When I think back, the days spent here were my favourite, of all my last
October through South India.
I love surprises. Again [it happens quite often!], I expected to like
the first part of the trip – cut in half by our week in Sri Lanka – more. It
was the other way round. In-between Chennai and Varkala, the lowest points of
our adventure, Puducherry was going to shine even more!
It didn’t start well – some things missing from my backpack following
the flight from Colombo to Chennai, a misunderstanding with our Uber driver in the
mind-blowing heat, the cancellation of our pre-booked bus to Puducherry without
even an e-mail, the horrendous bus we took in the end, and the tiring hustle of
Madras.
Arriving in smaller Puducherry was a blessing. It looked and felt more
relaxed, more colourful, more chic… as if it had a lot to offer. It did, we
would find out later when we were sat down and given suggestions by the lovely lady
owner of La Maison Radha. This was by far our favourite accommodation in India,
of the entire trip, and one of the best accommodations of my entire traveller’s
life. Modern, colourful, impeccable. We got the Butterfly Room and I could’ve
actually written an entire article only on this place – I loved it that
much!
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| La Maison Radha |
We soon went out to discover and to savour. Two in one. Following the
inviting recommendations of our hosts. We stopped at Zuka, an amazing
chocolaterie and sweet shop. I was in paradise after so-so many days without
the textures and tastes that make me feel joy. After all, it’s written on the
walls and I must agree: ‘Happiness is chocolate-shaped’.
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| 'Happiness is chocolate-shaped' |
Attention to details also makes people smile. The narrow alleys in
vibrant colours, bordered by the trees that save the day when you are in need
of shade, the lack of crowds, the unusual laid-back style of the locals
[compared to the other cities we had seen in India] – they all made us fall for
Puducherry.
We continued strolling the next day, through the elegant French Quarter
that made you wonder: ‘Am I still in India? Funny. I can’t hear any honks’. Our
path led us straight to the ocean and then back to shop, following some typical
French cuisine. Negotiations, try-ons, and smiles were high on our list for two
hours – together with the humidity –, as I was simply marvelling at the quality
of the trousers, skirts, dresses, bags, earrings. Considering how crazy I am
about accessories and clothes, it was a treat for me to find so many items that
made me play ‘mix and match’ in my head, over and over again.
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| The French Quarter |
Late in the afternoon, we walked to Sri Aurobindo Paper Factory.
Although the employees there were not the most extraordinary, the items sold were.
We kept looking at them for some tens of minutes, while trying to choose presents
for our friends back home, figuring out the space they would take up in our
bags, at the same time.
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| No pictures allowed inside :) |
Spontaneously, we decided to go to the cinema. It was Saturday evening,
after all. We were helped by the very kind owner of the guesthouse. Balcony
seats – checked. Next to aisle – checked. Transportation to and from the cinema
– checked (and recommended). It was a very different, yet fun experience.
Nowhere in the world did I witness so many reactions from the audience. Nowhere
in the world did I witness intermission for movies. Ours was about three hours
long.
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| Ready to rumble |
On our last day in Puducherry, we went by scooter to Auroville. It was a
very soothing experience. The idea of a universal city, which would promote the
true values of our World, is a good one and I fully support it, if there’s no
hidden agenda involved.
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| The red earth of Auroville |
I didn’t actually understand if locals loved it or
hated it, the opinions seemed mixed; the thing to be mentioned, however,
is that Auroville ‘empire’ stretched a lot. Indeed, there are exquisite items
sold, though a bit overpriced even for European wallets. But it is the way in
which the community survives [or so we’ve heard]. There are some strong, but
positive vibes when you find yourself watching the Matrimandir,
Auroville’s soul, the red earth, or the old banyan trees.
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| The Matrimandir |
How could have we bid Puducherry farewell otherwise than paying a visit
to one of its many beaches? We chose Serenity. Close to sunset, the water was
warm, but the rip tide was tricky. Marcel sat beside a very kind fisherman
watching him work and asking him about the fish that he usually catches.
A tranquil end to three beautiful days. In Romanian folklore, three is a
magical number and always brings good luck. As I tasted one last chocolate cake
and watched the pictures taken on the guesthouse rooftop, enjoying the breeze
induced by the fan, I realised that indeed, magic had struck.
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