On route to Pondicherry we stopped at a French style cafe, where we all had lunch. I had a veg baguette and an ice cream, was all very tasty but very over priced for INDIA.
We finally arrived at Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry). We checked into our hotel Abirami Residency which was very pleasant. We had free time until the evening, so Emmanuel and I decided to explore the city around our hotel. It reminded me of the crazy North, it was ever so busy and you cannot walk down a road without someone hooting you! We ended up spending our three hours walking down windy roads and going into the vast gold jewellery shops which was an interesting event. All the gold stores where huge with masses of stock and so many staff! They were like department stores and you get offered drinks! Very bizarre.
We then arrived back about 4 ready to go to the French colony of India. We first visited and learnt about Sri Aurobindo Ghose at the ashram. We took our shoes off before entering the ashram. It was a very strange thing, as soon as you walk in you cannot talk. You walk in then walk round two tombs and then people are sitting on the floor meditating, so we went and joined for 10 minutes. It was really peaceful but I’m not good at being quiet for that long!
Pondicherry is the largest French Colony in India and an important trading town. There is a strong French influence in the city's layout, with wide boulevards and French-style houses, but the city is
undoubtedly Indian. We then had a free evening to explore the city, so we walked down the sea front which was so peaceful and there was a lot of Indians in saris watching the waves. In the middle of the seafront was Ghandis statue, this was very impressive. We walked round markets and shops and then went for dinner at a swanky rooftop bar called Rondevous, it was delicious!