Pondicherry

Finding accommodation in Pondicherry is not an easy task, especially if you want to be near the sea. We left our bags in the bus station luggage place and took a rikshaw to a place in our guide book. The room was dark, dingy and more expensive than we wanted so we walked round for hours up and down levy roads all which connected in a grid type shape. There are lots of Ashram guest houses all which have 10.30pm curfews but are cheap enough is you don't mind being in bed at that time of night. Then like a vision from no where we see the French Hotel. It is a small box room cleaned to within an inch of its life and 500 rupees a night with air-con so we take it for 3 nights. We couldn't find any where else and couldn't be bothered to look anymore. Dinner is at Pizza Hut then we find Coffeedotcom for a real cup of coffee.

Aurovil

Ben gets chatting to the owner who studied at Leeds University in 1978 and has been to our home town Huddersfield many times, most of which were spent in a drunken state. He tells us about his elaborate plans to open a hotel here in August of this year so if you come here and can afford a bit of luxury book it, it sound amazing. The coffee shop has wireless internet so I can bring my laptop in and we spend hours chatting on microphone and webcam to family back home.

Church

We didn't do much sight seeing; the rikshaw that we hired for a few hours was an experience. He did however take us to Auroville which is a weird place even though we told him we couldn't afford to go there so he never charged us for the journey.

We take the train to Trichey which is our next port of call.

To be continued. . . . .

Promanade view

Sign of the times

The bain of my life

Whats in a name

Would you stay here