Pondy: day II

It rained all night. My morning alarm rang at around 5 am and I could hear the roof tin playing raindrop drums. It was scary and lovely at the same time. I opened the bedroom door and lazed in bed ... as rain stirred the still blue water of the pool. In the next two hours, sky had dried up and we set out, this time for the neighbourhood Auroville beach.

Auroville Beach on the East Coast Road

This beach is stone's throw away from where we are staying. We saw a bunch of locals frolicking about the place. I am so scared of water all the time, though the pool enthralls me always. I sat by the beach with music in my ears - buried my feet in sand and closed my eyes. The crowd next to me receded and reflections took over. It was peaceful - I thought of my last vacation and other random stuff. And, then, I thought of Goa. One thing that strikes you about Pondy is that it is no Goa, which is good in a way. Auroville beach is a virgin beach. It has a couple of boats lying on the wayside and no police barricade to control crowd. It's a free for all, and though littered, it is a corner to sit quiet and enjoy yourself. I mean, if you like the company you keep when you are all by yourself, there is no place like Auroville. No street vendor will insist on their peanuts or popcorn and there are no loud music filtering in from the shacks, because, well, there are none. So, you may carry something to eat if you plan to be there for long. I had peanut bars and a few biscuits.
Anyway, it began to rain in thirty minutes. We had to leave. On way back, we had a regular breakfast of aloo paranthas and omlettes. Then, We bought raincoats as it was raining madly and we thought we wouldn't be able to navigate though the city if we didn't have one.

Matri Mandir (In gold) at Auroville.

We drove all the way to Auroville, the meditation centre run by the Aurobindo Ashram, and took a round, saw Matri Mandir and returned. The only reason i liked Auroville was the route one takes to reach there -- narrow roads leading up to the adhram through villages. On the way, we stopped at one of the several boutiques selling local fabrics. I bought a fabulous red kurta and while pants to pair it with,and had piping hot coffee at a joint run by a French man. Auroville trek was good - rest to me was just part of a regular touristy visit.

The dog and I on the trek at Auroville 

 Soon, we returned and jumped in the hotel pool while it kept raining. Our hotel owner's son, about our age, also joined us and there we were, swimming even as rains lashed down on us. I didn't shiver; the thicker it poured, the faster I swam. I have seen plenty of such romantic situations in the movies but this one was for real. I felt like a mermaid, moving in leaps and curves and feeling utterly happy. The hour long swimming was followed by another hour of hot massage and steam bath in the parlour by the pool side.

The customary morning swim

All the day's fatigue was gone and  we were ready for another long drive. The find of the day was this French restaurant at Goubert Avenue - reasonably priced and fabulous. La Terrace has great variety, exotic dishes and a French chef who personally supervises the kitchen. For a sumptuous meal, our bill was about 800 bucks. Minus alcohol (I said I don't drink :)).

Mouthwatering banana split at La Terrace.

After devouring banana split there, I vowed to return.  It's my fav. dessert now. I am serious. Slurp!