Raining Pondicherry

Its been long that I have stepped out of Bangalore. I ve joined a new company a month ago. Getting leaves were a dream. I managed to work for 7days and gathered 2weekly off and added one Comp Off. So I have 3days for myself. After much contemplation decided on Pondicherry.

After coming down to Bangalore I made my first trip to Pondi. That was 7years back. I wanted to go back. In South India road is my first preference. Its close to  300 odd kilometers. Sleeper Class A/C Volvo bus. Leaves Bangalore at 10:30PM. Reaches Pondi around 5:30-6 am in the morning.I left on 24th night and reached Pondi on 25th early morning. And it was a cloudy raining welcome that I got. No booking done. Autowala took me and my friend for a ride. After much roaming around we checked in a hotel. I was upset about the weather and didn't like the hotel either. By now we had started thinking about going back or go somewhere else. Around 10am we decided to dare the rain. Stepped out. Took directions. Went looking for "hire a bike". Finally we got a long stretch of road full of shops that hire bikes. Much to my friend's dismay he didn't find a "bullet". We hired an Avenger and took off.

Nothing special in mind we rode towards the sea and got the first glimpse of the famous "Rock Beach". We road along the Coubert Street.Totally drenched ended at Le Cafe. The only and only sea facing restaurant. Its a beautiful place. Nice Continental breakfast for 2 would cost you 250-300bucks. We parked our bike and started strolling. On the way we saw beautiful hotel "The Retreat". We inquired and found out that they do have rooms available. Amazing sea facing rooms and its only Rs1500. The day had started looking better for both of us.

Next we went to the bus stand. Booked our return tickets for the next day and then starting riding towards Auro Beach. Nothing great about the beach or we might not have been able to find the happening place near the beach. I would like to believe they don't have such places like the ones we find in Goa. So we started riding towards Auroville. I sincerely thank my friend who rode all the way in heavy rain.But we both agreed it was fun. 8kms from the main road you reach the entrance to Auroville. Here you can collect the visitor's pass and walk towards the Matri Mandir.Beacuse of the unfortunate weather condition the meditation session in the morning was cancelled. As inside the Mandir you can only get natural light.It looked beautiful from outside but I would like to come back here and see the inside and take a stroll around the campus. We return from Matri Mandir and near the gate you find a Cafe and Boutique. Anyone interested in buying over priced clothes , jewellery, furnishings etc. can shop here. Its little steep for regular Indian pocket may not be the same for the ones converting their foreign exchange.

We start our journey back. On the way back we stopped at a local shop.I met the owner a man from Orissa. Really cheap cool casual clothes. I picked red pyjamas and they only costed me Rs250. Almost everything in the shop cost the same. I had my share of shopping.On the way back it rained little less. We checked out of the stupid hotel and checked in The Retreat. We had our dinner on the way back and picked our choice of poison. After a nice shower we sat in the beautiful sea facing balcony and enjoyed our evening drink. And our first day at Pondicherry came to an end.

Next day we had to check out by 12pm. His bus was at 5:30pm and mine at 10:30pm. We enjoyed our complimentary breakfast and went for a walk. We walked all the way to the Gandhi statue , took few snaps and had coffee. I seem to have fallen in love with Le Cafe. We came back to the hotel, took shower and checked out.They were nice enough to keep our bags. It was around 1PM and we had nothing much to do. We rode around lazily for a while and then went to Le Club, one of the famous French restaurants. This is located right opposite to Alliance Francaise. My friend ordered beef steak with pepper sause and I had to be satisfied with Vegan only as it was a Saturday. Its rustic ambiance, french music, pouring rain, french magazine gives a nice feel. But there is something that is missing.I guess the service isn't that friendly. After lunch we had one last ride after which I dropped him to the bus stand and came back.

Now is my time just with myself. This was the first time I am alone in an unknown city. I need to know how it feels. I went to Ashram. I sat in one corner enjoying the surrounding peace while darkness came down and the Ashramites switched on the lights. Auroville has an air of wealth, somehow simplicity is lost.That is something one can find in the Ashram. A must visit and one should at least spend an hour and let the tranquility sink in. I left the place with a great feeling and started wandering , aimless wandering. I loved the walk in the streets connecting to the sea. They still have the old houses and peaceful ambiance all around. I came to Rock Beach and sat quietly all by myself. The clock was ticking and I had to finish my dinner and reach the bus stand. So I went back to Le Cafe ordered for French Fries followed with Salad. I enjoyed my last meal at Pondicherry for this time and took off. There is still lot left and I would want to come back again.