ECR, Pondy and beyond!

On the event of my first wedding anniversary, Kumz & I drove down to Pondicherry. We’ve driven to down ECR several times in the past to dine at various placed near Mahabalipuram, but I haven’t enjoyed this road as much as I did this time.

The real experience started after crossing Mahabs and that’s when I actually realised that I was on a holiday travelling out of Chennai. We crossed Kalpakkam at around 11.00am when we stopped to have tender coconut at a village adjoining Kalpakkam. Rs.10 was the cost of this drink, which was out of this world. Trust me, I’ve never had such tasty and fresh coconut water all my life (a regular drinker though). So I went further and had a second one… I immediately spotted the Nungu (palm fruit), freshly cut from the tree. The fruit was removed from its shell and given to us fresh, we had about half a dozen of them. Yummmm…..it was chill, sweet, tender and so so watery. It went down my thought like butter.

In about 40 mins from there we reached Pondicherry or Puducherry, a well laid, very well maintained, sophisticated French colony. We went around the lanes near the sea to spot ‘French Villa’, the place we had booked for an over night stay. The houses and multi-storeyed buildings look awesome still reflecting the urban French style. The colour of the paint for the buildings, the doors & windows and the complete wooden finishing exactly represent classic French architecture. I relished every bit of this place.
The Puducherry beach was a welcome variation from Chennai’s polluted beaches, which are now loosing their identity in the name of modernization and face-lift with tile flooring and iron railings or dividers. There is face-lift given to Pondy beach as well, but the approach is different. Small bamboo huts are erected at every one-kilometre distance, neatly laid platforms, organised parking areas; sea-facing traditional French restaurants etc all depict the heritage of Pondicherry. Sitting on the bamboo hut, we enjoyed the waves hit and splash against the rocks along the shore for several hours without the hindrance of beggars or stray dogs (a common event in Chennai).

Casablanca, a Hi-Design shopping store was a classy place, expensive though where we found some interesting leather goods and accessories. ‘Top Knotch’ was another interesting shop for those who try to experiment with some new drinks. We did our bit of shopping there as well. How we wish they opened a branch in Chennai? We dined at Promenade, a Hi-Design hotel situated at the sea face. The roof top restaurant at Promenade name ‘Light house’ would have been a great experience if not for the head-ache that troubled me all through my evening dinner. I tried very hard to over come the migraine, but in vain. I managed to get over it only the next morning.

23rd November, my very first wedding anniversary …we went to the famous Ganpathy temple in Pondy- ‘Manakula Vinayakar Temple’ for the traditional and routine archana for the God. As it is know, I love following my roots (whenever it’s convenient to me) and with Ganesha being my most favourite God, I would love to visit him at all times.

Fab India, my brand loyalty towards this store is enormous. Its not just because they sell clothes for my size under the tag ‘M’ which actually delights me each time, but also because they have some really classy stuff like those linen tunics, beautiful stoles which I do not find else where. I managed to step into Fab India, which was just next to ‘French Villa’, a place where I stayed and finished a quick shopping.

We left Pondy after noon and managed to reach GRT Temple Bay for lunch. Warf, the best and one of my most favourite place to dine, severed lunch exactly the way I wanted. Mathew, the chef came over to understand my choice of food and made it just the way it ought to be. Temple Bay’s Warf rated 10 on 10 on food and 20 on 10 for ambience. After a wholesome meal, while driving back home we just though of trying our luck at Mayajaal for the latest movie at the box office, Kurbaan. Wow… we hit the place at the right time to walk into Screen 7. Well, the film was just ok. New York was far better but not a bad one though. Just that Saif looks too old and Karina all made up…lol.

This is a perfect trip, a perfect way to spend the anniversary! Love you Kumz, I can’t really ask for more in life.