Vacances à Pondicherry [quick travel guide]

In fond memory of the very little good time i had in life!

Day T: After dodging [read surviving] the stardom and celebrity like attention from Men, Women and Animals in Bangalore, me and my Comrade, headed to the UT of Pondicherry on our so claimed 'Brave' Excursion.

Day: T+1: Location: Pondy [5.30 hrs] the two dames set out in the unknown.... combatting a sudden attack of 'tamil', with a "? + Grin" look [no understanding a jack]. Urgent Note to self: Paitence is virtue! Reaching the Hotel was cool.. since we weren't aware of the cardinal rule on travelling around in Pondy, "BARGAIN"... so far so good.

Experiment:
Aim: Travel around in pondy
Procedure: There we were hiring the Hotel travel guy to show us around on day 1.
Result: We showed the guy around... yes, yes, his own city which is a tourist place. [pl. check my picasa to believe this]
Observation:  South Indians is that they aren't too familiar to places other than 'how to get to work from home and back' or at the most 'the one place where they " supposedly party" and dude they're more confused than me. [if u know me, u know how bad that is].

EOD: Seen the entire city around in a day.

T+ 2: The Car converts into Auto Rickshaw.. what a ride man, hero of a rickie... btw, before you start pl. bargain om fare... awesome fun....

T+3:Saw around on foot mostly.... there was so much to explore... roamed around a lot and left the town that evening to head back.

Food: Vegetarians pl. carry meals [read  my Guju mates pl. carry your 'theplas']. The town doesn't offer much to eat, atleast for the vegetarians.. not many French  are gourmets i guess.

Eateries:
1. Baker Street [a French Boulangerie....try out the authentic french breads and cheeses, Meringue cookies, quiches, florentins etc.]
2. Rendevous Cafe [cheap spirits, not so good service, pl. ask the Maitre d' to explain what you choose to order should you not be prepared for unwanted surprises]
3. Le Cafe [good to look at.. nicely made overlooking the pondy beach.... that's it]
4. Le Soliel [looks neat]
5. Most hotels you'd put up in, might be the safest food around.

What to do there:
1.A view to the following if you like photography [located at a distance of 5 mins. walk from each other alongside the pondy beach nr the french quarters and the eatries]: The French War Memorial, Gandhi Memorial, the Light House.
2. Visit the Kaps church [Notre Dame Des Anges]... this is not a well maintained heritage but has a cute  French officers' memorial/ tennis court right across.. a total delight.
3. A few temples off the French quarters... [frequented by a lot of crowd...we well did without those]
4. Trip to Plago Paradiso [Paradise Beach]- the beach has a creek on its mouth for padel boats, speed boats, tiny expensive jet ski rides.. a ferry takes you to this regular beach on the other side [we @ mumbai dont treasure beach trips much.....though the creek is a good visit].
5. Auroville- a MUST VISIT, a photogenic place with a spiritual incline.  Maitri Mandir [the golden spherical concentration hall] makes the visual attraction.
6. Good amount of shopping in auroville and even around pondy beach [we even patronised this shop called 'padumai'] for good deals remember to master the act of polite bargain till you drop. Shopping could include: Leather clutches/ pouches, paper mache articles, aroma candles, insence sticks, cloth bags, summer ware [woof!! its not even the half of the things i can think of]

All in all, this place is a must visit... pl. be adventures enough to hire a bike or atleast a bi-cycle to see around on your own on day 2. Also, remember to carry sun block [i got back along with a crazy tan]... Frequent buys must include mineral water. Pl. check your calendars before you head there, pl. avoid all religious festivals and so to say spirit absent days.