Mamallapuram to Pondicherry

Decided to get the bus to Pondicherry before getting the overnight train to Rameswaram. We asked at the Bus Station when the bus would leave but after a wobble of the head and a gesture which sent us in the wrong direction we ended up going to the Tourist office to see if they could provide a timetable. Of course they couldnt, but assured us buses left every 20 minutes from the main bus station.

The next morning we got up early after been awakened by people weeing in the alley next to our hotel room so we went out for Masala Dosas again, they are like pancakes filled with potato curry. Very nice and only 20rps (about 35p). We packed up our rucksacks and headed to the bus station to wait for the bus. A new man was at the information desk who told us that buses left every 30 minutes from the main road, outside of the village! We got a rickshaw to the main road and waited on a featureless corner of the dual carriageway until, after about 5 minutes, a bus came hurtling along and picked us up. There were few seats so we ended up getting split up. Nikki was at the front with a great view of the road and reckless driving going on and I sat in the middle while a man asked me a billion questions about what I was doing, where I was going, and how I was getting there.

Arrived in Pondy at about 1pm, got a rickshaw to the hotel, who tried to charge us 150rps for the short journey when we knew it should only be 50. We bartered them down to 80rps. We had already booked to stay in the Executive Inn, just north of the town. Rickshaw driver told us there were no rooms there but we insisted we go.

Pondy is ok, doesnt seem much to do here. There is a canal running through it which is filled with poo and wee and really stinks and the place is a bit bizarre but ok for one night. Very frech influenced here and has some nice looking places to eat. We're going to eat at a pizza place tonight that has a wood fired oven. We're not bored of Indian food yet but from what we have read it's diffucult to get authentic south indian food here.

Got an email of Nikkis mum and dad saying they were fine and heading to Hampi, we will meet them in Gokarna in a couple of weeks.

Tomorrow we will get the train to Villupuram where we will catch the overnight sleeper train to Rameswaram. We plan to spend Christmas there but not sure how Christmassy it will be. It's a pilgramage place that people call the Varanasi of the south so we will see!

Forgot to say, a man on the beach in Mamallapuram asked where we were from, and when we said England he was delighted saying he was friends with a very famous person from England. We wondered who he meant... Maybe David Beckham, Robbie Williams, Prince Charles.... No... Lester Piggott. He even knew he had gone bankrupt so he must have been telling the truth. Bizzare!

C&N