I have been thinking of Pondi trip for awhile now... was waiting for the heat days to get over. Also, thought it would be a good trip with a companion, but sure it did not work out for obvious reasons. I decided I will do a lone trip. It was not eazy, I was contemplating till the last minute - I booked the hotel / bus on Thursday couple hours before the bus departure and then told my parents - they were surprised and concerned that i was traveling alone. But did not have much to say due to short notice.
Its been awhile since I have traveled long distance in a bus, maybe to Tirupati (a known terrain) last year around this time - else, I avoid bus journey for so many reasons.... (my feet get dirty is the most silliest reason i can think of). Well, I was sitting in the bus even before I knew it was real. It was a seat in the last row, it was only me and another stranger in those last seats... the road was bumpy all through out, i couldn't sleep through the night as i was anxious. Overall it wasn't bad - the bus arrived into pondi at 5:20am, it was a 5min auto-rickshaw ride to my hotel - Vila bayoud... by the sea. I sea road was blocked for morning walks, so I had to walk a block from where the auto stopped. To my surprise the hotel main door was locked (a narrow passage wooden high gate), I tried knocking but no response. So, I sat on the bench outside the hotel overlooking the beach and waited. It had one of the beautiful mornings, a lot of people doing their morning exercises and i just sat there looking at the sunrise while the dark clouds vanished. At 6am, I heard the wooden gate open.. I went up to see and the guy was a bit taken back. I then told him about my booking...we went in, did the checkin and he handed over the room keys directing me to the first floor. I locked myself and crashed on the bed to get some sleep - I then woke up after couple of hours, and I was ready for my vacation.
The hotel was a vila ... with 14 rooms.. beautifully placed overlooking the beach (my room wasn't sea facing and it didn't matter, I wasn't going to sit in my room all day long). I rented a scooter (helpful hotel staff), took directions to Aurovile and I headed out. The drive was short but it seemed long due to the heat. On the way, I was stopped by an old woman asking for lift - I instantly stopped (I wouldn't have done this if it was in Blore) and asked where she wanted to go in my own version of Tamil - she guided me while she carefully sat on the scooter - 5min ride and she talked abt her daughter, SIL, grandkids and her son, while her family took care of her really well, she mentioned she was still working (selling vegies at the market) to keep herself active. I dropped her till her home, she invited me to have lunch - but I was too shy to accept her invitation, bid good bye and left from there (felt so good interacting with her).
I explored Aurovile a bit, spent lot of time walking around the place and then sat at the cafe for lunch. Watched people busy in their conversations, kids, friends, family... I guess, I was the only lone wanderer :).. To my surprise, I bumped into 2 Target girls at Aurovile - I am like not here too .. :). Well, it was a short conversation and I was on my own. On my way back, I lost my way, I then took locals help to find my way back (my Tamil wasn't bad at all). Sweat did not stop dripping, I was tired by the time i got back into the town.. so I got to my room, refreshed and started again. Visited the ashram, sat there for awhile to meditate (a wonderful experience), then drove around every street exploring... then parked my self right abt dinner time at this place called 'la maison rose' - a banglow with boutique + cafe restaurant in the backyard. Beautiful ambience, there was no one yet...sat there with a book and a glass of red wine till my dinner was served. Got back to the hotel and ended my day while i continued to read the book i started.
Day2- Woke up around 6am and went for a walk by the sea. I saw couple of people letting go of Ganesha into the sea (festival tradition). It was not like the Bombay drill, this looked really simple, they were clay ganesha of 1-foot long. I sat by the sea for sometime, the black rocks were mesmerising and wanted to try out couple of yoga poses. But was not gutsy enough to just do it...again, what the hell... that was the only day I had and I had to do it. I asked a onlooker couple who sat there to take a picture for me while I quickly got down to the lowest rock to do my yoga poses :).... that was really cool I thought. I then walked around a bit and got back to my room. I stayed in the room, started late as I had to checkout first and do other stuff. Well, I was traveling back that same night. Yes, just a 2day trip. I kept the scooter for day 2, left my bag at the reception and wandered around again. Visited one of the oldest ganesh temple around there, a church, then explored some of the local stores and conversations with the store owners.... found another cafe for lunch, sat there reading for couple hours. I still had a lot of time that afternoon and a tank full scooter at my disposal. I just kept driving around pondi lanes from one end to other... stopping by every store or cafe.. took pictures of pondi lanes, its architecture.. the place is beautiful (this is so unlike me, no selfies on this trip). I came here 3yrs ago and the place has changed a bit since then. There are fewer local stores, some big brands creeping in... which i did not like. I wish there is lot of encouragement for the local stores to sustain. I finally landed at 'la maison rose' again for dinner.. now the staff probably recognise me :). After dinner...I headed back to the hotel, handed over the bike, settled the bills, picked bag headed to the Bus Stop. The bus was on time and this was a non-air condition bus (i wasnt aware when i booked), sweat still dripping ..waited for the bus to move to get some air. I got home at 5:30am and straight in to my room, locked and slept - woke up when one of my colleague called me to ask me about tomorrows meeting. Well, it took me few seconds to recall what that meeting was about .. bringing me back to reality.
Wow! I didn't know I could do this (I have traveled alone on work but never alone like this, my first time). what a wonderful feeling it is? I still cant believe I am back from pondi. Such a lovely place...it kept me grounded, no complaints throughout ...enjoyed every moment...I went with no expectations, I was absolutely ok for the last seat in the bus, i enjoyed the sea view while i waited for hotel to open their gates, I enjoyed the heat/sweat dripping on me while i drove to Aruovile, while i beautifully got tanned, no makeup on this trip, embraced every bit.. there was no rush to get to any where.. there was no expectations.. or trying to make someone happy.., no phone calls from anyone.. time and now i went up to look at FB thats about it (i am trying to get away from FB, lets see). It was a wonderful trip and I should do this more often.
Traveling alone by bus to pondi was something I would have not thought of nor would have tried. While I sat in the bus back to bangalore, thinking abt my trip, feeling good abt it.... I was embracing life.. simple people around me, all age groups, all kinds, a young girl who sat next to me was going back to work after a short visit to her parents, they waved at eachother endlessly till they lost sight of the other.. and while I watching this, I looked out to see a White Sunroof Audi with PY registration driving by my side of the window... it looked mesmerising, but I felt happy siting in the bus while the wind blew into my face. Little pleasures of life is what i am watching out for.
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