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Old 12th December 2021, 14:02   #1
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Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram

A quarter of a century, I gather,
Is a long time to have spent together.
The date was the 6th of December.

So where do we want to go?
We are hardcore foodies, you know,
Good food is important, but vegetarian? NO!!

Over a month was spent in finding & planning
The destination where we would be heading.
Somewhere new, that won’t leave the pocket bleeding.

To find us a place where food isn’t a worry,
We finally decided to head to Pondicherry.
And Mahabalipuram too. What’s a cake without a topping of cherry?

The first thought was, let’s drive all the way there,
But the family thought that it would be unfair
To spend almost a week cooped up in the car.

So it was decided, we would fly
To Chennai
And Revv (Revv self-drive car rentals with doorstep delivery) our way to places nigh.

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Finding a hotel is always a chore.
Rooms offer 2 beds, we want more.
Searching online leaves fingers sore.

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Old 13th December 2021, 19:49   #2
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Booked our hotels, booked our car, for the 5th of December,
Packed our bags like we’re going to war.
Flight’s late, so a Macca’s brekkie is the need of the hour.

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Don’t bother to swear at unruly scenes,
The airport’s all automated, with Cuss Machines.
Worries about flight delay end, laughter begins.

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We’d booked an XUV3OO, but Revv did better,
They upgraded us to a Hyundai Creta.
Soon we’re on our way to the ECR.

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Our first stop was at a restaurant called ECR Border Parotta
We needed lunch, and we required to drink water.
Compared to Delhi, this region was so much hotter.

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The Chettinad Chicken and Chicken 65 were yum,
The parottas were flaky, we ate ‘em to the last crumb.
Chicken Kothu Parottas were too heavy, we left behind some.

Chicken Chettinad
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Chicken 65
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Parotta
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Chicken Kothu Parotta
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Old 13th December 2021, 21:38   #3
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Stopped for some green coconuts on the way,
Annoyingly, thirty rupees each, we had to pay.
Locals who speak Tamil, pay a lot less, okay?

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It was smooth sailing to the TN-PY border,
Everything seemed to be in order.
Then the RTO chap speaking no Hindi or English made me madder.

Called the Revv helpline
The chaps talked in Tamil, and everything was fine.
We reached our hotel just a little behind time.

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Veeras Residency, a brand-new hotel, was an excellent find,
3 regular beds to a room (and free covered parking) for us to unwind
In the heart of White Town - and the manager, Gopal, was very kind.

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Old 17th December 2021, 20:44   #4
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Re: Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram

We’d made a list of places we want to eat at, in Pondicherry,
Thanks to a Team-BHP thread (A Guide: Eating out in Pondicherry), we didn't have too much to worry.
Crêpe in Touch is next door to our hotel, closes at 6 pm, so next time we'll hurry.

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We'd listed 32 eateries, but we're sure we wouldn't cover even half.
We're hoping we wouldn't miss out on most of the good stuff,
'Cos for foodies, missing out on good food is not a matter to laugh.

It’s evening, the sun has gone down, and we are ready for a walk.
The Rock Beach isn’t too far, so we want to walk there and back.
Le Café on the beach is our choice for a drink and snack.

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Their food is just average, the self-service counter is slow,
But Le Café's location is excellent, you know!
Right on the beach, with the music of the waves below.

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A short distance from Le Cafe, the statue of the Father of the Nation
Smilingly, watches over folks enjoying their evening recreation.
We sit a while on the beach, admiring Nature's creation.

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Old 20th December 2021, 21:29   #5
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We walk around the shore, we walk some more,
We read the writing on the French Memorial of War,
Then shopping for trinkets at the Crafts Bazaar.

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It is the month of Christmas, and it's time for celebrations,
Churches and streets are bedecked with decorations.
We take pictures of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.

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Dinnertime arrives too soon, and we are hungry from our walk.
Near our hotel, we had noted a café just around the block.
We head to the Cafe Xtasi, it's already after 8 o'clock.

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Meat Madness Pizza
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Batter Fry Golden Prawns
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Our chef loved the food, it was that good,
Except the ice cream, that could
Have, in a freezer, for a long time stood.

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Old 21st December 2021, 09:04   #6
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Re: Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram

It is the 6th of December, a brand-new day,
Our wedding was solemnized 25 years away.
To mark this day, we shall visit Auroville today.

But before that, Gopal (the manager at Veeras Residency) sends us this
Huge breakfast platter (included in the room tariff) as a room service!
3 such trays, that's impossible for us to finish.

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Auroville is a peaceful place
That we visit at a slow pace.
The sights put a smile on our face.

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The Visitors' Centre has much in store,
A café, shops, and information galore.
We head first to the Matrimandir, at Auroville's core.

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Old 21st December 2021, 13:01   #7
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The sight of the Matrimandir from afar
Is wonderful, like watching a golden star.
Covid-19 restrictions mean there is an entry bar.

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We walk till the viewing point and admire the sight,
The golden globe in the distance glows in the muted sunlight.
Enjoy the photos, there's really not much to write!

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We hop on to a shuttle and return to the Visitors' Centre,
There's many a shop that we need to enter,
To find a fridge magnet that would please her.

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The Right Path Café looks inviting,
And this is where we would be dining.
The menu certainly looks very tempting.

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Mushroom tart with salad, accompanied by pineapple juice
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Roast chicken with salad & roast potatoes
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The food we had, gets a full 5 stars,
It's made fresh, not preserved in jars,
Service was quick, didn't take hours.

A friendly cat watched us eat,
It cuddled up to us, it wanted to meet
But it wasn't really asking for a treat!

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Old 21st December 2021, 20:24   #8
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Back from Auroville, we opt for a siesta
Before setting out again for a dinner fiesta.
We plan to go to a restaurant called Satsanga.

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It was a long walk, so it was disappointing to find
Satsanga wasn't operational, leaving us in a bind.
On our way, we'd left a number of restaurants behind!

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Not too far away, there's Villa Helena at the next junction
That looks good, and should serve our function.
For an elaborate dinner tonight, we have a compulsion!

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Fried baby calamari with tartar sauce
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Sweet & sour crispy prawns with sesame
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Roasted pork chop with coriander seeds, chimichurri sauce & creamy polenta
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Grilled steak fillet with homemade herbed butter, green beans & roasted potato wedges
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The verdict on the food: some of it was good, and some great.
Lacked seasoning in some, portion sizes were too small for the plate.
The seafood was some of the best we have had to date.

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Old 22nd December 2021, 18:52   #9
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After the dinner, we can assert
That we needed a course of dessert.
The humidity left me with a wet shirt.

Those mango slivers look delicious
And can also well be so nutritious,
But food kept in the open looks suspicious!

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So we left the Villa Helena area
And headed to the Gelateria
Montecatini Terme on this secunda feria.

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GMT's ice creams come in unique flavours,
The perfect place for us dessert cravers.
We order a half dozen, that each of us savours.

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Old 23rd December 2021, 12:51   #10
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The next morning, we ventured out to catch the sunrise,
It was cloudy at dawn, and the sun was hidden in the skies.
Lost some sleep - that's annoying - we're late to bed and early to rise.

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Never mind the sun, we have more gastronomic intent,
The hotel breakfast isn't going to make us content.
So off to Baker Street for some French delicacies we went.

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Pain au chocolat (lower right), raisin escargot (top left), almond croissant (lower left), brioche (top right), fresh orange juice
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Chicken & olive quiche
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Tuna sandwich
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Brioche, tuna sandwich, almond croissant, pain au chocolat, coffee,
The shelves are full of goodies, sweet, savoury and cheesy.
Then there's the quiche, pronounced keesh, not quickie!

By French standards, Baker Street isn't too yummy but just looks shiny,
The sandwich baguette was really good, but the filling of tuna was tiny.
The coffee was watery, quiche overcooked, almond croissant was doughy.

Last edited by SS-Traveller : 27th December 2021 at 15:10.
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Old 26th December 2021, 11:12   #11
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Re: Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram

From Baker Street to the Aurobindo Ashram
Is a short distance without any traffic jam.
But new shoes were pinching the foot of Ma'am.

So we decided to take a rickshaw there,
Which refused to travel on metered fare
And charged us 3 times more than is fair.

Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram-20211207_103708.jpg

We spend some time visiting the Aurobindo Ashram first,
Then drinking green coconut water to slake our thirst.
The beggars and eunuchs heckling tourists are the worst!

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The Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple is nearby; a Thar is blessed
Before its owner sets off on long drives or off-road quest.
We head to the beach, and the Chief Secretariat next.

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Strange are the names of the streets in this city.
Some sound weird on the Indian tongue - that's a pity.
But the houses are old-style and look very pretty.

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The Northern Reef Monument
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Last edited by SS-Traveller : 1st January 2022 at 18:37.
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Old 27th December 2021, 22:29   #12
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We wander back to our hotel, shopping a bit,
The Hidesign Factory Outlet is a big hit.
Purses, handbags, belts, a bill rather large is writ!

Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram-20211207_123905-hidesign.jpg

We take a peek into many other shops
Just for the pleasure of making stops.
Some have interesting stuff, many are megaflops!

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Last edited by SS-Traveller : 28th December 2021 at 19:44.
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Old 28th December 2021, 20:06   #13
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In the afternoon, we set off to explore
Arikamedu, a Roman ruin near the shore.
We find an overgrown jungle, entry allowed no more.

One could perhaps walk into that jungle and see
The ruins, but for the sake of our own safety,
We decide to forego venturing into grass as tall as one's knee!

Nearby is the Veerampattinam beach,
Serene, with no noisy tourists, just the screech
Of birds, and the wind carrying away our speech.

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Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram-veerampattinam-1.jpg

Long-tail boats have always been a feature of Thailand.
Seems that the fisherfolk here have evolved hand-in-hand.
Long tail is present on all the boats parked on the sand.

Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram-veerampattinam-3.jpg

The lone crow quickly feasts on a crab.
Fishermen repair their nets as they sit on the road and gab.
This funeral procession has fireworks - that's fab!

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Last edited by SS-Traveller : 29th December 2021 at 13:14.
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Old 29th December 2021, 13:31   #14
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Back in White Town, we look for a place to park,
And admire some beautiful buildings that hark
Back to the olden days when the French left their mark.

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It's past 4 o'clock, our breakfast long digested,
We want a late lunch, at a place not congested.
Escape In looks attractive, a balcony seat we requested.

The view from the first floor
Of the waves crashing on the shore
Is glorious, say no more!

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Potato wedges
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Fish 'n' chips
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Prawn pasta in saffron sauce
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Squid pepper fry
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We loved Escape In, though it wasn't even on our original list,
They serve comfort food, the cooking isn't traditionalist.
Just ask them to go easy on the chilies, that's the gist.

Last edited by SS-Traveller : 29th December 2021 at 21:13.
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Old 29th December 2021, 21:13   #15
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Re: Eat, Pray, Laugh | Our Silver Anni-verse-ary / Annoy-versary Trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram

The next few hours we happily spent
Relaxing on the beach, with the scent
Of the sea and sand making us feel content.

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This evening, we've planned another gala dinner,
And we are hoping Les Saveurs will be a winner.
At this rate of eating, we won't get any thinner!

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The lobster thermidor was classically made, but
It wasn't served in a lobster shell, as we thought.
The steak was just right, medium rare, as we sought.

Lobster Thermidor
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Steak au poivre
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Last edited by SS-Traveller : 30th December 2021 at 19:05.
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