My Blog: Shanthi: Pondicherry

Two years of Covid-19 scare, during which time I was busy betting Total Knee Replacement surgeries done to both my knees, my travel itch was surfacing now and then. February 2019 was my major outing, trip to USA to see my grandson; 2020 was quiet without any trip. Not that I did not stir out, for in December 2021 with another lady friend, I took Rani Chennamma train to Londa, onward to Old Magazine House and the Jungle Lodges at Ganesh Gudi, on the recommendation of an IFS (Indian Forest Service) officer, spent two days and a night checking on all the winged creatures there, for this Jungle Lodge is famous for bird watching; saw also Malabar giant squirrel and many exotic birds. After a coracle ride in the waters, went on and halted at a beautiful place called Castlerock, thanks to the advice of another Forest Office, a member of my church, and took some adventurous local train journeys to go and watch the fabulous Doodh Sagar falls; walked on the railway tract and entered a dark tunnel under disuse to reach the place. Though it was not the season, the falls was fabulous. That was a memorable trip. That December I went to Chennai to be with my brother’s family and had a beautiful Christmas with them.

2022 started on a low key, but the travel itch was very much there and in September with my brother, I went to Ranchi on a private visit. Then came 2023! Now no holds barred! Trips one must take! But, where to go and with whom? Difficult questions! Sure enough I remembered some all women group tours organized by agencies like Wanderlust of Women (WOW) club and Wander Womanya. There was a trip to Pondicherry in Jan. 21-24 in the latter; I just jumped in. Though I have been to most of the places in India, I hadn’t been to Pondi, which is surprising because I am from Chennai and Pondi is so close to Chennai.

Well, on 21.1.2021, met with some fourteen women, some young girls, some slightly older ladies at Chennai airport and along with the ‘tour buddy,’ Asmita, herself a young girl, we all left in a traveler towards Pondicherry. It was silent for everyone was tired; for example I left my home at 3.30 am that day to catch the flight and reach Chennai airport. Girls from Bombay and Ahmadabad and Delhi had all started quite early to reach Chennai by flight. We stopped on the way at a hotel called Manna near Thozhupadu and had our vegetarian thali food. It was good. We all started to talk to each other and get to know each other better. We reached Hotel Sarguru by 3 pm; having gone alone I was put up with the tour buddy and may be that was the best thing to have happened. The girl Asmita was very sweet and accommodative. After a wash and refreshing ourselves we set out to visit Promenade Beach. At Promenade beach we simply walked up and down; took lot of pictures; it was like Marine Drive in Mumbai, but not that crowded. There was a Gandhi statue and school children were rehearsing Republic Day parade. A bit ahead there was a Nehru statue as well. We had ice cream at Gelateria, had something to eat and returned to the hotel for a well earned sleep.

Next day we left for the French Colony in Pondi. We roamed about the streets in that colony, took some pictures, but had no clue about the architectural specialties of French construction! They were all painted bright yellow, and had lot of greenery around them; many have been converted into small and big restaurants to cater to the needs of the tourists. A memorable visit was to the Sacred Heart Basilica, with beautiful stain glasses all around and at the altar. There was another smaller catholic church, Our Lady of Angels. We went in and around it too; St. Francis Assisi seemed to be the patron saint over there.

After lunch at Hope Café, we went on to Paradise or Sand Dune beach, where we had the opportunity to play in the waves and the waters. We giggled and laughed and played among the waves like young girls; age was forgotten, especially for me! I behaved like someone who is 37! Age reversals are a beautiful thing! Some of us visited Nehru street and Mission street where ladies’ garments, palazzos and tops were dime a dozen and quite cheap too. Tired legs alone dragged us back to the van and to the room.

The last day in Pondi, we were up and marched off to Auroville, the City of dawn and the universal town established by Mother 1968, proclaiming Human Unity. Some people from 80 countries live there now. First we visited the Swaram Museum, where in the open air, big pipes and harps stood and a Taiwanese resident of the Ashram, an old and jolly good fellow demonstrated each musical instrument and allowed us to play them too. Most visited Matri Mandir, the temple of the Mother, when I was busy visiting the boutiques, where things were costly, but I was able to pick some tit-bits here and there. After lunch we headed to the third beach, the Serenity beach. There are huge rocks making enclosures of the beach so that the in-between beach is calm and serene. We climbed up the rocks, sat on the top enjoying beautiful and peaceful views all around. More adventurous one went till the very edge of these rock fortresses. I must admit, two girls held my hands on either side and helped me climb down in a almost perpendicular climb down. No need for any shame at my age! On return to the Hotel, almost all the girls refreshed, dressed up and went to a pub, LB2 Restaurant. Of course I didn’t go and ordered food to my room. Others went and enjoyed themselves.

Before we bid good bye to Pondi, some girls visited Sri Aurobindo Ashram established by Aurobindo Ghose in 1926, an Indian philosopher who died in 1950 in Pondicherry. We then travelled to Mamallapuram to visit the shore temple, etc. That I think was a mistake. We landed there almost at mid day when the sun was hottest and we went to the shore temple first instead to the Five Rathas. After the shore temple, people had to be literally dragged to see the Arnun’s penance and the Rathas. No one was in a mood, with the stones and rocks, however beautifully sculptured, reflecting hot sun’s rays. Well, may be pleasure and history on stones should not be combined! We had our lunch at a Chettinad hotel and returned to Chennai airport. I got dropped off on the way nearer to my brother’s place, and had wonderful two day with my brother’s family and returned to Bangalore on 28^th evening.

Wow Womanya! That was a great trip. I had my apprehensions how the young and mod girls will vibe with an oldie like me, but the girls proved to be excellently well disposed to each other and to me. Some even befriended me to know the secret of getting out on trips like this at my age! Mamata from Mumbai “interviewed” me at quite some length at the breakfast table! Kusum from Ahamedabad, one who was the heart of the group with her tic-toc dances, who recorded the group in a dance sequence individually and in a group, very confidentially asked some gyan from me as I have lived so long! My trepidations fully dissolved!

The bed and breakfast were good at the hotel. There was an array of almost all south Indian breakfast items in the buffet and the north Indians enjoyed themselves. I enjoyed it too. Broke my resolve not to eat sweets, and went ahead with ice creams! It was a nice break, nice group and a nice travel buddy and room-mate. The weather was kind, (except on the last day at Mamallapuram!) and we enjoyed our roaming in the city. Well, some shop-keepers did not even know that Pondicherry had been renamed as Puducherry, until we told them. I personally prefer Pondicherry or even Pondi for short.

Hoping for a nice break like this in some time to come, may be after some six months, if God willing. Let me thank my Lord for giving me this lovely break with the

Swaram museum