It wasn’t like I remembered. Little more cluttered, less clean and somewhat less charming than before. But I have been here so many times; the eye does get a bit jaded.
Still the yellow washed walls and the cycle by it remains. Somethings don't change. Luckily.
Like girlfriends.
The girl gang was in Pondicherry. Surprise, surprise, the same bunch of us were in Goa five years ago (how time flies!) and despite married lives, work etc etc we did manage to chill here for two whole days. And we did chill (oxymoronish considering it was actually sooo hot). We stayed at the lovely Le Hibiscus – more a personal bungalow than a hotel, we sipped breezers while we walked, and sat chatting late at Le Café with indifferent waiters who banged our tables with insipid espressos...ooooh so French!
As every time, Aurobindo Ashram was a delight and Auroville especially in the heat, quite a damp squib. Of course, we shopped till we dropped at the Ashram/Hidedesign stores and dunked endless filter coffees and Idlis. Luckily, it is a small town, so easy to walk around.
High tide and full moon night at Beach Road. What a good time to be there.
Vivanta by Taj and Mahabalipuram on our way back. And I passed Kalpakkam (of the childhood memories). Completes the trip.
