Med Writes

A patchwork quilt, made of diverse colors and patterns, may appear chaotic. When stitched together, it becomes a beautiful whole. Similarly, Pondicherry’s blend of cultures creates a vibrant Union Territory. There is a fusion of French and Tamil history and colonial and present-day architecture. In some places, there are even remnants of Roman trade. Stepping out of the airport, I was met with a mix of sea salt and street food aromas. Honking scooters and multilingual chatter formed an auditory mosaic. This reflected Pondicherry’s energy. The city fuses French villas, Tamil towns, colonial streets, cafes, and life-filled stories.

The plane landed, and I yawned as the pilot announced our arrival. The cramped seats made sleep difficult. I tried standing but fell back, sighing, and realized my excitement for Pondicherry’s sights. When the aisle cleared, I exited quickly with eager passengers. The flight was short, so few slept or saw Pondicherry from above; my mother recorded the view for later.

We quickly grabbed our luggage—luck was on our side. Our pre-booked cab took us to the Radisson hotel, thirteen kilometers away. The resort’s tranquil atmosphere and attentive staff made check-in swift. A cool pineapple-blue curacao drink refreshed us in the humid weather. The air-conditioning in our room offered welcome relief. I explored our room and was surprised to find a large bathroom, nearly a separate room, and my first-ever outdoor shower.

As it was our first night, relaxation was on the agenda, yet my energetic mother insisted on a walk to the nearby beach. The crowded scene was not entirely appealing, leading us instead to White Town, known as the French colony. The colonial houses overlooking Rocky Beach provided a serene contrast. As we strolled along the picturesque beach and through the charming streets of the town, my mother and I captured vivid memories with each photo taken. The walk, though tiring, allowed us a moment to appreciate the unique blend of history and charm that Pondicherry has to offer. The walk was tiring, and thus we ate ice cream from a well-known parlour called GMT. It was amazing, the ice cream melted in my mouth, and the cool taste refreshed me from the hot and humid weather. As we ate, we went along the beach until we finally reached the rickshaw stand, from where we went to our resort and retired in our room.

The next day started early for my parents as they woke at the crack of dawn to visit the beach, which had not much of a crowd as the day was beginning. I lay in my bed sleeping soundly like a baby, not disturbed by the slightest noise. The bed given by the resort was most comfortable. As I woke, I realised my parents were not there and they had gone out, so I started my morning routine and went to the gym to exercise, only to realise that it didn’t have the machine which I preferred, but I made the most of it and exercised for forty-five minutes.

After my parents came, we took a bath turn by turn and headed to have breakfast in the restaurant where they were having a buffet. The food was not the best, but not the worst; some dishes were not cooked well, while others were. The same scenarios followed all of our eating occasions in the resort.

After breakfast, we made haste to the reception to catch our cab, which we had booked to visit the city. We first went to Auroville, a place known for its beauty and peaceful surroundings. It is located far from the main road and the constant honking of cars; there is a lot of greenery, and the air feels fresh and clear. Auroville is an international township where people from different countries live together with the vision of human unity. The most striking feature is its golden dome-shaped building called the Matrimandir, at the center of Auroville, which is used for meditation and reflection. The walk to the viewing point was tiring and exhausting; it took us almost an hour and a half uphill to reach the point and a bit less on the return. It was such a relief for all of us as we sat in the car because of the air conditioning. The hot and humid environment had worn us down, and we were ready to soak in the cool air in the car.

The next stop on our journey was The Coromandel Cafe, which is located in White Town. Having heard great reviews from our friends and being extremely reputable, we had lunch there. It cafe had both indoor and outdoor seating. We would have preferred indoor seating, but it was all occupied, so we quickly grabbed an outdoor seat. The weather had improved by then, and it was not uncomfortable to sit under the sun. The food we ordered was common everywhere, as we didn’t want to experiment too much. The drinks were quite refreshing. The food was also excellent, and after clicking some photos for memories, we left the cafe and ventured along the coast and visited the lighthouse, which is must see. After all that exploring, we finally settled in the cab, which took us to our last location for the day, which was a boat adventure that showed us four spots: the Mangrove Forest, Roman trading center ruins, Paradise Beach, and a fishing harbour. The boating experience was wonderful, and I personally enjoyed it very much.

Statue Of Joseph Marquis Dupleix

The cab took us back to our resort, where we unwound in our room, and later had dinner at the restaurant, where the food wasn’t the best ,but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. After dinner, I lay on my bed and slowly fell asleep.

The next day was full of relaxation. We had a spa planned in the evening, and in the morning we went to the swimming pool. The only part in which we went out was lunch, where we went to a cafe/hotel. The day went really well, and I loved it. The best part of the day was being free and not walking around the city. I took this time to read To Kill A Mockingbird and Stay Positive with Marcus Aurelius.

We had lunch in a cafe/hotel called Villa Shanti. The place was not very loud, and that gave it a really nice feel. The staff were quick and responsive, and the food was just blissful. The French cuisine would make a French chef cry tears of joy. The food I ate there was by far the best I had during my stay in Pondicherry. After arriving at the resort once again, we rested for a while, then went for our spa appointment. The spa was really good, and I felt very loose after it. Later that night, I watched Rush Hour 2 again for the third time before finally retiring in bed.

The day to leave had finally come, and with a heavy heart, I said goodbye to this cultural paradise which had truly gifted me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. I still miss the land, which I call a patchwork quilt.