Pondicherry is the wonderful place where I am married to. This beautiful coastal territory is sweetly called as pondy by its natives. The local language was a hindrance for my mixing with some of my relatives and to be friends here. I remember standing in the pavilion of my new abode observing the traders on bicycles yelling out their products (sounded too funny )like, mallipoove -jasmine , kolamavu-white rice powder used for making spiritual symbols everyday in front of the houses .meene-oh fish too comes so easy at your steps,kheere –kheereeee—all types of green leafys…vow this is amazing ..having a house in close proximity to NH-47 has got so many blessings.
Well my first trip to pondy town was marvelous. this was surely different from the rest of the places I had seen. Huge tall French colonial buildings ,those boulevards lined with trees, tidy (so unlikely) walking pavements with cemented resting chairs near the blue seamless beaches, needless to mention those tall well built raunchy guys and chic’s too are a treat for your eyes. they are mostly seen in bicycles ..i guess reason to that fab bod .
U can see a riot of products on those ever-buzzing markets, right from leather goods (hi design‘s fresh designs of export quality bags u get here.)to ,paper bags -these paper is so unique in its quality ,form,texture and differently shaded are world class, real petals embossed candles ,for fashonistas a huge variety of garments right on those street ,the la-titled shops with rich semi-precious stones encrusted jewels, intricate designs of pottery ..the fragrant whiff of handmade incense and potpourris just incites your curiosity to find more. Important to mention if you are tired of shopping and sightseeing there is a chain of multicuisine restaurants which will cater for your desired appetites.
Well all this set aside, to die for is the beach. Unlike other beaches you can’t walk on those sands and play with the water as they are guarded by humongous rocks ,the waves comes in that high motion splashes on the rocks and creates a mystical magic of white tiny pearls which is incessantly played for you. I loved those initial days of my marriage spending time on those beaches, spreading their blue bashes capable to engulf any worry and send you back gleefully and the historical buildings on lined along the boulevard.
No doubt pondy stands tall as the living example of a once flourished French colony. Its also called the France of India or the French Riviera of the east. anyway the contemporary and the pondicherrian cultural mix is one in its kind here .The rue’s here (as the roads are called here in French) has still signboards reading in French, the police men still wearing kepis(French caps),the broken tamil by the french accentuated by strong French accent (I like the ta and the da…like in wat is dat or inspector cloussau in pink panther asking for a Dam burger) )and vice versa are fun to listen to. A trip to auroville where the famous matrimandir is located reminds you of Shakespeare's stopping by woods.Aurobindos’s ashram –this calm ,spiritual place will surely take you a few notches high by spirits.
My husband easily got away with the hassles of taking me to a brand new location for honeymoon as he learnt that i was so engrossed ambling the streets and beaches every time afresh.
Till next, Au revoir(good bye)
Prenez soin de vous(take care)
Sindhu
