When we thought Manipal was hot, we were wrong, Pondicherry was another beast. Add humidity and no breeze to the already 95 degree weather and blistering sun, and that was Pondicherry. That did not stop us from wanting to wander and explore the old French colony as much as possible. Claire, Lauren, and I headed to the coast to catch our first glimpse of the Bay of Bengal. Being me, I felt compelled to make sure I touched it. This was actually a tricky feat since steep, sharp rocks led down to the water. But the mission was a success. We wandered along the water happening upon a large Gandhi statue and a quaint little park where people took refuge from the hot sun under the shady trees and children played on the slides. We meandered down the cobbled streets, admiring the bright buildings, old architecture, little roadside shops that ranged from upscale boutique to casual Indian clothes and trinkets, great street art, and the interesting blend of Indian and French influences.
We took a break from the grueling sun, already drenched in sweat in our long sleeved kurtas, for lunch with the group. Lunch was served at a women-owned and run rooftop restaurant just beyond the historical divide between the French quartier and the Tamil part of town. I had the most delicious “European Tali,” a mix of fresh veggies, pasta salad, and incredible bread with hummus and other sauces. After happily filling our bellies, we jumped on autos to visit a nearby ashram, well known in the community and beyond. After visiting ashram and sitting in brief meditation, we visited some boutique incense and perfume shops in the neighborhood and more traditional stalls lining the road.
Back at the hotel, we rested in the courtyard, trying to decide on the best restaurant for dinner. On the way to the restaurant we noticed advertisements for a play at a local theater that we decided to attend. It was a creatively produced story from the Mahabharata, one of India’s greatest epics. It was unlike any play I had ever seen before, relying heavily on symbolism. I am really glad to have attended. It was the perfect opportunity to engage more with Indian local culture and arts and to learn more about a great historical piece of literature that has influenced much of Indian thought. And dinner afterwards was incredible, the best pasta I’ve tasted in India yet (though there hasn’t been many opportunities for it). Lauren and I also split a piece of lemon pie, basically a lemon bar in pie shape – so heavenly. By the time we sorted out the bill it was already past ten so we just headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest.
We took a break from the grueling sun, already drenched in sweat in our long sleeved kurtas, for lunch with the group. Lunch was served at a women-owned and run rooftop restaurant just beyond the historical divide between the French quartier and the Tamil part of town. I had the most delicious “European Tali,” a mix of fresh veggies, pasta salad, and incredible bread with hummus and other sauces. After happily filling our bellies, we jumped on autos to visit a nearby ashram, well known in the community and beyond. After visiting ashram and sitting in brief meditation, we visited some boutique incense and perfume shops in the neighborhood and more traditional stalls lining the road.
Back at the hotel, we rested in the courtyard, trying to decide on the best restaurant for dinner. On the way to the restaurant we noticed advertisements for a play at a local theater that we decided to attend. It was a creatively produced story from the Mahabharata, one of India’s greatest epics. It was unlike any play I had ever seen before, relying heavily on symbolism. I am really glad to have attended. It was the perfect opportunity to engage more with Indian local culture and arts and to learn more about a great historical piece of literature that has influenced much of Indian thought. And dinner afterwards was incredible, the best pasta I’ve tasted in India yet (though there hasn’t been many opportunities for it). Lauren and I also split a piece of lemon pie, basically a lemon bar in pie shape – so heavenly. By the time we sorted out the bill it was already past ten so we just headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest.