LIFE ON ROAD: April 2013

Tuesday 30 April 2013

PONDICHERRY - A DAY AT BEACHES

On my second day at pondicherry i decided to checkout the beaches.I started from college at 8'o clock and as expected thumbing worked again.Mark my words PONDICHERRY IS A HITCHHIKER'S PARADISE.

I found from the locals that i need to reach chunnambar boat house in order to get to paradise beach.I hiked to chunambar boat house with some difficulty cuz it is outside the city and very few locals go that way.But finally i got there with out spending a penny.

UP TO THIS POINT IN MY TOUR I LITERALLY HAVEN'T SPENT A RUPEE

Once i got into chunnambar boat house i bought my ticket and was waiting eagerly to reach paradise beach.I was too early and the boat wont leave unless it is full.after waiting for one hour i got fully loaded and we started to paradise beach.

paradise beach at a distance

me on the way to paradise beach

on the way to paradise beach.

getting closer to paradise beach

reached paradise beach :-)

Once i got on to the beach i was sure that it is and will be my fav beach in India.Actually its a small island of around 1500mts long and may be 100-200mts wide.One side of it are backwaters which we just came through and the other side is BAY OF BENGAL.Its just amazing .It cant be described atleast by me.So i am leaving the description.Juts take a look at the pictures u will know.

welcome to paradise beach

amazing paradise beach

The best part about paradise beach is that its so deserted unlike other Indian tourist spots.One can just sit there in the beach and enjoy solitude for hours together.There is a canteen where you can get beverages,soft drinks and food items.I slept under those trees listening to some old telugu songs and then i knew why they called this PARADISE BEACH.

I can just sit there and enjoy solitude for hours together but too bad i got other beach to see as well.So with an unsatisfied heart i took the return boat cuz i know i can never b fully satisfied of a PARADISE

Boat house authorities charge 100rs for a trip to paradise island which includes entry for the island and to and fro boat charges.

I started for Pondicherry's main beach,THE ROCK BEACH. First i started asking locals about how to reach rock beach and then i thumbed my way.On my way i also crossed a french colony and took some pictures.Finally after 1 hour of hiking and walking i reached ROCK BEACH.

FRENCH WAR MEMORIAL AT ROCK BEACH

ROCK BEACH AND HOTEL LE' CAFE RIGHT ON THE SHORE

GANDHI STATUE AT ROCK BEACH

ROCK BEACH

FRENCH WAR MEMORIAL AT ROCK BEACH

After clicking those picture i directly went into hotel le cafe cuz i was told that having coffee latte at le cafe is a must thing to do and i was hungry as well :p

BUT SERIOUSLY CAFFE LATTE AT LE CAFE IS A MUST CUZ IT IS RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME

THIS IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT

MY TABLE AT LE CAFE RIGHT ON THE EDGE

I stayed at the beach till 6pm and left to the hostel to pack my bag and go on..................

That was end to my stay in pondicherry and it was a very memorable one.

PONDICHERRY - FINDING A HIDDEN MINIRAMP IN AUROVILLE

This is my status update on facebook by the end of my first day in Pondicherry and that explains it all

pondicherry is undoubtedly my fav city in India.People are so friendly and helpful and its a paradise for hitchhikers.

I traveled around the auroville forest for around 3-4hrs hoping to find a mini ramp hidden in woods.I knew about that from my friends in holystoked.I roamed around the place asking everyone for the exact location but none of the locals knew about it.Finally a Japanese girl on royal enfield said that she knew the spot and dropped me there.Actually she was going to golden globe which is nearly 1 km before that miniramp but she drove all the way to the rmp dropped me there and went back.Now these are the tourist who live in AUROVILLE.

Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity.

So i am not really surprised for their kindness and helpful nature as they are living in a place created for human unity.

when i reached mini ramp i knew exactly why none of the locals knew its exact location.Its well hidden inside the wood.Take a look at these pictures and you will know what i am talking about.

mini hidden in the woods,Auroville.

way to the hidden mini ramp in auroville.

I skated there alone for about an hour.Sadly haven't got any pics of me skating cuz i was alone.On my way back an old lady from Switzerland gave me ride on her FZ.She said she was going all the way to the main center and she can drop me there.When i found a spot i was so tempted to take a pic of it.I told her that i will get down and catch a ride from someone after taking pics.But she killed the engine,parked bike and took pics of me.We got back again and she left me where she promise :-)

I couldn't believe that she actually did that.I was expecting free rides in Auroville but this is way beyond what i expected.

These are the pics clicked by her

me at the sickest spot in auroville

me at the sickest spot in auroville.

That evening i went to Auroville beach with frnd.There is nothing much to admire.That place is dirty to the core and is poorly maintained.Thats one beach i never want to go again.

sunset at auroville beach.

me at auroville beach

Monday 29 April 2013

MAHABALIPURAM - BEACH AND PANCHA RATHAS

After roaming around the shore temple and i decided its time to go and get into the water.we went to the sea shore which is less crowded as it is a weekday.Clicked some pics on the rocks.When i asked them to come into waters they told they are afraid.After some unsuccessful attempts to get them into waters i finally gave up .They left me to swim alone.

Here are some pics from the mahabalipuram beach or seashore(whatever u prefer)

srinu

me enjoying the swim

me enjoying the view

me enjoying the swim

me and sarath

enjoying the view

enjoying the moment

happy me!!!

cnu,sarath & me......shore temple at the back

cnu chilling

me enjoying the swim

shore temple view from beach

me hoping on the beach rocks :p

After a 3hrs stay on beach during which i had a good swim.we clicked some pics,chatted with locals,drank some soft drinks and shared a few laughs.Hmmmm actually not few :-)

Then we came back to the main center had some fast food and fruit juices and started our walk to pancha rathas monuments.

PANCHA RATHAS literally means FIVE CHARIOTS.Me like most others mistook them as the rathas of PANDAVAS.I was partially right as they represent PANDAVAS but the little twins NAKUL and SAHADEV got a common chariot.Too sad even being kings they got to share stuff.And if you are wondering about the fifth chariot it belongs to DROUPADI.Those are beautiful structures each carved over a single granite rock and are built during 630-680AD

Here are some pics from pancha rathas monuments

me beside nandi carving at pancha rathas

me beside elephant carving at pancha rathas

me at naku & sahadev ratha

couple from argentina bought ice cream bars to all the street kids

street kids out side pancha rathas curious to ride skateboard

cnu & sarath at bhim ratha

beautiful stone carved elephant

me at dharmaraj ratha

pancha rathas

lion carving at pancha rathas

pancha rathas

me skating in the streets of mahabalipuram

we started back to chennai at 6pm and reached there by 8pm.

My stay in pondicherry is with avinash who was on his way to college from his home.I joined avinash in Koyambedu bus station and we went together to his college.He bought the ticket for both of us though i insisted not to.Its 3 hrs journey from chennai to pondicherry and we boarded bus at 00:30 and got down right infront of the college gate at 3:30am