Pondicherry

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Pondicherry. 5th October 2011

We had just one night at Pondicherry. We stayed at Hotel Lotus Comfort which lived up to it's name and was very, comfortable that is.We were happy to find that it had free wi-fi and no sooner had we switched on than up pops Jim on Skype.His friend in Mumbai had been to check out the hotel where we are meeting up when we get there in November. He reported that it was fine and well situated for what we want. He has also apparently invited us all to dinner at his house, so that will be really good too.

Although it is quite a big city and a state in it's own right (border crossing and all), there is not a lot of interest other than the beach and the old French Quarter which we were on the edge of. There are some lovely old French style residences though we did not find any of the French Bistro's and Bakeries promised by the guide book. Quite a lot of stuff was closed for the New Year Celebrations and we were really pleased that Muthu left us to go home and spend the night with his family.

To call it a beach was a bit of an exaggeration. There was a strip of sand about 2 metres wide and then rocks but it had a long sea front and was lovely to wander down in the cool of the early evening with half the population of Pondi. About half way a long the promenade you encounter a gigantic statue of Gandhi which seemed to attract children and youths who clambered all over it, slid down it and generally caused mayhem while their parents stood by admonishing them not to hurt themselves. The founder of the nation treated with such apparent disrespect was quite frankly shocking to our sensibilities, but then it is India after all.

Anyway, all was forgotten after we downed a couple of Kingfisher's at the Ajantha Bar, sat on a tiny wrought iron balcony watching the world go by.

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Photos

View of Gingee Fort
Again

Green green rice
Emerald green rice paddies awaiting the rains

Ice cream anyone
Pondi beach