[SS-Traveller]

It's Wednesday morning, and I'm out for a walk,
I'm craving a cuppa, as folks for breakfast flock.
To tiffin shops like this along the sidewalk.





The traffic cop in his very French kepi stops by,
Writing tickets for the bikes he can spy.
I walk back to our hotel with a sigh.



Crêpe in Touch, the crêperie next door,
We decided, should be skipped no more.
We'd missed eating there before!









We read the history of how Crêpe in Touch was set up
In 2013, as our craving for a great breakfast built up.
We need those crêpes, as well as my coffee cup!







Lemon soda


Molene


Caramelized apple crêpe


Expected truly classic crêpes, considering the hype,
But our Cordon Bleu chef is disappointed by the type
Of food served, she certainly wanted to gripe.

La Molene lacked sufficient mozzarella and tomato
In it, but really well-made, was the pesto.
The apples were overcooked and soggy, you know!

The lemon soda was nice, but the café latte was watery,
The Americano was good, so it's a matter of lottery,
Whether what you're served is wholly satisfactory.

[SS-Traveller]

Late in the morning, with our breakfast done,
We start off for our Mahabalipuram run.
It's a warm day, with an unrelenting sun.

The ECR drive is smooth and nice,
The Creta cruises well, the AC chilling like ice.
We stop for green coconuts at a high price.











It has been very long since we had tasted the kernels of the palmyra palm,
They're called talshash in Bengal (and nungu in Tamil), and rarely do these come
In Delhi markets, so enjoy these we did, though we paid a bomb.

[SS-Traveller]

At Mahabalipuram we checked in
At the Hotel Mahabs, away from the din
Of traffic and noise, the rooms were clean.











The location was perfect, hidden amongst green;
On the one side, the Shore Temple can be seen,
While on the other, the Arjuna's Penance scene.



The lunch at their restaurant
Was wholesome, if you don't want
French foods like the croissant.

Chicken spring rolls and fried calamari


Sweet lime juice

[SS-Traveller]

Later in the afternoon, we take a leisurely stroll
To go see Arjuna's Penance & Krishna's Butterball.
The carvings are rich, the sights enthrall!

https://youtu.be/leAsNSrPWI8

Tickets need to be bought online,
Covid-19 means there shouldn't be a line.
It's fairly empty on a weekday afternoon - that's fine.



Some carvings (including Arjuna's Penance) can be viewed
Without buying a ticket, if that be your mood.
The structures inside the ticketed area, you must also include!























Beyond this ticketed zone
Are the Ganesha and Varaha temple shown,
The butterball stands tall, lovers find spots lone.

[SS-Traveller]

For our evening meal, we got a terrible deal,
Seafood platter of stale fish, rubbery prawns. We'll
Never recommend Seashore Restaurant - they steal!









They replaced the fish,
But it was still rubbish,
Should have gone elsewhere, we wish.



For dessert, Mumbai Kulfi was a chance find;
The choices and varieties blew our mind.
Guava, gulkand, cardamom - flavours of every unique kind.

[SS-Traveller]

The next morning (9th December 2021) is the last day of our holiday,
We are yet to visit the Shore Temple by the bay.
But before that, a good breakfast to start the day!

Hotel Mahabs has an elaborate breakfast buffet
Free for guests who, over there, stay.
The heavy morning meal would keep hunger away.





And now, off to visit the Shore Temple we go,
The sun is hot, it's humid, there's no wind flow.
No Need For Speed, we'll just go slow!



It's rained a lot the previous week in Mahabalipuram,
And there's a flood in front of the Baby Feeding Room!
Someone needs to clean up here with a broom.





So to the Shore Temple we trudge for the view,
Beneath the burning sun and a sky deep blue.
It is a glorious structure, though tourists are few.









Mahishasuramardini Rock

https://youtu.be/FMyehI13PB0

[SS-Traveller]

Our last stop before we drive back to the airport,
Is to meet up with a new friend, who decides to escort
Us to the Searock Restaurant, for seafood of the best sort!















Muthukumaran, owner of the Searock Restaurant






We're still too full after breakfast - all I want is a cup of coffee,
But the owner, Muthu, has been old friends with our new friend Gopi;
So he insists that we try his special platter of creatures from the sea!





The snapper is fresh, prawns, crabs, calamari perfectly cooked.
Despite our full tummies, we are inexorably hooked
To the temptation of the palate, indigestion overlooked!

It is even more tempting to watch the live lobster tank
And wish we had more space in our stomach, to be frank.
One day, we'll return here for fresh lobsters, without breaking the bank!





On the beach in front, fisherfolk bring in fresh catch,
But how do they pull up their boats on to the dry patch?
I made this video, which might be interesting to watch!

https://youtu.be/WtQDYNeM2O8

We met, on the way back to Chennai,
Spike Arrestor, who treated us to tea.
Thus ended a marvellous journey.

I hope I haven't annoyed you with this travelogue in verse,
The food pics may have ruined your keyboard - that's worse.
It's already the New Year, so I send you greetings diverse!

: : : T H E ~ E N D : : :

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[comfortablynumb]

There was a foodie Dr. from New Delhi,
Who always thought of what next to put in his belly,
Chicken, Mutton, Fish he found everything yummy,
And fruit salad was the favourite of his tummy,
But only when topped up with some jelly.

Brilliant thread. Brought back memories of my time in Chennai from 2000-2004, when I used to frequently visit Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry with friends on my humble Splendor.

Happy New Year and thanks for the nostalgia trip!

[ABHI_1512]

The food you guys had on the trip,
Made sure the saliva drip
It’s moments and trips like the one you had
Which makes even memories look like a fad

Pondicherry is blissfully a foodie’s paradise
Only if you manage to perfectly roll the dice
You guys did that with aplomb
Even missing Le Dupliex didn’t sound like a sore thumb

Wishing more trips and annoying moments to you all, it was a joy to go through this lovely juxtaposition of words. Many thanks for sharing the travel, just revisited many a places which I travelled some years back. Happy new year to you all and wishes on the silver anniversary of your getting bonded.

Sharing the travel link here, too many similarities in terms of food and pictures

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...-calcutta.html (Pondicherry, Ooty, Coorg & Mysore from Calcutta)

[vigsom]

This thread will go down in the Guinness Book as the longest thread in the history of team-bhp.com. You're gradually getting younger and naughtier, Dada. Beautiful log, which showcases Pondicherry better than the tourism dept.

Although I've been in the south for many years, I never ever drove to Pondicherry because the roads in town have become narrower, and there are a whole lot of parking restrictions. The nongu and the tender coconut are roadside delights, but it is common practice for vendors to overcharge by a mile if we don't speak the local lingo.

[SinghShu]

This is a mind blowing thread. Details, pictures and the description took me back to my trip. Relished each and every word and it was like I am transported back in time.

Thank you for this!

[clix22]

Superbly written. We are part time citizens of Pondicherry (otherwise we are Bombaywallas). Fellow Tbhp members are welcome to stay at our place just outside Auroville.

[vikispeaks]

Having lived in Pondicherry for close to half my life this brings back wonderful memories. And the exceptional writing had me hooked the entire way. What a way to start the New year. Thanks for this.

[RaghavEvoX]

This is a great read.
Have been to Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry multiple times and seen almost everything in the pictures.
But those that looked quite normal to me is seen from a different perspective which was exciting to read.

But 2 things I have to mention.

1.Our street has at least 5 coconut trees in almost every household but still coconuts are sold for 50 bucks in the market. So its not that locals get cheap and they steal from outsiders. (They steal from locals too !!)

2.This is a constant complaint that no one speaks Hindi in Tamilnadu. It's the same feeling when we travel to Northern states when no one speaks Tamil there. It is fine when we are not able to speak to someone and still able to communicate. That's part of the travel experience.

And your poetic way of summarizing the trip was amazing.