Some trips are good, some are great because of the location, but the best ones are because you are happy throughout the trip, and the ones where you are in great company. My third Pondicherry sojourn falls in the latter category.
So it is but natural to introduce the people I travelled with, in no particular order.
The independent woman, yet knows how to balance the people around her, Gowri, and her husband Babu, who seems quiet and matured, but is a naughty soul. And not to forget, so passionate a dancer, that the dance instructor at Club Mahindra gave up and declared him the best... And, of course, their two daughters, Shweta, a fun loving, pretty teenager; Harita, a totally focussed young girl, akin to Haley and Alex Dunphy from the TV series 'Modern Family'!
A high energy Yoga Bar, complete with an eclectic collection of T-shirts, and a very generous soul, that is Murali. His better half, Swathi, beautiful, on the inside and out, a very down-to earth soul, she's the kind you can laugh and laugh with. Kishan, the handsome mini Yoga Bar, and Kruti the youngest on this trip, was the perfect baby. She's so peaceful inside, just like her mom.
That brings me to Sudha, a true gentlewoman, we had many long conversations, being roommates as we were... She's the one who reminded me that it's good to just be yourself, and the reason I got my first swimsuit. Of course, now I must learn to swim ;) Her better half, Doc, is a unique blend of old-fashioned and modernistic views. Sometimes, I think this is what enables him to get his way in every situation. And yes, he was the second best dancer on this trip :) Their son Cavin, is a combination of of young energy that is shy and creative, just waiting to bloom.
Praveena is the gentle soul, she can laugh unrestrained, it is a beautiful sound. For only those who don't retain negativity can laugh like that. Her daughter Prakruti is a cutie pie and a child I connect to very easily. Pranavya , their second daughter, a toddler is another little bundle of smiles that can make the hardest heart go soft. Now Praveena's better half, I must introduce as part of an unlikely couple.
Now, dear reader, ain't it obvious? This is a couple who's common love is food. They would begin with a minimum of two bowls of soup, and end when the buffet ends... The gentleman in green is Immanuel, and the one in red is Praveena's better half, Balaji. (I know, both of you "gentle" men want to beat me up, as you read this.) All joking aside, not many men can respect cooking as these two can. And, I mean that in all earnest.
Now, seriously though, Immanuel is an intense young man, who is enroute to accomplishing great things. Balaji, a few years ahead, is straight - forward, bold, and an awesome TT player.
Last, but the most mysterious character of this series, Sankesh, kept disappearing through out the trip, I have sent out spies to ascertain where he was, but to no avail ;)
So readers, don't you think this is an awesome group? And why this trip turned out to be among the best and most memorable ones?
We met at Coimbatore, on Monday evening, proceeded for dinner at Annapoorna, following, from what I hear, an extremely giddy journey downhill, from Ooty. A group like this one is constantly high on life. So much so, that the waiters there kept trying to quiet us down, to no avail. It took Murali, quite a bit of ragging to come out of his "sales" mode to holiday mode.
Our bus was scheduled to leave at midnight, so we whiled away a little time at Balaji's apartment, where a fight for chocolate fudge broke out. Some dessert (s) later, we left, and soon were travelling on a sleeper coach, onwards to Puducherry. I was so exhausted from laughing that I slept like a log. We reached around five, all of us rolled out of the bus like cartoon characters, took auto rickshaws to a hotel nearby.
A few hours later, refreshed and a large breakfast was indulged in, the group boarded a minivan. The driver, for unknown reasons, took us a boathouse-cum-beach. One look at a care free soul lying in the sand, sun-bathing, and the group decided our freedom lay at the resort. So then, on-wards to the resort.
We arrived, in style.
A high energy Yoga Bar, complete with an eclectic collection of T-shirts, and a very generous soul, that is Murali. His better half, Swathi, beautiful, on the inside and out, a very down-to earth soul, she's the kind you can laugh and laugh with. Kishan, the handsome mini Yoga Bar, and Kruti the youngest on this trip, was the perfect baby. She's so peaceful inside, just like her mom.
That brings me to Sudha, a true gentlewoman, we had many long conversations, being roommates as we were... She's the one who reminded me that it's good to just be yourself, and the reason I got my first swimsuit. Of course, now I must learn to swim ;) Her better half, Doc, is a unique blend of old-fashioned and modernistic views. Sometimes, I think this is what enables him to get his way in every situation. And yes, he was the second best dancer on this trip :) Their son Cavin, is a combination of of young energy that is shy and creative, just waiting to bloom.
Praveena is the gentle soul, she can laugh unrestrained, it is a beautiful sound. For only those who don't retain negativity can laugh like that. Her daughter Prakruti is a cutie pie and a child I connect to very easily. Pranavya , their second daughter, a toddler is another little bundle of smiles that can make the hardest heart go soft. Now Praveena's better half, I must introduce as part of an unlikely couple.
 |
| The buffet couple! |
Now, dear reader, ain't it obvious? This is a couple who's common love is food. They would begin with a minimum of two bowls of soup, and end when the buffet ends... The gentleman in green is Immanuel, and the one in red is Praveena's better half, Balaji. (I know, both of you "gentle" men want to beat me up, as you read this.) All joking aside, not many men can respect cooking as these two can. And, I mean that in all earnest.
Now, seriously though, Immanuel is an intense young man, who is enroute to accomplishing great things. Balaji, a few years ahead, is straight - forward, bold, and an awesome TT player.
Last, but the most mysterious character of this series, Sankesh, kept disappearing through out the trip, I have sent out spies to ascertain where he was, but to no avail ;)
So readers, don't you think this is an awesome group? And why this trip turned out to be among the best and most memorable ones?
Our bus was scheduled to leave at midnight, so we whiled away a little time at Balaji's apartment, where a fight for chocolate fudge broke out. Some dessert (s) later, we left, and soon were travelling on a sleeper coach, onwards to Puducherry. I was so exhausted from laughing that I slept like a log. We reached around five, all of us rolled out of the bus like cartoon characters, took auto rickshaws to a hotel nearby.
A few hours later, refreshed and a large breakfast was indulged in, the group boarded a minivan. The driver, for unknown reasons, took us a boathouse-cum-beach. One look at a care free soul lying in the sand, sun-bathing, and the group decided our freedom lay at the resort. So then, on-wards to the resort.
We arrived, in style.
Even before we checked into our rooms, a dance class had begun. We danced for almost an hour, which is when our great dancer, Babu won accolades from the teacher.
Refreshed and an awesome lunch later, we women decided we wanted in at the swimming pool, which of course, meant all of us getting swimsuits. And at four sharp, well-rested, we were off. Swathi, our swimming instructor soon gave up on teaching us, and we started playing ball. What a fun evening it was!
Soon, they arrived! Who, you ask?
Unfortunately, it wasn't the "Men in Black", it was the "Men in Shorts". The awesome background music just got cut short, if you know what I mean ;)
We then proceeded to the beach, There is something so beautiful about the ocean, the sound of the waves, its vast blueness... I am reminded of the purpose of my life. Often, in the mundane tasks, we lose sight of our life goals, and all that remain visible are the obstacles. The ocean reminded me of the beauty that lies ahead, I have but to reach for it. With the waves lifting my spirits, we returned...
Dry and clean again, we all met at the game room. Some indulged in carrom, my choice was of course TT. Murali, Sankesh, Balaji and I hogged the TT table for more than an hour. Of course, dinner followed. And it had begun raining, completing a charming evening. I retired early, read a little, and fell asleep happy.
The next day began with a leisurely cup of tea and reading in the morning, a luxury I had forgotten. After breakfast, I went for a walk to the beach. I needed to hear the sound of the ocean...
And then, of course, we had to explore the spa. Fish pedicure followed for three women, while Sudha and I enjoyed their reaction to the fish feeding on their feet. Meanwhile, the kids were busy painting and making masks.
It was one of those undefined days, a rarity...
Post lunch, I indulged in reading, and was invited to play carrom.(Well, they didn't realise how bad I am, until I began playing). A fun game followed...
Of course, swimming was on the cards on day two too. So the group met at the pool again, played the "Monkey" game for a while, attempted to swim, some succeeded, the others, almost ;) Most of us got dunked in though.
The rain started to fall soon, and we all rushed out. That evening, we had some party games awaiting us. We celebrated Cavin's birthday...
Notice the cute little minion guarding the cake!
Another heavy dinner, laced with a performance from the parotta chef, who danced whilst swirling a parotta, and day two, came to a sweet end.
Day three, I was up earlier than usual. A morning beach walk awaited me, you see... We were to check out today, and we did, followed by a celebration of Cavin's birthday, complete with cake cutting,
and we ended where it all began, on the dance floor.
So happy...
We had to participate in the Club Mahindra Angry Birds Challenge.
We then travelled to Auroville, a short walk in the forested area, we came upon Matri Mandir!
A simple but satisfying lunch, a bit of shopping and some ice cream followed. And then began father's day out at the Aurobindo Ashram.
I wondered what these three eminent businessmen were attempting ;)
Of course, father's day begins like this,
and often ends like this...
We then visited the Vinayagar Koil, got blessed by the elephant, and then walked to the Promenade. It's a beautiful road facing the backwaters, clean, and free from traffic.
Watch the play of colors in the sky from dusk to night, enchanting...
A walk down the promenade was a fitting end to an awesome trip, complete with street food, French architecture, a statue of Gandhiji, and each one feeling exhausted, but content...
As I walked, I thought of how happy each one of us could be, if we only choose happiness over everything else, every day. Happiness does not exist, it is created. It is created by people like these, who treasure camaraderie above all else.
Signing off, a person who is blessed to be amidst such friends!
Yours in friendship,
Jyothi
