This is a long pending post. I have to write it today.
In the month of May, when the heat is driving everyone crazy. Two crazy women, that is my sis and me, decide to take a road trip to Pondicherry. While people were visiting colder places, to cool themselves from the scorching heat, we did the opposite.
We decided to bake ourselves in the blistering heat, anyhow, we started on a Thursday morning. Our first stop was to be Chennai, the city that I don't really like. My grandparents, my maternal uncles and my aunts used to stay there. My grandparents passed away few years ago. One of the maternal uncle moved to Mumbai and my Aunt moved to Delhi. One maternal Uncle and his family were still there. We had met them in Bangalore 3 weeks before our trip, when they suggested that we spend a day with them, considering we hadn't been to Chennai since 2009. So, we decided, to leave on a Thursday and stay in Chennai.
I started driving, till the time I hit the highway, I was a little scared as I had never driven on a highway individually (read: without hubby). But, as a punchline of a popular soft drink ad says, 'you win when you overcome your fear', with me it was just that. I knew pretty well that I was a careful and a decent driver, that was not only my assessment, but also, the assessment of experienced drivers who had sat with me. I started enjoying my drive on the highway, I screamed in excitement, when the car powered to a speed of 100, without me even realizing it.
The kids occupied themselves with their gadgets and an occasional view of the scenery outside. Though the Hosur-Krishnagiri route to Chennai is not exactly a scenically beautiful route, still the children managed to find few tress and horses.
We stopped at Adyar Anand Bhavan for a nice South Indian breakfast. Clicked some pics there. I drove all the way till Sriperumbadur, and my sister managed a cat nap also until then. The children slept at the back after the heavy breakfast. That was the time I realized, that i20 was quite spacious. After about 4 and a half hours of non stop drive after breakfast, we hit Chennai, and from there my sister took over, and drove till our Uncle's house in Kilpauk. My Aunt had a yummy lunch ready, we were anyway famished, we just gorged into the food. The children slept, my sister chatted with our cousin and Aunt, while I took off to meet my school friend.
In the evening all of us went out for dinner, to Mainland China. They serve good Chinese food. Chennai is not a city that I particularly love. I am not sure, whether it's the locals there, or it's the weather, I have no idea. But, that's one city that I don't really enjoy. Anyway, we went there after 5 years, and since it was a matter of half a day and night, I really didn't have a problem. I started my corporate career in Chennai, ironically. My younger maternal Uncle was the VP of a multinational bank, and he had called me as an intern while I was still in my college. I spent 6 months in that city.
It's funny how relationships change with time. The Uncles or the Mamas who had seen me grow, and pampered me royally, now treated me as someone at par with them. I could still see the fondness in their eyes, besides that I also saw a pride. They indulged our kids, the way they indulged us.
I slept with a smile that night. Next morning, we were up early, had a nice breakfast, said our goodbyes and set off for Pondicherry. My sister, took control of the wheel, while I played the role of a DJ. The ECR route is scenically beautiful. It's along the coastline all the way. We stopped midway to click some pics. This is one of my favourite pics. I took this shot lying down on the road, from my Canon DSLR.
In the month of May, when the heat is driving everyone crazy. Two crazy women, that is my sis and me, decide to take a road trip to Pondicherry. While people were visiting colder places, to cool themselves from the scorching heat, we did the opposite.
We decided to bake ourselves in the blistering heat, anyhow, we started on a Thursday morning. Our first stop was to be Chennai, the city that I don't really like. My grandparents, my maternal uncles and my aunts used to stay there. My grandparents passed away few years ago. One of the maternal uncle moved to Mumbai and my Aunt moved to Delhi. One maternal Uncle and his family were still there. We had met them in Bangalore 3 weeks before our trip, when they suggested that we spend a day with them, considering we hadn't been to Chennai since 2009. So, we decided, to leave on a Thursday and stay in Chennai.
I started driving, till the time I hit the highway, I was a little scared as I had never driven on a highway individually (read: without hubby). But, as a punchline of a popular soft drink ad says, 'you win when you overcome your fear', with me it was just that. I knew pretty well that I was a careful and a decent driver, that was not only my assessment, but also, the assessment of experienced drivers who had sat with me. I started enjoying my drive on the highway, I screamed in excitement, when the car powered to a speed of 100, without me even realizing it.
The kids occupied themselves with their gadgets and an occasional view of the scenery outside. Though the Hosur-Krishnagiri route to Chennai is not exactly a scenically beautiful route, still the children managed to find few tress and horses.
We stopped at Adyar Anand Bhavan for a nice South Indian breakfast. Clicked some pics there. I drove all the way till Sriperumbadur, and my sister managed a cat nap also until then. The children slept at the back after the heavy breakfast. That was the time I realized, that i20 was quite spacious. After about 4 and a half hours of non stop drive after breakfast, we hit Chennai, and from there my sister took over, and drove till our Uncle's house in Kilpauk. My Aunt had a yummy lunch ready, we were anyway famished, we just gorged into the food. The children slept, my sister chatted with our cousin and Aunt, while I took off to meet my school friend.
In the evening all of us went out for dinner, to Mainland China. They serve good Chinese food. Chennai is not a city that I particularly love. I am not sure, whether it's the locals there, or it's the weather, I have no idea. But, that's one city that I don't really enjoy. Anyway, we went there after 5 years, and since it was a matter of half a day and night, I really didn't have a problem. I started my corporate career in Chennai, ironically. My younger maternal Uncle was the VP of a multinational bank, and he had called me as an intern while I was still in my college. I spent 6 months in that city.
It's funny how relationships change with time. The Uncles or the Mamas who had seen me grow, and pampered me royally, now treated me as someone at par with them. I could still see the fondness in their eyes, besides that I also saw a pride. They indulged our kids, the way they indulged us.
I slept with a smile that night. Next morning, we were up early, had a nice breakfast, said our goodbyes and set off for Pondicherry. My sister, took control of the wheel, while I played the role of a DJ. The ECR route is scenically beautiful. It's along the coastline all the way. We stopped midway to click some pics. This is one of my favourite pics. I took this shot lying down on the road, from my Canon DSLR.
We reached our lovely resort, around lunch time. Checked into our room, and immediately went to the restaurant for a buffet lunch. After a sumptuous lunch and a nap, we hit the beach. The pristine beach was a sight!
Got back, showered and changed. The children went to the play area, and we two sisters hit the bar. Not only did we order exotic Margaritas boldly, but we also sat on the bar stools at the bar counter. We gave our camera to the good looking barman, who was more than happy to click. My sister and me have had drinks together at home, or with our husbands and dad and other family members, but this was the first time, it was just me and her at a bar. We were dressed in our best clothes, giving a damn to people who were looking at us and passing their judgments.
The next morning, I had promised my son that I would take him for an early morning walk at the beach and a dip in the swimming pool. I fulfilled his wish, and my sister had given instructions the previous night to sneak out, as she didn't want her daughter to wake up. After a delectable buffet breakfast, wandered off to the pool and dipped ourselves. The water level was ok for me, as I don't know how to swim.
In the evening, we hired the resort cab, to take us to the Pondicherry market. We bought paper machie stuff, some pottery items. Went to the Auroville boutique, I bought few beautiful and unique pendants. Their stuff (atleast some) is overpriced but they have a unique collection. Also went to the famous Casablanca store, must tell you they have some real good stuff. When I went there last time also, I bought beautiful tops.
After a happy and shop till you drop experience, we left for the resort, we could see the kids boring expressions throughout. It was a bollywood dance night at the resort, we freshened up, enjoyed the evening. Also telling ourselves that it was the last night in this beautiful township. Crashed after a heavy dinner. Packed all our stuff and kept it ready.
The next morning, again went to the beach, one last time. I also said goodbye to the beach quietly. We finished our breakfast, checked out and revved up the engine to our journey back home.
On our way back, my sister and me promised each other, that we would do this every year. One holiday without our husbands, hopefully without kids too. Just two women on a road trip for rejuvenation. :)
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