La Mer... Pondicherry
Living in Bangalore for the past 8 years, Pondicherry had long been on our wishlist. Also known as the French Riviera of the East, we had heard countless descriptions of this tranquil town, a living testament to India's colonial past. Finally the long awaited opportunity came our way; and we found ourselves on a cab from Chennai, zooming along the East Coast Road (ECR) and foregoing the patience to even wait for a bus! There are different activities that one can plan in Pondy, but the basic thread that binds them together is that people come here to find peace. The general attitude of the people here, especially in the French quarters (a bit offensively named as 'White Town') is calm and laid back, and this spills over even to the visitors. There are three primary activities that are commonly pursued in Pondicherry - the natural (involving the bay side), the spiritual (involving the activities of the Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville), and the historical (savour
