was quiet for 3 whole days, and here we were hurtling back to the "train train de la vie". We returned tired , but happy , strangely peaceful till our mundane life would buzz again.


These spur of the moment trips , with people who have slight affinities work wonders. We found buddies in each other when we least thought we would. We promised to return , to return to those waves that brought us back refreshed. Au Revoir. Je vais revenir Pondicheri