Pondicherry - 1 day roundup...!!

Date :: 1st August
The travel bug had bitten us all and we were on a roll. We had the choices for wayanad chikmangalur etc. Due to monsoon chikmangalur and almost any part in kerala would be a wonderful place but we'd be confined to the hotel due to torrential rains. After a small chat we zeroed in on Pondicherry. The hottest place where you sweat even without moving a muscle. One would expect cool air sweeping pondicherry's terrain due to the proximity of the ocean but the humidity has the upper hand.

Booked SRS 10:30pm airbus with madiwala as the rendezvous point. All were on time and so was the bus. It turned out to be a new bus from Tata's Stables. The journey was very comfortable. The real test was beyond krishnagiri when the smoothness cease to exist. The suspension took the real beating when travelling over ~ 2 foot potholes. We reached Pondicherry by 7 and took an auto till the beach road and we started walking along the beach for about 20 minutes. Time to decide if we were to go to kalapet for booking one of the beachside huts for stay or to stay at a guesthouse about half km away from governor's palace. The latter was the one to choose as we were there only for a day. Checked in to Sri Krishna guest house and were ready in about an hour. Rented two pulsars for about Rs.250 each and we were off to auroville beach and auroville (Matri Mandir). The ride from ECR road to auroville is a beautiful one as you are covered by greenery all around. We didn't visit matri mandir because the vising hours were nearing closure time ~ 1 pm. The boys were hungry and headed back to guest house. We had lunch at a hotel nearby and off to an aftnoon nap. I headed out for a walk to shop for chocolates and cakes then headed straight to the beach. Sunday's scene at the beach is like a madhouse .... just too many people. With the three musketeers awake by 6 pm it was time for an evening stroll and lazing in the beach. Chats prevailed about the current job market and the need for EJP's. by about 8 pm it was time to return the bikes. Finished dinner at a chettinad hotel. Where surprisingly we had chettinad chilly parota and kothu parota. I (the veggie of the group) did the goof up of ordering kothu parota which actually was prepared with egg. With a cheeky grin I swapped with Geet who was happier with kothu parota. :-) I had booked the tickets for the return journy while the musketeers were recharging their batteries through the evening. Boarded the KSRTC Volvo by 8:30 and reached bangalore in 7 hours. Another trip added to my picasa.arsenal .... Yippeeee....!!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lancersfx/Pondicherry