So soon after coming back from R&R, WAY back in September, my friend Amy is like-we have a long weekend, want to go somewhere? I was like-sure, but I can't spend energy planning. So she said-no problem! We are going to Pondicherry!
So we did. She got there a few days before I did, scoped the place, and we had a great girls only weekend.
I also shamelessly took some of her pictures from her blog. And after reading her blog, I am going to incorporate some elements to jazz mine up. You will see...
Amy's Favorite Photo
This is a great photo that Amy took. She calls it a teaching photo because it is so rich with lessons.
The dog sign: reference to the men peeing on streets everywhere. They just whip it out and go when nature calls. We call them MORPS (Man on Road Peeing) thanks to Courtney and Scott.
There is also the French road sign with what I presume is the road name on it in Tamil
Trash everywhere
And items signifying a blessing or good wish gesture with marigolds and that red fruit.
Oh this is right by our B&B.
My Favorite Photo
I took this while walking on the boardwalk area near the ocean.
I love the message in the background-really the first place I have seen a public service announcement in English for wearing helmets.
Very long tangent coming
I am not sure if I have captured it in the blog, but folks here not only cram up to 5 people on a scooter, but maybe one (and usually the driver) is wearing a helmet. Actually, one night we went through an intersection with a guy who had been hit on a motorcycle and he was lying in a pool of blood from his head. I still get shivers when I go through that intersection.
Also, the dog just lying there too hot to move. Total dog days of summer. And of course Delhi has stray dogs everywhere. Pondicherry less so.
Around town
A more modern graffiti.
You can tell this was once an amazing building, and has been a bit ruined
You can see how wide the streets are. And relatively no one on it. In full disclosure I took this around 2 and it was near 100 degrees, but still would NEVER see something this empty in Delhi.
This man is moving part of a sidewalk down the road.
Anyone need dentures made on the side of the road?
Bakery we stopped at on Sunday. This is a French baker, with a British name/outside and Japanese inspired inside.
Our yummy pastries.
Amy in the bakery checking out the decor.
There is something wrong about this toilet sign.
Churches and other religious places
These were workers at one of the local churches. They asked me to take their photo.
Outside of the church
Amy and I called this the Vegas churchbcause of all the neon signs and flashy lights. It is hard to see in day, but it was awesome. See the ticker running under the glowing lit up Jesus?
Mary is here in a sari.
Beach scene
Guys taking a nap on the boardwalk.
Trash, diesel back up generator, and the beach behind. Vendors lining the beach.
A big tribute to Gandhi in the middle of everything.
Our Hotel Gratitude
We stayed at a nice place called Hotel Gratitude. It is owned by two women who were just delightful. They sat with us at breakfast and told us of their life journey to become hotel owners-free spirits who are fiercly independent and driven at the same time. Imagine why I liked it? It was really a highliht of the place.
Outside view
took this from a charming little seating area in the inner courtyard
Upstairs where our room was located.
Me in courtyard
The lovely courtyard. Breakfast is in the doors on teh left, sitting area straight and also through the other door. All outdoors and so lovely, quiet, peaceful. Hard to find in a country of 1.2 billion.
Our delightful cook. One of the innovations the owners have is to teach their staff many skills, and always work to develop them professionally. Very different from what we have seen elsewhere where workers have skills that are very segmented and specific.
Breakfast table. Yummy jam included!
Ganesh
Our peaceful room.
No comments:
Post a Comment